अहो नु चिरकालेन मनोरथम् इमं शुभम् । अहम् आसादयिष्यामि यद् भर्त्रा समचित्तता
Ah, after such a long time, I will attain this auspicious wish of mine: to be of equal mind with my husband.
समग्रानन्दवृन्दानाम् एतद् एवोपरि स्थितम् । यत् समानमनोवृत्तिसङ्गम् आस्वादने सुखम्
This alone stands above all gatherings of complete bliss: the happiness of union in which the movements of mind are alike.
इति चिन्तावती व्योम्ना चूडालोल्लङ्घ्य पर्वतान् । देशान् अब्दान् दिगन्तांश् च प्राप मन्दरकन्दरम्
Thinking thus, Chudala soared through the sky, crossing mountains, lands, oceans, and horizons, and reached the cave of Mount Mandara.
अदृश्यैव नभस्स्थैव प्रविवेश वनान्तरम् । वात्येव पादपलतास्पन्दचिह्नगमागमा
Invisible and moving through the air, she entered the forest, her coming and going marked only by the trembling of creepers in the wind.
वनैकदेशे कस्मिंश्चित् कृतपर्णोटजे पतिम् । दृष्ट्वा योगेन बुबुधे देहान्तरम् इवास्थितम्
In a certain part of the forest, she saw her husband, who had made a hut of leaves, and through yogic insight, she perceived him as if he had taken on another body.
हारकेयूरकटककुण्डलादिविभूषितः । अभवन् मेरुकान्तिर् यस् तम् एवात्र ददर्श सा
He, who once shone like Mount Meru, adorned with necklaces, armlets, bracelets, earrings, and other ornaments—she saw him there in that very place.
कृशाङ्गं कृष्णवर्णं च जीर्णपर्णम् इव स्थितम् । कज्जलाम्बुभरस्नातं भृङ्गीशम् इव निस्सहम्
Emaciated in body, dark in complexion, sitting as if he were an old, withered leaf, bathed in the dust and soot of the forest, he resembled a powerless bee-lord.
चीराम्बरधरं शान्तम् एकाकिनम् अवस्थितम् । स्थले निषण्णं पुष्पाणि ग्रथयन्तं जरां गतम्
Clad in bark garments, tranquil, dwelling alone, seated on the ground, stringing flowers together, he had come to the state of old age.
तम् आलोक्यानवद्याङ्गी चूडाला पीवरस्तनी । किञ्चिज्जातविषादेदम् उवाचात्मनि चेतसा
Beholding him, Cūḍālā—faultless in form, full-bosomed—felt a slight sorrow and spoke thus within her own mind:
अहो नु विषमं मौर्ख्यं यद् अनात्मज्ञतात्मकम् । एवंविधास् समायान्ति दशा मौर्ख्यप्रसादतः
Alas, how grievous is the folly that arises from ignorance of the Self! Such states as this come about due to the favor of ignorance.
अयं स राजा लक्ष्मीवान् यो ममापि प्रियः पतिः । हृदि मोहघुणक्षुण्णाम् इमाम् अद्यागतो दशाम्
This is that very king, endowed with fortune, who was also my beloved husband—now he has come to this condition, his heart gnawed by the worm of delusion.
तद् अवश्यम् इहैवाद्य नाथं विदितवेद्यताम् । नयाम्य् एनं न सन्देहो भोगमोक्षश्रियं तथा
Therefore, today itself, I must certainly bring my lord here to the knowledge that is to be known—there is no doubt, along with the prosperity of enjoyment and liberation.
इदं रूपं परित्यज्य रूपेणान्येन केनचित् । सकाशम् अस्य गच्छामि बोधं दातुम् अनुत्तमम्
Leaving aside this form, I shall go to him in another form, to impart the highest knowledge.
बालेयं मम कान्तेति मदुक्तं न करोत्य् अयम् । तस्मात् तापसरूपेण बोधयामि पतिं क्षणात्
This child does not heed my words, thinking of me as his beloved; therefore, I will instruct my husband instantly in the form of an ascetic.
भर्ता कषायपाकेन परिपक्वमतिस् स्थितः । चेतस्य् अस्याद्य विमले स्वं तत्त्वं प्रतिबिम्बति
My husband, matured by the fire of inner purification, now stands with a mind fully ripened; today, in his pure mind, his true nature will be reflected.
इति सञ्चिन्त्य चूडाला बभूव द्विजदारकः । ईषद्ध्यानाद् गतान्यत्वं क्षणाद् अम्बुतरङ्गवत्
Thinking thus, Chudala became the form of a young brahmin boy; through slight meditation, she assumed another identity in a moment, like a wave on water.
पपात विपिने तस्मिन् द्विजपुत्रकरूपिणी । भर्तुर् अभ्याजगामाग्रं मन्दस्मितलसन्मुखी
She descended in that forest, taking the form of a brahmin boy, and approached her husband, her face shining with a gentle smile.
ददर्श द्विजपुत्रं तं पुरो यातं शिखिध्वजः । वनान्तराद् उपगतं तपोमूर्तिम् इवास्थितम्
Shikhidhvaja saw that brahmin boy standing before him, who had come from the depths of the forest, appearing as the very embodiment of asceticism.
द्रवत्कनकगौराङ्गं मुक्ताहारविभूषितम् । शुक्लयज्ञोपवीताङ्गं शुक्लाम्बरयुगावृतम्
His body shone with the luster of molten gold, adorned with a necklace of pearls, wearing a white sacred thread and draped in two white garments.
कमण्डलुधरं कान्तं शान्तं दान्तम् अनामयम् । व्याप्तप्रकोष्ठं द्विगुणेनाक्षसूत्रेण चारुणा
He held a water pot, was handsome, serene, self-controlled, free from affliction, his forearms adorned with a beautiful double string of prayer beads.
भूमाव् अलग्नचरणं किष्कुमात्रोपरि स्थितम् । कुन्तलव्याप्तमूर्धानं सालिमालम् इवाम्बुजम्
Standing on the ground without his feet soiled, upon a small patch of grass, his head covered with hair like a lotus adorned with rice garlands.
भासयन्तं प्रदेशं तं शारीरैर् दीप्तिमण्डलैः । कुण्डलाभूषितमुखं नवम् अर्कम् इवोदितम्
Illuminating that place with radiant circles from his body, his face adorned with earrings, like the newly risen sun.
शिखासम्प्रोतमन्दारं शृङ्गस्थेन्दुम् इवाचलम् । कान्तोपशान्तवपुषम् ऊर्जितं विजितेन्द्रियम्
With a topknot entwined with mandāra flowers, like a mountain crowned with the moon; possessing a lovely, tranquil form, strong and with senses mastered.
हिमाभभस्मतिलकभूषितालिकसुन्दरम् । मेरुं हेमतटालीनपूर्णेन्दुम् इव चञ्चलम्
Beautiful with a forehead marked by white ash and sandal paste, like Mount Meru adorned with golden slopes and a full, wavering moon.
तम् आलोक्य द्विजसुतं समुत्तस्थौ शिखिध्वजः । देवपुत्रागमधिया सम्परित्यक्तपादुकः
Seeing that twice-born youth, Śikhidhvaja rose up, having set aside his sandals, with the thought that a divine being had arrived.
देवपुत्र नमस्कार इदम् आसनम् आस्यताम् । इत्य् अस्य दर्शयाम् आस पाणिना पत्त्रविष्टरम्
He said, 'O divine one, salutations to you. Here is a seat—please be seated,' and with his hand indicated a spread of leaves.
ददौ च द्विजपुत्रस्य पुष्पवृष्टिं करोदरे । चन्द्रः कुमुदषण्डस्य प्रालेयम् इव पल्लवे
And he offered the twice-born youth a shower of flowers in the hollow of his hand, like the moon offering coolness to a bed of lotuses.
हे राजर्षे नमस् तुभ्यम् इति द्विजसुतो वदन् । गृहीत्वा कुसुमान्य् अस्माद् विवेश दलविष्टरे
The twice-born youth, saying, 'O royal sage, salutations to you,' accepted the flowers and sat upon the leaf-seat.
देवपुत्र महाभाग कुत आगमनं कृतम् । दिवसस् सफलो ऽयं मे यत् त्वाम् अद्यास्मि दृष्टवान्
O noble son of the gods, from where have you come? This day has become fruitful for me, for today I have seen you.
इदम् अर्घ्यम् इदं पाद्यं पुष्पानीमानि मानद । इमाः प्रग्रथिता माला गृह्यन्तां भद्रम् अस्तु ते
Here is water for your feet, here is the arghya offering, and these flowers, O honorable one; please accept these woven garlands—may all be well for you.