तस्या ध्यानं प्रकुर्वंति पतिकामप्रभावतः । अत्यर्थं दृढतामिंद्र सुःविचिंत्य सुरेश्वरः
meditated upon her, inspired by her steadfastness in longing for her husband; and Indra, lord of the gods, deeply considered her extraordinary firmness.
सुकलायाः परं भावं सुविचार्यामरेश्वरः । चालये धैर्यमस्याश्च पतिस्नेहं न संशयः
The lord of the immortals, having carefully reflected on Sukalā's supreme devotion, resolved to test her courage and her love for her husband—there was no doubt.
सस्मार मन्मथं देवं त्वरमाणः सुराधिपः । पुष्पचापं स संगृह्य मीनकेतुः समागतः
Then the king of the gods, eager, remembered the god of love; and Mīnaketu, bearing his flower-bow, arrived.
प्रियया च तया युक्तो रत्या दृष्टमहाबलः । बद्धांजलिपुटो भूत्वा सहस्राक्षमुवाच सः
Joined by his beloved Rati, the mighty one appeared; with hands folded in reverence, he addressed the thousand-eyed one.
कस्मादहं त्वया नाथ अधुना संस्मृतो विभो । आदेशो दीयतां मेद्य सर्वभावेन मानद
"O lord, for what reason have you now remembered me? Command me, O giver of honor, and I shall act with all my being."
इंद्र उवाच- सुकलेयं महाभागा पतिव्रतपरायणा । शृणुष्व कामदेव त्वं कुरु साहाय्यमुत्तमम्
Indra said: 'This Sukalā is greatly fortunate and devoted to her husband. Listen, O Kāmadeva, and render your best assistance.'
निष्कर्षय महाभागां सुकलां पुण्यमंगलाम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य शक्रस्य तमथाब्रवीत्
'Draw forth the supremely auspicious and virtuous Sukalā.' Hearing these words of Śakra, he replied:
एवमस्तु सहस्राक्ष करिष्यामि न संशयः । साहाय्यं देवदेवेश तव कौतुककारणात्
"So be it, O thousand-eyed one; I shall do this without doubt. For your pleasure, O lord of the gods, I will offer my assistance."
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजाः कंदर्पो मुनिदुर्जयः । देवाञ्जेतुं समर्थोऽहं समुनीनृषिसत्तमान्
Having spoken thus, the mighty Kamadeva, unconquerable by sages, said: I am able to conquer even the gods, as well as the greatest of sages and seers.
किं पुनः कामिनीं देव यस्या अंगे न वै बलम् । कामिनीनामहं देव अंगेषु निवसाम्यहम्
What then of a woman, O god, whose body truly lacks strength? O god, I dwell in the bodies of women, in all their limbs.
भाले कुचेषु नेत्रेषु कचाग्रेषु च सर्वदा । नाभौ कट्यां पृष्ठदेशे जघने योनिमंडले
On the forehead, on the breasts, in the eyes, at the tips of the hair always; at the navel, the waist, the back, the hips, and the region of the womb—
अधरे दंतभागेषु कक्षायां हि न संशयः । अंगेष्वेवं प्रत्यंगेषु सर्वत्र निवसाम्यहम्
On the lips, at the base of the teeth, in the armpits—indeed, there is no doubt; in all the limbs and sub-limbs, everywhere, I reside.
नारी मम गृहं देव सदा तत्र वसाम्यहम् । तत्रस्थः पुरुषान्सर्वान्मारयामि न संशयः
A woman is my dwelling, O god; I always abide there. While present there, I destroy all men—there is no doubt.
स्वभावेनाबलादेव संतप्ता मम मार्गणैः । पितरं मातरं दृष्ट्वा अन्यं स्वजनबांधवम्
By their own nature, by weakness, scorched by my arrows, when they see father, mother, or any other relative—
सुरूपं सगुणं देव मम बाणा हता सती । चलते नात्र संदेहो विपाकं नैव चिंतयेत्
If he is handsome and virtuous, O god, struck by my arrows, she wavers—there is no doubt; she does not consider the consequences at all.
योनिः स्पंदेत नारीणां स्तनाग्रौ च सुरेश्वर । नास्ति धैर्यं सुरेशान सुकलां नाशयाम्यहम्
The womb of women throbs, and their nipples, O lord of gods; there is no steadiness, O lord of gods—I destroy even the virtuous.
इंद्र उवाच- पुरुषोहं भविष्यामि रूपवान्गुणवान्धनी । कौतुकार्थमिमां नारीं चालयामि मनोभव
Indra said: I shall become a man, handsome, virtuous, and wealthy; for the sake of curiosity, O Kamadeva, I will agitate this woman.
नैव कामान्न संत्रासान्न वा लोभान्न कारणात् । न वै मोहान्न वै क्रोधात्सत्यं सत्यं रतिप्रिय
Not out of desire, nor out of fear, nor out of greed, nor for any reason; not from delusion, nor from anger—truly, truly, O lover of delight.
कथं मे दृश्यते तस्या महत्सत्यं पतिव्रतम् । निष्कर्षिष्य इतो गत्वा भवन्मोहोत्र कारणम्
How can I see her great and true chastity? I will draw it out, having gone there, for your delusion is the cause here.
एवं कामं च संदिश्य जगाम सुरराट्स्वयम् । आत्मविकृतिसंभूतो रूपवान्गुणवान्स्वयम्
Having thus instructed Kama, the king of the gods himself departed, assuming a form born of his own transformation, handsome and virtuous.
सर्वाभरणशोभांगः सर्वभोगसमन्वितः । भोगलीलासमाकीर्णः सर्वदौदार्यसंयुतः
Adorned with all ornaments, endowed with every enjoyment, surrounded by pleasures and delights, always marked by generosity.
यत्र सा तिष्ठते देवी कृकलस्य प्रिया नृप । आत्मलीलां स्वरूपं च गुणं भावं प्रदर्शयेत्
Where that goddess, beloved of Krikala, resides, O king, there he displayed his own play, form, qualities, and disposition.
नैव पश्यति सा तं तु पुरुषं रूपसंपदम् । यत्रयत्र व्रजेत्सा हि तत्र तां पश्यते नृप
But she does not see that man, endowed with beauty; wherever she goes, O king, there she sees only herself.
साभिलाषेण मनसा तामेवं परिपश्यति । कामचेष्टां सहस्राक्षोऽदर्शयत्सर्वभावकैः
With a mind full of longing, she gazes only at herself in this way; Indra, with a thousand eyes, displayed all gestures of desire.
चतुष्पथे पथे तीर्थे यत्र देवी प्रयाति सा । तत्रतत्र सहस्राक्षस्तामेव परिपश्यति
At crossroads, on roads, at sacred fords—wherever the goddess goes, there, at every place, Indra with a thousand eyes gazes at her.
इंद्रेण प्रेषिता दूती सुकलां प्रति सा गता । सुकलां सुमहाभागां प्रत्युवाच प्रहस्य वै
Sent by Indra, a messenger went to Sukala; approaching the greatly fortunate Sukala, she spoke to her with a smile.
अहो सत्यमहोधैर्यमहो कांतिरहो क्षमा । अस्या रूपेण संसारे नास्ति नारी वरानना
Oh, what truthfulness, what great patience, what radiance, what forbearance! In all the world, O beautiful-faced one, there is no woman like her in form.
का त्वं भवसि कल्याणि कस्य भार्या भविष्यसि । यस्य त्वं सगुणा भार्या स धन्यः पुण्यभाग्भुवि
Who are you, O auspicious lady? Whose wife will you become? Blessed is the man on earth whose virtuous wife you will be.
तस्यास्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा तामुवाच मनस्विनी । वैश्यजात्यां समुत्पन्नो धर्मात्मा सत्यवत्सलः
Hearing her words, the noble-minded woman replied: 'Born in the merchant caste is a righteous man, devoted to truth.'
तस्याहं हि प्रिया भार्या सत्यसंधस्य धीमतः । कृकलस्यापि वैश्यस्य सत्यमेव वदामि ते
I am the beloved wife of that wise and truthful merchant named Kṛkala; I speak the truth to you.