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."
इन्द्रोऽप्येषां प्रणमते किं पुनर्मानवो भुवि। अवलिप्ते न जानीषे वृद्धानां न श्रुतं त्वया
"Even Indra bows to them; what then of men on earth? But you, being proud, do not know this, nor have you heard the teachings of the elders."
ब्राह्मणा ह्यग्निसदृशा दहेयुः पृथिवीमपि। `सपर्वतवनद्वीपां क्षिप्रमेवावमानिताः
"Brahmins are like fire; if disrespected, they could quickly burn even the earth with its mountains, forests, and islands."
[नाहं बलाका विप्रर्षे त्यज क्रोधं तपोधन। अनया क्रुद्धया दृष्ट्या क्रुद्धः किं मां करिष्यसि]
"I am not a crane, O Brahmin sage; abandon your anger, O possessor of austerity. What will you do to me, angered by this angry glance?"
नावजानाम्यहं विप्रान्देवैस्तुल्यान्मनस्विनः। अपराधमिमं विप्र क्षन्तुमर्हसि मेऽनघ
"I do not look down on Brahmins, who are equal to the gods in mind. Forgive me this offense, O sinless one."
जानामि तेजो विप्राणआं महाभाग्यं च धीमताम्। अपेयः सागरः क्रोधात्कृतो हि लवणोदकः
I know the power of the Brahmins, and the great fortune of the wise; the ocean, though unassailable, became salty water because of their wrath.
तथैव दीप्ततपसां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्। येषां क्रोधाग्निरद्यापि समुद्रे नोपशाम्यति। `कस्तान्परिभवेन्मूढो ब्राह्मणानमितौजसः
In the same way, the fire of anger of those sages, whose austerity blazes and whose souls are purified, has not yet subsided in the ocean even today; what fool would insult Brahmins of immeasurable energy?
ब्राह्मणानां परिभवाद्वातापिः सुदुरात्मवान्। अगस्त्यमृषिमासाद्य जीर्णः क्रूरो महासुरः
Because of disrespect towards Brahmins, the wicked and cruel demon Vatapi was destroyed when he encountered the sage Agastya.
बहुप्रभावाः श्रूयन्ते ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम्। क्रोधः सुविपुलो ब्रह्मन्प्रसादश्च महात्मनाम्। अस्मिंस्त्वतिक्रमे ब्रह्मन्क्षन्तुमर्हसि मेऽनघ
Many wondrous powers are heard of the great-souled Brahmins; their anger is vast, O Brahmin, and their grace is also great. In this transgression of mine, O sinless one, you ought to forgive me.
पतिशुश्रूषया धर्मो य स मे रोचते द्विज। दैवतेष्वपि सर्वेषु भर्ता मे दैवतं परम्
The virtue that lies in serving one's husband is what pleases me, O Brahmin; among all the gods, my husband is my highest deity.
अविशेषेण तस्याहं कुर्यां धर्मं द्विजोत्तम। शुश्रूषायाः फलं पश्य पत्युर्ब्राह्मण यादृशम्
Without distinction, I would perform my duty to him, O best of Brahmins; see, O Brahmin, the fruit of service to one's husband.