परस्त्रीकामवान् मूढः सराष्ट्रो नाशमाप्तवान्
A fool, lusting after another’s wife, along with his realm, met destruction.
स च वव्रे महातेजाः पौरोहित्याय भार्गवम्
That mighty one then chose Bhārgava for the office of priest.
सुक्रस्यासीच्च दुहिता अरजा नाम नामतः
Sukra had a daughter named Arajā, so called by name.
तेनार्चितश्चिरं तत्र तस्थौ भार्गवसत्त्मः
Honored by him for a long time, the best of Bhārgavas remained there.
अतिष्ठत सुचार्वङ्गी ततो ऽब्यागान्नराधिपः
The king then arrived, while she of beautiful limbs stood there.
गतः स भगवान् शुक्रो याजनाय दनोः सुतम्
The venerable Śukra went to perform the sacrifice for the son of Danu.
तास्तमूचुर्गुरोः पुत्री संतिष्ठत्यरजा नृप
They said to him, 'O king, the guru's daughter remains unmarried.'
प्रविवेश महाबाहुर्ददर्शारजसं ततः
Then the mighty-armed one entered and saw her, still unwed.
संजातो ऽन्धक दण्डस्तु कृतान्तबलचोदितः
There arose Andhaka, the staff, impelled by the force of Death.
शुक्रशिष्यानपि बली एकाकी नृप आव्रजत्
O king, though alone, he approached even the disciples of Shukra, being powerful.
पूजयामास संहृष्टा भ्रातृभावेन दानव
The Dānava, delighted, honored him with the affection of a brother.
मां समाह्लादयस्वाद्य स्वपरिष्वङ्गवारिणा
Gladden me now with the water of your embrace.
पिता मम महाक्रोधात् त्रिदशानपि निर्दहेत्
My father, in great wrath, could burn even the gods.
भगिनी धर्मतस्ते ऽहं भवाञ्शिष्यः पितुर्मम
You are my sister by dharma, and I am your father's disciple.
कामाग्निर्निर्दहति मामद्यैव तनुमध्यमे
Today, O slender-waisted one, the fire of desire consumes my body.
तमेव याचस्व गुरुं स ते दास्यत्यसंशयम्
Ask the guru himself for this; he will surely grant it to you.
च्युतावसरकर्तृत्वे विघ्नो जायेत सुन्दरि
If the proper moment is missed, an obstacle will arise, O beautiful one.
दातुं शक्ता स्वमात्मानं स्वतन्त्रा न हि योषितः
Women are not independent to give themselves away, even if able.
गच्छस्व शुक्रशापेन सभृत्यज्ञातिबान्धवः
Go, by Shukra's command, with your attendants, kin, and relatives.
चित्राङ्गदाया यद् वृत्तं पुरा देवयुगे शुभे
What happened to Citrāṅgadā in the auspicious age of the gods, long ago,
रूपयौवनसंपन्ना पद्महीनेव पद्मिनी
Endowed with beauty and youth, like a lotus plant bereft of its pond,
जगाम नेमिषं नाम स्नातुं कमललोचना
The lotus-eyed one went to a place called Nemiṣa to bathe.
तां ददर्श च तन्वङ्गीं शुभाङ्गो मदनातुरः
There, a man, handsome and lovesick, saw her slender form.
असौ नराधिपसुतो मदनेन सदर्थ्यते
That son of the king was truly struck by love.
सख्यस्तामब्रुवन् बाला न प्रगल्भऽसि सुन्दरि
Her friends said to her, 'Child, you are not bold, O beautiful one.'
पिता तवास्ति धर्मिष्ठः सर्वशिल्पविशारदः
Your father is righteous and skilled in all the arts.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राजा सुरथः सत्यवात् सुधी
Meanwhile, King Suratha, steadfast in truth and wise,
त्वं मुग्धे मोहयसि मां दृष्ट्यैव मदिरेक्षणे
You, innocent one with intoxicating eyes, bewilder me with just your glance.
तन्मां कुचतले तल्पे अभिशायितुमर्हसि
Therefore, you ought to lie with me upon this couch, at my breast.
ततः सा चारुसर्वाङ्गी राज्ञो राजीवलोचना
Then she, whose every limb was lovely and whose eyes resembled lotuses, to the king—