कचत्कुसुमगुच्छाच्छफणामणिगणावृतम् । पातालाद् उत्थितं शेषम् इव व्योमदिदृक्षया
Adorned with clusters of shining flowers like the jeweled hoods of serpents, it rose from the earth like the serpent Śeṣa himself, eager to behold the sky.
रजसोद्धूलिताकारं द्वितीयम् इव शङ्करम् । छायया फलशालिन्या समस्तमुनिशङ्करम्
Its form, dust-laden, appeared like a second Śaṅkara; with its fruit-laden shade, it seemed to inspire awe in all the sages, just as Śaṅkara does.
निबिडदलनिबद्धभित्तिभागैः कुसुमलतानवमण्डपैर् उपेतम् । पुरम् इव गगने कदम्बवृक्षं खगकुलनागरसङ्कटं ददर्श
With dense, leafy branches forming natural walls, and flower-laden creepers creating pavilions, he saw the kadamba tree standing like a city in the sky, crowded with flocks of birds as if they were its citizens.
तम् अथासौ महाबुद्धिः फलपल्लवशालिनम् । आनन्दमन्थरमनाः पुष्परूपाचलोपमम्
Then that wise one, his mind slowed by joy, beheld the tree rich with fruits and tender leaves, resembling a mountain of blossoms.
कदम्बं रोदसीस्तम्भम् आरुरोह वनस्थितम् । एकार्णवगतं शौरिः कल्पवृक्षम् इवोन्नतम्
He climbed the kadamba tree, pillar of the forest, standing on the earth, just as Viṣṇu ascended the wish-fulfilling tree rising alone from the ocean.
तत्रासौ व्योमलग्नायाश् शाखायाः प्रान्तपल्लवे । विवेशाधिगताकाशम् ऐडूकप्रान्तबुद्धवत्
There, at the tip of a branch reaching into the sky, she entered the open space, like the mind of a monkey at the end of a branch.
अथोपविश्य मृदुनि नवपल्लवविष्टरे । क्षणम् आलोकितास् तेन दिशः कौतुकमन्थरम्
Then, sitting down on the soft, fresh bed of new leaves, she slowly gazed in wonder at the directions around her for a moment.
सरिदेकावलीरम्याश् शैलेन्द्रस्तनकुट्मलाः । निर्मलाकाशकवरा लोलनीलाम्बुदालकाः
She saw rows of rivers adorned with lovely banks, mountain peaks like the breasts of great hills, clear skies covered with clouds, and blue lotuses swaying gently.
नीलशाद्वलवसनाः पुष्पगौरवनाङ्गिकाः । गृहीतसागरापूर्णकलशाः पुरभूषणाः
Clad in blue-green grass, with limbs pale as flowers, bearing pitchers filled with the ocean's water, they adorned the city.
धृतप्रफुल्लपद्मिन्यस् सुगन्धिमुखमारुताः । ग्रामघुङ्घुमकाकल्यो निर्झरारवनूपुराः
Holding blossoming lotuses, with fragrant breezes for faces, the villages hummed with the calls of crows, and the waterfalls resounded like anklets.
द्युमूर्धानो महीपादा वनालीरोमराजयः । जङ्गलोरुनितम्बिन्यश् चन्द्रार्ककृतकुण्डलाः
With the sky as their crown and the earth as their feet, the forests formed their lines of hair, the wilds their broad hips, and the moon and sun their earrings.
शालिसञ्चारकेदारचन्दनस्थासकाङ्किताः । शिखरोरसिजालग्नहिमशुभ्राम्बुदांशुकाः
Marked by rice fields and sandalwood groves, their peaks draped in the white garments of snow and clouds.
महार्णवपयःपूरनवमण्डनदर्पणाः । वृक्षौघघर्मपुलका भुवनान्तःपुरान्तराः
Mirroring the fresh adornment of the ocean's waters, their forests bristling with trees, they were the inner chambers of the world.
आर्तवस्नानधारिण्यो लग्नसूर्यांशुकुङ्कुमाः । विचित्रकुसुमोपेताश् चन्द्रांशुसितचन्दनाः
They wore garments washed in the waters of spring, adorned with the saffron rays of the sun, decorated with various flowers, and smeared with sandalwood as pale as moonlight.
गगनतललतादलोपविष्टः प्रसृतवनावलिवारिवाहवेषाः । त्रिभुवनवनिता ददर्श हृष्टः कुसुमनिरन्तरमण्डिता दशाशाः
Seated on the broad leaf of a creeper in the sky, surrounded by streams of forest vines and breezes, he joyfully beheld the women of the three worlds, each direction adorned continuously with flowers.
ततः प्रभृति तत्रासौ प्रसिद्धस् तापसाश्रमे । कदम्बदाशूर इति शूरस् तपसि दारुणे
From that time onward, he became renowned in that hermitage of ascetics as Kadamba Dāśūra, a hero steadfast in severe austerity.
तस्मिंल् लतादले स्थित्वा विलोक्य ककुभः क्षणम् । दृढं पद्मासनं बद्ध्वा दिग्भ्यः प्रत्याहृतात्मना
There, seated upon the leaf of a creeper, he gazed at the quarters for a moment, then firmly assumed the lotus posture, withdrawing his mind from all directions.
अज्ञातपरमार्थेन क्रियामात्रे च तिष्ठता । फलकार्पण्ययुक्तेन मनसा सो ऽकरोन् मखम्
Unaware of the highest truth and engaged only in ritual, with a mind devoted to offering the fruits of action, he performed a sacrifice.
नभोगतलतापत्त्रसंस्थितेन वनान्तरे । सर्वास् स्वमनसा तेन कृता यज्ञक्रियाः क्रमात्
Dwelling in the forest, seated upon the leaf of a creeper in the sky, he performed all sacrificial rites in order, solely with his mind.
तत्रासौ दश वर्षाणि मनसैवायजत् सुरान् । गवाश्वनरमेधाद्यैर् यज्ञैर् विपुलदक्षिणैः
There, for ten years, he worshipped the gods mentally with sacrifices such as those involving cows, horses, and humans, offering abundant gifts.
कालेनामलतां याते वितते तस्य चेतसि । बलाद् अवततारान्तर् ज्ञानम् आत्मप्रसादजम्
When his mind became pure over time, knowledge arising from the grace of the self forcefully entered within.
ततो विशीर्णावरणो विगलद्वासनामलः । अवसत् पल्लवे तस्मिन् मुनिर् विगतकल्मषः
Then, his coverings dissolved and the stains of latent impressions fallen away, the sage, free from all impurity, dwelt upon that leaf.
स ददर्शैकदा तस्यां लतायाम् अग्रतस् स्थिताम् । वनदेवीं विशालाक्षीम् आलोलकुसुमाम्बराम्
Once, on that very creeper before him, he saw a forest goddess with wide eyes, her garment swaying with flowers.
कामिनीकान्तवदनां मदघूर्णितलोचनाम् । नीलोत्पलामोदवतीम् अतीव सुमनोहराम्
Her face was like that of a passionate beloved, her eyes rolling with intoxication, fragrant with blue lotuses, and exceedingly captivating.
ताम् उवाचानवद्याङ्गीं स मुनिर् विनताननाम् । कोकिलः कुसुमापूरनतां वनलताम् इव
The sage addressed her, flawless in form and with a bowed face, as a cuckoo might address a flowering forest vine.
का त्वम् उत्पलपत्त्राक्षि परिविक्षोभितस्मरा । वयस्याम् इव पुष्पाढ्यां लतां किम् अधितिष्ठसि
Who are you, O lotus-eyed one, whose heart is stirred by love? Why do you, adorned with blossoms, dwell upon this vine as if it were your companion?
इत्य् उक्ता मृगशावाक्षी गौरी पीनपयोधरा । मुनिम् आह मनोहारि मुग्धाक्षरम् इदं वचः
Thus addressed, the doe-eyed, fair, full-breasted woman spoke these charming, innocent words to the sage.
यानि यानि दुरापानि वाञ्छितानि महीतले । प्राप्यन्ते तानि तान्य् आशु महताम् एव याच्ञया
Whatever rare things are desired on earth, all these are swiftly obtained by the request of the great.
अहम् अस्मिंल् लताकीर्णे त्वत्कदम्बाभ्यलङ्कृते । लतालीलालया ब्रह्मन् विपिने वनदेवता
I am the forest goddess in this grove of creepers, adorned by your presence, O Brahman, dwelling in the play of the vines.
ह्यश् चैत्रसितपक्षस्य त्रयोदश्यां स्मरोत्सवे । बभूव वनदेवीनां समाजो नन्दने वने
On the thirteenth day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra, during the festival of love, there was a gathering of the forest goddesses in the Nandana grove.