The Apsaras' Entreaty near Narayana

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.4.6.1)

व्यास उवाच । प्रथमं तत्र सम्प्राप्तो वसन्तः पर्वतोत्तमे । पुष्पिताः पादपाः सर्वे द्विरेफालिविराजिताः

vyāsa uvāca prathamaṁ tatra samprāpto vasantaḥ parvatottame puṣpitāḥ pādapāḥ sarve dvirephālivirājitāḥ

Vyasa said: First, Spring arrived there on that excellent mountain — all the trees blossomed, adorned with swarms of humming bees.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.4.6.2)

आम्राश्च बकुला रम्यास्तिलकाः किंशुकाः शुभा । सालास्तालास्तमालाश्च मधूकाः पुष्पिता बभुः

āmrāśca bakulā ramyāstilakāḥ kiṁśukāḥ śubhā sālāstālāstamālāśca madhūkāḥ puṣpitā babhuḥ

Mango trees, lovely bakula trees, tilaka and beautiful kimshuka trees, sala, tala, and tamala trees, and mahua trees — all stood in blossom.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.4.6.3)

बभूवुः कोकिलालापा वृक्षाग्रेषु मनोहराः । वल्ल्योऽपि पुष्पिताः सर्वा आलिलिङ्गुर्नगोत्तमान्

babhūvuḥ kokilālāpā vṛkṣāgreṣu manoharāḥ vallyo'pi puṣpitāḥ sarvā āliliṅgurnagottamān

Enchanting koel-calls rose from the treetops, and all the flowering creepers entwined themselves around those finest of trees.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.4.6.4)

प्राणिनः स्वासु भार्यासु प्रेमयुक्ताः स्मरातुराः । बभूवुश्चातिमत्ताश्च क्रीडासक्ताः परस्परम्

prāṇinaḥ svāsu bhāryāsu premayuktāḥ smarāturāḥ babhūvuścātimattāśca krīḍāsaktāḥ parasparam

Living creatures, filled with love for their mates and stricken with desire, grew intoxicated and absorbed themselves in play with one another.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.4.6.5)

ववुर्मन्दाः सुगन्धाश्च सुस्पर्शा दक्षिणानिलाः । इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि मुनीनामपि चाभवन्

vavurmandāḥ sugandhāśca susparśā dakṣiṇānilāḥ indriyāṇi pramāthīni munīnāmapi cābhavan

Gentle, fragrant, pleasant-touching southern breezes began to blow — and even the senses of sages grew turbulent because of them.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.4.6.6)

रतियुक्तस्ततः कामः पूरयन्पञ्चमार्गणान् । चकार त्वरितस्तत्र वासं बदरिकाश्रमे

ratiyuktastataḥ kāmaḥ pūrayanpañcamārgaṇān cakāra tvaritastatra vāsaṁ badarikāśrame

Then Kama, together with Rati, his quiver filled with his five arrows, swiftly made his abode at Badarikashrama.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.4.6.7)

रम्भा तिलोत्तमाद्याश्च गत्वा तत्र वराश्रमे । गानं चकुः सुगीतज्ञाः स्वरतानसमन्वितम्

rambhā tilottamādyāśca gatvā tatra varāśrame gānaṁ cakuḥ sugītajñāḥ svaratānasamanvitam

Rambha, Tilottama, and the others, going to that excellent hermitage, skilled in fine singing, sang songs filled with melody and rhythm.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.4.6.8)

तच्छ्रुत्वा मधुरोद्गीतं कोकिलानाञ्च कूजितम् । भ्रमरालिविरावञ्च प्रबुद्धौ तौ मुनीश्वरौ

tacchrutvā madhurodgītaṁ kokilānāñca kūjitam bhramarālivirāvañca prabuddhau tau munīśvarau

Hearing that sweet singing, the cooing of koels, and the humming of swarms of bees, those two lords of sages awoke from their meditation.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.4.6.9)

ऋतुराजमकाले तु दृष्ट्वा तौ पुष्पितं वनम् । जातौ चिन्तापरौ तत्र नरनारायणावृषी

ṛturājamakāle tu dṛṣṭvā tau puṣpitaṁ vanam jātau cintāparau tatra naranārāyaṇāvṛṣī

Seeing the king of seasons and the forest in flower, arrived out of its proper time, the two seers Nara and Narayana became absorbed in thought.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.4.6.10)

किमद्य शिशिरापायः सम्भृतः समयं विना । प्राणिनो विह्वलाः सर्वे लक्ष्यन्तेऽतिस्मरातुराः

kimadya śiśirāpāyaḥ sambhṛtaḥ samayaṁ vinā prāṇino vihvalāḥ sarve lakṣyante'tismarāturāḥ

Has the departure of winter come today out of its proper time? All creatures appear agitated, utterly overcome with desire.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.4.6.11)

कालधर्मविपर्यासः कथमद्य दुरासदः । नरं नारायणः प्राह विस्मयोत्कुल्ललोचनः

kāladharmaviparyāsaḥ kathamadya durāsadaḥ naraṁ nārāyaṇaḥ prāha vismayotkullalocanaḥ

How has this hard-to-fathom reversal of the order of time come about today? So saying, Narayana, his eyes wide with astonishment, spoke to Nara —

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.4.6.12)

नारायण उवाच । पश्य भ्रातरिमे वृक्षाः पुष्पिताः प्रतिभान्ति वै । कोकिलालापसङ्घुष्टा भ्रमरालिविराजिताः

nārāyaṇa uvāca paśya bhrātarime vṛkṣāḥ puṣpitāḥ pratibhānti vai kokilālāpasaṅghuṣṭā bhramarālivirājitāḥ

Narayana said: Look, brother, at these trees, in full bloom, resounding with the calls of koels, and adorned with swarms of bees.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.4.6.13)

शिशिरं भीममातङ्गं दारयन्स्वखरैर्नखैः । वसन्तकेसरी प्राप्तः पलाशकुसुमैर्मुने

śiśiraṁ bhīmamātaṅgaṁ dārayansvakharairnakhaiḥ vasantakesarī prāptaḥ palāśakusumairmune

O sage, the lion of Spring has arrived, tearing apart the fearsome elephant of Winter with its own sharp claws made of palasha blossoms.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.4.6.14)

रक्ताशोककरा तन्वी देवर्षे किंशुकाङ्घ्रिका । नीलाशोककचा श्यामा विकासिकमलानना

raktāśokakarā tanvī devarṣe kiṁśukāṅghrikā nīlāśokakacā śyāmā vikāsikamalānanā

O divine sage, this slender one bears in her hands the red ashoka, and in her feet the kimshuka; her hair is dark as the blue ashoka, her form dusky, her face a lotus in bloom —

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.4.6.15)

नीलेन्दीवरनेत्रा सा बिल्ववृक्षफलस्तनी । प्रोस्फुल्लकुन्दरदना मञ्जरीकर्णशोभिता

nīlendīvaranetrā sā bilvavṛkṣaphalastanī prosphullakundaradanā mañjarīkarṇaśobhitā

her eyes like blue lotuses, her breasts like the fruit of the bilva tree, her teeth like blossoming jasmine, her ears graced with clusters of blossoms —

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.4.6.16)

बन्धुजीवाधरा शुभ्रा सिन्धुवारनखोद्भवा । पुंस्कोकिलस्वरा पुण्या कदम्बवसना शुभा

bandhujīvādharā śubhrā sindhuvāranakhodbhavā puṁskokilasvarā puṇyā kadambavasanā śubhā

her lips red as bandhujiva blossoms, radiant, her nails like sindhuvara flowers, her voice like the male koel's, sacred and clothed in kadamba flowers —

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.4.6.17)

बर्हिवृन्दकलापा च सारसस्वननूपुरा । वासन्ती बद्धरशना मत्तहंसगतिस्तथा

barhivṛndakalāpā ca sārasasvananūpurā vāsantī baddharaśanā mattahaṁsagatistathā

crowned with a cluster of peacock feathers, her anklets sounding like the cry of cranes, this Vasanti with her girdle tied, walking with the gait of an intoxicated swan —

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.4.6.18)

पुत्रजीवांशुकन्यस्तरोमराजिविराजिता । वसन्तलक्ष्मीः सम्प्राप्ता ब्रह्मन् बदरिकाश्रमे

putrajīvāṁśukanyastaromarājivirājitā vasantalakṣmīḥ samprāptā brahman badarikāśrame

her line of down set off against a putrajiva-silk garment — O brahmin, the very Lakshmi of Spring has arrived here at Badarikashrama.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.4.6.19)

अकाले किमियं प्राप्ता विस्मयोऽयं ममाधुना । तपोविघ्नकरा नूनं देवर्षे परिचिन्तय

akāle kimiyaṁ prāptā vismayo'yaṁ mamādhunā tapovighnakarā nūnaṁ devarṣe paricintaya

Why has she come out of season? This astonishes me even now. O divine sage, reflect — surely this is meant to obstruct our austerity.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.4.6.20)

श्रूयते सुरनारीणां गानं ध्यानविनाशनम् । आवयोस्तपिभङ्गाय कृतं मघवता किल

śrūyate suranārīṇāṁ gānaṁ dhyānavināśanam āvayostapibhaṅgāya kṛtaṁ maghavatā kila

I hear the singing of celestial women, destroyer of meditation — this has surely been contrived by Maghava to break our austerity.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.4.6.21)

ऋतुराडन्यथाकाले प्रीतिं सञ्जनयेत्कथम् । विघ्नोऽयं विहितो भाति भीतेनासुरशत्रुणा

ṛturāḍanyathākāle prītiṁ sañjanayetkatham vighno'yaṁ vihito bhāti bhītenāsuraśatruṇā

How else could the king of seasons produce such delight out of its proper time? This obstruction seems to have been contrived, out of fear, by the enemy of the asuras.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.4.6.22)

वाताः सुगन्धाः शीताश्च समायान्ति मनोहराः । नान्यत्कारणमस्तीह शतक्रतुकृतिं विना

vātāḥ sugandhāḥ śītāśca samāyānti manoharāḥ nānyatkāraṇamastīha śatakratukṛtiṁ vinā

Fragrant, cool, delightful breezes are coming to us — there is no other cause for this here, apart from Shatakratu's own doing.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.4.6.23)

इति ब्रुवति विप्राग्र्ये देवे नारायणे विभौ । सर्वे दृष्टिपथं प्राप्ता मन्मथप्रमुखास्तदा

iti bruvati viprāgrye deve nārāyaṇe vibhau sarve dṛṣṭipathaṁ prāptā manmathapramukhāstadā

While the mighty god Narayana, foremost among brahmins, was speaking thus, all of them, headed by Manmatha, came into view before him.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.4.6.24)

ददर्श भगवान्सर्वान्नरो नारायणस्तथा । विस्मयाविष्टमनसौ बभूवतुरुभावपि

dadarśa bhagavānsarvānnaro nārāyaṇastathā vismayāviṣṭamanasau babhūvaturubhāvapi

The Lord — Nara and Narayana both — beheld them all, and both grew filled with astonishment in their minds.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.4.6.25)

मन्मथं मेनकां चैव रम्भां चैव तिलोत्तमाम् । पुष्पगन्धां सुकेशीं च महाश्वेतां मनोरमाम्

manmathaṁ menakāṁ caiva rambhāṁ caiva tilottamām puṣpagandhāṁ sukeśīṁ ca mahāśvetāṁ manoramām

Manmatha, and Menaka, Rambha and Tilottama, Pushpagandha, Sukeshi, and the lovely Mahashveta,

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.4.6.26)

प्रमद्वरां धृताचीञ्च गीतज्ञां चारुहासिनीम् । चन्द्रप्रभां च सोमां च कोकिलालापमण्डिताम्

pramadvarāṁ dhṛtācīñca gītajñāṁ cāruhāsinīm candraprabhāṁ ca somāṁ ca kokilālāpamaṇḍitām

Pramadvara, Dhritachi skilled in song, the sweetly-smiling one, Chandraprabha, and Soma with her koel-like voice —

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.4.6.27)

विद्युन्मालाम्बुजाक्ष्यौ च तथा काञ्चनमालिनीम् । एताश्चान्या वरारोहा दृष्टास्ताभ्यां तदान्तिके

vidyunmālāmbujākṣyau ca tathā kāñcanamālinīm etāścānyā varārohā dṛṣṭāstābhyāṁ tadāntike

Vidyunmala and Ambujakshi, and likewise Kanchanamalini — these and other lovely apsaras were seen by the two of them close at hand.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.4.6.28)

तासां द्व्यष्टसहस्राणि पञ्चाशदधिकानि च । वीक्ष्य तौ विस्मितौ जातौ कामसैन्यं सुविस्तरम्

tāsāṁ dvyaṣṭasahasrāṇi pañcāśadadhikāni ca vīkṣya tau vismitau jātau kāmasainyaṁ suvistaram

Of these there were sixteen thousand and fifty; seeing that vast army of Kama, the two of them were astonished.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.4.6.29)

प्रणम्याग्रे स्थिताः सर्वा देववाराङ्गनास्तदा । दिव्याभरणभूषाढ्या दिव्यमालोपशोभिताः

praṇamyāgre sthitāḥ sarvā devavārāṅganāstadā divyābharaṇabhūṣāḍhyā divyamālopaśobhitāḥ

Bowing down, all those celestial courtesans then stood before them, richly adorned with divine ornaments and resplendent with heavenly garlands.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.4.6.30)

जगुश्छलेन ताः सर्वाः पृथिव्यामतिदुर्लभम् । तत्तथावस्थितं दिव्यं मन्मथादिविवर्धनम्

jaguśchalena tāḥ sarvāḥ pṛthivyāmatidurlabham tattathāvasthitaṁ divyaṁ manmathādivivardhanam

By way of a ruse, all of them then sang of that which is exceedingly rare on earth — that divine state of things, arousing Manmatha and desire.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.4.6.31)

शुश्राव भगवान्विष्णुर्नरो नारायणस्तदा । श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच तास्तत्र प्रीत्या नारायणो मुनिः

śuśrāva bhagavānviṣṇurnaro nārāyaṇastadā śrutvā provāca tāstatra prītyā nārāyaṇo muniḥ

Lord Vishnu, in the form of Nara-Narayana, listened to this; and having heard it, the sage Narayana spoke to them there with kindness.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.4.6.32)

आस्यतां सुखमत्रैव करोम्यातिथ्यमद्भुतम् । भवत्योऽतिथिधर्मेण प्राप्ताःस्वर्गात्सुमध्यमाः

āsyatāṁ sukhamatraiva karomyātithyamadbhutam bhavatyo'tithidharmeṇa prāptāḥsvargātsumadhyamāḥ

Be seated here in comfort; I shall offer you a wondrous hospitality. You slender ones have come from heaven, and the law of hospitality must be observed.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.4.6.33)

व्यास उवाच । साभिमानस्तु सञ्चातस्तदा नारायणो मुनिः । इन्द्रेण प्रेषिता नूनं तथा विघ्नचिकीर्षया

vyāsa uvāca sābhimānastu sañcātastadā nārāyaṇo muniḥ indreṇa preṣitā nūnaṁ tathā vighnacikīrṣayā

Vyasa said: Then the sage Narayana, filled with a certain pride, thought within himself: these have surely been sent by Indra with the intent to obstruct us.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.4.6.34)

वराक्यः का इमाः सर्वाः सृजाम्यद्य नवाः किल । एताभ्यो दिव्यरूपाश्च दर्शयामि तपोबलम्

varākyaḥ kā imāḥ sarvāḥ sṛjāmyadya navāḥ kila etābhyo divyarūpāśca darśayāmi tapobalam

Who are all these poor women, after all? I shall today create fresh ones myself, of divine form even more beautiful than these, and show them the power of my austerity.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.4.6.35)

इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा करेणोरुं प्रताड्य वै । तरसोत्पादयामास नारीं सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरीम्

iti sañcintya manasā kareṇoruṁ pratāḍya vai tarasotpādayāmāsa nārīṁ sarvāṅgasundarīm

Thinking thus within himself, and striking his own thigh with his hand, he swiftly brought forth a woman beautiful in every limb.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.4.6.36)

नारायणोरुसम्भूता ह्युर्वशीति ततः शुभा । ददृशुस्ताः स्थितास्तत्र विस्मयं परमं ययुः

nārāyaṇorusambhūtā hyurvaśīti tataḥ śubhā dadṛśustāḥ sthitāstatra vismayaṁ paramaṁ yayuḥ

Born from Narayana's thigh, that auspicious one thus came to be named Urvashi. All the apsaras standing there, seeing her, were filled with the utmost astonishment.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.4.6.37)

तासां च परिचर्यार्थं तावतीश्चातिसुन्दरीः । प्रादुश्चकार तरसा तदा मुनिरसम्भ्रमः

tāsāṁ ca paricaryārthaṁ tāvatīścātisundarīḥ prāduścakāra tarasā tadā munirasambhramaḥ

And for her attendance, that unperturbed sage swiftly manifested just as many exceedingly beautiful maidens as well.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.4.6.38)

गायन्त्यश्च हसन्त्यश्च नानोपायनपाणयः । प्रणेमुस्ता मुनी सर्वाः स्थिताः कृत्वाञ्जलिं पुरः

gāyantyaśca hasantyaśca nānopāyanapāṇayaḥ praṇemustā munī sarvāḥ sthitāḥ kṛtvāñjaliṁ puraḥ

Singing and laughing, their hands bearing various gifts, all of them, standing with folded hands before the sage, bowed to him.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.4.6.39)

तां वीक्ष्य विभ्रमकरीं तपसो विभूतिम् ॥ देवाङ्गना हि मुमुहुः प्रविमोहयन्त्यः । ऊचुश्च तौ प्रमुदिताननपद्यशोभा रोमोद्गमोल्लसितचारुनिजाङ्गवल्ल्यः

tāṁ vīkṣya vibhramakarīṁ tapaso vibhūtim devāṅganā hi mumuhuḥ pravimohayantyaḥ ūcuśca tau pramuditānanapadyaśobhā romodgamollasitacārunijāṅgavallyaḥ

Seeing that bewildering splendor of austerity, Urvashi, the celestial women who had come to bewilder others were themselves bewildered; and, their lotus-like faces alight with joy, their creeper-like limbs radiant with the thrill of their hair standing on end, they spoke to the two sages —

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.4.6.40)

कुर्युः कथं स्तुतिमहो तपसो महत्त्वं धैर्यं तथैव भवतामभिवीक्ष्य बालाः । अस्मत्कटाक्षविषदिग्धशरेण दग्धः को वा न तत्र भवतां मनसो व्यथा न

kuryuḥ kathaṁ stutimaho tapaso mahattvaṁ dhairyaṁ tathaiva bhavatāmabhivīkṣya bālāḥ asmatkaṭākṣaviṣadigdhaśareṇa dagdhaḥ ko vā na tatra bhavatāṁ manaso vyathā na

How, indeed, can we young women praise enough the greatness of your austerity, seeing before us your very firmness? Who, struck by the poison-tipped arrow of our sidelong glance, does not burn — yet in your minds there is no pain from it at all!

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.4.6.41)

ज्ञातौ युवां नरहरेः परमांशभूतौ देवौ मुनी शमदमादिनिधी सदैव । सेवानिमित्तमिह नो गमनं न कामं कार्यं हरेः शतमखस्य विधातुमेव

jñātau yuvāṁ narahareḥ paramāṁśabhūtau devau munī śamadamādinidhī sadaiva sevānimittamiha no gamanaṁ na kāmaṁ kāryaṁ hareḥ śatamakhasya vidhātumeva

We know now that you two are gods, the supreme portions of Narahari himself, sages ever the very treasuries of tranquility and self-mastery. Our coming here was not for desire but to serve — the task was only to accomplish the purpose of Indra, performer of a hundred sacrifices.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.4.6.42)

भाग्येन केन युवयोः किल दर्शनं नः सम्पादितं न विदितं खलु सञ्चितं तत् । चित्तं क्षमं निजजने विहितं युवाभ्या- मस्मद्विधे किल कृतागसि तापमुक्तम्

bhāgyena kena yuvayoḥ kila darśanaṁ naḥ sampāditaṁ na viditaṁ khalu sañcitaṁ tat cittaṁ kṣamaṁ nijajane vihitaṁ yuvābhyā- masmadvidhe kila kṛtāgasi tāpamuktam

By what good fortune this vision of you two has come to us, we do not know what merit we accumulated for it. Your minds, ever forgiving toward your own, have shown compassion even toward offenders such as ourselves, and freed us from distress.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.4.6.43)

कुर्वन्ति नैव विबुधास्तपसो व्ययं वै शापेन तुच्छफलदेन महानुभावाः । व्यास उवाच । इत्थं निशम्य वचनं सुरकामिनीनां तावूचतुर्मुनिवरौ विनयानतानाम्

kurvanti naiva vibudhāstapaso vyayaṁ vai śāpena tucchaphaladena mahānubhāvāḥ vyāsa uvāca itthaṁ niśamya vacanaṁ surakāminīnāṁ tāvūcaturmunivarau vinayānatānām

Great-souled sages never squander their austerity through a curse yielding trivial fruit. Vyasa said: Having heard this humble speech of the celestial women, those two foremost sages spoke to the apsaras, bowed in humility —

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.4.6.44)

प्रीतौ प्रसन्नवदनौ जितकामलोभौ धर्मात्मजौ निजतपोरुचिशोभिताङ्गौ । नरनारायणावूचतुः ब्रुवन्तु वाञ्छितान् कामान्ददावस्तुष्टमानसौ

prītau prasannavadanau jitakāmalobhau dharmātmajau nijataporuciśobhitāṅgau naranārāyaṇāvūcatuḥ bruvantu vāñchitān kāmāndadāvastuṣṭamānasau

Pleased, their faces serene, having conquered desire and greed, those two sons of Dharma, their bodies radiant with the splendor of their own austerity — Nara and Narayana said: speak your desired wishes; with contented minds we shall grant them.

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.4.6.45)

यान्तु स्वर्गं गहीत्वेमामुर्वशीं चारुलोचनाम् । उपायनमियं बाला गच्छत्वद्य मनोहरा

yāntu svargaṁ gahītvemāmurvaśīṁ cārulocanām upāyanamiyaṁ bālā gacchatvadya manoharā

Let them go to heaven, taking with them this lovely-eyed Urvashi. Let this maiden, this gift, this enchanting one, go there this very day —

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.4.6.46)

दत्तावाभ्यां मघवतः प्रीणनायोरुसम्भवा । स्वस्त्यस्तु सर्वदेवेभ्यो यथेष्टं प्रव्रजन्तु च

dattāvābhyāṁ maghavataḥ prīṇanāyorusambhavā svastyastu sarvadevebhyo yatheṣṭaṁ pravrajantu ca

this one born from our own thigh, given by us for the pleasure of Maghava. Blessing be upon all the gods; let them go their way, as they wish.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.4.6.47)

(न कस्यापि तपोविघ्नं प्रकर्तव्यमतः परं ।)॥ देव्य ऊचुः । क्व गच्छामो महाभाग प्राप्तास्ते पादपङ्कजम् । नारायण सुरश्रेष्ठ भक्त्या परमया मुदा

(na kasyāpi tapovighnaṁ prakartavyamataḥ paraṁ ) devya ūcuḥ kva gacchāmo mahābhāga prāptāste pādapaṅkajam nārāyaṇa suraśreṣṭha bhaktyā paramayā mudā

Let no one's austerity be obstructed from now on. The goddesses said: O glorious one, O Narayana, foremost of gods, we have come to your lotus feet with the utmost devotion and joy — where, then, shall we go?

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.4.6.48)

वाञ्छितं चेद्वरं नाथ ददासि मधुसूदन । तुष्टः कमलपत्राक्ष ब्रवीमो मनसेप्सितम्

vāñchitaṁ cedvaraṁ nātha dadāsi madhusūdana tuṣṭaḥ kamalapatrākṣa bravīmo manasepsitam

If, O lord, O Madhusudana, pleased with us, you will grant us our desired boon, O lotus-eyed one, then we shall speak what our minds desire.

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.4.6.49)

पतिस्त्वं भव देवेश वरमेनं परन्तप । भवामः प्रीतियुक्तास्त्वां सेवितुं जगदीश्वर

patistvaṁ bhava deveśa varamenaṁ parantapa bhavāmaḥ prītiyuktāstvāṁ sevituṁ jagadīśvara

Become our husband, O lord of gods, tormentor of foes — grant us this very boon. We shall be, filled with love, devoted to your service, O lord of the universe.

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.4.6.50)

त्वया चोत्पादिता नार्यः सन्त्यन्याश्चारुलोचनाः । उर्वश्याद्यास्तथा यान्तु स्वर्गं वै भवदाज्ञया

tvayā cotpāditā nāryaḥ santyanyāścārulocanāḥ urvaśyādyāstathā yāntu svargaṁ vai bhavadājñayā

Let the other lovely-eyed women created by you, beginning with Urvashi, go to heaven by your own command —

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.4.6.51)

स्त्रीणां षोडशसाहस्रं तिष्ठत्वत्र शतार्धकम् । सेवां तेऽत्र करिष्यामो युवयोस्तापसोत्तमौ

strīṇāṁ ṣoḍaśasāhasraṁ tiṣṭhatvatra śatārdhakam sevāṁ te'tra kariṣyāmo yuvayostāpasottamau

but let sixteen thousand and fifty women remain here — we shall render service here, O best of ascetics, to you both.

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.4.6.52)

वाञ्छितं देहि देवेश सत्यवाग्भव माधव । आशाभङ्गो हि नारीणां हिंसनं परिकीर्तितम्

vāñchitaṁ dehi deveśa satyavāgbhava mādhava āśābhaṅgo hi nārīṇāṁ hiṁsanaṁ parikīrtitam

Grant our desire, O lord of gods; be true to your word, O Madhava. For to break a woman's hope is declared to be an act of violence.

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.4.6.53)

कामार्तानाञ्च मुनिभिर्धर्मज्ञैस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः । भाग्ययोगादिह प्राप्ताः स्वर्गात्प्रेमपरिप्लुताः

kāmārtānāñca munibhirdharmajñaistattvadarśibhiḥ bhāgyayogādiha prāptāḥ svargātpremapariplutāḥ

By the counsel of sages who know dharma and see the truth, those overcome by desire deserve protection — through good fortune we have come here from heaven, overwhelmed with love.

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.4.6.54)

त्यक्तुं नार्हसि देवेश समर्थोऽसि जगत्पते । नारायण उवाच । पूर्णं वर्षसहस्रं तु तपस्तप्तं मयात्र वै

tyaktuṁ nārhasi deveśa samartho'si jagatpate nārāyaṇa uvāca pūrṇaṁ varṣasahasraṁ tu tapastaptaṁ mayātra vai

O lord of gods, you should not abandon us — you are capable of granting this, O lord of the universe. Narayana said: A full thousand years of austerity have I performed here.

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.4.6.55)

जितेन्द्रियेण चार्वङ्ग्यः कथं भङ्गं करोम्यतः । नेच्छा कामे सुखे काचित्सुखधर्मविनाशके

jitendriyeṇa cārvaṅgyaḥ kathaṁ bhaṅgaṁ karomyataḥ necchā kāme sukhe kācitsukhadharmavināśake

O beautiful-limbed ones, how could I, self-controlled as I am, now break it? I have no desire whatsoever for that pleasure of desire, which destroys both happiness and dharma.

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.4.6.56)

पशूनामपि साधर्म्ये रमेत मतिमान्कथम् । अप्सरस ऊचुः । शब्दादीनां च पञ्चानां मध्ये स्पर्शसुखं वरम्

paśūnāmapi sādharmye rameta matimānkatham apsarasa ūcuḥ śabdādīnāṁ ca pañcānāṁ madhye sparśasukhaṁ varam

How could a wise man take pleasure in conduct shared even with beasts? The Apsaras said: among the five sense-objects — sound and the rest — the pleasure of touch alone is supreme;

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.4.6.57)

आनन्दरसमूलं वै नान्यदस्ति सुखं किल । अतोऽस्माकं महाराज वचनं कुरु सर्वथा

ānandarasamūlaṁ vai nānyadasti sukhaṁ kila ato'smākaṁ mahārāja vacanaṁ kuru sarvathā

truly there is no other happiness rooted in the very essence of bliss like it. Therefore, O great king, heed our word in every way.

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.4.6.58)

निर्भरं सुखमासाद्य चरस्व गन्धमादने । यदि वाञ्छसि नाकत्वं नाधिको गन्धमादनात्

nirbharaṁ sukhamāsādya carasva gandhamādane yadi vāñchasi nākatvaṁ nādhiko gandhamādanāt

Obtain abundant happiness and roam freely here at Gandhamadana. If it is heaven itself that you desire, there is nothing higher than Gandhamadana;

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.4.6.59)

रमस्वात्र शुभे स्थाने प्राप्य सर्वाः सुराङ्गनाः

ramasvātra śubhe sthāne prāpya sarvāḥ surāṅganāḥ

enjoy yourself in this auspicious place, having obtained all of us celestial women as your own.