रम्या रत्नावली नाम रूपलावण्यशालिनी
She became Ratnāvalī by name, charming and endowed with beauty and grace.
पितुरानंदकृन्नित्यं वसुभूतेर्घटोद्भव 4.2.67.
She was ever a source of delight to her father, born in the house of Vasubhūti.
मुने सखीत्रयं तस्याश्चारु चातुर्यभाजनम्
O sage, she had three friends, each a vessel of lovely cleverness.
तिसृभिस्ताभिरेकत्र वाग्देवीपरिशीलिता
With those three, in one place, she was instructed by the goddess of speech.
प्राप्य रत्नावली गौरि सा जन्मांतरवासनाम्
Ratnāvalī, O Gauri, attained the impressions of her previous birth.
रत्नभूतस्य लिंगस्य काश्यां रत्नेश्वरस्य वै
Of the liṅga made of jewels, of Ratneśvara at Kāśī—
इत्थं नियमवत्यासीत्सा गंधर्वसुतोत्तमा
Thus, with discipline, she became the foremost daughter of a Gandharva.
एकदाराध्य रत्नेशं ममैतल्लिंगमुत्तमम्
Once, she worshipped Ratneśa, that supreme liṅga of mine.
सख्यः प्रदक्षिणीकर्तुं लिंगं तिस्रोऽप्युमे गताः
The three friends also went to circumambulate the liṅga.
यस्त्वया रंस्यते रात्रावद्य गंधर्वकन्यके
O faultless daughter of the Gandharvas, the one with whom you will enjoy the night—
इति लिंगांबुधेर्जातां परिपीय वचःसुधाम्
Thus, having drunk the nectar of those words from the ocean of the liṅga—
गताथ व्योममार्गेण सखीभिः स्वपितुर्गृहम् 4.2.67.
Then, by the path of the sky, she went with her friends to her sleeping father's house.
ताभिर्दिष्ट्येति दिष्ट्येति सखीभिः परिनंदिता
By her friends, she was congratulated again and again, saying, 'By fortune! By fortune!'
यद्यायाति स ते रात्रावद्य कौमारहारकः
If he comes, O faultless one, that night-stealer of maidenhood—
गोचरीक्रियतेस्माभिर्यथा स सुकृतैकभूः
We will keep watch, so that he, the sole doer of good deeds, may be found.
यातास्वस्मासु हृष्टासु भवती शयगौरवात्
When we, delighted, have gone, you, out of the heaviness of the bed—
अहोभाग्योदयो नृणामहो पुण्यसमुच्छ्रयः
Oh, what a rise of fortune for people! Oh, what an increase of merit!
सत्यं वदंति नासत्यं दैवप्राधान्यवादिनः
Those who speak of the predominance of fate speak the truth, not falsehood.
भवत्या अपि चास्माकमेक एव हि चोद्यमः
For you and for us, indeed, there is only one endeavor.
लोकानां व्यवहारोयमालिप्रोक्तप्रसंगतः
This is the conduct of the world, arising from the words spoken by the wise.
इति संव्याहरंतीनामनंतोध्वाऽतितुच्छवत्
Thus, as they spoke, the endless path seemed utterly insignificant.
अथ प्रातः समुत्थाय पुनरेकत्र संगताः ।। 4.2.67.
Then, rising in the morning, they again gathered together in one place.
तूष्णीं प्राप्याथ काशीं सा स्नात्वा मंदाकिनीजले
Then, arriving silently at Kāśī, she bathed in the water of the Mandākinī.
निर्वर्त्य नियमं साथ लज्जामुकुलितेक्षणा
Having completed her observance, she, her eyes budding with modesty—
भवतीषु स्मरंत्येव तद्रत्नेशवचोऽमृतम्
Even among her companions, she kept recalling those nectar-like words of the lord of jewels.
सविशेषांगसंस्काराऽविशं संवेशमंदिरम्
She entered the dwelling, adorned with special bodily ornaments.
बलात्स्वप्नदशां प्राप्ता भाविनोर्थस्य गौरवात्
By force, I entered a state of dreaming, due to the weight of what was destined to occur.
तंद्री तदंगसंस्पर्शौ मम बोधापहारकौ
Drowsiness and the touch of that body both took away my awareness.
न जाने त्वथ किं वृत्तं काहं क्वाहं स चाथ कः
Now, I do not know what happened, who I am, where I am, or who he is.
दोः कंकणेन रिपुणा क्वणितं तावदुत्कटम्
The enemy’s bracelet on his arm resounded so fiercely.