तत्र जम्बीरषण्डस्य तलं सम्प्राप्तवान् अहम् । मार्काण्डेय इवागेन्द्रम् एकार्णवविहारतः
There I reached the base of a jambīra grove, like Markandeya approaching Indra after wandering alone upon the one great ocean.
आलम्बिता मया तत्र स्कन्धसंसङ्गिनी लता । नीला जलदमालेव तापतप्तेन भूभृता
There I grasped a vine clinging to a branch, as a parched mountain would embrace a dark raincloud.
मयि प्रलम्बमाने ऽस्यां प्रयातस् स तुरङ्गमः । गङ्गावलम्बिनि जने यथा दुष्कृतसञ्चयः
As I hung upon it, the horse departed, just as accumulated misdeeds leave a person who takes refuge in the Ganga.
चिरदीर्घाध्वगः खिन्नस् तत्र विश्रान्तवान् अहम् । भानुर् अस्ताचलोत्सङ्गे तले कल्पतरोर् इव
Weary from a long and difficult journey, I rested there, like the sun pausing at the base of the western mountain, beneath the wish-fulfilling tree.
यावत् समस्तसंसारव्यवहारभरैस् समम् । रविर् विश्रमणायेव निविष्टो ऽस्ताचलाङ्गने
As the sun, together with the burdens of all worldly affairs, settles to rest upon the slope of the western mountain, so did I find repose.
शनैश् श्यामिकया ग्रस्ते समस्ते भुवनोदरे । रात्रिसंव्यवहारेषु सम्प्रवृत्तेषु जङ्गले
As the entire world was gradually enveloped by the darkness of night, and nocturnal activities began in the wilderness,
अहं तनुतृणे तस्मिन् पेलवे षण्डकोदरे । निलीनो ऽविरलालस्यस् स्वनीडे विहगो यथा
I, in that hollow of sparse, thin grass, hid myself, utterly weary, like a bird in its own nest.
विपद्भ्रष्टविवेकस्य च्छिन्नाशस्य गलत्स्मृतेः । विक्रीतस्येव दीनस्य मग्नस्येवान्धकूपके
Deprived of discernment by misfortune, with hopes cut off and memory slipping away, I was like a wretched man sold into bondage, or one sunk in a dark pit.
तत्र कल्पसमा रात्रिर् मोहमग्नस्य मे गता । एकार्णवोह्यमानस्य मार्काण्डेयमुनेर् इव
There, immersed in delusion, a night passed for me as long as an age, like the sage Markandeya being tossed upon the single ocean.
न स्नातवान् न स्थितवान् न तदा भुक्तवान् अहम् । केवलं मे गता रात्रिस् सापदां धुरि तिष्ठतः
I did not bathe, nor stand up, nor eat at that time; the night simply passed for me as I bore the burden of my misfortunes.
विनिद्रस्य विधैर्यस्य स्फुरतस् सह पल्लवैः । मम दुःखातिदैर्घ्येण सा व्यतीयाय शर्वरी
Sleepless, restless, trembling along with the leaves, that night dragged on for me in the extreme length of my suffering.
ततस् तिमिरलेखासु सह तारेन्दुकैरवैः । मयीवापद्यमानासु म्लानताम् अलसाननैः
Then, as streaks of darkness faded away together with the stars and the moon, and as my own face grew pale and weary,
शाम्यन्तीषु च वेतालक्ष्वेडास्व् अजनजङ्गले । सह शीतार्तिमद्दन्तपङ्क्तिटाङ्कारसीत्कृतैः
And as the howls of jackals in the wild subsided, along with the chattering of teeth from the cold among those with rows of suffering mouths,
माम् अबन्तरनिर्मग्नं हसन्तीम् इव दृष्टवान् । अहं पूर्वां दिशं प्रातर् मधुपानारुणाम् इव
I saw the eastern direction in the morning, glowing red as if flushed by wine, while she seemed to laugh at me, sunk within myself.
क्षणाद् अज्ञ इव ज्ञानं दरिद्र इव काञ्चनम् । दृष्टवान् अहम् अर्कं खवारणारोहणोन्मुखम्
In a moment, I beheld the sun rising towards the sky’s gateway, as knowledge appears to the ignorant or gold to the poor.
उत्थाय वारवाणं च तत आस्फोटितं मया । हस्तिचर्म हरेणेव सन्ध्यानृत्तानुरागिणा
Then, rising up, I struck my shield, like one enamored with the dance of twilight, striking an elephant hide with a stick.
प्रवृत्तस् ताम् अहं स्फारां विहर्तुं जङ्गलस्थलीम् । कालो जगत्कुटीं कल्पदग्धभूतगणाम् इव
I set out to roam that vast wilderness, as time moves through the world-house, its beings consumed as if by the fire of dissolution.
न किञ्चिद् दृश्यते तत्र भूतं जरढजङ्गले । अभिजातो गुणलवो यथा मूर्खशरीरके
There, in that ancient, desolate jungle, nothing living was seen—just as in the body of a fool, only a trace of virtue is found.
केवलं विगताशङ्कं षण्डभ्रमणचञ्चलाः । चीचीकूचीचीवचना विहरन्ति विहङ्गमाः
Only birds, fearless and restless in their wandering, uttering their cīcī and kūcī sounds, moved about there.
अथाष्टभागम् आपन्ने व्योम्नो दिवसनायके । शुष्कावश्यायलेशासु स्नातास्व् इव लतासु च
Then, when the sun had ascended an eighth part of the sky, I saw the vines as if freshly bathed, with only a trace of withered dew upon them.
भ्रमतात्र मया दृष्टा दारिकौदनधारिणी । गृहीतामृतसत्कुम्भा दानवेनेव माधवी
As I wandered there, I saw a maiden carrying rice, holding a golden pot of nectar, like Mādhavī seized by a demon.
तरत्तारकनेत्रां तां श्यामाम् अधवलाम्बराम् । अहम् अभ्यागतस् तत्र शर्वरीम् इव चन्द्रमाः
There I approached her, dark-skinned, with three stars for eyes, clad in pale garments, as the moon approaches the night.
मह्यम् ओदनम् आश्व् एतद् बाले बलवदापदे । देहि दीनार्तिहरणात् स्फारतां यान्ति सम्पदः
O girl, bring me some food quickly in this dire distress; by removing the suffering of the afflicted, prosperity grows.
क्षुद् अन्तर् दहतीयं मां बाले वृद्धिम् उपेयुषी । कृष्णसर्पी प्रसूतेव कोटरस्था जरद्द्रुमम्
Hunger, growing within me, burns like a black serpent coiled in the hollow of an old tree, O girl.
याच्ञयापि तया मह्यम् इत्थं दत्तं न किञ्चन । यत्नप्रार्थितया लक्ष्म्या यथा दुष्कृतिने धनम्
Even when I begged her, she gave me nothing at all, just as wealth, though earnestly sought, is given by fortune to the wicked.
केवलं चिरकालेन मय्य् अत्यन्तानुगामिनि । षण्डात् षण्डं निपतति च्छायाभूते पुरस्स्थिते
Only after a long time, as I followed her persistently, did a little fall to me, as a shadow falls before one who stands.
तयोक्तो हारकेयूरिंश् चण्डालीं विद्धि माम् इति । राक्षसीम् इव सुक्रूरां पुरुषाश्वगजाननाम्
She said to me, 'Know me as a chandala woman adorned with necklaces and armlets, fierce as a demoness, with the faces of men, horses, and elephants.'
राजन् याचनमात्रेण मत्तो नाप्नोषि भोजनम् । ग्राम्याद् अनभिजातेहात् सौजन्यम् इव सुन्दर
O king, by mere asking you will not obtain food from me, just as true nobility is not found in one born outside the village.
इत्य् उक्तवत्या गच्छन्त्या स्खलन्त्येव पदे पदे । कुञ्जकेषु निमज्जन्त्या लीलावनतयोदितम्
Having spoken thus, she departed, stumbling at every step, sinking into the thickets, her words trailing off playfully.
ददानि भोजनम् इदं भर्ता भवसि चेन् मम । लोको नोपकरोत्य् अर्थं सामान्यस् स्निग्धतां विना
I offer this food if you become my husband; the world does not grant benefit without mutual affection.