मातरंश्रेयसीं तात पितृनन्ये तु मेनिरे। दुष्करं कुरुते माता विवर्धयति या प्रजाः
Some consider the mother to be superior, O dear one, while others regard the father as such; for the mother performs the difficult task of nurturing the offspring.
तपसा देवतेज्याभिर्वन्दनेन तितिक्षया। सुप्रशस्तैरुपायैश्चापीहन्ते पितरः सुतान्
Through austerity, worship of the gods, reverence, endurance, and other excellent means, fathers too strive to support their sons.
एवं कृच्छ्रेण महता पुत्रं प्राप्य सुदुर्लभम्। चिन्तयन्ति सदा वीर कीदृशोऽयं भविष्यति
Thus, after obtaining a son—so hard to attain—through great difficulty, parents always ponder, O hero, what kind of person he will become.
आशंसते हि पुत्रेषु पिता माता च भारत। यशः कीर्तिमथैश्वर्यं तेजो धर्मं तथैव च
Indeed, O descendant of Bharata, a father and mother hope for fame, renown, prosperity, brilliance, and righteousness in their sons.
मातुः पितुश्च राजेन्द्र सततं हितकारिंणोः'। तयोराशां तु सफलां यः करोति स धर्मवित्
O king, he who fulfills the hopes of his ever well-wishing mother and father is truly a knower of righteousness.
पिता माता च राजेन्द्र तुष्यतो यस् नित्यशः। इह प्रेत्य च तस्याथ कीर्तिर्धर्मश्र शाश्वतः
O king, he whose father and mother are always pleased with him attains lasting fame and righteousness in this world and the next.
नैव यज्ञक्रियाः काश्चिन्न श्राद्धं नोपवासकम्। या तु भर्तरि शुश्रूषा तया स्वर्गं जयत्युत
Neither sacrifices, nor śrāddha rites, nor fasting—none of these—grant heaven as surely as devoted service to one's husband.
एतत्प्रकरणं राजन्नधिकृत्य युधिष्ठिर। पतिव्रतानां नियतं धर्मं चावाहितः शृणु
O king, with this topic in mind, listen attentively as I recount the established duty of devoted wives, O Yudhiṣṭhira.
कश्चिद्द्विजातिप्रवरो वेदाध्यायी तपोधनः। तपस्वी धर्मशीलश्च कौशिको नाम भारत
There was once a certain eminent twice-born, rich in asceticism and devoted to the Vedas, named Kauśika, who was steadfast in austerity and righteousness, O descendant of Bharata.
साङ्गोपनिषदान्वेदानधीते द्विजसत्तमः। सवृक्षमूले कस्मिंश्चिद्वेदानुच्चारयन्स्थितः
That best of the twice-born studied the Vedas with their branches and Upaniṣads, and, reciting the Vedas, stood beneath a certain tree.
उपरिष्टाच्च वृक्षस्य बलाका संन्यलीयत। तया पुरीषमुत्सृष्टं ब्राह्मणस्य तदोपरि
Above that tree, a crane had taken shelter, and it released its droppings right on the brāhmaṇa below.
समवेक्ष्यततः क्रुद्धः सममध्यायत द्विजः। `तां बलकां महाराज निलीनां नगमूर्धनि
Seeing this, the brāhmaṇa became angry and fixed his gaze upon the crane, O great king, as it sat hidden atop the tree.
भृशं क्रोधाभिभूतेन बलाका सा निरीक्षिता। अपध्याता च विप्रेण न्यपतद्धरणीतले
Overcome by intense anger, the brāhmaṇa glared at the crane and, by his thought, caused it to fall dead to the ground.
बलाकां पतितां दृष्ट्वा गतसत्वामचेतनाम्। कारुण्यादभिसंतप्तः पर्यशोचत तां द्विजः। अकार्यं कृतवानस्मि द्वेषरागबलात्कृतः
Seeing the crane fallen, lifeless and unconscious, the brāhmaṇa was filled with remorse and compassion, lamenting, 'I have acted wrongly, compelled by anger and aversion.'
इत्युक्ताव बहुशो विद्वान्ग्रामं भैक्षाय संश्रितः। ग्रामे शुचीनि प्रचरन्कुलानि भरतर्षभ
Thus reflecting repeatedly, the learned one entered a village to beg alms, moving among the pure households, O bull among the Bharatas.
देहीति याचमानोऽसौ तिष्ठेत्युक्तः स्त्रिया ततः। शौचं तु यावत्कुरुते भाजनस्य कुटुम्बिवी
As he begged, saying 'Give,' a housewife told him, 'Wait'; meanwhile, she was cleaning the vessel for the family.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राजन्क्षुधासंपीडितो भृशम्। भर्ता प्रविष्टः सहसा तस्या भरतसत्तम
Meanwhile, O king, her husband, greatly afflicted by hunger, suddenly entered, O best of the Bharatas.
सा तु दृष्ट्वा पतिं साध्वी ब्राह्मणं व्यपहाय तम्। पाद्यमाचमनीयं वै ददौ भर्तुस्तथाऽऽसनम्
Seeing her husband, the virtuous woman left the Brahmin aside, and gave her husband water for washing the feet, water for sipping, and a seat.
प्रह्वा पर्यचरच्चापि भर्तारमसितेक्षणा। आहारेणाथ भक्ष्यैश्च वाक्यैः सुमधुरैस्तथा
With humility, the dark-eyed woman attended to her husband with food, delicacies, and also with words that were very sweet.
उच्छिष्टं भाविता भर्तुर्भुङ्क्ते नित्यं युधिष्ठिर। दैवतं च पतिं मेने भर्तुश्चित्तानुसारिणी
Yudhishthira, she always ate her husband's leftovers, considering her husband as a deity, and followed his mind.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा नात्यश्नान्नापि चापिवत्। तं सर्वभावोपगता पतिशुश्रूषणे रता
By deed, thought, and word, she neither ate too much nor too little, being wholly devoted to serving her husband in every way.
साध्वाचारा शुचिर्दक्षा कुटुम्बस्य हितैषिणी। भर्तुश्चापि हितं यत्तत्सततं साऽनुवर्तते
She was righteous in conduct, pure, skillful, intent on the welfare of the household, and always followed whatever was beneficial for her husband.
देवतातिथिभृत्यानां श्वश्रूश्वशुरयोस्तथा। शुश्रूषणपरा नित्यं सततं संयतेन्द्रिया
Always self-controlled, she was ever devoted to serving the gods, guests, servants, and her mother- and father-in-law.
सा ब्राह्मणं तदा दृष्ट्वा संस्थितं भैक्षकाङ्क्षिणम्। कुर्वती पतिशुश्रूषां सस्माराथ शुभेक्षणा
Then, seeing the Brahmin standing there, desiring alms, while she was serving her husband, the auspicious-eyed woman remembered him.
व्रीडिता साऽभवत्साध्वी तदा भरतसत्तम। भिक्षामादाय विप्राय निर्जगाम यशस्विनी
Ashamed, that virtuous woman, O best of the Bharatas, took the alms and went out to the illustrious Brahmin.
किमिदं भवति त्वं मां तिष्ठेत्युक्त्वा वराङ्गने। उपरोधं कृतवती न विसर्जितवत्यसि
"What is this, lady? You told me to wait, but you did not dismiss me and instead delayed me," she said to the noble woman.
ब्राह्मणं क्रोधसंतप्तं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा। दृष्ट्वा साध्वी मनुष्येन्द्रसान्त्वपूर्वं वचोऽब्रवीत्
Seeing the Brahmin inflamed with anger, blazing with energy, the virtuous woman spoke first with words of conciliation, O king of men.
क्षमस्वविप्रप्रवर क्षमस्व स्त्रीजडात्मताम्। प्रसीद भगवन्मह्यं कृपां कुरु मयि द्विज
"Forgive me, O best of Brahmins, forgive the dullness of a woman; be gracious, lord, show me compassion, O twice-born one."
क्षन्तुमर्हसि मे विद्वन्भर्ता मे दैवतं महत्। स चापि क्षुधितः श्रान्तः प्राप्तः शुश्रूषितोमया
"You should forgive me, wise one; my husband is my great deity. He was hungry and weary, and I had to serve him."
ब्राह्मणआ न गरीयांसो गरीयांस्ते पतिः कृतः। गृहस्थधर्मे वर्तन्ती ब्राह्मणानवमन्यसे
"Brahmins are not greater than one's husband; for me, my husband is foremost. Abiding in the householder's duty, I do not slight Brahmins."