त्वं तु लोभेन कामेन लुब्धो वदसि दुष्कृतम् । किल्बिषेण समाजुष्टं वेदशास्त्रविवर्जितम्
But you, out of greed and desire, speak wickedly—engaged in sin, devoid of Vedic scripture.
यद्यस्यदिष्टमेवास्ति शुभं वाप्यशुभं दृढम् । पूर्वकर्मानुसारेण तत्तस्य परिजायते
If something is firmly destined, whether auspicious or inauspicious, it arises according to previous actions.
देवानां ब्राह्मणानां च वदने यत्सुभाषितम्। निःसरेद्यदि सत्यं तदन्यथा नैव जायते
If what is well spoken in the mouths of gods and Brāhmaṇas is true, then it comes to pass; otherwise, it does not occur.
मद्भाग्यादेवमाज्ञातं नहुषस्यापि तस्य च। समायोगं विचार्यैवं देव्या प्रोक्तं शिवेन च
By my own fortune, this has been known—also for Nahuṣa and for him. Considering their union, this was spoken by the goddess and by Śiva.
एवं ज्ञात्वा शमं गच्छ त्यज भ्रान्तिं मनःस्थिताम्। नैव शक्तो भवान्दैत्य मे मनश्चालितुं ध्रुवम्
Knowing thus, find peace; abandon the delusion fixed in your mind. Surely, O Daitya, you are not able to shake my mind.
पतिव्रता दृढा चित्ते स को मे चालितुं क्षमः। महाशापेन धक्ष्यामि इतो गच्छ महासुर
I am steadfast in my mind as a devoted wife—who is able to shake me? By a great curse I will burn you; depart from here, great Asura.
एवमाकर्ण्य तद्वाक्यं हुण्डो वै दानवो बली । मनसा चिन्तयामास कथं भार्या भवेदियम्
Hearing those words, the powerful demon Huṇḍa thought to himself, 'How might this woman become my wife?'
विचिन्त्य हुण्डो मायावी अन्तर्धानं समागतः । ततो निष्क्रम्य वेगेन तस्मात्स्थानाद्विहाय ताम्। अन्यस्मिन्दिवसे प्राप्ते मायां कृत्वा तमोमयीम्
Having considered, the deceitful Huṇḍa vanished by his magic; then, leaving that place swiftly, he departed, and when another day arrived, he created an illusion of darkness.
दिव्यं मायामयं रूपं कृत्वा नार्यास्तु दानवः । मायया कन्यका रूपो बभूव मम नन्दन
The demon took on a wondrous magical form, appearing as a woman; by his illusion, he became a maiden, O dear one.
सा कन्यापि वरारोहा मायारूपागमत्ततः। हास्यलीला समायुक्ता यत्रास्ते भवनन्दिनी
That maiden, beautiful and formed by illusion, then approached, engaging in playful jest where Bhavanandinī resided.
उवाच वाक्यं स्निग्धेव अशोकसुन्दरीं प्रति । कासि कस्यासि सुभगे तिष्ठसि त्वं तपोवने
She spoke gentle words to Aśokasundarī, 'Who are you, O fortunate one? Whose daughter are you, standing here in this forest hermitage?'
किमर्थं क्रियते बाले कामशोषणकं तपः। तन्ममाचक्ष्व सुभगे किन्निमित्तं सुदुष्करम्
'For what reason, O girl, do you perform this severe penance that dries up desire? Tell me, O blessed one, what is the cause of this most difficult undertaking?'
तन्निशम्य शुभं वाक्यं दानवेनापि भाषितम् । मायारूपेण छन्नेन साभिलाषेण सत्वरम्
Hearing those auspicious words spoken by the demon, she, concealed in illusion and full of longing, quickly replied.
आत्मसृष्टि सुवृत्तान्तं प्रवृत्तं तु यथा पुरा । तपसः कारणं सर्वं समाचष्ट सुदुःखिता
She sorrowfully recounted her own story from the beginning, explaining everything and the reason for her penance.
उपप्लवं तु तस्यापि दानवस्य दुरात्मनः। मायारूपं न जानाति सौहृदात्कथितं तया
But she, out of friendship, did not recognize the illusory form of that wicked demon, and spoke openly with him.
"हुण्ड उवाच- पतिव्रतासि हे देवि साधुव्रतपरायणा। साधुशीलसमाचारा साधुचारा महासती
Huṇḍa said: 'O goddess, you are devoted to your husband, steadfast in virtuous vows, possessing noble conduct and character, truly a great and chaste woman.'
अहं पतिव्रता भद्रे पतिव्रतपरायणा। तपश्चरामि सुभगे भर्तुरर्थे महासती
'I too, O blessed one, am devoted to my husband, intent on the vow of fidelity; I perform penance for my husband's sake, being a great and chaste woman.'
मम भर्ता हतस्तेन हुंडेनापि दुरात्मना। तस्य नाशाय वै घोरं तपस्यामि महत्तपः
'My husband was slain by that wicked Huṇḍa; for his destruction, I undertake this fierce and great penance.'
एहि मे स्वाश्रमे पुण्ये गंगातीरे वसाम्यहम्। अन्यैर्मनोहरैर्वाक्यैरुक्ता प्रत्ययकारकैः
'Come to my own hermitage, O pure one, I dwell on the bank of the Gaṅgā; with other charming and trustworthy words she was persuaded.'
हुंडेन सखिभावेन मोहिता शिवनंदिनी। समाकृष्टा सुवेगेन महामोहेन मोहिता
By Huṇḍa, acting as a friend, Śivanandinī was deceived and drawn away swiftly, overcome by great delusion.
आनीतात्मगृहं दिव्यमनौपम्यं सुशोभनम्। मेरोस्तु शिखरे पुत्र वैडूर्याख्यं पुरोत्तमम्
She was brought to his own home, a divine and incomparable splendid place, on the summit of Mount Meru, the foremost city called Vaiḍūrya.
अस्ति सर्वगुणोपेतं कांचनाख्यं महाशिवम्। तुंगप्रासादसंबाधैः कलशैर्दंडचामरैः
There stands the most auspicious city called Kāñcana, endowed with all virtues, crowded with lofty palaces, adorned with spires, staffs, and yak-tail fans.
नानवृक्षसमोपेतैर्वनैर्नीलैर्घनोपमैः। वापीकूपतडागैश्च नदीभिस्तु जलाशयैः
Surrounded by various kinds of trees, with forests dark as clouds, and with pools, wells, tanks, rivers, and reservoirs of water.
शोभमानं महारत्नैः प्राकारैर्हेमसंयतैः। सर्वकामसमृद्धार्थं सम्पूर्णं दानवस्य हि
Shining with great jewels, with ramparts bound with gold, it is filled with every pleasure and prosperity, truly the domain of the demon.
ददृशे सा पुरं रम्यमशोकसुन्दरी तदा। कस्य देवस्य संस्थानं कथयस्व सखे मम
Then that beautiful woman, Ashokasundarī, saw the delightful city and said: 'Friend, tell me, to which god does this city belong?'
सोवाच दानवेन्द्रस्य दृष्टपूर्वस्य वै त्वया। तस्य स्थानं महाभागे सोऽहं दानवपुङ्गवः
He replied: 'O highly fortunate one, this is the abode of the lord of the Dānavas whom you have seen before. I am that foremost of Dānavas.'
मया त्वं तु समानीता मायया वरवर्णिनि । तामाभाष्य गृहं नीता शातकौम्भं सुशोभनम्
It is by my illusion, O woman of lovely complexion, that you have been brought here by me. After speaking thus, I led her to a splendid golden mansion.
नानावेश्मैः समाजुष्टं कैलासशिखरोपमम्। निवेश्य सुंदरीं तत्र दोलायां कामपीडितः
Adorned with many mansions and resembling the peak of Kailāsa, he seated the beautiful woman there on a swing, tormented by desire.
पुनः स्वरूपी दैत्येन्द्रः कामबाणप्रपीडितः। करसम्पुटमाबध्य उवाच वचनं तदा
Again, the lord of the Daityas, afflicted by the arrows of love, assumed his true form, joined his hands in reverence, and spoke these words.
यं यं त्वं वाञ्छसे भद्रे तं तं दद्मि न संशयः। भज मां त्वं विशालाक्षिभजन्तं कामपीडितम्
'O wide-eyed one, whatever you desire, I will give you without doubt. Accept me, who am tormented by love, as your devotee.'