चम्पकाशोकपुन्नागमन्दारतरुभिस्तथा । चूतपाटललोध्रैश्च प्रियङ्ग्वर्जुनकेतकैः । तगरैर्नारिकैलैश्च प्रियालपनसैस्तथा ।। ७.२६.
With campaka, aśoka, punnāga, mandāra trees, as well as mango, pāṭala, lodhra, priyangu, arjuna, ketaka, tagara, coconut, priyāla, and jackfruit trees,
आरग्वधैस्तमालैश्च प्रियालवकुलैरपि । एतैरन्यैश्च तरुभिरुद्भासितवनान्तरे । किन्नरा मदनेनार्ता रक्ता मधुरकण्ठिनः ।। ७.२६.
With āragvadha, tamāla, priyāla, vakula, and other trees brightening the forest's edge, where Kinnaras, tormented by love, sang sweetly with passionate voices,
समं सम्प्रजगुर्यत्र मनस्तुष्टिविवर्धनम् ।। ७.२६.
There, they sang together in harmony, increasing the delight of the mind.
भिरुद्भासितवनान्तरे । विद्याधरा मदक्षीबा मदरक्तान्तलोचनाः । योषिद्भिः सह सङ्क्रान्ताश्चिक्रीडुर्जहृषुश्च वै ।। ७.२६.
In that forest brightened by trees, Vidyādharas, their eyes reddened with intoxication, together with women, played and rejoiced.
घण्टानामिव सन्नादः शुश्रुवे मधुरस्वरः । अप्सरोगणसङ्घानां गायतां धनदालये ।। ७.२६.
A sweet-sounding resonance, like the ringing of bells, was heard from the groups of Apsarases singing in the mansion of the Lord of Wealth.
पुष्पवर्षाणि मुञ्चन्तो नगाः पवनताडिताः । शैलं तं वासयन्तीव मधुमाधवगन्धिनः ।। ७.२६.
The trees, struck by the wind, released showers of flowers, as if perfuming that mountain with the scent of honey and spring blossoms.
मधुपुष्परजःपृक्तं गन्धमादाय पुष्कलम् । प्रववौ वर्धयन्कामं रावणस्य सुखो ऽनिलः ।। ७.२६.
The gentle wind, carrying a rich fragrance mixed with honey, flowers, and pollen, blew pleasantly, increasing Rāvaṇa's desire.
गेयात्पुष्पसमृद्ध्या च शैत्याद्वायोर्गिरेर्गुणात् । प्रवृत्तायां रजन्यां च चन्द्रस्योदयनेन च ।। ७.२६.
Because of the singing, the abundance of flowers, the coolness of the breeze, the mountain's qualities, the onset of night, and the rising of the moon,
रावणस्तु महावीर्यः कामस्य वशमागतः । विनिःश्वस्य विनिःश्वस्य शशिनं समवैक्षत ।। ७.२६.
Rāvaṇa, of great might, overcome by desire, sighed deeply again and again, gazing at the moon.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र दिव्याभरणभूषिता । सर्वाप्सरोवरा रम्भा दिव्यपुष्पविभूषिता ।। ७.२६.
Meanwhile, there appeared the foremost of all Apsarases, Rambhā, adorned with divine ornaments and decorated with celestial flowers.
दिव्यचन्दनलिप्ताङ्गी मन्दारकृतमूर्धजा । दिव्योत्सवकृतारम्भा पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानना ।। ७.२६.
Her limbs anointed with divine sandalwood, her hair adorned with mandāra flowers, prepared for a celestial festival, her face radiant like the full moon,
चक्षुर्मनोहरं पीनं मेखलादामभूषितम् । समुद्वहन्ती जघनं रतिप्राभृतमुत्तमम् ।। ७.२६.
Her captivating eyes, full hips adorned with a jeweled girdle, she bore the finest gifts of love.
कृतैर्विशेषकैरार्द्रैः षडर्तुकुसुमोद्भवैः ।। ७.२६.
With special, freshly made ornaments of flowers from all six seasons.
बभावन्यतमेव श्रीकान्तिद्युतिमतिह्रियाम् । नीलं सतोयमेघाभं वस्त्रं समवकुण्ठिता ।। ७.२६.
She appeared as another goddess of beauty, radiant and modest, draped in a dark blue garment resembling a rain-filled cloud.
यस्या वक्त्रं शशिनिभं भ्रुवौ चापनिभे शुभे । ऊरू करिकराकारौ करौ पल्लवकोमलौ । सैन्यमध्येन गच्छन्ती रावणेनोपवीक्षिता ।। ७.२६.
Her face was like the moon, her beautiful eyebrows shaped like bows, her thighs like the trunks of young elephants, her arms soft as tender shoots; as she walked through the midst of the army, Rāvaṇa gazed intently at her.
तां समुत्थाय गच्छन्तीं कामबाणवशं गतः । करे गृहीत्वा लज्जन्तीं स्मयमानो ऽभ्यभाषत ।। ७.२६.
Overcome by the arrows of desire, Rāvaṇa rose and, taking her shy hand as she walked, spoke to her with a smile.
क्व गच्छसि वरारोहे कां सिद्धिं भजसे स्वयम् । कस्याभ्युदयकालो ऽयं यस्त्वां समुपभोक्ष्यते ।। ७.२६.
"Where are you going, O slender-waisted one? What success do you seek for yourself? For whom is this moment of fortune, who will enjoy your company?"
त्वदाननरसस्याद्य पद्मोत्पलसुगन्धिनः । सुधामृतरसस्येव को ऽद्य तृप्तिं गमिष्यति ।। ७.२६.
"Who today will be satisfied by the nectar-like taste of your lotus- and water-lily-scented mouth?"
स्वर्णकुम्भनिभौ पीनौ शुभौ भीरु निरन्तरौ । कस्योरस्थलसंस्पर्शं दास्यतस्ते कुचाविमौ ।। ७.२६.
"O timid one, whose chest will these two full, auspicious breasts, resembling golden jars and close together, touch?"
सुवर्णचक्रप्रतिमं स्वर्णदामचितं पृथु । अध्यारोहति कस्ते ऽद्य जघनं स्वर्गरूपिणम् ।। ७.२६.
"Who today will ascend your broad hips, adorned with golden chains and resembling a golden disc, which are like paradise itself?"
मद्विशिष्टः पुमान्को ऽद्य शक्रो विष्णुरथाश्विनौ । मामतीत्य हि यं च त्वं यासि भीरु न शोभनम् ।। ७.२६.
"Who is the man superior to me today—Indra, Viṣṇu, or the Aśvins? It is not proper, O timid one, that you go to anyone else, passing me by."
विश्रम त्वं पृथुश्रोणि शिलातलमिदं शुभम् ।। ७.२६.
"Rest here, O broad-hipped one, on this beautiful stone slab."
त्रैलोक्ये यः प्रभुश्चैव मदन्यो नैव विद्यते ।। ७.२६.
"In the three worlds, there is no lord other than me."
तदेवं प्राञ्जलिः प्रह्वो याचते त्वां दशाननः । भर्तुर्भर्ता विधाता च त्रैलोक्यस्य भजस्व माम् ।। ७.२६.
Thus, with joined palms and humility, Daśānana beseeches you: "Accept me as your husband, the lord of lords and creator of the three worlds."
एवमुक्ता ऽब्रवीद्रम्भा वेपमाना कृताञ्जलिः । प्रसीद नार्हसे वक्तुमीदृशं त्वं हि मे गुरुः ।। ७.२६.
Thus addressed, Rambhā, trembling and with folded hands, replied: "Be gracious; you ought not to speak thus, for you are my superior."
अन्येभ्यो हि त्वया रक्ष्या प्राप्नुयां धर्षणं यदि । तद्धर्मतः स्नुषा ते ऽहं तत्त्वमेव ब्रवीमि ते ।। ७.२६.
"If I were to suffer outrage, it is you who should protect me from others; by law, I am your daughter-in-law, and I speak this truthfully to you."
अथाब्रवीद्दशग्रीवश्चरणाधोमुखीं स्थिताम् । रोमहर्षमनुप्राप्तां दृष्टमात्रेण तां तदा ।। ७.२६.
Then Daśagrīva spoke to her, as she stood with her face turned to his feet, her body bristling with horripilation at his mere sight.
सुतस्य यदि मे भार्या ततस्त्वं हि स्नुषा भवेः । बाढमित्येव सा रम्भा प्राह रावणमुत्तरम् ।। ७.२६.
"If you are the wife of my son, then you are indeed my daughter-in-law." To this, Rambhā replied to Rāvaṇa, "So it is."
धर्मतस्ते सुतस्याहं भार्या राक्षसपुङ्गव । पुत्रः प्रियतरः प्राणैर्भ्रातुर्वैश्रवणस्य ते । विख्यातस्त्रिषु लोकेषु नलकूबर इत्ययम् ।। ७.२६.
"By law, I am the wife of your son, O foremost of Rākṣasas. Your brother Vaiśravaṇa's son, dearest to you as life itself, is renowned in the three worlds as Nalakūbara."
धर्मतो यो भवेद्विप्रः क्षत्रियो वीर्यतो भवेत् । क्रोधाद्यश्च भवेदग्निः क्षान्त्या च वसुधासमः ।। ७.२६.
"By righteousness, one is a brāhmaṇa; by valor, a kṣatriya; by anger, fire; and by forbearance, equal to the earth."