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.
का हि नाभिलषेत्कन्या भर्तांरं भक्तिवत्सलम्। नादेयमपि ते किंचित्पितुर्मे धर्मवत्सल
What maiden would not desire a husband devoted to affection? My father, devoted to righteousness, would not refuse you anything.
प्रसादये तं शिरसा मां स तुष्टः प्रदास्यति। पितुश्चित्तमविज्ञाय यद्यात्मानं ददामि ते
I will please him with my head bowed; if he is satisfied, he will give me. Without knowing my father's mind, how can I give myself to you?
धर्मो हि विपुलो नश्येत्तेन त्वां न प्रसादये। भविष्यामि वशे तुभ्यं यदि तातः प्रदास्यति
Righteousness is vast and would perish; therefore, I do not seek to please you. I will be under your control if my father gives me.
इत्थमाभाष्यमाणस्तु तदा शक्रोऽनयच्च ताम्। ब्रह्मणः पुरतः स्थाप्य प्राहास्यार्थे मयाऽबले
Thus speaking, Śakra then led her before Brahmā, placed her there, and spoke for her sake, O gentle one.
आनीतासि विशालाक्षि मा शुचो वरवर्णिनि। गोपकन्यामसौ दृष्ट्वा गौरवर्णां महाद्युतिम्
You have been brought here, wide-eyed one; do not grieve, O splendidly beautiful woman. Seeing this cowherd maiden, fair as a cow and radiant with great brilliance—
कमलामेव तां मेने पुंडरीकनिभेक्षणाम्। तप्तकांचनसद्भित्ति सदृशा पीनवक्षसम्
She, whose eyes resembled blue lotuses, whose full breasts matched the purest gold walls, was regarded by Kamala herself as her equal.
मत्तेभहस्तवृत्तोरुं रक्तोत्तुंग नखत्विषं। तं दृष्ट्वाऽमन्यतात्मानं सापि मन्मनथचरम्
Her thighs were shaped like the trunks of intoxicated elephants, her nails shone crimson and bright; seeing her, she thought herself to be surpassed, and her mind was captivated.
तत्प्राप्तिहेतु क धिया गतचित्तेव लक्ष्यते। प्रभुत्वमात्मनो दाने गोपकन्याप्यमन्यत
With the thought of attaining her, she appeared as if her heart had departed; the cowherd maiden too considered herself superior in the matter of giving.
यद्येष मां सुरूपत्वादिच्छत्यादातुमाग्रहात्। नास्ति सीमंतिनी काचिन्मत्तो धन्यतरा भुवि
If he desires to take me because of my beauty, then there is no woman on earth more fortunate than I.
अनेनाहं समानीता यच्चक्षुर्गोचरं गता। अस्य त्यागे भवेन्मृत्युरत्यागे जीवितं सुखम्
I have been brought by him and have come within his sight; to be abandoned by him would be death, but to be accepted would be the joy of life.
भवेयमपमानाच्च धिग्रूपा दुःखदायिनी। दृश्यते चक्षुषानेन यापि योषित्प्रसादतः
If I am rejected, I would become a disgrace, a bringer of sorrow by my form; yet any woman whom he looks upon with favor is truly blessed.
सापि धन्या न संदेहः किं पुनर्यां परिष्वजेत्। जगद्रूपमशेषं हि पृथक्संचारमाश्रितम्
She is indeed fortunate, without doubt; how much more so the one whom he embraces, for he, the form of the entire world, moves distinctly among all.
लावण्यं तदिहैकस्थं दर्शितं विश्वयोनिना। अस्योपमा स्मरः साध्वी मन्मथस्य त्विषोपमा
That beauty, concentrated here alone, has been revealed by the source of the universe; her only comparison is with Smara's virtuous wife, and with the radiance of Kāma himself.
तिरस्कृतस्तु शोकोयं पिता माता न कारणम्। यदि मां नैष आदत्ते स्वल्पं मयि न भाषते
This sorrow is not caused by father or mother, but by rejection; if he does not accept me, or even speak a little to me—
अस्यानुस्मरणान्मृत्युः प्रभविष्यति शोकजः। अनागसि च पत्न्यां तु क्षिप्रं यातेयमीदृशी
Then death, born of grief, will overpower me from remembering him; and though I am blameless as a wife, I would quickly perish in such a state.
कुचयोर्मणिशोभायै शुद्धाम्बुज समद्युतिः। मुखमस्य प्रपश्यंत्या मनो मे ध्यानमागतम्
The radiance of pure lotus equals the splendor of the gems on his chest; as I gaze upon his face, my mind becomes absorbed in meditation.
अस्यांगस्पर्शसंयोगान्न चेत्त्वं बहु मन्यसे। स्पृशन्नटसि तर्हि न त्वं शरीरं वितथं परम्
If you do not value the touch and union with his limbs, then, though you touch and move with him, your body is truly wasted.
अथवास्य न दोषोस्ति यदृच्छाचारको ह्यसि। मुषितः स्मर नूनं त्वं संरक्ष स्वां प्रियां रतिम्
Or perhaps there is no fault in you, for you act according to chance; surely you have been robbed by Love—protect your own dear delight.
त्वत्तोपि दृश्यते येन रूपेणायं स्मराधिकः। ममानेन मनोरत्न सर्वस्वं च हृतं दृढम्
By whose form, surpassing even you, Love himself is seen; by him, my mind, my precious jewel, and all my being have been firmly stolen.
शोभा या दृश्यते वक्त्रे सा कुतः शशलक्ष्मणि। नोपमा सकलं कस्य निष्कलंकेन शस्यते
The beauty seen in his face—how could it be found in the moon, marked by a hare? No comparison is ever praised for one so flawless.