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.
पादुकागुलिकाखड्गरसादीदम् अथापि च । गृहीत्वा सिद्धमार्गेण स्वीकुरु स्वर्गमण्डलम्
Taking your sandals, ring, sword, and other such things, ascend by the accomplished path and accept the heavenly realm.
आकल्पं वैबुधा भोगास् त्वया विबुधसद्मनि । जीवन्मुक्तेन भोक्तव्यास् तेन त्वाम् अहम् आगतः
All the enjoyments of the gods in the celestial abode are to be experienced by you, a liberated soul while living; for this reason I have come to you.
विमानयन्ति सम्प्राप्तां न तिरस्करणैश् श्रियम् । नाभिवाञ्छन्ति चाप्राप्तां त्वादृशास् साधुसाधवः
The virtuous, like you, do not disparage wealth when it comes, nor do they desire it when it has not arrived.
अविघ्नम् आगतेनाद्य सुखं विहरता त्वया । स्वर्गः पवित्रतां यातु हरिणेव जगत्त्रयम्
May heaven attain purity today, as you enjoy happiness without obstacles, just as a deer purifies the three worlds.
स्वर्गं स्वर्गसमाचारं वेद्मि देवादिनायक । किं तु सर्वत्र मे स्वर्गो नियतो न तु कुत्रचित्
O lord of gods and others, I know heaven and its ways; but for me, heaven is everywhere, not confined to any place.
सर्वत्रैव हि तुष्यामि सर्वत्रैव रमे प्रभो । अवाञ्छनत्वान् मनसस् सर्वत्रानन्दवान् अहम्
Indeed, O master, I am content everywhere, I delight everywhere; because my mind does not crave, I am joyful everywhere.
नियतं किञ्चिद् एकत्र स्थितं स्वर्गकम् ईदृशम् । शक्र गन्तुं न जानामि नाज्ञातं च करोम्य् अहम्
Heaven, as such, is fixed in one place; O Śakra, I do not know how to go there, nor do I act without knowing.
साधो विदितवेद्यानां परिपूर्णधियां सताम् । सज्जनाचरितं युक्तं मन्ये भोगोपसेवनम्
O noble one, among those who know what is to be known and whose minds are fulfilled, I consider the enjoyment of pleasures, as practiced by the virtuous, to be appropriate.
देवेशे प्रोक्तवत्य् एवं तूष्णीम् एव स्थिते नृपे । किम् एवं नोपयाम्य् एव त्वाम् इति प्रोक्तवान् हरिः
When the king remained silent after the lord of gods had spoken thus, Hari said: 'Why do you not approach me in this way?'
बाढम् इत्य् एव कालेन वदतीषच् छिखिध्वजे । कल्याणं ते ऽस्तु कुम्भेति वदन्न् अन्तर्धिम् आययौ
Sikhidhvaja replied, 'Certainly,' after some time, and saying, 'May you have auspiciousness, O Kumbha,' he entered into disappearance.
तद् देववृन्दम् अखिलं त्रिदशेशयुक्तं तत्र क्षणाद् अलम् अदृश्यम् अभूद् विलीनम् । कल्लोलजालम् इव वारिनिधौ प्रशान्तवाते स्फुरन्मकरफेनफणीन्द्रशब्दम्
Then that entire host of gods, together with the lords of the immortals, in an instant became utterly invisible and vanished there—like a tumult of waves, with the sounds of makaras, foam, and great serpents, suddenly subsiding in the ocean when the wind grows still.
तां मायां शमम् आनीय चूडाला समचिन्तयत् । दिष्ट्या भोगेच्छया नायं ह्रियते वसुधाधिपः
Chudala, having withdrawn that illusion, reflected: 'By good fortune, the king of the earth is not carried away by a desire for enjoyment.'
शान्तस् समसमाभोग एव शक्रसमागमे । असम्भ्रमम् अहेलं च कृतवान् व्यवहारिताम्
He remained calm and equanimous even in the presence of Indra, conducting himself without agitation or error.
भूय एव प्रपञ्चेन विमृशाम्य् एनम् आदरात् । रागद्वेषप्रधानेन केनचिद् बुद्धिहारिणा
Once again, with careful attention, I will examine him through some means that is dominated by attraction or aversion, which can bewilder the mind.
इति सञ्चिन्त्य सा रात्राव् इन्दाव् अभ्युदिते वने । गृहीतमण्डना नूनं कान्ता मदनिका सती
Thinking thus, at night, when the moon had risen in the forest, she—certainly Madanika, adorned and faithful—
वाते वहति पुष्पाढ्ये मदिरामोदमांसले । सन्ध्याजप्यपरे नद्यास् तीरसंस्थे शिखिध्वजे
While the wind carried the scent of flowers and the rich aroma of wine, as Shikhidhvaja sat on the riverbank at dusk, engaged in evening recitation—
सन्तानकलतागेहं नीरन्ध्रं पुष्पगुच्छकैः । शुद्धान्तं वनदेवीनां प्रविवेश मदान्विता
She, intoxicated, entered the inner sanctum of the forest nymphs—a dwelling of creepers, dense and enclosed with clusters of flowers, without any opening.
तत्र सङ्कल्पिते पुष्पशयने माल्यमालिता । कण्ठे सङ्कल्पितं कान्तं शिड्गम् आदाय संस्थिता
There, on a conjured bed of flowers, adorned with garlands, she stood with a conjured beloved at her neck.
आगत्यान्विष्य कुञ्जान् स प्रददर्श शिखिध्वजः । लतागेहे मदनिकाकण्ठे शिड्गं मनोहरम्
Having arrived and searched the groves, Śikhidhvaja saw, in a bower of vines, a beautiful couple embraced by a maiden.
कुन्तलावलितस्कन्धं समालब्धं च चन्दनैः । शयनावृत्तिविक्षेपपर्याकुलितशेखरम्
Their shoulders entwined with locks of hair, anointed with sandalwood, their crowns disheveled from the movements of their couch.