12 - Stipulation of the conditions

Vasishtha said:

1-3. When these splendid words were uttered by Mohini, the leading king opened his eyes resembling a lotus. Deluded by the sight of Mohini, he uttered the following words in a faltering tone “O young woman, many ladies with faces like the full moon have been seen and enjoyed by me. But I have never seen such a beautiful person like yours; such personal beauty as you have, fascinates the whole world.

4. O fair-faced lady, by your sheer sight I have been struck and hit by the arrows of Cupid. I have suddenly fallen on the Earth. O gentle lady, I prattled much on being fascinated by your brilliance.

5. O  lady  of beautiful       thighs resembling the trunk of an elephant, be favourable to me. I shall grant         you whatever you have in mind. My mind has been bound by your love and as such there is nothing in the three worlds that is not worth giving to you.

6-7. O lady of beautiful eyebrows, I am ready to give you this entire Earth whose limbs are bedecked in the mountains, whose garments are the oceans, whose eyes are the moon and the sun, whose bosom are the clouds (or is supple and firm), whose body is well set with the firmament(?), whose face is a gold coin, whose nature is beautiful, whose private parts are the nether worlds, whose hair is constituted by many trees and who has seven mountain lips (?). O beautiful lady I will give you the Earth alongwith my treasury, elephants, horses and cities accompanied by the ministers and therefore hearty.

8. O Mohini of charming limbs, for a contact with you l will give even my soul; what then about wealth, gems etc? Be favourable to me.

9. On hearing the words of the king Mohini smiled, raised the king up and said in sweet voice.

10. O king, I do not wish to choose the Earth along­ with the mountains and oceans. Whatever I say on a certain occasion must be carried out without hesitation.

11-12. I will resort to you. There is no doubt about it. Enter into this agreement with me.

The king said:

O gentle lady, I will enter into that agreement whereby you shall be satisfied. For want of the sexual contact with you my body has attained well-nigh the tenth state (of a love born person).

Mohini said:

13. Give unto me your right hand that has practised many holy rites, whereby I will be able to believe in your words, O king.

14. You are a king. You practise religious and holy rites regularly. You have won fame for truthfulness in the three worlds. You will never utter a lie on any occasion. Still this is a worldly convention of making you promise which has been followed by you.

15.When Mohini said these words, the king who was overwhelmed with mental agony said with a delighted heart.

16. O beautiful lady, I have never uttered a lie since my birth. O fair complexioned lady, even in the course of fun and sports I have never spoken a lie.

17. Or of what avail are these words uttered by me by way of convincing you in so many words? Look that my right hand, marked by merits, is offered to you.

18. O beautiful woman, of lovely thighs, if I do not carry out your words, whatever merit has been accumulated by me ever since my birth shall become yours.

19. In case I fail to carry out your words) my virtue and piety have been given in exchange to you. O lady become my wife. I have been forcibly and extremely perturbed and excited by your beauty.

20. I am a king by name Rukmangada, the son of Rutadhvaja, born in the race of Ikshvaku. Dharmangada is my son.

21. O lady of charming eyes, under the pretext of hunting the deer, I have entered the forest. Then the pleasant hermitage of Vamadeva was seen by me.

22. Something was mentioned by that sage. Thereafter I was bid adieu by him. Riding on my excellent horse I came here to see mount Mandara.

23. With my mind curious and enthusiastic I was roaming over the excellent mountain, when the sweet song emanating from your mouth reached my ears.

24. Attracted by that song, I have approached you. O lady of charming eyes, you have come within the range of my vision.

25. Thereafter, O gentle lady, I fell unconscious on the ground. Now I have regained consciousness, thanks to your nectarine words.

26. O enchantress of the worlds, I consider myself as a person born again. It behoves you to favour me by replying to me suitably.

27. On being requested by the king thus, Mohini spoke in reply: -

O king, I am born of God Brahma and have come here for your sake.

28. On hearing about your fame, I was overwhelmed by Cupid. I have forsaken all gods, the chief of whom was Indra, and come to the golden mountain of Mandara.

29. With my mind in concentration, I stayed here engaged in penance. I am worshipping God Shankara, the Lord of the Devas, by offering (singing) songs unto him.

30. I consider presentation of music is the great favourite of the deities. O king, it is superior to all other Danas (charitable gifts) and it is the bestower of endless salvation.

31-32. Pashupati (god       Shiva)       is satisfied with it and has immediately granted me the boon. You, the king of the Earth has been attained by me and this was what I had liked. O king you are loved by me and I am loved by you.

33. After saying thus to him, Mohini caught hold of the hand of the king and quickly lifted him up even as he was lying on the ground like the thunderbolt of Indra.