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.
एवमुक्तस्तया भर्ता तां समालिङ्ग्य भारत। मुमोच बाष्पं शनकैः सभार्यो भृशदुःखितः
Thus addressed by her, the husband embraced her, O descendant of Bharata, and, greatly distressed, shed tears slowly together with his wife.
मैवं वद त्वं कल्याणि तिष्ठ चेह सुमध्यमे। न तु भार्यां त्यजेत्प्राज्ञः पुत्रान्वापि कदाचन
Do not speak so, gentle lady; stay here, slender-waisted one. A wise man should never abandon his wife or his children.
विशेषतः स्त्रियं रक्षेत्पुरुषो बुद्धिमानिह। त्यक्त्वा तु पुरुषो जीवेन्न हातव्यानिमान्सदा। न वेत्ति कामं धर्मं च अर्थं मोक्षं च तत्त्वतः
Especially should a wise man protect his wife here; though a man may live after abandoning her, he should never forsake these. He does not truly know desire, righteousness, wealth, or liberation.
तयोर्दुःखितयोर्वाक्यमतिमात्रं निशम्य तु। ततो दुःखपरीताङ्गी कन्या तावभ्यभाषत
Hearing the exceedingly sorrowful words of the two, the maiden, her body overwhelmed by grief, then spoke to them.
किमेवं भृशदुःखार्तौ रोरूयेतामनाथवत्। ममापि श्रूयतां वाक्यं श्रुत्वा च क्रियतां क्षमम्
Why do you both, afflicted with such deep sorrow, weep as if you are without support? Hear my words also, and after listening, do what is proper.
धर्मतोऽहं परित्याज्या युवयोर्नात्र संशयः। त्यक्तव्यां मां परित्यज्य त्राहि सर्वं मयैकया
According to righteousness, I must be abandoned by you both—of this there is no doubt. Abandoning me, save everything with just one of us.
इत्यर्थमिष्यतेऽपत्यं तारयिष्यति मामिति। अस्मिन्नुपस्थिते काले तरध्वं प्लववन्मया
The purpose of offspring is thus: 'He will save me.' Now that this time has come, cross over this danger with me as your raft.
इह वा तारयेद्दुर्गादुत वा प्रेत्य भारत। सर्वथा तारयेत्पुत्रः पुत्र इत्युच्यते बुधैः
Here, I may save you from this peril, or else after death, O descendant of Bharata; in every way, a son saves—therefore he is called 'putra' by the wise.
आकाङ्क्षन्ते च दौहित्रान्मयि नित्यं पितामहाः। तत्स्वयं वै परित्रास्ये रक्षन्ती जीवितं पितुः
My grandfathers always long for grandsons through me; therefore, I will myself strive to protect my father's life.
भ्राता च मम बालोऽयं गते लोकममुं त्वयि। अचिरेणैव कालेन विनश्येत न संशयः
And my brother is but a child; if you depart from this world, he will perish soon after—of this there is no doubt.