Read the previous part here…
When she heard this, she wiped her tears and said softly “I love you more than I love myself, but please hear what I have to say to you. I have a request though – promise me that you will not punish me or think low of me, once I tell you what I have to say.
एकाकिनीं गृहोद्याने दृष्ट्वा माम् एकदा युवा ।
अरुणद् धर्मदत्ताख्यः सखा भ्रातुः स्मरातुरः ॥ १२,१७.३५ ॥
रक्षन्त्या सपरीवादं कन्यादानफलं पितुः ।
मया हठप्रवृत्तस्य तस्य वाक्संयमः कृतः ॥ १२,१७.३६ ॥
पूर्वं कृतविवाहा त्वाम् उपैष्यामि ततः प्रियम् ।
तन् मे सत्यवचः पाल्यम् अनुमन्यस्व तत् प्रभो ॥ १२,१७.३७ ॥
यावत् तन् निकटं गत्वा क्षणेनोपैमि ते ऽन्तिकम् ।
न हि शक्नोम्य् अतिक्रान्तुं सत्यम् आबाल्य सेवितम् ॥ १२,१७.३८ ॥
इति तस्या वचोवज्रपातेन सहसा हतः ।
समुद्रदत्तः सत्येन बद्धः क्षणम् अचिन्तयत् ॥ १२,१७.३९ ॥
अहो धिग् अन्यरक्तेयं गन्तव्यं ध्रुवम् एतया ।
तत्सत्यं हन्मि किं यातु को ऽस्याः परिणयग्रहः ॥ १२,१७.४० ॥
इत्य् आलोच्यानुमेने तां यथेष्टगमनाय सः ।
साप्य् उत्थाय ततस् तस्मान् निर्ययौ पतिवेश्मनः ॥ १२,१७.४१ ॥
Samudradatta consented, and so Madanasenā started to speak, her voice trembling with shame, sadness and fear…
“A few days back, a young man named Dharmadatta came to me when I was alone in the garden, and told me that he loved me and that he could not live without me. At first, I tried to avoid him, but then when I saw that he would go to any extent possible, I had to act fast so as to protect my modesty. And so I promised him that I would pay him a visit as soon as I was married, even before I spent a night with you.”
“And so I will have to go and visit him, to keep my word. For I cannot break a promise – I have never done so since childhood. Please permit me, for I cannot leave without your permission and agreement.”
Samudradatta’s heart sank when he heard this…but he also knew that he had promised her that he would not punish her or think low of her, and so he had to honor his own words too. He thought to himself…
“Oh my cursed fate! She is in love with someone else, and that is why she promised him this. How can I make her break her word, when it is possible that in her heart, she wants to go as well…What can I do to stop her? Nothing…”
And so he reluctantly agreed, and Madanasenā rose up and left the house.
तावद् अत्रोदयाद्रीन्द्रहर्म्याग्रं हिमदीधितिः ।
आरुरोह कराक्रान्तहसत्पूर्वदिगङ्गनः ॥ १२,१७.४२ ॥
ततस् तमःस्व् अप्य् आश्लिष्य स्थितेष्व् अद्रिदरी प्रियाः ।
सेवमानेषु भृङ्गेष्व् अप्य् अपरं कुमुदाकरम् ॥ १२,१७.४३ ॥
यान्ती मदनसेना सा मार्गे दृष्ट्वैकका निशि ।
चौरेणाधाव्य केनापि रुरुधे वसनाञ्चले ॥ १२,१७.४४ ॥
का त्वं ब्रूहि क्व यासीति तेनोक्ता बिभ्यती च सा ।
उवाच किं तवानेन मुञ्च कार्यम् इहास्ति मे ॥ १२,१७.४५ ॥
ततश् चौरो ऽब्रवीन् मत्तश् चौरात् त्वं मुच्यसे कथम् ।
तच् छ्रुत्वा सावदत् तं च गृहाणाभरणानि मे ॥ १२,१७.४६ ॥
अथ चौरो ऽभ्यधान् मुग्धे किम् एभिर् उपलैर् मम ।
चन्द्रकान्ताननां तार्क्ष्यरत्नासितशिरोरुहाम् ॥ १२,१७.४७ ॥
वज्रमध्यां सुवर्णाङ्गीं पद्मरागाङ्घ्रिहारिणीम् ।
जगदाभरणं नैव मोक्ष्यामि भवतीम् अहम् ॥ १२,१७.४८ ॥
The cold rays of the moon shone on the mountains, and the darkness embraced the caves and the trees, as Madanasenā made her way to Dharmadatta. The road was deserted, and so she walked fast.
In the meanwhile, a thief who was resting under a tree near the road, saw her walking alone and seizing the opportunity, rushed towards her and caught her hand.
“Who are you, and where are you going?”, he said.
“How does that matter to you?”, retorted Madanasenā, even though she was scared inside. “Let me go, I have someplace to reach.”
“I am a thief, my dear”, he said menacingly. “I do not let go of anything, least of all a beautiful girl like you!”
“Here”, said Madanasenā, as she began to remove her bangles. “Take all my ornaments, and let me go.”
“Why would I care for gold, o fair one?”, he sneered. “You are priceless – your face as beautiful as the moon, your hair as black as night, your beautiful body…I am not a fool to let you go!”
Madanasenā, now scared for her life, replied…
to be continued…