इति निर्बन्धतः पृष्टः स शकाधिपतिर्नृपः
Thus pressed insistently, the king of the Śakas was questioned.
मुच्यतां मानुषं भावं तां जातिं स्मर पौर्विकीम् 122.
Abandon your human disposition; remember your former lineage.
मन्मातापितरौ गत्वा प्रसादय शुचिस्मिते
Go to my mother and father, O fair-smiling one, and seek their favor.
तयोराज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य मानयित्वा यथार्हतः
Having received their command and honored them as is proper,
स्वपूर्वजन्मवृत्तं तु देवानामपि दुलर्भम्
The account of one's previous birth is difficult to obtain, even for the gods.
ततः सा ह्यनवद्याङ्गी श्वश्रूश्वशुरयोः पुरः
Then she, flawless in all her limbs, in the presence of her mother-in-law and father-in-law,
किंचिद्विज्ञप्तुकामास्मि तत्र वामवधीयताम्
I wish to make something known; please listen attentively there.
पुण्ये कोकामुखे गन्तुमिच्छावस्तत्र वां गुरू
I desire to go to the sacred Kokāmukha; for that, I seek your guidance.
अद्य यावत्किमपि वां याचितं न मया क्वचित्
Until today, I have never asked either of you for anything.
शिरावेदेनया युक्तः सदा तव सुतो ह्ययम्
Your son is always afflicted with pain in his head.
सुखानि सर्वविषयान्विसृज्य परिपीडितः
Having abandoned all pleasures and comforts, he is greatly tormented.
कदाचिन्नोक्तपूर्वं ते रहस्यं परमं महत् 122.
Never before have I told you this most profound secret.
दम्पतिभ्यां हि मननं रोचतां सर्वथैव हि
Let both husband and wife reflect upon this together, indeed in every way.
करेण स्वयमादाय वधूं पुत्रमुवाच ह
Taking the bride by the hand, the son spoke.
हस्त्यश्वरथ यानानि स्त्रियश्चाप्सरसोपमाः
Elephants, horses, chariots, vehicles, and women resembling apsarases—
शरणं वित्तयो राज्यं त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्
Wealth, refuge, and kingdom—all are established in you.
त्वयि प्रतिष्ठिताः प्राणाः सन्तानं च तदुत्तरम्
Life and progeny are founded in you as well.
पितुः पादौ गृहीत्वा च प्रोवाच विनयान्वितः
Grasping his father's feet, he spoke with humility.
गन्तुमिच्छामि तत्राहं तूर्णं कोकामुखं महत्
I wish to go swiftly to that great Kokāmukha.
तदा राज्यं बलं कोशो ममैवैतन्न सशंयः ।। तत्रैव गमनान्मह्यं वेदना नाशमेष्यति
Then, the kingdom, army, and treasury are all mine without doubt; by going there, my pain will be destroyed.
पुत्रोक्तमवधार्यैव शकानामधिपो नृपः
Having understood the son's words, the king of the Śakas—
वणिजश्चैव पौराश्च वैश्याश्चापि वराङ्गनाः 122.
Merchants, townspeople, Vaiśyas, and noble women—
अथ दीर्घेण कालेन प्राप्तः कोकामुखं त्विदम् ।। तत्र गत्वा वरारोहा भर्त्तारमिदमब्रवीत्
Then, after a long time, he arrived at this Kokāmukha; having gone there, the noble lady spoke to her husband.
पूर्वपृष्टं मया यत्ते वक्ष्यामीति च मां प्रति
What you previously asked me, I will now tell you.
निशम्येति प्रियाप्रोक्तं राजपुत्रो यशस्विनि
Hearing these words spoken by his beloved, the illustrious prince—
रजनी सम्प्रवृत्तेयं सुखं स्वापो विधीयताम्
Night has now fallen; let us rest comfortably and sleep.
प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां स्नातौ क्षौमविभूषितौ
When morning had dawned, after bathing and adorning ourselves with fine linen—
व्याधेन निगृहीतोऽस्मि बडिशेन जलेचरः
I was seized by a hunter, like a fish caught by a hook.
तेन तस्य प्रहारेण जाता शिरसि वेदना 122.
From that blow of his, pain arose in my head.
एतत्ते कथितं भद्रे पूर्वपृष्टं च यत्त्वया
O gentle one, this which you asked before has now been told to you.