āgateṣu - when they came; apayāteṣu - and they went; sā - she; saṅketa-upajīvinī - she whose only income was from prostitution; api - maybe; anyaḥ - another one; vitta-vān - who has money; kaḥ api - someone; mām - me; upaiṣyati - will approach for love; bhūri-daḥ - and he will give lots of money; evam - thus; durāśayā - with vain hope; dhvasta - spoiled; nidrā - her sleep; dvāri - in the doorway; avalambatī - hanging on; nirgacchantī - going out toward the street; praviśatī - going back into her house; niśītham - midnight; samapadyata - arrived.

As the prostitute Piṅgalā stood in the doorway, many men came and went, walking by her house. Her only means of sustenance was prostitution, and therefore she anxiously thought, “Maybe this one who is coming now is very rich… Oh, he is not stopping, but I am sure someone else will come. Surely this man who is coming now will want to pay me for my love, and he will probably give lots of money.” Thus, with vain hope, she remained leaning against the doorway, unable to finish her business and go to sleep. Out of anxiety she would sometimes walk out toward the street, and sometimes she went back into her house. In this way, the midnight hour gradually arrived.