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.
तस्मादस्मानिदानीं तु स्वीकुर्य्यात्मंगलं भवान् । गांधर्वेण विवाहेन अन्यथा नोपजीवनम्
Therefore, now, accept your own good fortune, sir, by Gandharva marriage; otherwise, there will be no livelihood.
श्रुत्वा वाक्यं ततः प्राह ब्राह्मणो धर्मवित्तमः । भो मृगाक्ष्यः कथं त्याज्यो धर्मो धर्मधनैर्नरैः
Hearing their words, the Brahmin, best knower of dharma, replied: 'O doe-eyed ones, how can dharma be abandoned by men for the sake of wealth?'
धर्मश्चार्थश्चकामश्च मोक्षश्चैतच्चतुष्टयम् । यथोक्तं फलदं ज्ञेयं विपरीतं तु निष्फलम्
Dharma, wealth, desire, and liberation—these four, as stated, are to be known as fruitful; the contrary is fruitless.
नाकालेऽहं व्रती कुर्यामतो दारपरिग्रहम् । न क्रिया फलमाप्नोति क्रियाकालं न वेत्ति यः
I will not, out of season, as one under vow, take a wife; for an act does not bear fruit if one does not know the proper time for it.
यतो धर्मविचारेऽस्मिन्प्रसक्तं मम मानसम् । तस्माच्छृणुत हे कन्या न समीहे स्वयंवरम्
Because my mind is absorbed in the consideration of dharma in this matter, therefore, O maidens, listen: I do not desire a svayamvara.
एवं ज्ञात्वाशयं तस्य समीक्ष्यैव परस्परम् । करात्करं विमुच्याथ जग्राहांघ्रिं प्रमोहिनी
Understanding his intention in this way, and having observed each other, Pramohinī released his hand and then grasped his feet.
भुजौ जगृहतुस्तस्य सुशीला सुस्वरा तथा । आलिलिंग सुतारा च वक्त्रं चुंबति चंद्रिका
Suśīlā and Susvarā took hold of his arms; Sutārā embraced him, and Candrikā kissed his face.
तथापि निर्विकारोऽसौ प्रलयानलसन्निभः । शशाप ब्रह्मचारी ताः क्रोधेनात्यंतमूर्छितः
Yet, he remained unmoved, like the fire at the end of the world; the brahmacārin, overwhelmed with anger, cursed them.
पिशाच्य इव मां लग्ना तत्पिशाच्यो भविष्यथ । एवं तेनाशु शप्तास्तास्तं त्यक्त्वा पुरतः स्थिताः
You have clung to me like piśācis—therefore, you shall become piśācis! Thus, having quickly cursed them, he stood before them.
किमेतच्चेष्टितं पापं ह्यनागसि विचेष्टया । प्रियंकृतोऽप्रियंकृत्वा धिक्त्वां धर्मकृतांतकम्
What is this sinful act you have done to one who is blameless? You have done what is hateful to one who showed you favor—shame on you, destroyers of dharma!