शौनक उवाच जातः केन प्रकारेण तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
Śaunaka said: By what means was he born? You ought to tell us that.
सौतिरुवाच कलावती तस्य पत्नी वन्ध्या चापि पतिव्रता
Sūta said: Kalāvatī, his wife, was childless but devoted to her husband.
स्वामिदोषेण सा वन्ध्या काले च भर्तुराज्ञया
Because of her husband’s fault, she was barren; and in time, by her husband’s command—
ध्यायमानं च श्रीकृष्णं ज्वलन्तं ब्रह्मतेजसा
She meditated on Śrī Kṛṣṇa, blazing with the radiance of Brahman.
ग्रीष्ममध्याह्नमार्तण्डप्रभातुल्येन तेजसा
With radiance equal to the midday sun in the height of summer,
ध्यानान्ते च मुनिश्रेष्ठः परः कृष्णपरायणः
At the end of his meditation, the best of sages, wholly devoted to Krishna,
चारुचम्पकवर्णाभां शरत्पङ्कजलोचनाम्
Saw a woman with a lovely complexion like champaka flowers and eyes like autumn lotuses,
बृहन्नितम्बभारार्त्तां पीनश्रोणिपयोधराम्
Her broad hips burdened her, her thighs and breasts were full,
मोहितां मुनिरूपेण कामबाणप्रपीडिताम्
She was enchanted, taking the form of a sage, tormented by the arrows of desire,
सिन्दूरबिन्दुभूषाढ्यां सुचारुकज्जलोज्ज्वलाम् 1.20.
Adorned with a dot of vermilion and shining with beautiful, bright kohl.
मुनिः पप्रच्छ दृष्ट्वा तां का त्वं कामिनि निर्जने
The sage, seeing her, asked: 'Who are you, O passionate one, in this lonely place?'
मुनेश्च वचनं श्रुत्वा कम्पिता च कलावती
Hearing the sage’s words, Kalavati trembled,
कलावत्युवाच पुत्रार्थिनी चागताऽहं त्वन्मूलं भर्तुराज्ञया
Kalavati said: 'I have come seeking a son, at your feet, by my husband's command.'
वीर्य्याधानं कुरु मयि स्त्री नोपेक्ष्या ह्युपस्थिता
'Grant me your seed; a woman who has come should not be disregarded.'
वृषलीवचनं श्रुत्वा चुकोप मुनिसत्तमः
Hearing the words of the woman of low caste, the best of sages became angry.
काश्यप उवाच तं सा त्यजति मूढं च वेदवाद इति ध्रुवम्
Kashyapa said: 'She abandons him, and he is deluded; this is certainly the teaching of the Veda.'
न त्वं द्रुमिलभोगार्हा पुनरेव भविष्यसि
'You shall never again be worthy of enjoying the pleasures of Drumila.'
यः शूद्रपत्नीं गृह्णाति ब्राह्मणो ज्ञानदुर्बलः
'A Brahmin who, lacking wisdom, takes a Shudra wife—'
पितृश्राद्धे च यज्ञे च शिलास्पर्शे सुरार्चने
'At ancestral offerings, at sacrifices, by touching stone, or in worship of the gods—'
कुम्भीपाकं स्वयं याति पातयित्वा च पूरुषान् 1.20.
'He himself goes to Kumbhipaka hell, after causing others to fall there.'
तत्तर्पणं मूत्रमेव पिण्डं सद्यः पुरीषकम्
'That offering becomes urine, the rice-ball instantly becomes excrement,'
तदिष्टदेवो गृह्णाति न नैवेद्यं न तज्जलम्
'The chosen deity accepts that, but not the food offering nor that water.'
कुम्भीपाके पच्यते स शक्रान्तं यावदेव हि
He is cooked in the Kumbhipaka hell for as long as Indra's reign lasts.
पत्रोच्छिष्टं च यो भुङ्क्ते शूद्राणां ब्राह्मणाधमः
Whoever eats food left by his wife is the lowest among Brahmins, like a Shudra.
शूद्रो वा यदि गृह्णाति ब्राह्मणीं ज्ञानदुर्बलः
If a Shudra, weak in knowledge, takes a Brahmin woman,
अष्टादशेन्द्रावच्छिन्नं कालं च कालसूत्रके
He is confined for eighteen Indra-periods in the realm of Kālāsūtra.
ततश्चण्डालयोनौ च लब्ध्वा जन्म च ब्राह्मणी
Then, after that, the Brahmin woman is born in the lineage of Chandalas.
इत्युक्त्वा च मुनिश्रेष्ठो विरराम च शौनक
Having spoken thus, the foremost sage, Shaunaka, became silent.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तेन पथा याति च मेनका
Meanwhile, Menaka proceeded along that path.
ऋतुस्नाता च वृषली पीत्वा तत्र क्षणं मुदा 1.20.
The outcaste woman, purified by her period, drank there with delight for a moment.