राजंस्तवात्मजा कृष्णा वेद्यां तेजस्विनी शुभा। तस्मिंस्तस्या मनः सक्तं न चचाल कदाचन
O King, your daughter Krishna, radiant and auspicious, was devoted to him; her mind never wavered from him at any time.
तथा प्रणिहितो ह्यात्मा तस्यास्तस्मिन्द्विजोत्तमे
Thus, her self was firmly directed toward that distinguished Brahmin.
ब्रूहि तत्कारणं येन ब्रह्मन्नालायनी शुभा। जाता ममाध्वरे कृष्मा सर्ववेदविदां वर
Tell me, O Brahman, the reason why the auspicious Nalayani was born at my sacrifice as Krishna, O best among those who know all the Vedas.
शृणु राजन्यथा ह्यस्या दत्तो रुद्रेण वै वरः। यदर्थं चैव संभूता तव गेहे यशस्विनी
Hear, O King, how a boon was given to her by Rudra, and for what purpose the illustrious one was born in your house.
हन्त त कथयिष्यामि कृष्मायाः पौर्वदेहिकम्। इन्द्रसेनेति विख्याता पुरा नालायनी शुभा
Indeed, I will tell you of Krishna's previous incarnation; the auspicious Nalayani was formerly known as Indrasena.
मौद्गल्यस्य पतिमासाद्य चचार विगतज्वरा। मौद्गल्यस्य महर्षेश्च रममाणस्य वै तया
Having attained Maudgalya as her husband, she lived free from distress; and with the great sage Maudgalya, she enjoyed happiness.
संवत्सरगणा राजन्व्यतीयुः क्षणवत्तदा। ततः कदाचिद्धर्मात्मा तृप्तः कामैर्व्यरज्यत
Many years, O King, passed by like moments; then, at some time, the righteous one, satisfied by pleasures, became detached.
अन्विच्छन्परमं धर्मं ब्रह्मयोगपरोऽभवत्। उत्ससर्ज स तां विप्रः सा तदा चापतद्भुवि। मौद्गल्यो राजशार्दूल तपोभिर्भावितः सदा
Seeking the highest Dharma, he became devoted to Brahman-yoga; he abandoned her, and she fell to the earth; Maudgalya, O tiger among kings, was always perfected by austerities.
प्रसीद भगवन्मह्यं न मामुत्स्रष्टुमर्हसि। अवितृप्तास्मि ब्रह्मर्षे कामानां कामसेवनात्
Be gracious, O Lord, do not abandon me; I am unsatisfied, O Brahman sage, from the enjoyment of desires.
यस्मात्त्वं मामनिःशङ्का ह्यवक्तव्यं भाषसे। आचरन्ती तपोविघ्नं तस्माच्छृणु वचो मम
Because you speak to me without hesitation what should not be said, and you act in a way that hinders austerity, therefore hear my words.
भविष्यसि नृलोके त्वं राजपुत्री यशस्वि। पाञ्चालराजस्य सुता द्रुपदस्य महात्मनः
You will be, in the world of men, a famous princess, the daughter of the great-souled king Drupada of the Panchalas.
भवितारस्तत्र तव पतयः पञ्च विप्लुताः। तैः सार्धं मधुराकारैश्चिरं रतिमवाप्स्यसि
There, your husbands will be five, renowned; with them, possessing sweet forms, you will enjoy pleasure for a long time.
सैवं शप्ता तु विमना वनं प्रागाद्यशस्विनी। भोगैरतृप्ता देवेशं तपसाऽऽराधयत्तदा
Thus cursed, the illustrious one, distressed, went to the forest; unsatisfied by enjoyments, she worshipped the lord of gods with austerity.
निराशीर्मारुताहारा निराहारा तथैव च। अनुवर्तमाना त्वादित्यं तथा पञ्चतपाभवत्
Without hope, subsisting on air, and likewise without food, she followed the sun and thus became the performer of the fivefold austerity.
तीव्रेण तपसा तस्यास्तुष्टः पशुपतिः स्वयम्। वचं प्रादात्तदा रुद्रः सर्वलोकेश्वरः प्रभुः
By her intense austerity, Pasupati himself was pleased; then Rudra, lord of all worlds, spoke to her.
भविष्यति परं जन्म भविष्यति वराङ्गना। भविष्यन्ति परं भद्रे पतयः पञ्च विश्रुताः
You will have a supreme birth, you will be a woman of excellent qualities, and, O blessed one, you will have five illustrious husbands.
महेन्द्रवपुषः सर्वे महेन्द्रसमविक्रमाः। तत्रस्था च महत्कर्म सुराणां त्वं करिष्यसि
All will have the form of Mahendra and equal Mahendra in prowess; and there, you will accomplish great deeds among the gods.
एकः खलु मया भर्ता वृतः पञ्च त्विमे कथम्। एको भवति नैकस्या बहवस्तद्ब्रवीहि मे
Indeed, I have chosen one husband; how then will these five be yours? Tell me how one can have many husbands.
पञ्चकृत्वस्त्वया चोक्तः पतिं देहीत्यहं पुनः। पञ्चते पतयो भद्रे भविष्यन्ति सुखावहाः
You have asked me five times, 'Give me a husband'; therefore, O gentle one, you shall have five husbands who will bring you happiness.
धर्म एकः पतिः स्त्रीणां पूर्वमे प्रकल्पितः। बहुपत्नीकता पुंसो धर्मश्च बहुभिः कृतः
Righteousness decrees that a woman should have one husband, as established before; for a man, having many wives is sanctioned, and righteousness is accomplished with many.
स्त्रीधर्मः पूर्वमेवायं निर्मितो मुनिभिः सदा। सहधर्मचरी भर्तुरेका एकस्य चोच्यते
The duty of women was established long ago by sages: always to be a companion in righteousness to her husband, and it is said to be for one man only.
एको हि भर्ता नारीणां कौमार इति लौकिकः। आपत्सु च नियोगेन भर्तुर्नार्याः परः स्मृतः
It is customary that a woman has only one husband in her youth; but in times of distress, by prescribed rule, another may be considered her husband.
गच्छेत न तृतीयं तु तस्या निष्कृतिरुच्यते। चतुर्थे पतिता नारी पञ्चमे वर्धकी भवेत्
She should not go to a third; that is said to be her atonement. With a fourth, a woman is fallen; with a fifth, she becomes a prostitute.
एवं गते धर्मपथे न वृणे बहुपुंस्कताम्। अलोकाचरितात्त्समात्कथं मुच्येय सङ्करात्
Thus, following the path of righteousness, I do not choose polyandry; how then shall I be freed from the confusion caused by acting against custom?
अनावृताः पुरा नार्यो ह्यासञ्शुध्यन्ति चार्तवे। सकृदुक्तं त्वया नैतन्नाधर्मस्ते भविष्यति
In ancient times, women were unrestrained and purified at the seasonal period; since you have asked only once, this will not be unrighteous for you.
यदि मे पतयः पञ्च रतिमिच्छामि तैर्मिथः। कौमारं च भवेत्सर्वैः संगमे संगमे च मे
If I have five husbands and desire pleasure with them, let my youth be preserved with each union.
पतिशुश्रूषया चैव सिद्धिः प्राप्ता मया पुरा। भोगेच्छा च मया प्राप्ता स च भोगश्च मे भवेत्
By serving my husband, I have attained success before; I have gained the desire for enjoyment, and that enjoyment shall be mine.
रतिश्च भद्रे सिद्धिश्च न भजेते परस्परम्। भोगानाप्स्यसि सिद्धिं च योगेन च महत्त्वताम्
Pleasure and success, O gentle one, do not coexist; you will obtain both enjoyment and accomplishment through yoga and greatness.
अन्यदेहान्तरे चैव रूपभाग्यगुणान्विता। पञ्चभिः प्राप्य कौमारं महाभागा भविष्यसि
In another body, endowed with beauty, fortune, and virtues, you will attain youth with five, and become greatly blessed.
गच्छ गङ्गाजलस्था च नरं पश्यसि यं शुभे। तमानय ममाभ्याशं सुरराजं शुचिस्मिते
Go, O lovely one, and while standing in the waters of the Ganga, bring to me the man you see there, the king of the gods, O pure-smiling one.