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.
इत्युक्ता विश्वरूपेण रुद्रं कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्। जगाम गङ्गामुद्दिश्य पुण्यां त्रिपथगां नदीम्
Thus addressed by Vishvarupa, she circumambulated Rudra and went toward the sacred river Ganga, the triple-flowing stream.
पुरा वै नैमिशारण्ये देवाः सत्रमुपासते। तत्र वैवस्वतो राजञ्शामित्रमकरोत्तदा
Once, in the Naimisha forest, the gods were performing a sacrificial session; there, O king, Vaivasvata made peace with Shamitri.
ततो यमो दीक्षितस्तत्र राज- न्नामारयत्कंचिदपि प्रजानाम्। ततः प्रजास्ता बहुला बभूवुः कालातिपातान्मरणप्रहीणाः
Then Yama, consecrated there, did not take the life of any beings; as a result, the creatures became numerous, and with the passage of time, death ceased.
सोमश्च शक्रो वरुणः कुबेरः साध्या रुद्रा वसवोऽथाश्विनौ च। प्रजापतिर्भुवनस्य प्रणेता समाजग्मुस्तत्र देवास्तथाऽन्ये
Soma, Shakra, Varuna, Kubera, the Sadhyas, Rudras, Vasus, and the Ashvins, along with Prajapati, the lord of the world, and other gods, all assembled there.
ततोऽब्रुवँल्लोकगुरुं समेता भयात्तीव्रान्मानुषाणां विवृद्ध्या। तस्माद्भयादुद्विजन्तः सुखेप्सवः प्रयाम सर्वे शरणं भवन्तम्
Then, gathered together, they addressed the teacher of the worlds, fearful because of the great increase of humans; out of fear, desiring happiness, we all come to you for refuge.
किं वो भयं मानुषेभ्यो यूयं सर्वे यदाऽमराः। मा वो मर्त्यसकाशाद्वै भयं भवितुमर्हति
What fear do you have from humans, when you are all immortals? No fear should arise for you from mortals.
मर्त्या अमर्त्याः संवृत्ता न विशेषोऽस्ति कश्चन। अविशेषादुद्विजन्तो विशेषार्थमिहागताः
Mortals and immortals have become alike; there is no distinction at all. Disturbed by this lack of difference, they have come here seeking distinction.
वैवस्वतो व्यापृतः सत्रहेतो- स्तेन त्विमे न म्रियन्ते मनुष्याः। तस्मिन्नेकाग्रे कृतसर्वकार्ये तत एषां भवितैवान्तकालः
Vaivasvata is engaged in the sacrifice; for this reason, these humans do not die. When he, intent on a single purpose, has completed all his tasks, then their time of death will surely come.
वैवस्वतस्यैव तनुर्विभक्ता वीर्येण युष्माकमुत प्रवृद्धा। सैषामन्तो भविता ह्यन्तकाले न तत्र वीर्यं भविता नरेषु
It is only a portion of Vaivasvata that has manifested, and it has grown strong through your energy. That end will come for them at the appointed time; then, among men, your power will not prevail.
ततस्तु ते पूर्वजदेववाक्यं श्रुत्वा जग्मुर्यत्र देवा यजन्ते। समासीनास्ते समेता महाबला भागीरथ्यां ददृशुः पुण्डरीकम्
Then, having heard the words of the ancient gods, they went to the place where the gods perform sacrifice. Gathered together, those mighty ones sat and saw a lotus on the Bhagirathi.