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.
पयोधरौ नातिचित्रं कस्य संजायते हृदि। रागोपहतदेहोयमधरो यद्यपि स्फुटम्
Her breasts are not so remarkable—whose heart would not be stirred? Though her lips are clearly marked by passion.
तथापि सेवमानस्य निर्वाणं संप्रयच्छति। वहद्भिरपि कौटिल्यमलकैः सुखमर्प्यते
Still, for one who serves her, she grants peace; even with their slight crookedness, her locks offer pleasure.
दोषोपि गुणवद्भाति भूरिसौंदर्यमाश्रितः। नेत्रयोर्भूषितावंता वाकर्णाभ्याशमागतौ
Even a flaw appears as a virtue when it rests upon great beauty; her eyes, adorned, reach toward the ears.
कारणाद्भावचैतन्यं प्रवदंति हि तद्विदः। कर्णयोर्भूषणे नेत्रे नेत्रयोः श्रवणाविमौ
Those who know say that consciousness arises from cause; ornaments for the ears are the eyes, and the ears are the ornaments for the eyes.
कुंडलांजनयोरत्र नावकाशोस्ति कश्चन। न तद्युक्तं कटाक्षाणां यद्द्विधाकरणं हृदि
There is no place here for earrings or collyrium; it is not fitting for sidelong glances to be divided in the heart.
तवसंबंधिनोयेऽत्र कथं ते दुःखभागिनः। सर्वसुंदरतामेति विकारः प्राकृतैर्गुणैः
Those connected to you here—how are they bearers of sorrow? Every transformation attains beauty through natural qualities.
वृद्धे क्षणशतानां तु दृष्टमेषा मया धनम्। धात्रा कौशल्यसीमेयं रूपोत्पत्तौ सुदर्शिता
In my old age, after hundreds of moments, I have seen this wealth; this is the boundary of Kauśalya, clearly shown by the Creator in the manifestation of beauty.
करोत्येषा मनो नॄणां सस्नेहं कृतिविभ्रमैः। एवं विमृशतस्तस्य तद्रूपापहृतत्विषः
She stirs the minds of men with affection and playful gestures; thus, as I reflect, his brilliance is taken away by her beauty.
निरंतरोद्गतैश्छन्नमभवत्पुलकैर्वपुः। तां वीक्ष्य नवहेमाभां पद्मपत्रायतेक्षणाम्
His body became covered with goosebumps rising all over; seeing her, radiant like new gold, with eyes elongated like lotus petals.
देवानामथ यक्षाणां गंधर्वोरगरक्षसाम्। नाना दृष्टा मया नार्यो नेदृशी रूपसंपदा१५० 1.16.
Among the gods, yakṣas, gandharvas, serpents, and demons, I have seen many women, but none with such perfection of beauty.
त्रैलोक्यांतर्गतं यद्यद्वस्तुतत्तत्प्रधानतः। समादाय विधात्रास्याः कृता रूपस्य संस्थितिः
Whatever is foremost among all things within the three worlds, the Creator has gathered and established in her form.
इंद्र उवाच। कासि कस्य कुतश्च त्वमागता सुभ्रु कथ्यताम्। एकाकिनी किमर्थं च वीथीमध्येषु तिष्ठसि
Indra said: Who are you, whose daughter are you, and from where have you come, beautiful-browed one? Tell me. Why do you stand alone in the middle of the street?
यान्येतान्यंगसंस्थानि भूषणानि बिभर्षि च। नैतानि तव भूषायै त्वमेतेषां हि भूषणम्
The ornaments you wear on your limbs—these are not for your adornment; you are the adornment for these.
न देवी न च गंधर्वी नासुरी न च पन्नगी। किन्नरी दृष्टपूर्वा वा यादृशी त्वं सुलोचने
No goddess, nor gandharvi, nor asuri, nor serpent-woman, nor kinnari seen before, has eyes as beautiful as yours.
उक्ता मयापि बहुशः कस्माद्दत्से हि नोत्तरम्। त्रपान्विता तु सा कन्या शक्रं प्रोवाच वेपती
I have asked many times, yet why do you not give an answer? That maiden, trembling and modest, spoke to Śakra.
गोपकन्या त्वहं वीर विक्रीणामीह गोरसम्। नवनीतमिदं शुद्धं दधि चेदं विमंडकम्
O hero, I am a cowherd girl, selling here cow's milk, this pure butter, curd, and whey.
दध्ना चैवात्र तक्रेण रसेनापि परंतप। अर्थी येनासि तद्ब्रूहि प्रगृह्णीष्व यथेप्सितम्
With curd, buttermilk, and milk, O scorcher of foes, tell me what you desire; take whatever you wish.
एवमुक्तस्तदा शक्रो गृहीत्वा तां करे दृढम्। अनयत्तां विशालाक्षीं यत्र ब्रह्मा व्यवस्थितः
Thus addressed, Śakra took her firmly by the hand and led the wide-eyed girl to where Brahmā was present.
नीयमाना तु सा तेन क्रोशंती पितृमातरौ। हा तात मातर्हा भ्रातर्नयत्येष नरो बलात्
As she was being led by him, she cried out to her father and mother: 'O father, O mother, O brother, this man is taking me away by force.'
यदि वास्ति मया कार्यं पितरं मे प्रयाचय। स दास्यति हि मां नूनं भवतः सत्यमुच्यते
If you have any business with me, ask my father; he will surely give me to you—this is the truth spoken.