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.
तामुवाच ततो रक्षः प्राणैस्ते कारणं यदि । तव भर्ता हतः संख्ये हरेणेति श्रुतं मया
Then the demon spoke to her: 'If your life has any purpose, your husband has been slain in battle by Hari, as I have heard.'
मामासाद्याद्य भर्तारं चिरंजीवाकुतोभया । पिबाथ वारुणीं स्वाद्वीं महामांससमन्विताम् । शृण्वंतीति वचो राज्ञी गतसत्वा इवाभवत्
'If you attain your husband today, he will live long and be fearless; drink the sweet Varuni, mixed with much flesh.' Hearing these words, the queen became as if bereft of life.
नारदउवाच- नारायणस्तदा देवो जटावल्कलधार्यथ । द्वितीयोऽनुचरस्तस्य ह्याययौ फलहस्तवान्
Nārada said: Then Nārāyaṇa, the god, wearing matted locks and bark garments, and his companion, who carried fruit in his hand, arrived.
तौ दृष्ट्वा स्मरदूती सा विललाप मृगेक्षणा । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्याः प्रोचतुस्तां च तावुभौ
Seeing those two, the messenger of Kāma, with eyes like a doe, lamented; hearing her words, the two of them spoke to her.
भयं मा गच्छ कल्याणि त्वामावां त्रातुमागतौ । वने घोरे प्रविष्टासि कथं दुष्टनिषेविते
Do not be afraid, O auspicious one; we have come to protect you. How did you enter this dreadful forest, frequented by the wicked?
एवमाश्वास्य तां तन्वीं राक्षसं प्राह माधवः । मुंचेमामधमाचार मृद्वंगीं चारुहासिनीम्
Thus consoling that slender woman, Mādhava addressed the Rākṣasa: Release this gentle-limbed, lovely-smiling woman from your vile conduct.
रेरे मूर्ख दुराचार किं कर्तुं त्वं व्यवस्थितः । सर्वस्वं लोकनेत्राणामाहारं कर्तुमुद्यतः
Hey, fool of evil conduct, what are you intent on doing? Are you determined to make all beings the food for your appetite?
भव पुण्यप्रभावेयं हंस्येतां मंडनं भुवः । अद्यलोकं निरालोकं कंदर्पं दर्पवर्जितम्
By the power of virtue, let this ornament of the earth be spared; today, let the world be without darkness, and Kāma be stripped of pride.
करिष्यस्यधुना त्वं च हत्वा वृंदारिकां वने । तस्मादिमां विमुंचाशु सुखप्रासाददेवताम्
If you now kill Vṛndā in the forest, you will bring about this; therefore, quickly release this goddess of the palace of happiness.
इति श्रुत्वा हरेर्वाक्यं राक्षसः कुपितोऽब्रवीत् । समर्थस्त्वं यदि तदा मोचयाद्यैव मत्करात्
Hearing these words of Hari, the Rākṣasa, enraged, said: If you are capable, then free her from my grasp right now.