वारुणीपानरूपा च पयःफेनसमुद्भवा । अमृतस्य तरंगाच्च कामोदाख्या बभूव ह
Varuni took the form of a drink, arising from the froth of the milk, and Kamoda was born from the waves of the nectar.
सोमो राजा तथा लक्ष्मीर्जज्ञाते अमृतादपि । त्रैलोक्यभूषणः सोमः संजातः शंकरप्रियः
The king Soma and also Lakshmi were born from the nectar; Soma, the ornament of the three worlds, beloved of Shankara, came forth.
मृत्युरोगहरा जाता सुराणां वारुणी तथा । ज्येष्ठासु पुण्यदा जाता लोकानां हितमिच्छताम्
Varuni was born as the remover of death and disease for the gods; Jyestha, bestower of merit, arose for the benefit of those who seek the welfare of the worlds.
अमृतादुत्थिता देवी कामोदा नाम पुण्यदा । विष्णोः प्रीत्यै भविष्ये तु वृक्षरूपं प्रयास्यति
From the nectar arose the goddess named Kamoda, bestower of merit; for the pleasure of Vishnu, she will later take the form of a plant.
विष्णुप्रीतिकरी सा तु भविष्यति सदैव हि । तुलसी नाम सा पुण्या भविष्यति न संशयः
She will always bring delight to Vishnu; she will become the sacred Tulasi, without doubt.
तया सह जगन्नाथो रमिष्यति न संशयः । तुलस्याः पत्रमेकं यो नीत्वा कृष्णाय दास्यति
The Lord of the universe will delight with her, without doubt; whoever offers even a single leaf of Tulasi to Krishna,
मेने तस्योपकाराणां किमस्मै च ददाम्यहम् । इत्येवं चिंतयेन्नित्यं तस्य प्रीतिकरो भवेत्
He will always think, 'What return can I give for such a favor?'—thus reflecting daily, he becomes pleasing to Krishna.
एवं कामोद नामासौ पूर्वं जाता समुद्रजा । यदा सा हसते देवी हर्षगद्गदभाषिणी
Thus, Kamoda by name, born earlier from the ocean, when that goddess laughs, speaking with joy and emotion,
सौहृद्यानि सुगंधीनि मुखात्तस्याः पतंति वै । अम्लानानि सुपुष्पाणि यो गृह्णाति समुद्यतः
Fragrant, friendly, unfading, beautiful flowers fall from her mouth; whoever eagerly gathers them,
पूजयेच्छंकरं देवं ब्रह्माणं माधवं तथा । तस्य देवाः प्रतुष्यंति यदिच्छति ददंति तत्
And worships the god Shankara, Brahma, or Madhava with them, the gods are pleased with him and grant whatever he desires.
रोदित्येषा यदा सा च केन दुःखेन दुःखिता । नेत्राश्रुभ्यो हि तस्यास्तु प्रभवंति पतंति च
But when she weeps, afflicted by some sorrow, from her tears they arise and fall,
तानि चैव महाभाग हृद्यानि सुमहांति च । सौरभेण विना तैस्तु यः पूजयति शंकरम्
Those, O fortunate one, are dear and great; but if one worships Shankara with them, lacking fragrance,
तस्य दुःखं च संतापो जायते नात्र संशयः । पुष्पैस्तु तादृशैर्देवान्सकृदर्चति पापधीः
Suffering and distress arise for him, without doubt; if a wicked-minded person worships the gods even once with such flowers,
तस्य दुःखं प्रकुर्वंति देवास्तत्र न संशयः । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं कामोदाख्यानमुत्तमम्
The gods bring him suffering, without doubt; thus, I have told you all the supreme story of Kamoda.
अथ कृष्णो विचिंत्यैव दृष्ट्वा विक्रमसाहसम् । विहुंडस्यापि पापस्य उद्यमं साहसं तदा
Then Krishna, seeing the boldness and daring of the wicked Vikrama, considered what to do,
नारदं प्रेषयामास मोहयैनं दुरासदम् । नारदस्त्वथ संश्रुत्य वाक्यं विष्णोर्महात्मनः
He sent Narada to delude that difficult-to-approach sinner; and Narada, having heard the words of the great-souled Vishnu,
गच्छमानं दुरात्मानं कामोदां प्रति दानवम् । गत्वा तमाह दैत्येंद्रं नारदः प्रहसन्निव
As the wicked-hearted demon was going toward Kāmodā, Nārada approached him and spoke to the lord of the Daityas, as if laughing.
क्व यासि त्वं च दैत्येंद्र सत्वरं च समातुरः । सांप्रतं केन कार्येण कस्यार्थं केन नोदितः
Where are you going, O king of the Daityas, so hurriedly and anxiously? For what purpose, for whose sake, and at whose urging are you proceeding now?
ब्रह्मात्मजं नमस्कृत्य प्रत्युवाच कृतांजलि । कामोदपुष्पार्थमहं प्रस्थितो द्विजसत्तम
After bowing to the son of Brahmā, with hands joined in reverence, he replied: 'O best of twice-born, I am setting out to obtain the flowers of Kāmoda.'
तमुवाच स धर्मात्मा पुष्पैः किं ते प्रयोजनम् । विप्रवर्यं पुनः प्राह कार्यकारणमात्मनः
That righteous one asked him, 'What need do you have for those flowers?' Again, he questioned the excellent Brahmin about the purpose of his actions.
नंदनस्य वनोद्देशे काचिन्नारी वरानना । तस्या दर्शनमात्रेण गतोऽहं कामवश्यताम्
In a certain part of the Nandana forest, there is a woman of beautiful face. Merely by seeing her, I have become subject to desire.
तया प्रोक्तोऽस्मि विप्रेंद्र पुष्पैः कामोदसंभवैः । पूजयस्व महादेवं पुष्पैस्तु सप्तकोटिभिः
She has told me, O chief of Brahmins, 'Worship Mahādeva with flowers from Kāmoda—seven crore in number.'
ततस्ते सुप्रिया भार्या भविष्यामि न संशयः । तदर्थे प्रस्थितोऽस्म्यद्य कामोदाख्यं पुरं प्रति
Then, I will become her beloved husband without doubt. For that purpose, I am now setting out toward the city called Kāmodā.
तामहं कामयिष्यामि सिंधुजां शुणु सांप्रतम् । मनोल्लासैर्महाहासैर्हासयिष्याम्यहं पुनः
I desire her, the daughter of the ocean; listen now. With delightful thoughts and great laughter, I will make her laugh again.
प्रीता सती महाभागा हसिष्यति पुनः पुनः । तद्धास्यं गद्गदं विप्र मम कार्यप्रवर्द्धनम्
Satisfied and blessed, she will laugh again and again. That laughter, broken and trembling, O Brahmin, will advance my purpose.
तस्माद्धास्यात्पतिष्यंति दिव्यानि कुसुमानि च । तैस्तु देवमुमाकांतं पूजयिष्यामि सांप्रतम्
From that laughter, divine flowers will fall. With those, I will presently worship the god beloved of Umā.
तेन पूजाप्रदानेन तुष्टो दास्यति मे फलम् । ईश्वरः सर्वभूतेशः शंकरो लोकभावनः
By offering that worship, the lord Śaṅkara, creator of the worlds and master of all beings, will be pleased and grant me the fruit.
नारद उवाच- तत्र दैत्य न गंतव्यं कामोदाख्ये पुरोत्तमे । विष्णुरस्ति सुमेधावी सर्वदैत्यक्षयावहः
Nārada said: 'O Daitya, you must not go to the excellent city called Kāmodā. Viṣṇu, wise and always destructive to Daityas, is there.'
येनोपायेन पुष्पाणि कामोदाख्यानि दानव । तव हस्ते प्रयास्यंति तमुपायं वदाम्यहम्
By what means the flowers of Kāmodā will come into your hands, O Dānava, I will tell you that method.
गंगातोयेषु दिव्यानि पतिष्यंति न संशयः । वाहितानि जलैर्दिव्यैरागमिष्यंति सांप्रतम्
Divine flowers will fall into the waters of the Gaṅgā, without doubt. Borne by the celestial waters, they will soon arrive.