03.249
Koṭikāśya said.
Who are you, O beautiful-browed lady, bending the branch of the kadamba tree? Standing in a solitary hermitage, you shine forth like a blazing flame of fire at night, swaying in the wind. (03-249-1)
You are endowed with extraordinary beauty; even in the forests, you do not seem to fear, why indeed? Are you a goddess, or a yakṣī, or perhaps a demoness? Or are you an excellent apsaras or a maiden among the daityas? (03-249-2)
A beautiful woman, the daughter of the king of serpents; or a roamer of the forest, or a woman of the night; or even if the wife of King Varuṇa, or of Yama, Soma, or the lord of wealth (Kubera). (03-249-3)
You may have arrived from the abode of the Creator, the Disposer, Savitṛ, the Supreme Lord, or even from Śakra (Indra); yet, you do not in fact ask us who we are, nor do we even know your master here. (03-249-4)
We, indeed, wishing to increase your honor, ask you, O auspicious lady, about your origin and your lord. Tell us truly your relations, your husband, your family, and also what exactly is the action you are performing here. (03-249-5)
I am the son of King Suratha, known among men as Koṭikāśya. That man standing in the golden chariot, like a fire on the sacrificial altar, O lotus-eyed one, is the King of Trigarta, the heroic Kṣemaṅkara. (03-249-6)
Beyond this person, this great archer—the foremost son of the king of the Kuṇindas—broad-shouldered, ever dwelling in the mountains, gazes at you in great wonder. (03-249-7)
But that one, the handsome, dark-complexioned young man standing near the lotus-pond, is the son of Subala of Ikṣvāku king; he is the slayer of enemies, O one with beautiful limbs. (03-249-8)
The standard-bearers go in the procession of whom; twelve princes of the Sauvira race, all in chariots yoked with red horses, blazing in sacrifices like fires. (03-249-9)
The names are: Aṅgāraka, Kuñjaraguptaka, Śatruñjaya, Sañjaya, Supravṛddha, Prabhaṅkara, Bhramara, Ravi, Śūra, Pratāpa, and Kuhara. (03-249-10)
O fortunate one, if you have heard of Jayadratha, the king of the Sauvīras—he is this man, whom six thousand charioteers, elephants, horses, and foot soldiers follow. (03-249-11)
Other brothers of his, undaunted in spirit, excelling in breaking enemy ranks, the eminent young Sauvīra heroes—these powerful ones follow the king. (3-249-12)
With these helpers the king approaches, protected like Indra by the troops of Maruts. Tell us, O Sukeśi, whose wife you are, and whose daughter. (03-249-13)
