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.
अतो यूयं मया सार्द्धं भुंक्षध्वममलं सुखम्
Therefore, together with me, enjoy pure happiness.
कृत्वा शृंगार रूपाणि भूषणानि च सर्वशः
Adorn yourselves fully with ornaments and all kinds of beautiful forms.
ता दृष्ट्वा मलनापुत्रो वचनं प्राह निर्भयः
Seeing them, Malanā's son spoke these words without fear.
युष्माभिः पतयो मुक्ता ये च मद्बंधुना हताः
Your husbands have been slain by my kinsman, and thus you are freed from them.
युष्मानतो न गृह्णीयां सत्यंसत्यं ब्रवीम्यहम्
Therefore, I will not accept you; truly, truly, I speak.
महीराजन्तमागम्य रुरुदुर्भृशदुःखिताः दंडं देहि च धूर्ताय नो चेत्प्राणांस्त्यजाम्यहम्
Coming to the king of the earth, they wept in great distress: 'Give punishment to the wicked one, or else I will give up my life.'
इति श्रुत्वा महीराजो ब्रह्मानन्दं महाबलम्
Hearing this, the king of the earth approached Brahmananda, mighty in strength.
परस्त्रियं च यो भुंक्ते स याति यममंदिरम्
He who enjoys another man's wife goes to the abode of Yama.
इतिश्रुत्वा वचो घोरं ब्रह्मानंदो महाबलः 3.3.31.
Hearing this terrible statement, Brahmananda, mighty in strength—
दृष्ट्वा भयातुरो राजा चामुंडान्तमुपाययौ
Seeing the king terrified, he went to Camunda.