मिथुनैकसखी यामा कुमुदोत्करहासिनी । प्रालेयजालप्रकरं विकिरन्ती समाययौ
The night, companion of Mithuna and smiling with the blossoming of lotuses, arrived, scattering clusters of icy dew.
रत्नदीपान् बहून् सम्यक् कुम्भस् सानाव् अयोजयत् । ज्योतींषीन्द्वर्कयुक्तानि पद्मोद्भव इवाम्बरात्
Kumbha arranged many jeweled lamps, just as the lotus-born one would set in the sky lights joined with the moon and sun.
भूषयाम् आस राजानं स्त्रीत्वं गच्छन् निशामुखे । चन्दनागुरुकर्पूरपूरैर् मृगजकुङ्कुमैः
As night ended, assuming a woman's form, he adorned the king with full measures of sandalwood, aloe, camphor, and musk saffron.
हारकेयूरकटकैस् तथा कल्पलतांशुकैः । स्रग्दामैर् अवतंसैश् च माल्यैश् च विविधोम्भितैः
He decorated him with necklaces, armlets, bracelets, as well as with garlands of wish-fulfilling creepers, wreaths, ear-ornaments, and various splendid floral arrangements.
तथा कल्पलतागुच्छैर् मन्दारैः पारिजातकैः । सन्तानैर् बहुरत्नैश् च मौलिना चेन्दुरूपिणा
Likewise, with clusters of wish-fulfilling creepers, mandara and parijata flowers, santana blossoms with many gems, and a moon-like diadem.
एतावताथ कालेन वधूत्वं कुम्भ आययौ । घनस्तनतटाक्रान्तो बभूवाशु विलासवान्
Then, after some time, Kumbha attained the state of a bride, her breasts full and prominent, and quickly became charming and graceful.
इदं सञ्चिन्तयाम् आस सम्पन्नो ऽयम् अहं वधूः । कामायात्मा मयादेयः कार्यं कालोचितं किल
She thought to herself: 'Now I am a bride, accomplished; my body belongs to desire, and I must act according to the proper time.'
इयम् अस्मि वधूः कान्ता भर्तायं मे पुरस् स्थितः । गृहाण काम माम् एहि कालो ऽयं तव हृच्छय
'I am this beloved bride, and here stands my husband before me; come, take me, for this is the time for your heart's longing.'
इति सञ्चिन्त्य भर्तारम् अग्रस्थम् अभिमण्डितम् । उदयन्तम् इवादित्यं रतिः कामम् इवाह सा
Thinking thus, Rati, adorned and standing before her husband, approached him as if he were the rising sun, just as desire approaches passion.
अहं मदनिका नाम भार्यास्मि तव मानद । पतये ते प्रणामो ऽयं सस्नेहं क्रियते मया
I am Madanikā by name, your wife, O honorable one; this salutation is offered to you by me with affection.
इत्य् उक्त्वा सानवद्याङ्गी लज्जावनमितानना । लोलालकेन शिरसा प्रणनाम नयात् पतिम्
Having spoken thus, she of flawless limbs, her face lowered in modesty, bowed to her husband with her head, her loose hair falling forward.
उवाचेदं च हे नाथ त्वं मां भूषय भूषणैः । क्रमेणाग्निं च सञ्ज्वाल्य मत्पाणिग्रहणं कुरु
She also said: O lord, adorn me with ornaments, and then, having kindled the sacred fire, take my hand in marriage.
राजसे ऽतितरां नाथ मां करोषि स्मरातुराम् । रतेर् विवाहे मदनम् अभिभूयाधितिष्ठसि
O lord, you make me exceedingly passionate; in this wedding of Rati, you surpass even the god of love in mastery.
इन्दोर् इवांशुजालानि राजन् माल्यानि भान्ति ते । मेरुगङ्गाप्रवाहाभां धत्ते हारस् तवोरसि
O king, your garlands shine like the rays of the moon, and the necklace on your chest resembles the flow of the Ganges from Mount Meru.
मन्दारकुसुमप्रोतैः कुन्तलैर् नृप राजसे । कनकाब्जम् इवालोलैर् भृङ्गैः केसरधूसरैः
O king, your hair, adorned with mandāra flowers, shines like a golden lotus surrounded by bees dusted with pollen, restless in their movement.
रत्नांशुजालैः कुसुमैश् श्रिया स्थैर्येण तेजसा । उन्नत्या च विभो मेरुम् अभिभूयावतिष्ठसे
With rays of jewels, flowers, splendor, steadfastness, and brilliance, and by your greatness, O lord, you stand surpassing even Mount Meru.
एवमादि वदन्तौ तौ भविष्यन्नवदम्पती । प्रच्छन्नपूर्वदाम्पत्यौ मिथस् तुष्टौ बभूवतुः
Thus, as they spoke in this manner, the two who were to become husband and wife—whose union was previously concealed—became mutually content.
महाराज्ञीं मदनिकां महाराजश् शिखिध्वजः । काञ्चनामलपर्यङ्के नियोज्याभूषयत् स्वयम्
King Śikhidhvaja himself adorned Queen Madanikā, seating her upon a spotless golden couch.
अवतंसैस् तथा माल्यैर् मणिमुक्ताविभूषणैः । वस्त्रैर् विलेपनैः पुष्पैर् उचितस्थानयोजितैः
He decorated her with ear ornaments, garlands, jeweled and pearl adornments, garments, perfumes, and flowers, each placed in its proper location.
सा बभौ भूषिता तन्वी मदनी मददायिनी । गिरिजेव विवाहोत्का कामकान्तेव कामिनी
She shone, slender and adorned, intoxicating and bestowing delight, like Pārvatī eager for marriage, or a passionate beloved longing for her lover.
महाराजो महाराज्ञीं भूषयित्वेदम् आह ताम् । राजसे मृगशावाक्षि लक्ष्मीर् इव नवोत्थिता
Having adorned the queen, the king addressed her: 'You shine, doe-eyed one, like Lakṣmī newly arisen.'
शक्रेण सह यच् छच्या यल् लक्ष्म्या हरिणा सह । यद् गौर्याश् शम्भुना सार्धं तत् ते भवतु मङ्गलम्
May you have the auspiciousness that Śacī has with Indra, that Lakṣmī has with Hari, and that Gaurī has with Śambhu.
पद्मकन्दाङ्कुररदा लोलनीलोत्पलेक्षणा । आमोदसुभगाकारा त्वं स्थिता पद्मिनीसमा
With eyes like fluttering blue lotuses, hands like lotus stalks, and a form delightful with fragrance, you stand equal to a lotus maiden.
सुरक्तपल्लवकरा स्तबकस्तनधारिणी । त्वम् एव फलदा मन्ये कामकल्पतरोर् लता
With hands like deeply colored buds and breasts like clusters, I consider you the fruitful vine of the wish-fulfilling tree of desire.
हिमशीतावदाताङ्गी ज्योत्स्नाप्रसरहासिनी । पूर्णेन्दुश्रीर् इवोद्युक्ता दृष्टैवाह्लादयस्य् अलम्
Her limbs were radiant as snow, smiling with the spread of moonlight; she appeared, adorned with the splendor of the full moon, ready, and her mere sight brought delight.
तद् उत्तिष्ठ वरारोहे वेदीं वैवाहिकीं स्वयम् । रत्नपुष्पलताजालै रचयावो यथाक्रमम्
So rise, O beautiful one, and let us ourselves arrange the wedding altar, step by step, with garlands of gems and flowers.
इत्य् उक्त्वा दम्पती कान्तौ रचयाम् आसतुस् तदा । वेदीम् आत्मविवाहाय महेन्द्रमणिकन्दरे
Having spoken thus, the loving couple began to prepare the altar for their own wedding in the cave adorned with Indra’s jewels.
मुक्ताजालैस् सझाङ्कारैः पुष्पोत्तंसैस् सषट्पदैः । रत्नमाल्यैस् सटाङ्कारैर् वैजयन्तीपटैश् चलैः
With strings of pearls, shining ornaments, flower clusters with bees, jeweled garlands with sparkling decorations, and fluttering Vaijayanti cloths,
कल्पवृक्षलतासूत्रैः कल्पस्तबकमण्डलैः । कल्पपादपपट्टैश् च कल्पद्रुमफलोत्करैः
With threads from wish-fulfilling trees, circles of their trunks, strips from their bark, and heaps of their magical fruits,
देवदारुलताजालैः काण्डप्रतिसराङ्कितैः । मुक्ताकुसुमलाजानां प्रकरैस् तारकोपमैः
With clusters of deodar vines marked by knots, heaps of pearl flower garlands resembling stars,