पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षा मध्यक्षामाः शुचिस्मिताः
Women with wide lotus-leaf eyes, slender waists, and pure smiles dwell there.
किं चात्र बहुनोक्तेन यत्किंचित्तत्र पर्वते सर्वलोकोत्तरास्तत्र दृश्यंते पर्वतोत्तमे ॥ 7.3.36.
Why speak at length? Whatever is on that mountain, all things surpass the worlds; they are seen on that supreme mountain.
दशयोजनविस्तारो द्वाभ्यां संहितपर्वतः
It is ten yojanas wide, joined by two mountains.
तत्राऽहं कौतुकाविष्ट इतश्चेतश्च वीक्षयन्
There, filled with curiosity, I looked around from here and there.
न देवी नापि गंधर्वी नासुरी न च मानुषी
She is neither a goddess, nor a Gandharva woman, nor an Asura woman, nor a human woman.
रतिः प्रीतिरुमा लक्ष्मीः सावित्री च सरस्वती
She is not Rati, nor Prīti, nor Umā, nor Lakṣmī, nor Sāvitrī, nor Sarasvatī.
अहं दृष्ट्वा तथा रूपां नारीं कामेन पीडितः
Having seen such a woman of that form, I was tormented by desire.
ततो धैर्यमवष्टभ्य मया मनसि चिंतितम्
Then, steadying my resolve, I reflected in my mind.
यस्या दर्शनमात्रेण कामो मे हृदि वर्द्धितः
By merely seeing her, desire in my heart increased.
चिरकालं तपस्तप्तं ब्रह्मचर्येण वै मया तस्माद्गच्छामि चान्यत्र यावन्न विकृतिर्भवेत्
For a long time I have practiced austerity with celibacy; therefore, I will go elsewhere before any disturbance arises.
नारीनाम तपोविघ्नं पूर्वं सृष्टं स्वयंभुवा
Women have previously been created by the Self-born as an obstacle to austerity.
तावद्धैर्यं तपः सत्यं तावत्स्थैर्यं कुलत्रपा 7.3.36.
So long as there is resolve, austerity, truthfulness, and so long as there is steadfastness in family honor—
एतत्संचिंत्य बहुधा निमील्य नयने ततः
Thinking thus in many ways, I then closed my eyes.
श्रवणादपि राजेंद्र पुनः पप्रच्छ तं मुनिम्
Even after hearing this, O king, he again questioned that sage.
यस्याः संदर्शनादेव भवानेव स्मरान्वितः
By whose mere sight, O lord, have you yourself become possessed by desire?
देवी वा मानुषी वापि यक्षिणी पन्नगी मुने
Is she a goddess, a human woman, a Yakṣī, or a serpent-woman, O sage?
एतन्मे वर्त्तते वित्ते सा कुमारी यशस्विनी
This is my situation, O wealthy one: she is a maiden, illustrious.
सोऽहं यास्यामि दैत्येश ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनम्
Therefore, O lord of the Daityas, I shall go to the eternal world of Brahmā.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्ब्रह्मलोकं गतो मुनिः
Having spoken thus, O king, the sage then went to Brahmā's world.
गत्वा भवान्द्रुतं तत्र दृष्ट्वा तां च वरांगनाम्
Having gone there swiftly, you saw that excellent woman.
अथाऽसौ महिषादेशाद्दूतो गत्वार्बुदाचलम् 7.3.36.
Then, on the order of the king of the buffaloes, a messenger went to Mount Arbuda.
तस्मै निवेदयामास महिषाय सविस्मयः
He reported this to the buffalo king with amazement.
देवतेजोभवा कन्या साऽद्यापि वरवर्णिनी
That maiden, born from divine radiance, is still today of surpassing beauty.
एवं तत्र भवंती स्म पृष्टाः सर्वे तपस्विनः
In this way, all the ascetics present there were questioned.
तस्या रूपं वयः कांतिर्वर्णितुं नैव शक्यते
Her form, youth, and splendor cannot be described.
दूतं संप्रेषयामास दानवं च विचक्षणम्
He sent a wise demon as a messenger.
विचक्षण द्रुतं गत्वा मदर्थे तां तपस्विनीम्
O wise one, go quickly and, for my sake, approach that ascetic woman.
अथाऽसौ प्रययौ शीघ्रं प्रणिपत्य विचक्षणः प्रणम्य विनयोपेतो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ताम्
Then that wise one went swiftly, bowed down, and with humility spoke these words to her.
महिषो नाम विख्यातस्त्रैलोक्याधिपतिर्बली
There is one named Mahiṣa, renowned and powerful, lord of the three worlds.
स त्वां वांछति कल्याणि धर्मपत्नीं स्वधर्मतः
He desires you, O auspicious one, as his lawful wife, according to righteousness.