धर्मराजं समायांतं ददर्श सुरराट्तदा । समुत्थाय त्वरायुक्तो दत्वा चार्घमनुत्तमम्
At that time, the king of the gods saw Dharmarāja approaching; rising quickly, he offered him excellent arghya.
पप्रच्छागमनं तस्य कथयस्व ममाग्रतः । समाकर्ण्य महद्वाक्यं देवराजस्य भाषितम्
He asked him, 'Tell me in my presence the reason for your coming here.' Having heard the great words spoken by the king of the gods—
धर्मराजोऽब्रवीत्सर्वं ययातेश्चरितं महत् । धर्मराज उवाच- श्रूयतां देवदेवेश यस्मादागमनं मम
Dharmarāja spoke all the great deeds of Yayāti. Dharmarāja said: 'Listen, Lord of gods and lords, to the reason for my coming.'
कथयाम्यहमत्रापि येनाहमागतस्तव । नहुषस्यात्मजेनापि वैष्णवेन महात्मना
'I will tell you here why I have come to you: because of the son of Nahuṣa, the great-souled Vaiṣṇava.'
वैष्णवाश्च कृता मर्त्या ये वसंति महीतले । वैकुंठस्य समं रूपं मर्त्यलोकस्य वै कृतम्
'Those mortals who are Vaiṣṇavas and dwell upon the earth have made the world of mortals equal in form to Vaikuṇṭha.'
अमरा मानवा जाता जरारोगविवर्जिताः । पापमेव न कुर्वंति असत्यं न वदंति ते
'The immortals have become human, free from old age and disease; they do not commit sin, nor do they speak untruth.'
कामक्रोधविहीनास्ते लोभमोहविवर्जिताः । दानशीला महात्मानः सर्वे धर्मपरायणाः
'They are free from desire and anger, devoid of greed and delusion; all are generous, great-souled, and devoted to dharma.'
सर्वधर्मैः समर्चंति नारायणमनामयम् । तेन वैष्णवधर्मेण मानवा जगतीतले
'With all forms of dharma, they worship Nārāyaṇa, the flawless one. By that Vaiṣṇava dharma, humans upon the earth—'
निरामया वीतशोकाः सर्वे च स्थिरयौवनाः । दूर्वा वटा यथा देव विस्तारं यांति भूतले
'Are free from illness and sorrow, all possessing lasting youth; like dūrvā grass and banyan trees, they spread across the earth.'
तथा ते विस्तरं प्राप्ताः पुत्रपौत्रैः प्रपौत्रकैः । तेषां पुत्रैः प्रपौत्रैश्च वंशाद्वंशांतरं गताः
'In this way, they have expanded with sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons; through their sons and great-grandsons, their lineages have continued.'
एवं हि वैष्णवः सर्वो जरामृत्युविवर्जितः । मर्त्यलोकः कृतस्तेन नहुषस्यात्मजेन वै
'Thus, every Vaiṣṇava is free from old age and death; the world of mortals has been made so by the son of Nahuṣa.'
पदभ्रष्टोस्मि संजातो व्यापारेण विवर्जितः । एतत्सर्वं समाख्यातं मम कर्मविनाशनम्
'I have become fallen from my station, deprived of my function; all this has been explained—my destruction of karma.'
एवं ज्ञात्वा सहस्राक्ष लोकस्यास्य हितं कुरु । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथापृष्टोस्मि वै त्वया
'Knowing this, O thousand-eyed one, act for the welfare of this world. All this has been told to you, just as you have asked.'
एतस्मात्कारणादिंद्र आगतस्तव सन्निधौ । इंद्र उवाच- पूर्वमेव मया दूत आगमाय महात्मनः
'For this reason, O Indra, I have come into your presence.' Indra said: 'Already before, I had sent a messenger to summon the great-souled one.'
प्रेषितो धर्मराजेंद्र दूतेनास्यापि भाषितम् । नाहं स्वर्गसुखस्यार्थी नागमिष्ये दिवं पुनः
'The king of dharma was sent by a messenger, and this too was spoken by him: "I do not desire the pleasures of heaven, nor will I come to heaven again."'
स्वर्गरूपं करिष्यामि सर्वं तद्भूमिमंडलम् । इत्याचचक्षे भूपालः प्रजापाल्यं करोति सः
'I will make the entire realm of earth like heaven.' Thus declared the king, who now rules over his subjects.
तस्य धर्मप्रभावेण भीतस्तिष्ठामि सर्वदा । धर्म उवाच- येनकेनाप्युपायेन तमानय सुभूपतिम्
By the power of his righteousness, I always remain afraid; Dharma said: By any means whatsoever, bring that noble king here.
देवराज महाभाग यदीच्छसि मम प्रियम् । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य धर्मस्यापि सुराधिपः
O lord of the gods, illustrious one, if you wish to please me— having heard these words of Dharma, the lord of the gods,
चिंतयामास मेधावी सर्वतत्वेन भूपते । कामदेवं समाहूय गंधर्वांश्च पुरंदरः
The wise Indra, considering everything thoroughly, summoned Kāma and the Gandharvas.
मकरंदं रतिं देव आनिनाय महामनाः । तथा कुरुत वै यूयं यथाऽगच्छति भूपतिः
The great-minded Indra brought Makaranda and Rati, and said: 'You must act in such a way that the king comes.'
यूयं गच्छन्तु भूर्लोकं मयादिष्टा न संशयः । काम उवाच- युवयोस्तु प्रियं पुण्यं करिष्यामि न संशयः
You all must go to the earthly realm as I have instructed, without doubt; Kāma said: 'I will certainly do what is pleasing and virtuous for you both.'
राजानं पश्य मां चैव स्थितं चैव समा युधि । तथेत्युक्त्वा गताः सर्वे यत्र राजा स नाहुषिः
'See the king and me, both present equally in the contest.' Having said so, they all went to where King Nahusha was.
नटरूपेण ते सर्वे कामाद्याः कर्मणा द्विज । आशीर्भिरभिनंद्यैव ते च ऊचुः सुनाटकम्
All of them—Kāma and the others—took the form of actors, O twice-born one, and, after offering blessings, they performed a fine play.
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः । सभां चकार मेधावी देवरूपां सुपंडितैः
Hearing their words, King Yayāti, lord of the earth, the wise one, made his assembly resemble that of the gods, filled with learned men.
समायातः स्वयं भूपो ज्ञानविज्ञानकोविदः । तेषां तु नाटकं राजा पश्यमानः स नाहुषिः
The king himself, skilled in knowledge and wisdom, arrived; and that Nahusha watched their play.
चरितं वामनस्यापि उत्पत्तिं विप्ररूपिणः । रूपेणाप्रतिमा लोके सुस्वरं गीतमुत्तमम्
They enacted the deeds and birth of Vāmana, the one who took the form of a Brāhmaṇa, with unparalleled beauty and excellent, melodious singing.
गायमाना जरा राजन्नार्यारूपेण वै तदा । तस्या गीतविलासेन हास्येन ललितेन च
At that time, Jarā sang in the form of a noble lady, O king; by her graceful singing, playful gestures, and humor,
मधुरालापतस्तस्य कंदर्पस्य च मायया । मोहितस्तेन भावेन दिव्येन चरितेन च
By her sweet speech and the illusion of Kāma, the king was enchanted by that mood and the divine performance.
बलेश्चैव यथारूपं विंध्यावल्या यथा पुरा । वामनस्य यथारूपं चक्रे मारोथ तादृशम्
Just as in former times with Bales and Vindhyāvalī, so also did Māra create a form like that of Vāmana.
सूत्रधारः स्वयं कामो वसंतः पारिपार्श्वकः । नटीवेषधरा जाता सा रतिर्हृष्टवल्लभा
Kāma himself was the stage-manager, and Vasant was the assistant; Rati, joyful with her beloved, took the guise of an actress.