एवं विवदमाने ते जग्मतुर् माम् उभे अपि तयोर् वाक्यम् उपश्रुत्य मयोक्ते ते उभे अपि
As both of you argued thus, you both came to me; having heard your words, I spoke to you both.
मत्तः पूर्वतरा पृथ्वी आपः पूर्वतरास् ततः स्त्रीणां विवादं ता एव स्त्रियो जानन्ति नेतरे
Earth is older than I am, and water is older than earth; only women know the dispute among women, not others.
विशेषतः पुनस् ताभ्यः कमण्डलुभवाश् च याः तत्रापि गौतमी देवी निश्चयं कथयिष्यति
Especially among those born from the water pot, the goddess Gautami will declare the decision.
सैव सर्वार्तिसंहर्त्री सैव संदेहकर्तरी ते मद्वाक्याद् भुवं गत्वा भूम्या च सहिते अपि
She alone removes all suffering, she alone creates doubt; by my command, go to earth together with her.
अद्भिश् च सहिताः सर्वा गौतमीं ययुर् आपगाम् भूमिर् आपस् तयोर् वाक्यं गौतम्यै क्रमशः स्फुटम्
Together with the waters, they all went to the river Gautami; earth and water, in turn, clearly told their words to Gautami.
सर्वं निवेदयाम् आसुर् यथावृत्तं प्रणम्य ताम् दरिद्रायाश् च लक्ष्म्याश् च वाक्यं मध्यस्थवत् तदा
They reported everything as it happened, bowing to her, and presented the words of both Daridra and Lakshmi as if mediating.
शृण्वत्सु लोकपालेषु शृण्वत्यां भुवि नारद शृण्वतीष्व् अप्सु सा गङ्गा दरिद्रां वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् संप्रशस्य तथा लक्ष्मीं गौतमी वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
While the guardians of the worlds listened, and you, Narada, and the earth and the waters listened, then Ganga, praising Daridra, spoke to her, and Gautami spoke to Lakshmi.
ब्रह्मश्रीश् च तपःश्रीश् च यज्ञश्रीः कीर्तिसंज्ञिता धनश्रीश् च यशश्रीश् च विद्या प्रज्ञा सरस्वती
Brahma's glory, the glory of asceticism, the glory of sacrifice known as fame, the glory of wealth, the glory of renown, knowledge, wisdom, and Sarasvati—
भुक्तिश्रीश् चाथ मुक्तिश् च स्मृतिर् लज्जा धृतिः क्षमा सिद्धिस् तुष्टिस् तथा पुष्टिः शान्तिर् आपस् तथा मही
The glory of enjoyment, and liberation, memory, modesty, fortitude, forgiveness, success, contentment, nourishment, peace, the waters, and the earth—
अहंशक्तिर् अथौषध्यः श्रुतिः शुद्धिर् विभावरी द्यौर् ज्योत्स्ना आशिषः स्वस्तिर् व्याप्तिर् माया उषा शिवा
The power of ego, medicinal herbs, revelation, purity, night, the sky, moonlight, blessings, welfare, pervasiveness, illusion, dawn, and auspiciousness—
यत् किंचिद् विद्यते लोके लक्ष्म्या व्याप्तं चराचरम् ब्राह्मणेष्व् अथ धीरेषु क्षमावत्स्व् अथ साधुषु
Whatever exists in the world, pervaded by Lakshmi, whether moving or unmoving—among Brahmins, among the wise, among the patient, and among the virtuous—
विद्यायुक्तेषु चान्येषु भुक्तिमुक्त्यनुसारिषु यद् यद् रम्यं सुन्दरं वा तत् तल् लक्ष्मीविजृम्भितम्
And among others endowed with knowledge, following enjoyment or liberation, whatever is delightful or beautiful, all that is the manifestation of Lakshmi.
किम् अत्र बहुनोक्तेन सर्वं लक्ष्मीमयं जगत् यस्मिन् कस्मिंश् च यत् किंचिद् उत्कृष्टं परिदृश्यते
Why speak at length? The entire universe is composed of Lakshmi; wherever and in whatever anything excellent is seen—
लक्ष्मीमयं तु तत् सर्वं तया हीनं न किंचन अत्रेमां सुन्दरीं देवीं स्पर्धयन्ती न लज्जसे
All that is of the nature of Lakshmi; without her, nothing exists. Here, do you not feel shame, O beautiful goddess, competing with her?
गच्छ गच्छेति तां गङ्गा दरिद्रां वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् ततः प्रभृति गङ्गाम्भो दरिद्रावैरकार्य् अभूत्
Then Ganga spoke to her, saying, 'Go, go,' to the goddess of poverty. From that time, the waters of Ganga became devoid of the influence of poverty.
तावद् दरिद्राभिभवो गङ्गा यावन् न सेव्यते ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थम् अलक्ष्मीनाशनं शुभम्
So long as Ganga is not served, the affliction of poverty remains; from that time, that sacred ford became the destroyer of misfortune, auspicious.
तत्र स्नानेन दानेन लक्ष्मीवान् पुण्यवान् भवेत् तीर्थानां षट् सहस्राणि तस्मिंस् तीर्थे महामते देवर्षिमुनिजुष्टानां सर्वसिद्धिप्रदायिनाम्
By bathing and giving there, one becomes endowed with Lakshmi and merit. Six thousand fords, honored by gods, sages, and ascetics, bestow all accomplishments at that sacred place, O wise one.
भानुतीर्थम् इति ख्यातं सर्वसिद्धिकरं नृणाम् तत्रेदं वृत्तम् आख्यास्ये महापातकनाशनम्
That place is known as Bhānutīrtha, bestowing all attainments upon people. There, I will recount this event, the destroyer of great sins.
शर्यातिर् इति विख्यातो राजा परमधार्मिकः तस्य भार्या स्थविष्ठेति रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि
A king named Śaryāti, renowned for his supreme righteousness, had a wife named Sthaviṣṭhā, unequalled in beauty on earth.
मधुच्छन्दा इति ख्यातो वैश्वामित्रो द्विजोत्तमः पुरोधास् तस्य नृपतेर् ब्रह्मर्षिः शमिनां प्रभुः
A brahmin named Madhucchandā, best of the twice-born, famed as a descendant of Viśvāmitra, was the royal priest of that king, a brahmarshi, lord among ascetics.
दिशो विजेतुं स जगाम राजा पुरोधसा तेन नृपप्रवीरः पुरोधसं प्राह महानुभावं जित्वा दिशश् चाध्वनि संनिविष्टः
The king set out with his priest to conquer the directions; having conquered the regions, the foremost of kings, stationed on the journey, addressed his noble priest.
पप्रच्छेदं केन खेदं गतो ऽसि हेतुं वदस्वेति महानुभाव त्वम् एव राज्ये मम सर्वमान्यः समस्तविद्यानिरवद्यबोधः
He asked, 'What is the reason for your distress? Tell me the cause. O noble one, you alone are honored in my kingdom, possessing flawless knowledge of all sciences.'
विधूतपापः परितापशून्यः किम् अन्यचेता इव लक्ष्यसे त्वम् जितेयम् उर्वी विजिता नरेन्द्रा हर्षस्य हेतौ महतीह जाते
You are free from sin, untouched by sorrow; yet why do you appear as if your mind is elsewhere? The earth is conquered, the kings subdued, and a great cause for joy has arisen here.
किं त्वं कृशो मे वद सत्यम् एव द्विजातिवर्यातिमहानुभाव संबोध्य शर्यातिम् उवाच विप्रश् छन्दोमधुः प्रेममयीं प्रियोक्तिम्
Why are you emaciated? Tell me the truth. Then, the best of brahmins, of great nobility, addressed Śaryāti with words full of affection and love.
शृणु भूपाल मद्वाक्यं भार्यया यद् उदीरितम् स्थिते यामे वयं यामो यामिनी चार्धगामिनी
Hear, O king, what my wife said to me: as the night was half gone, while I remained, she awaited my return.
स्वामिनी चास्य देहस्य कामिनी मां प्रतीक्षते स्मृत्वा तत् कामिनीवाक्यं शोषं याति कलेवरम् विकारे स्मरसंजाते जीवातुर् नलिनानना
The mistress of this body, my beloved, waits for me; remembering her words, my body withers. When the agitation of love arises, the lotus-faced one, longing for life, wastes away.
विहस्य चाब्रवीद् राजा पुरोधसम् अरिंदमः
The king, subduer of foes, laughed and spoke to his priest.
त्वं गुरुर् मम मित्रं च किम् आत्मानं विडम्बसे किम् अनेन महाप्राज्ञ मम वाक्येन मानद क्षणविध्वंसिनि सुखे का नामास्था महात्मनाम्
You are my teacher and my friend; why do you mock yourself? O great sage, what is the use of my words? For those of great soul, what reliance is there on happiness that perishes in a moment?
एतद् आकर्ण्य मतिमान् मधुच्छन्दा वचो ऽब्रवीत्
Hearing this, the wise Madhucchandā spoke these words.
यत्रानुकूल्यं दंपत्योस् त्रिवर्गस् तत्र वर्धते न चेदं दूषणं राजन् भूषणं चातिमन्यताम्
Where there is harmony between husband and wife, the three aims of life flourish; O King, this is not a fault but should be regarded as a great virtue.