“The Gandharva continued, ‘When that lady disappeared,
that feller of hostile ranks (King Samvarana) deprived of his senses by Kaamaa himself
fell down on the earth. As the monarch fell down, that lady of sweet smiles, prominent
and round hips appeared again before him, and smiling sweetly, said to that preserver
of Kuru’s race these honeyed words, ‘Rise, rise, O punisher of enemies! Blessed
be you; O tiger among kings, it is not your duty to lose your reason, a
celebrated man as you are in the world.’
“Addressed in these honeyed words, the king (Samvarana) opened his eyes
and saw before him that same girl of swelling hips. The monarch who was burning
with the flame of Kaamaa then addressed that black-eyed lady in accents, weak
with emotion, and said, ‘Blessed be you, O excellent woman of black eyes! As I
am burning with Kaamaa and paying you court, O, accept me! My life is diminishing
away. O you of large eyes, O you of the splendour of the filaments of the
lotus, for your sake it is that Kaamaa is incessantly piercing me with his sharp
arrows without stopping for a moment! O friendly and cheerful girl, I have been
bitten by Kaamaa who is like a venomous snake. O you of swelling and large hips,
have mercy on me! O you of handsome and faultless features, O you of face like to
the lotus-petal or the moon, O you of voice sweet as that of singing Kinnaras,
my life now depends on you! Without you, O faint-hearted one, I am unable to
live! O you of eyes like lotus-petals, Kaamaa is piercing me incessantly! O
large-eyed girl, be merciful to me! O black-eyed maid, it becomes you not to throw
me off; O handsome girl, it is your duty to relieve me from such pain by giving
me your love! At first sight, you have attracted my heart. My mind wanders! Looking
you I like not to direct my eyes on any other woman! Be merciful! I am your
obedient slave -- your adorer! O, accept me! O beautiful lady, O large-eyed
girl at the sight of you, the Kaamadeva has entered my heart, and is piercing
me with his arrows! O you of lotus-eyes, the flame of Kaamaa burns within me!
O, extinguish that flame with the water of your love poured on it! O beautiful
lady, by becoming mine, you pacify the irrepressible Kaamadeva that has appeared
here armed with his deadly bow and arrows and that is piercing me constantly
with those sharp arrows of his! O you of the fairest complexion, wed me
according to the Gandharva form, for, O you of narrowing hips, of all forms of marriage the Gandharva has been said to be
the best.’
“The
Gandharva continued, ‘Hearing those words of the monarch (Samvarana),
Tapati made answer, ‘O king, I am not the mistress of my own self! Be it known
that I am a lady under the control of my father. If you really entertain an
affection for me, demand me of my father. O king, you say that your heart has
been robbed by me. But you also have, at first sight, robbed me of my heart; I
am not the mistress of my body, and therefore, O best of kings, I do not
approach you; women are never independent. What girl is there in the three
worlds that would not desire you for her husband, as you are kind to all your
dependents and as you are born in a pure race? Therefore, when the opportunity
comes, ask my father Aditya (Lord Surya) for my hand with worship, Tapas, and vows (Vrata in Sanskrit). If my father gives me upon thee, then, O
king, I shall ever be your obedient wife. O bull amongst Kshatriyas (King
Samvarana), my name is Tapati and I am
the younger sister of Savitri, and the daughter of Savitri, of (Sun) the illuminator of the universe.’”
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