तैस् तैस् तत्र कथालापैर् इन्दाव् अभ्युदिते तथा । ताव् आसां चक्रतुः कान्तौ दम्पती तु मुहूर्तकम्
With various conversations and stories, as the moon rose, the two lovers spent a little while together.
अथोत्थाय ज्वलद्रत्नदीपां काञ्चनकन्दराम् । स्वयं पूर्वोपरचितां गुप्तां विविशतुः प्रियौ
Then, rising up, the beloved pair entered a golden cave, lit by blazing jeweled lamps, which they themselves had previously prepared and kept hidden.
नवं ददृशतुस् तत्र तल्पं कुसुमकल्पितम् । परितो व्याप्तम् उत्फुल्लैर् हेमपङ्कजराशिभिः
There they saw a new bed, fashioned from flowers, surrounded on all sides by heaps of golden lotuses in full bloom.
मन्दारादिभिर् अन्यैश् च पुष्पैर् म्लानिविवर्जितैः । उच्चकैः पुंप्रमाणेन निर्मितं कुसुमैस् समैः
It was adorned with mandāra and other flowers, fresh and unwithered, built high to the height of a man, with flowers of equal size.
दीर्घेन्दुबिम्बप्रतिमं तुषारस्थलशीतलम् । क्षीरोदजलधाराभं ज्योत्स्नासम्पिण्डपाण्डुरम्
It resembled a long disc of the full moon, cool as a snowy field, white as a mass of moonlight or the foam of the milk ocean.
प्रतिबिम्बम् अनन्तस्य रत्नभित्ताव् इव स्थितम् । सुगन्धम् उन्नतं कान्तं विशरारुतयोज्झितम्
It seemed like the reflection of infinity set upon a jeweled wall, fragrant, lofty, charming, and free from any impurity.
मिथुनं पुष्पराशौ तत् पपात धवलामले । तस्मिन् समसमाभोगे क्षीरोदे मन्दरो यथा
The couple lay down together on that pure, white heap of flowers, embracing each other as Mount Mandara rests in the milk ocean.
तैस् तैस् ततः प्रणतिपेशलवाग्विलासैस् तत्कालकार्यसुभगैः प्रणयोपचारैः । सत्कान्तयोर् नवनवेन तयोस् सुखेन दीर्घा मुहूर्त इव सा रजनी जगाम
With gentle words, graceful gestures, and timely acts of affection, the night passed for those two lovers, each moment bringing new delight, as if it were a long, unbroken instant.
अथ सूर्यांशुरङ्गेण रञ्जिते भुवनोदरे । शिखिध्वजाङ्गना भूयो मदनी कुम्भतां ययौ
Then, as the interior of the world was colored by the rays of the sun, the woman Śikhidhvajā once more became intoxicated with love.
एवं महेन्द्रदर्यां ताव् उभौ कुम्भशिखिध्वजौ । स्वयं विवाहिताव् इष्टौ सम्पन्नौ नवदम्पती
Thus, on the great mountain, those two—Kumbha and Śikhidhvaja—were united in marriage by their own choice, and became a newlywed couple, fulfilled and content.
विलेसतुर् विचित्रासु प्रत्यहं वनराजिषु । प्रपक्वफलभारासु पुष्पपल्लविनीषु च
They wandered among the wondrous groves every day, amidst trees laden with ripe fruit and blossoming with flowers and tender shoots.
दिवा प्रियतरे मित्रे यामिन्याम् इष्टदम्पती । प्रभादीपाव् इव श्लिष्टौ न वियुक्तौ बभूवतुः
By day they were dear friends, by night beloved spouses; like the radiance and the lamp joined together, they were never separated.
रेमाते वनकुञ्जेषु गुहासु च महीभृताम् । तमालसालषण्डेषु मन्दारगहनेषु च
They delighted in the forest bowers and mountain caves, in groves of tamāla and sāl trees, and in the dense thickets of mandāra trees.
सह्यदर्दुरकैलासमहेन्द्रमलयेषु च । गन्धमादनविन्ध्याद्रिलोकालोकतटेषु च
They wandered on the Sahya, Dardura, Kailāsa, Mahendra, and Malaya mountains, and along the slopes of Gandhamādana, Vindhya, and Lokāloka.
दिनैस् त्रिभिस् त्रिभिर् गत्वा निद्रां गतवति प्रिये । चूडाला राजकार्याणि कृत्वा स्वान्य् आययौ पुनः
After three days, when her beloved had fallen asleep, Cūḍālā completed her royal duties and returned again.
तौ दिवा सुहृदौ रात्रौ दम्पती कुम्भभूमिपौ । नानाकुसुमसंवीतौ तस्थतुर् मुदितौ मिथः
By day they were companions, by night husband and wife—Kumbha and the king—adorned with various flowers, they stood together, joyful in each other's company.
मासम् एकं महेन्द्राद्रिसानौ सरलसङ्कुले । रत्नकुड्ये गुहागेहे पूजितौ सुरकिन्नरैः
For one month, on the slopes of Mount Mahendra, thick with pines, in a cave dwelling with jeweled walls, they were honored by gods and kinnaras.
हस्तलभ्योदितेन्दौ च मन्दारवनमालिते । एवं शुक्तिमतः पृष्ठे पक्षं पक्षं लतागृहे
With the moon rising within reach of their hands, garlanded with mandara flowers, thus, on the back of Mount Suktimat, in a bower of vines, week after week.
मासद्वयम् ऋक्षवतो गिरेर् दक्षिणतस् तटे । पारिजातवने देवपुष्पस्तबकमण्डपे
For two months, on the southern slope of Mount Ṛkṣavat, in a grove of pārijāta trees, beneath a pavilion of divine flowers.
जम्बूषण्डतले मेरोः पादे जम्बूनदीतटे । जाम्बूनदमये मासं जम्बूफलरसावनौ
At the foot of a cluster of jambu trees, at the base of Mount Meru, on the bank of the Jambūnadī river, for a month, enjoying the juice of jambu fruits in a golden bower.
दशोत्तरकुरूणां च मण्डले दिवसानि तौ । कैलासस्योत्तरस्थेषु सप्तविंशतिवासरान्
In the region of the northern Kurus, they spent several days, and on the northern heights of Mount Kailāsa, twenty-seven days.
एवम् अन्येषु देशेषु विचित्रेषु महीभृताम् । स्थितवन्तौ महाभागौ सुहृदौ स्निग्धदम्पती
In this way, in other wondrous regions of the great mountains, the noble, affectionate couple, devoted friends, dwelled.
ततो यातेषु मासेषु शनैः कतिपयेषु सा । चूडाला चिन्तयाम् आस देवपुत्रकरूपिणी
Then, as several months slowly passed, Chūḍālā, appearing in the form of a divine maiden, began to reflect.
सुरोपभोगभारेण परीक्षे ऽहं शिखिध्वजम् । मा कदाचन चेतो ऽस्य भोगेषु रतिम् एष्यति
With the abundance of heavenly enjoyments, I will test Śikhidhvaja; may his mind never develop attachment to pleasures.
इति सञ्चिन्त्य चूडाला मायया स्वामिनो वने । आगतं दर्शयाम् आस ससुराप्सरसं हरिम्
Having thus resolved, Chudala, by her power of illusion, revealed to her husband in the forest the appearance of Hari, accompanied by gods and celestial nymphs.
इन्द्रम् अभ्यागतं दृष्ट्वा परिवारसमन्वितम् । यथावत् पूजयाम् आस वनसंस्थश् शिखिध्वजः
Seeing Indra arrive, surrounded by his retinue, King Shikhidhvaja, dwelling in the forest, worshipped him properly.
आत्मनः किं कृता दूराद् अभ्यागमकदर्थना । देवराज प्रसादान् मे यथावद् वक्तुम् अर्हसि
O Lord of the gods, for what reason have you come from afar, troubling yourself? Out of your grace, you ought to tell me the purpose clearly.
इमे वयम् इहानीतास् त्वद्गुणातिशयेन खात् । हृदि लग्नेन सूत्रेण खगा दूरगता इव
We have been brought here from the heavens, drawn by the excellence of your virtues, as birds are drawn from afar by a string tied to their hearts.
उत्तिष्ठ स्वर्गम् आगच्छ तत्र सर्वे त्वदुन्मुखाः । त्वद्गुणश्रवणाश्चर्यास् स्थिता देवगणाङ्गनाः
Rise and come to heaven; there, all the gods and celestial maidens are waiting, eager to hear the wondrous tales of your virtues.
इमे रथा इदं यानम् अयम् उच्चैश्श्रवा हयः । अयम् ऐरावणो नागो यथाभिमतम् आश्रय
Here are chariots, this is a vehicle, this is the horse Ucchaihshravas, and this is the elephant Airavata—choose whichever you desire.