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.
बलाका हि त्वया दग्धा रोषात्तद्विदितं मया। क्रोधः शत्रुः शरीरस्थो मनुष्याणां द्विजोत्तम
It is known to me that you burned the heron in anger; anger is an enemy dwelling in the body of humans, O best of Brahmins.
मास्म क्रुध्यो बलाकेव न वध्याऽस्मि पतिव्रता'। यः क्रोधमोहौ त्यजति तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
Do not be angry like you were with the heron; I am not to be slain, for I am devoted to my husband. The gods recognize as a Brahmin one who abandons anger and delusion.
यो वदेदिह सत्यानि गुरुं संतोषयेत च। हिंसितश्च त हिंसेत तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
He who speaks truth here and pleases his teacher, and does not harm even when harmed—him the gods know as a Brahmin.
जितेन्द्रियो धर्मपरः स्वाध्यायनिरतः शुचिः। कामक्रोधौ वशौ यस्य तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
He who has mastered his senses, is devoted to righteousness, engaged in self-study, pure, and has desire and anger under control—him the gods know as a Brahmin.
यस्य चात्मसमो लोको धर्मज्ञस्य मनस्विनः। सर्वधर्मेषु चरतस्तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
He to whom the world is equal to himself, who knows righteousness, who is wise, and who acts according to all duties—him the gods know as a Brahmin.
योऽध्यापयेदधीयीत यजेद्वा याजयीत वा। दद्याद्वाऽपि यथाशक्ति तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
He who teaches or studies, who performs or causes sacrifices, or who gives as he is able—him the gods know as a Brahmin.
ब्राह्मचारी वदान्यो योप्यधीयाद्द्विजपुङ्गवः। स्वाध्यायवानमत्तो वै तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
Even a celibate, generous, and learned Brahmin, devoted to self-study and free from pride—him the gods know as a Brahmin.
यद्ब्राह्मणानां कुशलं तदेषां परिकीर्तयेत्। सत्यं तथा व्याहरतां नानृते रमते मनः
Whatever is beneficial for Brahmins, that he should proclaim for them; and his mind does not delight in falsehood, but in speaking truth.
धनं तु ब्राह्मणस्याहुः स्वाध्यायं दममार्जवम्। इन्द्रियाणां निग्रहं च शाश्वतं द्विजसत्तम
The wealth of a Brahmin, they say, is self-study, self-restraint, and honesty, and the constant control of the senses, O best of twice-born.
सत्यार्जवे धर्ममाहुः परं धर्मविदो जनाः। दुर्ज्ञेयः शाश्वतो धर्मः स च सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितः
Those who know righteousness declare that supreme righteousness is in truth and honesty; eternal righteousness is difficult to know, and it is established in truth.