तवरूपं समाश्रित्य तां साधये यथेप्सिताम् । एवमुक्त्वा स देवेंद्रं कायं तस्य महात्मनः
Assuming your form, I accomplish whatever I desire with her; having spoken thus to the lord of gods, he took on that great being's body.
सखासौ माधवस्यापि समाश्रित्य सुमायुधः
He, well-armed and skillful in illusion, also assumed the form of Mādhava's friend.
तामेव हंतुं कुसुमायुधोपि साध्वीं सुपुण्यां कृकलस्य भार्याम् । समुत्सुकस्तिष्ठति बाणलक्षं तस्याश्च कायं नयनैर्विलोक्य
Even the god of love, eager to strike, stands ready to slay that virtuous and supremely pure wife of Kṛkala, having gazed upon her body with his arrow-like glances.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने सुकलाचरित्रे सप्तपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-seventh chapter, the story of Sukalā, in the narrative of Vena, in the Bhūmikhaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
विष्णुरुवाच- क्रीडाप्रयुक्तासु वनं प्रविष्टा वैश्यस्य भार्या सुकला सुतन्वी । ददर्श सर्वं गहनं मनोरमं तामेव पप्रच्छ सखीं सती सा
Viṣṇu said: Engaged in play, Sukalā, the slender-waisted wife of the merchant, entered the forest; she beheld the entire charming thicket and questioned her companion, that virtuous lady.
अरण्यमेतत्प्रवरं सुपुण्यं दिव्यं सखे कस्य मनोभिरामम् । सिद्धंसुकामैः प्रवरैः समस्तैः पप्रच्छ हर्षात्सुकला सखीं ताम्
She asked her friend joyfully: 'O friend, whose is this excellent, supremely holy, and divine forest, so delightful to the mind, frequented by accomplished beings and those desiring happiness?'
क्रीडोवाच- एतद्वनं दिव्यगुणैः प्रयुक्तं सिद्धस्वभावैः परिभावनेन । पुष्पाकुलं कामफलोपयुक्तं विपश्य सर्वं मकरध्वजस्य
Her friend said: 'This forest, endowed with divine qualities and inhabited by beings of perfected nature, is filled with flowers and suitable for the fulfillment of desires—behold, all of it belongs to the god of love.'
एवं वाक्यं ततः श्रुत्वा हर्षेण महतान्विता । समालोक्य महद्वृत्तं कामस्य च दुरात्मनः
Hearing these words, she was filled with great joy, and, observing the grand domain of the evil-minded Kāma, the god of love,
वायुना नीयमानं तं समाघ्राति न सौरभम् । वाति वायुः स्वभावेन सौरभेण समन्वितः
Though the wind carried it, she did not perceive the fragrance; the wind, by its nature, was indeed filled with scent.
तद्बाणो विशतेनासां यथा तथा सुलीलया । सा गंधं नैव गृह्णाति पुष्पाणां च वरानना
Just as his arrow enters them with ease, so too the lovely-faced lady does not receive the scent of the flowers.
न चास्वादयते सा तु सुरसान्सा महासती । स सखा कामदेवस्य रममाणो विनिर्जितः
Nor does that supremely virtuous lady taste the delicious fruits; that friend of Kāma, though enjoying himself, was defeated.
लज्जितः पराङ्मुखो भूत्वा भूं पपात लवच्छदैः । फलेभ्यो हि सुपक्वेभ्यः पुष्पमंजरिसंस्कृतः
Ashamed, he turned away and fell to the ground with the petals; for, from the fully ripened fruits, the flower-clusters had fallen.
लवरूपोपतद्भूमौ रसस्त्वेष तया जितः । मकरंदः सुदीनात्मा फलाद्भूमिं ततः पुनः
On the ground where the pollen fell, the nectar was conquered by her; the dejected honey, defeated, returned again to the earth from the fruit.
भक्ष्यते मक्षिकाभिश्च यथामृतो रणे तथा । मक्षिकाभक्ष्यमाणस्तु प्रवाहेन प्रयाति सः
Just as nectar is consumed in battle, so too is it eaten by bees; and as the bees devour it, it is carried away by the flow.
मंदंमंदं प्रयात्येव तं हसंति च पक्षिणः । नानारुतैः प्रचलंति सुखमानंदनिर्भरैः
Slowly and slowly it moves on, and the birds laugh at it; with various calls, they move about joyfully, filled with happiness.
प्रीत्या शकुनयस्तत्र वनमध्यनगस्थिताः । सुकलया जितो ह्येष निम्नं पंथानमाश्रितः
There, the birds dwelling in the forest trees, out of affection, say: 'He has been conquered by Sukalā, and has taken the downward path.'
प्रीत्या समेता रतिः कामभार्या गत्वाब्रवीत्सा सुकलां विहस्य । स्वस्त्यस्तु ते स्वागतमेव भद्रे रमस्व प्रीत्या नयनाभिरामम्
With affection, Rati, the beloved wife of Kāma, approached Sukalā, laughed, and said: 'May all be well with you, welcome, O good lady; delight in joy, pleasing to the eyes.'
ते रूपमिष्टममलमिंद्रस्यापि महात्मनः । यदेष्टं ते तदा ब्रूहि समानेष्ये न संशयः
Your form is lovely and pure, even surpassing that of mighty Indra; whatever you desire, speak it now—I will surely grant it, without doubt.
सूत उवाच- वदंत्यौ ते स्त्रियौ दृष्ट्वा श्रुत्वोवाच सुभाषितम् । रतिं प्रतिगृहीत्वा मे गतो भर्त्ता महामतिः
The charioteer said: Seeing and hearing those two women speak well, my wise master accepted Rati and departed.
यत्र मे तिष्ठते भर्त्ता तत्राहं पतिसंयुता । तत्र कामश्च मे प्रीतिरयं कायो निराश्रयः
Where my husband dwells, there I am united with him; there are my desire and affection—this body is without support otherwise.
द्वे अप्युक्तं समाकर्ण्य रतिप्रीती विलज्जिते । व्रीडमाने गते ते द्वे यत्र कामो महाबलः
Hearing both Rati and Prīti speak thus, abashed and ashamed, the two went where mighty Kāma was.
ऊचतुस्तं महावीरमिंद्रकाय समाश्रितम् । चापमाकर्षमाणं तं नेत्रलक्ष्यं महाबलम्
They spoke to that great hero, whose form was like Indra's, as he drew his bow, his eyes fixed on the target, mighty in strength.
दुर्जयेयं महाप्राज्ञ त्यज पौरुषमात्मनः । पतिकामा महाभागा पतिव्रता सदैव सा
This one is hard to conquer, O wise one; abandon your self-willed effort. She is devoted to her husband, always chaste, and longs only for him.
काम उवाच- अनया लोक्यते रूपमिंद्रस्यास्य महात्मनः । यदि देवि तदा चाहं हनिष्यामि न संशयः
Kāma said: By her, the form of this great Indra is seen; if, O goddess, that is so, then I will surely slay him—there is no doubt.
अथ वेषधरो देवो महारूपः सुराधिपः । स तयानुगतस्तूर्णं परया लीलया तदा
Then the god, master of the gods, took on a disguise of great form; he quickly followed her with supreme playfulness.
सर्वभोगसमाकीर्णः सर्वाभरणशोभितः । दिव्यमाल्यांबरधरो दिव्यगंधानुलेपनः
He was adorned with all enjoyments, shining with every ornament; wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with heavenly fragrances.
तया रत्या समायातो यत्रास्ते पतिदेवता । प्रत्युवाच महाभागां सुकलां सत्यचारिणीम्
Accompanied by Rati, he went to where the goddess, devoted to her husband, dwelt; he addressed the blessed Sukalā, who was true in conduct.
पूर्वं दूती समक्षं ते प्रीत्या च प्रहिता मया । कस्मान्न मन्यसे भद्रे भजंतं त्वामिहागतम्
Earlier, I sent a messenger to you openly and with affection; why, O good lady, do you not regard one who has come here seeking you?
सुकलोवाच- रक्षायुक्तास्मि भद्रं ते भर्तुः पुत्रैर्महात्मभिः । एकाकिनीसहायैश्च नैव कस्य भयं मम
Sukalā said: I am protected, O blessed one, by the noble sons of my husband; though alone, I have companions, and I fear no one at all.
शूरैश्च पुरुषाकारैः सर्वत्र परिरक्षिता । नाति प्रस्तावये वक्तुं व्यग्रा कर्मणि तस्य च
I am guarded everywhere by brave men of heroic form; I do not wish to speak further, for I am busy with his affairs.