अभार्यो लभते भार्यां सुशीलां च पतिव्र ताम्
A man without a wife obtains a wife who is virtuous and devoted to her husband.
इदं स्तोत्रं पुरा दत्तं ब्रह्मणा च प्रचेतसे
This hymn was formerly given by Brahmā to Pracetas.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच उवाच ब्रह्मणः पुत्रं स्वभक्तं भक्तव त्सलः
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: He spoke to the son of Brahmā, his own devotee, being affectionate to his devotee.
शंकर उवाच पुत्रस्ते भविता सत्यं मदंशेन च मत्समः
Śaṃkara said: Your son will indeed be born, and by a portion of myself, he will be like me.
दास्यामि मन्त्रमतुलं सर्वेषां च सुदुर्लभम्
I will give you an unparalleled mantra, exceedingly rare among all.
स्तोत्रं पूजाविधानं च कवचं परमाद्भुतम्
A hymn, a method of worship, and a most wondrous protective charm.
वरं दातुमिष्टदेवी प्रत्यक्षा भवितेति च
The desired goddess will appear directly to grant a boon.
जजाप परमं मन्त्रं सोऽसितः शतवत्सरम्
He, Asita, recited the supreme mantra for a hundred years.
पुत्रस्ते भविता सत्यं महाज्ञानी सुतेति च
Your son will indeed be born, and he will be a great knower, O son.
कालेन च सुतस्तस्य शिवांशेन बभूव ह 4.30.
In due time, his son was born, endowed with a portion of Śiva.
सुयज्ञनृपतेः कन्यां रत्नमालावतीं मुदा
With joy, he married Ratnamālāvatī, the daughter of King Suyajña.
स्थाने स्थाने च रहसि शतवर्षं तया सह
In various places and in secret, he spent a hundred years with her.
कालान्तरे स विरतो बभूव मुनिपुंगवः
After some time, that foremost sage became detached.
उत्थाय रात्रौ शयनाद्विरक्तश्च तपोधनः
Rising at night from his bed, the ascetic, detached from desire, departed.
निद्रां त्यक्त्वा च तत्कान्ता न दृष्ट्वा स्वामिनं सती
Having abandoned sleep and not seeing her husband, the faithful wife—
उत्तिष्ठन्ती निर्विशन्ती रुरोदोच्चैर्मुहुर्मुहुः
Rising and searching, she wept aloud again and again.
आहारं च परित्यज्य प्राणांस्तत्याज सुन्दरी
Abandoning food, the beautiful woman gave up her life-breath.
तपश्चकार स मुनिर्गन्धमादनगह्वरे
That sage performed austerities in the cave of Gandhamādana.
तं ददर्श ह दैवेन रम्भा शृंगारलोलुपा
By the will of fate, Rambhā, eager for love, beheld him.
सा च तं कथयामास निर्जने समुपस्थिता 4.30.
And she, having come near him in solitude, began to speak.
रम्भोवाच त्यक्त्वा कठोरं रहसि भज मां सुखदायिकाम्
Rambhā said: Abandon harshness in secret and enjoy me, the giver of delight.
त्वं वरेषु वरः पृथ्व्यां वरारोहा स्वयंवरा
Among all men on earth, you are the best of the best, and I am the most beautiful, choosing my own husband.
यज्ञं कुर्वन्ति भूपाला भारते स्वर्गहेतुकम्
Kings in Bhārata perform sacrifices for the sake of heaven.
स्तनयोर्युग्ममूर्वोर्मे सुन्दरं मुखपंकजम्
My pair of breasts, my broad thighs, and my lovely lotus-face—
स्त्रीरसः सुखसारश्च मुनीनामभिवाञ्छितः
The essence of woman, the substance of pleasure, is desired even by sages.
देवो वा मानवो वाऽपि गन्धर्वो वाऽथ राक्षसः
Whether god, man, gandharva, or even rākṣasa—
रहस्युपस्थितां कान्तां न भजेद्यो जितेन्द्रियः
Whoever, having mastered his senses, does not enjoy a beloved woman who approaches in secret—
सत्यं तस्याश्च वधभाक्तच्छापेन प्रणश्यति
Truly, by her curse, he perishes, sharing the fate of her rejection.
येन त्यक्तोपस्थिता तं यथा पश्यति पुंश्चली
Just as a wanton woman looks upon the one who has rejected her when she approaches—
परं प्रियं च सर्वेषां जारं जानाति पुंश्चली 4.30.
A wanton woman always knows her lover as the dearest of all.