द्विजानां क्षत्रबन्धूनां बन्धूनां च भवद्विधैः। त्रिभ्यश्शुश्रूषणा कार्येत्युक्त्वा ब्रह्मा तथाऽकरोत्
Brahma said that service must be rendered by you and others like you to twice-born men, kshatriya kin, and relatives, and then he acted accordingly.
द्वाराध्यक्षं तथा शक्रं वरुणं रसदायकम्। वित्तप्रदं वैश्रवणं पवनं गंधदायिनम्
He appointed the doorkeeper, Indra; Varuna, the giver of waters; Kubera, the bestower of wealth; and Vayu, the bringer of fragrance.
उद्योतकारिणं सूर्यं प्रभुत्वे माधवः स्थितः। सोमः सोमप्रदस्तेषां वामपक्ष पथाश्रितः
Surya was set as the illuminator, and Madhava held authority; Soma, the giver of soma, was stationed on the left side of their path.
सुसत्कृता च पत्नी सा सवित्री च वरांगना। अध्वर्युणा समाहूता एहि देवि त्वरान्विता
That honored wife, Savitri, the noble lady, was summoned by the officiating priest: 'Come, O goddess, with haste.'
उत्थिताश्चाग्नयः सर्वे दीक्षाकाल उपागतः। व्यग्रा सा कार्यकरणे स्त्रीस्वभावेन नागता
All the fires were kindled at the time of initiation; she, however, was delayed in her duties, not arriving due to her womanly nature.
इहवै न कृतं किंचिद्द्वारे वै मंडनं मया। भित्त्यां वैचित्रकर्माणि स्वस्तिकं प्रांगणेन तु
Here, I have not done any decoration at the door, nor have I made any intricate designs on the wall or auspicious marks in the courtyard.
प्रक्षालनं च भांडानां न कृतं किमपि त्विह। लक्ष्मीरद्यापि नायाता पत्नीनारायणस्य या
Nor have I washed any of the vessels here; even Lakshmi, the wife of Narayana, has not yet arrived.
अग्नेः पत्नी तथा स्वाहा धूम्रोर्णा तु यमस्य तु। वारुणी वै तथा गौरी वायोर्वै सुप्रभा तथा
Swaha is the wife of Agni, Dhumrorna is Yama's, Varuni is Varuna's, Gauri is Vayu's, and Suprabha as well.
ऋद्धिर्वैश्रवणी भार्या शम्भोर्गौरी जगत्प्रिया। मेधा श्रद्धा विभूतिश्च अनसूया धृतिः क्षमा
Riddhi is the wife of Kubera, Gauri is beloved of Shiva; Medha, Shraddha, Vibhuti, Anasuya, Dhriti, and Kshama are also present.
गंगा सरस्वती चैव नाद्या याताश्च कन्यकाः। इंद्राणी चंद्रपत्नी तु रोहिणी शशिनः प्रियाः
Ganga and Sarasvati have not yet come, nor have the maidens; Indrani, Chandra's wife, and Rohini, beloved of the Moon, are also absent.
अरुंधती वसिष्ठस्य सप्तर्षीणां च याः स्त्रियः। अनसूयात्रिपत्नी च तथान्याः प्रमदा इह
Arundhati, wife of Vasishtha, and the wives of the seven sages; Anasuya, wife of Atri, and other women are here as well.
वध्वो दुहितरश्चैव सख्यो भगिनिकास्तथा। नाद्यागतास्तु ताः सर्वा अहं तावत्स्थिता चिरं
Brides, daughters, friends, and sisters—all of them have not yet arrived; I have been waiting here for a long time.
नाहमेकाकिनी यास्ये यावन्नायांति ता स्त्रियः। ब्रूहि गत्वा विरंचिं तु तिष्ठ तावन्मुहूर्तकम्
I will not go alone until those women arrive; go and tell Brahma, and wait a moment.
सर्वाभिः सहिता चाहमागच्छामि त्वरान्विता। सर्वैः परिवृतः शोभां देवैः सह महामते
I will come quickly together with all of them, surrounded by all the gods in splendor, O wise one.
भवान्प्राप्नोति परमां तथाहं तु न संशयः। वदमानां तथाध्वर्युस्त्यक्त्वा ब्रह्माणमागतः
You will attain the highest, and so will I, without doubt; saying this, the officiating priest left Brahma and returned.
सावित्री व्याकुला देव प्रसक्ता गृहकर्माणि। सख्यो नाभ्यागता यावत्तावन्नागमनं मम
Savitri, distressed and absorbed in household tasks, said: 'Until my friends arrive, I cannot come.'
एवमुक्तोस्मि वै देव कालश्चाप्यतिवर्त्तते। यत्तेद्य रुचितं तावत्तत्कुरुष्व पितामह
Thus I have been told, O god, and time is passing; do as you see fit today, O Grandfather.
एवमुक्तस्तदा ब्रह्मा किंचित्कोपसमन्वितः। पत्नीं चान्यां मदर्थे वै शीघ्रं शक्र इहानय
Thus addressed, Brahma, with some anger, said: 'Bring another wife here quickly for me, O Indra.'
यथा प्रवर्तते यज्ञः कालहीनो न जायते। तथा शीघ्रं विधित्स्व त्वं नारीं कांचिदुपानय
Just as a sacrifice cannot proceed without the proper time, so you must quickly decide and bring some woman.
यावद्यज्ञसमाप्तिर्मे वर्णे त्वां मा कृथा मनः। भूयोपि तां प्रमोक्ष्यामि समाप्तौ तु क्रतोरिह
Until the completion of the sacrifice, do not let your mind dwell on her; after the rite is finished, I will release her again.
एवमुक्तस्तदा शक्रो गत्वा सर्वं धरातलं। स्त्रियो दृष्टाश्च यास्तेन सर्वाः परपरिग्रहाः
Thus addressed, Indra then traversed the whole earth; all the women he saw were already taken by others.
आभीरकन्या रूपाढ्या सुनासा चारुलोचना। न देवी न च गंधर्वी नासुरी न च पन्नगी
He saw an Abhira maiden, rich in beauty, with a fine nose and lovely eyes; she was neither a goddess, nor a gandharvi, nor an asuri, nor a serpent-woman.
न चास्ति तादृशी कन्या यादृशी सा वरांगना। ददर्श तां सुचार्वंगीं श्रियं देवीमिवापराम्
There is no maiden like her, such a splendid woman; he beheld her, graceful in form, as though she were another goddess of fortune.
संक्षिपन्तीं मनोवृत्ति विभवं रूपसंपदा। यद्यत्तु वस्तुसौंदर्याद्विशिष्टं लभ्यते क्वचित्
She concentrated the workings of the mind and her wealth of beauty; whatever exceptional charm is found anywhere in the world, was gathered in her.
तत्तच्छरीरसंलग्नं तन्वंग्या ददृशे वरम्। तां दृष्ट्वा चिंतयामास यद्येषा कन्यका भवेत्
All that was attached to her body, the best among slender-waisted women; seeing her, he thought, 'If only she were a maiden.'
तन्मत्तः कृतपुण्योन्यो न देवो भुवि विद्यते। योषिद्रत्नमिदं सेयं सद्भाग्यायां पितामहः
No other god on earth, apart from me, could have earned such merit; this jewel among women is for the blessed ancestor.
सरागो यदि वा स्यात्तु सफलस्त्वेष मे श्रमः। नीलाभ्र कनकांभोज विद्रुमाभां ददर्श तां
If she is passionate, then my effort will bear fruit; he saw her with the hue of a blue cloud, golden lotus, and coral.
त्विषं संबिभ्रतीमंगैः केशगंडे क्षणाधरैः। मन्मथाशोकवृक्षस्य प्रोद्भिन्नां कलिकामिव
She bore radiance in her limbs, with hair, cheeks, and lips; like a budding flower on the tree of love and longing.
प्रदग्धहृच्छयेनैव नेत्रवह्निशिखोत्करैः। धात्रा कथं हि सा सृष्टा प्रतिरूपमपश्यता
With her heart scorched by desire, and her eyes emitting fiery glances; how did the Creator fashion her, without seeing her equal?
कल्पिता चेत्स्वयं बुध्या नैपुण्यस्य गतिः परा। उत्तुंगाग्राविमौ सृष्टौ यन्मे संपश्यतः सुखं
If she was created by his own skill, then the path of artistry is supreme; those two prominent peaks, which bring me delight as I gaze upon them.