महिषीं च नृपसुतान्कन्यकानीतिमुत्तमाम्
The queen, the king’s sons, and the princesses, all of excellent conduct.
सुतां दत्त्वा च मुनये रक्षस्व सर्वसंपदम् 4.41.
Having given his daughter to the sage, he said, 'Protect all your prosperity.'
राजा सर्वान्परित्यज्य जगाम तपसे शुचा
The king, abandoning all, departed for austerities in sorrow.
गोलोकनाथं संसेव्य गोलोकं च जगाम ह पुत्रवत्पालयामास प्रजाः सर्वा महीतले
Having served the Lord of Goloka, he indeed went to Goloka, and cared for all the people on earth as if they were his own sons.
वसिष्ठ उवाच कर्मणा मनसा वाचा लक्ष्मीर्नारायणं यथा
Vasiṣṭha said: By action, mind, and speech, Lakṣmī served Nārāyaṇa.
एकदा स्वर्णदीं स्नातुं गच्छंतीं सस्मितां सतीम्
Once, she, virtuous and smiling, went to bathe in the golden river.
चारुरत्नरथस्थश्च रत्नालंकारभूषितः
He was seated in a beautiful chariot adorned with precious jewels and ornaments.
दृष्ट्वा तां सुन्दरीं रम्यामुवाच मायया विभुः
Seeing that beautiful and delightful woman, the Lord addressed her with his māyā.
धर्म उवाच अतीव यौवनस्थे च कामिनि स्थिरयौवने
Dharma said: You are in the prime of youth, a woman of steady youthfulness.
जरातुरस्य वृद्धस्य समीपे त्वं न राजसे
Near an old, decrepit man, you do not shine.
विप्रं तपःसु निरतं सत्यज्ञं मरणोन्मुखम्
A brāhmaṇa devoted to austerity, truthful, and facing death.
प्राप्नोति सुन्दरं पुण्यात्सौन्दर्यं पूर्वजन्मतः
One attains beauty and charm from merit earned in a previous birth.
सहस्रसुन्दरीकान्तं कामशास्त्र विशारदम्
A man as handsome as a thousand beautiful women, skilled in the science of love.
निर्जले निर्जने रम्ये शैलेशैले नदेनदे 4.42.
In waterless, deserted, and delightful places, on every mountain and by every river.
मलये चन्दनारण्ये चारुचन्दनवायुना
In the Malaya mountains, within the sandalwood forest, by the gentle sandal-scented breeze—
कामज्वरेण दग्धायाः शांतिं कर्तुमहं क्षमः
I am able to bring peace to her who is scorched by the fever of desire.
इत्येवमुक्तवंतं तं स्वरथादवरुह्य च
Having spoken thus, he descended from his own chariot.
पद्मोवाच मां चेत्पश्यसि कामेन सद्यो भस्म भविष्यसि
Padma said: If you look upon me with desire, you will at once be reduced to ashes.
पिप्पलादं मुनिश्रेष्ठं तपसा पूतविग्रहम्
The sage Pippalada, foremost among ascetics, whose form was purified by austerity—
स्त्रीजितस्पर्शमात्रेण सर्वपुण्यं प्रणश्यति
By merely touching a woman, all his accumulated merit is destroyed.
मां मातरं च स्त्रीभावं कृत्वा येन ब्रवीषि च
You, who have taken on the form of a woman and call me 'mother'—
श्रुत्वा धर्मः सतीशापं नृपमूर्तिं विहाय च
Hearing the curse of the virtuous wife, Dharma abandoned his kingly form.
धर्म उवाच परस्त्रीमातृबुद्धिं च कुर्वन्तं संततं सति
Dharma said: One who always regards another's wife as his mother—
अहं तवांतर्विज्ञातुमागतस्तव सन्निधिम् 4.42.
I have come into your presence to discern your inner understanding.
कृतं मे दमनं साध्वि न विरुद्धं यथोचितम्
O virtuous lady, my restraint has been accomplished; it was proper and not contrary.
धर्मं स्वधर्मं विज्ञातुं कालं कलयितुं क्षमः
He is able to know dharma, his own duty, and to measure the proper time.
संहर्तुं यः क्षमः काले संहर्तारं भवं विभुः
He who is able to bring about destruction at the right time is the true destroyer, O Lord.
शत्रुं विधातुं मित्रं च सुप्रीतिं कलहं क्षमः
He is able to make an enemy, a friend, deep affection, or conflict.
शापं प्रदातुं सर्वाश्च सुखदुःखवरान्क्षमः
He is able to give curses, and to bestow all boons of happiness and sorrow.
प्रकृतिर्निर्मिता येन महाविष्णुश्च निर्मितः
By whom Prakriti was created, and by whom the great Vishnu was fashioned—