अथ त्विदं प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मतत्त्वं निबोध मे। पुराणमृषिभिर्दृष्टं धर्मविद्भिर्महात्मभिः
Now I shall tell you the true principle of righteousness—listen to me; it was seen by ancient sages, knowers of dharma, great souls.
अनावृताः किल पुरा स्त्रिय आसन्वरानने। कामचारविहारिण्यः स्वतन्त्राश्चारुहासिनि
In ancient times, O lovely-smiling one, women were unconfined, free to go where they wished, independent.
तासां व्युच्चरमाणानां कौमारात्सुभगे पतीन्। नाधर्मोऽभूद्वरारोहे स हि धर्मः पुराऽभवत्
For those women, O beautiful one, taking husbands after reaching youth was not unrighteous; that was the dharma in ancient times.
तं चैव धर्मं पौराणं तिर्यग्योनिगताः प्रजाः। अद्याप्यनुविधीयन्ते कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः
Even now, creatures born in animal forms, free from desire and anger, follow that ancient dharma.
प्रमाणदृष्टो धर्मोऽयं पूज्यते च महर्षिभिः। उत्तरेषु च रम्भोरु कुरुष्वद्यापि पूज्यते। स्त्रीणामनुग्रहकरः स हि धर्मः सनातनः
This dharma, established by authority, is honored by the great sages; even today, O slender-waisted one, it is revered among the northern Kurus. This eternal law brings favor to women.
नाग्निस्तृप्यति काष्ठानां नापगानां महोदधिः। नान्तकः सर्वभूतानां न पुंसां वामलोचनाः
Fire is never sated with wood, nor the vast ocean with rivers; Death is never satisfied with all beings, nor are women with men.
एवं तृष्णा तु नारीणां पुरुषं पुरुषं प्रति। अगम्यागमनं स्त्रीणां नास्ति नित्यं शुचिस्मिते
In this way, the desire of women is directed toward every man; for women, O smiling one, there is no such thing as forbidden union.
पुत्रं वा किल पौत्रं वा कासांचिद्धातरं तथा। रहसीह नरं दृष्ट्वा योनिरुत्क्लिद्यते तदा
Whether it is a son, a grandson, or even a brother—when a woman sees a man in private, her womb is stirred.
एतत्स्वाभाविकं स्त्रीणां न निमित्तकृतं शुभे।' अस्मिंस्तु लोके नचिरान्मर्यादेयं शुचिस्मिते
This is natural for women, O auspicious one, not caused by any external reason; but in this world, O smiling one, this custom did not last long.
स्थापिता येन यस्माच्च तन्मे विस्तरतः शृणु। बभूवोद्दालको नाम महर्षिरिति नः श्रुतम्
Hear from me in detail by whom and how this custom was established; there was a great sage named Uddālaka, as we have heard.
श्वेतकेतुरिति ख्यातः पुत्रस्तस्याभवन्मुनिः। मर्यादेयं कृता तेन धर्म्या वै श्वेतकेतुना
His son was the sage known as Śvetaketu; it was he, Śvetaketu, who established this righteous custom.
कोपात्कमलपत्राक्षि यदर्थं तन्निबोध मे
Listen to me, lotus-eyed one, for what reason, out of anger, he did this.
श्वेतकेतोः पिता देवि तप उग्रं समास्थितः। ग्रीष्मे पञ्चतपा भूत्वा वर्षास्वाकाशगोऽभवत्
Śvetaketu's father, O goddess, undertook severe austerities; in the summer, he practiced the five-fire vow, and in the rainy season, he remained under the open sky.
शिशइरे सलिलस्थायी सह पत्न्या महातपाः। उद्दालकं तपस्यन्तं नियमेन समाहितम्
In winter, he stood in water together with his wife, that great ascetic Uddālaka, engaged in strict penance with discipline and concentration.
तस्य पुत्रः श्वेतकेतुः परिचर्यां चकार ह। अभ्यागच्छद्द्विजः कश्चिद्वलीपलितसंततः
His son Śvetaketu served him; then a certain brahmin, aged and gray-haired, arrived.
तं दृष्ट्वैव मुनिः प्रीतः पूजयामास शास्त्रतः। स्वागतेन च पाद्येन मृदुवाक्यैश्च भारत
Seeing him, the sage was pleased and honored him according to the scriptures—with words of welcome, water for washing feet, and gentle speech, O Bhārata.
शाकमूलफलाद्यैश्च वन्यैरन्यैरपूजयत्। क्षुत्पिपासाश्रमेंणार्तः पूजितश्च महर्षिणा
He also honored him with wild greens, roots, fruits, and other forest fare; the guest, weary from hunger, thirst, and hardship, was thus received by the great sage.
विश्रान्तो मुनिमासाद्य पर्यपृच्छद्द्विजस्तदा। उद्दालक महर्षे त्वं सत्यं मे ब्रूहि माऽनृतम्
After resting, the brahmin approached the sage and asked: 'O great sage Uddālaka, tell me the truth, do not speak falsely.'
ऋषिपुत्रः कुमारोऽयं दर्शनीयो विशेषतः। तव पुत्रमिमं मन्ये कृतकृत्योऽसि तद्वद
'This boy, son of a sage, is especially handsome; I think he is your son—tell me, have you accomplished your purpose?'
मम पत्नी महाप्राज्ञ कुशिकस्य सुता मता। मामेवानुगता पत्नी मम नित्यमनुव्रता
'My wife, O wise one, is the daughter of Kuśika; she is devoted to me alone, always faithful to me.'
अरुन्धतीव पत्नीनां तपसा कर्शितस्तनी। अस्यां जातः श्वेतकेतुर्मम पुत्रो महातपाः
'Like Arundhatī among wives, her austerities have made her thin-breasted; from her was born Śvetaketu, my son, a great ascetic.'
वेदवेदाङ्गविद्विप्र मच्छासनपरायणः। लोकज्ञः सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतः सत्यवाग्घृणी
'He is a learned brahmin, versed in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas, devoted to my instruction, wise in worldly matters, renowned among all people, truthful, and compassionate.'
अपुत्री भार्यया चार्थी वृद्धोऽहं मन्दचाक्षुषः। पित्र्यादृणादनिर्मुक्तः पूर्वमेवाकृतस्त्रियः
I am old, weak of sight, seeking wealth with a wife but no son; I am not yet freed from ancestral debts, nor have I taken a second wife before.
प्रजारणिस्तु पत्नी ते कुलशीलसमन्विता। सदृशी मम गोत्रेण वहाम्येनां क्षमस्व मे
Your wife, endowed with noble conduct and of a fitting lineage, is suitable for producing offspring; I wish to take her—please forgive me.
इत्युक्त्वा मृगशावाक्षीं चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बराम्। यष्ट्याधारः स्रस्तगात्रो मन्दचक्षुरबुद्धिमान्
Having spoken thus, the intelligent, weak-eyed elder, his limbs slack, leaning on a staff, approached the deer-eyed woman clad in bark and black antelope skin.
स्वव्यापाराक्षमां श्रेष्ठमचित्तामात्मनि द्विजः।' श्वेतकेतोः किल पुरा समक्षं मातरं पितुः
That twice-born man, intent on his own purpose, considered her the best, though her mind was elsewhere; this happened, it is said, before Śvetaketu, in the presence of his mother and father.
जग्राह ब्राह्मणः पापौ गच्छाव इति चाब्रवीत्। ऋषिपुत्रस्तदा कोपं चकारामर्षितस्तदा
The brāhmaṇa took the woman by the hand, saying, 'Let us go,' and at that moment the sage's son became angry and indignant.
मातरं तां तथा दृष्ट्वा नीयमानां बलादिव। `तपसा दीप्तवीर्यो हि श्वेतकेतुर्न चक्षमे
Seeing his mother thus being led away as if by force, Śvetaketu, whose austerity blazed with power, could not endure it.
संगृह्य मातरं हस्ते श्वेतकेतुरभाषत। दुर्ब्राह्मण विमुञ्च त्वं मातरं मे पतिव्रताम्
Grasping his mother by the hand, Śvetaketu spoke: 'Wicked brāhmaṇa, release my mother, who is devoted to her husband!'
स्वयं पिता मे ब्रह्मर्षिः क्षमावान्ब्रह्मवित्तमः। शापानुग्रहयोः शक्तः तूष्णींभूतो महाव्रतः
My own father is a brahmarṣi, patient and learned in the Veda, capable of both cursing and blessing, and steadfast in great vows, yet he remains silent.