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,
चतुर्दिक्कं चतुर्भिश् च नारिकेलमहाफलैः । पूर्णकुम्भतया गाङ्गवारिपूरैः प्रकल्पितैः
In all four directions, they set up four large coconuts, fashioned as full pots, filled with water from the Ganges.
ज्वलयाम् आसतुस् तस्यां मध्ये चन्दनदारुभिः । ज्वलनं ज्वलितज्वालं दक्षिणस्थप्रदक्षिणम्
In the center, they kindled a fire with sandalwood, blazing brightly, placed to the south and circled in reverence.
पूर्वाभिमुखम् अग्नेस् ताव् अग्रे पल्लवविष्टरे । नियोज्य दम्पती कान्तौ तयोर् विविशतुस् स्वयम्
Facing east, before the fire, the couple was seated at the front on a bed of fresh leaves, and they themselves entered there.
स हुत्वा तिललाजादि पावकाय शिखिध्वजः । उत्थायोत्थाप्य कान्तां च पाणिभ्यां स्वयम् आददे
Having offered sesame, rice, and other grains into the fire, Śikhidhvaja rose, lifted his beloved with his own hands, and took her.
अन्योऽन्यं शोभमानौ ताव् अन्याव् इव नवौ शिवौ । चक्रतुर् दम्पती तस्य पावकस्य प्रदक्षिणम्
The two, radiant like a newlywed pair of auspicious ones, circled the fire together as husband and wife.
स्वदायं ज्ञानसर्वस्वं हृदयं प्रेम चाचलम् । ददतुस् तौ मिथो मान्यौ स्मितकान्तमुखश्रियौ
The honored pair, with smiling, lovely faces, gave each other their own hearts—steadfast in love and all-knowingness.
प्रदक्षिणत्रयं कृत्वा लाजान् सन्त्यज्य वह्नये । मद्भार्याम् अम्बराद् दृष्ट्वा करौ तत्यजतुः क्रमात्
After completing three circumambulations and offering the grains to the fire, they gradually released each other's hands, having seen my wife from the sky.
स्मयमानमुखौ कान्तौ चन्द्राव् इव नवोदितौ । पूर्वोपरचिते पुष्पतल्पे विविशतुर् नवे
With smiling faces, beautiful as two newly risen moons, the charming couple entered the newly prepared bed of flowers.
एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे चन्द्रश् चतुर्भागं नभस्तलात् । शनैर् आक्रमयाम् आस शोभां द्रष्टुम् इवैतयोः
Meanwhile, the moon, as if wishing to witness their splendor, slowly ascended a quarter of the sky.
तस्मिन् सानौ लताच्छिद्रैर् द्रष्टुं दृष्टीर् इवाभितः । लोलैस् सञ्चारयाम् आस करान् इन्दुर् वराङ्गने
On that mountain, the moon moved its trembling rays like hands through the gaps in the vines, as if to behold the lovely woman from all sides.