पुंश्चली हिंस्रजन्तुभ्यो नवघातिभ्य एव च
A wanton woman is more dangerous than violent beasts and even new murderers.
त्यज ध्यानं मुनिश्रेष्ठ भुंक्ष्वेदं तपसः फलम्
Abandon meditation, O best of sages, and enjoy this fruit of your austerity.
स रम्भावचनं श्रुत्वा तामुवाच भयाकुलः
Hearing Rambhā’s words, he replied to her, filled with fear.
देवल उवाच कुलधर्मोचितं सत्यं ब्राह्मणानां तपस्विनाम्
Devala said: The true conduct appropriate to the lineage of brahmins and ascetics—
धर्मोऽयं युक्तकाले च स्वयोषिति रतो द्विजः
This is the law: at the proper time, a twice-born man enjoys his own wife.
ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यो यो रतः परयोषिति
A brāhmin, kṣatriya, or vaiśya who enjoys another man’s wife—
ग्राह्या चोपस्थिता स्त्री च गृहिणा न तपस्विना
A woman who approaches may be accepted by a householder, but not by an ascetic.
ब्रह्मा जगद्विधाताऽपि न विरक्तः कलत्रवान्
Even Brahma, the creator of the world, is not detached when he has a wife.
स्वभार्यां च परित्यज्य यो गृह्णाति परस्त्रियम् 4.30.
He who abandons his own wife and takes another man's wife—
भुवि नास्ति यशो यस्य जीवनं तस्य निष्फलम्
On earth, he has no reputation, and his life is fruitless.
निष्कामेन च वृद्धेन मया किं ते प्रयोजनम्
What purpose do you have with me, who is aged and free from desire?
इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा चुकोपाप्सरसां वरा
Hearing these words, the best of the apsaras became angry.
रम्भोवाच तपःप्रभावात्सश्रीकः सुवेषः संमतः स्त्रियाः
Rambha said: By the power of your austerity, you are radiant, well-adorned, and esteemed by women.
त्वया विनाऽन्यं कं यामि को वास्ति त्वत्परः पुमान्
Without you, whom else would I go to? Who is there superior to you among men?
शीघ्रं मां भज विप्रेन्द्र दग्धां कामाग्निना सदा
Quickly accept me, O best of Brahmins, who am always burned by the fire of desire.
न चेच्छापं प्रदास्यामि वद वेदविदां वर
If you do not, I will utter a curse, O foremost among those who know the Vedas.
दग्धाः प्राणा मनोदग्धं स्वात्मा वा इति संततम्
Burned are my life-breaths, my mind is scorched, or even my very self, constantly.
स्वान्तर्दुःखेन दुःखार्तो यो यं शपति निश्चितम्
Afflicted by inner sorrow, one who suffers surely curses another.
द्विजो रम्भावचः श्रुत्वा बभूव ध्यानतत्परः 4.30.
Hearing Rambha's words, the Brahmin became absorbed in meditation.
त्यक्ताहारस्यान्तरं च भस्मपूर्णं ततो मुनेः 4.30.
Inside the body of the sage who had abandoned food, there was only ash.
निष्कलः पुंश्चली शापाद्ब्रह्माऽपूज्यो यथा पुरा सुखदं पुण्यदं गूढं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
Because of the curse, Brahma became unworthy of worship, just as before, being without parts and a seductress. It is blissful, meritorious, and hidden—do you wish to hear more?
किमाश्चर्यं श्रुतं नाथ चरितं सुमनोहरम्
What wondrous tale has been heard, O Lord, so charming in its conduct?
यो विधाता त्रिजगतां तपसां फलदायकः
He who is the creator of the three worlds, the giver of the fruits of austerity—
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच तपस्वी वैष्णवः श्रेष्ठो ज्ञानी परमधार्मिकः
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: The ascetic who is a Vaiṣṇava is the best, wise, and supremely righteous.
स च पूर्वं तपः कुर्वन्नाजगाम मम प्रिये
And he, having previously performed austerities, came to me, O beloved.
तपश्चकार राजेन्द्रो वर्षाणां च सहस्रकम्
The king undertook austerities for a thousand years.
वल्मीकाच्छादितं देहं दृष्ट्वा धाता कृपानिधिः
Seeing his body covered by an anthill, the Creator, full of compassion,
कमण्डलुजलेनैव मम देहोद्भवेन च
With water from his water-pot and with that which arose from my own body,
कमण्डलुजलस्पर्शादुत्थाय नृपतिः स्वयम्
Touched by the water from the water-pot, the king himself arose.
स तं नमन्तं राजानमुवाच कमलोद्भवः
The lotus-born addressed the king, who was bowing to him.