7. Chapter 7

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच । इति शुक्रः पुरं प्राप्य वैबुधं स्वेन तेजसा । विसस्मार निजं भावं प्राक्तनं व्यसनं विना ॥ १ ॥

śrīvasiṣṭha uvāca | iti śukraḥ puraṃ prāpya vaibudhaṃ svena tejasā | visasmāra nijaṃ bhāvaṃ prāktanaṃ vyasanaṃ vinā || 1 ||

Vasishtha said:—Thus Sukra being got among the gods in the celestial city, forgot his former nature, without his passing through the pangs of death.

मुहूर्तमिव विश्रम्य तस्य पार्श्वे शचीपतेः । स्वर्गं विहर्तुमुत्तस्थौ स्वर्गाभिपरिमोदितः ॥ २ ॥

muhūrtamiva viśramya tasya pārśve śacīpateḥ | svargaṃ vihartumuttasthau svargābhiparimoditaḥ || 2 ||

Having halted awhile by the side of the Sachi's consort (Indra), he rose up to roam about the paradise, by being charmed with all its various beauties.

स्वःश्रियं स समालोक्य लोललोचनवाञ्छिताम् । स्त्रैणं द्रष्टुं जगामासौ नलिनीमिव सारसः ॥ ३ ॥

svaḥśriyaṃ sa samālokya lolalocanavāñchitām | straiṇaṃ draṣṭuṃ jagāmāsau nalinīmiva sārasaḥ || 3 ||

He looked with rapture on the beauty of his own person, and longed to see the lovely beauties of heavenly beings, as the swan is eager to meet the lotuses of the lake.

तत्र तां मृगशावाक्षीं कान्तामध्यगतामसौ । ददर्श विपिनान्तस्थां भृगुश्चूतलतामिव ॥ ४ ॥

tatra tāṃ mṛgaśāvākṣīṃ kāntāmadhyagatāmasau | dadarśa vipināntasthāṃ bhṛguścūtalatāmiva || 4 ||

He saw his beloved one among them in the garden of Indra's Eden (udyana), with her eyes like those of a young fawn; and with a stature as delicate as that of a tender creeper of the Amra.

सापि तं भार्गवं राम दृष्ट्वा परवशाभवत् । तामालोक्य लसल्लोलविलासवलिताकृतिम् ॥ ५ ॥

sāpi taṃ bhārgavaṃ rāma dṛṣṭvā paravaśābhavat | tāmālokya lasallolavilāsavalitākṛtim || 5 ||

She also beheld the son of Bhrigu, and lost her government on herself; and was thus observed by him also in all her indications of amorous feelings.

आसीद्विलीयमानाङ्गो ज्योत्स्नामिन्दुमणिर्यथा । विलीयमानसर्वाङ्गस्तामवैक्षत कामिनीम् ॥ ६ ॥

āsīdvilīyamānāṅgo jyotsnāmindumaṇiryathā | vilīyamānasarvāṅgastāmavaikṣata kāminīm || 6 ||

His whole frame was dissolved in affection for her, like the moonstone melting under the moonbeams; so was hers likewise in tenderness for him.

चन्द्रकान्त इव ज्योत्स्नां शीतलां खे विलासिनीम् । तेनावलोकिता सापि तत्परायणतां गता ॥ ७ ॥

candrakānta iva jyotsnāṃ śītalāṃ khe vilāsinīm | tenāvalokitā sāpi tatparāyaṇatāṃ gatā || 7 ||

He like the moonstone was soothed by her cooling beauty, beaming as moonlight in the sky; and she also being beheld by him, was entirely subdued by her love to him.

निशान्ते चक्रवाकेन कान्तेव परिकूजिता । रसाद्विकसिता नूनमन्योन्यमनुरक्तयोः ॥ ८ ॥

niśānte cakravākena kānteva parikūjitā | rasādvikasitā nūnamanyonyamanuraktayoḥ || 8 ||

At night they bewailed as chakravakas (ruddy geese), at their separation from one another, and were filled with delight on their mutual sight at the break of the day.

प्रातरर्कनलिन्योर्या शोभा सैव तयोरभूत् । संकल्पितार्थदायित्वाद्देशस्याभूच्च तेन सा ॥ ९ ॥

prātararkanalinyoryā śobhā saiva tayorabhūt | saṃkalpitārthadāyitvāddeśasyābhūcca tena sā || 9 ||

They were both as beautiful to behold, as the sun and the opening blossom of the lotus at morn; and their presence added a charm to the garden of paradise, which promised to confer their desired bliss.

सर्वाङ्गं विवशीकृत्य कामायैव समर्पिता । पेतुः स्मरशरास्तस्या मृदुष्वङ्गेषु भूरिशः ॥ १० ॥

sarvāṅgaṃ vivaśīkṛtya kāmāyaiva samarpitā | petuḥ smaraśarāstasyā mṛduṣvaṅgeṣu bhūriśaḥ || 10 ||

She committed her subdued-self to the mercy of the god of love, who in his turn darted his arrows relentless on her tender heart.

पलाशेष्विव पद्मिन्या धारा इव पयोमुचः । सा बभूवस्मरोद्भूता लोलालिवलयाकुला ॥ ११ ॥

palāśeṣviva padminyā dhārā iva payomucaḥ | sā babhūvasmarodbhūtā lolālivalayākulā || 11 ||

She was covered all over her person with the shafts of cupid, as when the lotus blossom is hid under a swarm of fleeting bees; and became as disordered as the leaves of the lotus, are disturbed under a shower of rain drops.

मन्दवाताभिनुन्नाया मञ्जर्याः सहधर्मिणी । नीलनीरजनेत्रान्तां हंससारसगामिनीम् ॥ १२ ॥

mandavātābhinunnāyā mañjaryāḥ sahadharmiṇī | nīlanīrajanetrāntāṃ haṃsasārasagāminīm || 12 ||

She fluttered at the gentle breath of the playful winds, like the tender filaments of flowers; and moved as graceful as the swan, with her eyes as bluish as those of the leaflets of blue-lotuses.

मदनः क्षोभयामास गजः कमलिनीमिव । अथ तां तादृशीं दृष्ट्वा शुक्रः संकल्पितार्थभाक् ॥ १३ ॥

madanaḥ kṣobhayāmāsa gajaḥ kamalinīmiva | atha tāṃ tādṛśīṃ dṛṣṭvā śukraḥ saṃkalpitārthabhāk || 13 ||

She was deranged in her person by the god of love, as the lotus-bed is put into disorder by the mighty elephant; and was beheld in that plight by her lover (Sukra), in the flight of his fancy.

तमः संकल्पयामास संहार इव भूतभुक् । त्रिविष्टपस्य देशोऽसौ बभूव तिमिराकुलः ॥ १४ ॥

tamaḥ saṃkalpayāmāsa saṃhāra iva bhūtabhuk | triviṣṭapasya deśo'sau babhūva timirākulaḥ || 14 ||

At last the shade of night overspread the landscape of the heavenly paradise, as if the god of destruction (Rudra) was advancing to bury the world under universal gloom.

भूलोकस्यान्धतमसा लोकालोकतटो यथा । लज्जान्धकारतीक्ष्णांशौ तस्मिंस्तिमिरमण्डले ॥ १५ ॥

bhūlokasyāndhatamasā lokālokataṭo yathā | lajjāndhakāratīkṣṇāṃśau tasmiṃstimiramaṇḍale || 15 ||

A deep darkness overspread the face of the earth, and covered it in thick gloom; like the regions of the polar mountains; where the hot-blazing-sun is obscured by the dark shade of perpetual night, as if hiding his face in shame under the dark veil of Cimmerian gloom.

प्रतिष्ठामागते तस्य मिथुनस्येव मण्डले । तेषु सर्वेषु भूतेषु गतेष्वभिमतां दिशम् ॥ १६ ॥

pratiṣṭhāmāgate tasya mithunasyeva maṇḍale | teṣu sarveṣu bhūteṣu gateṣvabhimatāṃ diśam || 16 ||

The loving pair met together in the midst of the grove, when the assembled crowds of the place, retired to their respective habitations in different directions.

तस्मात्प्रदेशाद्भूलोके दिनान्ते विहगेष्विव । सा दीर्घचञ्चलापाङ्गी प्रवृद्धमदनव्यथा ॥ १७ ॥

tasmātpradeśādbhūloke dinānte vihageṣviva | sā dīrghacañcalāpāṅgī pravṛddhamadanavyathā || 17 ||

Then the love-smitten dame approached her lover with her sidelong glances, as a bird of air alights from her aerial flight in the evening, to meet with her mate on the earth below.

आजगाम भृगोः पुत्रं मयूरी वारिदं यथा । धवलागारमध्यस्थे पर्यङ्के परिकल्पिते ॥ १८ ॥

ājagāma bhṛgoḥ putraṃ mayūrī vāridaṃ yathā | dhavalāgāramadhyasthe paryaṅke parikalpite || 18 ||

She advanced towards the son of Bhrigu, as a peahen comes out to meet the rising cloud;and thought she beheld there a white-washed edifice, with a couch placed in the midst.

विवेश भार्गवस्तत्र क्षीरोद इव माधवः । सा कराववलम्ब्यास्य विवेशावनतानना ॥ १९ ॥

viveśa bhārgavastatra kṣīroda iva mādhavaḥ | sā karāvavalambyāsya viveśāvanatānanā || 19 ||

Bhargava entered the white hall, as when Vishnu enters into hoary sea, accompanied by his beloved Lakshmi; who held him by the hand with her down-cast countenance.

रराज च सुरेभस्य हृदि लग्नेव पद्मिनी । उवाच चेदं मधुरं रसस्नेहाक्तया गिरा ॥ २० ॥

rarāja ca surebhasya hṛdi lagneva padminī | uvāca cedaṃ madhuraṃ rasasnehāktayā girā || 20 ||

She graced his person, as the lotus-stalk graces the bosom of the elephant; and then spoke to him sweetly with her words mixed with tender affection.

वचो मधुरमानन्दविलासवलिताक्षरम् । पश्यामलेन्दुवदनमण्डलीकृतकार्मुकः ॥ २१ ॥

vaco madhuramānandavilāsavalitākṣaram | paśyāmalenduvadanamaṇḍalīkṛtakārmukaḥ || 21 ||

She told him in a sweet and delightsome speech fraught with expressions of endearment: Behold, O my moon-faced lover! I see the curve of thy bow as a bow bent for my destruction.

अबलामनुबध्नाति मामेष किल नाङ्गकः । पाहि मामबलां नाथ दीनां त्वच्छरणामिह ॥ २२ ॥

abalāmanubadhnāti māmeṣa kila nāṅgakaḥ | pāhi māmabalāṃ nātha dīnāṃ tvaccharaṇāmiha || 22 ||

Cupid is thence darting his arrows to destroy this lovelorn maid;therefore protect me from him, that am so helpless and have come under thy protection from his rage.

कृपणाश्वासनं साधो विद्धि सच्चरितव्रतम् । स्नेहदृष्टिमजानद्भिर्मूढैरेव महामते ॥ २३ ॥

kṛpaṇāśvāsanaṃ sādho viddhi saccaritavratam | snehadṛṣṭimajānadbhirmūḍhaireva mahāmate || 23 ||

Know my good friend, that it is the duty of good people, to relieve the wretched from their distress; and those that do not look upon them with a compassionate eye, are reckoned as the basest of men.

प्रणया अवगण्यन्ते न रसज्ञैः कदाचन । अशङ्कितोपसंपन्नः प्रणयोऽन्योन्यरक्तयोः ॥ २४ ॥

praṇayā avagaṇyante na rasajñaiḥ kadācana | aśaṅkitopasaṃpannaḥ praṇayo'nyonyaraktayoḥ || 24 ||

Love is never vilified by those, who are acquainted with erotics;because the true love of faithful lovers, have endured to the last without any fear of separation.

अधःकरोति निष्यन्दं चन्द्रमाह्लादनं प्रिय । न तथा सुखयत्येषा चेतस्त्रिभुवनेशिता ॥ २५ ॥

adhaḥkaroti niṣyandaṃ candramāhlādanaṃ priya | na tathā sukhayatyeṣā cetastribhuvaneśitā || 25 ||

Know my dear, that the delightful draught of love, defies the dewy beams distilled by the moon; and the sovereignty of the three worlds, is never so pleasing to the soul, as the love of the beloved.

यथा परस्परानन्दः स्नेहः प्रथमरक्तयोः । त्वत्पादस्पर्शनेनेयं समाश्वस्तास्मि मानद ॥ २६ ॥

yathā parasparānandaḥ snehaḥ prathamaraktayoḥ | tvatpādasparśaneneyaṃ samāśvastāsmi mānada || 26 ||

I derive the same bliss from the touch of thy feet, as it attends on mutual lovers on their first attachment to one another.

चन्द्रपादपरामृष्टा यथा निशि कुमुद्वती । संस्पर्शामृतपानेन तव जीवामि सुन्दर ॥ २७ ॥

candrapādaparāmṛṣṭā yathā niśi kumudvatī | saṃsparśāmṛtapānena tava jīvāmi sundara || 27 ||

I live by the nectarious draught of thy touch, as the kumuda blooms by night, imbibing the ambrosial beams of the moon.

चन्द्रांशुरसपानेन चकोरी चपला यथा । मामिमां चरणालीनां भ्रमरीं करपल्लवैः ॥ २८ ॥

candrāṃśurasapānena cakorī capalā yathā | māmimāṃ caraṇālīnāṃ bhramarīṃ karapallavaiḥ || 28 ||

As the fluttering Chakora, is delighted with drinking the moonbeams, so is this suppliant at thy feet, blessed by the touch of the leaf-like palm of thy hand.

आलिङ्ग्यामृतसंपूर्णे स्वपद्महृदये कुरु । इत्युक्त्वा पुष्पमृद्वङ्गी सा तस्य पतितोरसि । व्याघूर्णितालिनयना सुतरोरिव मञ्जरी ॥ २९ ॥

āliṅgyāmṛtasaṃpūrṇe svapadmahṛdaye kuru | ityuktvā puṣpamṛdvaṅgī sā tasya patitorasi | vyāghūrṇitālinayanā sutaroriva mañjarī || 29 ||

Embrace me now to thy bosom, which is filled with ambrosial bliss. Saying so, the damsel fell upon his bosom with her body soft as a flower, and her eyes turning as a leaflet at the gentle breeze.

तौ दम्पती तत्र विलासकान्ती विवेशतुस्तासु वनस्थलीषु । किञ्जल्कगौरानिलघूर्णितासु रक्तौ द्विरेफाविव पद्मिनीषु ॥ ३० ॥

tau dampatī tatra vilāsakāntī viveśatustāsu vanasthalīṣu | kiñjalkagaurānilaghūrṇitāsu raktau dvirephāviva padminīṣu || 30 ||

The loving pair fell into their trance of love in that happy grove, as a couple of playful bees creeps into the lotus cup, under the fair filaments of the flower, shaking by the gentle breeze.