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—
येन शुक्लीकृतं क्षीरं जलं शीतं कृतं पुरा
By whom milk was made white, and water was made cold in ancient times—
अतितेजः समुत्थाय तेजोरूपाय मूर्त्तये
Rising up with surpassing brilliance, for the embodiment of the form of light—
सर्वस्मै सर्वबीजाय सर्वेषामन्तरात्मने
To the One who is the seed of all, the inner Self of all beings,
इत्युक्त्वा पुरतस्तस्यास्तस्थौ धर्मो जगद्गुरुः 4.42.
Having spoken thus, Dharma, the teacher of the world, stood before her.
पद्मोवाच सर्वांतरेषु सर्वात्मा सर्वज्ञः सर्वतत्त्ववित्
Padma said: The Self within all, the knower of all, the knower of every principle,
कथं मनो मे विज्ञातुं विडंबयसि किंकरीम्
How is it that you, knowing my mind, still deceive your servant?
त्वं च शप्तो मयाऽज्ञानात्स्त्रीस्वभावात्क्रुधा विभो
And you were cursed by me, O Lord, out of ignorance, from a woman's nature, in anger.
आकाशोऽसौ दिशः सर्वा यदि नश्यन्ति वायवः
If space, all the directions, and the winds were to perish,
त्वं च नष्टो भवसि चेत्सृष्टिनाशो भवेत्तदा
And if you too were destroyed, then creation itself would come to an end.
सत्ये पूर्णश्चतुष्पादैः पौर्णमास्यां यथा शशी
In the Satya Yuga you are complete with four feet, like the full moon on the night of the full moon.