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.
पिबामृतं मामकवक्त्रनिर्गतं । विमानमारुह्य वरं मया सह । सुमेरुशृंगं बहुपुण्यसेवितं । संप्राप्य भोगं कुरु सत्तपः फलम्
Drink the nectar flowing from my mouth, ascend the celestial chariot with me, reach the peak of Mount Sumeru, sanctified by many merits, and enjoy the reward of your penance.
तिलोत्तमा यौवनरूपशोभिता । गृह्णातु ते मूर्धनि तापवारणम् । सुचामरौ संततधारयांकितौ । गंगाप्रवाहाविव सुंदरोत्तम
Let Tilottamā, radiant with youth and beauty, place a cooling cloth upon your head, O most excellent one, with two fine fans waving continuously like the streams of the Ganges.
शृणुष्व भोः कामकथां मनोहरां । पिबामृतं देवगणादिवांछितम् । उद्यानमासाद्य च नंदनाभिधं । वरांगनाभिर्विहरं कुरु प्रभो
Listen, O lord, to delightful tales of love; drink the nectar desired even by the gods; enter the garden called Nandana and sport with the noble women.
इत्युक्तमाकर्ण्य महामतिर्नृपो । विचारयामास कुतो ह्युपस्थिताः । मया सुसृष्टास्तपसा सुरांगनाः । प्रत्यूह एवात्र विधेयमेष किम्
Hearing these words, the wise king pondered: 'From where have these divine women, created by my austerity, come? What should I do about this obstacle?'
इति चिंतातुरो राजा स्वांते संचिंतयन्सुधीः । जगाद मतिमान्वीरः सुमदो देवताङ्गनाः
Thus troubled by these thoughts, the wise and heroic Sumada addressed the celestial women.
यूयं तु ममचित्तस्था जगन्मातृस्वरूपकाः । मया संचिंत्यते या हि सापि त्वद्रूपिणी मता
You dwell in my heart as forms of the universal mother; whatever I contemplate is considered to be of your form.
इदं तुच्छं स्वर्गसुखं त्वयोक्तं सविकल्पकम् । मत्स्वामिनी मया भक्त्या सेविता दास्यते वरम्
This heavenly pleasure you speak of is trivial and uncertain; my mistress, whom I serve with devotion, will grant me a boon.
यत्कृपातो विधिः सत्यलोकं प्राप्तो महानभूत् । सा मे दास्यति सर्वं हि भक्तदुःखांतकारिणी
By her grace, Brahmā attained the world of truth and greatness; she will grant me everything, for she is the remover of her devotees' suffering.
किं नंदनं किं तु गिरिः कनकेन सुमण्डितः । किं सुधा स्वल्पपुण्येन प्राप्या दानवदुःखदा
What is Nandana? What is a mountain adorned with gold? What is nectar, attained by little merit, yet bringing sorrow to the demons?
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य कामस्तु विविधैः शरैः । प्राहरन्नरदेवस्य कर्तुं किंचिन्न वै प्रभुः
Hearing these words, Kāma attacked the king of men with various arrows, yet was not able to accomplish anything.