सुमतिरुवाच। हेमकूटो गिरिः पूतः सर्वदेवोपशोभितः । तत्रास्ति तीर्थं विमलमृषिवृंदसुसेवितम्
Sumati said: There is the pure Hemakūṭa mountain, adorned by all the gods; there is a holy bathing place, pure and well-served by groups of sages.
सुमदो हि तपस्तेपे हतमातृपितृप्रजः । अरिभिः सर्वसामंतैर्जगाम तपसे हि तम्
Sumada, bereft of mother, father, and children, performed austerity there; attacked by enemies from all sides, he went to that place for penance.
वर्षाणि त्रीणि सपदा त्वेकेन मनसा स्मरन् । जगतां मातरं दध्यौ नासाग्रस्तिमितेक्षणः
For three years and a quarter, with unwavering mind, he meditated on the Mother of the worlds, his gaze fixed steadily at the tip of his nose.
वर्षाणि त्रीणि शुष्काणां पर्णानां भक्षणं चरन् । चकार परमुग्रं स तपः परमदुश्चरम्
For three years, subsisting only on dry leaves, he performed an extremely severe and supremely difficult austerity.
अब्दानि त्रीणि सलिले शीतकाले ममज्ज सः । ग्रीष्मे चचार पंचाग्नीन्प्रावृट्सु जलदोन्मुखः
For three years, during the cold season, he immersed himself in water; in the summer, he practiced the five-fire penance, and in the rainy season, he faced the clouds.
त्रीणि वर्षाणि पवनं संरुध्य स्वांतगोचरम् । भवानीं संस्मरन्धीरो न च किंचन पश्यति
For three years, restraining his breath within his own heart, the steadfast one remembered Bhavani and saw nothing else.
वर्षे तु द्वादशेऽतीते दृष्ट्वैतत्परमं तपः । विभाव्य मनसातीव शक्रः पस्पर्ध तं भयात्
When the twelfth year had passed and this supreme austerity was seen, Indra, deeply considering it in his mind, became fearful and competed with him.
आदिदेश सकामं तु परिवारपरीवृतम् । अप्सरोभिः सुसंयुक्तं ब्रह्मेंद्रादिजयोद्यतम्
He commanded Kama, surrounded by his retinue and joined by beautiful apsarases, ready to conquer even Brahma and Indra.
गच्छ कामसखे मह्यं प्रियमाचर मोहन । सुमदस्य तपोविघ्नं समाचर यथा भवेत्
Go, friend of Kama, do what pleases me and enchants; cause an obstacle to Sumada's austerity, so that it may be disrupted.
इति श्रुत्वा महद्वाक्यं तुरासाहः स्वयंप्रभुः । उवाच विश्वविजये प्रौढगर्वो रघूद्वह
Hearing this great command, Turasaha, the self-lord, spoke with proud confidence in universal conquest, O best of the Raghus.
काम उवाच। स्वामिन्कोऽसौ हि सुमदः किं तपः स्वल्पकं पुनः । ब्रह्मादीनां तपोभंगं करोम्यस्य तु का कथा
Kama said: 'This Sumada is your servant—what is this small austerity to him? I have broken the austerities of Brahma and others; what need is there to speak of his?'
मद्बाणबलनिर्भिन्नश्चंद्रस्तारां गतः पुरा । त्वमप्यहल्यां गतवान्विश्वामित्रस्तु मेनिकाम्
'By the force of my arrows, the moon once went to the stars; you too went to Ahalya, and Visvamitra to Menaka.'
चिंतां मा कुरु देवेंद्र सेवके मयि संस्थिते । एष गच्छामि सुमदं देवान्पालय मारिष
'Do not worry, O Indra, while I, your servant, am here; I will go to Sumada—protect the gods, O slayer of foes.'
एवमुक्त्वा कामदेवो हेमकूटं गिरिं ययौ । वसंतेन युतः सख्या तथैवाप्सरसांगणैः
Having spoken thus, Kamadeva went to Mount Hemakuta, accompanied by his friend Spring and the hosts of apsarases.
वसंतस्तत्र सकलान्वृक्षान्पुष्पफलैर्युतान् । कोकिलान्षट्पदश्रेण्या घुष्टानाशु चकार ह
There, Spring quickly made all the trees full of flowers and fruits, and filled the air with the calls of cuckoos and swarms of bees.
वायुः सुशीतलो वाति दक्षिणां दिशमाश्रितः । कृतमालासरित्तीर लवंगकुसुमान्वितः
A pleasantly cool breeze blew from the south, along the banks of the Krtamala river, scented with clove blossoms.
एवंविधे वने वृत्ते रंभानामाप्सरोवरा । सखीभिः संवृता तत्र जगाम सुमदांतिकम्
In such a forest, the best of apsarases, Rambha, surrounded by her companions, went there to approach Sumada.
तत्रारभत गानं सा किन्नरस्वरशोभना । मृदंगपणवानेकवाद्यभेदविशारदा
There she began to sing, her voice adorned with the tones of kinnara, skilled in playing many instruments like the mridanga and panava.
तद्गानमाकर्ण्य नराधिपोऽसौ । वसंतमालोक्य मनोहरं च । तथान्यपुष्टारटितं मनोरमं । चकार चक्षुः परिवर्तनं बुधः
Hearing that song, the king, seeing Spring and the enchanting sights, and the delightful cries of other birds, moved his eyes about in wonder.
तं प्रबुद्धं नृपं वीक्ष्य कामः पुष्पायुधस्त्वरन् । चकार सत्वरं सज्यं धनुस्तत्पृष्ठतोऽनघ
Seeing the king awakened, Kama, armed with his flower-bow, swiftly prepared his bow and stood behind him, O sinless one.
एकाप्सरास्तत्र नृपस्य पादयोः । संवाहनं नर्तितनेत्रपल्लवा । चकार चान्या तु कटाक्षमोक्षणं । चकार काचिद्भृशमंगचेष्टितम्
There, one apsaras massaged the king's feet, her eyes dancing with playful glances; another cast sidelong looks, while yet another moved her limbs with alluring gestures.
अप्सरोभिस्तथाकीर्णः कामविह्वलमानसः । चिंतयामास मतिमाञ्जितेंद्रियशिरोमणिः
Surrounded by apsarases in this way, his mind agitated by desire, the wise king, master of his senses, began to reflect.
एता मे तपसो विघ्नकारिण्योऽप्सरसां वराः । शक्रेण प्रेषिताः सर्वाः करिष्यंति यथातथम्
These best among apsarases are obstacles to my austerity, sent by Indra; they will act according to his wishes.
इति संचिंत्य सुतपास्ता उवाच वरांगनाः । का यूयं कुत्र संस्थाः किं भवतीनां चिकीर्षितम्
Thinking thus, the ascetic addressed the noble women: 'Who are you? Where have you come from? What do you intend to do?'
अत्यद्भुतं जातमहो यद्भवत्योऽक्षिगोचराः । यास्तपोभिः सुदुष्प्राप्यास्ता मे तपस आगताः
How astonishing it is that you, who are rarely seen even by great austerities, have come within my sight as a result of my penance.
शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य सुमदस्य तपोनिधेः । जगदुः कामसेनास्तं रंभाद्यप्सरसो मुदा
Śeṣa said: Hearing these words from Sumada, the treasure of austerity, the apsarases led by Rambhā joyfully spoke to him.
त्वत्तपोभिर्वयं कांत प्राप्ताः सर्ववरांगनाः । तासां यौवनसर्वस्वं भुंक्ष्व त्यज तपःफलम्
O beloved, through your austerities we, all these most excellent women, have come to you; enjoy the fullness of our youth and abandon the fruits of your penance.
इयं घृताची सुभगा चंपकाभशरीरभृत् । कर्पूरगंधललितं भुनक्तु त्वन्मुखामृतम्
This is Ghṛtācī, fortunate and bearing a body like golden campaka flowers, fragrant with camphor; let her enjoy the nectar of your lips.
एतां महाभाग सुशोभिविभ्रमां । मनोहरांगीं घनपीनसत्कुचाम् । कांतोपभुंक्ष्वाशु निजोग्रपुण्यतः । प्राप्तां पुनस्त्वं त्यज दुःखजातम्
O highly fortunate one, swiftly enjoy this woman of beautiful movements, enchanting limbs, and full, firm breasts, who has come to you as a result of your intense merit; abandon the sorrow that has arisen.
मामप्यनर्घ्याभरणोपशोभितां । मंदारमालापरिशोभिवक्षसम् । नानारताख्यानविचारचंचुरां । दृढं यथा स्यात्परिरंभणं कुरु
Embrace me firmly, adorned with priceless ornaments, my chest shining with a garland of mandāra flowers, skilled in various arts and stories, so that our union may be complete.