लोमश उवाच यदा त्वमन्यतागस्त्यो गार्हस्थ्ये तां क्षमामिति। तदाभिगम्य प्रोवाच वैदर्भ पृथिवीपतिम्॥
Lomasha said : When Agastya thought that she had become fit for leading a domestic life, he went to the ruler of the earth, the king of Vidarbha and spoke to him thus.
राजन् निवेशे बुद्धिर्मे वर्तते पुत्रकारणात्। वरये त्वां महीपाल लोपामुद्रां प्रयच्छ मे॥
O king, I have a mind to lead a domestic life for the sake of begetting offspring. O ruler of carth, therefore bestow on me Lopamudra; I solicit her.
एवमुक्तः स मुनिना महीपालो विचेतनः। प्रत्याख्यानाय चाशक्तः प्रदातुं चैव नैच्छत॥
Having been thus addressed by the Rishi, that king fainted away. He was unable to refuse, though he was unwilling to give.
ततः स भार्यामभ्येत्य प्रोवाच पृथिवीपतिः। महर्षिर्वीर्यवानेष क्रुद्धः शापाग्निना दहेत्॥
That ruler of earth then, going to his wife, said, "The great Rishi possesses great power. If angry, he can consumne us by the fire of his curse.
तं तथा दुःखितं दृष्ट्वा सभार्यं पृथिवीपतिम्। लोपामुद्राभिगम्येदं काले वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Seeing the king with his wife afflicted with sorrow, Lopamudra coming to them at that time spoke these words.
न मत्कृते महीपाल पीडामभ्येतुमर्हसि। प्रयच्छ मामगस्त्याय वाह्यात्मानं मया पितः॥
"O ruler of earth, you should not grieve on my account. O father, bestow me on Agastya and save yourself by giving me away."
दुहितुर्वचनाद् राजा सोऽगस्त्याय महात्मने। लोपामुद्रां ततः प्रादाद् विधिपूर्वं विशाम्पते॥
O king, at the request of his daughter that king then bestowed Lopamudra on the illustrious Agastya with all due rites.
प्राप्य भार्यामगस्त्यस्तु लोपामुद्रामभाषत। महार्हाण्युत्सृजैतानि वासांस्याभरणानि च॥
Having received Lopamudra as his wife, Agastya thus spoke to her. “Throw away these costly robes and ornaments."
ततः सा दर्शनीयानि महार्हाणि तनूनि च। समुत्ससर्ज रम्भोरुर्वसनान्यायतेक्षणा॥ ततश्चीराणि जग्राह वल्कलान्यजिनानि च। समानवतचर्या च बभूवायतलोचना॥
Thereupon that large-eyed damsel of Rambha-like thighs threw away her costly and handsome robes of fine texture. That largeeyed lady then dressing herself in bark, skin and rags, became equal to her husband in vows and acts.
गङ्गाद्वारमथागम्य भगवानृषिसत्तमः। उग्रमातिष्ठत तपः सह पल्यानुकूलया॥
Coming to the source of the Ganges that exalted one, that foremost of Rishis, began to perform severe austerities with his helpful wife.
सा प्रीता बहुमानाच्च पतिं पर्यचरत् तदा। अगस्त्यश्च परां प्रीति भार्यायामचरत् प्रभुः॥
She being much pleased began to serve her. husband with great respect and the exalted Agastya also showed great love towards his wife.
ततो बहुतिथे काले लोपामुद्रां विशाम्पते। तपसा द्योतितां स्नातां ददर्श भगवानृषिः॥ स तस्याः परिचारेण शौचेन च दमेन च। श्रिया रूपेण च प्रीतो मैथुनायाजुहाव ताम्॥
After a long time, O king, the illustrious Rishi one day saw Lopamudra, blazing in ascetic splendour, coming after a bath in her season. Being pleased with her service, with her purity, with her self-control, with her grace and beauty, he summoned her for the purpose of living with her.
ततः सा प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा लज्जमानेव भाविनी। तदा सप्रणयं वाक्यं भगवन्तमथाब्रवीत्॥
Thereupon that lady in love and bashfulness spoke thus with joined hands to the exalted one.
असंशयं प्रजाहेतोर्भार्यां पतिरविन्दत। या तु त्वयि मम प्रीतिस्तामृषे कर्तुमर्हसि॥
"The husband certainly narries a wife for the purpose of offspring. But O Rishi, you should show towards me that love which I bear for you.
यथा पितुर्गृहे विप्र प्रासादे शयनं मम। तथाविधे त्वं शयने मामुपैतुमिहार्हसि॥
O Brahmana, you should come to me on a bed like the one in which I used to lie in my father's house, his palace.
इच्छामि त्वां स्रग्विणं च भूषणैश्च विभूषितम्। उपसर्तुं यथाकामं दिव्याभरणभूषिता॥
I desire that you should be adorned with garlands of flowers and I too should be adorned with those celestials ornaments that I like.
अन्यथा नोपतिष्ठेयं चीरकाषायवासिनी। नैवापवित्रो विप्रर्षे भूषणोऽयं कथंचन॥
O foremost of Brahmanas, I can not go to you with these rags dyed in red; to wear ornaments is never unholy.
अगस्त्य उवाच न तेधनानि विद्यन्ते लोपामुद्रे तथा मम। यथाविधानि कल्याणि पितुस्तव सुमध्यमे॥
Agastya said: O Lopamudra, O blessed girl, O slenderwaisted maiden, I have not wealth like what your father possesses.
लोपामुद्रोवाच ईशोऽसि तपसा सर्वं समाहर्तुं तपोधन। क्षणेन जीवलोके यद् वसु किंचन विद्यते॥
Lopamudra said : O great ascetic, by your ascetic prowess you can in a moment bring here all the wealth that exists in the world of men.
अगस्त्य उवाच एवमेतद् यथाऽऽत्य त्वं तपोव्ययकरं तु तत्। यथा तु मे न नश्येत तपस्तन्मां प्रचोदय।॥
Agastya said: It is true what you say. But it would (simply) waste my ascetic merit. Bid me so do that which may not waste my ascetic merit.
लोपामुद्रोवाच अल्पावशिष्टः कालोऽयमृतोर्मम तपोधन। न चान्यथाहमिच्छामि त्वामुपैतुं कथंचन॥
Lopamudra said : O great ascetic, my season will not last long. I do not desire to live with you at any other time.
न चापिधर्ममिच्छामि विलोप्तुं तु कथंचन। एवं तु मे यथाकाम सम्पादयितुमर्हसि॥
I never also desire to diminish your virtue in any way. You should therefore do what I desire without injuring your virtue.
अगस्त्य उवाच यद्येष कामः सुभगे तव बुद्ध्या विनिश्चितः। हर्तुं गछाम्यहं भद्रे चर काममिह स्थिता॥
Agastya said: O blessed girl, O fortunate one, if you make this resolve in your mind, then I will go out in search of wealth. Mean-while here as you like.