Adhyaya 55

Verse 1

विष्णुरुवाच । भावं विदित्वा सुरराट्च तस्याः प्रोवाच कामं पुरतः स्थितं सः । न चास्ति शक्या स्मर ते जयाय सत्यात्मकध्यान सुदंशिता सती

Viṣṇu said: Having understood her true disposition, the lord of the gods addressed Kāma who stood before him: “O Smara, she cannot be made to yield for your victory, for that virtuous woman is firmly armed with meditation whose essence is Truth.”

Verse 2

धर्माख्य चापं स्वकरे गृहीत्वा ज्ञानाभिधानं वरमेव बाणम् । योद्धुं रणे संप्रति संस्थिता सती वीरो यथा दर्पितवीर्यभावः

Taking in her own hand the bow called “Dharma,” and the excellent arrow named “Knowledge,” Satī now stood poised to fight in battle—like a hero, proud and brimming with valor.

Verse 3

जिगीषयेयं पुरुषार्थमेव त्वमात्मनः कुरुषे पौरुषं तु । त्वामद्य जेतुं समरे समर्था यद्भाव्यमेवं तदिहैव चिंत्यम्

“I seek victory only as a matter of human endeavor; you too are exerting your own valor for your sake. Today I am capable of conquering you in battle—so let what is destined be considered right here and now.”

Verse 4

दग्धोसि पूर्वं त्वमिहैव शंभुना महात्मना तेन समं विरोधम् । कृत्वा फलं तस्य विकर्मणश्च जातोस्यनंगः स्मर सत्यमेव

“You were formerly burned right here by the great Śambhu (Śiva), for you set yourself in opposition to him. As the consequence of that wrongful act, you have become ‘Anaṅga’ (bodiless), O Smara—this is indeed the truth.”

Verse 5

यथा त्वया कर्म कृतं पुरा स्मर फलं तु प्राप्तं तु तथैव तीव्रम् । सुकुत्सितां योनिमवाप्स्यसि ध्रुवं साध्व्यानया सार्धमिहैव कथ्यसे

Remember the deed you once committed; its fruit has now been received in that same harsh measure. Surely you will attain a contemptible womb—a degraded rebirth—and here itself you are being admonished together with this virtuous woman.

Verse 6

ये ज्ञानवंतः पुरुषा जगत्त्रये वैरं प्रकुर्वन्ति महात्मभिः समम् । भुंजन्ति ते दुष्कृतमेवतत्फलं दुःखान्वितं रूपविनाशनं च

Those men who, though learned, in the three worlds create enmity with great-souled persons—such people indeed reap the fruit of that evil deed: suffering, and even the ruin of their beauty and form.

Verse 7

व्याघुष्य आवां तु व्रजाव काम एनां परित्यज्य सतीं प्रयुज्य । सत्याः प्रसंगेन पुरा मया तु लब्धं फलं पापमयं त्वसह्यम्

Crying out, I said: “Come, let us go, O Desire—abandon this chaste woman; do not pursue her.” For formerly, through association with the truthful and virtuous, I received a result—sin-laden and unbearable.

Verse 8

त्वमेव जानासि चरित्रमेतच्छप्तोस्मि तेनापि च गौतमेन । जातश्च मेषवृषणः सदा ह्यहं भवान्गतो मां तु विहाय तत्र

You alone know this whole affair. I too was cursed by Gautama, and I have become one bearing a ram’s testicles forever. Yet you went away there, leaving me behind.

Verse 9

तेजः प्रभावो ह्यतुलः सतीनां धाता समर्थः सहितुं न सूर्यः । सुकुत्सितं रूपमिदं तु रक्षेत्पुरानुसूया मुनिना हि शप्तम्

Truly, the splendor and radiance of chaste women are incomparable; neither the Creator can endure it, nor even the Sun. Therefore one should guard this most contemptible form that has come upon one, for it was formerly brought about by a curse—indeed, by the sage Anasūyā.

Verse 10

निरुध्य सूर्यं परिवेगवंतमुद्यंतमेवं प्रभया सुदीप्तम् । भर्तुश्च मृत्युं परिबाधमानं मांडव्यशापस्य च कौंडिनस्य

She restrained the Sun as he rose—swift in his course and blazing with radiance—and she also obstructed the death of her husband, brought about by the curse of Māṇḍavya and of Kauṇḍinya.

Verse 11

अत्रेः प्रिया सत्यपतिव्रता तया स्वपुत्रतां देवत्रयं हि नीतम् । न किं पुरा मन्मथ ते श्रुतं सदा संस्कारयुक्ताः प्रभवंति सत्यः

Atri’s beloved wife—faithful and true in her pativrata vow—indeed brought the triad of gods into the status of her own sons. Have you not heard, O Manmatha, from ancient times that those endowed with proper rites and sanctifying disciplines truly attain their destined manifestation?

Verse 12

सावित्रीनाम्नी द्युमत्सेनपुत्री नीतं प्रियं सा पुनरानिनाय । यमादिहैवाश्वपतेः सुपुत्रं सती त्वमेवं परिसंश्रुतं च

Sāvitrī—Dyumatsena’s daughter—brought back her beloved who had been taken away. From Yama himself, here and now, she restored Aśvapati’s noble son. Thus, O chaste one, you too are renowned in this way.

Verse 13

अग्नेः शिखां कः परिसंस्पृशेद्वै तरेद्धिकः सागरमेव मूढः । गले तु बद्धासु शिलां भुजाभ्यां को वा सतीं वश्यति वीतरागाम्

Who would ever touch the flame of fire? Only a fool would try to swim across the ocean. And who could swim with his own arms when a stone is tied to his neck? Likewise, who can bring under control a chaste woman who is free from attachment?

Verse 14

उक्ते तु वाक्ये बहुनीतियुक्ते इंद्रेण कामस्य सुशिक्षणार्थम् । आकर्ण्य वाक्यं मकरध्वजस्तु उवाच देवेंद्रमथैनमेव

When Indra had spoken those words—rich in many maxims of statecraft—for the purpose of properly instructing Kāma, Makaradhvaja, having heard the speech, then addressed Devendra (Indra) himself.

Verse 15

काम उवाच । तवातिदेशादहमागतो वै धैर्यं सुहृत्त्वं पुरुषार्थमेव । त्यक्त्वा तदर्थं परिभाषसे मां निःसत्वरूपं बहुभीतियुक्तम्

Kāma said: By your command I have indeed come—bearing only courage, goodwill, and human endeavor. Yet, forsaking that very purpose, you now revile me as one without strength, burdened with many fears.

Verse 16

व्याबुद्धि यास्यामि यदा सुरेशस्याल्लोकमध्ये मम कीर्तिनाशः । ऊढिंकरोमानविहीन एव सर्वे वदिष्यंत्यनया जितं माम्

When my judgment falters, my fame will be ruined in the world—even before the Lord of the gods. Bereft of honor, I shall be brought low, and all will say, “I have been defeated by her.”

Verse 17

ये वै जिता देवगणाश्च दानवाः पूर्वं मुनींद्रास्तपसः प्रयुक्ताः । हास्यं करिष्यंति ममापि सद्यो नार्या जितो मन्मथ एष भीमः

Those whom I once subdued—the hosts of gods and the dānavas, and even the great sages disciplined by austerity—will at once make sport of me: “This fearsome Manmatha has been conquered by a woman.”

Verse 18

तस्मात्प्रयास्यामि त्वयैव सार्धमस्या बलं मानमतः सुरेश । तेजश्च धैर्यं परिणाशयिष्ये कस्माद्भवानत्र बिभेति शक्र

Therefore I shall go with you; O Lord of the gods, I will bring to ruin her strength and pride, her splendor and her resolve. Why then do you, O Śakra, feel fear here?

Verse 19

संबोध्य चैवं स सुराधिनाथं चापं गृहीतं सशरं सुपुष्पम् । उवाच क्रीडां पुरतः स्थितां तां विधाय मायां भवती प्रयातु

Having thus addressed the Lord of the gods, he took up a well-flowered bow together with its arrow, and spoke to the lady who stood before him in sport: “Assuming your māyā-formed guise, depart now.”

Verse 20

वैश्यस्य भार्यां सुकलां सुपुण्यां सत्येस्थितां धर्मविदां गुणज्ञाम् । इतो हि गत्वा कुरु कार्यमुक्तं साहाय्यरूपं च प्रिये सखे शृणु

“Go from here to the Vaiśya’s wife, Sukalā—most virtuous and greatly meritorious, steadfast in truth, learned in dharma and discerning of noble qualities. Having gone there, carry out the task I have declared and act as a helper. Listen, my dear friend.”

Verse 21

क्रीडां समाभाष्य ततो मनोभवस्त्वंते स्थितां प्रीतिमथाह्वयत्पुनः । कार्यं भवत्या ममकार्यमुत्तममे तां सुस्नेहैः परिभावयत्वम्

After speaking of their play, Manobhava (Kāma) once again called to Prīti, who stood nearby: “A task is to be done by you—my most exalted work. Come; with deep affection, influence her and win her over.”

Verse 22

इंद्रं हि दृष्ट्वा सुकला यथा भवेत्स्नेहानुगा चारुविलोचनेयम् । तैस्तैः प्रभावैर्गुणवाक्ययुक्तैर्नयस्व वश्यं च प्रिये सखे शृणु

For on seeing Indra, Sukalā becomes affectionate—this lovely woman with doe-like eyes. Therefore, by this and that persuasive influence, and with words joined to praise of his virtues, draw him under your sway; listen, my dear friend.

Verse 23

भो भोः सखे साधय गच्छ शीघ्रं मायामयं नंदनरूपयुक्तम् । पुष्पोपयुक्तं च फलप्रधानं घुष्टं रुतैः कोकिलषट्पदानाम्

“Ho there, my friend—make haste and go quickly to that wondrous grove, as if woven of māyā, adorned with the beauty of Nandana; filled with flowers and abundant in fruit, resounding with the calls of cuckoos and the humming of bees.”

Verse 24

आहूय वीरं मकरंदमेव रसायनं स्वादुगुणैरुपेतम् । सहानिलाद्यैर्निजकर्मयुक्तैः संप्रेषयित्वा पुनरेव कामम्

Having summoned the hero, he sent to him the very nectar-like essence—an elixir endowed with sweet qualities—together with the vital airs and the rest, each engaged in its own function; and thus desire arose once again.

Verse 25

एवं समादिश्य महत्ससैन्यं त्रैलोक्यसंमोहकरं तु कामः । चक्रे प्रयाणं सुरराजसार्धं संमोहनायैव महासतीं ताम्

Thus, having instructed his great army capable of enchanting the three worlds, Kama set out with the King of Gods, intent on deluding that great chaste lady.