लताकोटितटभ्रान्तैश् चमरैर् इन्दुसुन्दरैः । शुभ्राभ्रखण्डनिकरैश् शरन्नभ इवावृतम्
Surrounded by chowries with moon-like beauty, wandering at the edges of the creepers, it was covered with clusters of shining white clouds, like the autumn sky.
प्रालेयकणपद्धत्या मुक्तावल्याभ्यलङ्कृतम् । सर्वावयवम् एवाच्छपुष्पपूरैः प्रपूरितम्
Adorned with rows of pearls like lines of snowflakes, every limb filled with pure clusters of flowers.
स्वरेणुचन्दनालेपैस् समालब्धम् अखण्डितम् । स्वच्छदाभोगविपुलरक्ताम्बरपरिष्कृतम्
Anointed thoroughly with pollen and sandal paste, unbroken in its beauty, decorated with wide, clear, red garments.
विवाहायेव वेषेण पुष्पभारादिहारिणा । लताङ्गनानुषक्तेन नागरेण कृतोद्यमम्
Dressed as if for a wedding, enchanting with the weight of flowers, attended by a vine-maiden, a city-dweller making preparations.
सुनिबद्धजटाकारलतामण्डलमण्डितम् । मञ्जरीभिः पताकाभिर् युक्तं पुरम् इवोत्सवे
Ornamented with well-arranged locks like coils of vines, adorned with clusters and banners of blossoms, like a city in festival.
मृगकण्डूयनध्वस्तपुष्पधूलिविधूसरम् । प्रोत्सारितोपान्तवनं वृक्षमल्लम् इवोत्थितम्
Its dust of flowers scattered by the scratching of deer, the nearby groves driven away, it stands forth like a wrestler among trees.
बर्हिभिः कुसुमोद्वान्तपरागपरिपाटलैः । निक्षेपक्षिप्तसन्ध्याभ्रबालसालम् इवाचलैः
With peacocks scattering lines of pollen-laden flowers, like young sal trees on a mountain, set amidst clouds cast by twilight.
प्रवालारुणहस्तेन शीतलच्छायशायिना । मधुना घूर्णमानेन प्रालेयोत्पुलकत्विषा
With tender red shoots for hands, lying in cool shade, swaying with intoxication, its lustre bristling with icy dew.
नीरन्ध्रपुष्पपूरेण घूर्णितेन वनानिलैः । निद्रालुकुट्मलदृशा स्तबकस्तनधारिणा
With dense masses of flowers stirred by the forest breeze, with sleepy, half-closed eyes, bearing clusters like breasts.
पुष्पजालरजःपुञ्जकुङ्कुमारुणवाससा । लताविताननिलयवातायननिषङ्गिणा
With garments reddened by the saffron dust from clusters of flowers, and with windows nestled among the leafy bowers of creepers,
नवपुष्पलतादोलालीलयालसलासिना । आपादमस्तकप्रान्तं ससमस्तलतालयम्
Where, reclining lazily in the gentle sway of new-blossomed creepers, the entire abode from head to foot is adorned with vines,
वृन्देन वनदेवीनां कोकिलालापशालिना । सन्दिग्धमञ्जरीजालम् अलिनेत्रेण हासिना
Where groups of forest goddesses, accompanied by the songs of cuckoos, and with smiling, bee-like eyes, gaze at the dense clusters of uncertain buds,
अवश्यायोपशमितरतिखेदैर् मदालसैः । पुष्पधूलिसमारब्धैर् आलब्धैर् निबिडं मिथः
Where the weariness of love is soothed by the gentle dew, and the air is thick with the dust of flowers, mingling closely together,
पुष्पान्तरान्तःपुरगैः किम् अपि प्रणयोचितम् । ध्वनद्भिर् अभितस् स्वच्छं मत्तालियुगलैर् वृतम्
Where, within the inner chambers of flowers, some kind of intimate play unfolds, surrounded on all sides by the clear humming of intoxicated pairs of bees,
काननोपान्तनगरीघुङ्घुमाकर्णनेच्छया । क्षणम् उत्कर्णम् आशान्तचारुचर्वणटाङ्कृतैः
Where, eager to hear the distant hum of the forest city's outskirts, for a moment they raise their ears, their chewing of tender shoots momentarily stilled,
क्षणं दलाश्रिविश्रान्तमुग्धमुग्धशिरस्तया । पश्यद्भिर् इन्द्वंशुकचज्जलाम् अर्णवमेखलाम्
Where, for a moment, with their charming heads resting on the edge of a leaf, they gaze at the waves of moonlight shimmering like a girdle upon the sea,
वनस्थलीनां तनयैर् नयैर् मूर्तिम् इवास्थितैः । सुप्तैः पत्त्रपुटेष्व् अन्तर् मृगैश् शारलतान्तरम्
Where the daughters of the forest glades, standing as if embodying grace, and deer sleeping between the shoots of grass, rest within the folds of leaves,
नीडश्वसत्सुविश्वस्तसुप्तसार्भकपक्षिणम् । पाकच्युतफलोपान्तवृत्तलम्बिकमण्डलम्
A circle of branches where birds, trusting and at ease, sleep with their young, and where ripe fruit, having fallen, lies nearby.
सन्दिग्धमूकभ्रमरं गुच्छेष्व् अब्जाक्षसूत्रकैः । श्यामलीकृतपर्यन्तं नीलैः पल्लवमण्डलैः
There, among the clusters, dumb bees wander uncertainly, and the edges are darkened by blue clusters of young leaves, strung together like lotus-eyed threads.
सुगन्धिताशेषवनं पुष्पमेघीकृताम्बुदम् । धूलीकदम्बशबलं फलार्थिवलितं तले
The entire grove is fragrant, the clouds above turned into masses of blossoms, the ground below speckled with dust, and bent by those seeking fruit.
बहुनात्र किम् उक्तेन न किञ्चिद् अपि विद्यते । पत्त्रं तत्र तरोर् यत्र नोष्यते वा न भुज्यते
What more need be said here? There is not a single leaf on that tree which is not either eaten or enjoyed.
पत्त्रे पत्त्रे मृगास् सुप्ता विश्रान्तास् सुघने घने । कच्छे कच्छे खगा लीनास् तस्य भूरुहभूपतेः
On every leaf, deer lie sleeping, resting in the dense shade; in every hollow, birds are nestled, on that lord of trees.
एवंगुणविशिष्टं तं ममालोकयतस् तरुम् । महोत्सवेन सदृशी सा बभूव तमस्वती
As I gazed upon that tree, endowed with such qualities, my joy became like a great festival.
ततः कथाभिर् अन्याभिस् स तस्य तनयो मया । विज्ञानालोकरम्याभिर् नीतो बोधं परं पुनः
Then, through other stories, delightful with the light of knowledge, I once again led his son to supreme awakening.
आवयोस् तत्र चित्राभिः कथाभिर् इतरेतरम् । शर्वरी सा व्यतीयाय मुहूर्त इव कान्तयोः
There, as we exchanged wondrous tales with each other, that night passed by like a moment for lovers.
प्रातः प्रतनुतां याते द्युघर्मजलजालके । खकाननाङ्कुरोद्गारे तारकानिकरे शनैः
As morning approached, when the dew of night began to thin, and the stars slowly faded with the first stirrings of the birds in the sky,
आकदम्बनभोभागम् अनुयातं सुतान्वितम् । अहं विसर्ज्य दाशूरं हराचलनदीं गतः
I left the city of Dashura with my children, following the path through the sky, and went to the river at Mount Hara.
तत्राभिमतम् आसाद्य स्नानम् एत्य नभस्तलम् । प्रविश्य खं मुनीनां च मध्यं स्वस्थम् अवस्थितः
There, after performing the desired bath, I entered the sky and, joining the assembly of sages, remained at ease.
दाशूराख्यायिकैषा ते कथिता रघुनन्दन । जगतः प्रतिबिम्बाभा सत्याकाराप्य् असन्मयी
O delight of the Raghu lineage, this tale called 'Dashura' has been told to you; though it appears as the reflection of the world, it is unreal despite its seeming reality.
दाशूराख्यायिकैवेयम् इत्य् एतत् कथितं मया । तुभ्यं राघव घोराघजगद्रूपनिरूपणे
This very story called 'Dashura' has been narrated by me to you, Raghava, to illustrate the terrifying and illusory form of the world.