सुरकार्यमिदं रम्भे कर्तव्यं सुमहत् त्वया। लोभनं कौशिकस्येह काममोहसमन्वितम्॥
O Rambha, this mighty service you will have to perform in the interest of the celestials, even to take Kausika with the witchery of love.'
तथोक्ता साप्सरा राम सहस्राक्षेण धीमता। व्रीडिता प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं प्रत्युवाच सुरेश्वरम्॥
Thus addressed by the intelligent thousandeyed deity, the Apsarā, O Rāma, with clasped palms, thus bashfully answered the chief of the celestials,
अयं सुरपते घोरो विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। क्रोधमुत्स्रक्ष्यते घोरं मयि देव न संशयः॥
O lord of the celestials, this mighty ascetic, Viśvāmitra, is a terrible person; and, without doubt, he will, O divine one, waxing wroth, curse me.
ततो हि मे भयं देव प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि। एवमुक्तस्तया राम सभयं भीतया तदा॥ तामुवाच सहस्राक्षो वेपमानां कृताञ्जलिम्। मा भैषी रम्भे भद्रं ते कुरुष्व मम शासनम्॥
And O god, even this is my fear, and therefore it behove you to favour me. Thus apprehensively addressed by her in fear, the thousand-eyed one answered that damsel trembling and staying with clasped hands, 'Never fear, O Rambhā, good to you! Do you perform my bidding.'
कोकिलो हृदयग्राही माधवे रुचिरदुमे। अहं कन्दर्पसहितः स्थास्यामि तव पार्वतः॥
Assuming the form of a Cole, captivating the heart, I will in this spring crowned with graceful trees, stay by your side in company with Kandarpa.
त्वं हि रूपं बहुगुणं कृत्वा परमभास्वरम्। तमृषि कौशिकं भद्रे भेदयस्व तपस्विनम्॥
Do you adding to your beauty, diverse blandishments bewitch this ascetic, Kusika's son, O gentle one?'
सा श्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य कृत्वा रूपमनुत्तमम्। लोभयामास ललिता विश्वामित्रं शुचिस्मिता॥
Hearing Indra's words, that comely damsel of luminous smiles, heightening her charms exceedingly inspired Viśvāmitra with desire.
कोकिलस्य तु शुश्राव वल्गु व्याहरतः स्वनम्। सम्प्रहृष्टेन मनसा स चैनामन्ववैक्षत ॥
He listened to the mellifluous strains of the Cole; and with a delighted heart, he beheld the fair one.
अथ तस्य च शब्देन गीतेनाप्रतिमेन च। दर्शनेन च रम्भाया मुनिः संदेहमागतः॥
Anon, listening to the warbling of the Cole and her own incomparable singing, as well as beholding Rambha, the ascetic began to entertain doubts.
सहस्राक्षस्य तत्सर्वं विज्ञाय मुनिपुङ्गवः। रम्भां क्रोधसमाविष्टः शशाप कुशिकात्मजः॥
And knowing for certain that it was the thousand-eyed deity who had devised all that, that foremost of anchorets, Kusika's son, overwhelmed with anger, cursed Rambha, saying,
यन्मां लोभयसे रम्भे कामक्रोधजयैषिणम्। दशवर्षसहस्राणि शैली स्थास्यसि दुर्भगे॥
Since, O Rambhā, you endeavour to seduce me who is bent upon subduing his anger and lust, you shall, O luckless one, remain as a stone for ten thousand years.
ब्रह्मणः सुमहातेजास्तपोबलसमन्वितः। उद्धरिष्यति रम्भे त्वां मत्क्रोधकलुषीकृताम्॥
And a highly energetic Brāhmaṇa equipped with ascetic energy, will, O Rambha, deliver you, stained because of my ire.'
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। अशक्नुवन् धारयितुं कोपं संतापमात्मनः॥
Thus said that exceedingly energetic and mighty ascetic Viśvāmitra, unable to contain his anger and indignation of heart.
तस्य शापेन महता रम्भा शैली तदाभवत्। वचः श्रुत्वा च कन्दर्पो महर्षेः स च निर्गतः॥
And in consequence of his mighty curse, Rambha was turned into a stone. Hearing the curse of the mighty saint, both Kandarpa and Indra left the place.
कोपेन च महातेजास्तपोऽपहरणे कृते। इन्द्रियैरजितै राम न लेभे शान्तिमात्मनः॥ बभूवास्य मनश्चिन्ता तपोऽपहरणे कृते। नैवं क्रोधं गमिष्यामि न च वक्ष्ये कथंचन ॥
O Rāma, on account of his anger, and his sense remaining still unsubdued he found no rest from deterioration of ascetic merit. And coming by decrease of ascetic merit, he thought within himself, ‘No more shall I suffer anger to exercise me, nor will I ever say anything to any.'
अथवा नोच्छ्वसिष्यामि संवत्सरशतान्यपि। अहं हि शोषयिष्यामि आत्मानं विजितेन्द्रियः॥
And I shall not breathe for an hundred years; and controlling my sense, I shall dry up my body.
तावद् यावद्धि मे प्राप्तं ब्राह्मण्यं तपसार्जितम्। अनुच्छ्वसन्नभुञ्जानास्तिष्ठेयं शाश्वतीः समाः॥
And so long as I do not attain Brāhmaṇa-hood as earned by my austerities, I shall suspending ny breath and abstaining from food, stay for a long lapse of time.
न हि मे तप्यमानस्य क्षयं यास्यन्ति मूर्तयः। एवं वर्षसहस्रस्य दीक्षां स मुनिपुङ्गवः। चकाराप्रतिमां लोके प्रतिज्ञां रघुनन्दन॥
And engaged in austerities, my form will not undergo any deterioration. That foremost of ascetics bound himself by this unparalleled vow to lead a life of such self-denial.