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.
यावत्प्रस्यंदते नेत्रं तावत्कालं महामते । भवान्न लज्जते कस्माद्रममाणो मया सह
As long as your eye glances at me, O wise one, for that time, why do you not feel shame, remaining unmoved, together with me?
भवान्को हि समायातो निर्भयो मरणादपि । इंद्र उवाच- त्वामेवं हि प्रपश्यामि वनमध्ये समागताम्
Who are you, who has come here, fearless even of death? Indra said: I see you thus, present in the middle of the forest.
समाख्यातास्त्वया शूरा भर्तुश्च तनयाः पुनः । कथं पश्याम्यहं तावद्दर्शयस्व ममाग्रतः
You have described the heroes and again the sons of your husband; how then do I see them? Show them before me.
सुकलोवाच- सनिजसकलवर्गस्याधिपत्ये निवेश्य धृतिमतिगतिबुद्ध्य्ख्यैस्तु संन्यस्य सत्यम् । अचलसकलधर्मो नित्ययुक्तो महात्मा मदनसबलधर्मात्मा सदामां जुगोप
Sukalā said: Having entrusted the leadership of my entire group to those known for firmness, intelligence, resolve, and wisdom, and having established truth, the great soul, ever steadfast in all virtues, always devoted to righteousness, protected us all.
मामेवं परिरक्षते दमगुणैः शौचैस्तु धर्मः सदा सत्यं पश्य समागतं मम पुरः शांतिक्षमाभ्यांयुतम् । बोधश्चातिमहाबलः पृथुयशा यो मां न मुंचेत्कदा बद्धाहं दृढबंधनैः स्वगुणजैः सांनिध्यमेवं गतः
He always protects me with the qualities of self-control and purity; see truth itself, present before me, joined with peace and forgiveness. And knowledge, exceedingly powerful and widely renowned, never abandons me; I am bound by strong ties of my own virtues, thus remaining in their presence.
रक्षायुक्ताः कृताः सर्वे सत्याद्या मम सांप्रतम् । धर्मलाभादिकाः सर्वे दमबुद्धिपराक्रमाः
All those connected with protection—truth and the rest—are now with me; all those who gain righteousness, self-control, wisdom, and valor.
मामेवं हि प्ररक्षंति किं मां प्रार्थयसे बलात् । को भवान्निर्भयो भूत्वा दूत्या सार्धं समागतः
They protect me in this way—so why do you seek me by force? Who are you, who has come here, fearless, together with your messenger?
सत्यं धर्मस्तथा पुण्यं ज्ञानाद्याः प्रबलास्तथा । मम भर्तुः सहायाश्च ते मां रक्षंति वेश्मनि
Truth, righteousness, merit, and knowledge—all these are powerful; and the companions of my husband—they protect me in this house.
अहं रक्षायुता नित्यं दमशांतिपरायणा । न मां जेतुं समर्थश्च अपि साक्षाच्छचीपतिः
I am always endowed with protection, devoted to self-control and peace; not even the lord of Śacī himself is able to conquer me.
यदि वा मन्मथो वापि समागच्छति वीर्यवान् । दंशिताहं सदा सत्यं सत्यकेनैव नान्यथा
Even if Kāmadeva himself, full of vigor, should come, I am always protected by truth alone, never otherwise.