को भवान्किं निमित्तं तु इह वा किमुपागतः
Who are you? For what reason have you come here, and why?
ब्रह्मणो वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रोक्तं तेनैव सादरम् प्रजापते महाभाग किं करोमि दिशस्व माम्
Hearing Brahmā’s words, he respectfully replied: ‘O blessed Lord of creatures, instruct me—what shall I do?’
ब्रह्मोवाच मया तु सृष्टिकामेन ये प्रजापतयः कृताः
Brahmā said: Out of my desire to create, I have made the progenitors of beings.
त्वमग्रणीः प्रजासर्गे त्वदधीनमिदं जगत्
You are the foremost in the creation of beings; this world is under your authority.
इत्युक्तो ब्रह्मणा देवि जगामादर्शनं स्मरः
Thus addressed by Brahmā, O Goddess, Smara vanished from sight.
मद्वचो न कृतं यस्माद्भवनेत्रोद्भवाग्निना ब्रह्माणं प्रणतो भूत्वा प्रह्वः प्रांजलिरब्रवीत्
Because my command was not carried out, from the fire born of your eye, he, bowing with joined palms, spoke to Brahmā.
प्रसीद देवदेवेश अनन्यगतिके मयि 5.2.13.
Be gracious, Lord of gods, for I have no other refuge.
यस्मात्ते भक्तिरतुला ममोपरि महामते
Because your devotion toward me is unequaled, O wise one,
कामिनीनां कटाक्षेषु केशपाशेषु चैव हि
In the glances of women, and indeed in their tresses,
वसंते कोकिलालापे ज्योत्स्नायां जलदागमे
In springtime, in the song of the cuckoo, in moonlight, and at the coming of clouds,
स्त्रियोऽमृतमया धन्या संसारे सारकारणम्
Women are truly immortal, blessed, and the essential cause in worldly life.
एताभिर्वरनारीभिर्जगदेवं वशीकृतम्
By these excellent women, the world has thus been brought under control.
कृतश्चापि स्ववशता स्त्रीगौरवगतस्य च
And autonomy has been established, due to the honor given to women.
स्त्रिय एव हि देवानामिंद्रादीनां भयाश्रयाः
Indeed, women are the very source of fear even for the gods, including Indra.
पराभवः प्रभवति विवशत्वं च भीषणम्
Defeat arises, and a terrible state of helplessness prevails.
इत्युक्तो मन्मथो भद्रे ब्रह्मणा च विसर्जितः
Thus addressed, O gentle one, Manmatha was dismissed by Brahmā.
रतिप्रीतिसमायुक्तो झषकेतुर्मनोभवः 5.2.13.
United with Rati and delight, Manobhava, the banner of the fish, set forth.
पंडितांस्तापसान्वीरान्सुधियश्च जितेंद्रियान्
He subdued scholars, ascetics, heroes, the wise, and those who had conquered their senses.
भूतप्रेतपिशाचांश्च यक्षगंधर्वकिंनरान्
He also overpowered spirits, ghosts, piśācas, yakṣas, gandharvas, and kinnaras.
ममार्थे च कृतो यत्नश्चिंतयित्वा पुनःपुनः तस्य देवस्य कः शक्तः क्षोभणार्थं मया विना
For my sake, he made every effort, pondering again and again—who but I is able to agitate that god?
इत्युक्त्वा तु समायातो यत्राहं तपसि स्थितः
Having said this, he arrived where I was engaged in austerities.
दृष्टवान्मां तदा कामः पिंजकूटजटासटम्
Then Kāma saw me, my matted locks piled high like a mountain peak.
प्रेक्षमाणमृजुस्थानं नासावंशाग्र लोचनम्
He beheld me seated upright, my gaze fixed at the tip of my nose.
प्रविष्टः कररंध्रेण मदनो हृदये मम
Through the opening of my hand, Madana entered into my heart.
समाधेर्भावना दिव्या लक्ष्यप्रत्यक्षरूपिणी
The divine contemplation of samādhi, manifest as the direct perception of the goal,
उन्मत्ततां गतोऽहं वै विकृतिं मदनात्मिकाम्
I became truly mad, overtaken by the distortion born of Madana.
दृष्टो मयात्महृदये मन्मथोऽपथ्यकारकः 5.2.13.
I saw within my own heart Manmatha, the bringer of what is unwholesome.
अमानुषीं व्रजेद्योनिं योगिनं प्रविशेद्यदि
If he enters a yogin, he may fall into a non-human birth.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे सोऽपि संतप्तो मदनो भृशम्
Meanwhile, Madana too was greatly tormented.
सहकारतरोर्मूले भूत्वा मधुसखस्तदा
Then, at the root of a mango tree, he became a friend of the spring.