कार्तिकी पुण्यदा भाविमासान्ते पुष्करेषु हि
The month of Kārtik bestows merit, especially at the end of the month, at the sacred lakes.
न त्वया स्म विना ब्रह्मन्निह चस्थातुं हि शक्नुवः
But, O Brahmin, without you, we are truly unable to remain here.
गते ते ऋषिणा सार्द्धू पुष्करारण्यमादरात्
When you had departed together with the sage, you entered the forest of Puṣkara with reverence.
पार्थिवा जानपद्याश्च मुक्त्वैकं तमृतध्वजम्
The kings and the people of the land, leaving behind only that one, the righteous-bannered one,
राजानश्च महाभागा नाभागेक्ष्वाकुसंयुताः
And the great and noble kings, associated with Nābhāga and Ikṣvāku,
स्नातुं स पुष्करे तीर्थे मध्यमे धनुषाकृतौ
Went to bathe at the sacred ford of Puṣkara, in the middle, shaped like a bow.
बह्वीभिर्मत्स्यकन्याभिः प्रीयमाणं पुनः पुनः
Delighted again and again by many daughters of the fish, he—
जनापवादं घोरं हि न शक्तः सोढुमुल्बणम्
Was unable to endure the fierce and terrible slander of the people.
तापसं कन्यकाभ्यां वै विचरन्तं यथेच्छया
The ascetic, wandering as he pleased with the maidens,
जनापवादात् तत्किं त्वं बिभेषु जलमध्यगः
Why do you, who are in the midst of the water, fear public reproach?
रागान्धो नापि च भयं विजानाति सुबालिशः
Blinded by passion, the very foolish one does not even recognize fear.
नोत्तत्तार निमग्नो ऽपि तस्थौ स विजितेन्द्रियः
Though submerged, he did not rise up; he remained, having conquered his senses.
ऋषयः पार्थिवाश्चान्ये नाना जानपदस्तदा
At that time, other sages and kings from various lands,
चित्राङ्गदा सुचार्वङ्गी वीक्षन्ती तनुमध्यमे
Citrāṅgadā, of beautiful limbs, gazing at the slender-waisted one,
संस्थिते निर्जने तीर्थे गालवो ऽन्तर्जले तथा
When the sacred ford was deserted, Gālava too was beneath the water.
पर्जन्यतनया साध्वी घृताचीर्गर्भसंभवा
The virtuous daughter of Parjanya, born from Ghṛtācī,
ददर्श कन्यात्रितयमुभयोस्तटयोः स्थितम्
Saw three maidens standing on both banks.
कासि केन च कार्येण निर्जने स्थितवत्यसि
Who are you, and for what purpose have you remained here in this deserted place?
चित्राङ्गदेति सुश्रेणि विख्यातां विश्वकर्मणः
O Suśreṇi, Citrāṅgadā, renowned as the daughter of Viśvakarman,
नैमिषे काञ्चनाक्षीं तु विख्यातां धर्ममातरम्
In Naimiṣa, the golden-eyed one, famed as the mother of Dharma,
सुरथेन स कामार्तो मामेव शरणं गतः
Suratha, overcome by desire, sought refuge in me alone.
ततः शप्तास्मि तातेन वियुक्तास्मि च भूभुजा
Then I was cursed by my father and separated from the king.
श्रीकण्ठमगमं द्रष्टुं ततो गोदावरं जलम्
After that, I went to see Śrīkaṇṭha, then to the waters of the Godāvarī.
न चापि दृष्टः सुरथः स मनोह्लादनः पतिः
But Suratha, that delight of my heart, my husband, was not seen.
समागता हि तच्छंस मम सत्येन भामिनि
O beautiful one, I have truly told you all that happened to me.
यता यात्राफले वृत्ते समायातास्मि पुष्करम्
When the fruit of my pilgrimage was fulfilled, I arrived at Puṣkara.
रममाणा वनेद्देशे दृष्टास्मि कपना सखि
While enjoying myself in the forest, I was seen, O friend, by a mendicant.
आनीतास्यश्रमात् केन भूपृष्ठान्मेरुपर्वतम्
By whom was I brought from his hermitage to the earth’s surface, to Mount Meru?
नाम्ना वेदवतीत्येवं मेरोरपि कृताश्रया
There, taking refuge on Meru, I became known by the name Vedavatī.
समारूढास्मि सहसा बन्दुजीवं नगोत्तमम्
Suddenly, I ascended the supreme mountain Bandujīva.