The Gandharva said: -
1. On the disappearance of the maiden, that chastiser of foes the king, being deprived of his senses by desire, fell on the ground.
2. On his falling down on the ground, that maiden of sweet smiles and of swelling and round hips, appeared again before the king.
3. The blessed beauty (Tapati) then spoke to that king, the perpetuator of the Kuru race, these sweet words.
4-5. Sweetly smiling, Tapati spoke thus in sweet words, “Rise, rise, O chastiser of foes be blessed. O best of kings, you are celebrated in the word, it does not befit you to lose your senses.” Having been thus addressed by her in these sweet words.
6. The king (opening his eyes) saw before him that maiden of swelling hips. The king then addressed that black eyed maiden thus.
7-9. In accents weak with emotion and his heart burning with the fire of desire, “O black eyed beauty. O excellent lady, be blessed. I am burning with desire; and I, therefore, solicit you. Accept me, my life is ebbing away. O lady of large eyes, O lotus eyed beauty, it is all for (not having obtained) you. The god of love pierces me day and night with his arrows. O blessed lady, I have been bitten by Kama (the god of love) who is like a large snake.
10. O lady of faultless features, O lady of tapering things, O lady of sweet voice as that of the Kinnaris, have mercy on me; my life depends on you.
11. O lady of beautiful and faultless features, O lady with the face like the lotus or the moon, O timid lady, I shall certainly be unable to live without you.
12. O lotus eyed lady, O lady of large eyes, the god of love is incessantly piercing me, be merciful towards me.
13. O black eyed lady, you should not abandon me. O handsome lady, you should relieve me from such affliction by giving me your love.
14. O blessed beauty, at the very first sight, my heart has been captivated by you. My mind wanders. Seeing you, I do not like to cast my eyes on any other woman.
15. O beautiful maiden, be merciful, I am your obedient (slave), (I am) your adorer; accept me. O beautiful lady, O large-eyed maiden, as soon as I saw you, he god of love,
16. Entered my heart and he is piercing me with his arrows. O large eyed lady, O lotuseyed beauty, the great fire of desire is burning within me.
17-18. Extinguish that fire by throwing on it the water of your love. O beautiful lady, pacify, by becoming mine, the irrepressible god of love that has appeared here (in my heart) armed with bow and arrows; he pierces me incessantly with his sharp arrows.
19. O beautiful featured maiden, O lady of tapering hips, many me according to the Gandharva form, for of all kinds of marriage the Gandharva form has been said to be the best.”
Tapati said: -
20. O king, I am not the mistress of my ownself. Know me to be a maiden living under the control of my father. If you really love me, ask me of my father.
21. O king, you say that your heart has been robbed by me; but you too have robbed my heart at the first sight.
22. O best of kings, I am not the mistress of my body; therefore I do not go near you. Women are never independent.
23. Is there any girl in the three worlds who would not desire for her husband such a king as you, kind to all your dependents and born of a noble race.
24. Therefore, when the opportunity comes, ask me of my father Aditya with due salutation, ascetic penances and vows.
25. O king, O chastiser of foes, if my father bestows me on you then asked, I shall ever be your obedient (wife).
26. My name is Tapati, I am the younger sister of Savitri. O best of Kshatriyas, I am the daughter of Surya, the illuminator of the Universe.
Thus ends the hundred and seventy fourth chapter, the history of Tapati, in the Chaitraratha of the Adi Parva.