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?
मम को रक्षिता ब्रह्मन्धर्मस्य यौवनस्य च
O Brahma, who will protect me—my virtue and my youth?
सर्वदा रक्षिता कांतस्तदभावे च तत्सुतः 4.17.
At all times, the beloved protects; in his absence, his son does so.
याः स्वतंत्राश्च ता नष्टाः सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृताः
Those who are independent are lost, cast out from all righteousness.
शतजन्मकृतं पुण्यं तासां नश्यति पद्मज ।। पुत्रस्नेहो यथा बाल्ये तथा यूनि च वार्द्धके
The merit earned over a hundred births is destroyed for them, O Padmaja; just as a mother’s affection for her child in youth, so too in adulthood and old age.
पतिव्रतानां कान्ते च सर्वकाले समा स्पृहा
At all times, the desire of devoted wives is equal for their beloved.
पतिस्नेहस्य साध्वीनां कलां नार्हति षोडशीम्
The affection of a husband, for virtuous women, does not reach even a sixteenth part.
कान्ते चित्तं सतीनां च स्वप्ने ज्ञाने च सन्ततम्
The mind of chaste women is always fixed upon their beloved, both in dreams and in waking knowledge.
सुदारुणः स्वामिनश्च दुःखं नातः परं स्त्रियाः
For women, there is no suffering more severe than the pain caused by separation from their husband.
तथा विदग्धा दग्धा स्याद्विदग्धविरहानले
Thus, the clever woman is burned in the fire of separation from her beloved.
विरहाग्नौ मनो दग्धं वह्नौ शुष्कतृणं यथा
In the fire of separation, her mind is scorched just as dry grass is in a blaze.
न हि कान्तात्परो देवो न हि कान्तात्परो गुरुः
There is no god greater than the beloved, nor any teacher greater than the beloved.
न हि कान्तात्परः प्राणा न हि कान्तात्परः स्त्रियाः 4.17.
There is nothing more vital than the beloved, nor anything more important to women than the beloved.
यथैकपुत्रे मातुश्च यथा स्त्रीषु च कामिनाम्
As a mother for her only son, so is the longing of passionate women.
यथा भयेषु भीतानां शास्त्रेषु विदुषां यथा
As among the fearful in danger, and as among the learned in scripture.
यथा जारे पुंश्चलीनां साध्वीनां च तथा प्रिये
As an adulteress for her lover, so too is the affection of virtuous women for their beloved.
मरणं जीवनं तासां जीवनं मरणाधिकम् अन्यशोकनिमग्नानां कालेन पानभोजनात्
For them, death and life are one; life is greater than death for those immersed in grief for another, and with time, through food and drink.
विपरीतः कान्तशोको वर्द्धते भक्षणादहो
Yet, contrary to others, the sorrow of separation from the beloved increases even with eating and drinking.
इतरे भोगदेहान्ते साध्वी जन्मनि जन्मनि
Other women, at the end of enjoyment and the body, are virtuous in every birth.
त्वां शप्त्वाऽहं त्वयि विभो पश्य दास्यामि स्त्रीवधम् हितं पीयूषसदृशं भयसंविग्नमानसः
Having cursed you, O Lord, I will show you the fate of women, which is beneficial like nectar, yet fills the mind with fear.
ब्रह्मोवाच वत्से मुक्तिं न दास्यामि स्वामिनं च त्वया विना
Brahma said: Child, I will not grant you liberation without your husband.