मयि तिष्ठति नैवायं तव धर्मो विधीयते इष्टातिथिर् भवामीह अनुजानीहि मां शुभे
As long as I remain, your duty is not fulfilled; here I become the honored guest—permit me, O auspicious one.
इत्य् उक्त्वाग्निं त्रिर् आवर्त्य स्मरन् देवं चतुर्भुजम् विश्वात्मकं महाविष्णुं शरण्यं भक्तवत्सलम्
Having spoken thus, she circumambulated the fire three times, remembering the four-armed Lord, the soul of all, the great Vishnu, the refuge, the lover of devotees.
यथासुखं जुषस्वेति वदन्न् अग्निं तथाविशत् तं दृष्ट्वाग्नौ क्षिप्तजीवं लुब्धको वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
Saying, 'Enjoy as you please,' she entered the fire; seeing her cast her life into the flames, the hunter spoke.
अहो मानुषदेहस्य धिग् जीवितम् इदं मम यद् इदं पक्षिराजेन मदर्थे साहसं कृतम्
Alas, shame upon the life of a human body—since the king of birds has performed such a heroic act for my sake.
एवं ब्रुवन्तं तं लुब्धं पक्षिणी वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
As the hunter spoke thus, the female bird addressed him.
मां त्वं मुञ्च महाभाग दूरं यात्य् एष मे पतिः
Release me, O noble one; my husband is departing far away.
तस्यास् तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा पञ्जरस्थां कपोतकीम् लुब्धको मोचयाम् आस तरसा भीतवत् तदा
Hearing her words, the hunter swiftly released the female pigeon from the cage, trembling with fear.
सापि प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा पतिम् अग्निं तदा जगौ
She then circled her husband and sang to him by the fire.
स्त्रीणाम् अयं परो धर्मो यद् भर्तुर् अनुवेशनम् वेदे च विहितो मार्गः सर्वलोकेषु पूजितः
This is the highest duty of women: to follow the husband; this path is prescribed in the Vedas and honored in all worlds.
व्यालग्राही यथा व्यालं बिलाद् उद्धरते बलात् एवं त्व् अनुगता नारी सह भर्त्रा दिवं व्रजेत्
Just as one who grasps a snake forcibly pulls it from its hole, so a devoted wife follows her husband and ascends to heaven with him.
तिस्रः कोट्यो ऽर्धकोटी च यानि रोमाणि मानुषे तावत्कालं वसेत् स्वर्गे भर्तारं यानुगच्छति
For as many years as there are three and a half crore hairs on a human body, a wife who follows her husband dwells in heaven.
नमस्कृत्वा भुवं देवान् गङ्गां चापि वनस्पतीन् आश्वास्य तान्य् अपत्यानि लुब्धकं वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
Having bowed to the earth, the gods, the Ganges, and the trees, comforting her offspring, she spoke to the hunter.
त्वत्प्रसादान् महाभाग उपपन्नं ममेदृशम् अपत्यानां क्षमस्वेह भर्त्रा यामि त्रिविष्टपम्
Through your grace, O noble one, I have attained this; forgive me regarding my offspring, for I go with my husband to heaven.
इत्य् उक्त्वा पक्षिणी साध्वी प्रविवेश हुताशनम् प्रविष्टायां हुतवहे जयशब्दो न्यवर्तत
Having spoken thus, the virtuous bird entered the sacrificial fire; as she entered the flames, cries of victory arose.
गगने सूर्यसंकाशं विमानम् अतिशोभनम् तदारूढौ सुरनिभौ दंपती ददृशे ततः
In the sky, a radiant palace, shining like the sun, appeared; upon it, the divine couple, resembling the gods, were seen seated.
हर्षेण प्रोचतुर् उभौ लुब्धकं विस्मयान्वितम्
Filled with joy, both spoke to the hunter, who was struck with wonder.
गच्छावस् त्रिदशस्थानम् आपृष्टो ऽसि महामते आवयोः स्वर्गसोपानम् अतिथिस् त्वं नमो ऽस्तु ते
Come, let us go to the realm of the gods; you have been invited, O wise one. You are the guest who is the stairway to our heaven; salutations to you.
विमानवरम् आरूढौ तौ दृष्ट्वा लुब्धको ऽपि सः सधनुः पञ्जरं त्यक्त्वा कृताञ्जलिर् अभाषत
Seeing them ascend the splendid palace, the hunter too, with his bow set aside and hands joined in reverence, spoke.
न त्यक्तव्यो महाभागौ देयं किंचिद् अजानते अहम् अत्रातिथिर् मान्यो निष्कृतिं वक्तुम् अर्हथः
Do not abandon me, O greatly fortunate ones; do not give anything to one who does not understand. I am your honored guest here; you should tell me the means of atonement.
गौतमीं गच्छ भद्रं ते तस्याः पापं निवेदय तत्रैवाप्लवनात् पक्षं सर्वपापैर् विमोक्ष्यसे
Go to the Gautami river, may you fare well; confess your sin to her. By bathing there, you will be freed from all sins.
मुक्तपापः पुनस् तत्र गङ्गायाम् अवगाहने अश्वमेधफलं पुण्यं प्राप्य पुण्यो भविष्यसि
Freed from sin, when you bathe again in the Ganga, you will obtain the merit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice and become virtuous.
सरिद्वरायां गौतम्यां ब्रह्मविष्ण्वीशसंभुवि पुनर् आप्लवनाद् एव त्यक्त्वा देहं मलीमसम्
In the sacred Gautami river, where Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and Sambhu dwell, by bathing again, you will leave behind your impure body.
विमानवरम् आरूढः स्वर्गं गन्तास्य् असंशयम्
Ascending the splendid palace, you will surely go to heaven.
तच् छ्रुत्वा वचनं ताभ्यां तथा चक्रे स लुब्धकः विमानवरम् आरूढो दिव्यरूपधरो ऽभवत्
Hearing their words, the hunter did just so; he ascended the splendid palace and took on a divine form.
दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरः पूज्यमानो ऽप्सरोगणैः कपोतश् च कपोती च तृतीयो लुब्धकस् तथा गङ्गायाश् च प्रभावेण सर्वे वै दिवम् आक्रमन्
Wearing divine garlands and garments, honored by groups of apsaras, the pigeon, the pigeoness, and the hunter, all three, by the power of the Ganga, ascended to heaven.
ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थं कापोतम् इति विश्रुतम् तत्र स्नानं च दानं च पितृपूजनम् एव च
From then on, that sacred place became known as Kapota; there, bathing, giving, and honoring ancestors are performed.
जपयज्ञादिकं कर्म तद् आनन्त्याय कल्पते
Acts such as recitation, sacrifice, and the like performed there lead to endless merit.
कार्त्तिकेयं परं तीर्थं कौमारम् इति विश्रुतम् यन्नामश्रवणाद् एव कुलवान् रूपवान् भवेत्
Karttikeya is the supreme sacred place, known as Kaumara; merely hearing its name makes one prosperous and handsome.
निहते तारके दैत्ये स्वस्थे जाते त्रिविष्टपे कार्त्तिकेयं सुतं ज्येष्ठं प्रीत्या प्रोवाच पार्वती
When the demon Taraka was slain and peace returned to heaven, Parvati affectionately spoke to her eldest son Karttikeya.
यथासुखं भुङ्क्ष्व भोगांस् त्रैलोक्ये मनसः प्रियान् ममाज्ञया प्रीतमनाः पितुश् चैव प्रसादतः
Enjoy pleasures as you wish throughout the three worlds, those dear to your heart, by my command, with a joyful mind and by your father's favor.