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.
अतः पापाधिका नारी पुरुषो हीनकिल्बिषः
Therefore, the woman is more sinful; the man is less tainted by sin.
प्रसन्नात्मा वचः प्राह भूपतिं ज्ञानसंपदम्
With a clear mind, he spoke words to the king, full of wisdom.
उज्जयिन्यां महाराज महाबल इति श्रुतः
In Ujjayini, O great king, one renowned as Mahabala was heard of.
तस्य दूतो हरेर्दासः स्वामिकार्यकरः सदा
His messenger was a servant of Hari, always performing his master's tasks.
तस्यां जाता रूपवती कन्या कमललोचना
There was born to her a beautiful maiden with lotus-like eyes.
हरिदासं च सा प्राह शृणु तात वचो मम
And she said to Haridasa, 'Listen, dear father, to my words.'
तथेत्युक्त्वा पिता राजन्राज्ञाहूतो गतः सभाम्
Saying 'so be it,' the father, O King, went to the assembly when summoned by the queen.
तैलंगाधिपतिं गच्छ हरिश्चंद्रं महीपतिम्
Go to the lord of Tailaṅga, King Hariśchandra.
इति श्रुत्वा द्विजः प्रागाद्धरिश्चंद्रं महामतिम्
Hearing this, the brahmin went to Hariśchandra, the great-minded king.
श्रुत्वा प्रसन्नहृदयो हरिश्चंद्रो महीपतिः
Hearing this, King Hariśchandra became pleased at heart.