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.
यद्ययं कामदेवो हि रतिहीनः कथं भवेत् । अथवाह्यश्विनौ देवौ तावुभौ युगचारिणौ
'If he is the god of love, how can he be without his consort Rati? Or perhaps he is one of the twin Ashvin gods, who always move together.'
गंधर्वः किन्नरो वाथ सिद्धो वा कामरूपधृक् । ऋषिपुत्रोऽथवा कश्चित्कश्चिद्वा मनुजोत्तमः
'Or is he a Gandharva, a Kinnara, or a Siddha who can assume any form? Or perhaps the son of a sage, or some eminent man among men?'
अस्ति वा कश्चिदेवायं धात्रा सृष्टो हि नः कृते । यथाभाग्यवतामर्थे निधानं पूर्वकर्मभिः
'Or is he some god, created by the Creator for our sake, as a treasure for the fortunate, determined by previous deeds?'
तथास्माकं कुमारीणां गौर्यानीतो वरोत्तमः । करुणाजलकल्लोल लब्धाद्री र्कृ!तचित्तया
'Just as Gauri brought the best husband for us maidens, so too have we, with hearts moved by waves of compassion, obtained this excellent youth.'
मया वृतस्त्वया चायं त्वया वृतस्तथानया । एवं पंचसुकन्यासु वदंतीषु नृपोत्तम
'I have chosen him, and so have you; she too has chosen him.' Thus, among the five maidens, O best of kings, they spoke.
श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं तत्र कृतमाध्याह्निकक्रियः । चिंतयामास मेधावी किं कृत्वा सुकृतं भवेत्
Hearing those words, after completing his midday rites, the wise one pondered, 'What should I do to bring about a good result?'
गाधिसंभवपराशरादयः कंडुदेवलमुखाश्च ये द्विजाः । तेऽपि योगि बलिनो विमोहिताः लीलया तदबलाभिरद्भुतम्
Even the powerful sages descended from Gādhi and Parāśara, and those like Kaṇḍu and Devala, though strong in yoga, were playfully bewildered by those wondrous women.
योषितां नयनतीक्ष्णसायकैर्भ्रूलतासुदृढचापनिर्गतैः । धन्विना मकरकेतुना हतः कस्य नो पतति वामनो मृगः
Who among men is not struck down by the god of love, Makaraketana, with the sharp arrows of women's glances, their firm-browed, well-drawn bows?
तावदेव नयधीर्विराजते तावदेव जनताभयं भवेत् । तावदेव धृतचित्तता भृशं तावदेव गणना कुलस्य च
One's wisdom shines only so long, safety among people lasts only so long, steadfastness of mind endures only so long, and the reckoning of family matters only so long—
तावदेव तपसः प्रगल्भता तावदेव शमसेवनं नृणाम् । यावदेव ललनेक्षणा स वैर्माद्यते द्रुतमदैर्न पूरुषः
The strength of asceticism, the practice of self-control among men, all endure only as long as a man's mind is not maddened by the glances of women.