वयम् आद्यन्तमध्येषु कीदृशास् तरले वद । मोहम् एकं परित्यज्य तिष्ठामः कथम् एव वा
Tell me, what kind of beings are we, existing in the beginning, middle, and end, who, having abandoned delusion alone, remain in whatever way?
वयम् आद्यन्तमध्येषु राजानो राजसत्तम । मोहम् एकं परित्यज्य तिष्ठामः पुनर् एव ते
O best of kings, we, existing in the beginning, middle, and end, having abandoned delusion alone, remain again for you.
स्व एव नगरे राजा भव त्वं स्वासने स्थितः । ललामभूता कान्तानां महिषी ते भवाम्य् अहम्
You, seated on your own throne, be the king in your own city; and I shall be your chief queen, adorned among beloved women.
सनृपा मत्तवास्तव्या नृत्यन्नववराङ्गना । सपताका ध्वनत्तूर्या पुष्पप्रकरिणी पुरी
The city will be filled with kings, intoxicated residents, dancing courtesans, fluttering banners, resounding instruments, and showers of flowers.
लसद्वल्ल्या समञ्जर्या रणत्षट्पदया समा । मधुमासवनावल्या चिराद् भवतु नः प्रभो
O Lord, may we for long enjoy the blossoming creeper, adorned with flowers, resounding with humming bees, and the garland of springtime wine.
इति चूडालया प्रोक्ते विहस्य स शिखिध्वजः । प्रोवाच मधुरं वाक्यम् अक्षुब्धं विगतत्वरम्
When Cūḍālā had spoken thus, Śikhidhvaja laughed and replied with gentle words, undisturbed and without haste.
एवं चेत् तद् विशालाक्षि स्वायत्ता नस् त्रिविष्टपे । सिद्धभोगभुवस् तासु निवसामो न किं प्रिये
If it is so, O wide-eyed one, and those realms of enjoyment in heaven are within our reach, why should we not dwell there, my dear?
न राजन् मम भोगेषु वाञ्छा न च विभूतिषु । स्वभावस्य वशाद् एव यथाप्राप्ते रमे नृप
O king, I have no desire for pleasures or for greatness; I simply delight in whatever comes, according to my own nature.
न सुखाय मम स्वर्गो न राज्यं नापि नाकिता । यथास्थितम् अविक्षुब्धं तिष्ठामि स्वस्थचेष्टिता
Heaven is not happiness for me, nor is kingship, nor even the world of the gods; I remain as I am, undisturbed, acting according to my own nature.
इदं सुखम् इदं नेति मनने क्षयम् आगते । समम् एव पदे शान्ते तिष्ठामीह यथासुखम्
When thoughts of 'this is happiness' or 'this is not' have come to an end, I abide equally in the peaceful state here, as is pleasing.
युक्तम् उक्तं विशालाक्षि त्वयैतत् समया धिया । को वार्थः किल राज्यस्य ग्रहे त्यागे ऽपि वा भवेत्
What you have said, O wide-eyed one, is fitting and spoken with wise understanding; for what purpose, indeed, is there in gaining or renouncing a kingdom?
सुखदुःखदशाचिन्तां त्यक्त्वा विगतमत्सरम् । यथासंस्थानम् एवेमौ तिष्ठावस् स्वस्थतां गतौ
Abandoning thoughts of pleasure and pain, free from envy, let us remain as we are, established in our own well-being.
इति तत्र कथालापकथनेन तयोर् द्वयोः । कान्तयोश् चिरदम्पत्योर् वासरस् तनुतां ययौ
Thus, as the two lovers, long united in marriage, engaged in conversation and storytelling there, the day gradually came to its close.
अथोत्थाय दिनाचारं यथाप्राप्तम् अनिन्दितौ । सोत्कण्ठाव् अप्य् अनुत्कण्ठौ चक्रतुः कार्यकोविदौ । स्वर्गसिद्धिम् अनादृत्य तस्थतुः पूर्णचेतसौ
Then, rising up, the blameless pair performed their daily duties as appropriate; though longing for each other, they were also free from longing, skilled in action, and, disregarding attainment of heaven, they remained with minds fulfilled.
एकस्मिन्न् एव शयने तैस् तैः प्रणयचेष्टितैः । सा व्यतीयाय रजनी तयोर् जीवद्विमुक्तयोः
On a single bed, through various gestures of affection, the night passed for those two, liberated while living.
तद् भोगमोक्षसुखम् उत्तमयोस् तयोस् स्वम् आचेततोः प्रणयवाक्यविलासगर्भम् । उत्कण्ठितं प्रणयिनोर् घनतां नयन्ती दीर्घा मुहूर्तवद् असौ रजनी जगाम
That night, filled with the supreme joy of enjoyment and liberation belonging to those two self-possessed lovers, rich with playful words of affection, and intensifying the longing of the loving pair, passed slowly, seeming as long as many hours.
ततस् समुदिते सूर्ये वितमस्य् अम्बरे स्थिते । समुद्गकाद् इव जगन्मणाव् अस्मिन् विनिर्गते
Then, when the sun had risen and the darkness had departed from the sky, as if the jewel of the world had emerged from its casket,
विकसत्य् अरुणोपान्ते चक्षुषीवाम्बुजाकरे । आचारेष्व् इव लोकेषु प्रसृतेष्व् अर्करश्मिषु
As the red dawn blossomed at the sun's edge, like a lotus-bed opening to the eye, and as the sun's rays spread everywhere, just as proper conduct spreads among people,
दम्पती तौ समुत्थाय कृतसन्ध्याक्रमौ स्थितौ । पत्त्रासने मृदुस्निग्धे कान्तौ काञ्चनकन्दरे
The two lovers rose, performed the sandhyā rites, and sat together on a soft, pleasant leaf-seat in the golden cave, radiant in beauty.
अथोत्थायात्र चूडाला रत्नकुम्भं करस्थितम् । .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Then, rising there, Cūḍālā held a jeweled pitcher in her hand...
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. । भार्या भर्तारम् एकान्ते स्वराज्ये ऽभिषिषेच सा
In solitude, the wife anointed her husband as sovereign in his own kingdom.
सङ्कल्पोपनते सैंहे स्वभिषिक्तं सुविष्टरे । स्थितं प्रोवाच तन्वी सा चूडाला देवरूपिणी
When he was enthroned on the lion-seat created by thought, spacious and splendid, the slender Cūḍālā, goddess in form, addressed him.
केवलं मौनम् उत्सृज्य तेजश् शान्तम् इदं प्रभो । अष्टानां लोकपालानां तेजांस्य् आहर्तुम् अर्हसि
Abandoning mere silence, O lord, you ought to draw forth the tranquil radiance of the eight guardians of the worlds.
चूडालयेति स प्रोक्तो वने राजा शिखिध्वजः । वदन्न् एवं करोमीति महाराजत्वम् आययौ
Thus addressed by Cūḍālā in the forest, King Śikhidhvaja replied, 'So I shall do,' and assumed the great royal dignity.
अथ प्रतीहारपदे तिष्ठन्तीम् आह मानिनीम् । महादेवीपदे राज्ञि त्वां करोम्य् अभिषेकिनीम्
Then, approaching the proud queen standing at the threshold, he said, 'I appoint you, O queen, to the station of supreme empress.'
इत्य् उक्त्वासन आस्थाप्य महादेवीपदे तदा । अभिषिक्तां नृपः कृत्वा मेघवाग् आह तां प्रियाम्
Having spoken thus, he seated her on the throne of the supreme empress, and after anointing her, the king addressed his beloved with a voice like thunderclouds.
प्रिये कमलपत्त्राक्षि क्षणात् सङ्कल्पसम्भवम् । महाविभवम् उद्दामं सैन्यम् आहर्तुम् अर्हसि
Beloved, lotus-eyed one, in a moment you should summon forth, by your will, a mighty and splendid army.
इति कान्तवचश् श्रुत्वा चूडाला वरवर्णिनी । सैन्यं सङ्कल्पयाम् आस प्रावृड्घनम् इवोद्भटम्
Hearing her husband's words, Cūḍālā, radiant in beauty, conceived by thought a vast army, formidable as a monsoon cloud.
सैन्यं ददृशतुस् तत् तौ वाजिवारणसङ्कुलम् । पताकापूरिताकाशनीरन्ध्रीकृतकाननम्
They saw that army, teeming with horses and elephants, its banners filling the sky and its forests rendered impassable.
तूर्यारवध्वनच्छैलगुहं गहनकोटरम् । मत्तसामन्तवलितं विद्रवद्वनवारणम्
The sound of musical instruments echoed like thunder in mountain caves, dense and deep, with intoxicated vassals surrounding it and wild elephants fleeing the woods.