अन्विष्य धर्मराज्ञो वै सा कन्या मिथिवंशजा
Seeking the king of righteousness, that maiden of the Mithila lineage—
श्यामला नाम चार्वंगी प्रसिद्धा श्रूयते श्रुतौ
She is known as Shyāmalā, beautiful in every limb, renowned in the scriptures.
वहस्व सर्वव्यापारं श्यामले त्वं गृहे मम
O Shyāmalā, bear all the household duties in my home.
किं त्वेते पंजराः सप्त कीलकैरतियंत्रिताः
But what are these seven cages, tightly fastened with bolts?
एवमस्त्विति साप्युक्ता निजं कर्म चकार ह उद्धाटयित्वा प्रथमं ददर्श जननीं स्वकाम्
When she was thus addressed, she performed her own task; opening the first, she saw her own mother.
सा पच्यमाना क्रंदंती भीषणैर्यमकिंकरैः 4.54.
She was being cooked, crying out, tormented by the terrifying servants of Yama.
तथैव तालकं दत्त्वा व्रीडिता सा मनस्विनी
In the same way, having given the talaka, that noble woman became ashamed.
सुधावल्लिप्यमानां तां शिलातल्पेष्टकेन तु क्रकचैः पाट्यते मूर्ध्नि घण्टायुक्तैः करोल्बणैः
She was being smeared with nectar, but on a stone slab, with a brick, her head was being sawed by dreadful hands equipped with bells.
चतुर्थे पञ्जरे स्थाने भीषणैर्दारुणाननैः
In the fourth cage, in that place, with terrifying, fierce-faced beings—
पञ्चमे निहिता भूमौ कण्ठे पादेन पीडिता
In the fifth, she was placed on the ground, pressed at the throat by a foot.
षष्ठे चेक्षुयन्त्रगतां मस्तके मुद्गराहताम्
In the sixth, she was seen within a torture device, struck on the head with a mallet.
सप्तमे पञ्जरे चीर्णस्वनां पूतिकगंधिनीम् श्यामला म्लानवदना किंचिन्नोवाच भामिनी
In the seventh, she was in a cage, making faint sounds, reeking of decay, dark, with a withered face; the lady spoke a little.
अथागतं यमं प्राह सरोषा श्यामला पतिम् येनेयं विविधैर्घातैर्वध्यते बहुधा त्वया
Then, as Yama arrived, the dark woman, angry, addressed her husband: 'By you, she is killed in many ways with various torments.'
यमः प्राह प्रियां दृष्ट्वा भद्रे ह्युद्घाटितास्त्वया
Yama, seeing his beloved, replied: 'O good lady, you have revealed it.'
तव मात्रा सुतस्नेहाद्गोधूमा ये हृताः किल
Because of your mother's affection for her son, she indeed took the wheat.
ब्रह्मस्वं प्रणयाद्भुक्तं दहत्यासप्तमं कुलम् 4.54.
Enjoying Brahmin property out of affection burns up to the seventh generation.
गोधूमास्त इमे भूताः कृमिरूपाः सुदारुणाः
These wheat grains have become terrible worms.
तथापि त्वां समासाद्य सा च जामातरं शुभम्
Nevertheless, having met you, she and her virtuous son-in-law—
तच्छ्रुत्वा चिन्तयाविष्टश्चिरं स्थित्वा जगाद ताम्
Hearing this, he stood for a long time, absorbed in thought, and then spoke to her.
इतश्च सप्तमेऽतीते जन्मनि ब्राह्मणी शुभा बुधाष्टमी सुसंपूर्णा यथोक्तफलदायिनी
In the seventh past life from here, she was a virtuous Brahmin woman; on a fully completed Wednesday eighth, she gave the prescribed fruit.
तत्फलं यद्ददास्यस्यै सत्यं कृत्वा ममाग्रतः
The fruit she will give her, let it be given truly before me.
ऊर्मिला रूपसंपन्ना दिव्यदेहधरा शुभा
Urmiḷā, endowed with beauty, bearing a divine body, auspicious—
भर्तुः समीपे स्वर्गस्था दृश्यतेऽद्यापि सा जनैः विस्फुरंती महाराज बुधाष्टम्याः प्रभावतः
She is seen even today by people near her husband in heaven, shining forth, O great king, by the power of the Wednesday eighth.
तस्या एव विधिं ब्रूहि यदि तुष्टोसि मे प्रभो
Tell me her observance, O Lord, if you are pleased with me.
यदायदा सिताष्टम्यां बुधवारो भवेद्यदि
Whenever the eighth lunar day falls on a Wednesday—
स्नात्वा नद्यां तु पूर्वाह्ने गृहीत्वा कलशं नवम् 4.54.
After bathing in the river in the forenoon, one should take a new pot.
अष्टवारान्प्रकर्तव्या विधानैस्तु पृथक्पृथक्
The observance should be performed eight times, each with separate rites.
तृतीया घृतपूपैश्च चतुर्थी वटकैर्नृप
On the third, with cakes made of ghee; on the fourth, with balls of food, O king.
अशोकवर्तिभिः शुभ्रैः सप्तमी खंडसंयुतैः एवं क्रमेण कर्तव्या सुहृत्स्वजनबांधवैः
With pure aśoka branches, accompanied by the seventh part, this should be performed in order among friends, relatives, and kinsmen.
सह कृत्वा स्थितैर्भोज्यं भोक्तव्यं स्वस्थमानसैः
Having gathered together, one should eat the food with a peaceful mind.