द्वापरे पूर्वम् अभवद् अतीते सप्तमे मनौ । चतुर्युगे चतुर्थे तु सर्गे ऽस्मिन् वारणाकुले
In the past Dvapara age, during the seventh Manu, and in the fourth age of fourfold cycles, in this creation filled with elephants,
जम्बुद्वीपे प्रशान्तस्य विन्ध्यस्यादूरसंस्थिते । मालवानां पुरे श्रीमाञ् शिखिध्वज इतीश्वरः
On Jambudvipa, near the peaceful Vindhya mountains, in the city of the Malavas, there was a glorious king named Shikhidhvaja.
धैर्यौदार्यदयायुक्तः क्षमाशमदमान्वितः । शूरश् शुभसमाचारो मानी गुणगणाकरः
He was endowed with courage, generosity, and compassion; possessed of forbearance, self-restraint, and control of the senses; heroic, of virtuous conduct, proud, and a repository of all noble qualities.
आहर्ता सर्वयज्ञानां जेता सर्वधनुष्मताम् । कर्ता सकलकार्याणां भर्तापूर्ववपुर् भुवः
He was the performer of all sacrifices, the conqueror of all warriors, the accomplisher of every task, and the first sovereign of the earth.
पेशलस् स्निग्धमधुरो विदग्धः प्रीतनागरः । सुन्दरश् शीलसुभगः प्रतापी धर्मवत्सलः
He was charming, gentle, and sweet-spoken; clever and beloved in the city; handsome, blessed with good character, radiant, and devoted to righteousness.
वेदिता विदितार्थानां दाता सकलसम्पदाम् । भोक्ता संसङ्गरहितस् सुश्रोता सकलश्रुतेः
He was the knower of all meanings, the giver of every wealth, the enjoyer free from attachment, and an excellent listener to all teachings.
स भोगौघान् अनादृत्य स्त्रैणं तृणवद् उत्सृजन् । पितरि स्वर्गम् आपन्ने बाल एवोत्तमौजसा
He disregarded all pleasures, casting aside sensuality as straw; when his father attained heaven, even as a boy, he possessed supreme vigor.
कृत्वा षोडशवर्षात्मा कृत्वा दिग्विजयं वशी । नूनं सौराज्यसम्पत्त्या भूमण्डलम् अयोजयत्
Having reached sixteen years of age and subdued the quarters, he surely united the whole earth under his imperial sovereignty.
अतिष्ठद् विगताशङ्कं पालयन् धर्मतः प्रजाः । धीमान् स मन्त्रिभिस् सार्धं यशसा शुक्लयन् दिशः
He ruled without fear, protecting his subjects righteously; wise, together with his ministers, he spread his fame in all directions.
अथ गच्छत्सु वर्षेषु वसन्ते प्रोल्लसत्य् अलम् । पुष्पेषु जृम्भमाणेषु स्फुरत्सु शशिरश्मिषु
Then, as the years passed, in spring, when the flowers blossomed abundantly and the moonbeams shimmered brightly—
मञ्जरीजालदोलासु विटपान्तःपुरान्तरे । रजःकर्पूरधवले चलद्दलकवाटके
Within the inner chambers at the ends of the branches, where clusters of blossoms sway, the doors of leaves gently move, white with the dust of pollen like camphor.
आमोदिनि लसत्पुष्पगुलुच्छकवितानके । गायत्सु गहनेषूच्चैर् मिथुनेष्व् अलिनां मिथः
In bowers adorned with fragrant, shining flowers, where bees sing loudly together in the dense groves,
आयाति मधुरे वायौ शशिशीकरशीतले । कदलीकन्दलीकच्छतलपल्लवलासिनि
There comes a gentle breeze, cool with the moon’s nectar, playing among the sprouting shoots and fresh leaves at the base of the banana plants.
कान्तां प्रति बभूवास्य नवं चेतस् समुत्सुकम् । क्षीवं कुसुमसम्भारसौगन्धिमधुरासवैः
For his beloved, his heart became newly eager, intoxicated by the sweet essence and fragrance of gathered blossoms.
मनोराज्यम् इदं चक्रे स वसन्तमदैधितः । उद्यानवनदोलासु लीलाकमलिनीषु च
Enflamed by the passion of spring, he made this his kingdom of delight, among the garden groves, swinging bowers, and playful lotus ponds.
कदा प्रणयिनीं मुग्धां बालाब्जमुकुलस्तनीम् । करिष्ये कामिनीम् अङ्के पर्यङ्के कुसुमाङ्किताम्
When will I place my innocent beloved, whose budding breasts resemble lotus buds, as my lover on my lap, on a couch adorned with flowers?
कदा कमलवल्लीनां दोलास्व् अलिर् इवालिनीम् । आलोलतां विनेष्यामि बालां भुजलतानुगाम्
When, like a bee with a vine of lotuses, will I bring my tender beloved to sway with me on a swing, her arms entwined like delicate creepers?
मृणालहारकुन्देन्दुवृन्दतल्पाभिलाषिणी । मत्कृते मदनातप्ता कदा स्याद् इन्दुसुन्दरी
When will the moon-faced beauty, burning with love for me, long for a bed of lotus stalks, jasmine, and clusters of white lilies?
इति चिन्तापरो भूत्वा कुसुमावलनोन्मुखः । विजहार वनान्तेषु कुसुमोपवनेषु च
Thus, absorbed in thought and eager for garlands of flowers, he wandered in the forest groves and among gardens filled with blossoms.
वेलोपवनदोलासु लीलाकमलिनीषु च । वल्लीवलयगेहेषु विविधोद्यानभूमिषु
He delighted in the swings of the seaside gardens, in playful lotus ponds, in the vine-entwined bowers, and in various pleasure grounds.
वनोपवनविन्यासवर्णनावलितासु च । शृङ्गाररसगर्भासु कथास्व् अरमतोन्मनाः
He was captivated by the arrangements and descriptions of forests and gardens, and became absorbed in tales imbued with the sentiment of love.
हारिहासलसच्छ्वासविलोलालकवल्लरीः । कुमारीः पूजयाम् आस सुवर्णकलशस्तनीः
He honored maidens whose locks waved with charming laughter and gentle breaths, whose breasts were like golden pitchers.
एवम् अस्य विदुर् भव्या मन्त्रिणो नवनिश्चयम् । इङ्गिताकारवेदित्वम् एव मन्त्रिपदं परम्
Thus, the wise ministers discerned his new intention; for truly, understanding gestures and expressions is the highest qualification for a minister.
अथ तस्य विवाहाय मन्त्रिवर्गो विचारवान् । सुराष्ट्राधिपतिं कन्यां ययाचे यौवनान्विताम्
Then, after careful deliberation, the council of ministers requested from the lord of Saurashtra a youthful maiden for his marriage.
रूपयौवनसम्पन्नां भार्यात्वे विधिनोत्तमाम् । उपयेमे स ताम् आत्मसदृशीं प्रतिमाम् इव
Endowed with beauty and youth, and most excellent as a wife by all standards, he married her—she was like his own reflection.
चूडालेति भुवि ख्याता नाम्ना नृपतिसुन्दरी । सा तं भर्तारम् आसाद्य रेजे फुल्लेव पद्मिनी
She was renowned on earth by the name Chūḍā, a princess among women; having obtained him as her husband, she shone like a blossoming lotus.
नीलनीरजनेत्रां तां चूडालां स शिखिध्वजः । स्नेहाद् विकासयाम् आस शोभयार्क इवाब्जिनीं
With affection, Śikhidhvaja caused Cūḍālā, whose eyes were dark as collyrium, to blossom in beauty, as the sun makes the lotus bloom.
अवर्धत तयोः प्रीतिर् अन्योऽन्यार्पितचेतसोः । हावभावविलासाद्यैस् सेकैर् नवलतेव सा
Their love grew as both offered their hearts to each other, nourished by gestures, moods, and playful delights, like a young creeper thriving with fresh showers.
स मन्त्र्यर्पितसर्वार्थस् सुसुखी सुस्थितप्रजः । राजहंस इवाब्जिन्या रेमे दयितया तया
Entrusting all matters to his ministers, happy and with his subjects well-settled, he enjoyed himself with his beloved, like a royal swan with a lotus.
अन्तःपुरेषु दोलासु चन्दनागुरुवीथिषु । मन्दारदामदोलासु कदलीकन्दलीषु च
In the inner chambers, on swings, along corridors scented with sandalwood and aloe, on gentle coral and flower-decked swings, and among groves of banana trees—