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.
सामोदपुष्पभ्रमरे कोकिलालिपरिच्छदा । तत्राहम् अगमं नाथ त्रैलोक्यललनासदः
With joyful flowers, buzzing bees, and the adornment of cuckoos and honeybees, I went there, O Lord, to the assembly of the beauties of the three worlds.
ततो दृष्टा मया सर्वा वयस्या मदनोत्सवे । अपुत्रया पुत्रयुतास् तेनाहं दुःखिता भृशम्
Then, during the festival of love, I saw all my friends—some with children, some without—and because I was childless, I became deeply distressed.
त्वयि सर्वार्थिसार्थस्य बृहत्कल्पतरौ स्थिते । अनाथेव कथं नाथ किल शोच्यास्म्य् अपुत्रिका
With you, the great wish-fulfilling tree for all seekers, standing here, how can I, O Lord, be lamented as childless, as if I were helpless?
देहि मे भगवन् पुत्रं नो चेद् देहम् इहाग्नये । प्रकरोम्य् आहुतिं पुत्रदुःखदाहोपशान्तये
Grant me a son, O blessed one; if not, I will offer my body to the fire here, making an oblation to relieve the burning sorrow of childlessness.
ताम् इत्य् उक्तवतीं तन्वीं विहस्य मुनिपुङ्गवः । प्राह हस्तगतं पुष्पं तस्यै दत्त्वा दयान्वितः
The eminent sage, smiling at the slender woman who had spoken thus, compassionately gave her a flower held in his hand and said:
गच्छ तन्वङ्गि मासेन पूजार्हम् अलिलोचनम् । प्रसोष्यसे सुतं कान्तं प्रसूनम् इव सल्लता
Go, slender-limbed one; within a month you will bear a son worthy of worship, with beautiful eyes, just as a creeper produces a lovely flower.
किं त्व् असौ मरणावेशपापिन्येतस् त्वया यतः । याचितः कृच्छ्रसम्प्राप्यज्ञानस् तेन भविष्यति
But he will be possessed by the taint of death, for you have requested him with difficulty; therefore, he will be ignorant and hard to obtain.
इत्य् उक्त्वा स मुनिस् तन्वीं प्रसन्नमुखमण्डलाम् । परिचर्यां करोमीति प्रार्थनोत्कां व्यसर्जयत्
Having spoken thus, the sage dismissed the slender maiden, whose face was bright with happiness, as she expressed her desire to serve him.
सा जगामात्मसदनं सो ऽतिष्ठत् स्वात्मना सह । अवहत् क्रमशः काल ऋतुसंवत्सराङ्कितः
She returned to her own abode, while he remained with himself; and time passed gradually, marked by seasons and years.
अथ दीर्घेण कालेन सैवोत्पलविलोचना । द्वादशाब्दम् उपादाय सुतं मुनिम् उपाययौ
Then, after a long time, that lotus-eyed woman, having completed twelve years, brought her son to the sage.