मुखदुष्टा योनिदुष्टा यस्य स्त्री कलहप्रिया
A woman who is foul-mouthed, impure in origin, or fond of quarrel.
जनानां च स्थलानां च पुराणां प्राप्तिरेव च
And the attainment of people and places of old.
वरमग्नौ स्थितिर्हिंस्रजन्तूनां सन्निधौ सुखम् 2.6.
It is better for creatures to remain in fire, for there is happiness in the presence of violence.
व्याधिज्वाला विषज्वाला वरं पुंसां वरानने
O beautiful-faced one, the flame of disease or the flame of poison is preferable for men.
पुंसश्च स्त्रीजितस्येह जीवितं निष्फलं ध्रुवम्
Indeed, the life of a man conquered by a woman here is certainly fruitless.
स निन्दितोऽत्र सर्वत्र परत्र नरकं व्रजेत्
He is reviled everywhere in this world and, in the next, goes to hell.
बह्वीनां च सपत्नीनां नैकत्र श्रेयसी स्थितिः
For many co-wives, it is not auspicious to dwell together in one place.
गच्छ गंगे शिवस्थानं ब्रह्मस्थानं सरस्वति
Go, O Ganga, to the abode of Shiva, and you, Sarasvati, to the abode of Brahma.
सुसाध्या यस्य पत्नी च सुशीला च पतिव्रता
He whose wife is easily managed, virtuous, and devoted to her husband—
पतिव्रता यस्य पत्नी स च मुक्तः शुचिः सुखी
He whose wife is devoted to her husband is liberated, pure, and happy.
इत्युक्त्वा जगतां नाथो विरराम च नारद
Having thus spoken, the Lord of the worlds, O Narada, became silent.
ताश्च सर्वाः समालोच्य क्रमेणोचुः सदीश्वरम्
And all of them, after considering, spoke in turn to the Lord.
सरस्वत्युवाच सत्स्वामिना परित्यक्ताः कुत्र जीवन्ति काः स्त्रियः ।।2.6.
Sarasvatī said: Where do women live who have been abandoned by a virtuous husband?
देहत्यागं करिष्यामि ध्रुवं योगेन भारते
I will certainly give up my body through yoga in Bhārata.
गंगोवाच देहत्यागं करिष्यामि निर्दोषाया वधं लभ
Gaṅgā said: I too will give up my body; grant death to one who is without fault.
निर्दोषकामिनीत्यागं कुरुते यो जनो भवे
Whoever abandons a faultless, devoted woman in this world—
लक्ष्मीरुवाच प्रसादं कुरु चास्मभ्यं सदीशस्य क्षमा वरा
Lakṣmī said: Grant us your favor, and bestow the boon of forgiveness from the Lord.
भारतं भारतीशापाद्यास्यामि कलया यदि
If, by Bhāratī's curse, I must go to Bhārata in a partial form—
दास्यन्ति पापिनः पापं मह्यं स्नानावगाहनात्
Then sinners will give their sins to me through bathing and immersion.
कलया तुलसीरूपा धर्मध्वजसुता सती
By a portion of myself, I will become Tulasī, the chaste daughter of Dharmadhvaja.
वृक्षरूपा भविष्यामि तदधिष्ठातृदेवता
I will take the form of a tree and become its presiding deity.
गंगा सरस्वतीशापाद्यदि यास्यति भारतम्
If Gaṅgā, by Sarasvatī's curse, goes to Bhārata—
गंगाशापेन सा वाणी यदि यास्यति भारतम् 2.6.
If Vāṇī, by Gaṅgā's curse, goes to Bhārata—
तां वाणीं ब्रह्मसदनं गंगां वा शिवमन्दिरम्
Let that Vāṇī go to Brahmā's abode, or Gaṅgā to Śiva's temple.
इत्युक्त्वा कमला कान्तपदं धृत्वा ननाम च
Having spoken thus, Kamalā bowed, holding the feet of her beloved.
उवाच पद्मनाभस्तां प्रभां कृत्वा स्ववक्षसि
Padmanābha spoke to her, placing her radiance upon his own chest.
नारायण उवाच समतां च करिष्यामि शृणु तत्क्रममेव च
Nārāyaṇa said: I will bring about equality; listen now to the order of this.
भारती यातु कलया सरिद्रूपा च भारतम्
Let Bhāratī go in a partial form, as a river, to Bhārata.
भगीरथेन नीता सा गंगा यास्यति भारतम्
That Gaṅgā, brought by Bhagīratha, will go to Bhārata.
तत्रैव चन्द्रमौलेश्च मौलिं प्राप्स्यति दुर्लभम्
There she will attain the rare crown of the moon-crested Lord.