क्रीडंत्यः किन्नरीभिस्तु सार्द्धं संगतकं यदा । संस्थितास्तेन न ज्ञातो दिवसोऽच्छोदसरोवरे
While playing with the Kinnari women together with the companion, we did not notice the passing of the day at the clear lake.
पथि श्रांता वयं मातः संतापस्तेन नस्तनौ । मोहेन महता वक्तुं न केनाप्युत्सहामहे
On the way, we became weary, mother; that caused us distress. Due to great bewilderment, none of us had the courage to speak.
इत्युक्त्वा लुठितास्तत्र मणिभूमौ कुमारिकाः । आकारं गोपयंत्यस्ता मुग्धा जल्पंति मातृभिः
Having said this, the maidens lay there on the jeweled floor, concealing their feelings, innocently conversing with their mothers.
काचिन्नर्तयति क्रीडामयूरं न मुदा तदा । न पाठयति तं कीरं पंजरेऽन्या कुतूहलात्
One does not make the playful peacock dance with joy; another does not recite to the parrot in the cage out of curiosity.
लालयेन्नकुलं नान्या नोल्लापयति सारिकाम् । अपरातीव संमुग्धा नैव खेलति सारसैः
Another does not fondle the mongoose, nor does she converse with the myna; yet another, as if utterly enchanted, does not play with the cranes.
भेजिरे न विनोदं ता रेमिरे नैव मंदिरे । ऊचिरे बांधवैर्नालं वीणावाद्यं न चक्रिरे
They did not seek amusement, nor did they delight in the pavilion; they did not speak with their relatives, nor did they play the lute.
कल्पद्रुमप्रसूनं यत्सर्वं तच्चानलोपमम् । मंदारकुसुमामोदि न पपुर्मधुरं मधु
All the flowers of the wish-fulfilling tree, though like fire, and the fragrance of mandara blossoms, did not taste sweet to them.
योगिन्य इव ताः कन्या नासाग्रन्यस्तलोचनाः । अलक्ष्यध्यानसंतानाः पुरुषोत्तममानसाः
Like yoginis, those maidens, with their gaze fixed at the tip of their noses, their meditation unperceived, their minds absorbed in the Supreme Person.
चंद्रकांतमणिच्छन्ने स्रवद्वारिणि कंदरे । क्षणं वातायने स्थित्वा जलयंत्रगृहेक्षणम्
Covered by moonstone, in a cave with dripping water, they stood for a moment at the window, gazing at the waterworks of the house.
रचयंति क्षणं शय्यां दीर्घिकां भोजिनीदलैः । वीज्यमानाः सखीभिस्ताः शीतलैर्नलिनीदलैः
For a moment, they arranged their beds with leaves from the dining pond; fanned by their friends with cool lotus leaves.
इत्थं युगसमां रात्रिमनयंस्ता वरस्त्रियः । कथंचिद्धारणं कृत्वा विह्वलाः सज्वरा इव
Thus, those noble women passed the night, equal to an age, somehow maintaining themselves, agitated as if feverish.
प्रातर्व्योममणिं दृष्ट्वा मन्यमानाः स्वजीवितम् । विज्ञाप्य मातरं स्वांस्वां गौरीं पूजयितुं गताः
In the morning, seeing the sky-gem, thinking of their own lives, they informed their mothers and went to worship their own Gauri.
स्नात्वा तेन विधानेन पुष्पैर्धूपैस्तथा पुनः । विधाय पूजनं देव्या गायंत्यस्तत्र ताः स्थिताः
Bathing according to the prescribed method, with flowers and incense, again performing worship of the goddess, they stood there singing.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे विप्रः स्नातुं सोऽपि समागतः । पितुराश्रमतस्तस्मादच्छोदेऽत्र सरोवरे
Meanwhile, the Brahmin also arrived to bathe, coming from his father's hermitage to the clear lake here.
मित्रं दृष्ट्वैव रात्र्यंते पद्मिन्य इव कन्यकाः । तत्फुल्लनयना जातास्तं दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मचारिणम्
Seeing their friend at the end of the night, the maidens became like lotuses, their eyes blooming upon seeing the celibate youth.
गत्वा तत्रैव ताः कन्या समीपं ब्रह्मचारिणः । सव्यापसव्यबंधेन भुजपाशं च चक्रिरे
Going there, the maidens approached the celibate youth and, with their arms, encircled him from both sides.
गतोऽसि प्रिय पूर्वेद्युर्गंतुमद्य न लभ्यते । वृतस्त्वं नूनमस्माभिर्नात्र तेऽस्ति विचारणा
You departed, dear one, yesterday; today you cannot go. You are now bound by us—there is no deliberation for you here.
इत्युक्तो ब्राह्मणः प्राह प्रहसन्बाहुपाशगः । युष्माभिरुच्यते भद्रमनुकूलं प्रियं वचः
Thus addressed, the Brahmin, smiling and with arms folded, replied: 'You speak words that are auspicious, agreeable, and kind.'
प्रथमाश्रमनिष्ठस्य किंतु नश्येत मे व्रतम् । विद्याभ्यसनशीलस्य नाभूत्पारं गुरोः कुले
But for one devoted to the first stage of life, my vow would be destroyed; for one intent on study and discipline, the end is not attained in the teacher’s house.
आश्रमे यत्र यो धर्मो रक्षणीयः सुपंडितैः । विवाहोऽयमतो मन्ये न धर्म इति कन्यकाः
In the hermitage, the duty that must be protected by the learned is this; therefore, I consider that marriage is not dharma here, O maidens.
आकर्ण्य विप्रवाक्यानि विप्रमूचुर्वरस्त्रियः । सकलध्वनिसोत्कंठ्यो कोकिलाइव माधवे
Hearing the Brahmin’s words, the noble women replied, longing with all their hearts, like cuckoos in spring.
धर्मादर्थोऽर्थतः कामः कामात्सुखफलोदयः । इत्येवं निश्चयज्ञास्ते वर्णयंति विपश्चितः
From dharma comes wealth, from wealth comes desire, and from desire arises the fruit of happiness—thus the wise, certain in knowledge, describe it.
सकामो धर्मबाहुल्यात्पुरतस्ते समुत्थितः । सेव्यतां विविधैर्भोगैः स्वच्छाभूमिरियं यतः
One who desires, having an abundance of dharma, has arisen before you; therefore, enjoy this pure land with various pleasures.
श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं तासां प्राह गंभीरया गिरा । तथ्यं वो वचनं किंतु ममाप्यावश्यकं व्रतम्
Hearing those words of theirs, he spoke with a deep voice: 'Your words are true, but my vow is also necessary for me.'
प्राप्यानुज्ञां गुरोः कुर्वे विवाहकर्म नान्यथा । इत्युक्ताः पुनरूचुस्ताः स्फुटं मूढोऽसि सुंदर
Having obtained the teacher’s permission, I will perform the marriage rite, not otherwise.' Thus addressed, they replied again: 'You are clearly foolish, O handsome one.'
सिद्धौषधं ब्रह्मधिया रसायनं सिद्धिर्निधिः साधुकुला वरांगनाः । मंत्रस्तथा सिद्धरसश्च धर्मतो मुने निषेव्याः सुधिया समागताः
A perfected medicine, an elixir for the mind devoted to Brahman, accomplishment, treasure, noble families, excellent women, mantra, and perfected essence—when these are gathered, O sage, they should be enjoyed by the wise according to dharma.
कार्यं नु दैवाद्यदि सिद्धिमागतं तस्मिन्नुपेक्षां न च यांति नीतिगाः । यस्मादुपेक्षा न पुनः फलप्रदा तस्मान्न दीर्घीकरणं प्रशस्यते
If a task, by fate, brings success, then the wise do not neglect it; for neglect does not yield fruit again, therefore, delay is not praised.
विषादप्यमृतं ग्राह्यममेध्यादपि कांचनम् । नीचादप्युत्तमां विद्यां स्त्रीरत्नं दुष्कुलादपि
Nectar should be taken even from poison, gold even from impurity, excellent knowledge even from a low-born, and a jewel of a woman even from a bad family.
सांद्रानुरागाः कुलजन्मनिर्मलाः स्नेहार्द्रचित्ता सुगिरः स्वयंवराः । कन्या सुरूपाः खलु चारुयौवना धन्या लभंतेऽत्र नरास्तु नेतरे
Girls who are deeply affectionate, of pure lineage, tender-hearted, sweet-spoken, self-choosing, beautiful in form, and in the bloom of youth—truly, only fortunate men obtain them here, not others.
क्व वयं सुरसुंदर्य्यः क्व भवांस्तापसो बटुः । दुर्घटस्य विधानेन मन्ये धातैव पंडितः
Where are we, divine beauties, and where are you, an ascetic youth? By the arrangement of the unattainable, I think the Creator alone is wise.