Sukala's Triumph Over Kama

Verse 1 (padma.2.58.1)

विष्णुरुवाच- क्रीडाप्रयुक्तासु वनं प्रविष्टा वैश्यस्य भार्या सुकला सुतन्वी । ददर्श सर्वं गहनं मनोरमं तामेव पप्रच्छ सखीं सती सा

viṣṇuruvāca- krīḍāprayuktāsu vanaṁ praviṣṭā vaiśyasya bhāryā sukalā sutanvī dadarśa sarvaṁ gahanaṁ manoramaṁ tāmeva papraccha sakhīṁ satī sā

Vishnu said: Having entered the forest at Krida's urging, Sukala, the merchant's slender wife, beheld that whole dense, lovely wilderness; and that chaste woman asked her very companion —

Verse 2 (padma.2.58.2)

अरण्यमेतत्प्रवरं सुपुण्यं दिव्यं सखे कस्य मनोभिरामम् । सिद्धंसुकामैः प्रवरैः समस्तैः पप्रच्छ हर्षात्सुकला सखीं ताम्

araṇyametatpravaraṁ supuṇyaṁ divyaṁ sakhe kasya manobhirāmam siddhaṁsukāmaiḥ pravaraiḥ samastaiḥ papraccha harṣātsukalā sakhīṁ tām

'This most excellent, most sacred, divine forest, my friend, so pleasing to the mind — whose is it, adorned with every excellent, accomplished pleasure?' Thus Sukala, with joy, asked her companion.

Verse 3 (padma.2.58.3)

क्रीडोवाच- एतद्वनं दिव्यगुणैः प्रयुक्तं सिद्धस्वभावैः परिभावनेन । पुष्पाकुलं कामफलोपयुक्तं विपश्य सर्वं मकरध्वजस्य

krīḍovāca- etadvanaṁ divyaguṇaiḥ prayuktaṁ siddhasvabhāvaiḥ paribhāvanena puṣpākulaṁ kāmaphalopayuktaṁ vipaśya sarvaṁ makaradhvajasya

Krida said: 'This forest, endowed with divine qualities, made accomplished through its very nature, filled with flowers, furnished with the fruits of desire — behold it all, for it belongs to the fish-bannered Kama.'

Verse 4 (padma.2.58.4)

एवं वाक्यं ततः श्रुत्वा हर्षेण महतान्विता । समालोक्य महद्वृत्तं कामस्य च दुरात्मनः

evaṁ vākyaṁ tataḥ śrutvā harṣeṇa mahatānvitā samālokya mahadvṛttaṁ kāmasya ca durātmanaḥ

Hearing these words, filled with great joy, and beholding the great doings of that wicked-souled Kama —

Verse 5 (padma.2.58.5)

वायुना नीयमानं तं समाघ्राति न सौरभम् । वाति वायुः स्वभावेन सौरभेण समन्वितः

vāyunā nīyamānaṁ taṁ samāghrāti na saurabham vāti vāyuḥ svabhāvena saurabheṇa samanvitaḥ

—she did not so much as smell that fragrance carried by the wind; the wind blew, by its own nature, laden with sweet scent, yet she perceived nothing.

Verse 6 (padma.2.58.6)

तद्बाणो विशतेनासां यथा तथा सुलीलया । सा गंधं नैव गृह्णाति पुष्पाणां च वरानना

tadbāṇo viśatenāsāṁ yathā tathā sulīlayā sā gaṁdhaṁ naiva gṛhṇāti puṣpāṇāṁ ca varānanā

His arrows, entering her thus, with all their practiced skill, had no effect at all; and that fair-faced one did not so much as perceive the fragrance of the flowers.

Verse 7 (padma.2.58.7)

न चास्वादयते सा तु सुरसान्सा महासती । स सखा कामदेवस्य रममाणो विनिर्जितः

na cāsvādayate sā tu surasānsā mahāsatī sa sakhā kāmadevasya ramamāṇo vinirjitaḥ

Nor did that great, chaste woman taste of those delicious flavors at all; and that friend of Kamadeva, though disporting himself, was utterly defeated.

Verse 8 (padma.2.58.8)

लज्जितः पराङ्मुखो भूत्वा भूं पपात लवच्छदैः । फलेभ्यो हि सुपक्वेभ्यः पुष्पमंजरिसंस्कृतः

lajjitaḥ parāṁmukho bhūtvā bhūṁ papāta lavacchadaiḥ phalebhyo hi supakvebhyaḥ puṣpamaṁjarisaṁskṛtaḥ

Ashamed, turning his face away, he fell to the ground amid fallen petals, cast down from the well-ripened fruits, adorned still with flower-clusters.

Verse 9 (padma.2.58.9)

लवरूपोपतद्भूमौ रसस्त्वेष तया जितः । मकरंदः सुदीनात्मा फलाद्भूमिं ततः पुनः

lavarūpopatadbhūmau rasastveṣa tayā jitaḥ makaraṁdaḥ sudīnātmā phalādbhūmiṁ tataḥ punaḥ

In the very form of a fallen petal-drop he sank to the ground, that essence utterly conquered by her; and Makaranda, most pitiable now, fell again from the fruit to the ground.

Verse 10 (padma.2.58.10)

भक्ष्यते मक्षिकाभिश्च यथामृतो रणे तथा । मक्षिकाभक्ष्यमाणस्तु प्रवाहेन प्रयाति सः

bhakṣyate makṣikābhiśca yathāmṛto raṇe tathā makṣikābhakṣyamāṇastu pravāhena prayāti saḥ

He was devoured by flies, just as one already slain in battle; and, being consumed by the flies, he was carried away along with the flow.

Verse 11 (padma.2.58.11)

मंदंमंदं प्रयात्येव तं हसंति च पक्षिणः । नानारुतैः प्रचलंति सुखमानंदनिर्भरैः

maṁdaṁmaṁdaṁ prayātyeva taṁ hasaṁti ca pakṣiṇaḥ nānārutaiḥ pracalaṁti sukhamānaṁdanirbharaiḥ

Slowly, slowly he went on his way, while the birds laughed at him, moving about with manifold cries, filled with happy delight.

Verse 12 (padma.2.58.12)

प्रीत्या शकुनयस्तत्र वनमध्यनगस्थिताः । सुकलया जितो ह्येष निम्नं पंथानमाश्रितः

prītyā śakunayastatra vanamadhyanagasthitāḥ sukalayā jito hyeṣa nimnaṁ paṁthānamāśritaḥ

With delight, the birds perched upon the trees in the midst of the forest, for this one, defeated indeed by Sukala, had taken the lowly downward path.

Verse 13 (padma.2.58.13)

प्रीत्या समेता रतिः कामभार्या गत्वाब्रवीत्सा सुकलां विहस्य । स्वस्त्यस्तु ते स्वागतमेव भद्रे रमस्व प्रीत्या नयनाभिरामम्

prītyā sametā ratiḥ kāmabhāryā gatvābravītsā sukalāṁ vihasya svastyastu te svāgatameva bhadre ramasva prītyā nayanābhirāmam

Then Rati, Kama's wife, together with Priti, went and, smiling, said to Sukala: 'Welcome and blessings be upon you, gentle one — take your delight, with love, in what pleases the eye.'

Verse 14 (padma.2.58.14)

ते रूपमिष्टममलमिंद्रस्यापि महात्मनः । यदेष्टं ते तदा ब्रूहि समानेष्ये न संशयः

te rūpamiṣṭamamalamiṁdrasyāpi mahātmanaḥ yadeṣṭaṁ te tadā brūhi samāneṣye na saṁśayaḥ

'—this desirable, spotless form of the great-souled Indra himself is here for you. Whatever you desire, tell us now; I shall bring it to you, without doubt.'

Verse 15 (padma.2.58.15)

सूत उवाच- वदंत्यौ ते स्त्रियौ दृष्ट्वा श्रुत्वोवाच सुभाषितम् । रतिं प्रतिगृहीत्वा मे गतो भर्त्ता महामतिः

sūta uvāca- vadaṁtyau te striyau dṛṣṭvā śrutvovāca subhāṣitam ratiṁ pratigṛhītvā me gato bharttā mahāmatiḥ

Suta said: Seeing and hearing those two women speaking thus, she replied with well-chosen words: 'My great and wise husband has gone, taking with him my very own delight.'

Verse 16 (padma.2.58.16)

यत्र मे तिष्ठते भर्त्ता तत्राहं पतिसंयुता । तत्र कामश्च मे प्रीतिरयं कायो निराश्रयः

yatra me tiṣṭhate bharttā tatrāhaṁ patisaṁyutā tatra kāmaśca me prītirayaṁ kāyo nirāśrayaḥ

'Wherever my husband dwells, there I am, joined with him; there alone lie my desire and my delight — this body here is without refuge.'

Verse 17 (padma.2.58.17)

द्वे अप्युक्तं समाकर्ण्य रतिप्रीती विलज्जिते । व्रीडमाने गते ते द्वे यत्र कामो महाबलः

dve apyuktaṁ samākarṇya ratiprītī vilajjite vrīḍamāne gate te dve yatra kāmo mahābalaḥ

Hearing what she had thus said, both Rati and Priti grew ashamed; and, overcome with embarrassment, the two of them went to where mighty Kama was.

Verse 18 (padma.2.58.18)

ऊचतुस्तं महावीरमिंद्रकाय समाश्रितम् । चापमाकर्षमाणं तं नेत्रलक्ष्यं महाबलम्

ūcatustaṁ mahāvīramiṁdrakāya samāśritam cāpamākarṣamāṇaṁ taṁ netralakṣyaṁ mahābalam

They spoke to that great hero, established within Indra's body, who stood there mighty, drawing his bow, with his eyes fixed upon his target —

Verse 19 (padma.2.58.19)

दुर्जयेयं महाप्राज्ञ त्यज पौरुषमात्मनः । पतिकामा महाभागा पतिव्रता सदैव सा

durjayeyaṁ mahāprājña tyaja pauruṣamātmanaḥ patikāmā mahābhāgā pativratā sadaiva sā

'—"This one is unconquerable, O most wise one; give up your own display of prowess. That blessed woman desires only her husband; she is ever devoted to him alone."'

Verse 20 (padma.2.58.20)

काम उवाच- अनया लोक्यते रूपमिंद्रस्यास्य महात्मनः । यदि देवि तदा चाहं हनिष्यामि न संशयः

kāma uvāca- anayā lokyate rūpamiṁdrasyāsya mahātmanaḥ yadi devi tadā cāhaṁ haniṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ

Kama said: 'If she looks upon this form of great Indra, O goddess, then I shall surely strike her down, without doubt.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.58.21)

अथ वेषधरो देवो महारूपः सुराधिपः । स तयानुगतस्तूर्णं परया लीलया तदा

atha veṣadharo devo mahārūpaḥ surādhipaḥ sa tayānugatastūrṇaṁ parayā līlayā tadā

Then the lord of the gods, disguised, of magnificent form, followed swiftly by her, with the utmost grace —

Verse 22 (padma.2.58.22)

सर्वभोगसमाकीर्णः सर्वाभरणशोभितः । दिव्यमाल्यांबरधरो दिव्यगंधानुलेपनः

sarvabhogasamākīrṇaḥ sarvābharaṇaśobhitaḥ divyamālyāṁbaradharo divyagaṁdhānulepanaḥ

—filled with every enjoyment, adorned with every ornament, wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with divine fragrance —

Verse 23 (padma.2.58.23)

तया रत्या समायातो यत्रास्ते पतिदेवता । प्रत्युवाच महाभागां सुकलां सत्यचारिणीम्

tayā ratyā samāyāto yatrāste patidevatā pratyuvāca mahābhāgāṁ sukalāṁ satyacāriṇīm

—came, together with Rati, to where that devotee of her husband dwelt; and he spoke to that blessed, truthful Sukala.

Verse 24 (padma.2.58.24)

पूर्वं दूती समक्षं ते प्रीत्या च प्रहिता मया । कस्मान्न मन्यसे भद्रे भजंतं त्वामिहागतम्

pūrvaṁ dūtī samakṣaṁ te prītyā ca prahitā mayā kasmānna manyase bhadre bhajaṁtaṁ tvāmihāgatam

'Before, I sent a messenger to you, out of love, into your very presence. Why then, gentle one, do you not honor me, who have come here to court you?'

Verse 25 (padma.2.58.25)

सुकलोवाच- रक्षायुक्तास्मि भद्रं ते भर्तुः पुत्रैर्महात्मभिः । एकाकिनीसहायैश्च नैव कस्य भयं मम

sukalovāca- rakṣāyuktāsmi bhadraṁ te bhartuḥ putrairmahātmabhiḥ ekākinīsahāyaiśca naiva kasya bhayaṁ mama

Sukala said: 'May good befall you — I am protected by the great-souled sons of my husband; though I am alone, I have such helpers, and I fear no one at all.'

Verse 26 (padma.2.58.26)

शूरैश्च पुरुषाकारैः सर्वत्र परिरक्षिता । नाति प्रस्तावये वक्तुं व्यग्रा कर्मणि तस्य च

śūraiśca puruṣākāraiḥ sarvatra parirakṣitā nāti prastāvaye vaktuṁ vyagrā karmaṇi tasya ca

'I am protected on every side by heroes of manly form; I do not care to speak further of this — I am occupied with his own task.'

Verse 27 (padma.2.58.27)

यावत्प्रस्यंदते नेत्रं तावत्कालं महामते । भवान्न लज्जते कस्माद्रममाणो मया सह

yāvatprasyaṁdate netraṁ tāvatkālaṁ mahāmate bhavānna lajjate kasmādramamāṇo mayā saha

'As long as this eye remains open, O wise one, why do you not feel shame, sporting thus in my presence?'

Verse 28 (padma.2.58.28)

भवान्को हि समायातो निर्भयो मरणादपि । इंद्र उवाच- त्वामेवं हि प्रपश्यामि वनमध्ये समागताम्

bhavānko hi samāyāto nirbhayo maraṇādapi iṁdra uvāca- tvāmevaṁ hi prapaśyāmi vanamadhye samāgatām

'Who indeed are you, who have come here, fearless even of death?' Indra said: 'I see you thus, having come here into the midst of the forest.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.58.29)

समाख्यातास्त्वया शूरा भर्तुश्च तनयाः पुनः । कथं पश्याम्यहं तावद्दर्शयस्व ममाग्रतः

samākhyātāstvayā śūrā bhartuśca tanayāḥ punaḥ kathaṁ paśyāmyahaṁ tāvaddarśayasva mamāgrataḥ

'You have spoken of your husband's heroic sons as your protectors — how then can I see them? Show them to me now, before me.'

Verse 30 (padma.2.58.30)

सुकलोवाच- सनिजसकलवर्गस्याधिपत्ये निवेश्य धृतिमतिगतिबुद्ध्य्ख्यैस्तु संन्यस्य सत्यम् । अचलसकलधर्मो नित्ययुक्तो महात्मा मदनसबलधर्मात्मा सदामां जुगोप

sukalovāca- sanijasakalavargasyādhipatye niveśya dhṛtimatigatibuddhykhyaistu saṁnyasya satyam acalasakaladharmo nityayukto mahātmā madanasabaladharmātmā sadāmāṁ jugopa

Sukala said: 'Having established truth, entrusted to steadfastness, wisdom, right conduct, and understanding, in sovereignty over his whole host — that great soul, unwavering, wholly righteous, ever engaged, mightier than Madana himself, righteous of soul, has ever protected me.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.58.31)

मामेवं परिरक्षते दमगुणैः शौचैस्तु धर्मः सदा सत्यं पश्य समागतं मम पुरः शांतिक्षमाभ्यांयुतम् । बोधश्चातिमहाबलः पृथुयशा यो मां न मुंचेत्कदा बद्धाहं दृढबंधनैः स्वगुणजैः सांनिध्यमेवं गतः

māmevaṁ parirakṣate damaguṇaiḥ śaucaistu dharmaḥ sadā satyaṁ paśya samāgataṁ mama puraḥ śāṁtikṣamābhyāṁyutam bodhaścātimahābalaḥ pṛthuyaśā yo māṁ na muṁcetkadā baddhāhaṁ dṛḍhabaṁdhanaiḥ svaguṇajaiḥ sāṁnidhyamevaṁ gataḥ

'Thus does Dharma ever protect me, with the qualities of self-restraint and purity; behold, Truth itself stands here before me, joined with peace and forgiveness; and Understanding too, of exceeding might and vast renown, who never abandons me — I am bound fast with these unbreakable bonds born of my own virtues, in whose very presence I stand.'

Verse 32 (padma.2.58.32)

रक्षायुक्ताः कृताः सर्वे सत्याद्या मम सांप्रतम् । धर्मलाभादिकाः सर्वे दमबुद्धिपराक्रमाः

rakṣāyuktāḥ kṛtāḥ sarve satyādyā mama sāṁpratam dharmalābhādikāḥ sarve damabuddhiparākramāḥ

'All of them — Truth and the rest — have now been made my protectors; all of them, gain of dharma, self-restraint, wisdom, and valor.'

Verse 33 (padma.2.58.33)

मामेवं हि प्ररक्षंति किं मां प्रार्थयसे बलात् । को भवान्निर्भयो भूत्वा दूत्या सार्धं समागतः

māmevaṁ hi prarakṣaṁti kiṁ māṁ prārthayase balāt ko bhavānnirbhayo bhūtvā dūtyā sārdhaṁ samāgataḥ

'Thus indeed do they protect me — why then do you seek me by force? Who are you, who have come here, fearless, together with a messenger?'

Verse 34 (padma.2.58.34)

सत्यं धर्मस्तथा पुण्यं ज्ञानाद्याः प्रबलास्तथा । मम भर्तुः सहायाश्च ते मां रक्षंति वेश्मनि

satyaṁ dharmastathā puṇyaṁ jñānādyāḥ prabalāstathā mama bhartuḥ sahāyāśca te māṁ rakṣaṁti veśmani

'Truth, dharma, and merit, and mighty knowledge and the rest — these are the helpers of my husband, and they protect me in my house.'

Verse 35 (padma.2.58.35)

अहं रक्षायुता नित्यं दमशांतिपरायणा । न मां जेतुं समर्थश्च अपि साक्षाच्छचीपतिः

ahaṁ rakṣāyutā nityaṁ damaśāṁtiparāyaṇā na māṁ jetuṁ samarthaśca api sākṣācchacīpatiḥ

'I am ever protected, devoted wholly to self-restraint and peace; not even Shachi's own lord himself, in visible form, is capable of conquering me.'

Verse 36 (padma.2.58.36)

यदि वा मन्मथो वापि समागच्छति वीर्यवान् । दंशिताहं सदा सत्यं सत्यकेनैव नान्यथा

yadi vā manmatho vāpi samāgacchati vīryavān daṁśitāhaṁ sadā satyaṁ satyakenaiva nānyathā

'Or even if the mighty Manmatha himself should come — I am ever armored, truly, by truth alone, and by nothing else.'

Verse 37 (padma.2.58.37)

निरर्थकास्तस्य बाणा भविष्यंति न संशयः । त्वामेवं हि हनिष्यंति धर्मादयो महाभटाः

nirarthakāstasya bāṇā bhaviṣyaṁti na saṁśayaḥ tvāmevaṁ hi haniṣyaṁti dharmādayo mahābhaṭāḥ

'His arrows will prove useless, without doubt; and these great warriors, Dharma and the rest, will indeed strike you down.'

Verse 38 (padma.2.58.38)

दूरं गच्छ पलायत्वमत्र मा तिष्ठ सांप्रतम् । वार्यमाणो यदा तिष्ठेर्भस्मीभूतो भविष्यसि

dūraṁ gaccha palāyatvamatra mā tiṣṭha sāṁpratam vāryamāṇo yadā tiṣṭherbhasmībhūto bhaviṣyasi

'Go far away, flee now — do not remain here! If, though warned, you still remain, you shall become mere ashes.'

Verse 39 (padma.2.58.39)

भर्त्रा विना निरीक्षेत मम रूपं यदा भवान् । यथा दारु दहेदग्निस्तथा धक्ष्यामि नान्यथा

bhartrā vinā nirīkṣeta mama rūpaṁ yadā bhavān yathā dāru dahedagnistathā dhakṣyāmi nānyathā

'If you gaze upon my form without my husband's presence, then, as fire burns wood, so shall I burn you — and in no other way.'

Verse 40 (padma.2.58.40)

एवं श्रुत्वा सहस्राक्षो मन्मथस्यापि सम्मुखम् । पश्य पौरुषमेतस्या युध्यस्व निजपौरुषैः

evaṁ śrutvā sahasrākṣo manmathasyāpi sammukham paśya pauruṣametasyā yudhyasva nijapauruṣaiḥ

Hearing this, the thousand-eyed one said to Kama, facing him: 'Behold this woman's prowess — go now, fight with your own strength.'

Verse 41 (padma.2.58.41)

यथागतास्तथा सर्वे महाशापभयातुराः । स्वंस्वं स्थानं महाराज इंद्राद्याः प्रययुस्तदा

yathāgatāstathā sarve mahāśāpabhayāturāḥ svaṁsvaṁ sthānaṁ mahārāja iṁdrādyāḥ prayayustadā

Just as they had come, so all of them, tormented now with fear of a great curse, O great king, Indra and the rest, then departed each to his own abode.

Verse 42 (padma.2.58.42)

गतेषु तेषु सर्वेषु सुकला सा पतिव्रता । स्वगृहं पुण्यसंयुक्ता पतिध्यानेन चागता

gateṣu teṣu sarveṣu sukalā sā pativratā svagṛhaṁ puṇyasaṁyuktā patidhyānena cāgatā

When all of them had gone, that devoted wife Sukala, filled with merit, returned to her own house, meditating upon her husband.

Verse 43 (padma.2.58.43)

स्वगृहं पुण्यसंयुक्तं सर्वतीर्थमयं तदा । सर्वयज्ञमयं राजन्संप्राप्ता पतिदेवता

svagṛhaṁ puṇyasaṁyuktaṁ sarvatīrthamayaṁ tadā sarvayajñamayaṁ rājansaṁprāptā patidevatā

O king, she, that devotee of her husband, attained her own house, joined with merit, embodying every sacred tirtha, embodying every sacrifice.