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Chudala, having withdrawn that illusion, reflected: 'By good fortune, the king of the earth is not carried away by a desire for enjoyment.'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.
हेमाभे द्विगुणाकारे बालाबाहूपधानके । मग्नैकश्रवणापाङ्गकपोलतलकुन्तलम्
Golden in hue, of doubled form, with the girl's arm as a pillow, her hair scattered across her cheek, one ear and eye submerged.
मिथुनं तद् ददर्शाथ मिथः प्रहसिताननम् । अन्योऽन्यवदनासक्तं छन्नं कल्पलतांशुकैः
He saw that pair, their faces smiling at each other, their mouths joined, concealed by the tendrils of the wish-fulfilling vine.
आलोलमाल्यशयनं मदनातुरम् आकुलम् । अङ्गरागच्छलेनात्मरागम् अन्योऽन्यम् अर्पयत्
Their garlands and couch in disarray, agitated by passion, each offered their own love to the other under the pretense of applying unguent.
रत्युन्मुखं घनानन्दम् उद्दाममदमन्मथम् । परस्पराहतं पुष्पैर् वक्षोभ्यां पीडितस्तनम्
On the verge of rapture, overwhelmed by intense delight and passion, their breasts pressed together, their bodies struck with flowers.
तद् आलोक्याविकारेण चेतसा स तुतोष च । अहो सुखं स्थितौ शिड्गाव् इत्य् आह स शिखिध्वजः
Seeing this with an undisturbed mind, he was pleased and said, 'Ah, how happy this couple is in their union!'
तिष्ठथो ऽङ्ग यथाकामं सुखं शिड्गौ यथास्थितम् । विघ्नं मा कुरुथः प्रीताव् इत्य् उक्त्वा निर्जगाम सः
'Remain as you wish, happily together as you are; do not disturb your joy,' saying this, he departed.
ततो मुहूर्तमात्रेण प्रपञ्चं स्वम् उपेक्ष्य सा । निर्ययौ दर्शयन्ती स्वं रतियुद्धाकुलं वपुः
Then, after just a moment, she disregarded her own world and departed, displaying her body still marked by the tumult of love's battle.
उपविष्टं ददर्शैनं नृपं हेमशिलातले । समाधिसंस्थम् एकान्ते मनाग्विकसितेक्षणम्
She saw the king seated upon a golden stone slab, absorbed in meditation, alone, his eyes just slightly open.
तं प्रदेशम् उपागत्य लज्जावनमितानना । तूष्णीम् आसित् क्षणं खिन्ना म्लाना मदनिकाङ्गना
Arriving at that place, her face lowered in modesty, the dancer's maiden sat silently for a moment, weary and dispirited.
क्षणाच् छिखिध्वजो ध्यानाद् विरतस् ताम् उवाच ह । प्रसन्नमधुरं वाक्यम् इदम् अक्षुब्धया धिया
After a moment, Shikhidhvaja withdrew from meditation and addressed her with these calm and gentle words, his mind undisturbed:
तन्वि किं शीघ्रम् एव त्वं विघ्नितानन्दम् आगता । आनन्दायैव भूतानि यतन्ते यानि कानिचित्
"Delicate one, why have you come so quickly, your joy interrupted? All beings strive only for happiness, whatever they may be."
भूयस् तोषय तं गच्छ कान्तं प्रणयवृत्तिभिः । परस्परेप्सितस्नेहो दुर्लभो हि जगत्त्रये
"Go, please your beloved further with acts of affection; mutual, desired love is rare indeed in all three worlds."
अहम् एतेन चार्थेन नोद्वेगं यामि मानिनि । यद् यद् इष्टतमं लोके तद् तद् देयं विजानता
"I am not troubled by this matter, proud one; whatever is most cherished in the world should be given by one who understands."
अहं कुम्भश् च तन्वङ्गि वीतरागाव् इह स्थितौ । दुर्वासश्शापजा बाला त्वं यद् इच्छसि तत् कुरु
"I and Kumbha, slender-limbed one, remain here free from passion; you, child born of Durvasa's curse, do as you wish."
एवम् एष महाभाग स्त्रीपुम्भावो हि चञ्चलः । कामो ह्य् अष्टगुणस् स्त्रीणां न कोपं कर्तुम् अर्हसि
In this way, O noble one, the nature of women and men is indeed fickle; desire in women is eightfold, so you should not become angry.
अबलाहम् अनेनास्मि क्रान्ता गहनकानने । त्वयि सन्ध्याजपपरे किं करोमि वराकिका
I am weak and have been overcome by this in the deep forest; while you are absorbed in evening prayers, what can this poor woman do?
अबला वाक्यमात्रेण तावन् नरनिरोधनम् । करोति यावच् छिड्गेन नाङ्गे स्वे विनिवेशिता
A weak woman, merely by words, can restrain a man for a while, until, with a slight effort, she places herself upon his body.
स्त्रियास् सुन्दर यातायाः परपुंसाङ्गसङ्गमम् । मन्युर् निषेध आक्रन्दस् सतीत्वं किं करिष्यति
When a woman, O handsome one, has joined with another man's body, anger, prohibition, or lamentation—what can chastity accomplish?
अबला स्त्री तथा बाला मूढाहम् अपराधिनी । क्षन्तुम् अर्हसि मां नाथ क्षमावन्तो हि साधवः
I am a weak woman, a child, foolish and at fault; you ought to forgive me, O lord, for the virtuous are indeed forgiving.
मन्युर् मम न बाले ऽन्तर् विद्यते ख इव द्रुमः । केवलं साधुनिन्द्यत्वान् नेच्छामि त्वाम् अहम् वधूम्
Anger does not arise in me toward a child, just as there is no tree in the sky; only because it is condemned by the virtuous, I do not wish to accept you as my wife.