भूषणान्य् उरुरत्नानि माल्यानि विविधानि च । पश्येमान्य् अङ्ग जायन्ते स्वाङ्गेभ्यो वृक्षपुष्पवत्
See, ornaments and precious gems, garlands of many kinds, arise from my own limbs, just as flowers grow upon trees.
पश्यायं स्वयम् एवोद्यच्चन्द्रांशुभरसुन्दरः । मूर्ध्नि पट्टांशुको जातो नीहारो ऽद्राव् इवाङ्ग मे
Behold, this beautiful cloth, radiant as moonbeams, has appeared on my head by itself, like mist settling upon a mountain.
सर्वाणि कान्तालिङ्गानि जातानि मम मानद । हा धिक् कष्टं विषादो मे किं करोम्य् अङ्गनास्म्य् अहम्
All the marks of beauty have arisen in me, O dignified one; alas, what misery! I am distressed—what can I do, for I am now a woman.
हा धिक् कष्टम् अहो साधो स्थित एवाहम् अङ्गना । संविदानुभवाम्य् अन्तर् नितम्बं जघनान्वितम्
Alas, what hardship! O noble one, I am indeed established as a woman; inwardly I experience awareness of hips and a rounded waist.
विपिने कुम्भ इत्य् उक्त्वा तूष्णीं खिन्नो बभूव ह । राजापि च तम् आलोक्य तथैवासीद् विषण्णधीः
In the forest, saying 'Kumbha,' he became silent and dejected; and the king, seeing him thus, was likewise troubled in mind.
मुहूर्तमात्रेणोवाच शिखिध्वज इदं वचः । कष्टं सो ऽयं महासत्त्वस् सम्पन्नो वरवर्णिनी
After a moment, Shikhidhvaja spoke these words: 'What hardship! This noble soul has become endowed with the form of a beautiful woman.'
साधो विदितवेद्यस् त्वं जानासि नियतेर् गतिम् । अवश्यभाविन्य् अर्थे ऽस्मिन् मा खिन्नहृदयो भव
O noble one, you are wise and know what is to be known; you understand the course of destiny. Do not let your heart be troubled about what must inevitably occur.
आपतन्ति दशास् तात सुधियां देहमात्रके । न चेतस्य् अधियां त्व् एताश् चित्तं यान्ति सदेहकम्
O dear one, such conditions befall only the wise who are identified with the body; but for those whose minds are elevated, these states do not affect the mind along with the body.
एवम् अस्त्व् अनुतिष्ठामि यामिनीस्त्रीत्वम् आत्मनः । न खेदम् अनुगच्छामि नियतिः केन लङ्घ्यते
So be it; I shall observe the state of womanhood through the night. I do not experience distress; by what means can destiny be transgressed?
इति निर्णीय तौ खेदं तं नीत्वा तनुतां मिथः । एकतल्पे निशां तूष्णीं नीतवन्तौ चिरेण ताम्
Having thus resolved, the two endured their fatigue, gradually diminishing it together; in silence, they spent the night for a long time on the same bed.
अथ प्रभाते तत् स्वैरं वपुर् उत्सृज्य यौवतम् । बभूव कुम्भः कुम्भाभकुचप्रोज्झितमूर्तिमान्
Then, at dawn, she freely abandoned her youthful form; she became a pot, bearing the shape of a pot, her breasts and body cast aside.
इति सा राजमहिषी चूडाला वरवर्णिनी । कुम्भत्वम् आस्थिता भर्तुः पश्चात् स्त्रीत्वम् उपागता
Thus, the royal queen Chudala, of splendid complexion, assumed the form of a pot after her husband, and then returned to womanhood.
विजहार वनान्तेषु कुमारी धर्मिणी निशि । कुम्भरूपधरा चाह्नि भर्त्रा मित्रेण संयुता
The virtuous maiden wandered in the forest at night, bearing the form of a pot; by day, she was joined by her husband, her friend.
कैलासमन्दरसुमेरुमहेन्द्रसह्यसानुष्व् अविस्खलितयोगगमागमा सा । सार्धं प्रियेण सुहृदा विभुना यथेच्छं स्रग्दामहारवलिता विजहार नारी
On the peaks of Kailasa, Mandara, Sumeru, Mahendra, and Sahya, she moved with unerring yogic mastery; adorned with garlands and splendid ornaments, the woman wandered as she pleased with her beloved friend and lord.
ततः कतिपयेष्व् एव दिवसेषु गतेषु सा । इदं प्रोवाच भर्तारं कुम्भरूपधरा सती
After a few days had passed, she, bearing the form of a pot, spoke these words to her husband.
राजन् राजीवपत्त्राक्ष ममेदं वचनं शृणु । निशायां प्रत्यहं तावत् स्थित एवाहम् अङ्गना
O king, lotus-eyed, listen to my words: each night I remain as a woman.
तद् इच्छाम्य् अङ्गनाधर्मं निपुणीकर्तुम् ईदृशम् । भर्त्रे कस्मैचिद् आत्मानं विवाहेन ददाम्य् अहम्
Therefore, I wish to master this feminine duty; I shall give myself in marriage to some husband.
तद् भवान् एव मे भर्ता रोचते भुवनत्रये । गृहाण मां विवाहेन भार्यात्वे निशि सर्वदा
Among all three worlds, it is you alone whom I desire as my husband; accept me as your wife in marriage, always, even at night.
अयत्नोपनतं साधो प्रियेण सुहृदा सह । स्त्रीसुखं भोक्तुम् इच्छामि मा मे विघ्नकरो भव
O noble one, I wish to enjoy the happiness of womanhood, which has come to me effortlessly, together with my beloved friend; do not become an obstacle for me.
क्रमप्रवृत्तम् आ सृष्टेस् सुखसाध्यं मनोरमम् । प्रकृतं कुर्वतः कार्यं दोषः क इव जायते
When an action proceeds in due order from creation, is pleasant and easily accomplished, what fault arises in performing such a natural act?
इच्छानिच्छादृशोर् ऐक्यात् समत्वात् सर्ववस्तुषु । वयं न सेच्छा नानिच्छाः कुर्वस् तेनैतद् ईप्सितम्
Because of the unity of desire and aversion, and because of equanimity toward all things, we neither desire nor do not desire; thus, we do this as is wished.
कृतेनानेन कार्येण न शुभं नाशुभं सखे । पश्यामि तन् महाबुद्धे यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु
By this act, O friend, I see neither good nor evil; therefore, O great-minded one, do as you wish.
समतां सम्प्रयातेन चेतसेदं जगत्त्रयम् । खरूपम् एव पश्यामि यथेच्छसि तथाचर
With a mind established in equanimity, I see these three worlds as mere space; act as you wish.
यद्य् एवं तन् महीपाल लग्नम् अद्यैव शोभनम् । राकेयं श्रावणस्यास्य ह्यस् सर्वं गणितं मया
If this is so, O king, then let the auspicious wedding take place today itself; I have already calculated everything regarding this full-moon night of Śrāvaṇa.
रात्राव् अद्योदिते चन्द्रे परिपूर्णकलामले । जन्यत्रं नौ महाबाहो द्वयोर् एव भविष्यति
Tonight, when the moon rises, full and spotless, O mighty-armed one, our wedding shall take place, just between the two of us.
महेन्द्राद्रिशिरश्शृङ्गसानाव् अस्मिन् मनोरमे । रत्नदीपप्रकाशाढ्यमणिमन्दिरमण्डिते
On this delightful peak at the summit of Mount Mahendra, adorned with gem-lit, radiant, and jewel-studded temples,
पुष्पभारानतोत्तुङ्गवृक्षजन्यविराजिते । वनपुष्पलतालास्यनारीनृत्तमनोहरे
Graced by lofty trees weighed down with blossoms, and enchanting with forest creepers and flower-laden maidens dancing,
निशि व्योमगतास् तारा भर्त्रा पूर्णेन्दुना सह । आवयोः परिपश्यन्तु कर्णान्तागतलोचनाः
At night, let the stars in the sky, along with their lord the full moon, witness us, their eyes fixed and attentive.
उत्तिष्ठात्मविवाहार्थं कुर्वः काननकोटरात् । राजंश् चन्दनपुष्पादिसम्भारं रत्नसंयुतम्
Rise up for the sake of our wedding, O king, and gather from the forest hollow sandalwood, flowers, and other offerings, adorned with gems.
इत्य् उक्त्वा कुम्भ उत्थाय सह तेन महीभृता । कुसुमावचयं चक्रे तथा रत्नादिसञ्चयम्
Having spoken thus, Kumbha rose together with the king, and they collected flowers and likewise gathered gems and other items.