एतस्मात्कारणाद्राजन्पाणिग्रहणमिष्यते। यदाप्नोति पतिर्भार्यामिह लोके परत्र च
For this reason, O King, marriage is approved: whatever the husband attains, the wife shares, both in this world and the next.
पोषणार्थं शरीरस्य पाथेयं स्वर्गतस्य वै।' आत्माऽऽत्मनैव जनितः पुत्र इत्युच्यते बुधैः
For the nourishment of the body, provisions are needed even in heaven; the son, born from oneself, is called 'self' by the wise.
तस्माद्भार्यां पतिः पश्येन्मातृवत्पुत्रमातरम्। `अन्तरात्मैव सर्वस्य पुत्रो नामोच्यते सदा
Therefore, a husband should regard his wife as a mother, and the mother of his son; for the inner self of all is always called the son.
गती रूपं च चेष्टा च आवर्ता लक्षणानि च। पितॄणां यानि दृश्यन्ते पुत्राणां सन्ति तानि च
The movements, form, actions, tendencies, and marks seen in the fathers are also found in the sons.
तेषां शीलगुणाचारास्तत्संपर्काच्छुभाशुभात्।' भार्यायां जनितं पुत्रमादर्शे स्वमिवाननम्
Their character, virtues, and conduct—by contact, whether auspicious or inauspicious—are reflected in the son born of the wife, just as one's own face is seen in a mirror.
जनिता मोदते प्रेक्ष्य स्वर्गं प्राप्येव पुण्यकृत्। `पतिव्रतारूपधराः परबीजस्य संग्रहात्
The father rejoices on seeing his son, as a virtuous man rejoices on attaining heaven; but those who bear the form of a devoted wife, yet accept another's seed—
कुलं विनाश्य भर्तॄणां नरकं यान्ति दारुणम्। परेण जनिताः पुत्राः स्वभार्यायां यथेष्टतः
Destroying the lineage of their husbands, they go to terrible hell; sons born from another in one's own wife, as desired—
मम पुत्रा इति मतास्ते पुत्रा अपि शत्रवः। द्विषन्ति प्रतिकुर्वन्ति न ते वचनंकारिणः
Though considered 'my sons,' such sons are in fact enemies; they hate, oppose, and do not obey their supposed father.
द्वेष्टि तांश्च पिता चापि स्वबीजे न तथा नृप। न द्वेष्टि पितरं पुत्रो जनितारमथापि वा
The father also hates them, but not so with his own seed, O King; a son does not hate his father or his true begetter.
न द्वेष्टि जनिता पुत्रं तस्मादात्मा सुतो भवेत्।' दह्यमाना मनोदुःखैर्व्याधिभिस्तुमुलैर्जनः
Nor does the begetter hate his son; therefore, the son is truly one's own self. Even when tormented by mental sorrows and severe diseases, a person—
ह्लादन्ते स्वेषु दारेषु घर्मार्ताः सलिलेष्विव। `विप्रवासकृशा दीना नरा मलिनवाससः
Finds delight in his own wife, just as those scorched by heat delight in water; men, emaciated by exile, miserable, and clad in dirty garments—
तेऽपि स्वदारांस्तुष्यन्ति दरिद्रा धनलाभवत्।' अप्रियोक्तोपि दाराणां न ब्रूयादप्रियं बुधः
Even they are pleased with their own wives, and the poor rejoice on gaining wealth; even if spoken to harshly by their wives, the wise do not utter harsh words in return.
रतिं प्रीतिं च धर्मं च तदायत्तमवेक्ष्य च। `आत्मनोऽर्धमिति श्रौतं सा रक्षति धनं प्रजाः
Considering that pleasure, affection, and righteousness depend on her, and knowing from the scriptures that she is half of oneself, she protects wealth and offspring.
शरीरं लोकयात्रां वै धर्मं स्वर्गमृषीन्पितॄन्।' आत्मनो जन्मनः क्षेत्रं पुण्या रामाः सनातनाः
The body, the journey through life, righteousness, heaven, the sages, and ancestors—all these, and the field of one's own birth, are sustained by virtuous women, eternal and pure.
ऋषीणामपि का शक्तिः स्रष्टुं रामामृते प्रजा-। `देवानामपि का शक्तिः कर्तुं संभवमात्मनः
What power have even the sages to create offspring without women? What power have even the gods to bring about their own birth?
पण्डितस्यापि लोकेषु स्त्रीषु सृष्टिः प्रतिष्ठिता। ऋषिभ्यो ह्यृषयः केचिच्चण्डालीष्वपि जज्ञिरे
Even for the learned, creation is established among women; some sages have been born from sages, and even from women of low caste.
परिसृत्य यथा सूनुर्धरणीरेणुकुण्ठितः। पितुरालिङ्गतेऽङ्गानि किमस्त्यभ्यधिकं ततः
Just as a son, covered in the dust of the earth, runs to embrace his father's limbs, what could be dearer than that?
स त्वं सूनुमनुप्राप्तं साभिलाषं मनस्विनम्। प्रेक्षमाणं कटाक्षेण किमर्थमवमन्यसे
So you, having obtained a son, intelligent and full of longing, who looks at you with sidelong glances—why do you disregard him?
अण्डानि बिभ्रति स्वानि न त्यजन्ति पिपीलिकाः। किं पुनस्त्वं न मन्येथाः सर्वथा पुत्रमीदृशम्
Ants carry their own eggs and do not abandon them; why then would you not regard a son such as this in every way?
न भरेथाः कथं नु त्वं मयि जातं स्वमात्मजम्। `ममाण्डानीति वर्ध्ते कोकिलाण्डानि वायसाः
How could you not support your own son born from me? The cuckoo raises its own eggs, and so do the crows.
किं पुनस्त्वं न मन्येथाः सर्वज्ञः पुत्रमीदृशम्। मलयाच्चन्दनं जातमतिशीतं वदन्ति वै
Why then would you, who know all, not regard a son such as this? They say sandalwood born in Malaya is exceedingly cool.
शिशोरालिङ्गनं तस्माच्चन्दनादधिकं भवेत्।' न वाससां न रामाणां नापां स्पर्शस्तथाविधः
The embrace of a child surpasses even sandalwood; no garment, no woman, no water has such a touch.
शिशुनालिङ्ग्यमानस्य स्पर्शः सूनोर्यथा सुखः। पुत्रस्पर्शात्प्रियतरः स्पर्शो लोके न विद्यते
The touch of a son being embraced by his child brings happiness; in this world, there is no touch dearer than that of a son.
स्पृशतु त्वां समालिङ्ग्य पुत्रोऽयं प्रियदर्शनः। ब्राह्मणो द्विपदां श्रेष्ठो गौर्वरिष्ठा चतुष्पदाम्
Let this beloved son embrace you; the Brahmin is the best among bipeds, the cow among quadrupeds.
मुरुर्गरीयसां श्रेष्ठः पुत्रः स्पर्शवतां वरः।। त्रिषु वर्षेषु पूर्णेषु प्रजातोऽयमरिन्दमः
The murur is the best among the heavy ones; the son is the foremost among those who give the joy of touch. This enemy-subduer was born after three full years.
अद्यायं मन्नियोगात्तु तवाह्वानं प्रतीक्षते। कुमारो राजशार्दूल तव शोकप्रणाशनः
Today, by my command, this prince awaits your call, O tiger among kings, the remover of your sorrow.
आहर्ता वाजिमेधस्य शतसङ्ख्यस्य पौरवः। `राजसूयादिकानन्यान्क्रतूनमितदक्षिणान्
This descendant of Puru will perform a hundred horse sacrifices; he will accomplish other royal rites like the Rājasūya, with boundless gifts.
इति गौरन्तरिक्षे मां सूतके ह्यवदत्पुरा। हन्त स्वमङ्कमारोप्य स्नेहाद्ग्रामान्तरं गताः
Thus, the cow once spoke to me in the sky during childbirth: 'Alas! Lifting my own calf onto my lap, I went to another village out of affection.'
मूर्ध्नि पुत्रानुपाघ्राय प्रतिनन्दन्ति मानवाः। वेदेष्वपि वदन्तीमं मन्त्रग्रामं द्विजातयः
People greet their sons by smelling their heads; even among the Vedas, the twice-born recite this collection of mantras.
जातकर्मणि पुत्राणां तवापि विदितं ध्रुवम्। अङ्गादङ्गात्संभवसि हृदयादधिजायसे
You surely know the birth rites for sons; from limb to limb you arise, from the heart you are born.