ततस्तान्सकलान्श्रांतान्धनं दत्वा प्रसादजम् । निवार्य विप्रानाहूय स्वप्नं दृष्टं न्यवेदयत् । तं स्वप्नं ब्राह्मणाः श्रुत्वा तामूचुः शास्त्रपारगाः
After giving wealth born of grace to all those weary ones, she dismissed the Brahmins, summoned them, and reported the dream she had seen; hearing it, the learned Brahmins said—
द्विजा ऊचुः - देवि दुःस्वप्नमत्युग्रमचिंत्यं भयदायकम् । देहि दानं द्विजातिभ्यो ह्यचिंत्य भयनाशकम्
"O Lady, this is a terrible, unimaginable, fearsome bad dream. Give gifts to the twice-born, for such giving dispels unimaginable fear."
धेनुर्वासांसि रत्नानि गजांश्चाभरणानि च । ब्राह्मणाः परिसंतुष्टाः सिषिचुस्तां नृपस्त्रियम्
Cows, garments, jewels, elephants, and ornaments—the Brahmins, fully satisfied, sprinkled her, the king's wife.
अभिषिक्तापि सा वृंदा ज्वरेण परितप्यते । विसृज्य विप्रप्रवरान्प्रासादमगमत्तदा
Even after being anointed, Vrinda was tormented by fever; dismissing the eminent Brahmins, she then went to the palace.
तत्र स्थितापि स्वपुरं ददृशे दीप्तमंगला । ततः स्वकर्मणा राजन्नाकृष्टा हरिणा तु सा
Even while standing there, she saw her own city shining with auspiciousness; yet, O King, by her own deeds, she was not drawn to Hari.
न शशाक गृहे स्थातुं ततो राज्ञी वनं ययौ । रथमश्वतरीयुक्तं स्मरदूतीसखीवहम्
She could not remain in the house, so the queen went to the forest, riding a chariot drawn by mules, accompanied by her confidante, Smaraduti.
समारुह्य क्षणात्तन्वी प्राप्ता सौभाग्यकाननम् । नानावृक्षसमायुक्तं नानापक्षिगणान्वितम्
Mounting quickly, the slender one reached the forest of fortune, filled with many trees and flocks of various birds.
पुष्पप्रस्रवणोपेतं स्वर्गनारीविभूषितम् । मंदानिलप्रवेशोऽस्ति यत्र नान्यस्य कस्यचित्
Adorned with blossoming flowers, graced like a celestial maiden, with a gentle breeze entering—a place where no one else may go.
वनं वृंदारिका दृष्ट्वा सस्मार पतिमात्मनः । कथं जालंधरं वीरं द्रक्ष्यामि प्राप्तमग्रतः
Seeing that forest, Vrinda remembered her husband: 'How will I see the heroic Jalandhara appear before me?'
सा तत्र न सुखं लेभे विवेशान्यतमं वनम् । सखीरथसमायुक्ता विष्णुमायाविमोहिता
There she found no happiness and entered another forest, accompanied by her friends and chariot, bewildered by Vishnu's illusion.
ततो विलोकयामास विपिनं तरुसंकुलम् । उरुपाषाणसंरुद्धं कुरंगाक्षी भयावहम् 6.14.
Then she gazed upon a forest dense with trees, blocked by great rocks, frightening to the doe-eyed one.
सिंहव्याघ्रभयाकीर्णंशृगालव्यालसेवितम् । द्रुमैः स्पृशच्छिखाकाशैर्गुहासु ध्वांतपूरितम्
Filled with the threat of lions and tigers, haunted by jackals and wild beasts, its trees touching the sky, its caves filled with darkness.
वनं विलोक्य सा भीमं चकिता चपलेक्षणा । स्मरदूतीं सखीं वृंदा जगाद रथवाहिनीम् । रथं प्रेषय मे शीघ्रं स्मरदूति गृहं प्रति
Seeing that dreadful forest, fearful and wide-eyed, Vrinda spoke to Smaraduti, her charioteer-friend: 'Send the chariot quickly, Smaraduti, toward home.'
स्मरदूतिरुवाच- नाहं जानामि दिग्भागं न यामि क्व रथं सखि । श्रांता अश्व्यः प्रवर्तंते मार्गश्चात्र न विद्यते
Smaraduti said: 'I do not know the direction, nor where to drive the chariot, friend. The horses are exhausted, and there is no path here.'
प्रेरितो दैवकेनापि स्यंदनो यातु यत्र च । अत्र कोपि च मांसादो भक्षयिष्यति नान्यथा
Even if compelled by fate, the chariot must go wherever it is destined; here, some flesh-eater will consume me, there is no other way.
इत्युक्ता सा द्रुततरा रथं शीघ्रमवाहयत् । स रथो वेगतः प्राप्तो यत्र सिद्धा मुदान्विताः
Having spoken thus, she swiftly drove the chariot; that chariot arrived with great speed where the Siddhas were, filled with joy.
तत्र सिद्धाश्च दृश्यंते काननं च भयावहम् । न यत्र प्रबलो वायुर्न शब्दः पक्षिणामपि
There, the Siddhas are seen, and a terrifying forest; where neither strong wind blows nor is there any sound, not even of birds.
न च तेजः प्रकाशोऽस्ति न जलं प्रदिशो दिशः । तत्र प्राप्तरथस्यापि लक्षणेऽभूद्विपर्ययः
There is neither light nor brightness, nor water, nor directions; even the usual signs of the chariot were reversed there.
अश्वतर्यो न हेषंते न च शब्दश्च नेमिजः । न चलंति पताकास्ता घंटिका न क्वणंति च
The horses did not neigh, nor was there the sound of wheels; the flags did not flutter, nor did the bells ring.
न स्वनंति महाघंटा ध्वजस्तंभे निवेशिताः । विलोक्यैवंविधं प्राह तत्र वृंदा सखीं प्रति
The great bells placed on the flagstaffs did not sound; seeing such a situation, Vrinda spoke to her companion.
स्मरदूति क्व यास्यामो व्याघ्रसिंहभयं वनम् । न गृहे न सुखं राज्ये मम जातं वने सखि
O messenger of love, where shall we go? This forest is full of fear from tigers and lions; neither at home nor in the kingdom is happiness found for me, but only in the forest, my friend.
स्मरदूतिरुवाच- शृणुष्व देवि पश्य त्वं पुरः शैलोऽतिदारुणः । दृष्ट्वाग्रतो न गच्छंति तुरंग्यो भयविह्वलाः
The messenger of love said: Listen, O lady, look, before us stands a very dreadful mountain; seeing it ahead, the horses, overcome by fear, do not proceed.
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा संत्रस्ता सा नृपांगना । दृष्ट्वा हारं स्वकंठस्थं स्यंदनाच्छीघ्रमुत्थिता
Hearing these words, the princess became frightened; seeing the necklace on her own neck, she quickly rose from the chariot.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तो राक्षसो भीषणाकृतिः । त्रिपादः पंचहस्तश्च सप्तनेत्रोऽतिदारुणः
Meanwhile, a demon of terrifying appearance arrived; three-legged, five-armed, and seven-eyed, exceedingly fierce.
पिंगलो व्याघ्रकर्णश्च सिंहस्कंधस्तथाननः । विहंगेशसमाः केशा लंबंते रुधिरारुणाः
He was tawny, with tiger's ears, lion's shoulders and face; his hair, like that of the king of birds, hung down, blood-red.
तं दृष्ट्वा पद्मकोशांगी सहसा सभयाभवत् । नेत्रे कराभ्यामाच्छाद्य चकंपे कदलीव सा
Seeing him, the one with lotus-stem limbs suddenly became fearful; covering her eyes with her hands, she trembled like a banana plant.
प्रतिहारी प्रतोदं तु त्यक्त्वा राज्ञीमभाषत । भीतां मां त्राहि देवि त्वमयं धावति भक्षितुम्
The gatekeeper, abandoning her whip, spoke to the queen: 'Save me, O lady, for he is running to devour me.'
एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तो राक्षसो रथसंनिधौ । रथमुत्क्षिप्य हस्तेन भ्रामयंश्चाश्विनीयुतम्
Meanwhile, the demon arrived near the chariot; lifting the chariot with his hand, he whirled it along with the horses.
सा राज्ञी पतिता भूमौ मृगी व्याघ्रभयादिव । स्मरदूती तरोर्मूले छिन्नाशोकलता यथा
The queen fell to the ground, like a deer from fear of a tiger; the messenger of love, at the root of a tree, like a severed Ashoka vine.
ततस्ताश्चाश्विनीः सर्वाः भक्षयामास राक्षसः । तेन राज्ञी धृता हस्ते सिंहेनैणवधूरिव
Then the demon devoured all the horses; he seized the queen in his hand, as a lion seizes a deer bride.