eṣo 'smi paryaṭann ekadā gato videheṣu | mithilām apraviśyaiva bahiḥ kva=cin maṭhi kāyā viśramitum etya kayā api vṛddhatāpasyā dattapādyaḥ kṣaṇam alindabhūmāv avāsthiṣi | tasyās tu maddarśanād eva kim apy ābaddhadhāram aśru prāvartata | ' kim etad amba kathaya kāraṇam ' iti pṛṣṭā sakaruṇam ācaṣṭa 'jaivātṛka nanu śrūyate patir asyā mithilāyāḥ prahāravarmā nāmāsīt | tasya khalu magadharājo rājahamsaḥ paraṃ mitram āsīt | tayoś ca vallabhe balaśambalayor iva vasumatīpriyamvade sakhyam apratimam adhattām | atha prathamagarbhābhinanditāṃ tāṃ ca priyasakhīṃ didṛkṣuḥ priyamvadā vasumatīṃ saha bhartrā puṣpapuram agamat | tasminn eva ca samaye mālavena magadharājasya mahaj janyam ajani | tatra leśato 'pi durlakṣāṃ gatim agaman magadharājaḥ | maithilendras tu mālavendraprayatnaprāṇitaḥ svaviṣayaṃ prati nivṛtto jyeṣṭhasya samhāravarmaṇaḥ sutair vikaṭavarmaprabhṛtibhir vyāptaṃ rājyam ākarṇya svasrīyāt suhmapater daṇḍāvayavam āditsur aṭavīpatham avagāhya lubdhakaluptasarvasvo 'bhūt | tatsutena ca kanīyasā hastavartinā sahaikākinī vanacaraśaravarṣabhayapalāyitā vanam agāhiṣi | tatra ca me śārdūlanakhāvalīḍhanipatitāyāḥ pāṇibhraṣṭaḥ sa bālakaḥ kasya api kapilāśavasya kroḍam abhyalīyata | tacchavākarṣiṇaś ca vyāghrasya asūn iṣur iṣvasanayantramuktaḥ kṣaṇād alikṣat | bhilladārakaiḥ sa bālo 'pāhāri | sā tv ahaṃ mohasuptā kena api vṛṣṇipālenopanīya svaṃ kuṭīram āveśya kṛpayopakrāntavraṇā svasthībhūya svabhartur anti kam upatiṣṭhāsur asahāyatayā yāvad vyākulībhavāmi tāvan mamaiva duhitā saha yūnā kena api tam evoddeśam āgamat | sā bhṛśaṃ ruroda | ruditānte ca sā sārthaghāte svahastagatasya rājaputrasya kirātabhartṛhastagamanam ātmanaś ca kena api vanacareṇa vraṇaviropaṇam svasthāyāś ca punas tenopayantuṃ cintitā yā nikṛṣṭajātisamsargavaiklavyāt pratyākhyānapāruṣyam tad akṣameṇa ca amunā vivikte vipine svaśiraḥ kartanodyamam anena yūnā yadṛcchayā dṛṣṭena tasya durātmano hananam ātmanaś copayamanam ity akathayat | sa tu pṛṣṭo maithilendrasyaiva ko 'pi sevakaḥ kāraṇavilambī tanmārgānusārī jātaḥ | saha tena bhartur antikam upasṛtya putravṛttā ntena śrotram asya devyāḥ priyamvadāyāś ca adahāva |
eṣo 'smi paryaṭann ekadā gato videheṣu | mithilām a-praviśya eva bahiḥ kva=cin maṭhi kāyā viśramitum etya kayā api vṛddha-tāpasyā datta-pādyaḥ kṣaṇam alinda-bhūmāv avāsthiṣi | tasyās tu mad-darśanād eva kim apy ābaddha-dhāram aśru prāvartata | ' kim etad amba kathaya kāraṇam ' iti pṛṣṭā sa-karuṇam ācaṣṭa - 'jaivātṛka nanu śrūyate patir asyā mithilāyāḥ prahāra-varmā nāmā asīt | tasya khalu magadha-rājo rāja-hamsaḥ paraṃ mitram āsīt | tayoś ca vallabhe bala-śambalayor iva vasumatī-priyamvade sakhyam a-pratimam adhattām | atha prathama-garbha-abhinanditāṃ tāṃ ca priya-sakhīṃ didṛkṣuḥ priyamvadā vasumatīṃ saha bhartrā puṣpa-puram agamat | tasminn eva ca samaye mālavena magadha-rājasya mahaj janyam ajani | tatra leśato 'pi dur-lakṣāṃ gatim agaman magadha-rājaḥ | maithila-indras tu mālava-indra-prayatna-prāṇitaḥ sva-viṣayaṃ prati nivṛtto jyeṣṭhasya samhāra-varmaṇaḥ sutair vikaṭa-varma-prabhṛtibhir vyāptaṃ rājyam ākarṇya svasrīyāt suhma-pater daṇḍa-avayavam āditsur aṭavī-patham avagāhya lubdhaka-lupta-sarva-svo 'bhūt | tat-sutena ca kanīyasā hasta-vartinā saha ekākinī vana-cara-śara-varṣa-bhaya-palāyitā vanam agāhiṣi | tatra ca me śārdūla-nakha-avalīḍha-nipatitāyāḥ pāṇi-bhraṣṭaḥ sa bālakaḥ kasya api kapilā-śavasya kroḍam abhyalīyata | tac-chava-ākarṣiṇaś ca vyāghrasya asūn iṣur iṣv-asana-yantra-muktaḥ kṣaṇād alikṣat | bhilla-dārakaiḥ sa bālo 'pāhāri | sā tv ahaṃ moha-suptā kena api vṛṣṇi-pālena upanīya svaṃ kuṭīram āveśya kṛpaya ūpakrānta-vraṇā svasthībhūya sva-bhartur anti kam upatiṣṭhāsur a-sahāyatayā yāvad vyākulībhavāmi tāvan mama eva duhitā saha yūnā kena api tam eva uddeśam āgamat | sā bhṛśaṃ ruroda | rudita-ante ca sā sārtha-ghāte sva-hasta-gatasya rāja-putrasya kirāta-bhartṛ-hasta-gamanam ātmanaś ca kena api vana-careṇa vraṇa-viropaṇam svasthāyāś ca punas tena upayantuṃ cintitā yā nikṛṣṭa-jāti-samsarga-vaiklavyāt pratyākhyāna-pāruṣyam tad a-kṣameṇa ca amunā vivikte vipine sva-śiraḥ kartana-udyamam anena yūnā yad-ṛcchayā dṛṣṭena tasya dur-ātmano hananam ātmanaś ca upayamanam ity akathayat | sa tu pṛṣṭo maithila-indrasya eva ko 'pi sevakaḥ kāraṇa-vilambī tan-mārga-anusārī jātaḥ | saha tena bhartur antikam upasṛtya putra-vṛttā ntena śrotram asya devyāḥ priyamvadāyāś ca adahāva |
sa ca rājā diṣṭadoṣāj jyeṣṭhaputraiś ciraṃ vigṛhya punar asahiṣṇutayā atimātraṃ ciraṃ prayudhya baddhaḥ | devī ca bandhanaṃ gamitā | dagdhā punar aham asminn api vārddhake hatajīvitam apārayantī hātuṃ pravrajyāṃ kila agrahīṣam | duhitā tu mama hatajīvitākṛṣṭā vikaṭavarmamahādevīṃ kalpasundarīṃ kila aśiśriyat | tau ced rājaputrau nirupadravāv eva avardhiṣyetām iyatā kālena tavemāṃ vayoavasthām asprakṣyetām | tayoś ca sator na dāyādā narendrasya prasahyakāriṇo bhaveyuḥ ' iti pramanyur abhiruroda | śrutvā ca tāpasīgiram aham api pravṛddhabāṣpo nigūḍham abhyadhām - 'yady evam amba samāśvasihi | nanv asti kaś cin munis tvayā tadavasthayā putrābhyupapādanārthaṃ yācitas tena sa labdho vardhitaś ca | vārteyam atimahatī | kim anayā | so 'ham asmi | śakyaś ca mayā asau vikaṭavarmā yathākathaṃcid upaśliṣya vyāpādayitum | anujāḥ punar atibahavaḥ tair api ghaṭante paurajānapadāḥ | māṃ tu na kaś=cid ihatya īdṛktayā jano jānāti | pitarāv api tāvan māṃ na samvidāte kim utetare | tad enam artham upāyena sādhayiṣyāmi ' ity agādiṣam | sā tu vṛddhā saruditaṃ pariṣvajya muhuḥ śirasy upāghrāya prasnutastanī sagadgadam agadat 'vatsa ciraṃ jīva | bhadraṃ tava | prasanno 'dya bhagavān vidhiḥ | adyaiva prahāravarmaṇy adhi videhā jātāḥ yataḥ pralambamānapīnabāhur bhavān apāram etac chokasāgaram adyottārayituṃ sthitaḥ | aho mahad bhāgadheyaṃ devyāḥ priyamvadāyāḥ ' iti harṣanirbharā snānabhojanādinā mām upācarat | aśiśriyaṃ ca asmin maṭhaikadeśe niśi kaṭaśayyām | acintayaṃ ca 'vinopadhinā ayam artho na sādhyaḥ | striyaś copadhīnām udbhavakṣetram | ato 'ntaḥpuravṛttāntam asyā avagamya taddvāreṇa kiñ=cij jālam ācareyam ' iti cintayaty eva mayi mahārṇavonmagnamārtaṇḍaturaṅgamaśvāsarayāvadhūteva vyāvartata triyāmā | samugragarbhavāsajaḍīkṛta iva mandapratāpo divasakaraḥ prādur āsīt |
sa ca rājā diṣṭa-doṣāj jyeṣṭha-putraiś ciraṃ vigṛhya punar a-sahiṣṇutayā atimātraṃ ciraṃ prayudhya baddhaḥ | devī ca bandhanaṃ gamitā | dagdhā punar aham asminn api vārddhake hata-jīvitam a-pārayantī hātuṃ pravrajyāṃ kila agrahīṣam | duhitā tu mama hata-jīvita-ākṛṣṭā vikaṭa-varma-mahā-devīṃ kalpa-sundarīṃ kila aśiśriyat | tau ced rāja-putrau nir-upadravāv eva avardhiṣyetām iyatā kālena tava imāṃ vayo-avasthām asprakṣyetām | tayoś ca sator na dāyādā nara-indrasya prasahya-kāriṇo bhaveyuḥ ' iti pra-manyur abhiruroda | śrutvā ca tāpasī-giram aham api pravṛddha-bāṣpo nigūḍham abhyadhām -- 'yady evam amba samāśvasihi | nanv asti kaś cin munis tvayā tad-avasthayā putra-abhyupapādana-arthaṃ yācitas tena sa labdho vardhitaś ca | vārta īyam atimahatī | kim anayā | so 'ham asmi | śakyaś ca mayā asau vikaṭa-varmā yathā-kathaṃ-cid upaśliṣya vyāpādayitum | anujāḥ punar atibahavaḥ tair api ghaṭante paura-jānapadāḥ | māṃ tu na kaś=cid ihatya īdṛktayā jano jānāti | pitarāv api tāvan māṃ na samvidāte kim uta itare | tad enam artham upāyena sādhayiṣyāmi ' ity agādiṣam | sā tu vṛddhā sa-ruditaṃ pariṣvajya muhuḥ śirasy upāghrāya prasnuta-stanī sa-gadgadam agadat - 'vatsa ciraṃ jīva | bhadraṃ tava | prasanno 'dya bhagavān vidhiḥ | adya eva prahāra-varmaṇy adhi videhā jātāḥ yataḥ pralambamāna-pīna-bāhur bhavān apāram etac choka-sāgaram adya uttārayituṃ sthitaḥ | aho mahad bhāgadheyaṃ devyāḥ priyamvadāyāḥ ' iti harṣa-nirbharā snāna-bhojana-ādinā mām upācarat | aśiśriyaṃ ca asmin maṭha-ekadeśe niśi kaṭa-śayyām | acintayaṃ ca - 'vina ūpadhinā ayam artho na sādhyaḥ | striyaś ca upadhīnām udbhava-kṣetram | ato 'ntaḥ-pura-vṛttāntam asyā avagamya tad-dvāreṇa kiñ=cij jālam ācareyam ' iti cintayaty eva mayi mahā-arṇava-unmagna-mārtaṇḍa-turaṅgama-śvāsa-raya-avadhūta īva vyāvartata tri-yāmā | samugra-garbha-vāsa-jaḍīkṛta iva manda-pratāpo divasa-karaḥ prādur āsīt |
utthāya avasāyitadinamukhaniyamavidhis tāṃ me mātaram avādiṣam - ' amba jālmasya vikaṭavarmaṇaḥ kac=cid antaḥpuravṛttāntam abhijānāsi ' ity anavasitavacanae eva mayi kā=cid aṅganā pratyadṛśyata | tāṃ ca avekṣya sā me dhātrī harṣāśrukuṇṭhitakaṇṭham ācaṣṭa - 'putri puṣkarike paśya bhartṛdārakam | ayam asāv akṛpayā mayā vane parityaktaḥ punar apy evam āgataḥ ' iti | sā tu harṣanirbharanipīḍitā ciraṃ prarudya bahu vilapya śāntā punaḥ svamātrā rājāntaḥpuravṛttāntākhyāne nyayujyata | uktaṃ ca tayā - 'kumāra kāmarūpeśvarasya kalindavarmanāmnaḥ kanyā kalpasundarī kalāsu rūpe ca apsaraso 'py atikrāntā patim abhibhūya vartate | tadekavallabhaḥ sa tu bahvavarodho 'pi vikaṭavarmā ' iti | tām avocam - ' upasarpaināṃ matprayuktair gandhamālyaiḥ | upajanaya ca asamānadoṣanindādinā svabhartari dveṣam | anurūpabha rtṛgāminīnāṃ ca vāsavadattādīnāṃ varṇanena grāhaya anuśayam | avarodhāntareṣu ca rājño vilasitāni su=gūḍhāny api prayatnena anviṣya prakāśayantī mānam asyā vardhaya ' iti | punar idam ambām avocam - ' ittham eva tvayā apy an=anyavyāpārayā nṛpāṅganā asāv upasthātavyā | pratyahaṃ ca yad yat tatra vṛttaṃ tad asmi tvayaiva bodhyaḥ | maduktā punar iyam udarkasvāduno 'smatkarmaṇaḥ prasādhanāya cchāyeva an=apāyinī kalpasundarīm anuvartatām ' iti | te ca tam arthaṃ tathaiva anvatiṣṭhatām | keṣucid dineṣu gateṣv ācaṣṭa māṃ madambā - 'vatsa mādhavīva picumandāśleṣiṇī yathā asau śocyam ātmānaṃ manyeta tathopapādya sthāpitā | kiṃ bhūyaḥ kṛtyam ' iti | punar aham abhilikhyātmanaḥ pratikṛtim ' iyam amuṣmai neyā | nītāṃ caināṃ nirvarṇya sā niyatam evaṃ vakṣyati - ' nanv asti kaś cid īdṛśākāraḥ pumān ' iti | pratibrūhy enām - ' yadi syāt tataḥ kim ' iti | tasya yad uttaraṃ sā dāsyati tad aham asmi pratibodhanīyaḥ ' iti | sā ' tathā ' iti rājakulam upasaṅkramya pratinivṛttā mām ekānte nyavedayat - 'vatsa darśito 'sau citrapaṭas tasyai mattakāśinyai | citrīyamāṇā ca asau ' bhuvanam idaṃ sanāthīkṛtaṃ yad deve 'pi kusumadhanvani nedṛśī vapuḥśrīḥ samnidhatte | citram etac citrataram | na ca tam avaimi ya īdṛśam ihatyo nirmimīte | kenedam ālikhitam ' ity ādṛtavatī vyāhṛtavatī ca | mayā ca smerayodīritam - ' devi sadṛśam ājñāpayasi | bhagavān makaraketur apy evaṃ sundara iti na śakyam eva sambhāvayitum | atha ca vistīrṇeyam arṇavanemiḥ | kvacid īdṛ śam api rūpaṃ daivaśaktyā sambhavet | atha tu yady evaṃrūpo rūpānurūpaśilpaśīlavidyājñānakauśalo yuvā mahākulīnaś ca kaś=cit samnihitaḥ syāt sa kiṃ lapsyate ' iti | tayoktam - ' amba kiṃ bravīmi | śarīraṃ dṛdayaṃ jīvitam iti sarvam idam alpam anarhaṃ ca | tato na kiñ=cil lapsyate | na ced ayaṃ vipralambhas tasya amuṣya darśanānubhavena yathedaṃ cakṣuś caritārthaṃ bhavet tathā anugrahaḥ kāryaḥ ' iti | bhūyo 'pi mayā dṛḍhatarīkartum upanyastam ' asti ko 'pi rājasūnur nigūḍhaṃ caran | amuṣya vasantotsave saha sakhībhir nagaropavanavihāriṇī ratir iva vigrahiṇī yadṛcchayā darśanapathaṃ gatā asi | gataś ca asau kāmaśaraikalakṣya tāṃ mām anvavartiṣṭa | mayā ca vām anyoanyānurūpair durlabhair ākārādibhir guṇātiśayaiś ca preryamāṇayā tadracitair eva kusumaśekharasraganulepanādibhiś ciram upāsitā asi | sādṛśyaṃ ca svam anena svayam eva abhilikhya tvatsamādhigāḍhatvadarśanāya preṣi tam | eṣa ced artho niścitas tasya amuṣya atimānuṣaprāṇasattvaprajñāprakarṣasya na kiñ=cid duṣkaraṃ nāma | tam adyaiva darśayeyam | saṅketo deyaḥ ' iti | tayā tu kiñ=cid iva dhyātvā punar abhihitam ' amba tava naitad idānīṃ gopyatamam | ataḥ kathayāmi | mama tātasya rājñā prahāravarmaṇā saha mahatī prītir āsīt | mātuś ca me mānavatyāḥ priyavayasyā devī priyamvadāsīt | tābhyāṃ punar ajātāpatyābhyām eva kṛtaḥ samayo abhūt - ' āvayoḥ putravatyāḥ putrāya duhitṛmatyā duhitā deyā ' iti | tātas tu māṃ jātāṃ pranaṣṭāpatyā priyamvadeti prārthayamānāya vikaṭavarmaṇe daivād dattavān | ayaṃ ca niṣṭhuraḥ pitṛdrohī na atyupasannasaṃsthānaḥ kāmopacāreṣv alabdhavaicakṣaṇyaḥ kalāsu kāvyanāṭakādiṣu mandābhiniveśaḥ śauryonmādī durvikatthano anṛtavādī ca asthānavarṣī | na atirocate me eṣa bhartā viśeṣataś caiṣu vāsareṣu | yad ayam udyāne madantaraṅgabhūtāṃ puṣkarikām apy upāntavartinīm anādṛtya mayi baddhasāpatnyamatsarām anātmajñām ātmanāṭakīyāṃ ramayantikā nāma apatyanir=viśeṣaṃ matsamvardhitāyāś campakalatāyāḥ svayam avacitābhiḥ su=manobhir alam akārṣīt | madupabhuktamukte citrakūṭagarbhavedikāgate ratnatalpe tayā saha vyahārṣīt | ayogyaś ca pumān avajñātuṃ ca pravṛttaḥ | tat kim ity apekṣyate | paralokabhayaṃ ca aihikena duḥkhena antaritam | a=viṣahyaṃ hi yoṣitām an=aṅgaśaraniṣaṅgī bhūtacetasām an=iṣṭajanasamvāsayantraṇāduḥkham | ato 'munā puruṣeṇa mām adyodyānamādhavīgṛhe samāgamaya | tadvārtāśravaṇamātreṇaiva hi mama atimātraṃ mano 'nuraktam | asti ca ayam artharāśiḥ | anena amuṣya pade pratiṣṭhāpya tam eva atyantam upacarya jīviṣyāmi ' iti | mayā api tad abhyupetya pratyāgatam | ataḥ paraṃ bhartṛdārakaḥ pramāṇam ' iti | tatas tasyā eva sakāśād antaḥpuraniveśam antarvamśikapuruṣasthānāni pramadavanapradeśān api vibhāgena avagamya astagirikūṭapātakṣubhitaśoṇita iva śoṇībhavati bhānubimbe paścimāmbudhipayaḥpātanirvāpitapataṅgāṅgāradhūmasambhāra iva bharitanabhasi tamasi vijṛmbhite paradāraparāmarśonmukhasya mamācāryakam iva kartum utthite guruparigrahaślāghini grahāgresare kṣapākare kalpasundarīvadanapuṇḍarīkeṇeva maddarśanātirāgaprathamopanatena smayamānena candramaṇḍalena sandhukṣamāṇatejasi bhuvanavijigīṣodyate deve kusumadhanvani yathocitaṃ śayanīyam abhaje | vyacītaraṃ ca ' siddhaprāya eva ayam arthaḥ | kiṃ tu parakalatralaṅghanād dharmapīḍā bhavet | sā apy arthakāmayor dvayor upalambhe śāstrakārair anumataiveti | gurujanabandhamokṣopāyasandhinā mayā caiṣa vyatikramaḥ kṛtas tad api pāpaṃ nirhṛtya kiyatyā api dharmakalayā māṃ samagrayed iti | api tv etad ākarṇya devo rājavāhanaḥ suhṛdo vā kiṃ nu vakṣyanti ' iti cintāparādhīna eva nidrayā parāmṛśye | adṛśyata ca svapne hastivaktro bhagavān | āha sma ca ' saumya upahāravarman mā sma te durvikalpo bhūt | yatas tvam asi madamśaḥ | śaṅkarajaṭābhāralālanocitā surasarid asau varavarṇinī | sā ca kadā=cin madviloḍanā=sahiṣṇur mām aśapat - ' ehi martyatvam ' iti | aśapyata mayā ca ' yatheha bahubhogyā tathā prāpya api mānuṣyakam an=ekasādhāraṇī bhava ' iti | abhyarthitaś ca anayā ' ekapūrvāṃ punas tvām evopacarya yāvajjīvaṃ rameyam ' iti | tad ayam artho bhavya eva bhavatā nir=āśaṅkyaḥ ' iti | pratibudhya ca prītiyuktas tadahar api priyāsaṅketavyatikarādismaraṇena aham anaiṣam | anyedyur ananyathāvṛttir anaṅgo mayy eveṣuvarṣam avarṣat | aśuṣyac ca jyotiṣmataḥ prabhāmayaṃ saraḥ | prāsarac ca timiramayaḥ kardamaḥ | kārdamikanivasanaś ca dṛḍhataraparikaraḥ khaḍgapāṇir upahṛtopaskaraḥ smaran mātṛdattāny abhijñānāni rājamandiraparikhām udambhasam upātiṣṭham | athopa khātaṃ mātṛgṛhadvāre puṣkarikayā prathamasamnidhāpitāṃ veṇuyaṣṭim ādāya tayā śāyitayā ca parikhāṃ sthāpitayā ca prākārabhittim alaṅghayam | adhiruhya pakveṣṭakacitena gopuroparitalādhirohiṇā sopānapathena bhuvam avātaram | avatīrṇaś ca vakulavīthīm atikramya campakāvalivartmanā manāg ivopasṛtyottarāhi karuṇaṃ cakravākamithunaravam aśṛṇavam | punar udīcā pāṭalipathena sparśalabhyaviśālasaudhakuḍyodareṇa śarakṣepam iva gatvā punaḥ prācā piṇḍībhāṇḍīrakhaṇḍamaṇḍitobhayapārśvena saikatapathena kiñ=cid uttaram atikramya punar avācīṃ cūtavīthīm agāhiṣi | tataś ca gahanataram udaroparacitaratnavedikaṃ mādhavīlatāmaṇḍapam īṣadvivṛtasamudgakonmiṣitabhāsā dīpavartyā nyarūpayam | praviśya caikapā rśve phullapuṣpanirantarakuraṇṭapotapaṅktibhittiparigataṃ garbhagṛham avanipatitāruṇāśokalatāmayam abhinavakusumakorakapulakalāñchitaṃ pratyagrapravālapaṭalapāṭalaṃ kapāṭam udghāṭya prāvikṣam | tatra cāsīt svāstīrṇaṃ kusumaśayanam suratopakaraṇavastugarbhāś ca kamalinīpalāśasampuṭāḥ dantamayas tālavṛntaḥ surabhisalilabharitaś ca bhṛṅgārakaḥ | samupaviśya muhūrtaṃ viśrāntaḥ parimalam atiśayavantam āghrāsiṣam | aśrauṣaṃ ca mandamandaṃ padaśabdam | śrutvaiva saṅketagṛhān nirgatya raktāśokaskandhapārśvavyavahitāṅgayaṣṭiḥ sthito 'smi | sā ca subhrūr a=suṣīmakāmā śanair upetya tatra mām adṛṣṭvā balavad avyathiṣṭa | vyasṛjac ca mattarājahamsīva kaṇṭharāgavalgugadgadāṃ giram - ' vyaktam asmi vipralabdhā | na asty upāyaḥ prāṇitum | ayi hṛdaya kim idam a=kāryaṃ kāryavad adhyasya tada=sambhavena kim evam uttāmyasi | bhagavan pañcabāṇakas tava aparādhaḥ kṛto mayā yad evaṃ dahasi na ca bhasmīkaroṣi ' iti | atha aham āvirbhūya vivṛtadīpabhājanaḥ ' bhāmini nanu bahv aparāddhaṃ bhavatyā cittajanmano yad amuṣya jīvitabhūtā ratir ākṛtyā kadarthitā dhanuryaṣṭir bhrūlatābhyām bhramaramālāmayī jyā nīlālakadyutibhiḥ astrāṇy apāṅgavīkṣitavṛṣṭibhiḥ mahārajanadhvajapaṭāmśukaṃ dantacchadamayūkhajālaiḥ prathamasuhṛn malayamārutaḥ parimalapaṭīyasā niḥśvāsapavanena parabhṛtarutam atimañjulaiḥ pralāpaiḥ puṣpamayī patākā bhujayaṣṭibhyām digvijayārambhapūrṇakumbhamithunam urojakumbhayugalena krīḍāsaro nābhimaṇḍalena samnāhyarathaḥ śroṇimaṇḍalena bhavaratnatoraṇasta mbhayugalam ūruyugalena līlākarṇakisalayaṃ caraṇatalaprabhābhiḥ | ataḥ sthānae eva tvāṃ dunoti mīnaketuḥ | māṃ punar an=aparādham adhikam āyāsayatīty eṣa eva tasya doṣaḥ | tat prasīda sundari jīvaya māṃ jīvanauṣadhibhir iva apāṅgair an=aṅgabhujaṅgadaṣṭam | ' ity āśliṣṭavān | arīramaṃ ca an=aṅgarāgapeśalaviśālalocanām | avasitārthāṃ cāraktavalitekṣaṇām īṣatsvedarekhodbhedajarjaritakapolamūlām an=argalakalapralāpinīm aruṇadaśanakararuhārpaṇavyatikarām atyarthapariślathāṅgīm ārtām iva lakṣayitvā mānasīṃ śārīrīṃ ca dhāraṇāṃ śithilayann ātmānam api tayā samānārtham āpādayam | tatkṣaṇavimuktasaṅgatau ratāvasānikaṃ vidhim anubhavantau ciraparicitāv iva atigūḍhaviśrambhau kṣaṇam avātiṣṭhāvahi | punar aham uṣṇam āyataṃ ca niḥśvasya kiñ=ciddīnadṛṣṭiḥ sacakitaprasāritābhyāṃ bhujābhyām enām an=atipīḍaṃ pariṣvajya na ativiśadam acumbiṣam | aśrumukhī tu sā ' yadi prayāsi nātha prayātam eṣa me jīvitaṃ gaṇaya | naya mām api | na ced asau dāsajano niṣprayojanaḥ | ' ity añjalim avatamsatām anaiṣīt | avādiṣaṃ ca tām - ' ayi mugdhe kaḥ sacetanaḥ striyam abhikāmayamānāṃ na abhinandati | yadi madanugrahaniścalas tava abhisandhir ācara a=vicāraṃ madupadiṣṭam | ādarśaya rahasi rājñe matsādṛśyagarbhaṃ citrapaṭam | ācakṣva ca ' kim iyam ākṛ tiḥ puruṣasaundaryasya pāram ārūḍhā na vā ' iti | ' bāḍham ārūḍhā ' iti nūnam asau vakṣyati | brūhi bhūyaḥ - ' yady evam asti kā api tāpasī deśāntarabhramaṇalabdhaprāgalbhyā mama ca mātṛbhūtā | tayedam ālekhyarūpaṃ puraskṛtya aham uktā - ' so 'sti tādṛśo mantro yena tvam upoṣitā parvaṇi viviktāyāṃ bhūmau purohitair hutamukte saptārciṣi naktam ekākinī śataṃ candanasamidhaḥ karpūramuṣṭīḥ paṭṭavastrāṇi ca prabhūtāni hutvā bhaviṣyasy evamākṛtiḥ | atha cālayiṣyasi ghaṇṭām | ghaṇṭāpuṭakvaṇitāhūtaś ca bhartā bhavatyai sarvarahasyam ākhyāya nimīlitākṣo yadi tvām āliṅget iyam ākṛ tir amum upasaṅkrāmet | tvaṃ tu bhaviṣyasi yathā purākāraiva | yadi bhavatyai bhavatpriyāya caivaṃ roceta na ca asmin vidhau visamvādaḥ kāryaḥ ' iti | vapuś ced idaṃ tava abhimataṃ saha suhṛnmantribhir anujaiḥ paurajānapadaiś ca saṃpradhārya teṣām apy anumate karmaṇy abhimukhena stheyam ' iti | sa niyatam abhyupaiṣyati | punar asyām eva pramadavanavāṭīśṛṅgāṭikāyām ātharvaṇikena vidhinā sañjñapitapaśunā abhihutya mukte hiraṇyaretasi taddhūmaśamalena sampraviṣṭena mayā asminn eva latāmaṇḍape sthātavyam | tvaṃ punaḥ pragāḍhāyāṃ pradoṣavelāyām ālapiṣyasi karṇe kṛtanarmasmitā vikaṭavarmāṇam - ' dhūrto 'si tvam a=kṛtajñaś ca | madanugrahalabdhena api rūpeṇa lokalocanotsavāyamānena matsapatnīr abhiramayiṣyasi | na aham ātmavināśāya vetālotthāpanam ācareyam ' iti | śrutvedaṃ tvadvacaḥ sa yad vadiṣyati tan mahyam ekākiny upāgatya nivedayiṣyasi | tataḥ param aham eva jñāsyāmi | matpadacihnāni copavane puṣkarikayā pramārjaya ' iti | sā ' tathā ' iti śāstropadeśam iva maduktam ādṛtya a=tṛptasuratarāgaiva kathaṃ=katham apy agād antaḥpuram | aham api yathāpraveśaṃ nirgatya svam evāvāsam ayāsiṣam |
utthāya avasāyita-dina-mukha-niyama-vidhis tāṃ me mātaram avādiṣam -- ' amba jālmasya vikaṭa-varmaṇaḥ kac=cid antaḥ-pura-vṛttāntam abhijānāsi ' ity an-avasita-vacanae eva mayi kā=cid aṅganā pratyadṛśyata | tāṃ ca avekṣya sā me dhātrī harṣa-aśru-kuṇṭhita-kaṇṭham ācaṣṭa -- 'putri puṣkarike paśya bhartṛ-dārakam | ayam asāv a-kṛpayā mayā vane parityaktaḥ punar apy evam āgataḥ ' iti | sā tu harṣa-nirbhara-nipīḍitā ciraṃ prarudya bahu vilapya śāntā punaḥ sva-mātrā rāja-antaḥ-pura-vṛttānta-ākhyāne nyayujyata | uktaṃ ca tayā -- 'kumāra kāma-rūpa-īśvarasya kalinda-varma-nāmnaḥ kanyā kalpa-sundarī kalāsu rūpe ca apsaraso 'py atikrāntā patim abhibhūya vartate | tad-eka-vallabhaḥ sa tu bahv-avarodho 'pi vikaṭa-varmā ' iti | tām avocam -- ' upasarpa enāṃ mat-prayuktair gandha-mālyaiḥ | upajanaya ca a-samāna-doṣa-nindā-ādinā sva-bhartari dveṣam | anurūpa-bha rtṛ-gāminīnāṃ ca vāsava-dattā-ādīnāṃ varṇanena grāhaya anuśayam | avarodha-antareṣu ca rājño vilasitāni su=gūḍhāny api prayatnena anviṣya prakāśayantī mānam asyā vardhaya ' iti | punar idam ambām avocam -- ' ittham eva tvayā apy an=anya-vyāpārayā nṛpa-aṅganā asāv upasthātavyā | praty-ahaṃ ca yad yat tatra vṛttaṃ tad asmi tvaya aiva bodhyaḥ | mad-uktā punar iyam udarka-svāduno 'smat-karmaṇaḥ prasādhanāya cchāya īva an=apāyinī kalpa-sundarīm anuvartatām ' iti | te ca tam arthaṃ tatha aiva anvatiṣṭhatām | keṣu-cid dineṣu gateṣv ācaṣṭa māṃ mad-ambā -- 'vatsa mādhavi īva picumanda-āśleṣiṇī yathā asau śocyam ātmānaṃ manyeta tatha ūpapādya sthāpitā | kiṃ bhūyaḥ kṛtyam ' iti | punar aham abhilikhyā atmanaḥ pratikṛtim ' iyam amuṣmai neyā | nītāṃ ca enāṃ nirvarṇya sā niyatam evaṃ vakṣyati -- ' nanv asti kaś cid īdṛśa-ākāraḥ pumān ' iti | pratibrūhy enām -- ' yadi syāt tataḥ kim ' iti | tasya yad uttaraṃ sā dāsyati tad aham asmi pratibodhanīyaḥ ' iti | sā ' tathā ' iti rāja-kulam upasaṅkramya pratinivṛttā mām ekānte nyavedayat -- 'vatsa darśito 'sau citra-paṭas tasyai matta-kāśinyai | citrīyamāṇā ca asau ' bhuvanam idaṃ sa-nāthīkṛtaṃ yad deve 'pi kusuma-dhanvani nā idṛśī vapuḥ-śrīḥ samnidhatte | citram etac citrataram | na ca tam avaimi ya īdṛśam ihatyo nirmimīte | kena idam ālikhitam ' ity ādṛtavatī vyāhṛtavatī ca | mayā ca smeraya ūdīritam -- ' devi sadṛśam ājñāpayasi | bhagavān makara-ketur apy evaṃ sundara iti na śakyam eva sambhāvayitum | atha ca vistīrṇa īyam arṇava-nemiḥ | kvacid īdṛ śam api rūpaṃ daiva-śaktyā sambhavet | atha tu yady evaṃ-rūpo rūpa-anurūpa-śilpa-śīla-vidyā-jñāna-kauśalo yuvā mahā-kulīnaś ca kaś=cit samnihitaḥ syāt sa kiṃ lapsyate ' iti | taya ūktam -- ' amba kiṃ bravīmi | śarīraṃ dṛdayaṃ jīvitam iti sarvam idam alpam an-arhaṃ ca | tato na kiñ=cil lapsyate | na ced ayaṃ vipralambhas tasya amuṣya darśana-anubhavena yatha īdaṃ cakṣuś carita-arthaṃ bhavet tathā anugrahaḥ kāryaḥ ' iti | bhūyo 'pi mayā dṛḍhatarīkartum upanyastam - ' asti ko 'pi rāja-sūnur nigūḍhaṃ caran | amuṣya vasanta-utsave saha sakhībhir nagara-upavana-vihāriṇī ratir iva vigrahiṇī yad-ṛcchayā darśana-pathaṃ gatā asi | gataś ca asau kāma-śara-eka-lakṣya tāṃ mām anvavartiṣṭa | mayā ca vām anyo-anya-anurūpair dur-labhair ākāra-ādibhir guṇa-atiśayaiś ca preryamāṇayā tad-racitair eva kusuma-śekhara-srag-anulepana-ādibhiś ciram upāsitā asi | sādṛśyaṃ ca svam anena svayam eva abhilikhya tvat-samādhi-gāḍhatva-darśanāya preṣi tam | eṣa ced artho niścitas tasya amuṣya atimānuṣa-prāṇa-sattva-prajñā-prakarṣasya na kiñ=cid duṣkaraṃ nāma | tam adya eva darśayeyam | saṅketo deyaḥ ' iti | tayā tu kiñ=cid iva dhyātvā punar abhihitam - ' amba tava na etad idānīṃ gopya-tamam | ataḥ kathayāmi | mama tātasya rājñā prahāra-varmaṇā saha mahatī prītir āsīt | mātuś ca me mānavatyāḥ priya-vayasyā devī priyamvadā āsīt | tābhyāṃ punar a-jāta-apatyābhyām eva kṛtaḥ samayo abhūt -- ' āvayoḥ putravatyāḥ putrāya duhitṛmatyā duhitā deyā ' iti | tātas tu māṃ jātāṃ pranaṣṭa-apatyā priyamvada īti prārthayamānāya vikaṭa-varmaṇe daivād dattavān | ayaṃ ca niṣṭhuraḥ pitṛ-drohī na atyupasanna-saṃsthānaḥ kāma-upacāreṣv a-labdha-vaicakṣaṇyaḥ kalāsu kāvya-nāṭaka-ādiṣu manda-abhiniveśaḥ śaurya-unmādī dur-vikatthano an-ṛta-vādī ca a-sthāna-varṣī | na atirocate me eṣa bhartā viśeṣataś ca eṣu vāsareṣu | yad ayam udyāne mad-antaraṅga-bhūtāṃ puṣkarikām apy upānta-vartinīm an-ādṛtya mayi baddha-sāpatnya-matsarām an-ātma-jñām ātma-nāṭakīyāṃ ramayantikā nāma apatya-nir=viśeṣaṃ mat-samvardhitāyāś campaka-latāyāḥ svayam avacitābhiḥ su=manobhir alam akārṣīt | mad-upabhukta-mukte citra-kūṭa-garbha-vedikā-gate ratna-talpe tayā saha vyahārṣīt | a-yogyaś ca pumān avajñātuṃ ca pravṛttaḥ | tat kim ity apekṣyate | para-loka-bhayaṃ ca aihikena duḥkhena antaritam | a=viṣahyaṃ hi yoṣitām an=aṅga-śara-niṣaṅgī bhūta-cetasām an=iṣṭa-jana-samvāsa-yantraṇā-duḥkham | ato 'munā puruṣeṇa mām adya udyāna-mādhavī-gṛhe samāgamaya | tad-vārtā-śravaṇa-mātreṇa eva hi mama atimātraṃ mano 'nuraktam | asti ca ayam artha-rāśiḥ | anena amuṣya pade pratiṣṭhāpya tam eva atyantam upacarya jīviṣyāmi ' iti | mayā api tad abhyupetya pratyāgatam | ataḥ paraṃ bhartṛ-dārakaḥ pramāṇam ' iti | tatas tasyā eva sakāśād antaḥ-pura-niveśam antar-vamśika-puruṣa-sthānāni pramada-vana-pradeśān api vibhāgena avagamya asta-giri-kūṭa-pāta-kṣubhita-śoṇita iva śoṇībhavati bhānu-bimbe paścima-ambudhi-payaḥ-pāta-nirvāpita-pataṅga-aṅgāra-dhūma-sambhāra iva bharita-nabhasi tamasi vijṛmbhite para-dāra-parāmarśa-unmukhasya mamā acāryakam iva kartum utthite guru-parigraha-ślāghini graha-agre-sare kṣapā-kare kalpa-sundarī-vadana-puṇḍarīkeṇa iva mad-darśana-atirāga-prathama-upanatena smayamānena candra-maṇḍalena sandhukṣamāṇa-tejasi bhuvana-vijigīṣā-udyate deve kusuma-dhanvani yathā-ucitaṃ śayanīyam abhaje | vyacītaraṃ ca - ' siddha-prāya eva ayam arthaḥ | kiṃ tu para-kalatra-laṅghanād dharma-pīḍā bhavet | sā apy artha-kāmayor dvayor upalambhe śāstra-kārair anumata aiva iti | guru-jana-bandha-mokṣa-upāya-sandhinā mayā ca eṣa vyatikramaḥ kṛtas tad api pāpaṃ nirhṛtya kiyatyā api dharma-kalayā māṃ samagrayed iti | api tv etad ākarṇya devo rāja-vāhanaḥ su-hṛdo vā kiṃ nu vakṣyanti ' iti cintā-para-adhīna eva nidrayā parāmṛśye | adṛśyata ca svapne hasti-vaktro bhagavān | āha sma ca - ' saumya upahāra-varman mā sma te dur-vikalpo bhūt | yatas tvam asi mad-amśaḥ | śaṅkara-jaṭā-bhāra-lālana-ucitā sura-sarid asau vara-varṇinī | sā ca kadā=cin mad-viloḍana-a=sahiṣṇur mām aśapat - - ' ehi martyatvam ' iti | aśapyata mayā ca - ' yatha īha bahu-bhogyā tathā prāpya api mānuṣyakam an=eka-sādhāraṇī bhava ' iti | abhyarthitaś ca anayā ' eka-pūrvāṃ punas tvām eva upacarya yāvaj-jīvaṃ rameyam ' iti | tad ayam artho bhavya eva bhavatā nir=āśaṅkyaḥ ' iti | pratibudhya ca prīti-yuktas tad-ahar api priyā-saṅketa-vyatikara-ādi-smaraṇena aham anaiṣam | anye-dyur an-anyathā-vṛttir an-aṅgo mayy eva iṣu-varṣam avarṣat | aśuṣyac ca jyotiṣmataḥ prabhā-mayaṃ saraḥ | prāsarac ca timira-mayaḥ kardamaḥ | kārdamika-nivasanaś ca dṛḍhatara-parikaraḥ khaḍga-pāṇir upahṛta-upaskaraḥ smaran mātṛ-dattāny abhijñānāni rāja-mandira-parikhām ud-ambhasam upātiṣṭham | atha upa khātaṃ mātṛ-gṛha-dvāre puṣkarikayā prathama-samnidhāpitāṃ veṇu-yaṣṭim ādāya tayā śāyitayā ca parikhāṃ sthāpitayā ca prākāra-bhittim alaṅghayam | adhiruhya pakva-iṣṭaka-citena gopura-upari-tala-adhirohiṇā sopāna-pathena bhuvam avātaram | avatīrṇaś ca vakula-vīthīm atikramya campaka-āvali-vartmanā manāg iva upasṛtya uttarāhi karuṇaṃ cakra-vāka-mithuna-ravam aśṛṇavam | punar udīcā pāṭali-pathena sparśa-labhya-viśāla-saudha-kuḍya-udareṇa śara-kṣepam iva gatvā punaḥ prācā piṇḍī-bhāṇḍīra-khaṇḍa-maṇḍita-ubhaya-pārśvena saikata-pathena kiñ=cid uttaram atikramya punar avācīṃ cūta-vīthīm agāhiṣi | tataś ca gahanataram udara-uparacita-ratna-vedikaṃ mādhavī-latā-maṇḍapam īṣad-vivṛta-samudgaka-unmiṣita-bhāsā dīpa-vartyā nyarūpayam | praviśya ca eka-pā rśve phulla-puṣpa-nirantara-kuraṇṭa-pota-paṅkti-bhitti-parigataṃ garbha-gṛham avani-patita-aruṇa-aśoka-latā-mayam abhinava-kusuma-koraka-pulaka-lāñchitaṃ pratyagra-pravāla-paṭala-pāṭalaṃ kapāṭam udghāṭya prāvikṣam | tatra cā asīt sv-āstīrṇaṃ kusuma-śayanam surata-upakaraṇa-vastu-garbhāś ca kamalinī-palāśa-sampuṭāḥ danta-mayas tāla-vṛntaḥ surabhi-salila-bharitaś ca bhṛṅgārakaḥ | samupaviśya muhūrtaṃ viśrāntaḥ parimalam atiśayavantam āghrāsiṣam | aśrauṣaṃ ca manda-mandaṃ pada-śabdam | śrutva aiva saṅketa-gṛhān nirgatya rakta-aśoka-skandha-pārśva-vyavahita-aṅga-yaṣṭiḥ sthito 'smi | sā ca su-bhrūr a=suṣīma-kāmā śanair upetya tatra mām a-dṛṣṭvā balavad avyathiṣṭa | vyasṛjac ca matta-rāja-hamsi īva kaṇṭha-rāga-valgu-gadgadāṃ giram -- ' vyaktam asmi vipralabdhā | na asty upāyaḥ prāṇitum | ayi hṛdaya kim idam a=kāryaṃ kāryavad adhyasya tad-a=sambhavena kim evam uttāmyasi | bhagavan pañca-bāṇakas tava aparādhaḥ kṛto mayā yad evaṃ dahasi na ca bhasmīkaroṣi ' iti | atha aham āvirbhūya vivṛta-dīpa-bhājanaḥ ' bhāmini nanu bahv aparāddhaṃ bhavatyā citta-janmano yad amuṣya jīvita-bhūtā ratir ākṛtyā kadarthitā dhanur-yaṣṭir bhrū-latābhyām bhramara-mālā-mayī jyā nīla-alaka-dyutibhiḥ astrāṇy apāṅga-vīkṣita-vṛṣṭibhiḥ mahā-rajana-dhvaja-paṭa-amśukaṃ danta-cchada-mayūkha-jālaiḥ prathama-suhṛn malaya-mārutaḥ parimala-paṭīyasā niḥśvāsa-pavanena parabhṛta-rutam ati-mañjulaiḥ pralāpaiḥ puṣpa-mayī patākā bhuja-yaṣṭibhyām dig-vijaya-ārambha-pūrṇa-kumbha-mithunam uroja-kumbha-yugalena krīḍā-saro nābhi-maṇḍalena samnāhya-rathaḥ śroṇi-maṇḍalena bhava-ratna-toraṇa-sta mbha-yugalam ūru-yugalena līlā-karṇa-kisalayaṃ caraṇa-tala-prabhābhiḥ | ataḥ sthānae eva tvāṃ dunoti mīna-ketuḥ | māṃ punar an=aparādham adhikam āyāsayati ity eṣa eva tasya doṣaḥ | tat prasīda sundari jīvaya māṃ jīvana-auṣadhibhir iva apāṅgair an=aṅga-bhujaṅga-daṣṭam | ' ity āśliṣṭavān | arīramaṃ ca an=aṅga-rāga-peśala-viśāla-locanām | avasita-arthāṃ cā arakta-valita-īkṣaṇām īṣat-sveda-rekhā-udbheda-jarjarita-kapola-mūlām an=argala-kala-pralāpinīm aruṇa-daśana-kara-ruha-arpaṇa-vyatikarām atyartha-pariślatha-aṅgīm ārtām iva lakṣayitvā mānasīṃ śārīrīṃ ca dhāraṇāṃ śithilayann ātmānam api tayā samāna-artham āpādayam | tat-kṣaṇa-vimukta-saṅgatau rata-avasānikaṃ vidhim anubhavantau cira-paricitāv iva atigūḍha-viśrambhau kṣaṇam avātiṣṭhāvahi | punar aham uṣṇam āyataṃ ca niḥśvasya kiñ=cid-dīna-dṛṣṭiḥ sa-cakita-prasāritābhyāṃ bhujābhyām enām an=atipīḍaṃ pariṣvajya na ativiśadam acumbiṣam | aśru-mukhī tu sā ' yadi prayāsi nātha prayātam eṣa me jīvitaṃ gaṇaya | naya mām api | na ced asau dāsa-jano niṣ-prayojanaḥ | ' ity añjalim avatamsatām anaiṣīt | avādiṣaṃ ca tām -- ' ayi mugdhe kaḥ sa-cetanaḥ striyam abhikāmayamānāṃ na abhinandati | yadi mad-anugraha-niścalas tava abhisandhir ācara a=vicāraṃ mad-upadiṣṭam | ādarśaya rahasi rājñe mat-sādṛśya-garbhaṃ citra-paṭam | ācakṣva ca - ' kim iyam ākṛ tiḥ puruṣa-saundaryasya pāram ārūḍhā na vā ' iti | ' bāḍham ārūḍhā ' iti nūnam asau vakṣyati | brūhi bhūyaḥ -- ' yady evam asti kā api tāpasī deśa-antara-bhramaṇa-labdha-prāgalbhyā mama ca mātṛ-bhūtā | taya īdam ālekhya-rūpaṃ puraskṛtya aham uktā -- ' so 'sti tādṛśo mantro yena tvam upoṣitā parvaṇi viviktāyāṃ bhūmau puro-hitair huta-mukte sapta-arciṣi naktam ekākinī śataṃ candana-samidhaḥ karpūra-muṣṭīḥ paṭṭa-vastrāṇi ca prabhūtāni hutvā bhaviṣyasy evam-ākṛtiḥ | atha cālayiṣyasi ghaṇṭām | ghaṇṭā-puṭa-kvaṇita-āhūtaś ca bhartā bhavatyai sarva-rahasyam ākhyāya nimīlita-akṣo yadi tvām āliṅget iyam ākṛ tir amum upasaṅkrāmet | tvaṃ tu bhaviṣyasi yathā purā-ākāra aiva | yadi bhavatyai bhavat-priyāya ca evaṃ roceta na ca asmin vidhau visamvādaḥ kāryaḥ ' iti | vapuś ced idaṃ tava abhimataṃ saha suhṛn-mantribhir anujaiḥ paura-jānapadaiś ca saṃpradhārya teṣām apy anumate karmaṇy abhimukhena stheyam ' iti | sa niyatam abhyupaiṣyati | punar asyām eva pramada-vana-vāṭī-śṛṅgāṭikāyām ātharvaṇikena vidhinā sañjñapita-paśunā abhihutya mukte hiraṇya-retasi tad-dhūma-śamalena sampraviṣṭena mayā asminn eva latā-maṇḍape sthātavyam | tvaṃ punaḥ pragāḍhāyāṃ pradoṣa-velāyām ālapiṣyasi karṇe kṛta-narma-smitā vikaṭa-varmāṇam -- ' dhūrto 'si tvam a=kṛta-jñaś ca | mad-anugraha-labdhena api rūpeṇa loka-locana-utsavāyamānena mat-sapatnīr abhiramayiṣyasi | na aham ātma-vināśāya vetāla-utthāpanam ācareyam ' iti | śrutva īdaṃ tvad-vacaḥ sa yad vadiṣyati tan mahyam ekākiny upāgatya nivedayiṣyasi | tataḥ param aham eva jñāsyāmi | mat-pada-cihnāni ca upavane puṣkarikayā pramārjaya ' iti | sā ' tathā ' iti śāstra-upadeśam iva mad-uktam ādṛtya a=tṛpta-surata-rāga aiva kathaṃ=katham apy agād antaḥ-puram | aham api yathā-praveśaṃ nirgatya svam evā avāsam ayāsiṣam |
atha sā mattakāśinī tathā tam artham anvatiṣṭhat | atiṣṭhac ca tanmate sa durmatiḥ | abhramac ca paurajānapadeṣv iyam adbhutāyamānā vārtā - ' rājā kila vikaṭavarmā devīmantrabalena devayogyaṃ vapur āsādayiṣyati | nūnam eṣa vipralambho na atikalyāṇaḥ | kaiva kathā pramādasya | svasminn eva antaḥpuropavane svāgramahiṣyaiva sampādyaḥ kila ayam arthaḥ | tathā hi bṛhaspatipratimabuddhibhir mantribhir apy abhyūhya anumataḥ | yady evaṃ bhāvi na anyad ataḥ param asti kiñ=cid adbhutam | a=cintyo hi maṇimantrauṣadhīnāṃ prabhāvaḥ | ' iti prasṛteṣu lokapravādeṣu prāpte parvadivase pragāḍhāyāṃ prauḍhatamasi pradoṣavelāyām antaḥpurodyānād udairayad dhūrjaṭikaṇṭhadhūmro dhūmodgamaḥ | kṣīrājyadadhitilagaurasarṣapavasāmāmsarudhira āhutīnāṃ ca parimalaḥ pavanānusārī diśi diśi prāvātsīt | praśānte ca sahasā dhūmodgame tasminn aham aviśam | niśāntodyānam āgamac ca gajagāminī | āliṅgya ca māṃ sasmitaṃ samabhyadhatta - ' dhūrta siddhaṃ te samīhitam | avasitaś ca paśur asau | amuṣya pralobhanāya tvadādiṣṭayā diśā mayoktam - ' kitava na sādhayāmi te saundaryam | evaṃ sundaro hi tvam apsarasām api spṛhaṇīyo bhaviṣyasi kim uta mānuṣīṇām | madhukara iva nisargacapalo yatra kva=cid āsajjati bhavādṛśo nṛśamsaḥ ' iti |
atha sā matta-kāśinī tathā tam artham anvatiṣṭhat | atiṣṭhac ca tan-mate sa dur-matiḥ | abhramac ca paura-jānapadeṣv iyam adbhutāyamānā vārtā -- ' rājā kila vikaṭa-varmā devī-mantra-balena deva-yogyaṃ vapur āsādayiṣyati | nūnam eṣa vipralambho na ati-kalyāṇaḥ | ka aiva kathā pramādasya | svasminn eva antaḥ-pura-upavane sva-agra-mahiṣya aiva sampādyaḥ kila ayam arthaḥ | tathā hi bṛhaspati-pratima-buddhibhir mantribhir apy abhyūhya anumataḥ | yady evaṃ bhāvi na anyad ataḥ param asti kiñ=cid adbhutam | a=cintyo hi maṇi-mantra-auṣadhīnāṃ prabhāvaḥ | ' iti prasṛteṣu loka-pravādeṣu prāpte parva-divase pragāḍhāyāṃ prauḍha-tamasi pradoṣa-velāyām antaḥ-pura-udyānād udairayad dhūrjaṭi-kaṇṭha-dhūmro dhūma-udgamaḥ | kṣīra-ājya-dadhi-tila-gaura-sarṣapa-vasā-māmsa-rudhira -āhutīnāṃ ca parimalaḥ pavana-anusārī diśi diśi prāvātsīt | praśānte ca sahasā dhūma-udgame tasminn aham aviśam | niśānta-udyānam āgamac ca gaja-gāminī | āliṅgya ca māṃ sa-smitaṃ samabhyadhatta -- ' dhūrta siddhaṃ te samīhitam | avasitaś ca paśur asau | amuṣya pralobhanāya tvad-ādiṣṭayā diśā maya ūktam -- ' kitava na sādhayāmi te saundaryam | evaṃ sundaro hi tvam apsarasām api spṛhaṇīyo bhaviṣyasi kim uta mānuṣīṇām | madhu-kara iva nisarga-capalo yatra kva=cid āsajjati bhavādṛśo nṛ-śamsaḥ ' iti |
tena tu me pādayor nipatya abhihitam - ' rambhoru sahasva matkṛtāni duścaritāni | manasā api na cintayeyam itaḥ param itaranārīm | tvarasva prastute karmaṇi ' iti | tad aham īdṛśena vaivāhikena nepathyena tvām abhisṛtavatī | prāg api rāgāgnisākṣikam anaṅgena guruṇā dattaiva tubhyam eṣā jāyā | punar apīmaṃ jātavedasaṃ sākṣīkṛtya svahṛdayena dattā ' iti prapadena caraṇapṛṣṭhe niṣpīḍyotkṣiptapādapārṣṇir itaretaravyatiṣaktakomalāṅgulidalena bhujalatādvayena kandharāṃ mamāveṣṭya salīlam ānanam ānamayya svayam unnamitamukhakamalā-vibhrāntaviśāladṛṣṭir asakṛd abhyacumbat |
tena tu me pādayor nipatya abhihitam -- ' rambhā-ūru sahasva mat-kṛtāni duś-caritāni | manasā api na cintayeyam itaḥ param itara-nārīm | tvarasva prastute karmaṇi ' iti | tad aham īdṛśena vaivāhikena nepathyena tvām abhisṛtavatī | prāg api rāga-agni-sākṣikam an-aṅgena guruṇā datta aiva tubhyam eṣā jāyā | punar api imaṃ jāta-vedasaṃ sākṣīkṛtya sva-hṛdayena dattā ' iti prapadena caraṇa-pṛṣṭhe niṣpīḍya utkṣipta-pāda-pārṣṇir itara-itara-vyatiṣakta-komala-aṅguli-dalena bhuja-latā-dvayena kandharāṃ mamā aveṣṭya sa-līlam ānanam ānamayya svayam unnamita-mukha-kamala-a-vibhrānta-viśāla-dṛṣṭir a-sakṛd abhyacumbat |
athainām ' ihaiva kuraṇṭakagulmagarbhe tiṣṭha yāvad ahaṃ nirgatya sādhayeyaṃ sādhyaṃ samyak iti visṛjya tām upasṛtya homānalapradeśam aśokaśākhāvalambinīṃ ghaṇṭām acālayam | akūjac ca sā taṃ janaṃ kṛtāntadūtīvāhvayantī | prāvartiṣi ca aham agurucandanapramukhāni hotum | āyāsīc ca rājā yathoktam deśam | śaṅkāpannam iva kiñcit savismayaṃ vicārya tiṣṭhantam abravam ' brūhi satyaṃ bhūyo 'pi me bhagavantaṃ citrabhānum eva sākṣīkṛtya | na ced anena rūpeṇa matsapatnīr abhiramayiṣyasi tatas tvayīdaṃ rūpaṃ saṅkrāmayeyam ' iti | sa tadaiva devy eveyam nopadhiḥ iti sphuṭopajātasampratyayaḥ prāvartata śapathāya | smitvā punar mayoktam ' kiṃ vā śapathena | kaiva hi mānuṣī māṃ paribhaviṣyati | yady apsarobhiḥ saṅgacchase saṅgacchasva kāmam | kathaya kāni te rahasyāni | tatkathanānte hi tvatsvarūpabhraṃśaḥ ' iti | so 'bravīt ' asti baddho matpituḥ kanīyān bhrātā prahāravarmā | taṃ viṣānnena vyāpādya ajīrṇadoṣaṃ khyāpayeyam iti mantribhiḥ saha adhyavasitam | anujāya viśālavarmaṇe daṇḍacakraṃ puṇḍradeśābhikramaṇāya ditsitam | pauravṛddhaś ca pāñcālikaḥ paritrātaś ca sārthavāhaḥ khanatināmno yavanād vajram ekaṃ vasundharāmūlyaṃ laghīyasā argheṇa labhyam iti mamaikānte amantrayetām | gṛhapatiś ca mama antaraṅgabhūto janapadamahattaraḥ śatahalir alīkavādaśīlam avalepavantaṃ duṣṭagrāmaṇyam anantasīraṃ janapadakopena ghātayeyam iti daṇḍadharān uddhārakarmaṇi matprayogān niyoktum abhyupāgamat | ittham idam aciraprastutaṃ rahasyam ity ākarṇya tam ' iyat tavāyuḥ | upapadyasva svakarmocitāṃ gatim ' iti cchurikayā dvidhā kṛtya kṛttamātraṃ tasminn eva pravṛttasphītasarpiṣi hiraṇyaretasy ajuhavam | abhūc ca asau bhasmasāt | atha strīsvabhāvād īṣadvihvalāṃ hṛdayavallabhāṃ samāśvāsya hastakisalaye avalambya gatvā tadgṛham anujñayā asyāḥ sarvāṇy antaḥpurāṇy āhūya sadya eva sevāṃ dattavān | savismitavilāsinīsārthamadhye kañcid vihṛtya kālaṃ visṛṣṭāvarodhamaṇḍalas tām eva samhatorūm ūrūpapīḍaṃ bhujopapīḍaṃ copagūhya talpe 'bhiramayann alpām iva tāṃ niśām atyanaiṣam | alabhe ca tanmukhāt tadrājakulasya śīlam | uṣasi snātvā kṛtamaṅgalo mantribhiḥ saha samagacche | tāmś ca abravam - ' āryāḥ rūpeṇaiva saha parivṛtto mama svabhāvaḥ | ya eṣa viṣānnena hantuṃ cintitaḥ pitā me sa muktvā svam etad rājyaṃ bhūya eva grāhayitavyaḥ | pitṛvad amuṣmin vayaṃ śuśrūṣayaiva vartāmahe | na hy asti pitṛvadhāt paraṃ pātakam ' iti | bhrātaraṃ ca viśālavarmāṇam āhūyoktavān - ' vatsa na subhikṣāḥ sāmprataṃ puṇḍrāḥ | te duḥkhamohopahatās tyaktātmāno rāṣṭraṃ naḥ samṛddham abhidraveyuḥ | ato muṣṭivadhaḥ sasyavadho vā yadotpadyate tadā abhiyāsyasi | na adya yātrā yuktā ' iti | nagaravṛddhāv apy alāpiṣam - ' alpīyasā mūlyena mahārhaṃ vajravastu mā astu me labhyaṃ dharmarakṣāyai tadanuguṇenaiva mūlyena adaḥ krīyatām ' iti | śatahaliṃ ca rāṣṭramukhyam āhūya ākhyātavān - ' yo 'sāv anantasīraḥ prahāravarmaṇaḥ pakṣa iti nināśayiṣitaḥ so 'pi pitari me prakṛtisthe kim iti nāśyeta tat tvayā api tasmin samrambho na kāryaḥ ' iti | tae ime sarvam ābhijñānikam upalabhya ' sa eva ayam iti niścinvānā vismayamānāś ca tāṃ mahādevīṃ ca praśamsanto mantrabalāni codghoṣayanto bandhanāt pitarau niṣkrāmayya svaṃ rājyaṃ pratya pādayan | ahaṃ ca tayā me dhātryā sarvam idaṃ mama ceṣṭitaṃ rahasi pitror avagamayya praharṣakāṣṭhādhirūḍhayos tayoḥ pādamūlam abhaje | abhajye ca yauvarājyalakṣmyā tadanujñātayā | prasādhitātmā devapādavirahaduḥkhadurbhagān bhogān nirviśan bhūyo 'sya pitṛsakhasya simhavarmaṇo lekhyāc caṇḍavarmaṇaś campābhiyogam avagamya ' śatruvadho mitrarakṣā cobhayam api karaṇīyam eva ' ity alaghunā laghusamutthānena sainyacakreṇa abhyasaram | abhūvaṃ ca bhūmis tvatpādalakṣmīsākṣātkriyāmahotsavānandarāśeḥ ' iti | śrutvaitad devo rājavāhanaḥ sasmitam avādīt - ' paśyata pāratalpikam upadhiyuktam api gurujanabandhavyasanamuktihetutayā duṣṭā-mitrapramāpaṇābhyupāyatayā rājyopalabdhimūlatayā ca puṣkalāv arthadharmāv apy arīradhat | kiṃ hi buddhimatprayuktaṃ na abhyupaiti śobhām ' iti | arthapālamukhe nidhāya snigdhadīrghāṃ dṛṣṭim ' ācaṣṭāṃ bhavān ātmīyacaritam ' ity ādideśa | so 'pi baddhāñjalir abhidadhe -
atha enām ' iha eva kuraṇṭaka-gulma-garbhe tiṣṭha yāvad ahaṃ nirgatya sādhayeyaṃ sādhyaṃ samyak iti visṛjya tām upasṛtya homa-anala-pradeśam aśoka-śākhā-avalambinīṃ ghaṇṭām acālayam | akūjac ca sā taṃ janaṃ kṛtānta-dūti īvā ahvayantī | prāvartiṣi ca aham a-guru-candana-pramukhāni hotum | āyāsīc ca rājā yathā-uktam deśam | śaṅkā-āpannam iva kiñ-cit sa-vismayaṃ vicārya tiṣṭhantam abravam - ' brūhi satyaṃ bhūyo 'pi me bhagavantaṃ citra-bhānum eva sākṣīkṛtya | na ced anena rūpeṇa mat-sapatnīr abhiramayiṣyasi tatas tvayi idaṃ rūpaṃ saṅkrāmayeyam ' iti | sa tada aiva devy eva iyam na upadhiḥ iti sphuṭa-upajāta-sampratyayaḥ prāvartata śapathāya | smitvā punar maya ūktam - ' kiṃ vā śapathena | ka aiva hi mānuṣī māṃ paribhaviṣyati | yady apsarobhiḥ saṅgacchase saṅgacchasva kāmam | kathaya kāni te rahasyāni | tat-kathana-ante hi tvat-sva-rūpa-bhraṃśaḥ ' iti | so 'bravīt - ' asti baddho mat-pituḥ kanīyān bhrātā prahāra-varmā | taṃ viṣa-annena vyāpādya a-jīrṇa-doṣaṃ khyāpayeyam iti mantribhiḥ saha adhyavasitam | anujāya viśāla-varmaṇe daṇḍa-cakraṃ puṇḍra-deśa-abhikramaṇāya ditsitam | paura-vṛddhaś ca pāñcālikaḥ paritrātaś ca sārtha-vāhaḥ khanati-nāmno yavanād vajram ekaṃ vasundharā-mūlyaṃ laghīyasā argheṇa labhyam iti mama ekānte amantrayetām | gṛha-patiś ca mama antaraṅga-bhūto janapada-mahattaraḥ śata-halir alīka-vāda-śīlam avalepavantaṃ duṣṭa-grāmaṇyam ananta-sīraṃ janapada-kopena ghātayeyam iti daṇḍa-dharān uddhāra-karmaṇi mat-prayogān niyoktum abhyupāgamat | ittham idam a-cira-prastutaṃ rahasyam ity ākarṇya tam ' iyat tavā ayuḥ | upapadyasva sva-karma-ucitāṃ gatim ' iti cchurikayā dvidhā kṛtya kṛtta-mātraṃ tasminn eva pravṛtta-sphīta-sarpiṣi hiraṇya-retasy ajuhavam | abhūc ca asau bhasmasāt | atha strī-svabhāvād īṣad-vihvalāṃ hṛdaya-vallabhāṃ samāśvāsya hasta-kisalaye avalambya gatvā tad-gṛham anujñayā asyāḥ sarvāṇy antaḥ-purāṇy āhūya sadya eva sevāṃ dattavān | sa-vismita-vilāsinī-sārtha-madhye kañ-cid vihṛtya kālaṃ visṛṣṭa-avarodha-maṇḍalas tām eva samhata-ūrūm ūru-upapīḍaṃ bhuja-upapīḍaṃ ca upagūhya talpe 'bhiramayann alpām iva tāṃ niśām atyanaiṣam | alabhe ca tan-mukhāt tad-rāja-kulasya śīlam | uṣasi snātvā kṛta-maṅgalo mantribhiḥ saha samagacche | tāmś ca abravam -- ' āryāḥ rūpeṇa eva saha parivṛtto mama svabhāvaḥ | ya eṣa viṣa-annena hantuṃ cintitaḥ pitā me sa muktvā svam etad rājyaṃ bhūya eva grāhayitavyaḥ | pitṛvad amuṣmin vayaṃ śuśrūṣaya aiva vartāmahe | na hy asti pitṛ-vadhāt paraṃ pātakam ' iti | bhrātaraṃ ca viśāla-varmāṇam āhūya uktavān -- ' vatsa na su-bhikṣāḥ sāmprataṃ puṇḍrāḥ | te duḥkha-moha-upahatās tyakta-ātmāno rāṣṭraṃ naḥ samṛddham abhidraveyuḥ | ato muṣṭi-vadhaḥ sasya-vadho vā yada ūtpadyate tadā abhiyāsyasi | na adya yātrā yuktā ' iti | nagara-vṛddhāv apy alāpiṣam -- ' alpīyasā mūlyena mahā-arhaṃ vajra-vastu mā astu me labhyaṃ dharma-rakṣāyai tad-anuguṇena eva mūlyena adaḥ krīyatām ' iti | śata-haliṃ ca rāṣṭra-mukhyam āhūya ākhyātavān -- ' yo 'sāv ananta-sīraḥ prahāra-varmaṇaḥ pakṣa iti nināśayiṣitaḥ so 'pi pitari me prakṛti-sthe kim iti nāśyeta tat tvayā api tasmin samrambho na kāryaḥ ' iti | tae ime sarvam ābhijñānikam upalabhya ' sa eva ayam iti niścinvānā vismayamānāś ca tāṃ mahā-devīṃ ca praśamsanto mantra-balāni ca udghoṣayanto bandhanāt pitarau niṣkrāmayya svaṃ rājyaṃ pratya pādayan | ahaṃ ca tayā me dhātryā sarvam idaṃ mama ceṣṭitaṃ rahasi pitror avagamayya praharṣa-kāṣṭhā-adhirūḍhayos tayoḥ pāda-mūlam abhaje | abhajye ca yauvarājya-lakṣmyā tad-anujñātayā | prasādhita-ātmā deva-pāda-viraha-duḥkha-durbhagān bhogān nirviśan bhūyo 'sya pitṛ-sakhasya simha-varmaṇo lekhyāc caṇḍa-varmaṇaś campā-abhiyogam avagamya ' śatru-vadho mitra-rakṣā ca ubhayam api karaṇīyam eva ' ity a-laghunā laghu-samutthānena sainya-cakreṇa abhyasaram | abhūvaṃ ca bhūmis tvat-pāda-lakṣmī-sākṣāt-kriyā-mahā-utsava-ānanda-rāśeḥ ' iti | śrutva aitad devo rāja-vāhanaḥ sa-smitam avādīt -- ' paśyata pāra-talpikam upadhi-yuktam api guru-jana-bandha-vyasana-mukti-hetutayā duṣṭa-a-mitra-pramāpaṇa-abhyupāyatayā rājya-upalabdhi-mūlatayā ca puṣkalāv artha-dharmāv apy arīradhat | kiṃ hi buddhimat-prayuktaṃ na abhyupaiti śobhām ' iti | artha-pāla-mukhe nidhāya snigdha-dīrghāṃ dṛṣṭim ' ācaṣṭāṃ bhavān ātmīya-caritam ' ity ādideśa | so 'pi baddha-añjalir abhidadhe --
so 'pi praṇamya vijñāpayāmāsa ' deva devasya anveṣaṇāya dikṣu bhramann abhraṃkaṣasya api vindhyapārśvarūḍhasya vanaspater adhaḥ pariṇatapataṅgabālapallavāvatamsite paścimadigaṅganāmukhe palvalāmbhasy upaspṛśyopāsya sandhyāṃ tamaḥsamīkṛteṣu nimnonnateṣu gantum akṣamaḥ kṣamātale kisalayair uparacayya śayyāṃ śiśayiṣamāṇaḥ śirasi kurvann añjalim ' yā asmin vanaspatau vasati devatā saiva me śaraṇam astu śarārucakracārabhīṣaṇāyāṃ śarvagalaśyāmaśārvarāndhakārapūrādhmātagabhīragahvarāyām asyāṃ mahāṭavyām ekakasya me prasuptasya ' ity upadhāya vāmabhujam aśayiṣi | tataḥ kṣaṇād eva avanidurlabhena sparśena asu khāyiṣata kim āpa gātrāṇi āhlādayiṣatendriyāṇi abhyamanāyiṣṭa ca antarātmā viśeṣataś ca hṛṣitās tanūruhāḥ paryasphuran me dakṣiṇabhujaḥ | ' kathaṃ nv idam ' iti mandamandam unmiṣann upary acchacandrātapacchedakalpaṃ śuklāmśukavitānam aikṣiṣi | vāmato valitadṛṣṭiḥ samayā saudhabhittiṃ citrāstaraṇaśāyinam ativiśrabdhaprasuptam aṅganājanam alakṣayam | dakṣiṇato dattacakṣur āgalitastanāmśukām amṛtaphenapaṭalapāṇḍuraśayanaśāyinīm ādivarāhadamṣṭrāmśujālalagnām amsasrastadugdhasāgaradukūlottarīyāṃ bhayasādhvasamūrchitām iva dharaṇīm aruṇādharakiraṇabālakisalayalāsyahetubhir ānanāravindaparimalodvāhibhir niḥśvāsamātariśvabhir īśvarekṣaṇadahanadagdhaṃ sphuliṅgaśeṣam anaṅgam iva sandhukṣayantīm antaḥsuptaṣaṭpadam ambujam iva jātanidraṃ sarasam āmīlitalocanendīvaram ānanaṃ dadhānām airāvatamadāvalepalūnāpaviddhām iva nandanavanakalpavṛkṣaratnavallarīm kām api taruṇīm ālokayam | atarkayaṃ ca ' kva gatā sā mahāṭavī kuta idam ūrdhvāṇḍakapālasaṃ puṭodarollekhi śaktidhvajaśikharaśūlotsedhaṃ saudham āgatam kva ca tadaraṇyasthalīsamāstīrṇaṃ pallavaśayanam kutastyaṃ cedam indugabhastisambhārabhāsuraṃ hamsatūladukūlaśayanam | eṣa ca ko nu śītaraśmikiraṇarajjudolāparibhraṣṭamūrchita iva apsarogaṇaḥ svairasuptaḥ sundarījanaḥ kā ceyaṃ devīva aravindahastā śāradaśaśāṅkamaṇḍalāmaladukūlottaracchadam adhiśete śayanatalam | na tāvad eṣā devayoṣā yato mandamandam indukiraṇaiḥ samvāhyamānā kamalinīva saṅkucati | bhagnavṛntacyutarasabinduśabalitaṃ pākapāṇḍucūtaphalam ivodbhinnasvedarekham ālakṣyate gaṇḍasthalam | abhinavayauvanavidāhanirbharoṣmaṇi kucataṭe vaivarṇyam upaiti varṇakam | vāsasī ca paribhogānurūpaṃ dhūsarimāṇam ādarśayataḥ | tad eṣā mānuṣy eva | diṣṭyā ca anucchiṣṭayauvanā yataḥ saukumāryam āgatāḥ samhatā iva avayavāḥ prasnigdhatamā api pāṇḍutānuviddheva dehacchaviḥ dantapīḍānabhijñatayā na ativiśadarāgo mukhe vidrumadyutir adharamaṇiḥ anatyāpūrṇam āraktamūlaṃ campakakuḍmaladalam iva kaṭhoraṃ kapolatalam anaṅgabāṇapātamuktāśaṅkaṃ ca viśrabdhamadhuraṃ supyate na caitadvakṣaḥsthalaṃ nirdayavimardavistāritamukhastanayugalam asti ca anati krāntaśiṣṭamaryādacetaso mama asyām āsaktiḥ | āsaktyanurūpaṃ punar āśliṣṭā yadi spaṣṭam ārtaraveṇaiva saha nidrāṃ mokṣyati | atha ahaṃ na śakṣyāmi ca anupaśliṣya śayitum | ato yad bhāvi tad bhavatu | bhāgyam atra parīkṣiṣye | ' iti spṛṣṭā-spṛṣṭam eva kim apy āviddharāgasādhvasaṃ lakṣyasuptaḥ sthito 'smi | sā api kim apy utkampinā romodbhedavatā vāmapārśvena sukhāyamānena mandamandajṛmbhitakārambhamantharāṅgī tvaṅgadagrapakṣmaṇoś cakṣuṣor alasatāntatārakeṇa anatipakvanidrākaṣāyitāpāṅgaparabhāgeṇa yugaleneṣad unmilantī trāsavismayaharṣarāgaśaṅkāvilāsavibhramavyavahitāni vrīḍāntarāṇi kāni kāny api kāmena adbhutānubhāvena avasthāntarāṇi kāryamāṇā parijanaprabodhanodyatā giraṃ kāmāvegaparavaśaṃ hṛdayam aṅgāni ca sādhvasāyāsasambadhyamānasvedapulakāni kathaṃ katham api nigṛhya saspṛheṇa madhurakūṇitatribhāgeṇa mandamandapracāritena cakṣuṣā madaṅgāni nirvarṇya dūrotsarpitapūrvakāyā api tasminn eva śayane sacakitam aśayiṣṭa | ajaniṣṭa me rāgāviṣṭacetaso 'pi kim api nidrā | punar ananukūlasparśaduḥkhāyattagātraḥ prābudhye | prabuddhasya ca me saiva mahāṭavī tad eva tarutalaṃ sa eva patrāstaro 'bhūt | vibhāvarī ca vyabhāsīt | abhūc ca me manasi ' kim ayaṃ svapnaḥ kiṃ vipralambho vā kim iyam āsurī daivī vā kā api māyā | yad bhāvi tad bhavatu | na aham idaṃ tatvato na avabudhya mokṣyāmi bhūmiśayyām | yāvadāyur atratyāyai devatāyai pratiśayito bhavāmi ' iti niścitamatir atiṣṭham |
so 'pi praṇamya vijñāpayāmāsa - ' deva devasya anveṣaṇāya dikṣu bhramann abhraṃ-kaṣasya api vindhya-pārśva-rūḍhasya vanaspater adhaḥ pariṇata-pataṅga-bāla-pallava-avatamsite paścima-dig-aṅganā-mukhe palvala-ambhasy upaspṛśya upāsya sandhyāṃ tamaḥ-samīkṛteṣu nimna-unnateṣu gantum a-kṣamaḥ kṣamā-tale kisalayair uparacayya śayyāṃ śiśayiṣamāṇaḥ śirasi kurvann añjalim ' yā asmin vanaspatau vasati devatā sa aiva me śaraṇam astu śarāru-cakra-cāra-bhīṣaṇāyāṃ śarva-gala-śyāma-śārvara-andhakāra-pūra-ādhmāta-gabhīra-gahvarāyām asyāṃ mahā-aṭavyām ekakasya me prasuptasya ' ity upadhāya vāma-bhujam aśayiṣi | tataḥ kṣaṇād eva avani-durlabhena sparśena asu khāyiṣata kim āpa gātrāṇi āhlādayiṣata indriyāṇi abhyamanāyiṣṭa ca antar-ātmā viśeṣataś ca hṛṣitās tanū-ruhāḥ paryasphuran me dakṣiṇa-bhujaḥ | ' kathaṃ nv idam ' iti manda-mandam unmiṣann upary accha-candra-ātapa-ccheda-kalpaṃ śukla-amśuka-vitānam aikṣiṣi | vāmato valita-dṛṣṭiḥ samayā saudha-bhittiṃ citra-āstaraṇa-śāyinam ati-viśrabdha-prasuptam aṅganā-janam alakṣayam | dakṣiṇato datta-cakṣur āgalita-stana-amśukām amṛta-phena-paṭala-pāṇḍura-śayana-śāyinīm ādi-varāha-damṣṭrā-amśu-jāla-lagnām amsa-srasta-dugdha-sāgara-dukūla-uttarīyāṃ bhaya-sādhvasa-mūrchitām iva dharaṇīm aruṇa-adhara-kiraṇa-bāla-kisalaya-lāsya-hetubhir ānana-aravinda-parimala-udvāhibhir niḥśvāsa-mātariśvabhir īśvara-īkṣaṇa-dahana-dagdhaṃ sphuliṅga-śeṣam an-aṅgam iva sandhukṣayantīm antaḥ-supta-ṣaṭ-padam ambujam iva jāta-nidraṃ sa-rasam āmīlita-locana-indīvaram ānanaṃ dadhānām airāvata-mada-avalepa-lūna-apaviddhām iva nandana-vana-kalpa-vṛkṣa-ratna-vallarīm kām api taruṇīm ālokayam | atarkayaṃ ca - ' kva gatā sā mahā-aṭavī kuta idam ūrdhva-aṇḍa-kapāla-saṃ puṭa-udara-ullekhi śakti-dhvaja-śikhara-śūla-utsedhaṃ saudham āgatam kva ca tad-araṇya-sthalī-samāstīrṇaṃ pallava-śayanam kutastyaṃ ca idam indu-gabhasti-sambhāra-bhāsuraṃ hamsa-tūla-dukūla-śayanam | eṣa ca ko nu śīta-raśmi-kiraṇa-rajju-dolā-paribhraṣṭa-mūrchita iva apsaro-gaṇaḥ svaira-suptaḥ sundarī-janaḥ kā ca iyaṃ devi īva aravinda-hastā śārada-śaśa-aṅka-maṇḍala-amala-dukūla-uttara-cchadam adhiśete śayana-talam | na tāvad eṣā deva-yoṣā yato manda-mandam indu-kiraṇaiḥ samvāhyamānā kamalini īva saṅkucati | bhagna-vṛnta-cyuta-rasa-bindu-śabalitaṃ pāka-pāṇḍu-cūta-phalam iva udbhinna-sveda-rekham ālakṣyate gaṇḍa-sthalam | abhinava-yauvana-vidāha-nirbhara-ūṣmaṇi kuca-taṭe vaivarṇyam upaiti varṇakam | vāsasī ca paribhoga-anurūpaṃ dhūsarimāṇam ādarśayataḥ | tad eṣā mānuṣy- eva | diṣṭyā ca an-ucchiṣṭa-yauvanā yataḥ saukumāryam āgatāḥ samhatā iva avayavāḥ prasnigdhatamā api pāṇḍutā-anuviddha īva deha-cchaviḥ danta-pīḍā-an-abhijñatayā na ati-viśada-rāgo mukhe vidruma-dyutir adhara-maṇiḥ an-aty-āpūrṇam ārakta-mūlaṃ campaka-kuḍmala-dalam iva kaṭhoraṃ kapola-talam an-aṅga-bāṇa-pāta-mukta-āśaṅkaṃ ca viśrabdha-madhuraṃ supyate na ca etad-vakṣaḥ-sthalaṃ nir-daya-vimarda-vistārita-mukha-stana-yugalam asti ca an-ati krānta-śiṣṭa-maryāda-cetaso mama asyām āsaktiḥ | āsakty-anurūpaṃ punar āśliṣṭā yadi spaṣṭam ārta-raveṇa eva saha nidrāṃ mokṣyati | atha ahaṃ na śakṣyāmi ca an-upaśliṣya śayitum | ato yad bhāvi tad bhavatu | bhāgyam atra parīkṣiṣye | ' iti spṛṣṭa-a-spṛṣṭam eva kim apy āviddha-rāga-sādhvasaṃ lakṣya-suptaḥ sthito 'smi | sā api kim apy utkampinā roma-udbhedavatā vāma-pārśvena sukhāyamānena manda-manda-jṛmbhita-kārambha-manthara-aṅgī tvaṅgad-agra-pakṣmaṇoś cakṣuṣor alasa-tānta-tārakeṇa an-atipakva-nidrā-kaṣāyita-apāṅga-para-bhāgeṇa yugalenā iṣad unmilantī trāsa-vismaya-harṣa-rāga-śaṅkā-vilāsa-vibhrama-vyavahitāni vrīḍā-antarāṇi kāni kāny api kāmena adbhuta-anubhāvena avasthā-antarāṇi kāryamāṇā parijana-prabodhana-udyatā giraṃ kāma-āvega-para-vaśaṃ hṛdayam aṅgāni ca sādhvasa-āyāsa-sambadhyamāna-sveda-pulakāni kathaṃ katham api nigṛhya sa-spṛheṇa madhura-kūṇita-tri-bhāgeṇa manda-manda-pracāritena cakṣuṣā mad-aṅgāni nirvarṇya dūra-utsarpita-pūrva-kāyā api tasminn eva śayane sa-cakitam aśayiṣṭa | ajaniṣṭa me rāga-āviṣṭa-cetaso 'pi kim api nidrā | punar an-anukūla-sparśa-duḥkha-āyatta-gātraḥ prābudhye | prabuddhasya ca me sa aiva mahā-aṭavī tad eva taru-talaṃ sa eva patra-āstaro 'bhūt | vibhāvarī ca vyabhāsīt | abhūc ca me manasi - ' kim ayaṃ svapnaḥ kiṃ vipralambho vā kim iyam āsurī daivī vā kā api māyā | yad bhāvi tad bhavatu | na aham idaṃ tatvato na avabudhya mokṣyāmi bhūmi-śayyām | yāvad-āyur atratyāyai devatāyai pratiśayito bhavāmi ' iti niścita-matir atiṣṭham |
athāvirbhūya kā api ravikarābhitaptakuvalayadāmatāntāṅgayaṣṭiḥ kliṣṭanivasanottarīyā niralaktakarūkṣapāṭalena niḥśvāsoṣmajarjaritatviṣā dantacchadena vamantīva virahānalam anavaratasaliladhārāvisarjanād rudhirāvaśeṣam iva lohitataraṃ dvitayam akṣṇor udvahantī kulacāritrabandhanapāśavibhrameṇaikaveṇībhūtena keśapāśena nīlāmśukacīracūḍikāparivṛtā pativratāpatākeva sañcarantī kṣāmakṣāmā api devatānubhāvād anatikṣīṇavarṇāvakāśā sīmantinī praṇipatantaṃ māṃ praharṣotkampitena bhujalatādvayenotthāpya putravat pariṣvajya śirasy upāghrāya vātsalyam iva stanayugalena stanyacchalāt prakṣarantī śiśireṇa aśruṇā niruddhakaṇṭhī snehagadgadaṃ vyāhārṣīt - ' vatsa yadi vaḥ kathitavatī magadharājamahiṣī vasumatī mama haste bālam arthapālaṃ nidhāya kathāṃ ca kāñcid ātmabhartṛputrasakhījanānubaddhāṃ rājarājapravartitāṃ kṛtvā antardhānam agād ātmajā maṇibhadrasyeti sā aham asmi vo jananī | pitur vo dharmapālasūnoḥ sumitrānujasya kāmapālasya pādamūlān niṣkāraṇakopakaluṣitāśayā proṣya anuśayavidhurā svapne kena api rakṣorūpeṇopetya śaptā asmi - ' caṇḍikāyāṃ tvayi varṣamātraṃ vasāmi pravāsaduḥkhāya ' iti bruvataiva aham āviṣṭā prābudhye | gataṃ ca tad varṣaṃ varṣasahasradīrgham | atītāyāṃ tu yāminyāṃ devadevasya tryambakasya śrāvastyām utsavasamājam anubhūya bandhujanaṃ ca sthānasthānebhyaḥ samnipatitam abhisamīkṣya muktaśāpā patyuḥ pārśvam abhisarāmīti prasthitāyām eva mayi tvam atra abhyupetya ' prapanno asmi śaraṇam ihatyāṃ devatām ' iti prasuptoasi | evaṃ śāpaduḥkhāviṣṭayā tu mayā tadā na tatvataḥ paricchinno bhavān | api tu śaraṇāgatam aviralapramādāyām asyāṃ mahāṭavyām ayuktaṃ parityajya gantum iti mayā tvam api svapann eva asi nītaḥ | pratyāsanne ca tasmin devagṛhe punar acintayam - ' katham iha taruṇena anena saha samājaṃ gamiṣyāmi ' iti | atha rājñaḥ śrāvastīśvarasya yathārthanāmno dharmavardhanasya kanyāṃ navamālikāṃ gharmakālasubhage kanyāpuravimānaharmyatale viśālakomalaṃ śayyātalam adhiśayānāṃ yadṛcchayopalabhya ' diṣṭyeyaṃ suptā parijanaś ca gāḍhanidraḥ | śetām ayam atra muhūrtamātraṃ brāhmaṇakumāro yāvat kṛtakṛtyā nivarteya ' iti tvāṃ tatra śāyayitvā tam uddeśam agamam | dṛṣṭvā cotsavaśriyam nirviśya ca svajanadarśanasukham abhivādya ca tribhuvaneśvaram ātmālīkapratyākalanopārūḍhasādhvasaṃ ca namaskṛtya bhaktipraṇatahṛdayā bhagavatīm ambikāṃ tayā giriduhitrā devyā sasmitam ' ayi bhadre mā bhaiṣīḥ | bhavedānīṃ bhartṛpārśvagāminī | gatas te śāpaḥ ity anugṛhītā sadya eva pratyāpannamahimā pratinivṛtya dṛṣṭvaiva tvāṃ yathāvad abhyajānām ' kathaṃ matsuta eva ayaṃ vatsasya arthapālasya prāṇabhūtaḥ sakhā pramatir iti | pāpayā mayā asminn ajñānād audāsīnyam ācaritam api ca ayam asyām āsaktabhāvaḥ | kanyā cainaṃ kāmayate yuvānam | ubhau cemau lakṣyasuptau trapayā sādhvasena vā anyoanyam ātmānaṃ na vivṛṇvāte | gantavyaṃ ca mayā | kāmāghrātayā apy anayā kanyayā rahasyarakṣaṇāya na samābhāṣitaḥ sakhījanaḥ parijano vā | nayāmi tāvat kumāram | punar apīmam arthaṃ labdhalakṣo yathopapannair upāyaiḥ sādhayiṣyati ' iti matprabhāvaprasvāpitaṃ bhavantam etad eva patraśayanam pratyanaiṣam | evam idaṃ vṛttam | eṣā ca ahaṃ pitus te pādamūlaṃ pratyupasarpeyam ' iti prāñjaliṃ māṃ bhūyo bhūyaḥ pariṣvajya śirasy upāghrāya kapolayoś cumbitvā snehavihvalā gatāsīt |
athā avirbhūya kā api ravi-kara-abhitapta-kuvalaya-dāma-tānta-aṅga-yaṣṭiḥ kliṣṭa-nivasana-uttarīyā nir-alaktaka-rūkṣa-pāṭalena niḥśvāsa-ūṣma-jarjarita-tviṣā danta-cchadena vamanti īva viraha-analam an-avarata-salila-dhārā-visarjanād rudhira-avaśeṣam iva lohitataraṃ dvitayam akṣṇor udvahantī kula-cāritra-bandhana-pāśa-vibhrameṇa eka-veṇībhūtena keśa-pāśena nīla-amśuka-cīra-cūḍikā-parivṛtā pati-vratā-patāka īva sañcarantī kṣāma-kṣāmā api devatā-anubhāvād an-atikṣīṇa-varṇa-avakāśā sīmantinī praṇipatantaṃ māṃ praharṣa-utkampitena bhuja-latā-dvayena utthāpya putra-vat pariṣvajya śirasy upāghrāya vātsalyam iva stana-yugalena stanya-cchalāt prakṣarantī śiśireṇa aśruṇā niruddha-kaṇṭhī sneha-gadgadaṃ vyāhārṣīt -- ' vatsa yadi vaḥ kathitavatī magadha-rāja-mahiṣī vasumatī mama haste bālam artha-pālaṃ nidhāya kathāṃ ca kāñ-cid ātma-bhartṛ-putra-sakhī-jana-anubaddhāṃ rāja-rāja-pravartitāṃ kṛtvā antar-dhānam agād ātmajā maṇi-bhadrasya iti sā aham asmi vo jananī | pitur vo dharma-pāla-sūnoḥ sumitrā-anujasya kāma-pālasya pāda-mūlān niṣ-kāraṇa-kopa-kaluṣita-āśayā proṣya anuśaya-vidhurā svapne kena api rakṣo-rūpeṇa upetya śaptā asmi -- ' caṇḍikāyāṃ tvayi varṣa-mātraṃ vasāmi pravāsa-duḥkhāya ' iti bruvata aiva aham āviṣṭā prābudhye | gataṃ ca tad varṣaṃ varṣa-sahasra-dīrgham | atītāyāṃ tu yāminyāṃ deva-devasya try-ambakasya śrāvastyām utsava-samājam anubhūya bandhu-janaṃ ca sthāna-sthānebhyaḥ samnipatitam abhisamīkṣya mukta-śāpā patyuḥ pārśvam abhisarāmi iti prasthitāyām eva mayi tvam atra abhyupetya ' prapanno asmi śaraṇam ihatyāṃ devatām ' iti prasuptoasi | evaṃ śāpa-duḥkha-āviṣṭayā tu mayā tadā na tatvataḥ paricchinno bhavān | api tu śaraṇa-āgatam a-virala-pramādāyām asyāṃ mahā-aṭavyām a-yuktaṃ parityajya gantum iti mayā tvam api svapann eva asi nītaḥ | pratyāsanne ca tasmin deva-gṛhe punar acintayam -- ' katham iha taruṇena anena saha samājaṃ gamiṣyāmi ' iti | atha rājñaḥ śrāvastī-īśvarasya yathā-artha-nāmno dharma-vardhanasya kanyāṃ nava-mālikāṃ gharma-kāla-subhage kanyā-pura-vimāna-harmya-tale viśāla-komalaṃ śayyā-talam adhiśayānāṃ yad-ṛcchaya ūpalabhya ' diṣṭya īyaṃ suptā parijanaś ca gāḍha-nidraḥ | śetām ayam atra muhūrta-mātraṃ brāhmaṇa-kumāro yāvat kṛta-kṛtyā nivarteya ' iti tvāṃ tatra śāyayitvā tam uddeśam agamam | dṛṣṭvā ca utsava-śriyam nirviśya ca sva-jana-darśana-sukham abhivādya ca tri-bhuvana-īśvaram ātma-alīka-pratyākalana-upārūḍha-sādhvasaṃ ca namaskṛtya bhakti-praṇata-hṛdayā bhagavatīm ambikāṃ tayā giri-duhitrā devyā sa-smitam ' ayi bhadre mā bhaiṣīḥ | bhava idānīṃ bhartṛ-pārśva-gāminī | gatas te śāpaḥ ity anugṛhītā sadya eva pratyāpanna-mahimā pratinivṛtya dṛṣṭva aiva tvāṃ yathāvad abhyajānām - ' kathaṃ mat-suta eva ayaṃ vatsasya artha-pālasya prāṇa-bhūtaḥ sakhā pramatir iti | pāpayā mayā asminn a-jñānād audāsīnyam ācaritam api ca ayam asyām āsakta-bhāvaḥ | kanyā ca enaṃ kāmayate yuvānam | ubhau ca imau lakṣya-suptau trapayā sādhvasena vā anyo-anyam ātmānaṃ na vivṛṇvāte | gantavyaṃ ca mayā | kāma-āghrātayā apy anayā kanyayā rahasya-rakṣaṇāya na samābhāṣitaḥ sakhī-janaḥ parijano vā | nayāmi tāvat kumāram | punar api imam arthaṃ labdha-lakṣo yatha ūpapannair upāyaiḥ sādhayiṣyati ' iti mat-prabhāva-prasvāpitaṃ bhavantam etad eva patra-śayanam pratyanaiṣam | evam idaṃ vṛttam | eṣā ca ahaṃ pitus te pāda-mūlaṃ pratyupasarpeyam ' iti prāñjaliṃ māṃ bhūyo bhūyaḥ pariṣvajya śirasy upāghrāya kapolayoś cumbitvā sneha-vihvalā gatā āsīt |
ahaṃ ca pañcabāṇavaśyaḥ śrāvastīm abhyavartiṣi | mārge ca mahati nigame naigamānāṃ tāmracūḍayuddhakolāhalo mahān āsīt | ahaṃ ca tatra samnihitaḥ kiñcid asmeṣi | samnidhiniṣaṇṇas tu me vṛddhaviṭaḥ ko 'pi brāhmaṇaḥ śanaiḥ smitahetum apṛcchat | abravaṃ ca ' katham iva nārikelajāteḥ prācyavāṭakukkuṭasya pratīcyavāṭaḥ puruṣair asamīkṣya balākājātis tāmracūḍo balapramāṇādhikasyaiva prativisṛṣṭaḥ iti | so 'pi tajjñaḥ ' kim ajñair ebhir vyutpāditaiḥ | tūṣṇīm āssva ' ity upahastikāyās tāmbūlaṃ karpūrasahitam uddhṛtya mahyaṃ datvā citrāḥ kathāḥ kathayan kṣaṇam atiṣṭhat | prāyudhyata ca atisamrabdham anuprahārapravṛttasvapakṣamuktakaṇṭhīravaravaṃ vihaṅgamadvayam | jitaś ca asau pratīcyavāṭakukkuṭaḥ | so 'pi viṭabrāhmaṇaḥ svavāṭakukkuṭavijayahṛṣṭo mayi vayoviruddhaṃ sakhyam upetya tadahaḥ svagṛhae eva snānabhojanādi kārayitvottaredyuḥ śrāvastīṃ prati yāntaṃ mām anugamya ' smartavyo 'si saty arthe iti mitravad visṛjya pratyayāsīt |
ahaṃ ca pañca-bāṇa-vaśyaḥ śrāvastīm abhyavartiṣi | mārge ca mahati nigame naigamānāṃ tāmra-cūḍa-yuddha-kolāhalo mahān āsīt | ahaṃ ca tatra samnihitaḥ kiñ-cid asmeṣi | samnidhi-niṣaṇṇas tu me vṛddha-viṭaḥ ko 'pi brāhmaṇaḥ śanaiḥ smita-hetum apṛcchat | abravaṃ ca - ' katham iva nārikela-jāteḥ prācya-vāṭa-kukkuṭasya pratīcya-vāṭaḥ puruṣair a-samīkṣya balākā-jātis tāmra-cūḍo bala-pramāṇa-adhikasya eva prativisṛṣṭaḥ iti | so 'pi taj-jñaḥ ' kim a-jñair ebhir vyutpāditaiḥ | tūṣṇīm āssva ' ity upahastikāyās tāmbūlaṃ karpūra-sahitam uddhṛtya mahyaṃ datvā citrāḥ kathāḥ kathayan kṣaṇam atiṣṭhat | prāyudhyata ca ati-samrabdham anuprahāra-pravṛtta-sva-pakṣa-mukta-kaṇṭhīrava-ravaṃ vihaṅgama-dvayam | jitaś ca asau pratīcya-vāṭa-kukkuṭaḥ | so 'pi viṭa-brāhmaṇaḥ sva-vāṭa-kukkuṭa-vijaya-hṛṣṭo mayi vayo-viruddhaṃ sakhyam upetya tad-ahaḥ sva-gṛhae eva snāna-bhojana-ādi kārayitva ūttare-dyuḥ śrāvastīṃ prati yāntaṃ mām anugamya ' smartavyo 'si saty arthe iti mitravad visṛjya pratyayāsīt |
ahaṃ ca gatvā śrāvastīm adhvaśrānto bāhyodyāne latāmaṇḍape śayito 'smi | hamsakaravaprabodhitaś cotthāya kām api kvaṇitanūpuramukharābhyāṃ caraṇābhyāṃ madantikam upasarantīṃ yuvatīm adrākṣam | sā tv āgatya svahastavartini citrapaṭe likhitaṃ matsadṛśaṃ kim api puṃrūpaṃ māṃ ca paryāyeṇa nirvarṇayantī savismayaṃ savitarkaṃ saharṣaṃ ca kṣaṇam avātiṣṭhata | mayā api tatra citrapaṭe matsādṛśyaṃ paśyatā taddṛṣṭiceṣṭitam anākasmikaṃ manyamānena ' nanu sarvasādhāraṇo 'yaṃ ramaṇīyaḥ puṇyārāmabhūmibhāgaḥ | kim iti cirasthitikleśoanubhūyate | nanūpaveṣṭavyam ' ity abhihitā sā sasmitam ' anugṛhītā asmi ' iti nyaṣīdat | saṅkathā ca deśavārtānubaddhā kācanāvayor abhūt | kathāsamśritā ca sā ' deśātithir asi | dṛśyante ca te 'dhvaśrāntānīva gātrāṇi | yadi na doṣo madgṛhe 'dya viśramitum anugrahaḥ kriyatām ' ity aśamsat | ahaṃ ca ' ayi mugdhe naiṣa doṣo guṇa eva ' iti tadanumārgagāmī tadgṛhagato rājārheṇa snānabhojanādinopacaritaḥ sukhaṃ niṣaṇṇo rahasi paryapṛcchye - ' mahābhāga digantarāṇi bhramatā kaccid asti kiñcid adbhutaṃ bhavatopalabdham ' iti | mama abhavan manasi - ' mahad idam āśāspadam | eṣā khalu nikhilaparijanasambādhasamlakṣitāyāḥ sakhī rājadārikāyāḥ citrapaṭe ca asminn api tadupariviracitasitavitānaṃ harmyatalam tadgataṃ ca prakāmavistīrṇaṃ śaradabhrapaṭalapāṇḍuraṃ śayanam tadadhiśāyinī ca nidrālīḍhalocanā mamaiveyaṃ pratikṛtiḥ | ato nūnam anaṅgena sā api rājakanyā tāvatīṃ bhūmim āropitā yasyām asahyamadanajvaravyathitonmāditā satī sakhīnirbandhapṛṣṭavikriyānimittā cāturyeṇaitadrūpanirmāṇenaiva samartham uttaraṃ dattavatī | rūpasamvādāc ca samśayānayā anayā pṛṣṭo bhindyām asyāḥ samśayaṃ yathānubhavakathanena ' iti jātaniścayo 'bravam - ' bhadre dehi citrapaṭam ' iti | sā tv arpitavatī maddhaste | punas tam ādāya tām api vyājasuptām ullasanmadanarāgavihvalāṃ vallabhām ekatraiva abhilikhya ' kācid evaṃbhūtā yuvatir īdṛśasya pumsaḥ pārśvaśāyiny araṇyānīprasuptena mayopalabdhā | kilaiṣa svapnaḥ ' ity ālapaṃ ca | hṛṣṭayā tu tayā vistarataḥ pṛṣṭaḥ sarvam eva vṛttāntam akathayam | asau ca sakhyā mannimittāny avasthāntarāṇy avarṇayat | tad ākarṇya ca ' yadi tava sakhyā madanugrahonmukhaṃ mānasam gamaya kānicid ahāni | kam api kanyāpure nirāśaṅkanivāsakaraṇam upāyam āracayyāgamiṣyāmi ' iti kathañcid enām abhyupagamayya gatvā tad eva kharvaṭaṃ vṛddhaviṭena samagaṃsi |
ahaṃ ca gatvā śrāvastīm adhva-śrānto bāhya-udyāne latā-maṇḍape śayito 'smi | hamsaka-rava-prabodhitaś ca utthāya kām api kvaṇita-nūpura-mukharābhyāṃ caraṇābhyāṃ mad-antikam upasarantīṃ yuvatīm adrākṣam | sā tv āgatya sva-hasta-vartini citra-paṭe likhitaṃ mat-sadṛśaṃ kim api puṃ-rūpaṃ māṃ ca paryāyeṇa nirvarṇayantī sa-vismayaṃ sa-vitarkaṃ sa-harṣaṃ ca kṣaṇam avātiṣṭhata | mayā api tatra citra-paṭe mat-sādṛśyaṃ paśyatā tad-dṛṣṭi-ceṣṭitam an-ākasmikaṃ manyamānena ' nanu sarva-sādhāraṇo 'yaṃ ramaṇīyaḥ puṇya-ārāma-bhūmi-bhāgaḥ | kim iti cira-sthiti-kleśoanubhūyate | nanu upaveṣṭavyam ' ity abhihitā sā sa-smitam ' anugṛhītā asmi ' iti nyaṣīdat | saṅkathā ca deśa-vārtā-anubaddhā kācanā avayor abhūt | kathā-samśritā ca sā ' deśa-atithir asi | dṛśyante ca te 'dhva-śrāntāni iva gātrāṇi | yadi na doṣo mad-gṛhe 'dya viśramitum anugrahaḥ kriyatām ' ity aśamsat | ahaṃ ca ' ayi mugdhe na eṣa doṣo guṇa eva ' iti tad-anu-mārga-gāmī tad-gṛha-gato rāja-arheṇa snāna-bhojana-ādina ūpacaritaḥ sukhaṃ niṣaṇṇo rahasi paryapṛcchye -- ' mahā-bhāga dig-antarāṇi bhramatā kac-cid asti kiñ-cid adbhutaṃ bhavata ūpalabdham ' iti | mama abhavan manasi -- ' mahad idam āśā-āspadam | eṣā khalu nikhila-parijana-sambādha-samlakṣitāyāḥ sakhī rāja-dārikāyāḥ citra-paṭe ca asminn api tad-upari-viracita-sita-vitānaṃ harmya-talam tad-gataṃ ca prakāma-vistīrṇaṃ śarad-abhra-paṭala-pāṇḍuraṃ śayanam tad-adhiśāyinī ca nidrā-ālīḍha-locanā mama eva iyaṃ pratikṛtiḥ | ato nūnam an-aṅgena sā api rāja-kanyā tāvatīṃ bhūmim āropitā yasyām a-sahya-madana-jvara-vyathita-unmāditā satī sakhī-nirbandha-pṛṣṭa-vikriyā-nimittā cāturyeṇa etad-rūpa-nirmāṇena eva samartham uttaraṃ dattavatī | rūpa-samvādāc ca samśayānayā anayā pṛṣṭo bhindyām asyāḥ samśayaṃ yathā-anubhava-kathanena ' iti jāta-niścayo 'bravam -- ' bhadre dehi citra-paṭam ' iti | sā tv arpitavatī mad-dhaste | punas tam ādāya tām api vyāja-suptām ullasan-madana-rāga-vihvalāṃ vallabhām ekatra eva abhilikhya ' kā-cid evaṃ-bhūtā yuvatir īdṛśasya pumsaḥ pārśva-śāyiny- araṇyānī-prasuptena maya ūpalabdhā | kila eṣa svapnaḥ ' ity ālapaṃ ca | hṛṣṭayā tu tayā vistarataḥ pṛṣṭaḥ sarvam eva vṛttāntam akathayam | asau ca sakhyā man-nimittāny avasthā-antarāṇy avarṇayat | tad ākarṇya ca ' yadi tava sakhyā mad-anugraha-unmukhaṃ mānasam gamaya kāni-cid ahāni | kam api kanyā-pure nir-āśaṅka-nivāsa-karaṇam upāyam āracayyā agamiṣyāmi ' iti kathañ-cid enām abhyupagamayya gatvā tad eva kharvaṭaṃ vṛddha-viṭena samagaṃsi |
so 'pi sasambhramaṃ viśramayya tathaiva snānabhojanādi kārayitvā rahasy apṛcchat - ' ārya kasya hetor acireṇaiva pratyāgato 'si | ' pratyavādiṣam enam ' sthānae eva aham āryeṇa asmi pṛṣṭaḥ | śrūyatām | asti hi śrāvastī nāma nagarī | tasyāḥ patir apara iva dharmaputro dharmavardhano nāma rājā | tasya duhitā pratyādeśa iva śriyaḥ prāṇā iva kusumadhanvanaḥ saukumāryaviḍambitanavamālikā vanamālikā nāma kanyā | sā mayā samāpattidṛṣṭā kāmanārācapaṅktim iva kaṭākṣamālāṃ mama marmaṇi vyakirat | tacchalyoddharaṇakṣamaś ca dhanvantarisadṛśas tvad ṛte netaro 'sti vaidya iti pratyāgato 'smi | tat prasīda kañcid upāyam ācaritum | ayam ahaṃ parivartitastrīveṣas te kanyā nāma bhaveyam | anugataś ca mayā tvam upagamya dharmāsanagataṃ dharmavardhanaṃ vakṣyasi - ' mameyam ekaiva duhitā | jātamātrāyāṃ tv asyāṃ janany asyāḥ saṃsthitā | mātā ca pitā ca bhūtvā aham eva vyavardhayam | etadartham eva vidyāmayaṃ śulkam arjituṃ gato abhūd avantinagarīm ujjayinīm asmadvaivāhyakulajaḥ ko 'pi vipradārakaḥ | tasmai ceyam anumatā dātum itarasmai na yogyā | taruṇī bhūtā ceyam | sa ca vilambitaḥ | tena tam ānīya pāṇim asyā grāhayitvā tasmin nyastabhāraḥ samnyasiṣye | durabhirakṣatayā tu duhitrṇāṃ muktaśaiśavānāṃ viśeṣataś ca amātṛkāṇām iha devaṃ mātṛpitṛsthānīyaṃ prajānām āpannaśaraṇam āgato 'smi | yadi vṛddhaṃ brāhmaṇam adhītinam agatim atithiṃ ca mām anugrāhyapakṣe gaṇayaty ādirājacaritadhuryo devaḥ saiṣā bhavadbhujacchāyām akhaṇḍitacāritrā tāvad adhyāstāṃ yāvad asyāḥ pāṇigrāhakam ānayeyam ' iti | sa evam ukto niyatam abhimanāyamānaḥ svaduhitṛsamnidhau māṃ vāsayiṣyati | gatas tu bhavān āgāmini māsi phālgune phalgunīṣūttarāsu bhāvini rājāntaḥpurajanasya tīrthayātrotsave tīrthasnānāt prācyāṃ diśi gorutāntaram atikramya vānīravalayamadhyavartini kārttikeyagṛhe karatalagatena śuklāmbarayugalena sthāsyasi | sa khalv aham anabhiśaṅka evaitāvantaṃ kālaṃ saha abhivihṛtya rājakanyayā bhūyas tasminn utsave gaṅgāmbhasi viharan vihāravyākule kanyakāsamāje magnopasṛtas tvadabhyāsae evonmaṅkṣyāmi | punas tvadupahṛte vāsasī paridhāya apanītadārikāveṣo jāmātā nāma bhūtvā tvām eva anugaccheyam | nṛpātmajā tu mām itastato 'nviṣya anāsādayantī ' tayā vinā na bhokṣye ' iti rudaty eva avarodhane sthāsyati | tanmūle ca mahati kolāhale krandatsu parijaneṣu rudatsu sakhījaneṣu śocatsu paurajaneṣu kiṅkartavyatāmūḍhe sāmātye pārthive tvam āsthānīm etya māṃ sthāpayitvā vakṣyasi ' deva sa eṣa me jāmātā tava arhati śrībhujārādhanam | adhītī caturṣv āmnāyeṣu gṛhītī ṣaṭsv aṅgeṣu ānvīkṣikīvicakṣaṇaḥ catuḥṣaṣṭikalāgamaprayogacaturaḥ viśeṣeṇa gajarathaturaṅgatantravit iṣvasanāstrakarmaṇi gadāyuddhe ca nirupamaḥ purāṇetihāsakuśalaḥ kartā kāvyanāṭakākhyāyikānām vettā sopaniṣado 'rthaśāstrasya nirmatsaro guṇeṣu viśrambhī suhṛtsu śakyaḥ samvibhāgaśīlaḥ śrutadharo gatasmayaś ca | na asya doṣam aṇīyāṃsam apy upalabhe | na ca guṇeṣv avidyamānam | tan mādṛśasya brāhmaṇamātrasya na labhya eṣa sambandhī | duhitaram asmai samarpya vārddhakocitam antyam āśramaṃ saṅkrameyam yadi devaḥ sādhu manyate ' iti | sa idam ākarṇya vaivarṇyākrāntavaktraḥ param upeto vailakṣyam ārapsyate 'nunetum anityatādisaṅkīrtanena atrabhavantaṃ mantribhiḥ saha | tvaṃ tu teṣām adattaśrotro muktakaṇṭhaṃ ruditvā cirasya bāṣpakuṇṭhakaṇṭhaḥ kāṣṭhāny āhṛtya agniṃ sandhukṣya rājamandiradvāre citādhirohaṇāyopakramiṣyase | sa tāvad eva tvatpādayor nipatya sāmātyo narapatir anūnair arthais tvām upacchandya duhitaraṃ mahyaṃ datvā madyogyatāsamārādhitaḥ samastam eva rājyabhāraṃ mayi samarpayiṣyati | so 'yam abhyupāyo 'nuṣṭheyaḥ yadi tubhyaṃ rocate ' iti | so 'pi paṭuviṭānām agraṇīr asakṛdabhyastakapaṭaprapañcaḥ pāñcālaśarmā yathoktam abhyadhikaṃ ca nipuṇam upakrāntavān | āsīc ca mama samīhitānām ahīnakālasiddhiḥ | anvabhavaṃ ca madhukara iva navamālikām ārdrasumanasam | asya rājñaḥ simhavarmaṇaḥ sāhāyyadānaṃ suhṛtsaṅketabhūmigamanam ity ubhayam apekṣya sarvabalasandohena campām imām upagato daivād devadarśanasukham anubhavāmi ' iti | śrutvaitatpramaticaritaṃ smitamukulitamukhanalinaḥ ' vilāsaprāyam ūrjitam mṛduprāyaṃ ceṣṭitam iṣṭa eṣa mārgaḥ prajñāvatām | athedānīm atra bhavān praviśatu iti mitraguptam aikṣata kṣitīśaputraḥ |
so 'pi sa-sambhramaṃ viśramayya tatha aiva snāna-bhojana-ādi kārayitvā rahasy apṛcchat -- ' ārya kasya hetor a-cireṇa eva pratyāgato 'si | ' pratyavādiṣam enam - ' sthānae eva aham āryeṇa asmi pṛṣṭaḥ | śrūyatām | asti hi śrāvastī nāma nagarī | tasyāḥ patir apara iva dharma-putro dharma-vardhano nāma rājā | tasya duhitā pratyādeśa iva śriyaḥ prāṇā iva kusuma-dhanvanaḥ saukumārya-viḍambita-nava-mālikā vana-mālikā nāma kanyā | sā mayā samāpatti-dṛṣṭā kāma-nārāca-paṅktim iva kaṭākṣa-mālāṃ mama marmaṇi vyakirat | tac-chalya-uddharaṇa-kṣamaś ca dhanvantari-sadṛśas tvad ṛte na itaro 'sti vaidya iti pratyāgato 'smi | tat prasīda kañ-cid upāyam ācaritum | ayam ahaṃ parivartita-strī-veṣas te kanyā nāma bhaveyam | anugataś ca mayā tvam upagamya dharma-āsana-gataṃ dharma-vardhanaṃ vakṣyasi -- ' mama iyam eka aiva duhitā | jāta-mātrāyāṃ tv asyāṃ janany asyāḥ saṃsthitā | mātā ca pitā ca bhūtvā aham eva vyavardhayam | etad-artham eva vidyā-mayaṃ śulkam arjituṃ gato abhūd avanti-nagarīm ujjayinīm asmad-vaivāhya-kulajaḥ ko 'pi vipra-dārakaḥ | tasmai ca iyam anumatā dātum itarasmai na yogyā | taruṇī bhūtā ca iyam | sa ca vilambitaḥ | tena tam ānīya pāṇim asyā grāhayitvā tasmin nyasta-bhāraḥ samnyasiṣye | dur-abhirakṣatayā tu duhit-rṇāṃ mukta-śaiśavānāṃ viśeṣataś ca a-mātṛkāṇām iha devaṃ mātṛ-pitṛ-sthānīyaṃ prajānām āpanna-śaraṇam āgato 'smi | yadi vṛddhaṃ brāhmaṇam adhītinam a-gatim atithiṃ ca mām anugrāhya-pakṣe gaṇayaty ādi-rāja-carita-dhuryo devaḥ sa aiṣā bhavad-bhuja-cchāyām a-khaṇḍita-cāritrā tāvad adhyāstāṃ yāvad asyāḥ pāṇi-grāhakam ānayeyam ' iti | sa evam ukto niyatam abhimanāyamānaḥ sva-duhitṛ-samnidhau māṃ vāsayiṣyati | gatas tu bhavān āgāmini māsi phālgune phalgunīṣu uttarāsu bhāvini rāja-antaḥ-pura-janasya tīrtha-yātrā-utsave tīrtha-snānāt prācyāṃ diśi go-ruta-antaram atikramya vānīra-valaya-madhya-vartini kārttikeya-gṛhe kara-tala-gatena śukla-ambara-yugalena sthāsyasi | sa khalv aham an-abhiśaṅka eva etāvantaṃ kālaṃ saha abhivihṛtya rāja-kanyayā bhūyas tasminn utsave gaṅgā-ambhasi viharan vihāra-vyākule kanyakā-samāje magna-upasṛtas tvad-abhyāsae eva unmaṅkṣyāmi | punas tvad-upahṛte vāsasī paridhāya apanīta-dārikā-veṣo jāmātā nāma bhūtvā tvām eva anugaccheyam | nṛpa-ātmajā tu mām itas-tato 'nviṣya an-āsādayantī ' tayā vinā na bhokṣye ' iti rudaty eva avarodhane sthāsyati | tan-mūle ca mahati kolāhale krandatsu parijaneṣu rudatsu sakhī-janeṣu śocatsu paura-janeṣu kiṅkartavyatā-mūḍhe sa-amātye pārthive tvam āsthānīm etya māṃ sthāpayitvā vakṣyasi - ' deva sa eṣa me jāmātā tava arhati śrī-bhuja-ārādhanam | adhītī caturṣv āmnāyeṣu gṛhītī ṣaṭsv aṅgeṣu ānvīkṣikī-vicakṣaṇaḥ catuḥ-ṣaṣṭi-kalā-āgama-prayoga-caturaḥ viśeṣeṇa gaja-ratha-turaṅga-tantra-vit iṣv-asana-astra-karmaṇi gadā-yuddhe ca nir-upamaḥ purāṇa-itihāsa-kuśalaḥ kartā kāvya-nāṭaka-ākhyāyikānām vettā sa-upaniṣado 'rtha-śāstrasya nir-matsaro guṇeṣu viśrambhī su-hṛtsu śakyaḥ samvibhāga-śīlaḥ śruta-dharo gata-smayaś ca | na asya doṣam aṇīyāṃsam apy upalabhe | na ca guṇeṣv a-vidyamānam | tan mādṛśasya brāhmaṇa-mātrasya na labhya eṣa sambandhī | duhitaram asmai samarpya vārddhaka-ucitam antyam āśramaṃ saṅkrameyam yadi devaḥ sādhu manyate ' iti | sa idam ākarṇya vaivarṇya-ākrānta-vaktraḥ param upeto vailakṣyam ārapsyate 'nunetum a-nityatā-ādi-saṅkīrtanena atra-bhavantaṃ mantribhiḥ saha | tvaṃ tu teṣām a-datta-śrotro mukta-kaṇṭhaṃ ruditvā cirasya bāṣpa-kuṇṭha-kaṇṭhaḥ kāṣṭhāny āhṛtya agniṃ sandhukṣya rāja-mandira-dvāre citā-adhirohaṇāya upakramiṣyase | sa tāvad eva tvat-pādayor nipatya sa-amātyo nara-patir a-nūnair arthais tvām upacchandya duhitaraṃ mahyaṃ datvā mad-yogyatā-samārādhitaḥ samastam eva rājya-bhāraṃ mayi samarpayiṣyati | so 'yam abhyupāyo 'nuṣṭheyaḥ yadi tubhyaṃ rocate ' iti | so 'pi paṭu-viṭānām agra-ṇīr a-sakṛd-abhyasta-kapaṭa-prapañcaḥ pāñcāla-śarmā yathā-uktam abhyadhikaṃ ca nipuṇam upakrāntavān | āsīc ca mama samīhitānām a-hīna-kāla-siddhiḥ | anvabhavaṃ ca madhu-kara iva nava-mālikām ārdra-sumanasam | asya rājñaḥ simha-varmaṇaḥ sāhāyya-dānaṃ su-hṛt-saṅketa-bhūmi-gamanam ity ubhayam apekṣya sarva-bala-sandohena campām imām upagato daivād deva-darśana-sukham anubhavāmi ' iti | śrutva aitat-pramati-caritaṃ smita-mukulita-mukha-nalinaḥ ' vilāsa-prāyam ūrjitam mṛdu-prāyaṃ ceṣṭitam iṣṭa eṣa mārgaḥ prajñāvatām | atha idānīm atra bhavān praviśatu iti mitra-guptam aikṣata kṣiti-īśa-putraḥ |
so 'py ācacakṣe - ' deva so 'ham api suhṛtsādhāraṇabhramaṇakāraṇaḥ suhmeṣu dāmaliptāhvayasya nagarasya bāhyodyāne mahāntam utsavasamājam ālokayam | tatra kvacid atimuktalatāmaṇḍape kam=api vīṇāvādenātmānaṃ vinodayantam utkaṇṭhitaṃ yuvānam adrākṣam | aprā kṣaṃ ca - ' bhadra ko nāma ayam utsavaḥ kim arthaṃ vā samārabdhaḥ kena vā nimittenotsavam anādṛtyaikānte bhavān utkaṇṭhita iva parivādinīdvitīyas tiṣṭhati ' iti | so 'bhyadhatta ' saumya suhmapatis tuṅgadhanvā nāma anapatyaḥ prārthitavān amuṣminn āyatane vismṛtavindhyavāsarāgaṃ vasantyā vindhyavāsinyāḥ pādamūlād apatyadvayam | anayā ca kila asmai pratiśayitāya svapne samādiṣṭam - ' samutpatsyate tavaikaḥ putraḥ janiṣyate caikā duhitā | sa tu tasyāḥ pāṇigrāhakam anujīviṣyati | sā tu saptamād varṣād ārabhyāpariṇayanāt pratimāsaṃ kṛttikāsu kandukanṛtyena guṇavadbhartṛlābhāya māṃ samārādhayatu | yaṃ ca abhilaṣet sā amuṣmai deyā | sa cotsavaḥ kandukotsavanāmā astu ' iti | tato 'lpīyasā kālena rājñaḥ priyamahiṣī medinī nāmaikaṃ putram asūta | samutpannā caikā duhitā | sā adya kanyā kandukāvatī nāma somāpīḍāṃ devīṃ kandukavihāreṇārādhayitum āgamiṣyati | tasyās tu sakhī candrasenā nāma dhātreyikā mama priyāsīt | sā caiṣu divaseṣu rājaputreṇa bhīmadhanvanā balavad anuruddhā | tad aham utkaṇṭhito manmathaśaraśalyaduḥkhodvignacetāḥ kalena vīṇāraveṇātmānaṃ kiñ=cid āśvāsayan viviktam adhyāse iti | asminn eva kṣaṇe kim api nūpurakvaṇitam upātiṣṭhat | āgatā ca kācid aṅganā | dṛṣṭvaiva sa enām utphulladṛṣṭir utthāyopagūhya gāḍham upagūḍhakaṇṭhaś ca tayā tatraivopāviśat | aśamsac ca - ' saiṣā me prāṇasamā yadviraho dahana iva dahati mām | idaṃ ca me jīvitam apaharatā rājaputreṇa mṛtyuneva niruṣmatāṃ nītaḥ | na ca śakṣyāmi rājasūnur ity amuṣmin pāpam ācaritum | ato 'nayātmānaṃ sudṛṣṭaṃ kārayitvā tyakṣyāmi niṣpratikriyān prāṇān ' iti | sā tu paryaśrumukhī samabhyadhāt - ' mā sma nātha matkṛte 'dhyavasyaḥ sāhasam | yas tvam uttamāt sārthavāhād arthadāsād utpadya kośadāsa iti gurubhir abhihitanāmadheyaḥ punar madatyāsaṅgād veśadāsa iti dviṣadbhiḥ prakhyāpito 'si tasmims tvayy uparate yady ahaṃ jīveyaṃ nṛśamso veśa iti samarthayeyaṃ lokavādam | ato 'dyaiva naya mām īpsitaṃ deśam ' iti | sa tu mām abhyadhatta - ' bhadra bhavaddṛṣṭeṣu rāṣṭreṣu katamat samṛddhaṃ sampannasasyaṃ satpuruṣabhūyiṣṭhaṃ ca ' iti | tam aham īṣadvihasya abravam - ' bhadra vistīrṇeyam arṇavāmbarā | na paryanto 'sti sthānasthāneṣu ramyāṇām janapadānām | api tu na ced iha yuvayoḥ sukhanivāsakāraṇaṃ kam=apy upāyam utpādayituṃ śaknuyāṃ tato 'ham eva bhaveyam adhvadarśī iti | tāvatodairata raṇitāni maṇinūpurāṇām | atha asau jātasambhramā ' prāptaiveyaṃ bhartṛdārikā kandukāvatī kandukakrīḍitena devīṃ vindhyavāsinīm ārādhayitum | aniṣiddhadarśanā ceyam asmin kandukotsave | saphalam astu yuṣmaccakṣuḥ | āgacchataṃ draṣṭum | aham asyāḥ sakāśavartinī bhaveyam ' ity ayāsīt | tām anvayāva cāvām | mahati ratnaraṅgapīṭhe sthitāṃ prathamaṃ tāmrauṣṭhīm apaśyam | atiṣṭhac ca sā sadya eva mama hṛdaye | na mayā anyena vā antarāle dṛṣṭā | citrīyāviṣṭacit taś ca acintayam - ' kim iyaṃ lakṣmīḥ | na hi na hi | tasyāḥ kila haste vinyastaṃ kamalam asyās tu hasta eva kamalam | bhuktapūrvā tu sā purātanena pumsā pūrvarājaiś ca asyāḥ punar anavadyam ayātayāmaṃ ca yauvanam ' iti cintayaty eva mayi sā anaghasarvagātrī vyatyastahastapallavāgraspṛṣṭabhūmir ālolanīlakuṭilālakā savibhramaṃ bhagavatīm abhivandya kandukam amandarāgarūṣitākṣam anaṅgam ivālambata | līlāśithilaṃ ca bhūmau muktavatī | mandotthitaṃ ca kiñ=citkuñcitāṅguṣṭhena prasṛtakomalāṅgulinā pāṇipallavena samāhatya hastapṛṣṭhena connīya caṭuladṛṣṭilāñchitaṃ stabakam iva bhramaramālānuviddham avapatantam ākāśae eva agrahīt | amuñcac ca | madhyavilambitalaye drutalaye mṛdumṛdu ca praharantī tatkṣaṇaṃ cūrṇapadam adarśayat | praśāntaṃ ca taṃ nirdayaprahārair udapādayat | viparyayeṇa ca prāśamayat | pakṣam ṛjvāgataṃ ca vāmadakṣiṇābhyāṃ karābhyāṃ paryāyeṇa abhighnatī śakuntam ivodasthāpayat | dūrotthitaṃ ca prapatantam āhatya gītamārgam āracayat | pratidiśaṃ ca gamayitvā pratyāgamayat | evam anekakaraṇamadhuraṃ viharantī raṅgagatasya raktacetaso janasya pratikṣaṇam uccāvacāḥ praśamsāvācaḥ pratigṛhṇatī tatkṣaṇārūḍhaviśrambhaṃ kośadāsam amse avalambya kaṇṭakitagaṇḍam utphullekṣaṇaṃ ca mayy abhimukhībhūya tiṣṭhati tatprathamāvatīrṇakandarpakāritakaṭākṣadṛṣṭis tadanumārgavilasitalīlāñcitabhrūlatā śvāsānilavegāndolitair dantacchadaraśmijālair līlāpallavair iva mukhakamalaparimalagrahaṇalolān ālinas tāḍayantī maṇḍalabhramaṇeṣu kandukasya atiśīghrapracāritayā viśantīva maddarśanalajjayā puṣpamayaṃ pañjaram pañcabinduprasṛteṣu pañca api pañcabāṇabāṇān yugapad iva abhipatatas trāsena avaghaṭṭayantī gomūtrikāpracāreṣu ghanadarśitarāgavibhramā vidyullatām iva viḍambayantī bhūṣaṇamaṇiraṇitadattalayasamvādipādacāram apadeśasmitaprabhāniṣiktabimbādharam apasramsitapratisamāhitaśikhaṇḍabhāram samāghaṭṭitakvaṇitaratnamekhalāguṇam añcitotthitapṛthunitambalambivicaladamśukojjvalam ākuñcitaprasṛtavellitabhujalatābhihatalalitakandukam āvarjitabāhupāśam parivartitatrikavilagnalolakuntalam avagalitakarṇapūrakanakapatraprati samādhānaśīghratānatikramitaprakṛtakrīḍam asakṛdutkṣipyamāṇahastapādabāhyābhyantarabhrāntakandukam avanamanonnamananairantaryanaṣṭadṛṣṭamadhyayaṣṭikam avapatanotpatanaviparyastamuktāhāram aṅkuritagharmasaliladūṣitakapolapatrabhaṅgaśoṣaṇādhikṛtaśravaṇapallavāni lam āgalitastanataṭāmśukaniyamanavyāpṛtaikapāṇipallavaṃ ca niṣadyotthāya nimīlyonmīlya sthitvā gatvā caiva aticitraṃ paryakrīḍata rājakanyā | abhihatya bhūtalākāśayor api krīḍāntarāṇi darśanīyāny ekenaiva anekeneva kandukena adarśayat | candrasenādibhiś ca priyasakhībhiḥ saha vihṛtya vihṛtānte ca abhivandya devīṃ manasā me sānurāgeṇeva parijanena ca anugamyamānā kuvalayaśaram iva kusumaśarasya mayy apāṅgaṃ samarpayantī sāpadeśam asakṛdāvartyamānavadanacandramaṇḍalatayā svahṛdayam iva matsamīpe preritaṃ pratinivṛttaṃ na vety ālokayantī saha sakhībhiḥ kumārīpuram agamat |
so 'py ācacakṣe -- ' deva so 'ham api su-hṛt-sādhāraṇa-bhramaṇa-kāraṇaḥ suhmeṣu dāma-lipta-āhvayasya nagarasya bāhya-udyāne mahāntam utsava-samājam ālokayam | tatra kva-cid atimukta-latā-maṇḍape kam=api vīṇā-vādenā atmānaṃ vinodayantam utkaṇṭhitaṃ yuvānam adrākṣam | aprā kṣaṃ ca -- ' bhadra ko nāma ayam utsavaḥ kim arthaṃ vā samārabdhaḥ kena vā nimittena utsavam an-ādṛtya ekānte bhavān utkaṇṭhita iva parivādinī-dvitīyas tiṣṭhati ' iti | so 'bhyadhatta - ' saumya suhma-patis tuṅga-dhanvā nāma an-apatyaḥ prārthitavān amuṣminn āyatane vismṛta-vindhya-vāsa-rāgaṃ vasantyā vindhya-vāsinyāḥ pāda-mūlād apatya-dvayam | anayā ca kila asmai pratiśayitāya svapne samādiṣṭam -- ' samutpatsyate tava ekaḥ putraḥ janiṣyate ca ekā duhitā | sa tu tasyāḥ pāṇi-grāhakam anujīviṣyati | sā tu saptamād varṣād ārabhyā apariṇayanāt prati-māsaṃ kṛttikāsu kanduka-nṛtyena guṇavad-bhartṛ-lābhāya māṃ samārādhayatu | yaṃ ca abhilaṣet sā amuṣmai deyā | sa ca utsavaḥ kanduka-utsava-nāmā astu ' iti | tato 'lpīyasā kālena rājñaḥ priya-mahiṣī medinī nāma ekaṃ putram asūta | samutpannā ca ekā duhitā | sā adya kanyā kandukāvatī nāma soma-āpīḍāṃ devīṃ kanduka-vihāreṇa-ārādhayitum āgamiṣyati | tasyās tu sakhī candra-senā nāma dhātreyikā mama priyā āsīt | sā ca eṣu divaseṣu rāja-putreṇa bhīma-dhanvanā balavad anuruddhā | tad aham utkaṇṭhito manmatha-śara-śalya-duḥkha-udvigna-cetāḥ kalena vīṇā-raveṇā atmānaṃ kiñ=cid āśvāsayan viviktam adhyāse iti | asminn eva kṣaṇe kim api nūpura-kvaṇitam upātiṣṭhat | āgatā ca kā-cid aṅganā | dṛṣṭva aiva sa enām utphulla-dṛṣṭir utthāya upagūhya gāḍham upagūḍha-kaṇṭhaś ca tayā tatra eva upāviśat | aśamsac ca -- ' sa aiṣā me prāṇa-samā yad-viraho dahana iva dahati mām | idaṃ ca me jīvitam apaharatā rāja-putreṇa mṛtyuna īva nir-uṣmatāṃ nītaḥ | na ca śakṣyāmi rāja-sūnur ity amuṣmin pāpam ācaritum | ato 'nayā ātmānaṃ su-dṛṣṭaṃ kārayitvā tyakṣyāmi niṣ-pratikriyān prāṇān ' iti | sā tu paryaśru-mukhī samabhyadhāt -- ' mā sma nātha mat-kṛte 'dhyavasyaḥ sāhasam | yas tvam uttamāt sārtha-vāhād artha-dāsād utpadya kośa-dāsa iti gurubhir abhihita-nāmadheyaḥ punar mad-atyāsaṅgād veśa-dāsa iti dviṣadbhiḥ prakhyāpito 'si tasmims tvayy uparate yady ahaṃ jīveyaṃ nṛśamso veśa iti samarthayeyaṃ loka-vādam | ato 'dya eva naya mām īpsitaṃ deśam ' iti | sa tu mām abhyadhatta -- ' bhadra bhavad-dṛṣṭeṣu rāṣṭreṣu katamat samṛddhaṃ sampanna-sasyaṃ sat-puruṣa-bhūyiṣṭhaṃ ca ' iti | tam aham īṣad-vihasya abravam -- ' bhadra vistīrṇa īyam arṇava-ambarā | na paryanto 'sti sthāna-sthāneṣu ramyāṇām janapadānām | api tu na ced iha yuvayoḥ sukha-nivāsa-kāraṇaṃ kam=apy upāyam utpādayituṃ śaknuyāṃ tato 'ham eva bhaveyam adhva-darśī iti | tāvata ūdairata raṇitāni maṇi-nūpurāṇām | atha asau jāta-sambhramā ' prāpta aiva iyaṃ bhartṛ-dārikā kandukāvatī kanduka-krīḍitena devīṃ vindhya-vāsinīm ārādhayitum | a-niṣiddha-darśanā ca iyam asmin kanduka-utsave | sa-phalam astu yuṣmac-cakṣuḥ | āgacchataṃ draṣṭum | aham asyāḥ sakāśa-vartinī bhaveyam ' ity ayāsīt | tām anvayāva cā avām | mahati ratna-raṅga-pīṭhe sthitāṃ prathamaṃ tāmra-oṣṭhīm apaśyam | atiṣṭhac ca sā sadya eva mama hṛdaye | na mayā anyena vā antarāle dṛṣṭā | citrīyā-āviṣṭa-cit taś ca acintayam -- ' kim iyaṃ lakṣmīḥ | na hi na hi | tasyāḥ kila haste vinyastaṃ kamalam asyās tu hasta eva kamalam | bhukta-pūrvā tu sā purātanena pumsā pūrva-rājaiś ca asyāḥ punar an-avadyam a-yāta-yāmaṃ ca yauvanam ' iti cintayaty eva mayi sā an-agha-sarva-gātrī vyatyasta-hasta-pallava-agra-spṛṣṭa-bhūmir ālola-nīla-kuṭila-alakā sa-vibhramaṃ bhagavatīm abhivandya kandukam a-manda-rāga-rūṣita-akṣam an-aṅgam ivā alambata | līlā-śithilaṃ ca bhūmau muktavatī | manda-utthitaṃ ca kiñ=cit-kuñcita-aṅguṣṭhena prasṛta-komala-aṅgulinā pāṇi-pallavena samāhatya hasta-pṛṣṭhena ca unnīya caṭula-dṛṣṭi-lāñchitaṃ stabakam iva bhramara-mālā-anuviddham avapatantam ākāśae eva agrahīt | amuñcac ca | madhya-vilambita-laye druta-laye mṛdu-mṛdu ca praharantī tat-kṣaṇaṃ cūrṇa-padam adarśayat | praśāntaṃ ca taṃ nir-daya-prahārair udapādayat | viparyayeṇa ca prāśamayat | pakṣam ṛjv-āgataṃ ca vāma-dakṣiṇābhyāṃ karābhyāṃ paryāyeṇa abhighnatī śakuntam iva udasthāpayat | dūra-utthitaṃ ca prapatantam āhatya gīta-mārgam āracayat | prati-diśaṃ ca gamayitvā pratyāgamayat | evam an-eka-karaṇa-madhuraṃ viharantī raṅga-gatasya rakta-cetaso janasya prati-kṣaṇam ucca-avacāḥ praśamsā-vācaḥ pratigṛhṇatī tat-kṣaṇa-ārūḍha-viśrambhaṃ kośa-dāsam amse avalambya kaṇṭakita-gaṇḍam utphulla-īkṣaṇaṃ ca mayy abhimukhībhūya tiṣṭhati tat-prathama-avatīrṇa-kandarpa-kārita-kaṭākṣa-dṛṣṭis tad-anumārga-vilasita-līlā-añcita-bhrū-latā śvāsa-anila-vega-āndolitair danta-cchada-raśmi-jālair līlā-pallavair iva mukha-kamala-parimala-grahaṇa-lolān ālinas tāḍayantī maṇḍala-bhramaṇeṣu kandukasya ati-śīghra-pracāritayā viśanti īva mad-darśana-lajjayā puṣpa-mayaṃ pañjaram pañca-bindu-prasṛteṣu pañca api pañca-bāṇa-bāṇān yugapad iva abhipatatas trāsena avaghaṭṭayantī gomūtrikā-pracāreṣu ghana-darśita-rāga-vibhramā vidyul-latām iva viḍambayantī bhūṣaṇa-maṇi-raṇita-datta-laya-samvādi-pāda-cāram apadeśa-smita-prabhā-niṣikta-bimba-adharam apasramsita-pratisamāhita-śikhaṇḍa-bhāram samāghaṭṭita-kvaṇita-ratna-mekhalā-guṇam añcita-utthita-pṛthu-nitamba-lambi-vicalad-amśuka-ujjvalam ākuñcita-prasṛta-vellita-bhuja-latā-abhihata-lalita-kandukam āvarjita-bāhu-pāśam parivartita-trika-vilagna-lola-kuntalam avagalita-karṇa-pūra-kanaka-patra-prati samādhāna-śīghratā-an-atikramita-prakṛta-krīḍam a-sakṛd-utkṣipyamāṇa-hasta-pāda-bāhya-ābhyantara-bhrānta-kandukam avanamana-unnamana-nairantarya-naṣṭa-dṛṣṭa-madhya-yaṣṭikam avapatana-utpatana-viparyasta-muktā-hāram aṅkurita-gharma-salila-dūṣita-kapola-patra-bhaṅga-śoṣaṇa-adhikṛta-śravaṇa-pallava-ani lam āgalita-stana-taṭa-amśuka-niyamana-vyāpṛta-eka-pāṇi-pallavaṃ ca niṣadya utthāya nimīlya unmīlya sthitvā gatvā ca eva ati-citraṃ paryakrīḍata rāja-kanyā | abhihatya bhū-tala-ākāśayor api krīḍā-antarāṇi darśanīyāny ekena eva an-ekena iva kandukena adarśayat | candra-senā-ādibhiś ca priya-sakhībhiḥ saha vihṛtya vihṛta-ante ca abhivandya devīṃ manasā me sa-anurāgeṇa iva parijanena ca anugamyamānā kuvalaya-śaram iva kusuma-śarasya mayy apāṅgaṃ samarpayantī sa-apadeśam a-sakṛd-āvartyamāna-vadana-candra-maṇḍalatayā sva-hṛdayam iva mat-samīpe preritaṃ pratinivṛttaṃ na va īty ālokayantī saha sakhībhiḥ kumārī-puram agamat |
ahaṃ ca anaṅgavihvalaḥ svaveśma gatvā kośadāsena yatnavad atyudāraṃ snānabhojanādikam anubhāvito 'smi | sāyaṃ copasṛtya candrasenā rahasi māṃ praṇipatya patyur amsam amsena praṇayapeśalam āghaṭṭayanty upādiśat | ācaṣṭa ca hṛṣṭaḥ kośadāsaḥ - ' bhūyāsam evam yāvadāyur āyatākṣi tvatprasādasya pātram iti | mayā tu sasmitam abhihitam - ' sakhe kim etad āśāsyam | asti kiñ=cid añjanam | anayā tadaktanetrayā rājasūnur upasthito vānarīm ivaināṃ drakṣyati viraktaś caināṃ punas tyakṣyati ' iti | tayā tu smerayā asmi kathitaḥ - ' so 'yam āryeṇājñākaro jano 'tyartham anugṛhītaḥ yad asminn eva janmani mānuṣaṃ vapur apanīya vānarīkariṣyate | tad āstām idam | anyathā api siddhaṃ naḥ samīhitam | adya khalu kandukotsave bhavantam avahasitamanobhavākāram abhilaṣantī roṣād iva śambaradviṣā atimātram āyāsyate rājaputrī | so 'yam artho viditabhāvayā mayā svamātre tayā ca tanmātre mahiṣyā ca manujendrāya nivedayiṣyate | viditārthas tu pārthivas tvayā duhituḥ pāṇiṃ grāhayiṣyati | tataś ca tvadanujīvinā rājaputreṇa bhavitavyam | eṣa hi devatāsamādiṣṭo vidhiḥ | tvadāyatte ca rājye na alam eva tvām atikramya mām avaroddhum bhīmadhanvā | tat sahatām ayaṃ tricaturāṇi dināni | ' iti mām āmantrya priyaṃ copagūhya pratyayāsīt | mama kośadāsasya ca taduktānusāreṇa bahu vikalpayatoḥ kathañ=cid akṣīyata kṣapā | kṣapānte ca kṛtayathocitaniyamas tam eva priyādarśanasubhagam udyānoddeśam upagato 'smi | tatraiva copasṛtya rājaputro nirabhimānam anukūlābhiḥ kathābhir mām anuvartamāno muhūrtam āsta | nītvā copakāryām ātmasamena snānabhojanaśayanādivyatikareṇopācarat | talpagataṃ ca svapnena anubhūyamānapriyādarśanāliṅganasukham āyasena nigaḍena atibalavadbahupuruṣaiḥ pīvarabhujadaṇḍoparuddham abandhayan mām | pratibuddhaṃ ca sahasā samabhyadhāt - ' ayi durmate śrutam ālapitaṃ hatāyāś candrasenāyā jālarandhraniḥsṛtaṃ tadekāvabodhaprayuktayā anayā kubjayā | tvaṃ kila abhilaṣito varākyā kandukavatyā tava kila anujīvinā mayā stheyam tvadvacaḥ kila anatikramatā mayā candrasenā kośadāsāya dāsyate ity uktvā pārśvacaraṃ puruṣam ekam ālokya akathayat - ' prakṣipainaṃ sāgare ' iti | sa tu labdharājya iva atihṛṣṭaḥ ' deva yad ājñāpayasi ' iti yathādiṣṭam akarot | ahaṃ tu nirālambano bhujābhyām itastataḥ spandamānaḥ kim=api kāṣṭhaṃ daivadattam urasopaśliṣya tāvad aploṣi yāvad apāsarad vāsaraḥ śarvarī ca sarvā | pratyuṣasy adṛśyata kim=api vahitram | amutrāsan yavanāḥ | te mām uddhṛtya rāmeṣunāmne nāvikanāyakāya kathitavantaḥ - ' ko 'py ayam āyasanigaḍabaddha eva jale labdhaḥ puruṣaḥ | so 'yam api siñcet sahasraṃ drākṣāṇāṃ kṣaṇenaikena iti | asminn eva kṣaṇe naikanaukāparivṛtaḥ ko 'pi madgur abhyadhāvat | abibhayur yavanāḥ | tāvad atijavā naukāḥ śvāna iva varāham asmatpotaṃ paryarutsata | prāvartata ca samprahāraḥ | parājāyiṣata yavanāḥ | tān aham agatīn avasīdataḥ samāśvāsya alapiṣam - ' apanayata me nigaḍabandhanam | ayam aham avasādayāmi vaḥ sapatnān ' iti | amī tathā akurvan | sarvāmś ca tān pratibhaṭān bhallavarṣiṇā bhīmaṭaṅkṛtena śārṅgeṇa lavalavīkṛtāṅgān akārṣam | avaplutya hatavidhvastayodham asmatpotasamsaktapotam amutra nāvikanāyakam anabhisaram abhipatya jīvagrāham agrahīṣam | asau cāsīt sa eva bhīmadhanvā | taṃ ca aham avabudhya jātavrīḍam abravam - ' tāta kiṃ dṛṣṭāni kṛtāntavilasitāni ' iti | te tu sāmyātrikā madīyenaiva śṛṅkhalena tam atigāḍhaṃ baddhvā harṣakilakilāravam akurvan māṃ ca apy apūjayan | durvārā tu sā naur ananukālavātanunnā dūram abhipatya kam api dvīpaṃ nibiḍam āśliṣṭavatī | tatra ca svādu pānīyam edhāmsi kandamūlaphalāni ca sañjighṛkṣavo gāḍhapātitaśilāvalayam avātarāma | tatra cāsīn mahāśailaḥ | so 'ham - ' aho ramaṇīyo 'yaṃ parvatanitambabhāgaḥ kāntatareyaṃ gandhapāṣāṇavaty upatyakā śiśiram idam indīvarāravindamakarandabinducandrakottaraṃ gotravāri ramyo 'yam anekavarṇakusumamañjarīmañjulataras taruvanābhogaḥ ity atṛptatarayā dṛśā bahu bahu paśyann alakṣitādhyārūḍhakṣoṇīdharaśikharaḥ śoṇībhūtam utprabhābhiḥ padmarāgasopānaśilābhiḥ kim api nālīkaparāgadhūsaraṃ saraḥ samadhyagamam | tatra snātaś ca kāmś=cid amṛtasvādūn bisabhaṅgān āsvādya amsalagnakalhāras tāravartinā kena api bhīmarūpeṇa brahmarākṣasena abhipatya ' ko 'si kutastyo 'si ' iti nirbhartsayatā abhyadhīye | nirbhayena ca mayā so 'bhyadhīyata - ' saumya so aham asmi dvijanmā | śatruhastād arṇavam arṇavād yavananāvam yavananāvaś citragrāvāṇam enaṃ parvatapravaraṃ gato yadṛcchayā asmin sarasi viśrāntaḥ | bhadraṃ tava ' iti | so 'brūta - ' na ced bravīṣi praśnān aśnāmi tvām ' iti | mayoktam - ' pṛcchā tāvad bhavatu ' iti | athāvayor ekayāryayāsīt samlāpaḥ - kiṃ krūraṃ strīhṛdayaṃ kiṃ gṛhiṇaḥ priyahitāya dāraguṇāḥ | kaḥ kāmaḥ saṅkalpaḥ kiṃ duṣkarasādhanaṃ prajñā || ' tatra dhūminīgominīnimbavatīnitambavatyaḥ pramāṇam | ' ity upadiṣṭo mayā so 'brūta - ' kathaya kīdṛśyas tāḥ ' iti | atrodāharam -
ahaṃ ca an-aṅga-vihvalaḥ sva-veśma gatvā kośa-dāsena yatnavad aty-udāraṃ snāna-bhojana-ādikam anubhāvito 'smi | sāyaṃ ca upasṛtya candra-senā rahasi māṃ praṇipatya patyur amsam amsena praṇaya-peśalam āghaṭṭayanty upādiśat | ācaṣṭa ca hṛṣṭaḥ kośa-dāsaḥ -- ' bhūyāsam evam yāvad-āyur āyata-akṣi tvat-prasādasya pātram iti | mayā tu sa-smitam abhihitam -- ' sakhe kim etad āśāsyam | asti kiñ=cid añjanam | anayā tad-akta-netrayā rāja-sūnur upasthito vānarīm iva enāṃ drakṣyati viraktaś ca enāṃ punas tyakṣyati ' iti | tayā tu smerayā asmi kathitaḥ -- ' so 'yam āryeṇā ajñā-karo jano 'tyartham anugṛhītaḥ yad asminn eva janmani mānuṣaṃ vapur apanīya vānarīkariṣyate | tad āstām idam | anyathā api siddhaṃ naḥ samīhitam | adya khalu kanduka-utsave bhavantam avahasita-mano-bhava-ākāram abhilaṣantī roṣād iva śambara-dviṣā atimātram āyāsyate rāja-putrī | so 'yam artho vidita-bhāvayā mayā sva-mātre tayā ca tan-mātre mahiṣyā ca manuja-indrāya nivedayiṣyate | vidita-arthas tu pārthivas tvayā duhituḥ pāṇiṃ grāhayiṣyati | tataś ca tvad-anujīvinā rāja-putreṇa bhavitavyam | eṣa hi devatā-samādiṣṭo vidhiḥ | tvad-āyatte ca rājye na alam eva tvām atikramya mām avaroddhum bhīma-dhanvā | tat sahatām ayaṃ tri-caturāṇi dināni | ' iti mām āmantrya priyaṃ ca upagūhya pratyayāsīt | mama kośa-dāsasya ca tad-ukta-anusāreṇa bahu vikalpayatoḥ kathañ=cid akṣīyata kṣapā | kṣapā-ante ca kṛta-yathā-ucita-niyamas tam eva priyā-darśana-subhagam udyāna-uddeśam upagato 'smi | tatra eva ca upasṛtya rāja-putro nir-abhimānam anukūlābhiḥ kathābhir mām anuvartamāno muhūrtam āsta | nītvā ca upakāryām ātma-samena snāna-bhojana-śayana-ādi-vyatikareṇa upācarat | talpa-gataṃ ca svapnena anubhūyamāna-priyā-darśana-āliṅgana-sukham āyasena nigaḍena ati-balavad-bahu-puruṣaiḥ pīvara-bhuja-daṇḍa-uparuddham abandhayan mām | pratibuddhaṃ ca sahasā samabhyadhāt -- ' ayi dur-mate śrutam ālapitaṃ hatāyāś candra-senāyā jāla-randhra-niḥsṛtaṃ tad-eka-avabodha-prayuktayā anayā kubjayā | tvaṃ kila abhilaṣito varākyā kandukavatyā tava kila anujīvinā mayā stheyam tvad-vacaḥ kila an-atikramatā mayā candra-senā kośa-dāsāya dāsyate ity uktvā pārśva-caraṃ puruṣam ekam ālokya akathayat -- ' prakṣipa enaṃ sāgare ' iti | sa tu labdha-rājya iva ati-hṛṣṭaḥ ' deva yad ājñāpayasi ' iti yathā-ādiṣṭam akarot | ahaṃ tu nir-ālambano bhujābhyām itas-tataḥ spandamānaḥ kim=api kāṣṭhaṃ daiva-dattam urasa ūpaśliṣya tāvad aploṣi yāvad apāsarad vāsaraḥ śarvarī ca sarvā | pratyuṣasy adṛśyata kim=api vahitram | amutrā asan yavanāḥ | te mām uddhṛtya rāma-iṣu-nāmne nāvika-nāyakāya kathitavantaḥ -- ' ko 'py ayam āyasa-nigaḍa-baddha eva jale labdhaḥ puruṣaḥ | so 'yam api siñcet sahasraṃ drākṣāṇāṃ kṣaṇena ekena iti | asminn eva kṣaṇe na-eka-naukā-parivṛtaḥ ko 'pi madgur abhyadhāvat | abibhayur yavanāḥ | tāvad ati-javā naukāḥ śvāna iva varāham asmat-potaṃ paryarutsata | prāvartata ca samprahāraḥ | parājāyiṣata yavanāḥ | tān aham a-gatīn avasīdataḥ samāśvāsya alapiṣam -- ' apanayata me nigaḍa-bandhanam | ayam aham avasādayāmi vaḥ sapatnān ' iti | amī tathā akurvan | sarvāmś ca tān pratibhaṭān bhalla-varṣiṇā bhīma-ṭaṅkṛtena śārṅgeṇa lava-lavīkṛta-aṅgān akārṣam | avaplutya hata-vidhvasta-yodham asmat-pota-samsakta-potam amutra nāvika-nāyakam an-abhisaram abhipatya jīva-grāham agrahīṣam | asau cā asīt sa eva bhīma-dhanvā | taṃ ca aham avabudhya jāta-vrīḍam abravam -- ' tāta kiṃ dṛṣṭāni kṛtānta-vilasitāni ' iti | te tu sāmyātrikā madīyena eva śṛṅkhalena tam ati-gāḍhaṃ baddhvā harṣa-kilakilā-ravam akurvan māṃ ca apy apūjayan | dur-vārā tu sā naur an-anukāla-vāta-nunnā dūram abhipatya kam api dvīpaṃ nibiḍam āśliṣṭavatī | tatra ca svādu pānīyam edhāmsi kanda-mūla-phalāni ca sañjighṛkṣavo gāḍha-pātita-śilā-valayam avātarāma | tatra cā asīn mahā-śailaḥ | so 'ham -- ' aho ramaṇīyo 'yaṃ parvata-nitamba-bhāgaḥ kāntatara īyaṃ gandha-pāṣāṇavaty upatyakā śiśiram idam indīvara-aravinda-makaranda-bindu-candraka-uttaraṃ gotra-vāri ramyo 'yam an-eka-varṇa-kusuma-mañjarī-mañjulataras taru-vana-ābhogaḥ ity a-tṛptatarayā dṛśā bahu bahu paśyann a-lakṣita-adhyārūḍha-kṣoṇī-dhara-śikharaḥ śoṇībhūtam utprabhābhiḥ padma-rāga-sopāna-śilābhiḥ kim api nālīka-parāga-dhūsaraṃ saraḥ samadhyagamam | tatra snātaś ca kāmś=cid amṛta-svādūn bisa-bhaṅgān āsvādya amsa-lagna-kalhāras tāra-vartinā kena api bhīma-rūpeṇa brahma-rākṣasena abhipatya ' ko 'si kutastyo 'si ' iti nirbhartsayatā abhyadhīye | nir-bhayena ca mayā so 'bhyadhīyata -- ' saumya so aham asmi dvi-janmā | śatru-hastād arṇavam arṇavād yavana-nāvam yavana-nāvaś citra-grāvāṇam enaṃ parvata-pravaraṃ gato yad-ṛcchayā asmin sarasi viśrāntaḥ | bhadraṃ tava ' iti | so 'brūta -- ' na ced bravīṣi praśnān aśnāmi tvām ' iti | maya ūktam -- ' pṛcchā tāvad bhavatu ' iti | athā avayor ekayā āryayā āsīt samlāpaḥ -- kiṃ krūraṃ strī-hṛdayaṃ kiṃ gṛhiṇaḥ priya-hitāya dāra-guṇāḥ | kaḥ kāmaḥ saṅkalpaḥ kiṃ duṣ-kara-sādhanaṃ prajñā || ' tatra dhūminī-gominī-nimbavatī-nitambavatyaḥ pramāṇam | ' ity upadiṣṭo mayā so 'brūta -- ' kathaya kīdṛśyas tāḥ ' iti | atra udāharam --
' asti trigarto nāma janapadaḥ | tatrāsan gṛhiṇas trayaḥ sphītasāradhanāḥ sodaryā dhanakadhānyakadhanyakākhyāḥ | teṣu jīvatsu na vavarṣa varṣāṇi dvādaśa daśaśatākṣaḥ | kṣīṇasāraṃ sasyam oṣadhyo vandhyāḥ na phalavanto vanaspatayaḥ klībā meghāḥ kṣīṇasrotasaḥ sravantyaḥ paṅkaśeṣāṇi palvalāni nirnisyandāny utsamaṇḍalāni viralībhūtaṃ kandamūlaphalam avahīnāḥ kathāḥ galitāḥ kalyāṇotsavakriyāḥ bahulībhūtāni taskarakulāni anyoanyam abhakṣayan prajāḥ paryaluṭhann itastato balākāpāṇḍurāṇi naraśiraḥkapālāni paryahiṇḍanta śuṣkāḥ kākamaṇḍalyaḥ śūnyībhūtāni nagaragrāmakharvaṭapuṭabhedanādīni | tae ete gṛhapatayaḥ sarvadhānyanicayam upayujya ajāvikaṃ gavalagaṇaṃ gavāṃ yūthaṃ dāsīdāsajanam apatyāni jyeṣṭhamadhyamabhārye ca krameṇa bhakṣayitvā ' kaniṣṭhabhāryā dhūminī śvo bhakṣaṇīyā ' iti samakalpayan | ayaṃ kaniṣṭho dhanyakaḥ priyāṃ svām attum akṣamas tayā saha tasyām eva niśy apāsarat | mārgaklāntāṃ codvahan vanaṃ jagāhe | svamāmsāsṛgapa nītakṣutpipāsāṃ tāṃ nayann antare kam api nikṛttapāṇipādakarṇanāsikam avanipṛṣṭhe viceṣṭamānaṃ puruṣam adrākṣīt | tam apy ārdrāśayaḥ skandhenodvahan kandamūlamṛgabahule gahanoddeśe yatnaracitaparṇaśālaś ciram avasat | amuṃ ca ropitavraṇam iṅgudītailādibhir āmiṣeṇa śākenātmanirviśeṣaṃ pupoṣa | puṣṭaṃ ca tam udriktadhātum ekadā mṛgānveṣaṇāya ca prayāte dhanyake sā dhūminī riramsayopātiṣṭhat | bhartsitā api tena balātkāram arīramat | nivṛttaṃ ca patim udakābhyarthinam ' uddhṛtya kūpāt piba rujati me śiraḥ śirorogaḥ ' ity udañcanaṃ sarajjuṃ puraś cikṣepa | udañcantaṃ ca taṃ kūpād apaḥ kṣaṇāt pṛṣṭhato gatvā praṇunoda | taṃ ca vikalaṃ skandhenoduhya deśād deśāntaraṃ paribhramantī pativratāpratītiṃ lebhe bahuvidhāś ca pūjāḥ | punar avantirājānugrahād atimahatyā bhūtyā nyavasat | atha pānīyārthisārthajanasamāpattidṛṣṭoddhṛtam avantiṣu bhramantam āhārārthinaṃ bhartāram upalabhya sā dhūminī ' yena me patir vikalīkṛtaḥ sa durātmā ayam ' iti tasya sādhoś citravadham ajñena rājñā samādeśayāṃ cakāra | dhanyakas tu dattapaścādbandhaḥ vadhyabhūmiṃ nīyamānaḥ saśeṣatvād āyuṣaḥ ' yo mayā vikalī kṛto 'bhimato bhikṣuḥ sa cen me pāpam ācakṣīta yukto me daṇḍaḥ ' ity adīnam adhikṛtaṃ jagāda | ' ko doṣaḥ ' ity upanīya darśite 'muṣmin sa vikalaḥ paryaśruḥ pādapatitas tasya sādhos tatsukṛtam asatyāś ca tasyās tathābhūtaṃ duścaritam āryabuddhir ācacakṣe | kupitena rājñā virūpitamukhī sā duṣkṛtakāriṇī kṛtā śvabhyaḥ pācikā | kṛtaś ca dhanyakaḥ prasādabhūmiḥ | tad bravīmi - ' strī hṛdayaṃ krūram ' iti |
' asti tri-garto nāma janapadaḥ | tatrā asan gṛhiṇas trayaḥ sphīta-sāra-dhanāḥ sodaryā dhanaka-dhānyaka-dhanyaka-ākhyāḥ | teṣu jīvatsu na vavarṣa varṣāṇi dvādaśa daśa-śata-akṣaḥ | kṣīṇa-sāraṃ sasyam oṣadhyo vandhyāḥ na phalavanto vanaspatayaḥ klībā meghāḥ kṣīṇa-srotasaḥ sravantyaḥ paṅka-śeṣāṇi palvalāni nir-nisyandāny utsa-maṇḍalāni viralībhūtaṃ kanda-mūla-phalam avahīnāḥ kathāḥ galitāḥ kalyāṇa-utsava-kriyāḥ bahulībhūtāni taskara-kulāni anyo-anyam abhakṣayan prajāḥ paryaluṭhann itas-tato balākā-pāṇḍurāṇi nara-śiraḥ-kapālāni paryahiṇḍanta śuṣkāḥ kāka-maṇḍalyaḥ śūnyībhūtāni nagara-grāma-kharvaṭa-puṭa-bhedana-ādīni | tae ete gṛha-patayaḥ sarva-dhānya-nicayam upayujya aja-avikaṃ gavala-gaṇaṃ gavāṃ yūthaṃ dāsī-dāsa-janam apatyāni jyeṣṭha-madhyama-bhārye ca krameṇa bhakṣayitvā ' kaniṣṭha-bhāryā dhūminī śvo bhakṣaṇīyā ' iti samakalpayan | ayaṃ kaniṣṭho dhanyakaḥ priyāṃ svām attum a-kṣamas tayā saha tasyām eva niśy apāsarat | mārga-klāntāṃ ca udvahan vanaṃ jagāhe | sva-māmsa-asṛg-apa nīta-kṣut-pipāsāṃ tāṃ nayann antare kam api nikṛtta-pāṇi-pāda-karṇa-nāsikam avani-pṛṣṭhe viceṣṭamānaṃ puruṣam adrākṣīt | tam apy ārdra-āśayaḥ skandhena udvahan kanda-mūla-mṛga-bahule gahana-uddeśe yatna-racita-parṇa-śālaś ciram avasat | amuṃ ca ropita-vraṇam iṅgudī-taila-ādibhir āmiṣeṇa śākenā atma-nir-viśeṣaṃ pupoṣa | puṣṭaṃ ca tam udrikta-dhātum ekadā mṛga-anveṣaṇāya ca prayāte dhanyake sā dhūminī riramsaya ūpātiṣṭhat | bhartsitā api tena balātkāram arīramat | nivṛttaṃ ca patim udaka-abhyarthinam ' uddhṛtya kūpāt piba rujati me śiraḥ śiro-rogaḥ ' ity udañcanaṃ sa-rajjuṃ puraś cikṣepa | udañcantaṃ ca taṃ kūpād apaḥ kṣaṇāt pṛṣṭhato gatvā praṇunoda | taṃ ca vikalaṃ skandhena uduhya deśād deśa-antaraṃ paribhramantī pati-vratā-pratītiṃ lebhe bahu-vidhāś ca pūjāḥ | punar avanti-rāja-anugrahād ati-mahatyā bhūtyā nyavasat | atha pānīya-arthi-sārtha-jana-samāpatti-dṛṣṭa-uddhṛtam avantiṣu bhramantam āhāra-arthinaṃ bhartāram upalabhya sā dhūminī ' yena me patir vikalīkṛtaḥ sa dur-ātmā ayam ' iti tasya sādhoś citra-vadham a-jñena rājñā samādeśayāṃ cakāra | dhanyakas tu datta-paścād-bandhaḥ vadhya-bhūmiṃ nīyamānaḥ sa-śeṣatvād āyuṣaḥ ' yo mayā vikalī kṛto 'bhimato bhikṣuḥ sa cen me pāpam ācakṣīta yukto me daṇḍaḥ ' ity a-dīnam adhikṛtaṃ jagāda | ' ko doṣaḥ ' ity upanīya darśite 'muṣmin sa vikalaḥ paryaśruḥ pāda-patitas tasya sādhos tat-sukṛtam a-satyāś ca tasyās tathā-bhūtaṃ duś-caritam ārya-buddhir ācacakṣe | kupitena rājñā virūpita-mukhī sā duṣkṛta-kāriṇī kṛtā śvabhyaḥ pācikā | kṛtaś ca dhanyakaḥ prasāda-bhūmiḥ | tad bravīmi -- ' strī hṛdayaṃ krūram ' iti |
punar anuyukto gominīvṛttāntam ākhyātavān ' asti draviḍeṣu kāñcī nāma nagarī | tasyām anekakoṭisāraḥ śreṣṭhiputraḥ śaktikumāro nāmāsīt | so 'ṣṭādaśavarṣadeśī yaś cintām āpede - ' na asty adārāṇām ananuguṇadārāṇāṃ vā sukhaṃ nāma | tat kathaṃ nu guṇavad vindeyaṃ kalatram ' iti | atha parapratyayāhṛteṣu dāreṣu yādṛcchikīṃ sampattim anabhisamīkṣya kārtāntiko nāma bhūtvā vastrāntapinaddhaśāliprastho bhuvaṃ babhrāma | ' lakṣaṇajño 'yam ' ity amuṣmai kanyāḥ kanyāvantaḥ pradarśayāṃ babhūvuḥ | yāṃ kāñ=cil lakṣaṇavatīṃ savarṇāṃ kanyāṃ dṛṣṭvā sa kila sma bravīti - ' bhadre śaknoṣi kim anena śāliprasthena guṇavad annam asmān abhyavahārayitum ' iti | sa hasitāvadhūto gṛhād gṛhaṃ praviśya abhramat | ekadā tu śibiṣu kāverītīrapattane saha pitṛbhyām avasitamahar2ddhim avaśīrṇabhavanasārāṃ dhātryā pradarśyamānāṃ kāñ=cana viralabhūṣaṇāṃ kumārīṃ dadarśa | asyāṃ samsaktacakṣuś ca atarkayat - ' asyāḥ khalu kanyakāyāḥ sarvae eva avayavā na atisthūlā na atikṛśā na atihrasvā na atidīrghā na vikaṭā mṛjāvantaś ca | raktatalāṅgulī yavamatsyakamalakalaśādyanekapuṇyalekhālāñch itau karau samagulphasandhī māmsalāv aśirālau ca aṅghrī jaṅghe ca anu pūrvavṛtte pīvarorugraste iva durupalakṣye jānunī sakṛdvibhaktaś caturasraḥ kakundaravibhāgaśobhī rathāṅgākārasamsthitaś ca nitambabhāgaḥ tanutaram īṣannimnaṃ gambhīraṃ nābhimaṇḍalaṃ valitrayeṇa ca alaṃkṛtam udaram urobhāgavyāpināv unmagnacūcukau viśālārambhaśobhinau payodharau dhanadhānyaputrabhūyastvacihnalekhālāñchitatale snigdhodagrakomalanakhamaṇī ṛjvanupūrvavṛttatāmrāṅgulīsamnatāmsadeśe saukumāryavatyau nimagnaparvasandhī ca bāhulate tanvī kambuvṛttabandhurā ca kandharā vṛttamadhyavibhaktarāgādharam asaṅkṣiptacārucibukam āpūrṇakaṭhinagaṇḍamaṇḍalam asaṅgatānuvakranīlasnigdhabhrūlatam anatiprauḍhatilakusumasadṛśanāsikam asitadhavalaraktatribhāgabhāsuramadhurādhīra sañcāramantharāyatekṣaṇam induśakalasundaralalāṭam indranīlaśilākāraramyālakapaṅktidviguṇakuṇḍalita mlānanālīkanālalalitalambaśravaṇapāśayugalam ānanakamalam anatibhaṅguro bahulaḥ paryante 'py akapilarucir āyāmavān ekaikanisargasamasnigdhanīlo gandhagrāhī ca mūrdhajakalāpaḥ | seyam ākṛtir na vyabhicarati śīlam | āsajjati ca me hṛdayam asyām eva | tat parīkṣyainām udvaheyam | avimṛśyakāriṇā hi niyatam anekāḥ patanty anuśayaparamparāḥ ' iti snigdhadṛṣṭir ācaṣṭa - ' bhadre kac=cid asti kauśalaṃ śāliprasthena anena sampannam āhāram asmān abhyavahārayitum ' iti | tatas tayā vṛddhadāsī sākūtam ālokitā | tasya hastāt prasthamātraṃ dhānyam ādāya kva=cid alindoddeśe susiktasammṛṣṭe dattapādaśaucam upāveśayat | sā kanyā tān gandhaśālīn saṅkṣudya mātrayā viśoṣyātape muhur muhuḥ parivartya sthirasamāyāṃ bhūmau nālīpṛṣṭhena mṛdumṛdu ghaṭṭayantī tuṣair akhaṇḍais taṇḍulān pṛthak cakāra | jagāda ca dhātrīm - ' mātaḥ ebhis tuṣair arthino bhūṣaṇamṛjākriyākṣamaiḥ svarṇakārāḥ | tebhya imān datvā labdhābhiḥ kākiṇībhiḥ sthiratarāṇy anatyārdrāṇi na atiśuṣkāṇi kāṣṭhāni mitaṃpacāṃ sthālīm ubhe śarāve cāhara ' iti | tathākṛte tayā tāms taṇḍulān anatinimnottānavistīrṇakukṣau kakubholūkhale lohapatraveṣṭitamukhena samaśarīreṇa vibhāvyamānamadhyatānavena vyāyatena guruṇā khādireṇa musalena caturalalitotkṣepaṇāvakṣepaṇāyāsitabhujam asakṛdaṅgulībhir uddhṛtyoddhṛtya avahatya śūrpaśodhitakaṇakiṃ śārukāms taṇḍulān asakṛd adbhiḥ prakṣālya kvathitapañcaguṇe jale dattacullīpūjā prākṣipat | praślathāvayaveṣu prasphuratsu taṇḍuleṣu mukulāvasthām ativartamāneṣu saṅkṣipya analam upahitamukhapidhānayā sthālyā annamaṇḍam agālayat | darvyā ca avaghaṭṭya mātrayā parivartya samapakveṣu siktheṣu tāṃ sthālīm adhomukhīm avātiṣṭhipat | indhanāny antaḥsārāṇy ambhasā samabhyukṣya praśamitāgnīni kṛṣṇāṅgārīkṛtya tadarthibhyaḥ prāhiṇot - ' ebhir labdhāḥ kākiṇīr datvā śākaṃ ghṛtaṃ dadhi tailam āmalakaṃ ciñcāphalaṃ ca yathālābham ānaya ' iti | tathā anuṣṭhite ca tayā dvitrān upadamśān upapādya tadannamaṇḍam ārdravālukopahitanavaśarāvagatam atimṛdunā tālavṛntānilena śītalīkṛtya salavaṇasambhāraṃ dattāṅgāradhūpavāsaṃ ca sampādya tad apy āmalakaṃ ślakṣṇapiṣṭam utpalagandhi kṛtvā dhātrīmukhena snā nāya tam acodayat | tayā ca snānaśuddhayā dattatailāmalakaḥ krameṇa sasnau | snātaḥ siktamṛṣṭe kuṭṭime phalakam āruhya pāṇḍuharitasya tribhāgaśeṣalūnasya aṅgaṇakadalīpalāśasyopari śarāvadvayaṃ dattam ārdram abhimṛśann atiṣṭhat | sā tu tāṃ peyām eva agre samupāharat | pītvā ca apanatādhvaklamaḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ praklinnasakalagātraḥ sthito 'bhūt | tatas tasya śālyodanasya darvīdvayaṃ datvā sarpirmā trāṃ sūpam upadamśaṃ copajahāra | imaṃ ca dadhnā ca trijātakāvacūrṇitena surabhiśītalābhyāṃ ca kālaśeyakāñjikābhyāṃ śeṣam annam abhojayat | saśeṣae eva andhasy asāv atṛpyat | ayācata ca pānīyam | atha navabhṛṅgārasambhṛtam agurudhūpadhūpitam abhinavapāṭalīkusumavāsitam utphullotpalagrathitasaurabhaṃ vāri nālīdhārātmanā pātayāṃ babhūva | so 'pi mukhopahitaśarāveṇa himaśiśirakaṇakarālitāruṇāyamānākṣipakṣmā dhārāravābhinanditaśravaṇaḥ sparśasukhodbhinnaromāñcakarkaśakapolaḥ parimalapravālotpīḍaphullaghrāṇarandhro mādhuryaprakarṣāvarjitarasanendriyas tad acchaṃ pānīyam ākaṇṭhaṃ papau | śiraḥkampasaṃjñāvāritā ca punar aparakarakeṇācamanam adatta kanyā | vṛddhayā tu taducchiṣṭam apohya haritagomayopalipte kuṭṭime svam evottarīyakarpaṭaṃ vyavadhāya kṣaṇam aśeta | parituṣṭaś ca vidhivad upayamya kanyāṃ ninye | nītvaitadanapekṣaḥ kām=api gaṇikām avarodham akarot | tām apy asau priyasakhīm ivopācarat | patiṃ ca daivatam iva muktatandrā paryacarat | gṛhakāryāṇi ca ahīnam anvatiṣṭhat | parijanaṃ ca dākṣiṇyanidhir ātmādhīnam akarot | tadguṇavaśīkṛtaś ca bhartā sarvam eva kuṭumbaṃ tadāyattam eva kṛtvā tadekādhīnajīvitaśarīras trivargaṃ nirviveśa | tad bravīmi -' gṛhiṇaḥ priyahitāya dāraguṇāḥ ' iti |
punar anuyukto gominī-vṛttāntam ākhyātavān - ' asti draviḍeṣu kāñcī nāma nagarī | tasyām an-eka-koṭi-sāraḥ śreṣṭhi-putraḥ śakti-kumāro nāmā asīt | so 'ṣṭādaśa-varṣa-deśī yaś cintām āpede -- ' na asty a-dārāṇām an-anuguṇa-dārāṇāṃ vā sukhaṃ nāma | tat kathaṃ nu guṇavad vindeyaṃ kalatram ' iti | atha para-pratyaya-āhṛteṣu dāreṣu yādṛcchikīṃ sampattim an-abhisamīkṣya kārtāntiko nāma bhūtvā vastra-anta-pinaddha-śāli-prastho bhuvaṃ babhrāma | ' lakṣaṇa-jño 'yam ' ity amuṣmai kanyāḥ kanyāvantaḥ pradarśayāṃ babhūvuḥ | yāṃ kāñ=cil lakṣaṇavatīṃ sa-varṇāṃ kanyāṃ dṛṣṭvā sa kila sma bravīti -- ' bhadre śaknoṣi kim anena śāli-prasthena guṇavad annam asmān abhyavahārayitum ' iti | sa hasita-avadhūto gṛhād gṛhaṃ praviśya abhramat | ekadā tu śibiṣu kāverī-tīra-pattane saha pitṛbhyām avasita-mahar2ddhim avaśīrṇa-bhavana-sārāṃ dhātryā pradarśyamānāṃ kāñ=cana virala-bhūṣaṇāṃ kumārīṃ dadarśa | asyāṃ samsakta-cakṣuś ca atarkayat -- ' asyāḥ khalu kanyakāyāḥ sarvae eva avayavā na ati-sthūlā na ati-kṛśā na ati-hrasvā na ati-dīrghā na vikaṭā mṛjāvantaś ca | rakta-tala-aṅgulī yava-matsya-kamala-kalaśa-ādy-an-eka-puṇya-lekhā-lāñch itau karau sama-gulpha-sandhī māmsalāv a-śirālau ca aṅghrī jaṅghe ca anu pūrva-vṛtte pīvara-ūru-graste iva dur-upalakṣye jānunī sakṛd-vibhaktaś catur-asraḥ kakundara-vibhāga-śobhī ratha-aṅga-ākāra-samsthitaś ca nitamba-bhāgaḥ tanu-taram īṣan-nimnaṃ gambhīraṃ nābhi-maṇḍalaṃ vali-trayeṇa ca alaṃ-kṛtam udaram uro-bhāga-vyāpināv unmagna-cūcukau viśāla-ārambha-śobhinau payo-dharau dhana-dhānya-putra-bhūyastva-cihna-lekhā-lāñchita-tale snigdha-udagra-komala-nakha-maṇī ṛjv-anupūrva-vṛtta-tāmra-aṅgulī-samnata-amsa-deśe saukumāryavatyau nimagna-parva-sandhī ca bāhu-late tanvī kambu-vṛtta-bandhurā ca kandharā vṛtta-madhya-vibhakta-rāga-adharam a-saṅkṣipta-cāru-cibukam āpūrṇa-kaṭhina-gaṇḍa-maṇḍalam a-saṅgata-anuvakra-nīla-snigdha-bhrū-latam an-ati-prauḍha-tila-kusuma-sadṛśa-nāsikam asita-dhavala-rakta-tri-bhāga-bhāsura-madhura-adhīra- sañcāra-manthara-āyata-īkṣaṇam indu-śakala-sundara-lalāṭam indra-nīla-śilā-ākāra-ramya-alaka-paṅkti-dvi-guṇa-kuṇḍalita- mlāna-nālīka-nāla-lalita-lamba-śravaṇa-pāśa-yugalam ānana-kamalam an-ati-bhaṅguro bahulaḥ paryante 'py a-kapila-rucir āyāma-vān eka-eka-nisarga-sama-snigdha-nīlo gandha-grāhī ca mūrdhaja-kalāpaḥ | sa īyam ākṛtir na vyabhicarati śīlam | āsajjati ca me hṛdayam asyām eva | tat parīkṣya enām udvaheyam | a-vimṛśya-kāriṇā hi niyatam an-ekāḥ patanty anuśaya-paramparāḥ ' iti snigdha-dṛṣṭir ācaṣṭa -- ' bhadre kac=cid asti kauśalaṃ śāli-prasthena anena sampannam āhāram asmān abhyavahārayitum ' iti | tatas tayā vṛddha-dāsī sa-ākūtam ālokitā | tasya hastāt prastha-mātraṃ dhānyam ādāya kva=cid alinda-uddeśe su-sikta-sammṛṣṭe datta-pāda-śaucam upāveśayat | sā kanyā tān gandha-śālīn saṅkṣudya mātrayā viśoṣyā atape muhur muhuḥ parivartya sthira-samāyāṃ bhūmau nālī-pṛṣṭhena mṛdu-mṛdu ghaṭṭayantī tuṣair a-khaṇḍais taṇḍulān pṛthak cakāra | jagāda ca dhātrīm -- ' mātaḥ ebhis tuṣair arthino bhūṣaṇa-mṛjā-kriyā-kṣamaiḥ svarṇa-kārāḥ | tebhya imān datvā labdhābhiḥ kākiṇībhiḥ sthira-tarāṇy an-aty-ārdrāṇi na ati-śuṣkāṇi kāṣṭhāni mitaṃ-pacāṃ sthālīm ubhe śarāve cā ahara ' iti | tathā-kṛte tayā tāms taṇḍulān an-ati-nimna-uttāna-vistīrṇa-kukṣau kakubha-ulūkhale loha-patra-veṣṭita-mukhena sama-śarīreṇa vibhāvyamāna-madhya-tānavena vyāyatena guruṇā khādireṇa musalena catura-lalita-utkṣepaṇa-avakṣepaṇa-āyāsita-bhujam a-sakṛd-aṅgulībhir uddhṛtya uddhṛtya avahatya śūrpa-śodhita-kaṇa-kiṃ śārukāms taṇḍulān a-sakṛd adbhiḥ prakṣālya kvathita-pañca-guṇe jale datta-cullī-pūjā prākṣipat | praślatha-avayaveṣu prasphuratsu taṇḍuleṣu mukula-avasthām ati-vartamāneṣu saṅkṣipya analam upahita-mukha-pidhānayā sthālyā anna-maṇḍam agālayat | darvyā ca avaghaṭṭya mātrayā parivartya sama-pakveṣu siktheṣu tāṃ sthālīm adho-mukhīm avātiṣṭhipat | indhanāny antaḥ-sārāṇy ambhasā samabhyukṣya praśamita-agnīni kṛṣṇa-aṅgārīkṛtya tad-arthibhyaḥ prāhiṇot -- ' ebhir labdhāḥ kākiṇīr datvā śākaṃ ghṛtaṃ dadhi tailam āmalakaṃ ciñcā-phalaṃ ca yathā-lābham ānaya ' iti | tathā anuṣṭhite ca tayā dvi-trān upa-damśān upapādya tad-anna-maṇḍam ārdra-vālukā-upahita-nava-śarāva-gatam ati-mṛdunā tāla-vṛnta-anilena śītalīkṛtya sa-lavaṇa-sambhāraṃ datta-aṅgāra-dhūpa-vāsaṃ ca sampādya tad apy āmalakaṃ ślakṣṇa-piṣṭam utpala-gandhi kṛtvā dhātrī-mukhena snā nāya tam acodayat | tayā ca snāna-śuddhayā datta-taila-āmalakaḥ krameṇa sasnau | snātaḥ sikta-mṛṣṭe kuṭṭime phalakam āruhya pāṇḍu-haritasya tri-bhāga-śeṣa-lūnasya aṅgaṇa-kadalī-palāśasya upari śarāva-dvayaṃ dattam ārdram abhimṛśann atiṣṭhat | sā tu tāṃ peyām eva agre samupāharat | pītvā ca apanata-adhva-klamaḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ praklinna-sakala-gātraḥ sthito 'bhūt | tatas tasya śāly-odanasya darvī-dvayaṃ datvā sarpir-mā trāṃ sūpam upa-damśaṃ ca upajahāra | imaṃ ca dadhnā ca tri-jātaka-avacūrṇitena surabhi-śītalābhyāṃ ca kālaśeya-kāñjikābhyāṃ śeṣam annam abhojayat | sa-śeṣae eva andhasy asāv atṛpyat | ayācata ca pānīyam | atha nava-bhṛṅgāra-sambhṛtam aguru-dhūpa-dhūpitam abhinava-pāṭalī-kusuma-vāsitam utphulla-utpala-grathita-saurabhaṃ vāri nālī-dhārā-ātmanā pātayāṃ babhūva | so 'pi mukha-upahita-śarāveṇa hima-śiśira-kaṇa-karālita-aruṇāyamāna-akṣi-pakṣmā dhārā-rava-abhinandita-śravaṇaḥ sparśa-sukha-udbhinna-romāñca-karkaśa-kapolaḥ parimala-pravāla-utpīḍa-phulla-ghrāṇa-randhro mādhurya-prakarṣa-āvarjita-rasanā-indriyas tad acchaṃ pānīyam ā-kaṇṭhaṃ papau | śiraḥ-kampa-saṃjñā-vāritā ca punar apara-karakeṇā acamanam adatta kanyā | vṛddhayā tu tad-ucchiṣṭam apohya harita-gomaya-upalipte kuṭṭime svam eva uttarīya-karpaṭaṃ vyavadhāya kṣaṇam aśeta | parituṣṭaś ca vidhivad upayamya kanyāṃ ninye | nītva aitad-an-apekṣaḥ kām=api gaṇikām avarodham akarot | tām apy asau priya-sakhīm iva upācarat | patiṃ ca daivatam iva mukta-tandrā paryacarat | gṛha-kāryāṇi ca a-hīnam anvatiṣṭhat | parijanaṃ ca dākṣiṇya-nidhir ātma-adhīnam akarot | tad-guṇa-vaśīkṛtaś ca bhartā sarvam eva kuṭumbaṃ tad-āyattam eva kṛtvā tad-eka-adhīna-jīvita-śarīras tri-vargaṃ nirviveśa | tad bravīmi --' gṛhiṇaḥ priya-hitāya dāra-guṇāḥ ' iti |
tatas tena anuyukto nimbavatīvṛttam ākhyātavān - ' asti saurāṣṭreṣu valabhī nāma nagarī | tasyāṃ gṛhaguptanāmno guhyakendratulyavibhavasya nāvikapater duhitā ratnavatī nāma | tāṃ kila madhumatyāḥ samupāgamya balabhadro nāma sārthavāhaputraḥ paryaṇaiṣīt | tayā api navavadhvā rahasi rabhasavighnitasuratasukho jhaṭiti dveṣam alpetaraṃ babandha | na tāṃ punar draṣṭum iṣṭavān | tadgṛhāgamanam api suhṛdvākyaśatātivartī lajjayā parijahāra | tāṃ ca durbhagāṃ tadāprabhṛty eva ' neyaṃ ratnavatī nimbavatī ceyam iti svajanaḥ parajanaś ca paribabhūva | gate ca kasmimś=cit kāle sā tv anutapyamānā ' kā me gatiḥ iti vimṛśantī kām api vṛddhapravrājikāṃ mātṛsthānīyāṃ devaśeṣakusumair upasthitām apaśyat | tasyāḥ puro rahasi sakaruṇaṃ ruroda | tayā apy udaśrumukhyā bahuprakāram anunīya ruditakāraṇaṃ pṛṣṭā trapamāṇā api kāryagauravāt kathañ=cid abravīt - ' amba kiṃ bravīmi | daurbhāgyaṃ nāma jīvanmaraṇam eva aṅganānām viśeṣataś ca kulavadhūnām | tasya aham asmy udāharaṇabhūtā | mātṛpramukho 'pi jñātivargo mām avajñayaiva paśyati | tena sudṛṣṭāṃ māṃ kuru | na cet tyajeyam adyaiva niṣprayojanān prāṇān | ā virāmāc ca me rahasyaṃ nāśrāvyam ' iti pādayoḥ papāta | sainām utthāpyodbāṣpovāca - ' vatse mā adhyavasyaḥ sāhasam | iyam asmi tvannideśavartinī | yāvati mamopayogas tava tāvati bhavāmy ananyādhīnā | yady eva asi nirviṇṇā tapaś cara tvaṃ madadhiṣṭhitā pāralaukikāya kalyāṇāya | nanv ayam udarkaḥ prāktanasya duṣkṛtasya yadanenākāreṇedṛśena śīlena jātyā caivaṃbhūtayā samanugatā saty akasmād eva bhartṛdveṣyatāṃ gatā asi | yadi kaś=cid asty upāyaḥ patidrohapratikriyāyai darśaya amum | matir hi te paṭīyasī ' iti | atha asau kathañ=cit kṣaṇam adhomukhī dhyātvā dīrghoṣṇaśvāsapūrvam avocat - ' bhagavati patir eva daivataṃ vanitānām viśeṣataś ca kulajānām | atas tacchuśrūṣaṇābhyupāyahetubhūtaṃ kiñ=cid ācaraṇīyam | asty asmatprātiveśyo vaṇik | abhijanena vibhavena rājāntaraṅgabhāvena ca sarvapaurān atītya vartate | tasya kanyā kanakavatī nāma matsamānarūpāvayavā mama atisnigdhā sakhī | tayā saha tadvimānaharmyatale tato 'pi dviguṇamaṇḍitā vihariṣyāmi | tvayā tu tanmātṛprārthanaṃ sakaruṇam abhidhāya matpatir etadgṛhaṃ kathañ=canāneyaḥ | samīpagateṣu ca yuṣmāsu krīḍāmattā nāma kandukaṃ bhramśayeyam | atha tam ādāya tasya haste datvā vakṣyasi - ' putra taveyaṃ bhāryāsakhī nidhipatidattasya sarvaśreṣṭhimukhyasya kanyā kanakavatī nāma | tvām iyam anavastho niṣkaruṇaś ceti ratnavatīnimittam atyarthaṃ nindati | tad eṣa kanduko vipakṣadhanaṃ pratyarpaṇīyam ' iti | sa tathokto niyatam unmukhībhūya tām eva priyasakhīṃ manyamāno mām baddhāñjali yācamānāyai mahyaṃ bhūyas tvatprārthitaḥ sābhilāṣam arpayiṣyati | tena randhreṇopaśliṣya rāgam ujjvalīkṛtya yathā asau kṛtasaṅketo deśāntaram ādāya māṃ gamiṣyati tathopapādanīyam ' iti | harṣābhyupetayā ca anayā tathaiva sampāditam | athaitām kanakavatīti vṛddhatāpasīpralabdho balabhadraḥ saratnasārābharaṇām ādāya niśi nīrandhre tamasi prāvasat | sā tu tāpasī vārtām āpādayat - ' mandena mayā nirnimittam upekṣitā ratnavatī śvaśurau ca paribhūtau suhṛdaś ca ativartitāḥ | tad atraiva samsṛṣṭo jīvituṃ jihremīti balabhadraḥ pūrvedyur mām akathayat | nūnam asau tena nītā vyaktiś ca acirād bhaviṣyati iti | tac chrutvā tadbāndhavās tadanveṣaṇaṃ prati śithilayatnās tasthuḥ | ratnavatī tu mārge kāñ=cit paṇyadāsīṃ saṅgṛhya tayohyamānapātheyādyupaskarā kheṭakapuram agamat | amutra ca vyavahārakuśalo balabhadraḥ svalpenaiva mūlena mahaddhanam upārjayat | paurāgragaṇyaś cāsīt | parijanaś ca bhūyān arthavaśāt samājagāma | tatas tāṃ prathamadāsīṃ ' na karma karoṣi dṛṣṭaṃ muṣṇāsi apriyaṃ bravīṣi ' iti paruṣam uktvā bahv atāḍayat | ceṭī tu prasādakālopakhyātarahasyasya vṛttāntaikadeśam āttaroṣā nirbibheda | tac chrutvā tu lubdhena daṇḍavāhinā pauravṛddhasamnidhau ' nidhipatidattasya kanyāṃ kanakavatīṃ moṣeṇa apahṛtya asmatpure nivasaty eṣa durmatir balabhadraḥ | tasya sarvasvaharaṇaṃ bhavadbhir na pratibandhanīyam ' iti nitarām abhartsayata | bhītaṃ ca balabhadram adhijagāda ratnavatī - ' na bhetavyam | brūhi - neyaṃ nidhipatidattakanyā kanakavatī | valabhyām eva gṛhaguptaduhitā ratnavatī nāmeyaṃ dattā pitṛbhyāṃ mayā ca nyāyoḍhā | na cet pratītha praṇidhiṃ prahiṇuta asyā bandhupārśvam ' iti | balabhadras tu tathoktvā śreṇīprātibhāvyena tāvad eva atiṣṭhad yāvat tatpuralekhyalabdhavṛttānto gṛhaguptaḥ kheṭakapuram āgatya saha jāmātrā duhitaram atiprītaḥ pratyanaiṣīt | tathā dṛṣṭvā ratnavatī kanakavatīti bhāvayatas tasyaiva bhalabhadrasya ativallabhā jātā | tad bravīmi - ' kāmo nāma saṅkalpaḥ ' iti |
tatas tena anuyukto nimbavatī-vṛttam ākhyātavān -- ' asti saurāṣṭreṣu valabhī nāma nagarī | tasyāṃ gṛha-gupta-nāmno guhyaka-indra-tulya-vibhavasya nāvika-pater duhitā ratnavatī nāma | tāṃ kila madhumatyāḥ samupāgamya bala-bhadro nāma sārtha-vāha-putraḥ paryaṇaiṣīt | tayā api nava-vadhvā rahasi rabhasa-vighnita-surata-sukho jhaṭiti dveṣam alpa-itaraṃ babandha | na tāṃ punar draṣṭum iṣṭavān | tad-gṛha-āgamanam api suhṛd-vākya-śata-ativartī lajjayā parijahāra | tāṃ ca dur-bhagāṃ tadā-prabhṛty eva ' na iyaṃ ratnavatī nimbavatī ca iyam iti sva-janaḥ para-janaś ca paribabhūva | gate ca kasmimś=cit kāle sā tv anutapyamānā ' kā me gatiḥ iti vimṛśantī kām api vṛddha-pravrājikāṃ mātṛ-sthānīyāṃ deva-śeṣa-kusumair upasthitām apaśyat | tasyāḥ puro rahasi sa-karuṇaṃ ruroda | tayā apy udaśru-mukhyā bahu-prakāram anunīya rudita-kāraṇaṃ pṛṣṭā trapamāṇā api kārya-gauravāt kathañ=cid abravīt -- ' amba kiṃ bravīmi | daurbhāgyaṃ nāma jīvan-maraṇam eva aṅganānām viśeṣataś ca kula-vadhūnām | tasya aham asmy udāharaṇabhūtā | mātṛ-pramukho 'pi jñāti-vargo mām avajñaya aiva paśyati | tena su-dṛṣṭāṃ māṃ kuru | na cet tyajeyam adya eva niṣ-prayojanān prāṇān | ā virāmāc ca me rahasyaṃ nā aśrāvyam ' iti pādayoḥ papāta | sa ainām utthāpya udbāṣpa ūvāca -- ' vatse mā adhyavasyaḥ sāhasam | iyam asmi tvan-nideśa-vartinī | yāvati mama upayogas tava tāvati bhavāmy an-anya-adhīnā | yady eva asi nirviṇṇā tapaś cara tvaṃ mad-adhiṣṭhitā pāralaukikāya kalyāṇāya | nanv ayam udarkaḥ prāktanasya duṣkṛtasya yadanenā akāreṇā idṛśena śīlena jātyā ca evaṃ-bhūtayā samanugatā saty a-kasmād eva bhartṛ-dveṣyatāṃ gatā asi | yadi kaś=cid asty upāyaḥ pati-droha-prati-kriyāyai darśaya amum | matir hi te paṭīyasī ' iti | atha asau kathañ=cit kṣaṇam adho-mukhī dhyātvā dīrgha-uṣṇa-śvāsa-pūrvam avocat -- ' bhagavati patir eva daivataṃ vanitānām viśeṣataś ca kula-jānām | atas tac-chuśrūṣaṇa-abhyupāya-hetu-bhūtaṃ kiñ=cid ācaraṇīyam | asty asmat-prātiveśyo vaṇik | abhijanena vibhavena rāja-antaraṅga-bhāvena ca sarva-paurān atītya vartate | tasya kanyā kanakavatī nāma mat-samāna-rūpa-avayavā mama ati-snigdhā sakhī | tayā saha tad-vimāna-harmya-tale tato 'pi dvi-guṇa-maṇḍitā vihariṣyāmi | tvayā tu tan-mātṛ-prārthanaṃ sa-karuṇam abhidhāya mat-patir etad-gṛhaṃ kathañ=canā aneyaḥ | samīpa-gateṣu ca yuṣmāsu krīḍā-mattā nāma kandukaṃ bhramśayeyam | atha tam ādāya tasya haste datvā vakṣyasi -- ' putra tava iyaṃ bhāryā-sakhī nidhi-pati-dattasya sarva-śreṣṭhi-mukhyasya kanyā kanakavatī nāma | tvām iyam an-avastho niṣ-karuṇaś ca iti ratnavatī-nimittam atyarthaṃ nindati | tad eṣa kanduko vi-pakṣa-dhanaṃ pratyarpaṇīyam ' iti | sa tatha ūkto niyatam unmukhībhūya tām eva priya-sakhīṃ manyamāno mām baddha-añjali yācamānāyai mahyaṃ bhūyas tvat-prārthitaḥ sa-abhilāṣam arpayiṣyati | tena randhreṇa upaśliṣya rāgam ujjvalīkṛtya yathā asau kṛta-saṅketo deśa-antaram ādāya māṃ gamiṣyati tatha ūpapādanīyam ' iti | harṣa-abhyupetayā ca anayā tatha aiva sampāditam | atha etām kanakavati īti vṛddha-tāpasī-pralabdho bala-bhadraḥ sa-ratna-sāra-ābharaṇām ādāya niśi nī-randhre tamasi prāvasat | sā tu tāpasī vārtām āpādayat -- ' mandena mayā nir-nimittam upekṣitā ratnavatī śvaśurau ca paribhūtau su-hṛdaś ca ati-vartitāḥ | tad atra eva samsṛṣṭo jīvituṃ jihremi iti bala-bhadraḥ pūrve-dyur mām akathayat | nūnam asau tena nītā vyaktiś ca a-cirād bhaviṣyati iti | tac chrutvā tad-bāndhavās tad-anveṣaṇaṃ prati śithila-yatnās tasthuḥ | ratnavatī tu mārge kāñ=cit paṇya-dāsīṃ saṅgṛhya taya ūhyamāna-pātheya-ādy-upaskarā kheṭaka-puram agamat | amutra ca vyavahāra-kuśalo bala-bhadraḥ svalpena eva mūlena mahad-dhanam upārjayat | paura-agra-gaṇyaś cā asīt | parijanaś ca bhūyān artha-vaśāt samājagāma | tatas tāṃ prathama-dāsīṃ ' na karma karoṣi dṛṣṭaṃ muṣṇāsi a-priyaṃ bravīṣi ' iti paruṣam uktvā bahv atāḍayat | ceṭī tu prasāda-kāla-upakhyāta-rahasyasya vṛttānta-ekadeśam ātta-roṣā nirbibheda | tac chrutvā tu lubdhena daṇḍa-vāhinā paura-vṛddha-samnidhau ' nidhi-pati-dattasya kanyāṃ kanakavatīṃ moṣeṇa apahṛtya asmat-pure nivasaty eṣa dur-matir bala-bhadraḥ | tasya sarva-sva-haraṇaṃ bhavadbhir na pratibandhanīyam ' iti nitarām abhartsayata | bhītaṃ ca bala-bhadram adhijagāda ratnavatī -- ' na bhetavyam | brūhi -- na iyaṃ nidhi-pati-datta-kanyā kanakavatī | valabhyām eva gṛha-gupta-duhitā ratnavatī nāma iyaṃ dattā pitṛbhyāṃ mayā ca nyāyā uḍhā | na cet pratītha praṇidhiṃ prahiṇuta asyā bandhu-pārśvam ' iti | bala-bhadras tu tatha ūktvā śreṇī-prātibhāvyena tāvad eva atiṣṭhad yāvat tat-pura-lekhya-labdha-vṛttānto gṛha-guptaḥ kheṭaka-puram āgatya saha jāmātrā duhitaram ati-prītaḥ pratyanaiṣīt | tathā dṛṣṭvā ratnavatī kanakavati īti bhāvayatas tasya eva bhala-bhadrasya ati-vallabhā jātā | tad bravīmi -- ' kāmo nāma saṅkalpaḥ ' iti |
tadanantaram asau nitambavatīvṛttāntam aprākṣīt | so 'ham abravam - ' asti śūraseneṣu mathurā nāma nagarī | tatra kaś=cit kulaputraḥ kalāsu gaṇikāsu ca atiraktaḥ mitrārthaṃ svabhujamātranirvyūḍhānekakalahaḥ kalahakaṇṭaka iti karkaśair abhikhyāpitākhyaḥ pratyavātsīt | sa caikadā kasya=cid āgantoś citrakarasya haste citrapaṭaṃ dadarśa | tatra kā=cid ālekhyagatā yuvatir ālokamātreṇaiva kalahakaṇṭakasya kāmāturaṃ cetaś cakāra | sa ca tam abravīt - ' bhadra viruddham ivaitat pratibhāti | yataḥ kulajādurlabhaṃ vapuḥ ābhijātyaśamsinī ca namratā pāṇḍurā ca mukhacchaviḥ anatiparibhuktasubhagā ca tanuḥ prauḍhatānuviddhā ca dṛṣṭiḥ | na caiṣā proṣitabhartṛkā pravāsacihnasyaikaveṇīāder adarśanāt | lakṣma caitaddakṣiṇapārśvavarti | tad iyaṃ vṛddhasya kasya=cid vaṇijo na atipumstvasya yathārhasambhogā-lābhapīḍitā gṛhiṇī tvayā atikauśalād yathādṛṣṭam ālikhitā bhavitum arhati ' iti | sa tam abhipraśasya aśamsat - ' satyam idam | avantipuryām ujjayinyām anantakīrtināmnaḥ sārthavāhasya bhāryā yathārthanāmā nitambavatī nāmaiṣā saundaryavismitena mayaivam ālikhitā ' iti | sa tadaivonmanāyamānas taddarśanāya parivavrājojjayinīm | bhārgavo nāma bhūtvā bhikṣānibhena tadgṛhaṃ praviśya tāṃ dadarśa | dṛṣṭvā ca atyārūḍhamanmatho nirgatya pauramukhyebhyaḥ śmaśānarakṣām ayācata | alabhata ca | tatra labdhaiś ca śavāvaguṇṭhanapaṭādibhiḥ kām apy arhantikāṃ nāma śramaṇikām upāsāñ cakre | tanmukhena ca nimbavatīm upāmśu mantrayām āsa | sā caināṃ nirbhartsayantī pratyācacakṣe | śramaṇikāmukhāc ca duṣkaraśīlabhramśāṃ kulastriyam upalabhya rahasi dūtikām aśikṣayat - ' bhūyo 'py upatiṣṭha sārthavāhabhāryām | brūhi copahvare samsāradoṣadarśanāt samādhim āsthāya mumukṣamāṇo mādṛśo janaḥ kulavadhūnāṃ śīlapātane ghaṭatae iti kva ghaṭate | etad api tvam atyudārayā samṛddhyā rūpeṇa atimānuṣeṇa prathamena vayasopapannāṃ kim itaranārīsulabhaṃ cāpalaṃ spṛṣṭaṃ na veti parīkṣā kṛtā | tuṣṭā asmi tavaivam aduṣṭabhāvatayā | tvām idānīm utpannāpatyāṃ draṣṭum icchāmi | bhartā tu bhavatyāḥ kena=cid graheṇa adhiṣṭhitaḥ pāṇḍurogadurbalo bhoge ca asamarthaḥ sthito abhūt | na ca śakyaṃ tasya vighnam apratikṛtya apatyam asmāl labdhum | ataḥ prasīda | vṛkṣavāṭikām ekākinī praviśya madupanītasya kasya=cin mantravādinaś channam eva haste caraṇam arpayitvā tadabhimantritena praṇayakupitā nāma bhūtvā bhartāram urasi prahartum arhasi | upary asāv uttamadhātupuṣṭim ūrjitāpatyotpādanakṣamām āsādayiṣyati | anuvartiṣyate devīm iva atra bhavatīm | na atra śaṅkā kāryā iti | sā tathoktā vyaktam abhyupaiṣyati | naktaṃ māṃ vṛkṣavāṭikāṃ praveśya tām api praveśayiṣyasi | tāvataiva tvayā aham anugṛhīto bhave yam ' iti | sā tathaivopapāditavatī | so 'tiprītas tasyām eva kṣapāyāṃ vṛkṣavāṭikāṃ gato nitambavatīṃ nirgranthikāprayatnenopanītāṃ pāde parāmṛśann iva hemanūpuram ekam ākṣipya cchurikayorumūle kiñ=cid ālikhya drutataram apāsarat | sā tu sāndratrāsā svam eva durnayaṃ garhamāṇā jighāmsantīva śramaṇikāṃ tadvraṇaṃ bhavanadīrghikāyāṃ prakṣālya datvā paṭabandhanaṃ sāmayāpadeśād aparaṃ ca apanīya nūpuraṃ śayanaparā tricaturāṇi dināny ekānte ninye | sa dhūrtaḥ ' vikreṣye ' iti tena nūpureṇa tam anantakīrtim upāsasāda | sa dṛṣṭvā mama gṛhiṇyā evaiṣa nūpuraḥ katham ayam upalabdhas tvayā ' iti tam abruvāṇaṃ nirbandhena papraccha | sa tu ' vaṇiggrāmasya agre vakṣyāmi ' iti sthito abhūt | punar asau gṛhiṇyai ' svanūpurayugalaṃ preṣaya ' iti sandideśa | sā ca salajjaṃ sasādhvasaṃ ca ' adya rātrau viśrāmapraviṣṭāyāṃ vṛkṣavāṭikāyāṃ prabhraṣṭo mamaikaḥ praśithilabandho nūpuraḥ | so 'dya apy anviṣṭo na dṛṣṭaḥ | sa punar ayaṃ dvitīyaḥ ' ity aparaṃ prā hiṇot | anayā ca vārtayā amuṃ puraskṛtya sa vaṇig vaṇigjanasamājam ājagāma | sa ca anuyukto dhūrtaḥ savinayam āvedayat - ' viditam eva khalu vo yathā ahaṃ yuṣmadājñayā pitṛvanam abhi rakṣya tadupajīvī prativasāmi | lubdhāś ca kadā=cin maddarśanabhīravo niśi daheyur api śavānīti niśāsv api śmaśānam adhiśaye | aparedyur dagdhā-dagdhaṃ mṛtakaṃ citāyāḥ prasabham ākarṣantīṃ śyāmākārāṃ nārīm apaśyam | arthalobhāt tu nigṛhya bhayaṃ sā saṅgṛhītā | śastrikayorumūle yadṛcchayā kiñ=cid ullikhitam | eṣa ca nūpuraś caraṇād ākṣiptaḥ | tāvaty eva drutagatiḥ sā palāyiṣṭa | so 'yam asyāgamaḥ | paraṃ bhavantaḥ pramāṇam ' iti | vimarśe ca tasyāḥ śākinī tvam aikamatyena paurāṇām abhimatam āsīt | bhartrā ca parityaktā tasminn eva śmaśāne bahu vilapya pāśenodbadhya martukāmā tena dhūrtena naktam agṛhyata | anunītā ca - ' sundari tvadākāronmāditena mayā tvadāvarjane bahūn upāyān bhikṣukīmukhenopanyasya teṣv asiddheṣu punar ayam upāyo yāvajjīvam asādhāraṇīkṛtya rantum ācaritaḥ | tat prasīda ananyaśaraṇāya asmai dāsajanāya ' iti muhur muhuś caraṇayor nipatya prayujya sāntvaśatāni tām agatyantarām ātmavaśyām akarot | tad idam uktam - ' duṣkarasādhanaṃ prajñā ' iti |
tad-anantaram asau nitambavatī-vṛttāntam aprākṣīt | so 'ham abravam -- ' asti śūra-seneṣu mathurā nāma nagarī | tatra kaś=cit kula-putraḥ kalāsu gaṇikāsu ca ati-raktaḥ mitra-arthaṃ sva-bhuja-mātra-nirvyūḍha-an-eka-kalahaḥ kalaha-kaṇṭaka iti karkaśair abhikhyāpita-ākhyaḥ pratyavātsīt | sa ca ekadā kasya=cid āgantoś citra-karasya haste citra-paṭaṃ dadarśa | tatra kā=cid ālekhya-gatā yuvatir āloka-mātreṇa eva kalaha-kaṇṭakasya kāma-āturaṃ cetaś cakāra | sa ca tam abravīt -- ' bhadra viruddham iva etat pratibhāti | yataḥ kula-jā-dur-labhaṃ vapuḥ ābhijātya-śamsinī ca namratā pāṇḍurā ca mukha-cchaviḥ an-ati-paribhukta-subhagā ca tanuḥ prauḍhatā-anuviddhā ca dṛṣṭiḥ | na ca eṣā proṣita-bhartṛkā pravāsa-cihnasya eka-veṇī-āder a-darśanāt | lakṣma ca etad-dakṣiṇa-pārśva-varti | tad iyaṃ vṛddhasya kasya=cid vaṇijo na ati-pumstvasya yathā-arha-sambhoga-a-lābha-pīḍitā gṛhiṇī tvayā ati-kauśalād yathā-dṛṣṭam ālikhitā bhavitum arhati ' iti | sa tam abhipraśasya aśamsat -- ' satyam idam | avanti-puryām ujjayinyām ananta-kīrti-nāmnaḥ sārtha-vāhasya bhāryā yathā-artha-nāmā nitambavatī nāma eṣā saundarya-vismitena maya aivam ālikhitā ' iti | sa tada aiva unmanāyamānas tad-darśanāya parivavrāja ujjayinīm | bhārgavo nāma bhūtvā bhikṣā-nibhena tad-gṛhaṃ praviśya tāṃ dadarśa | dṛṣṭvā ca aty-ārūḍha-manmatho nirgatya paura-mukhyebhyaḥ śmaśāna-rakṣām ayācata | alabhata ca | tatra labdhaiś ca śava-avaguṇṭhana-paṭa-ādibhiḥ kām apy arhantikāṃ nāma śramaṇikām upāsāñ cakre | tan-mukhena ca nimbavatīm upāmśu mantrayām āsa | sā ca enāṃ nirbhartsayantī pratyācacakṣe | śramaṇikā-mukhāc ca duṣ-kara-śīla-bhramśāṃ kula-striyam upalabhya rahasi dūtikām aśikṣayat -- ' bhūyo 'py upatiṣṭha sārtha-vāha-bhāryām | brūhi ca upahvare samsāra-doṣa-darśanāt samādhim āsthāya mumukṣamāṇo mādṛśo janaḥ kula-vadhūnāṃ śīla-pātane ghaṭatae iti kva ghaṭate | etad api tvam aty-udārayā samṛddhyā rūpeṇa ati-mānuṣeṇa prathamena vayasa ūpapannāṃ kim itara-nārī-sulabhaṃ cāpalaṃ spṛṣṭaṃ na va īti parīkṣā kṛtā | tuṣṭā asmi tava evam a-duṣṭa-bhāvatayā | tvām idānīm utpanna-apatyāṃ draṣṭum icchāmi | bhartā tu bhavatyāḥ kena=cid graheṇa adhiṣṭhitaḥ pāṇḍu-roga-dur-balo bhoge ca a-samarthaḥ sthito abhūt | na ca śakyaṃ tasya vighnam a-prati-kṛtya apatyam asmāl labdhum | ataḥ prasīda | vṛkṣa-vāṭikām ekākinī praviśya mad-upanītasya kasya=cin mantra-vādinaś channam eva haste caraṇam arpayitvā tad-abhimantritena praṇaya-kupitā nāma bhūtvā bhartāram urasi prahartum arhasi | upary asāv uttama-dhātu-puṣṭim ūrjita-apatya-utpādana-kṣamām āsādayiṣyati | anuvartiṣyate devīm iva atra bhavatīm | na atra śaṅkā kāryā iti | sā tatha ūktā vyaktam abhyupaiṣyati | naktaṃ māṃ vṛkṣa-vāṭikāṃ praveśya tām api praveśayiṣyasi | tāvata aiva tvayā aham anugṛhīto bhave yam ' iti | sā tatha aiva upapāditavatī | so 'ti-prītas tasyām eva kṣapāyāṃ vṛkṣa-vāṭikāṃ gato nitambavatīṃ nir-granthikā-prayatnena upanītāṃ pāde parāmṛśann iva hema-nūpuram ekam ākṣipya cchurikayā ūru-mūle kiñ=cid ālikhya druta-taram apāsarat | sā tu sāndra-trāsā svam eva dur-nayaṃ garhamāṇā jighāmsanti īva śramaṇikāṃ tad-vraṇaṃ bhavana-dīrghikāyāṃ prakṣālya datvā paṭa-bandhanaṃ sa-āmaya-apadeśād aparaṃ ca apanīya nūpuraṃ śayana-parā tri-caturāṇi dināny ekānte ninye | sa dhūrtaḥ ' vikreṣye ' iti tena nūpureṇa tam ananta-kīrtim upāsasāda | sa dṛṣṭvā mama gṛhiṇyā eva eṣa nūpuraḥ katham ayam upalabdhas tvayā ' iti tam a-bruvāṇaṃ nirbandhena papraccha | sa tu ' vaṇig-grāmasya agre vakṣyāmi ' iti sthito abhūt | punar asau gṛhiṇyai ' sva-nūpura-yugalaṃ preṣaya ' iti sandideśa | sā ca sa-lajjaṃ sa-sādhvasaṃ ca ' adya rātrau viśrāma-praviṣṭāyāṃ vṛkṣa-vāṭikāyāṃ prabhraṣṭo mama ekaḥ praśithila-bandho nūpuraḥ | so 'dya apy anviṣṭo na dṛṣṭaḥ | sa punar ayaṃ dvitīyaḥ ' ity aparaṃ prā hiṇot | anayā ca vārtayā amuṃ puraskṛtya sa vaṇig vaṇig-jana-samājam ājagāma | sa ca anuyukto dhūrtaḥ sa-vinayam āvedayat -- ' viditam eva khalu vo yathā ahaṃ yuṣmad-ājñayā pitṛ-vanam abhi rakṣya tad-upajīvī prativasāmi | lubdhāś ca kadā=cin mad-darśana-bhīravo niśi daheyur api śavāni iti niśāsv api śmaśānam adhiśaye | apare-dyur dagdha-a-dagdhaṃ mṛtakaṃ citāyāḥ prasabham ākarṣantīṃ śyāma-ākārāṃ nārīm apaśyam | artha-lobhāt tu nigṛhya bhayaṃ sā saṅgṛhītā | śastrikayā ūru-mūle yad-ṛcchayā kiñ=cid ullikhitam | eṣa ca nūpuraś caraṇād ākṣiptaḥ | tāvaty eva druta-gatiḥ sā palāyiṣṭa | so 'yam asyā agamaḥ | paraṃ bhavantaḥ pramāṇam ' iti | vimarśe ca tasyāḥ śākinī tvam aikamatyena paurāṇām abhimatam āsīt | bhartrā ca parityaktā tasminn eva śmaśāne bahu vilapya pāśena udbadhya martu-kāmā tena dhūrtena naktam agṛhyata | anunītā ca -- ' sundari tvad-ākāra-unmāditena mayā tvad-āvarjane bahūn upāyān bhikṣukī-mukhena upanyasya teṣv a-siddheṣu punar ayam upāyo yāvaj-jīvam a-sādhāraṇīkṛtya rantum ācaritaḥ | tat prasīda an-anya-śaraṇāya asmai dāsa-janāya ' iti muhur muhuś caraṇayor nipatya prayujya sāntva-śatāni tām a-gaty-antarām ātma-vaśyām akarot | tad idam uktam -- ' duṣ-kara-sādhanaṃ prajñā ' iti |
sa cedam ākarṇya brahmarākṣaso mām apūpujat | asminn eva kṣaṇe na atiprauḍhapumnāgamukulasthūlāni muktāphalāni saha salilabindubhir ambaratalād apatan | ahaṃ tu ' kiṃ nv idam ' ity uccakṣur ālokayan kam=api rākṣasaṃ kāñ=cid aṅganāṃ viceṣṭamānagātrām ākarṣantam apaśyam | katham apaharaty akāmām api striyam anācāro nairṛta iti gaganagamanamandaśaktir aśastraś ca atapye | sa tu matsambandhī brahmarākṣasaḥ ' tiṣṭha tiṣṭha pāpa kva apaharasi ' iti bhartsayann utthāya rākṣasena sama sṛjyata | tāṃ tu roṣād anapekṣāpaviddhām amaravṛkṣamañjarīm iva antarikṣād āpatantīm unmukhaprasāritobhayakaraḥ karābhyām agrahīṣam | upagṛhya ca vepamānāṃ sammīlitākṣīṃ madaṅgasparśasukhenodbhinnaromāñcāṃ tādṛśīm eva tām anavatārayann atiṣṭham | tāvat tāv ubhāv api śailaśṛṅgabhaṅgaiḥ pādapaiś ca rabhasonmūlitair muṣṭipādaprahāraiś ca parasparam akṣapayetām | punar aham atimṛduni pulinavati kusumalavalāñchite sarastīre 'varopya saspṛhaṃ nirvarṇayams tāṃ matprāṇaikavallabhāṃ rājakanyāṃ kandukavatīm alakṣyam | sā hi mayā samāśvāsyamānā tiryaṅ mām abhinirūpya jātapratyabhijñā sakaruṇam arodīt | avādīc ca - ' nātha tvaddarśanād upoḍharāgā tasmin kandukotsave punaḥ sakhyā candrasenayā tvatkathābhir eva samāśvāsitā asmi | tvaṃ kila samudramadhye majjitaḥ pāpena madbhrātrā bhīmadhanvanā iti śrutvā sakhījanaṃ parijanaṃ ca vañcayitvā jīvitaṃ jihāsur ekākinī krīḍāvanam upāgamam | tatra ca mām acakamata kāmarūpa eṣa rākṣasādhamaḥ | so 'yaṃ mayā bhītayā avadhūtaprārthanaḥ sphurantīṃ māṃ nigṛhya abhyadhāvat | atraivam avasito 'bhūt | ahaṃ ca daivāt tavaiva jīvita īśasya haste patitā | bhadraṃ tava ' iti | śrutvā ca tayā saha avaruhya nāvam adhyāroham | muktā ca nauḥ prativātapreritā tām eva dāmaliptāṃ pratyupā tiṣṭhat | avarūḍhāś ca vayam aśrameṇa | ' tanayasya ca tanayāyāś ca nāśād ananyāpatyas tuṅgadhanvā suhmapatir niṣkalaḥ svayaṃ sakalatra eva niṣkalaṅkagaṅgārodhasy anaśanenoparantuṃ pratiṣṭhate | saha tena martum icchaty ananyanātho 'nuraktaḥ pauravṛddhalokaḥ | ' ity aśrumukhīnāṃ prajānām ākrandam aśṛṇuma | atha aham asmai rājñe yathāvṛttam ākhyāya tadapatyadvayaṃ pratyarpitavān | prītena tena jāmātā kṛto 'smi dāmalipteśvareṇa | tatputro madanujīvī jātaḥ | madājñaptena ca amunā prāṇavad ujjhitā candrasenā kośadāsam abhajat | tataś ca simhavarmasāhāyyārtham atrāgatya bhartus tava darśanotsavasukham anubhavāmi ' iti | śrutvā ' citreyaṃ daivagatiḥ | avasareṣu puṣkalaḥ puruṣakāraḥ | ' ity abhidhāya bhūyaḥ smitābhiṣiktadantacchado mantragupte harṣotphullaṃ cakṣuḥ pātayāmāsa devo rājavāhanaḥ | sa kila karakamalena kiñ=citsamvṛtānano lalitavallabhārabhasadattadantakṣatavyasanavihvalādharamaṇir niroṣṭhyavarṇam ātmacaritam ācacakṣe -
sa ca idam ākarṇya brahma-rākṣaso mām apūpujat | asminn eva kṣaṇe na ati-prauḍha-pumnāga-mukula-sthūlāni muktā-phalāni saha salila-bindubhir ambara-talād apatan | ahaṃ tu ' kiṃ nv idam ' ity uc-cakṣur ālokayan kam=api rākṣasaṃ kāñ=cid aṅganāṃ viceṣṭamāna-gātrām ākarṣantam apaśyam | katham apaharaty a-kāmām api striyam an-ācāro nairṛta iti gagana-gamana-manda-śaktir a-śastraś ca atapye | sa tu mat-sambandhī brahma-rākṣasaḥ ' tiṣṭha tiṣṭha pāpa kva apaharasi ' iti bhartsayann utthāya rākṣasena sama sṛjyata | tāṃ tu roṣād an-apekṣā-apaviddhām amara-vṛkṣa-mañjarīm iva antarikṣād āpatantīm unmukha-prasārita-ubhaya-karaḥ karābhyām agrahīṣam | upagṛhya ca vepamānāṃ sammīlita-akṣīṃ mad-aṅga-sparśa-sukhena udbhinna-romāñcāṃ tādṛśīm eva tām an-avatārayann atiṣṭham | tāvat tāv ubhāv api śaila-śṛṅga-bhaṅgaiḥ pādapaiś ca rabhasa-unmūlitair muṣṭi-pāda-prahāraiś ca paras-param akṣapayetām | punar aham ati-mṛduni pulinavati kusuma-lava-lāñchite saras-tīre 'varopya sa-spṛhaṃ nirvarṇayams tāṃ mat-prāṇa-eka-vallabhāṃ rāja-kanyāṃ kandukavatīm alakṣyam | sā hi mayā samāśvāsyamānā tiryaṅ mām abhinirūpya jāta-pratyabhijñā sa-karuṇam arodīt | avādīc ca -- ' nātha tvad-darśanād upoḍha-rāgā tasmin kanduka-utsave punaḥ sakhyā candra-senayā tvat-kathābhir eva samāśvāsitā asmi | tvaṃ kila samudra-madhye majjitaḥ pāpena mad-bhrātrā bhīma-dhanvanā iti śrutvā sakhī-janaṃ parijanaṃ ca vañcayitvā jīvitaṃ jihāsur ekākinī krīḍā-vanam upāgamam | tatra ca mām acakamata kāma-rūpa eṣa rākṣasa-adhamaḥ | so 'yaṃ mayā bhītayā avadhūta-prārthanaḥ sphurantīṃ māṃ nigṛhya abhyadhāvat | atra evam avasito 'bhūt | ahaṃ ca daivāt tava eva jīvita īśasya haste patitā | bhadraṃ tava ' iti | śrutvā ca tayā saha avaruhya nāvam adhyāroham | muktā ca nauḥ prati-vāta-preritā tām eva dāma-liptāṃ pratyupā tiṣṭhat | avarūḍhāś ca vayam a-śrameṇa | ' tanayasya ca tanayāyāś ca nāśād an-anya-apatyas tuṅga-dhanvā suhma-patir niṣ-kalaḥ svayaṃ sa-kalatra eva niṣ-kalaṅka-gaṅgā-rodhasy an-aśanena uparantuṃ pratiṣṭhate | saha tena martum icchaty an-anya-nātho 'nuraktaḥ paura-vṛddha-lokaḥ | ' ity aśru-mukhīnāṃ prajānām ākrandam aśṛṇuma | atha aham asmai rājñe yathā-vṛttam ākhyāya tad-apatya-dvayaṃ pratyarpitavān | prītena tena jāmātā kṛto 'smi dāma-lipta-īśvareṇa | tat-putro mad-anujīvī jātaḥ | mad-ājñaptena ca amunā prāṇavad ujjhitā candra-senā kośa-dāsam abhajat | tataś ca simha-varma-sāhāyya-artham atrā agatya bhartus tava darśana-utsava-sukham anubhavāmi ' iti | śrutvā ' citra īyaṃ daiva-gatiḥ | avasareṣu puṣkalaḥ puruṣa-kāraḥ | ' ity abhidhāya bhūyaḥ smita-abhiṣikta-danta-cchado mantra-gupte harṣa-utphullaṃ cakṣuḥ pātayāmāsa devo rāja-vāhanaḥ | sa kila kara-kamalena kiñ=cit-samvṛta-ānano lalita-vallabhā-rabhasa-datta-danta-kṣata-vyasana-vihvala-adhara-maṇir nir-oṣṭhya-varṇam ātma-caritam ācacakṣe --