कथं शक्ष्यामि बालेऽस्मिन्गुणानाधातुमीप्सितान्। अनाथे सर्वतो लुप्ते यथा त्वं धर्मदर्शिवान्
How will I be able to instill the desired virtues in this child, who is helpless and utterly deprived, as you, knower of righteousness, once did?
इमामपि च ते बालामनाथां परिभूय माम्। अनर्हाः प्रार्थयिष्यन्ति शूद्रा वेदश्रुतिं यथा
Even this daughter of yours, left unprotected, will be sought after by unworthy men, disregarding me, just as Shudras seek the hearing of the Veda.
तां चेदहं न दित्सेयं सद्गुणैरुपबृंहिताम्। प्रमथ्यैनां हरेयुस्ते हविर्ध्वाङ्क्षा इवाध्वरात्
If I do not give her, adorned with good qualities, to a worthy man, they will seize her by force, as crows snatch the sacrificial offering from the altar.
संप्रेक्षमाणा पुत्रीं ते नानुरूपमिवात्मनः। अनर्हवशमापन्नामिमां चापि सुतां तव
Seeing your daughter, who is not suited to such a fate, and this daughter of yours fallen into the hands of the unworthy—
अवज्ञाता च लोकेषु तथान्मानमजानती। अवलिप्तैरैर्ब्रह्मन्मरिष्यामि न संशयः
And being scorned among people, deprived of honor, and insulted by the arrogant, O Brahmin, I will surely die—there is no doubt.
तौ च हीनौ मया बालौ त्वया चैव तथात्मजौ। विनश्येतां न सन्देहो मत्स्याविव जलक्षये
Those two children, deprived of me and of you, their father, will surely perish, like fish when the water dries up.
त्रितयं सर्वथाप्येवं विनशिष्यत्यसंशयम्। त्वया विहीनं तस्मात्त्वं मां परित्यक्तुमर्हसि
Thus, all three of us will certainly perish without you; therefore, you should not abandon me.
व्युष्टिरेषा परा स्त्रीणां पूर्वं भर्तुः परा गतिः। ननु ब्रह्मन्सपुत्राणामिति धर्मविदो विदुः
This is the highest duty for women: to follow their husband on his path; so, O Brahmin, the wise say, especially for those with sons.
अनिष्टमिह पुत्राणां विषये परिवर्तितुम्। हरिद्राञ्जनपुष्पादिसौमङ्गल्ययुता सती
It is not proper for a woman with sons to remain in this world, adorned with auspicious marks like turmeric, collyrium, and flowers.
मरणं याति या भर्तुस्तद्दत्तजलपायिनी। भर्तृपादार्पितमनाः सा याति गिरिजापदम्
She who drinks the water offered for her departed husband, with her mind fixed on his feet, attains the abode of the mountain-born goddess.
गिराजायाः सखी भूत्वा मोदते नगकन्यया। मितं ददाति हि पिता मितं माता मितं सुतः
Becoming the friend of the mountain-daughter, she delights with the maiden of the mountains; for a father gives in measure, a mother gives in measure, and a son gives in measure.
अमितस्य हि दातारं का पतिं नाभिनन्दति। आश्रमाश्चाग्निसंस्कारा जपहोमव्रतानि च
Who does not rejoice in a husband who is a giver of the limitless? Hermitages, fire-rites, muttered prayers, offerings, and vows—
स्त्रीणां नैते विधातव्या विना पतिमनिन्दितम्। क्षमा शौचमनाहारमेतावद्विहितं स्त्रियाः
These are not to be prescribed for women without a blameless husband; patience, purity, and moderation in food—these alone are enjoined for a woman.
परित्यक्तः सुतश्चायं दुहितेयं तथा मया। बान्धवाश्च परित्यक्तास्त्वदर्थं जीवितं च मे
This son has been abandoned, and likewise this daughter by me; relatives too have been forsaken, and my life is for your sake.
यज्ञैस्तपोभिर्नियमैर्दानैश्च विविधैस्तथा। विशिष्यते स्त्रिया भर्तुर्नित्यं प्रियहिते स्थितिः
By sacrifices, austerities, restraints, and various gifts, a woman does not surpass the constant devotion to the welfare and pleasure of her husband.
तदिदं यच्चिकीर्षामि धर्मं परमसंमतम्। इष्टं चैव हितं चैव तव चैव कुलस्य च
Therefore, this highest and most approved duty which I wish to perform is desired, beneficial, and for your family as well.
इष्टानि चाप्यपत्यानि द्रव्याणि सुहृदः प्रियाः। आपद्धर्मप्रमोक्षाय भार्या चापि सतां मतम्
Desired offspring, wealth, and beloved friends are for the release from the duty in adversity; and a wife too is considered by the virtuous for this purpose.
आपदर्थे धनं रक्षेद्दारान्रक्षेद्धनैरपि। आत्मानं सततं रक्षेद्दारैरपि धनैरपि
For the sake of adversity, one should protect wealth; one should protect a wife even with wealth; one should always protect oneself, even with wife and wealth.
दृष्टादृष्टफलार्थं हि भार्या पुत्रो धनं गृहम्। सर्वमेतद्विधातव्यं बुधानामेष निश्चयः
Wife, son, wealth, and house are for visible and invisible results; all this is to be regulated—this is the decision of the wise.
एकतो वा कुलं कृत्स्नमात्मा वा कुलवर्धनः। `उभयोः कोधिको विद्वन्नात्मा चैवाधिकः कुलात्
If the whole family is on one side and oneself, the increaser of the family, on the other, O wise one, the self is superior to both, and even more than the family.
आत्मनो विद्यमानत्वाद्भुवनानि चतुर्दश। विद्यन्ते द्विजशार्दूल आतमा रक्ष्यस्ततस्त्वया
Because of the existence of the self, the fourteen worlds exist; therefore, O best of twice-born, you must protect the self.
आत्मन्यविद्यमाने चेदस्य नास्तीह किंचन। एतज्जगदिदं सर्वमात्मना न समं किल
If the self does not exist, then nothing exists here; indeed, this whole world is not equal to the self.
स कुरुष्व मया कार्यं तारयात्मानमात्मना। अनुजानीही मामार्य सुतौ मे परिपालय
So do what must be done by me, save yourself by yourself; permit me, noble one, and protect my two sons.
अवध्याः स्त्रिय इत्याहुर्धर्मज्ञा धर्मनिश्चये। धर्मज्ञान्राक्षसानाहुर्न हन्यात्स च मामपि
It is said by those who know dharma, in the determination of duty, that women are not to be slain; those who know dharma say that even among the Rākṣasas, one should not kill, and that includes me.
निःसंशयं वधः पुंसां स्त्रीणां संशयितो वधः। अतो मामेव धर्मज्ञ प्रस्थापयितुमर्हसि
The killing of men is certain, but the killing of women is doubtful; therefore, O knower of dharma, you should send me away.
भुक्तं प्रियाण्यवाप्तानि धर्मश्च चरितो मया। `त्वच्छुश्रूषणसंभूता कीर्तिश्चाप्यतुला मम।' त्वत्प्रसूतिः प्रिया प्राप्ता न मां तप्स्यत्यजीवितं
I have enjoyed pleasures, obtained what is dear, and performed my duty; my unequalled fame has arisen from serving you, and a beloved son has been born to me—my life will not grieve me.
जातपुत्रा च वृद्धा च प्रियकामा च ते सदा। समीक्ष्यैतदहं सर्वं व्यवसायं करोम्यतः
Having borne a son, being advanced in age, and always desiring your good, seeing all this, I now make my resolve.
उत्सृज्यापि हि मामार्य प्राप्स्यस्यन्यामपि स्त्रियम्। ततः प्रतिष्ठितो धर्मो भविष्यति पुनस्तव
Even if you abandon me, noble one, you may obtain another wife; then your righteousness will again be established.
न चाप्यधर्मः कल्याण बहुपत्नीकता नृणाम्। स्त्रीणामधर्मः सुमहान्भर्तुः पूर्वस्य लङ्घने
Nor is the taking of many wives by men considered unrighteous or virtuous; but for women, the violation of a former husband's rights is a great wrong.
एतत्सर्वं समीक्ष्य त्वमात्मत्यागं च गर्हितम्। आत्मानं तारयाद्याशु कुलं चेमौ च दारकौ
Considering all this, and that self-destruction is condemned, quickly save yourself, your family, and these two children.