नाशितं तन्महाराज रेवाजलकणाग्निना । रेवाजलकणस्पर्शान्मुक्तो भवति मानवः
That was destroyed, O great king, by the fire of the drops of Revā's water; by the touch of Revā's water-drops, a person is freed.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- भगवन्बहुकन्याभिः शापो लंभि कथं कुतः । कस्यापत्यानि तास्तासां नाम किं कीदृशं वयः
Yudhiṣṭhira said: O Lord, by whom and how did the curse befall so many maidens? Whose children were they, what were their names, and what was their age?
कथं रेवाजलस्पर्शाद्विपाकाच्छापसंभवात् । विमुक्ताः कुत्र ताः सस्नुः सर्वं मे कथय प्रभो
How, by the touch of Revā's water, and by the fruition of the curse, were they freed? Where did they bathe? Tell me everything, O Lord.
नर्मदातीर्थमाहात्म्यं चमत्कारकरं भवेत् । श्रवणादपि पापानां मलनाशनमुच्यते
The glory of the Narmadā tirtha is truly wondrous; even by hearing it, it is said, the stains of sins are destroyed.
नर्मदानर्मदाशब्दो येन केनचिदुच्यते । तस्य स्याच्छाश्वती मुक्तिर्यावदाचंद्र तारकम्
Whoever utters the word 'Narmada' or even just the name 'Narmada' in any way, attains eternal liberation, lasting as long as the moon and stars endure.
व्याहृतं भवता पूर्वं रेवामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । तथापि चरितं साधो यदेतत्तन्निगद्यताम्
You have previously spoken, O noble one, of the supreme glory of the Reva; yet, O virtuous one, please recount again this story in detail.
अथ चोत्तमवार्ताया सेवितव्या मनीषिभिः । अतः पृच्छामि विप्रेंद्र रेवामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । इतिहासं वद विभो कन्यानां चरितोज्ज्वलम्
Now, since the highest tale is to be sought by the wise, therefore I ask you, O foremost of Brahmins, to tell the supreme glory of Reva, the illustrious history of the maidens.
नारद उवाच- श्रूयतां राजशार्दूल धर्मगर्भापरा कथा । यथारणिर्वह्निगर्भा धर्म्मस्तु ब्रह्मसूरिव
Narada said: Listen, O tiger among kings, to this tale filled with righteousness, just as fire is hidden within wood, so too is dharma born from Brahma.
गंधर्वः शुकसंगीतिस्तस्य कन्या प्रमोहिनी । सुशीलस्य सुशीला च सुस्वरा स्वरवेदिनः
There was a Gandharva named Shuka, famed for his music, whose daughter Pramohini was of virtuous conduct; Suśīla, daughter of Suśīla, was skilled in melody and versed in musical notes.
सुतारा चंद्रकांतस्य चंद्रिका सुप्रभस्य च । इमानि वरनामानि तासामप्सरसां नृप
Sutara, daughter of Chandrakanta, Chandrika, daughter of Suprabha—these are the excellent names of those Apsaras, O king.
कुमार्यः पंच सर्वास्ता वयसा सुभगाः पुनः । भाषंते च मिथस्तास्तु भगिन्य इव सर्वदा
All these five maidens were youthful and charming; they always conversed together as if they were sisters.
चंद्रादिव विनिष्क्रांताश्चंद्रिका इव सोज्ज्वलाः । चंद्राननाः सुकेश्यश्च चंद्रकांताइवोज्ज्वलाः
Radiant as moonlight, shining like beams from the moon, their faces were moon-like, their hair beautiful, and they sparkled like Chandrakanta gems.
देवेष्वेता विलासिन्यः कौमुद्यः कैरवेष्विव । लावण्यपिंडसंभूता दिव्यरूपा मनोहराः
Among the gods, these playful maidens were like moonlight among lotuses, born from the essence of beauty, divine in form, and captivating to behold.
उद्भिन्नकुचपद्मिन्यः केतक्य इव माधवे । उत्पन्नयौवनैः कांता वल्लीव नवपल्लवैः
With blossoming breasts like lotuses in spring, endowed with fresh youth and beauty, they were alluring like vines with new shoots.
हेमगौराश्च हेमाभा हेमाभरणभूषिताः । हेमचंपकमालिन्यो हेमच्छविसुवाससः
Golden in complexion, shining like gold, adorned with golden ornaments, garlanded with golden champaka flowers, and clothed in garments of golden hue.
स्वरग्रामावलीहासु विविधा मूर्च्छनासु च । तालवाद्यविनोदेषु वेणुवीणाप्रवादने
They were skilled in the arrangement of musical notes and various modes, in the enjoyment of rhythmic instruments, and in playing the flute and vina.
मृदंगनादसंभिन्नलास्यमध्यलयेषु च । चित्रादिषु विनोदेषु कलासु च विशारदाः
Expert in the art of dance accompanied by the sound of the drum, in the subtle rhythms of the dance, in amusements like painting, and accomplished in the arts.
एवंभूताश्च ताः कन्या मुमुहुः क्रीडनैर्वरैः । पितृभिर्लालिताः सर्वाश्चेरुश्च धनदालये
Such were these maidens, who delighted in various games; cherished by their fathers, they all dwelled in the abode of Kubera.
कौतुकादेकदा पंच मिलित्वा मासि माधवे । कन्या मंदारपुष्पाणि विचिन्वंत्यो वनाद्वनम्
Once, out of curiosity, the five maidens gathered together in the month of spring, wandering from grove to grove, searching for mandara flowers.
गौरीं समाराधयितुं स्वरांगनाः कदाचिदच्छोदसरोवरं ययुः । हेमांबुजानि प्रवराणि ताः पुनस्तस्मादुपादाय वरोत्पलैः सह
Desiring to worship Gauri, those maidens skilled in music once went to the clear lake; there, taking the finest golden lotuses and excellent blue lotuses, they gathered them.
वैडूर्यशुद्धस्फटिकप्रकुट्टिमे स्नात्वा तु घट्टे परिधाय चांबरम् । मौनेन च स्थंडिलपिंडिकामयीं सुवर्णमुक्ताभरणां विनिर्ममुः
Having bathed on a terrace paved with pure beryl and crystal, and having put on their garments at the bank, they silently fashioned an image of Gauri from a mound of clay, adorned with gold and pearl ornaments.
समर्चितां चंदनगंधकुंकुमैरभ्यर्च्य गौरीं वरपंकजादिभिः । नानोपहारैः शुभभक्तिभाविता लास्यप्रयोगैर्ननृतुः कुमारिकाः
They worshipped her with sandalwood, fragrant powders, and saffron, offering the finest lotuses and other gifts; filled with auspicious devotion, the maidens danced, performing the art of dance.
गांधर्वमाश्रित्य परं स्वरं ततो गेयं स्वभावध्वनिभिः समूर्छनम् । एणीदृशस्ताः प्रजगुः कलाक्षरं तारप्रवृद्धं गतिभिश्च सुस्वरम्
Adopting the Gandharva style, with supreme melody, they sang, weaving together their natural voices in harmonious modulation; those doe-eyed maidens sang artful syllables, their sweet voices rising in pitch and movement.
तस्मिन्सुभावे रसवर्षहर्षं कन्यास्वलं निर्भरचित्तवृत्तिषु । अच्छोदतीर्थे प्रवरे तदागतः स्नातुं मुनेर्वेदनिधेः सुतोग्रजः
In that delightful atmosphere, with a shower of joy and excitement, the maidens' minds were filled with rapture; at that very moment, the elder son of the sage, a treasure of Vedic wisdom, arrived at the sacred Acchoda river to bathe.
रूपेण निःसीमतरो वराननः प्रफुल्लपद्मायतलोचनो युवा । विस्तीर्णवक्षाः सुभुजोऽतिसुंदरः श्यामच्छविः कामइवापरो हि सः
His beauty was boundless, his face radiant, his eyes wide as blossoming lotuses, a youthful figure with broad chest, handsome arms, and striking form; his complexion was dark and lustrous—he seemed like another god of love incarnate.
स ब्रह्मचारी सुशिखो हि शोभते दंडेन युक्तो धनुषेव मन्मथः । एणाजिनप्रावरणः समुद्रधृग्हेमाभमौंजीकटिमेखलः परः
That brahmacārin, with well-tied hair, shone brightly, staff in hand, resembling Manmatha with his bow; clad in a black antelope skin, gazing like the ocean, girded with a golden muñja grass belt, he stood apart.
तं दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणं बालास्तास्तत्र सरसस्तटे । जहृषुः कौतुकाविष्टा अयं नो भवितातिथिः
Seeing that brāhmaṇa youth on the bank of the lake, the young girls, filled with curiosity, rejoiced, thinking, 'Perhaps he will be our guest.'
संत्यक्तगीतनृत्यास्तास्तस्यालोकनलालसाः । हरिण्यो लुब्धकेनेव विद्धाः कामेन सायकैः
Abandoning their singing and dancing, they gazed at him, eager and intent; like does struck by the hunter's arrows, they were pierced by the shafts of love.
पश्यपश्येति जल्पंत्यो मुग्धाः पंच ससंभ्रमम् । तस्मिन्विप्रवरे यूनि कामदेवभ्रमं ययुः
Chattering excitedly, saying, 'Look, look!' the innocent five, flustered, fell into the bewilderment of love for that distinguished young brāhmaṇa.
पुनःपुनस्तमभ्यर्च्य नयनैः पंकजैरिव । पश्चाद्विचारमारब्धमप्सरोभिः परस्परम्
Again and again, they worshipped him with their lotus-like eyes; afterwards, the apsarases began to discuss among themselves.