त्वमस्पृश्यासि चाण्डालैरंकेस्वपिषि वज्रिणः । तेनापमानिता साध्वी शक्रेणापि पुलोमजा
You are untouched by outcastes, even among the hosts of Indra. By him, Pulomajā, the virtuous one, was also insulted.
परिम्लानमुखांभोजा सा जगाम यथागता । शक्रांक एव सा तस्थौ पद्मगन्धा वरांगना
Her lotus face faded, and she departed as she had come. Padmagandhā, the lovely one, remained in Indra's abode.
तद्वाक्यं हृदये तस्या जागरूकमिवस्थितम् । अथैकदा सुराधीशः सुप्रीतस्तद्गुणैर्द्विज
Those words stayed in her heart, as if ever awake. Then one day, O twice-born, the lord of the gods, pleased by her virtues—
वरं वरय सुश्रोणि स्वयं तामित्युवाच ह । पद्मगंधोवाच । त्वं सर्वदेवताधीशो नारीकोटिपतिस्थता
Said, 'Choose a boon, O beautiful-hipped one, whatever you wish.' Padmagandhā said: 'You are lord of all the gods, master of countless women—'
तथाप्यसि ममाधीनः स्वामिन्किमपरैर्वरैः । तथापि त्वं वरं दित्सुर्यदा नूनं सुरोत्तम
Yet you are under my power, lord; what need have I of other boons? Still, if you wish to grant a boon, O best of gods—
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा प्रतिज्ञां कुरु मत्पुरः । इंद्र उवाच- जीवितं च धनं चैव राज्यं चैव परिच्छदम्
By deed, thought, and word, make a vow before me.' Indra said: 'Life, wealth, kingdom, and retinue—'
आज्ञापय किमेतद्वै तुभ्यं दास्यामि सुंदरि । सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यं संदेहो नात्र विद्यते
'Command me, O beautiful one, and I will give it to you. Truly, truly, again truly—there is no doubt in this.'
यदीच्छसि मृगीनेत्रे तत्ते दास्याम्यहं ध्रुवम् । पद्मगंधोवाच- नूनमेव प्रसन्नोऽसि यदि त्वं त्रिदशेश्वर
'Whatever you desire, O doe-eyed one, I will surely give you.' Padmagandhā said: 'If you, lord of the gods, are truly pleased—'
जन्म मे हस्तियोनौ च भूयो देहीति मे वरम् । इंद्र उवाच- कृतप्रतिज्ञः सुश्रोणि वरं तेऽहं ददामि वै
Let my birth be in the womb of an elephant; grant me this boon once more. Indra said: I have made a promise, O lovely-hipped one, and I surely grant you this boon.
किंतु दुःखानि यातानि बहूनि हृदये मम । त्वामदृष्ट्वा वरारोहे प्रीतिर्न प्राप्यते क्षणम्
Yet many sorrows have passed through my heart; O beautiful one, not seeing you, I find no joy even for a moment.
कथं ते चिरविच्छेदं सोढुं शक्नोमि दुःसहम् । यदा मय्यनुकंपास्ति तव पीनपयोधरे
How can I endure such a long separation from you, which is unbearable? When you, with full breasts, show compassion toward me—
तदा कियद्दिनं तिष्ठ मया सह वराङ्गने । ततो देवाधिराजस्य वदंती बहुसंपदम्
Then, O fair-limbed one, stay with me for a little while; afterward, speak of the great prosperity of the king of the gods.
वर्षाणामयुतं तस्थौ सा देवनिलये सती । पद्मगन्धोवाच- आज्ञां देहि सुराधीश साधितुं सुमनोरथम्
She remained in the abode of the gods for ten thousand years. Padmagandha said: Give me permission, O lord of the gods, to fulfill my cherished desire.
व्रजाम्यहं कर्मभूमिं वंदे पादद्वयं तव । इन्द्र उवाच- त्वत्प्रेमसिंधुमानेन मया चन्द्रनिभानने
I shall go to the realm of action; I bow to your two feet. Indra said: Because of the greatness of your ocean of love for me, O moon-faced one—
स्थित्वा कतिदिनं पश्चाद्गमिष्यसि यथासुखम् । ततस्तुकौतुकागारे तेन सार्द्धमहर्निशम्
After staying for a few days, you may depart as you wish. Then, in the house of amusements, together with him, day and night—
क्रीडंती पद्मगंधा सा तस्थौ वर्षायुतत्रयम् । सुराधीशं ततः सेति तदा प्राह मुदान्विता
Padmagandha played there, and she remained for three ten-thousand-year periods. Then, she joyfully addressed the lord of the gods.
आदेशं कुरु गच्छामि पृथिवीं प्रति संप्रति । इंद्र उवाच- जाड्यं जहीहि सुश्रोणि तिष्ठात्रैव मया सह
Give me instructions; I am now going to the earth. Indra said: Cast off your lethargy, O lovely-hipped one, and stay here with me.
त्वां त्यक्तुं न हि शक्नोमि प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसीम् । पद्मगन्धोवाच- पुण्यक्षये सुराधीश यदा यास्याम्यहं भुवि
I cannot leave you, who are dearer to me than life itself. Padmagandha said: O lord of the gods, when my merit is exhausted, then I shall go to earth.
तदा चिरं ते विच्छेदो भविष्यति मया सह । यद्विच्छेदे मया नाथ पुनर्गंतुं भुवं प्रति
Then, your separation from me will be long; when separated, O lord, I wish to return to earth again.
इच्छाम्यहं पुनर्द्यौश्च पुण्योपार्जनहेतवे । कर्मभूमिमहं गत्वा येनोपायेन वासव
I wish to return to heaven again for the sake of earning merit; having gone to the realm of action, by whatever means, O Vasava—
तत्करिष्यामि विच्छेदः कदाचित्स्यात्त्वया न मे । इन्द्र उवाच- भद्रे त्वया यदा नूनं कर्मेदं कर्तुमिच्छितम्
I shall do that; if separation ever occurs, it will not be by you. Indra said: O blessed one, whenever you truly wish to perform this action—
तदा गच्छ पुनः शीघ्रमागमिष्यसि सुंदरि । सह नेत्राद्धि विगलद्वाष्पसिक्ततनुस्ततः
Then go; you will return quickly, O beautiful one. With tears flowing from her eyes, her body wet—
दोर्भ्यामालिङ्ग्य तां शक्रो गच्छेत्याह प्रिये वदन् । तदादेशात्ततः साध्वी कर्मभूमिं समागता
Embracing her with his arms, Shakra said, 'Go, dear one.' By his command, the virtuous woman then went to the realm of action.
जाता च हस्तिनी योनौ भूत्वा जातिस्मरा द्विज । स्मरंती निजवृत्तांतं सा कियद्भिर्दिनैस्ततः
She was born in the womb of an elephant, and became a twice-born, remembering her previous story. Remembering her own past, after a few days—
जगाम जाह्नवीतीरं हस्तियोनिसु संभवा । गङ्गायां स्नानमासाद्य गङ्गाकर्दमभूषिता
She went to the bank of the Jahnavi, having been born among elephants. Having bathed in the Ganges, she was adorned with Ganges mud.
गंगागंगेति जल्पंती ह्रदं निम्नं विवेश सा । तस्मिन्गंगाह्रदे गत्वा हस्तिनी पर्वताकृतिः
Uttering 'Ganga, Ganga,' she entered the deep pool. In that Ganges pool, the elephant, mountain-shaped, entered.
निजां जातिं स्मरंती सा जगाम पंचतां पुनः । तस्याः साहसमालोक्य हस्तिनीं सर्वदेवताः
She, recalling her own birth, passed again into death; seeing the elephant's boldness, all the gods
ववर्षुः पारिजाताद्यैः कुसुमैरुत्तमैर्मुदा । तामानेतुं ततः शक्रः सर्वदेवगणैर्वृतः
joyfully showered her with excellent flowers such as pārijāta; then Śakra, surrounded by all the hosts of gods, brought her forth
वेगात्तच्चिरविच्छेदात्कृष्णांगीं सुमना ययौ । पुष्पकेतां समालोक्य दिव्यदेहां सुराधिपः
With speed, after a long separation, Sumana went to the dark-skinned Puṣpaketā; seeing her divine form, the lord of the gods
कथयन्निजदुःखानि निजावासं जगाम ह । पुलोमजा च रंभा च प्रम्लोचा चोर्वशी तथा
spoke of his own sorrows and returned to his abode; Pulomajā, Rambhā, Pramlocā, and Urvaśī likewise,