तमागतं समालोक्य स राजा शोकतत्परः
Seeing him who had arrived, the king, absorbed in sorrow,
कृष्णांशाद्यैर्महाशूरैर्मद्ग्रामे भयमागतम्
By the mighty heroes, beginning with Krishna's portion, fear had come to my village.
इत्युक्तस्स तु शुद्धात्मा ध्यात्वा सर्वमयीं शिवाम्
Thus addressed, the pure-hearted one, meditating on the all-pervading Shiva,
जिष्णोरंशात्समुद्भूतो ब्रह्मानंदो महावतीम्
From a portion of Jishnu was born Brahmananda, of great might.
यदा च मलनापुत्रो देहं त्यक्त्वा गमिष्यति
And when Malana's son will depart, having abandoned the body,
इत्येवंवादिनं धीरममात्यं च महीपतिः
Thus, as he was speaking in this way, the steadfast minister was addressed by the king.
एकाकिनं महाशूरं ब्रह्मानंदं नृपोत्तमम् छद्मना घातयित्वा तं कृतकृत्यो भविष्यति
Having deceitfully slain Brahmananda, the great hero and foremost of kings, while he was alone, he will consider his purpose accomplished.
इत्युक्ते नृपतिं प्राह महीराजः प्रसन्नधीः
When this was said, the king with a clear mind addressed the lord of the earth.
मलनां च समागत्य बोधयित्वा तु तां स्वयम् 3.3.31.
Then, having approached Malana, he himself informed her.
इति श्रुत्वा तु वचनं नत्वा तं च महीपतिः
Hearing these words, the king bowed to him.
वधूस्तव महाराज्ञि वेला नाम सुरूपिणी
O great queen, your maidservant is Velā by name, beautiful in form.
कुजातिश्चैव कृष्णांशः श्रुतो राज्ञा महात्मना अतो मद्वचनं मत्वा कुरु कार्यं तव प्रियम्
She is of a low caste and dark-complexioned, as the great-souled king has heard; therefore, considering my words, do what is pleasing to you.
मया सार्द्धं तव सुतो ब्रह्मानंदो महाबलः
Together with me, your son Brahmananda, mighty in strength—
महीराजमुपागम्य पत्नीं शीघ्रमवाप्स्यति
—will quickly obtain a wife by approaching the king of the earth.
इति श्रुत्वा तु सा राज्ञी मोहिता देवमायया कथयामास वै सर्वं श्रुत्वा भूपोऽब्रवीदिदम्
Hearing this, the queen, deluded by divine illusion, related everything, and after hearing, the king spoke as follows.
महीपतिर्महाधूर्तो मद्विनाशाय चोद्यतः
The king, exceedingly cunning, was intent on my destruction.
इति श्रुत्वा च मलना राजानं कोपसंयुतम् वचनं कुरु मे राजन्नो चेत्प्राणांस्त्यजाम्यहम्
Hearing this, Malana, filled with anger, said to the king: 'Do as I say, O king, or else I will give up my life.'
इत्युक्तवादिनीं रात्रौ तदा परिमलो नृपः
When she had spoken thus, that night King Parimala—
मातुराज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य मातुलेन समन्वितः 3.3.31.
—having taken his mother's command as foremost, and accompanied by his maternal uncle—
प्रातःकाले च संप्राप्ते हरिनागरमास्थितः
—at dawn, set out for Harinagara.
सायंकाले तु संप्राप्ते महीराजस्य मंदिरे
When evening came, he arrived at the palace of the king of the earth.
अगमा च समालोक्य परं हर्षमुपाययौ श्यालानां योषितः सप्त ददर्श रुचिरानना
He entered, and upon seeing, experienced great joy; he beheld seven beautiful-faced women, the wives of his brothers-in-law.
तिस्रो नार्यश्च विधवाश्चतस्रो धवसंयुताः
Three of the women were widows, and four were with their husbands.
ब्रह्मानंद महाभाग सावधानं वचः शृणु संजहार धवानेव नो वयं तु सुदुःखिता
O Brahmananda, greatly fortunate one, listen attentively to my words: they have lost their husbands, but we are exceedingly sorrowful.
सापत्न्यमस्तु तत्तस्या गृहाणास्मान्मनोहर
Let her have a co-wife; accept us, O charming one.
इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तासां ब्रह्मानंदो महाबलः
Hearing these words, Brahmananda, mighty in strength, rejoiced.
पुरा सत्ययुगे नारी चोत्तमा च पतिव्रता
In ancient times, in the Satya Yuga, women were noble and devoted to their husbands.
अधमा हि कलौ नारी परपुंसोपभोगिनी देवलेन शुभः प्रोक्तश्चासितेन स्वयं स्मृतौ
But in the Kali Yuga, women are base, enjoying other men; this has been declared by Devala and also remembered by Asita.
सती सत्ये तु सा प्रोक्ता त्रेतायां पतिभस्मगा ।।3.3.31.
In the Satya Yuga, she was called 'faithful'; in the Treta Yuga, she entered her husband's pyre.
सती सा मध्यमा प्रोक्ता द्वापरे विधवा सती
In the Dvapara Yuga, she was considered of middling virtue, a widow who remained faithful.