मम वर्षसहस्राणि बहूनि प्रयुतानि च
Many thousands and tens of thousands of years have passed for me.
अत्र ते कीर्तयिष्यामि विस्तरेण महामते
I will now recount this to you in detail, O wise one.
अहं हि ब्राह्मणो नाम्ना वत्सः ख्यातो महीतले
Indeed, I am a brāhmaṇa named Vatsa, known upon the earth.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु मेनका च वराप्सराः
At that very time, Menakā, the foremost of apsarases,
सा गता भ्रममाणाथ काम्यकंनाम तद्वनम्
She, wandering about, went to the forest called Kāmyaka.
यत्रास्ते मुनिशार्दूलो देवरात इति स्मृतः
There dwells the tiger among sages, known as Devarāta.
उपविष्टो नदीतीरे देवतार्च्चापरायणः
Seated on the riverbank, devoted to the worship of the gods,
अथ सा पश्यतस्तस्य विवस्त्रा प्राविशज्जलम् ॥ ६.२९.
then, as he watched, she entered the water unclothed.
अथ तस्य मुनींद्रस्य रेतश्चस्कन्द तत्क्षणात्
At that very moment, the sage's seed was released.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्ता सारंगी सुपिपासिता
Meanwhile, Sārāṅgī, extremely thirsty, arrived there.
अथ साऽपि दधे गर्भं मानुषं वै प्रभावतः
Then, by that power, she too conceived a human child.
जनयामास दीप्तांगी कन्यां पद्मदलेक्षणाम्
She, radiant in form and with lotus-petal eyes, gave birth to a daughter.
अथ तां स मुनिर्ज्ञात्वा स्वज्ञानेन स्ववीर्यजाम्
Then the sage, knowing by his own knowledge that she was born of his own seed,
स्नेहेन महता युक्तः कृतकौतुकमंगलः
filled with great affection, performed the auspicious rites of celebration.
आजहार सुमृष्टानि तत्कृते सुफलानि सः
He brought well-prepared, excellent fruits for her sake.
तत्रस्था ववृधे सा च नाम्ना ख्याता मृगावती
There she grew up, and became known by the name Mṛgāvatī.
अथ सा भ्रममाणेन मया दृष्टा मृगेक्षणा
Then, as I wandered, I saw her, the doe-eyed maiden.
विज्ञाय च कुमारीं तां सवर्णां चारुहासिनीम् ६.२९.
Recognizing her as a maiden of my own caste, with a lovely smile,
प्रयच्छैनां मम ब्रह्मन्पत्न्यर्थं निज कन्यकाम्
O Brahman, he gave me his own daughter to be my wife.
ततस्तेन प्रदत्ता मे तत्क्षणादेव सुन्दरी
Thus, that beautiful girl was given to me by him at that very moment.
ततः कतिपयाहस्य मयोढा सा सुविस्मिता
After a few days, I married her, and she was greatly astonished.
अथ वीरुधसंछन्ने वने तस्मिन्सुसंस्थिते
Then, in that well-set forest covered with plants,
सा दष्टा सहसा तेन पतिता वसुधातले
she was suddenly bitten by him and fell to the ground.
अथ सख्यः समागत्य तस्या दुःखेन दुःखिताः
Then her friends gathered, distressed by her sorrow.
ततोऽहं सत्वरं गत्वा दृष्ट्वा तां पतितां भुवि
Then I hurried there and saw her fallen upon the ground.
इयं मे सुविशालाक्षी मनःप्राणसमा प्रिया
This woman with large, beautiful eyes, so dear to me as my own mind and life—
सोऽहमद्य गमिष्यामि परलोकं सहानया
Today I shall go to the other world together with her.
पुत्रपौत्रवधूभिश्च भृत्यवर्गयुतस्य च ६.२९.
Surrounded by sons, grandsons, daughters-in-law, and groups of servants—
यदीयं कर्णनेत्रांता तन्वंगी मधुरस्वरा
She whose slender body, sweet voice, and the corners of her ears and eyes—
एवं विलपमानस्य मम सूत कुलोद्वह
As I was lamenting in this way, O best of charioteers,