Section CLXXIV

"The Gandharva continued,

'When that maiden disappeared, that feller of hostile ranks deprived of his senses by Kama (concupiscence) himself fell down on the earth. And as the monarch fell down, that maiden of sweet smiles and prominent and round hips appeared again before him, and smiling sweetly, said unto that perpetuator of Kuru’s race these honeyed words,

'Rise, rise, O chastiser of foes! Blest be you; it behoves you not, O tiger among kings, to lose your reason, a celebrated man as you are in the world.'

Addressed in these honeyed words, the king opened his eyes and saw before him that selfsame girl of swelling hips. The monarch who was burning with the flame of desire then addressed that black-eyed damsel in accents, weak with emotion, and said,

'Blest be you O excellent woman of black eyes!
As I am burning with desire and paying you court,
O, accept me! My life is ebbing away.
O you of large eyes, for your sake it is,
O you of the splendour of the filaments of the lotus, that Kama is incessantly piercing me with his keen shafts without stopping for a moment!
O amiable and cheerful girl, I have been bitten by Kama who is even like a venomous viper.
O you of swelling and large hips, have mercy on me!
O you of handsome and faultless features,
O you of face like unto 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 timid one, I am unable to live!
O you of eyes like lotus-petals, Kama is piercing me incessantly!
O large-eyed girl, be merciful unto me!
It becomes you not, O black-eyed maid, to cast me off;
O handsome girl, it behoves you to relieve me from such affliction by giving me your love!

At first sight you have attracted my heart. My mind wanders! Beholding you I like not to cast 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 god of desire has entered my heart,
and is piercing me with his shafts!

O you of lotus-eyes, the flame of desire burns within me!
O, extinguish that flame with the water of your love poured on it!

O beautiful lady, by becoming mine, pacify you the irrepressible god of desire that has appeared here armed with his deadly bow and arrows and that is piercing me incessantly with those keen shafts of his!

O you of the fairest complexion, wed me according to the Gandharva form, for,
O you of tapering hips, of all forms of marriage the Gandharva has been said to be the best.'

"The Gandharva continued,

'Hearing those words of the monarch, Tapati made answer,

'O king, I am not the mistress of my own self! Be it known that I am a maiden under the control of my father. If you really entertainest an affection for me, demand me of my father. You sayest, O king, that your heart has been robbed by me.

But you also hast, 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 unto all your dependents and as you are born in a pure race?

Therefore, when the opportunity comes, ask my father Aditya for my hand with worship, ascetic penances, and vows. If my father bestows me upon you, then, O king, I shall ever be your obedient wife.

My name is Tapati and I am the younger sister of Savitri, and the daughter, O bull amongst Kshatriyas of Savitri, of (Sun) the illuminator of the universe.'"