वर्षांतरे च तत्स्वर्णं व्ययं कृत्वा कुमार्गके
After a year, he squandered that gold in wicked ways.
पुनश्च श्वशुरस्यैव गृहे संप्राप्तवान्खलः
Again, that wicked man arrived at his father-in-law’s house.
मया निवेदितं पित्रे धनं चौरैश्च लुंठितम्
I informed my father that the wealth had been plundered by thieves.
तथेत्युक्त्वा महाधूर्त उवास कतिचिद्दिनम्
Saying 'so be it,' that great scoundrel stayed for a few days.
हत्वा तां स ययौ गेहं गृहीत्वा बहुभूषणम्
He killed her, took many ornaments, and went home.
इति श्रुत्वा शुकः प्राह भूपतिं करुणानिधिम्
Hearing this, Śuka spoke to the king, the ocean of compassion.
अधमा मेनका नारी श्यामांगा च कुरूपिणी 3.2.4.
Menaka was a base woman, dark-skinned and ugly.
शृणु तत्कारणं भूप मया दृष्टं महोत्तमम्
Hear, O king, the excellent reason for this, which I have witnessed.
तस्य पुत्रस्तु मेधावी सिन्धुगुप्तो गुणी धनी
His son was intelligent, Sindhugupta, virtuous and wealthy.
विवाहमकरोत्तस्य जयश्रीपत्तने शुभे
He celebrated his marriage in the auspicious city of Jayashri.
श्रीदत्तस्तु गतो देशं वाणिज्यार्थं कुरुस्थलम्
Śrīdatta went to the land of Kurusthala for the purpose of trade.
जयलक्ष्मीस्तु कामेन पीडिता पितृमंदिरे
Jayalakshmi, afflicted by desire, remained in her father’s house.
दूती मार्गेण तं प्राप्य व्ययं कृत्वा धनं बहु
A female messenger, meeting him on the way, spent much wealth.
त्रिमासान्ते च तत्स्वामी श्रीदत्तः श्वशुरालये
At the end of three months, her husband Śrīdatta was at his father-in-law’s house.
अर्धरात्रे तु तन्मात्रा प्रेषिता स्वपतिं प्रति
At midnight, her mother sent her to her husband.
बहुमानेन स्वपतिस्नेहं कृत्वालयं ययौ
With great respect, she showed affection to her husband and went home.
शून्यालये होमदत्तो दंशितो भुजगेन वै 3.2.4.
In an empty house, Homadatta was bitten by a serpent.
वेगेन रमयामास तं जारं विषमोहितम्
With speed, she delighted that adulterer, who was intoxicated by poison.
शवदेहं च संप्राप्य रमणीं तामरीरमत्
Upon encountering the corpse, the woman enjoyed herself with the lifeless body.
कफल्लो नाम चौरस्तु दृष्ट्वा तत्कारणं तदा
Then, a thief named Kaphalla, seeing the cause of that event,
तदा तु जयलक्ष्मीश्च स्वपतिं प्राप्य दुर्भगा
At that time, Jayalakshmi, unfortunate, obtained her own husband.
नासाहीनां सुतां दृष्ट्वा सोमदत्तो महाधनः
Somadatta, exceedingly wealthy, saw the daughter without a nose.
नृपाज्ञया राजदूतास्तमुद्बंधनमादधुः
By the king's command, royal messengers took him into custody.
मत्वा तस्य वचः सत्यं जयलक्ष्मीं महाधमाम्
Considering his words to be true, they deemed Jayalakshmi greatly wicked.
नगरात्प्रेषयामास वनं शार्दूलसेवितम्
They sent her from the city to a forest frequented by tigers.
इत्युक्त्वा स तु वैतालो विक्रमं प्राह नम्रधीः
Having spoken thus, the Vetala, with a humble mind, addressed Vikrama.
तमो न पुंसकं ज्ञेयं त्रिलिंगैकं तदव्ययम् ।। 3.2.4.
Know that darkness is not masculine; it is of three genders and immutable.
अव्ययं ब्रह्मणो धाम माया लिंगस्वरूपिणी
The immutable abode of Brahman is Maya, whose nature is marked by gender.
क्लीबा स्त्री सर्वदा श्रेष्ठा स्त्रियास्तु पुरुषस्तथा
The neuter and the woman are always superior; among women, the man likewise.
क्लीबमज्ञानमधिकं कथितं पूर्वकोविदैः
The excess of ignorance in the neuter has been described by ancient sages.