पुष्पभद्रानदीतीरे निर्जने केतकीवने
On the bank of the auspicious river, in a solitary ketaki grove.
नन्दने मन्दरद्रोण्यां कावेरीतीरजे वने 4.17.
In Nandana, in the valley of Mandara, and in the forest on the bank of the Kaveri.
द्वीपेद्वीपे तु रहसि स रेमे वामया सह
In secret, on island after island, he sported with his beloved.
एवं वर्षसहस्रं तद्गतमेव मुहूर्तवत्
In this way, a thousand years passed, seeming only a moment to them.
जगाम तपसे विन्ध्यशैलं तीर्थं तया सह
He went for penance to the Vindhya mountain, to the holy place, together with her.
तपस्तेपे नृपस्तत्र दिव्यवर्षसहस्रकम्
There, the king performed austerities for a thousand divine years.
मूर्छामाप मुनिश्रेष्ठ ध्यात्वा कृष्णपदाम्बुजम्
Immersed in meditation on Krishna's lotus feet, O best of sages, he fell into a faint.
निश्चेष्टितं पतिं दृष्ट्वा त्यक्तं प्राणैश्च पञ्चभिः
Seeing her husband motionless, having abandoned the five vital airs,
उच्चै रुरोद शोकार्ता निर्जने तु कलावती
Kalavati, stricken with grief, cried out loudly in that lonely place.
विललाप महादीना पतिव्रतपरायणा
Utterly miserable, devoted to her husband, she lamented.
श्रुत्वा च रोदनं तस्याः कृपया च कृपानिधिः
Hearing her weeping, the ocean of compassion was moved by pity.
क्रोडे कृत्वा च तं तूर्णं रुरोद भगवान्विभुः 4.17.
Quickly taking him into his embrace, the glorious Lord wept.
जीवं संचारयामास ब्रह्मज्ञानेन ब्रह्मवित्
The knower of Brahman revived him by the knowledge of Brahman.
प्रणनाम च तं दृष्ट्वा तं च कामसमप्रभम्
Seeing him, shining like Kāma, she bowed down to him.
स विधेर्वचनं श्रुत्वा वव्रे निर्वाणमीप्सितम्
Hearing the words of the Creator, he chose the desired liberation.
प्रसन्नवदनः श्रीमान्स्मेराननसरोरुहः
With a radiant face, beautiful, with a smiling lotus-like countenance.
तमुवाच सती त्रस्ता वरं दातुं समुद्यतम् कलावत्युवाच
The frightened Sati spoke to him, who was ready to grant a boon; Kalavati said:
अतोऽबलाया हे ब्रह्मन्का गतिर्भविता वद
Therefore, O Brahma, tell me—what will be the fate of a powerless woman?
व्रतं पतिव्रतायाश्च पतिरेव श्रुतौ श्रुतम्
It is declared in the scriptures that for a devoted wife, her husband alone is her vow.
सर्वेषां च प्रियतरो न बन्धुः स्वामिनः परः
For all, no one is dearer than the husband; no relative is greater than the master.
स्वामिसेवाविहीनायाः सर्वं तन्निष्फलं भवेत्
For one who does not serve her husband, all other acts become fruitless.
स्नानं च सर्वतीर्थेषु पृथिव्याश्च प्रदक्षिणम् 4.17.
Bathing in all the sacred waters and circumambulating the earth—
पठनं सर्ववेदानां सर्वाणि च तपांसि च
Reciting all the Vedas and performing every austerity—
एतानि स्वामिसेवायाः कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम्
These do not equal even a sixteenth part of service to the husband.
पतंति कालसूत्रे च यावच्चंद्रदिवाकरौ
They fall upon the thread of time as long as the moon and sun endure.
संततं विपरीतं च कुर्वंति शब्दमुल्बणम्
Constantly and perversely, they utter harsh and terrible sounds.
मुखे तासां ददत्येवमुल्कां च यमकिंकराः
Thus, the servants of Yama place burning coals in their mouths.
भक्षंति जन्मशतकं रक्तमांसपुरीषकम्
For a hundred births, they eat blood, flesh, and excrement.
जानामि किंचिदबला त्वं वेदजनको विभुः
I know a little, for I am powerless; you, O Lord, are the origin of the Vedas.
सर्वज्ञमेवंभूतं त्वां बोधयामि किमच्युत
You are all-knowing and thus; what need is there for me to instruct you, O Achyuta?