ततः प्रादात्पिता कन्यां रुरवे तां प्रमद्वराम्। विवाहं स्थापयित्वाग्रे नक्षत्रे भगदैवते
Then her father gave the maiden Pramadvara to Ruru, arranging the marriage at an auspicious time under a star presided over by the gods.
ततः कतिपयाहस्य विवाहे समुपस्थिते। सखीभिः क्रीडती सार्धं सा कन्यावरवर्णिनी
After a few days, when the wedding was near, that maiden of excellent complexion was playing with her friends.
नापश्यत्संप्रसुप्तं वै भुजंगं तिर्यगायतम्। पदा चैनं समाक्रामन्मुमूर्षुः कालचोदिता
She did not see a snake lying asleep, stretched out across her path, and, prompted by fate, she stepped on it, desiring to die.
स तस्याः संप्रमत्तायाश्चोदितः कालधर्मणा। विषोपलिप्तान्दशनान्भृशमङ्गे न्यपातयत्
That snake, aroused by the law of time as she was heedless, struck her body fiercely with its poison-covered fangs.
सा दष्टा तेन सर्पेण पपात सहसा भुवि। विवर्णा विगतश्रीका भ्रष्टाभरणचेतना
Bitten by that serpent, she suddenly fell to the ground, her color gone, her beauty vanished, her ornaments and consciousness lost.
निरानन्दकरी तेषां बन्धूनां मुक्तमूर्धजा। व्यसुरप्रेक्षणीया सा प्रेक्षणीयतमाऽभवत्
She, with loosened hair, lifeless and no longer to be seen, became a source of grief for her relatives, though once most worthy of sight.
प्रसुप्तेवाभवच्चापि भुवि सर्पविषार्दिता। भूयो मनोहरतरा बभूव तनुमध्यमा
Struck by the serpent's poison, she lay on the ground as if asleep, and her slender form became even more enchanting.
ददर्श तां पिता चैव ये चैवान्ये तपस्विनः। विचेष्टमानां पतितां भूतले पद्मवर्चसम्
Her father and other ascetics saw her, fallen and writhing on the earth, radiant as a lotus.
ततः सर्वे द्विजतराः समाजग्मुः कृपान्विताः। स्वस्त्यात्रेयो महाजानुः कुशिकः शङ्खमेखलः
Then all the eminent twice-born, filled with compassion, gathered there: Svastyatreya, Mahajanu, Kushika, and Shankhamekhala.
उद्दालकः कठश्चैव श्वेतश्चैव महायशाः। भरद्वाजः कौणकृत्स्य आर्ष्टिषेणोऽथ गौतमः
Uddalaka, Katha, the illustrious Shveta, Bharadvaja, Kaunakritsa, Arstishena, and Gautama also came.
प्रमतिः सह पुत्रेण तथान्ये वनवासिनः। तां ते कन्यां व्यसुं दृष्ट्वा भुजंगस्य विषार्दिताम्
Pramati, along with his son and other forest-dwellers, saw that maiden lifeless, struck down by the serpent's poison.
रुरुदुः कृपयाऽविष्टा रुरुस्त्वार्तो बहिर्ययौ। ते च सर्वे द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तत्रैवोपाविशंस्तदा
Overcome by compassion, they wept; but Ruru, stricken with grief, went outside, while all those best of twice-born sat there at that time.
तेषु तत्रोपविष्टेषु ब्राह्मणेषु महात्मसु। रुरुश्चुक्रोश गहनं वनं गत्वाऽतिदुःखितः
While those great-souled brahmins were seated there, Ruru, deeply distressed, went into the dense forest and cried aloud.
शोकेनाभिहतः सोऽथ विलपन्करुणं बहु। अब्रवीद्वचनं शोचन्प्रियां स्मृत्वा प्रमद्वराम्
Then, overwhelmed by sorrow, he lamented much and bitterly, speaking words of grief as he remembered his beloved Pramadvara.
शेते सा भुवि तन्वङ्गी मम शोकविवर्धिनी। `प्राणानपहरन्तीव पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानना
She lies on the ground, slender-limbed, increasing my sorrow, her face like the full moon, as if she is taking away my very life.
यदि पीनायतश्रोणी पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणा। मुमूर्षुरपि मे प्राणानादायाशु गमिष्यति
If she, with full, broad hips and eyes like lotus petals, is about to die, will she swiftly depart, taking my life with her?
पितृमातृसखीनां च लुप्तपिण्डस्य तस्य मे।' बान्धवानां च सर्वेषां किं नु दुःखमतःपरम्
For my father, mother, friends, and all my kin, what greater sorrow can there be than this loss of one so dear, bereft of offerings?
यदि दत्तं तपस्तप्तं गुरवो वा मया यदि। सम्यगाराधितास्तेन संजीवतु मम प्रिया
If I have ever given, performed austerities, or properly honored my teachers, by that merit let my beloved live again.
यथा च जन्मप्रभृति यतात्माऽहं धृतव्रतः। प्रमद्वरा तथाद्यैषा समुत्तिष्ठतु भामिनी
And as I have been self-controlled and steadfast in my vows since birth, so may this radiant Pramadvara rise up today.
[एवं लालप्यतस्तस्य भार्यार्थे दुःखितस्य च। देवदूतस्तदाऽभ्येत्य वाक्यमाह रुरुं वने।।]
[As he lamented thus, grieving for his wife, a divine messenger approached Ruru in the forest and spoke these words.]
कृष्णे विष्णौ हृषीकेशे लोकेशेऽसुरविद्विषि। यदि मे निश्चला भक्तिर्मम जीवतु सा प्रिया
If my devotion to Krishna, Vishnu, Hrishikesha, Lord of the worlds, and enemy of the asuras is unwavering, let my beloved live.
विलप्यमाने तु रुरौ सर्वे देवाः कृपान्विताः। दूतं प्रस्थापयामासुः संदिश्यास्य हितं वचः
As Ruru lamented, all the gods, filled with compassion, sent a messenger, instructing him to speak words for Ruru's welfare.
स दूतस्त्वरितोऽभ्येत्य देवानां प्रियकृच्छुचिः। उवाच देववचनं रुरुमाभाष्य दुःखितम्
That pure and devoted messenger of the gods quickly approached and spoke the words of the gods to the grieving Ruru.
देवैः सर्वैरहं ब्रह्मन्प्रेषितोऽस्मि तवान्तिकम्। त्वद्धितं त्वद्धितैरुक्तं शृणु वाक्यं द्विजोत्तम
O Brahmin, I have been sent to you by all the gods; hear, best of the twice-born, the words spoken for your benefit.
अभिधत्से ह यद्वाचा रुरो दुःखान्न तन्मृषा। न तु मर्त्यस्य धर्मात्मन्नायुरस्ति गतायुषः
What you say in your grief, Ruru, is not in vain; but for a mortal, O righteous one, there is no return of life once it has departed.
गतायुरेषा कृपणा गन्धर्वाप्सरसोः सुता। तस्माच्छोके मनस्तात मा कृथास्त्वं कथंचन
Her life is gone, this unfortunate daughter of a gandharva and an apsaras; therefore, dear one, do not let your mind be consumed by grief.
उपायश्चात्र विहितः पूर्वं देवैर्महात्मभिः। तं यदीच्छसि कर्तुं त्वं प्राप्स्यसीह प्रमद्वराम्
Yet, a means has been established by the great gods in the past; if you wish to undertake it, you may yet obtain Pramadvara here.
क उपायः कृतो देवैर्बूहि तत्त्वेन खेचर। करिष्येऽहं तथा श्रुत्वा त्रातुमर्हति मां भवान्
What is the means established by the gods? Tell me truly, O celestial; hearing it, I shall do accordingly—may you be pleased to save me.
आयुषोऽर्धं प्रयच्छ त्वं कन्यायै भृगुनन्दन। एवमुत्थास्यति रुरो तव भार्या प्रयद्वरा
O descendant of Bhrigu, grant half of your lifespan to the maiden; thus your wife Pramadvara will rise again.
आयुषोऽर्धं प्रयच्छामि कन्यायै खेचरोत्तम। शृङ्गाररूपाभरणा समुत्तिष्ठतु मे प्रिया
O best of those who move in the sky, I give half of my lifespan to the maiden; let my beloved, adorned with beauty and ornaments, arise.