रूपतेजः समायुक्तं सपत्नीसहितं प्रियम् । न वरं तादृशं कांतं सपत्नीविषसंयुतम्
'A beloved, endowed with beauty and splendor, together with co-wives, is not desirable—such a dear one, joined with the poison of co-wives, is not preferable.'
तस्मान्न मन्यते कांतं भवंतं गुणसागरम् । राजोवाच- देवयान्या न मे कार्यं शर्मिष्ठया वरानने
'Therefore, she does not regard you, the ocean of virtues, as dear.' The king said: 'I have no concern with Devayānī, O beautiful-faced one, nor with Śarmiṣṭhā.'
इत्यर्थं पश्य मे कोशं सत्वधर्मसमन्वितम् । अश्रुबिंदुमत्युवाच- अहं राज्यस्य भोक्त्री च तव कायस्य भूपते
'For this reason, see my treasury, endowed with strength and virtue.' Ashrubindumatī said: 'I am the enjoyer of the kingdom and of your body, O king.'
यद्यद्वदाम्यहं भूप तत्तत्कार्यं त्वया ध्रुवम् । इत्यर्थे मम देहि स्वं करं त्वं धर्मवत्सल
'Whatever I say, O king, that must certainly be done by you; therefore, give me your hand, O righteous one.'
बहुधर्मसमोपेतं चारुलक्षणसंयुतम् । राजोवाच- अन्य भार्यां न विंदामि त्वां विना वरवर्णिनि
Endowed with many virtues and adorned with beautiful marks— the king said: I will not take another wife besides you, O woman of excellent complexion.
राज्यं च सकलामुर्वीं मम कायं वरानने । सकोशं भुंक्ष्व चार्वंगि एष दत्तः करस्तव
Rule the kingdom, the whole earth, and my own body, O lovely-faced one; enjoy it all with its treasury, O graceful-limbed one— I give you my hand.
यदेव भाषसे भद्रे तदेवं तु करोम्यहम् । अश्रुबिंदुमत्युवाच- अनेनापि महाभाग तव भार्या भवाम्यहम्
Whatever you say, O blessed one, that I shall do. Ashrubindumati said: By this too, O highly fortunate one, I become your wife.
एवमाकर्ण्य राजेंद्रो हर्षव्याकुललोचनः । गांधर्वेण विवाहेन ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः
Hearing this, the king, his eyes brimming with joy, Yayati, lord of the earth, married her by the Gandharva rite.
उपयेमे सुतां पुण्यां मन्मथस्य नरोत्तम । तया सार्द्धं महात्मा वै रमते नृपनंदनः
The best of men took as wife the virtuous daughter of Manmatha; with her, the great-souled son of the king delighted.
सागरस्य च तीरेषु वनेषूपवनेषु च । पर्वतेषु च रम्येषु सरित्सु च तया सह
On the shores of the ocean, in forests and groves, on beautiful mountains and by rivers, he enjoyed himself with her.
रमते राजराजेंद्रस्तारुण्येन महीपतिः । एवं विंशत्सहस्राणि गतानि निरतस्य च
The king of kings, the lord of the earth, reveled in youth with her; thus twenty thousand years passed in his enjoyment.
भूपस्य तस्य राजेंद्र ययातेस्तु महात्मनः । विष्णुरुवाच- एवं तया महाराजो ययातिर्मोहितस्तदा
For that king, that lord of the earth, Yayati the great-souled— Vishnu said: Thus, with her, King Yayati was then deluded.
कंदर्पस्य प्रपंचेन इंद्रस्यार्थे महामते । सुकर्मोवाच- एवं पिप्पल राजासौ ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः
By the contrivance of Kamadeva, for the sake of Indra, O wise one— Sukarma said: Thus, O Pippala, that king Yayati, lord of the earth—
तस्या मोहनकामेन रतेन ललितेन च । न जानाति दिनं रात्रिं मुग्धः कामस्य कन्यया
By her enchanting desire and playful lovemaking, he, bewildered by the maiden of love, did not know day from night.
एकदा मोहितं भूपं ययातिं कामनंदिनी । उवाच प्रणतं नम्रं वशगं चारुलोचना
Once, as the king Yayati was thus enchanted, Kāmanandinī, with beautiful eyes, spoke to him— submissive, bowed, and under her sway.
अश्रुबिंदुमत्युवाच- संजातं दोहदं कांत तन्मे कुरु मनोरथम् । अश्वमेधमखश्रेष्ठं यजस्व पृथिवीपते
Ashrubindumati said: A longing has arisen in me, beloved; fulfill this wish of mine— perform the supreme horse sacrifice, O lord of the earth.
राजोवाच- एवमस्तु महाभागे करोमि तव सुप्रियम् । समाहूय सुतश्रेष्ठं राज्यभोगे विनिःस्पृहम्
The king said: So be it, O greatly fortunate one, I will do what pleases you most; summoning my excellent son, who is free from desire for the kingdom's enjoyment.
समाहूतः समायातो भक्त्यानमितकंधरः । बद्धांजलिपुटो भूत्वा प्रणाममकरोत्तदा
Summoned, he came, his head humbly bowed in devotion; with hands joined in reverence, he then offered his respects.
तस्याः पादौ ननामाथ भक्त्या नमितकंधरः । आदेशो दीयतां राजन्येनाहूतः समागतः
With devotion and head bowed, he touched her feet; 'Command me, O king, for whom I have been summoned and have come.'
किं करोमि महाभाग दासस्ते प्रणतोस्मि च । राजोवाच- अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य संभारं कुरु पुत्रक
'What shall I do, O greatly fortunate one? I am your servant and bow to you.' The king said: 'Prepare the materials for the horse sacrifice, my son.'
समाहूय द्विजान्पुण्यानृत्विजो भूमिपालकान् । एवमुक्तो महातेजाः पूरुः परमधार्मिकः
Summoning the virtuous twice-born, the officiating priests, and rulers of the earth— thus addressed, the mighty and supremely righteous Puru—
सर्वं चकार संपूर्णं यथोक्तं तु महात्मना । तया सार्धं स जग्राह सुदीक्षां कामकन्यया
He accomplished everything completely as instructed by the great-souled one; together with her, he undertook the excellent initiation with the maiden of desire.
अश्वमेधयज्ञवाटे दत्वा दानान्यनेकधा । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महाराज भूरिदानमनंतकम्
In the place of the horse-sacrifice, the king gave many gifts to the Brahmins, O great king, boundless and abundant charity.
दीनेषु च विशेषेण ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः । यज्ञांते च महाराजस्तामुवाच वराननाम्
Especially to the needy, King Yayāti, lord of the earth, at the end of the sacrifice, spoke to her of beautiful face.
अन्यत्ते सुप्रियं बाले किं करोमि वदस्व मे । तत्सर्वं देवि कर्तास्मि साध्यासाध्यं वरानने
Tell me, O beloved girl, what else most dear to you shall I do? All that you desire, O radiant one, whether possible or impossible, I shall accomplish.
सुकर्मोवाच- इत्युक्ता तेन सा राज्ञा भूपालं प्रत्युवाच ह । जातो मे दोहदो राजंस्तत्कुरुष्व ममानघ
Sukarma said— Thus addressed by the king, she replied to the ruler: A longing has arisen in me, O faultless one; fulfill it for me.
इंद्रलोकं ब्रह्मलोकं शिवलोकं तथैव च । विष्णुलोकं महाराज द्रष्टुमिच्छामि सुप्रियम्
I wish to see, O great king, Indra's realm, Brahma's realm, Shiva's realm, and likewise Vishnu's realm, O beloved.
दर्शयस्व महाभाग यदहं सुप्रिया तव । एवमुक्तस्तयाराजातामुवाचससुप्रियाम्
Show me, O most fortunate one, whatever is dear to you, O beloved; thus addressed by her, the king spoke to his beloved.
साधुसाधुवरारोहेपुण्यमेवप्रभाषसे । स्त्रीस्वभावाच्चचापल्यात्कौतुकाच्चवरानने
Well spoken, well spoken, O beautiful one; you speak of virtue. Yet, O radiant one, out of feminine nature, restlessness, and curiosity, you have asked.
यत्तवोक्तं महाभागे तदसाध्यं विभाति मे । तत्साध्यं पुण्यदानेन यज्ञेन तपसापि च
What you have said, O blessed one, appears impossible to me; yet it may be accomplished by giving merit, by sacrifice, or by austerity.