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.
तासां कथं विवाहाः स्युस्तत्त्वं नो ब्रूहि विस्तरात्
How can their marriages take place? Tell us the truth in detail.
सूत उवाच। तामसीं पूजयित्वा वै शक्तिं सर्वविमोहिनीम्
The bard said: Having worshipped Tamasi, the power that deludes all—
वर्मोत्तमं तया दत्तं सर्वसत्त्वभयंकरम्। गृहीत्वा स तु भूपालः प्रस्थितोऽभून्महीतले
She gave him the supreme armor, terrifying to all beings; taking it, the king set out upon the earth.
प्रमदा नाम तत्पत्नी दश पुत्रानसूषुवत्
His wife, named Pramada, bore him ten sons.
मत्तः प्रमत्त उन्मत्त सुमत्तो दुर्मदस्तथा॥ दुर्मुखो दुर्धरो बाहुः सुरथो विरथः क्रमात्। तेषां स्वसानुजा चासीत्सुनाम्ना मदिरेक्षणा
Their names, in order, were: Matta, Pramatta, Unmatta, Sumatta, Durmatta, Durmukha, Durdhara, Bahu, Suratha, and Viratha; their sister, beautiful-eyed, was named Su.
तस्या वै सुंदरं रूपं मदाघूर्णितलोचनम्
Her form was truly beautiful, her eyes rolling from intoxication.
मायावर्माणमागत्य वचनं प्राह नम्रधीः
Maya Varman approached, humble in mind, and spoke these words.
तर्हि ते सकलं कार्यं करिष्यामि न संशयः
"Then I will accomplish your entire task, without doubt."
कितवो गह्वरावासी रात्रौ घोरे तमोवृते प्रातःकाले तु तां त्यक्त्वा कन्दरान्तमुपाययौ॥3.3.31.
Kitava, dwelling in a cavern, in the night shrouded in terrible darkness, abandoned her at dawn and went into the depths of the cave.
वर्मदेवमते जाते ततो राजा मदातुरः महीराजाय संप्रेष्य तारकं स समावृणोत्
When Varmadeva was born, the king, overcome with pride, sent for Taraka to be summoned to the king of the earth.