तासां ततोऽधिकं प्रेम क्रीडासु सर्वकर्मसु
Their love for them increased even more in play and in all activities.
अथ नारायणः सोऽयं बलेन शिशुभिः सह
Then Nārāyaṇa, together with the children, by his strength,
इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं हरेर्माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
Thus, everything has been told regarding the supreme greatness of Hari.
नारद उवाच मुनीन्द्रयोगसिद्धानां दुर्लभा गतिरीश्वरी
Nārada said: The divine destination is difficult to attain even for the greatest sages accomplished in yoga.
इमाः का वा पुण्यवत्यः पुरा तस्थुर्महीतलम्
Who were these virtuous women who once dwelled upon the earth?
सप्तर्षीणां रमण्यश्च रूपेणाप्रतिमाः पराः
They were the beautiful wives of the seven sages, unparalleled in form and excellence.
नवीनयौवनाः सर्वाः पीनश्रोणि पयोधराः
All were in the freshness of youth, with full hips and breasts.
तप्तकाञ्चनवर्णाभाः स्मेराननसरोरुहाः
Their faces bloomed with smiles, shining like molten gold.
दृष्ट्वा तासां स्तनश्रोणिमुखानि सुन्दराणि च 4.18.
Seeing their beautiful breasts, hips, and faces,
अग्निस्थानस्थितानां च शिखया सुरतोन्मुखः
and the women standing by the fire altar, his mind turned to passion.
पतिव्रता न जानन्ति पतिपादाब्जमानसाः
Chaste wives, their minds fixed on the lotus feet of their husbands, do not know this.
वह्नेश्च मानसं ज्ञात्वा भगवानङ्गिरा मुनिः
Knowing the mind of Agni, the venerable sage Angiras
वह्निः सचेतनो भूत्वा तुष्टाव मुनिपुंगवम्
Then Agni, becoming conscious, praised the foremost of sages.
क्रुद्धो मुनिवरः स्पृष्टाः कामिन्यश्च शशाप ह
But the great sage, angered, cursed the lustful women who had touched him.
भारते ब्राह्मणानां च गृहे लभत जन्म वै
In Bharata, you shall be born in the houses of Brahmins.
श्रुत्वा वाक्यं मुनेस्ताश्च रुरुदुः प्रेमविह्वलाः
Hearing the sage's words, they wept, overcome with love.
मुनिपत्न्य ऊचुः अजानन्त्यः परस्पृष्टा न च नस्त्यक्तुमर्हसि
The wives of the sages said: 'We touched unknowingly; you should not abandon us.'
भक्तानां किंकरीणां च न दण्डं कर्तुमर्हसि
'You should not punish your devoted servants.'
खड्गच्छेदाद्वज्रपातात्सर्वप्रहरणान्मुने 4.18.
'O sage, not even by sword, thunderbolt, or any weapon—'
ब्रह्मिष्ठानां गुणवतां परान्कान्तान्महामुनीन्
'—should the beloveds of the most virtuous, the great sages, be harmed.'
यास्यामो यदि विप्रेश कदाऽत्रागमनं वद
'O lord of Brahmins, if we must go, tell us when we may return here.'
अहल्यया पुनः प्राप्तः स्वामीन्द्रस्य प्रधर्षणात्
'Ahalya too was restored after being violated by Indra.'
विचारं कुरु धर्मिष्ठ वेदवेदाङ्गपारग
'Consider this, O righteous one, master of the Vedas and their branches.'
अन्येषां च भयात्कान्ता व्रजन्ति शरणं पतिम्
'Out of fear, other wives also seek refuge in their husbands.'
अभयं देहि धर्मिष्ठ भययुक्ताभ्य एव च
Grant fearlessness, O righteous one, even to those who are filled with fear.
दुर्बलः सबलो वापि स्ववस्तूनामपीश्वरः
Whether weak or strong, a person is the master even of his own possessions.
वेदवेदाङ्गपारज्ञो ज्ञानिनां योगिनां वरः
He was accomplished in the Vedas and their branches, foremost among the wise and yogis.
सर्वे बभूवुः शोकार्ता विरहोद्विग्नमानसाः ।। 4.18.
All became afflicted with sorrow, their minds disturbed by separation.
कृत्वा विलापं सुचिरं सर्ववेदविदां वरः
Having lamented for a long time, the best among those who know all the Vedas—
अङ्गिरा उवाच स्वकर्मभोगिनां भोगमाकर्माच्च श्रुतौ श्रुतम्
Aṅgirā said: The enjoyment of those who partake of their own deeds, and also of those who do not act, is spoken of in the scriptures.