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.
समानभावतां याति पंकजं नास्य नेत्रयोः। कोपमा जलशंखेन प्राप्ता श्रवणशंङ्खयोः
A lotus cannot match the equality of his eyes; the conch of water is the only comparison for his conch-like ears.
विद्रुमोप्यधरस्यास्य लभते नोपमां ध्रुवम्। आत्मस्थममृतं ह्येष संस्रवंश्चेष्टते ध्रुवम्
Even coral cannot surely compare to his lower lip; truly, nectar flows from within him, streaming forth without doubt.
यदि किंचिच्छुभं कर्म जन्मांतरशतैः कृतम्। तत्प्रसादात्पुनर्भर्ता भवत्वेष ममेप्सितः
If I have performed any virtuous deed in hundreds of past lives, by its grace may this man, whom I desire, become my husband again.
एवं चिंतापराधीना यावत्सा गोपकन्यका। तावद्ब्रह्मा हरिं प्राह यज्ञार्थं सत्वरं वचः
While that cowherd maiden was absorbed in such thoughts, at that very moment Brahmā quickly spoke to Hari for the sake of the sacrifice.
देवी चैषा महाभागा गायत्री नामतः प्रभो। एवमुक्ते तदा विष्णुर्ब्रह्माणं प्रोक्तवानिदम्
This blessed goddess is named Gāyatrī, O Lord; when this was said, Viṣṇu then spoke these words to Brahmā.
तदेनामुद्वहस्वाद्य मया दत्तां जगत्प्रभो। गांधर्वेण विवाहेन विकल्पं मा कृथाश्चिरम्
Therefore, take her as your wife today, O Lord of the world, for I have given her to you; marry her by the gāndharva rite, and do not delay in making your decision.
अमुं गृहाण देवाद्य अस्याः पाणिमनाकुलम्। गांधेर्वेण विवाहेन उपयेमे पितामहः
Take her hand today, O god, without hesitation; and Brahmā, the grandsire, married her by the gāndharva rite.
तामवाप्य तदा ब्रह्मा जगादाद्ध्वर्युसत्तमम्। कृता पत्नी मया ह्येषा सदने मे निवेशय
Having obtained her, Brahmā then spoke to the chief officiating priest: 'She has become my wife; settle her in my house.'
मृगशृंगधरा बाला क्षौमवस्त्रावगुंठिता। पत्नीशालां तदा नीता ऋत्विग्भिर्वेदपारगैः
The young girl, adorned with deer-horn ornaments and veiled in linen cloth, was then led to the house of wives by the priests who were well-versed in the Vedas.
औदुंबेरण दंडेन प्रावृतो मृगचर्मणा। महाध्वरे तदा ब्रह्मा धाम्ना स्वेनैव शोभते
With a staff of udumbara wood and covered in a deerskin, Brahmā shone in his own splendor at that great sacrifice.
प्रारब्धं च ततो होत्रं ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः। भृगुणा सहितैः कर्म वेदोक्तं तैः कृतं तदा। तथा युगसहस्रं तु स यज्ञः पुष्करेऽभवत्
Then the sacrifice was begun by the Brahmins learned in the Vedas, together with Bhṛgu; the ritual prescribed in the Vedas was performed by them, and that sacrifice at Puṣkara lasted for a thousand ages.
"भीष्म-उवाच। तस्मिन्यज्ञे किमाश्चर्यं तदासीद्द्विजसत्तम। कथं रुद्रःस्थितस्तत्र विष्णुश्चापि सुरोत्तमः
"Bhīṣma said: O best of twice-born, what wonder occurred at that sacrifice? How were Rudra and Viṣṇu present there, O best of gods?"
आभीर:पुत्री गायत्र्या किं कृतं तत्र पत्नीत्वे स्थितया तया। आभीरा: किं सुवृत्तज्ञैर्ज्ञात्वा तैश्च कृतं मुने
"What did Gāyatrī, the daughter of the Ābhīra, do there while established as wife? And what did the virtuous knowers do, having understood this, O sage?"
एतद्वृत्तं समाचक्ष्व यथावृत्तं यथाकृतम्। आभीरैर्ब्राह्मणाचापि ममैतत्कौतुकं महत्
"Tell me this story as it happened and as it was done—by the Ābhīras and by the Brāhmaṇas; I am greatly curious about this."
"पुलस्त्य उवाच। तस्मिन्यज्ञे यदाश्चर्यं वृत्तमासीन्नराधिप। कथयिष्यामि तत्सर्वं शृणुष्वैकमना नृप
"Pulastya said: O king, I will tell you all the wonders that took place at that sacrifice; listen with focused mind."
रुद्रस्तु महदाश्चर्यं कृतवान्वै सदो गतः। निन्द्यरूपधरो देवस्तत्रायाद्द्विजसन्निधौ
Rudra performed a great wonder, having entered the assembly; the god took on a censurable form there in the presence of the Brahmins.
विष्णुना न कृतं किञ्चित्प्राधान्ये स यतःस्थितः। नाशं तु गोपकन्याया ज्ञात्वा गोपकुमारकाः
Viṣṇu did nothing, since he remained in a subordinate role; but the cowherd boys, knowing the loss of the cowherd maiden, did not approve.
गोप्यश्च तास्तथा सर्वा आगता ब्रह्मणोन्तिकम्। दृष्ट्वा तां मेखलाबद्धां यज्ञसीमव्यस्थिताम्
And all those cowherd women likewise came to Brahmā; seeing her, girded with a belt and standing at the sacrificial boundary—
हा पुत्रीति तदा माता पिता हा पुत्रिकेति च। स्वसेति बान्धवाः सर्वे सख्यः सख्येन हासखि
Then her mother cried, 'O son!' and her father, 'O daughter!'; all the relatives said, 'O sister,' and her friends, 'O friend!'
केन त्वमिह चानीता अलक्तांका तु सुन्दरी। शाटीं निवृत्तांकृत्वा तु केन युक्ता च कम्बली
"By whom have you been brought here, O beautiful one with red-lacquered feet? Who has removed your garment, and who has dressed you in a woolen shawl?"