Ushā said:—"You will undoubtedly be able to enter there through your Yoga power. O friend, what more shall I say? Hear what I speak. If I do not behold the moon-like countenance of Aniruddha, I shall forsooth repair to the temple of Yama. O generous lady, if works like these are undertaken readily they prove a success. If you therefore wish to see me alive proceed soon on your errand. If you regard me as your friend, I seek your help and ask you with love to bring soon my lover. If one cherishes fear against her life her family meets with extinction. The woman, who is striken with love, does not see the defect of her family. Those, which conduce to her pleasure, are the favourite objects of one stricken with love. And they always carefully seek for them. Such is the sanction of the Shastras. You will surely be able to enter into Dwaraka, O you of large eyes. I request you again and again. Bring my love here." (86-92).
Chitrālekha said:—"I have been propitiated by you with nectarine words. You have, with your sweet words, made arrangements for your own work. I am just going to the city of Dwārakā. Entering that city even to-day I will bring your husband Aniruddha born in the family of Vrishnis (93-94)."
Giving vent to those truthful words dreadful to the Dānavas, Chitralekhā, fleet like the mind, disappeared therefrom. In order to please her friend she, in the third Muhurtta, reached Dwārakā governed by Krishna. She saw there Dwārakā, adorned with palaces huge as the summits of the mount Kailāsha, like a star stationed in the sky (95-98).
CHAPTER CCLXVI. CHITRALEKHA UNITES ANIRUDDHA WITH USHA: ANIRUDDHA'S FIGHT WITH VANA'S SOLDIERS.
Vaishampāyana said:—Having arrived at the city of Dwārakā and living near the palace of Vāsudeva Chitrālekha began to think of the measures by which she might know how Aniruddha had been to the city of Vanā. While she was thus thinking she saw the ascetic Nārada engaged in meditation in the water (1–2). Seeing him, Chitralekhā, having her eyes expanded with joy, approached him. Having saluted him she stood before him hanging her head down. Having blessed Chitralekhā Nārada said:—"I wish to know truly why you have come here." Hearing it Chitralekha, with folded hands, said to the celestial saint Nārada worshipped of the world (3-5). "Listen to it, O Reverend Sir. I have come here as a messenger for taking Aniruddha with me. Hear, O Muni, why I am to take him with me. A great Asura, by name Vāna, lives in the city of Shonitapura. He has a most beautiful daughter by name Ushā. She has been attached to that best of men, Pradyumna's son, for he has been selected by her as her husband on account of the boon given by the goddess. I have come here to take him with me. Do what leads to my success. O great Muni, after I had taken Aniruddha to Shonitpura communicate the news to Keshava having eyes like red lotuses for truly an encounter shall take place between Krishna and Vāna. Highly powerful is the great Asura Vāna in battle, so Aniruddha will not be able to defeat him. The large-armed Keshava will vanquish that thousand-armed Asura. O reverend Sir, I have come to you for finding out the means by which the lotus-eyed (Keshava) may come to know of it. How shall I steal away Aniruddha and how may Keshava learn the real truth? O Sir, if you are propitiated with me I shall not have to fear Keshava. When angered the large armed Keshava can consume even the three worlds: do that by which Keshava, stricken with sorrow for his grand-son, may not consume me with a curse. You should, O celestial saint, concert a measure by which Ushā may get her husband and I may not have anything to fear (6-15)." Thus addressed by Chitralekhā the divine Nārada said to her the following sweet words:—"I offer you protection. Shorn of fear hear what I say. O you of sweet smiles, if any encounter takes place when you steal away Aniruddha to the appartment of maidens remember me. O beautiful lady, I am much fond of seeing battles and I take great pleasure in them. Accept the Tāmasa learning which can infatuate all the worlds and which I have mastered by practising hard austerities." After the great saint Nārada had said this, Chitralekhā, quick-coursing like mind, said "So be it." Thereupon having saluted the high-souled Rishi Nārada she set out in the sky searching for Aniruddha's house (17–21).
Thereupon going to the centre of Dwaravati she saw the beautiful palace of Kāma. Near it she saw Airuddha's palace. It had golden altars and pillars made of gold and sapphires. It was adorned with garlands and jairs full of water. It had beautiful figures of peacocks on the turret and had a rows of celestial buildings set with jems and corals and filled with the music of the Gandharvas. Beholding the huge palace at the centre of Dwārakā where Pradyumna's son lived happily, Chitralekhā, all on a sudden, saw Aniruddha there. She saw there Kāma's son playing in the midst of highly beautiful women as the moon shines amongst the stars. Hundreds of women were attending on him. Seated like Kuvera on a most excellent beautiful seat Aniruddha was drinking Mādhvika wine. There were being sung sweet songs in accompaniment with time. But Aniruddha's mind was not attached thereto. Many accomplished ladies were dancing there but Chitralekha did not see him pleased thereby. At that time his mind was not much after pleasure and he was showing dislike even for drinking. Thereupon thinking "Surely his mind is busy with the dream," Chitralekhhā was shorn of anxiety (22–31).
Beholding Aniruddha like Indra's standard in the midst of those beautiful women the intelligent Chitralekhā thus revolved in her mind "How shall I accomplish this work? How shall we meet with well-being?" Beholding Aniruddha in the midst of the women in his palace, the illustrious Chitralekhā, having beautiful eyes, thought:—"By my Tamasik illusion I will overpower all except Aniruddha". Thereupon hiding herself in the sky above the palace, she, in sweet words, said to Kāma's son:—"O hero! O descendant of Yadu, is it all well with you? Have you spent well the day and evening? O large-armed son of Rati, hear, I have something to communicate to you. I have come here to inform you something of my friend Ushā. O hero, I have been sent to you by Ushā whom you saw in a dream and married and who has been cherishing you at her heart. O gentle one, that maiden is again and again weeping, yawning and sighing for seeing you. O hero, she will live if you go there. Forsooth, in your absence she will die. O descendant of Yadu, although thousands of women are reigning in your heart still you should hold her by the hand who cherishes you at heart. Besides while conferring on her a boon the goddess pointed to you as her becoming husband. I have given her your portrait and she has kept it on her bosom. Keeping that portrait on her person she is surviving with the hope of seeing you. O foremost of Yadus, kindly satisfy her desire. O descendant of Yadu, myself and Ushā bow to you with bent heads. O hero, hear, I will describe now her birth, family, character, nature, and the history of her father. The daughter of the heroic Asura king Vāna, the grand-son of Virochana who lives in the city of Shonita, seeks your hand. Her mind is devoted to you and her life depends on you. Forsooth the goddess has selected her as your becoming husband. O Kāma's son, that beautiful maiden is living with the hope of being united with you (32–47)."
Hearing the words of Chitralekhā Aniruddha said:—"O beautiful lady, hear how I saw her in a dream. I am day and night beside myself with thinking of her beauty, weeping and other movements. O Chitralekhā, I wish to see my love. Therefore if I am worthy of your favour and if you wish to make friends with me take me there." The Apsarā Chitralekhā delightedly said "Accomplished is today what my friend wanted (48-52)."
Vaishampāyana said:—Informed of Aniruddha's desire the intelligent Chitralekhā said "So be it" (48–53). Crossing the road frequented by Siddhas and Chāranas Chitralekhā, all on a sudden, entered into the city of Shonitpura. By virtue of her illusory powers the great Chitralekhā, capable of assuming forms at will, invisibly arrived where Ushā was, and she then brought and showed to Ushā the heroic Aniruddha, beautiful like Kandarpa, clad in a beautiful raiment and adorned with various ornaments (54–57). Thereupon beholding him in the palace by her friend Ushā was filled with surprise and conducted him to her room. Having her eyes expanded with joy on seeing her lover Ushā, with Arghya, worshipped the Yadu prince in her own room. Thereupon welcoming Chitralekhā with sweet words, the maiden, in fear, quickly said to her:—"O you clever in work, how will this work be accomplished secretly? Everything will be well if it is finished privately. If it gets wind however our life will be in danger." Hearing it Chitralekhā said:—"O friend, hear what I have to say in this matter. The Providence destroys even manliness. By the favour of the goddess every thing will turn out in your favour. Besides if we carefully and secretly finish this work no body will be able to know it." Thus addressed by her friend she was consoled and said "So be it." Afterwards she said to Aniruddha—"By my good luck, that lucky person has been seen by me, who acted like a thief in a dream, and seeking whom as a lover, difficult to be found, I was stricken with sorrow. O hero, the heart of women is really tender and therefore I ask you 'Is everything well?'" (58–67).
Hearing those sensible and sweet words of Ushā, Aniruddha, the foremost of Yadus, replied in still sweeter words. Wiping the tears off the eyes of Vāna's daughter he smilingly said in words attracting her mind:—"O goddess, O fair one, O you of sweet words, I give you a happy tidings. Everything is well with me every where by your favour. O fair one, I had never seen this place before. Only once in a dream I came to this city of maidens. O timid girl, the words of Rudra's consort can never be untrue, and therefore by your favour I have come to this place. Thinking that the goddess will be pleased and you will be satisfied, I have come here and sought your protection. Be you pleased" (63–73). Thus addressed by her lover, Ushā, adorned with beautiful ornaments, conducted him to a private room and waited there as if stricken with great fear. Thereupon united in nuptials according to Gandharva rites they spent the day like a pair of Chakravākas. United with her husband, Aniruddha, the beautiful Ushā, adorned with celestial garlands and unguents, attained to an excess of joy (74–76). Although she lived happily with Aniruddha nobody could know it. But a few days after Vāna's guards came to know that Ushā was living with Aniruddha the foremost of Yadus adorned with celestial garlands and raiments and pasted with celestial unguents. Afterwards they speedily communicated to Vāna the conduct of his daughter which they had seen (77-79).