शापं श्रुत्वा च सा देवी न शशाप चुकोप न
Hearing the curse, the goddess neither cursed nor became angry.
अत्युद्धतां च तां दृष्ट्वा कोपप्रस्फुरितानना
Seeing her excessively agitated, her face trembling with rage,
गंगोवाच वाग्दुष्टा वागधिष्ठात्री देवीयं कलहप्रिया
Gaṅgā said: This goddess, the mistress of speech, is harsh in words and fond of quarrel.
यावती योग्यताऽस्याश्च यावती शक्तिरेव वा
Whatever her capacity, whatever her power may be,
स्वबलं यन्मम बलं विज्ञापयितुमर्हतु
Let him declare what strength of his matches my own strength.
अधो मर्त्यं सा प्रयातु सन्ति यत्रैव पापिनः 2.6.
Let her go down to the mortal world, where indeed the sinners dwell.
इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा तां शशाप सरस्वती
Hearing these words, Sarasvati cursed her.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र भगवानाजगाम ह
At that very moment, the Blessed Lord arrived there.
सरस्वतीं करे धृत्वा वासयामास वक्षसि
Taking Sarasvati by the hand, he seated her upon his chest.
श्रुत्वा रहस्यं तासां च शापस्य कलहस्य च
Having heard the secret of their curse and quarrel,
श्रीभगवानुवाच अयोनिसम्भवा भूमौ तस्य कन्या भविष्यसि
The Blessed Lord said: 'On earth, you will be born as a daughter, not from a womb.'
तत्रैव दैवदोषेण वृक्षत्वं च लभिष्यसि
There, by the fault of fate, you will also obtain the state of a tree.
भूत्वा पश्चाच्च मत्पत्नी भविष्यसि न संशयः
Afterwards, you will become my wife—of this there is no doubt.
कलया च सरिद्भूत्वा शीघ्रं गच्छ वरानने
By a portion of yourself, become a river and swiftly go, O beautiful-faced one.
गङ्गे यास्यसि चांशेन पश्चात्त्वं विश्वपावनी
By a portion, you will go as Ganga, and afterwards you will purify the world.
भगीरथस्य तपसा तेन नीता सुदुष्करात् 2.6.
Brought down by the austerity of Bhagiratha, which was most difficult.
मदंशस्य समुद्रस्य जाया जाये ममाज्ञया
By my command, become the wife of the ocean, who is a portion of my intoxication.
गङ्गाशापेन कलया भारतं गच्छ भारति
By the curse of Ganga, go to Bharata as a portion, O Bharati.
स्वयं च ब्रह्मसदनं ब्रह्मणः कामिनी भव
And yourself, go to Brahma's abode and become Brahma's beloved.
शान्ता च् क्रोधरहिता मद्भक्ता मत्स्वरूपिणी
Peaceful, free from anger, devoted to me, and of my own form.
यदंशकलया सर्वा धर्मिष्ठाश्च पतिव्रताः
By a part and a portion, all will be righteous and devoted to their husbands.
तिस्रो भार्य्यास्त्रयः श्यालास्त्रयो भृत्याश्च बान्धवाः
There will be three wives, three brothers-in-law, three servants, and relatives.
स्त्री पुंवच्च गृहे येषां गृहिणां स्त्रीवशः पुमान्
In the house where women rule over men, and the husband is under the wife's control,
मुखदुष्टा योनिदुष्टा यस्य स्त्री कलहप्रिया
Where a man's wife is foul-mouthed, impure in conduct, and fond of quarrels,
जनानां च स्थलानां च पुराणां प्राप्तिरेव च
There, the people and the places are as if ancient, and only misfortune is found.
वरमग्नौ स्थितिर्हिंस्रजन्तूनां सन्निधौ सुखम् 2.6.
It is better to remain in fire, or among violent creatures, for there is happiness in their presence.
व्याधिज्वाला विषज्वाला वरं पुंसां वरानने
O beautiful-faced one, for men, the flames of disease or poison are preferable.
पुंसश्च स्त्रीजितस्येह जीवितं निष्फलं ध्रुवम्
Indeed, the life of a man conquered by a woman is certainly fruitless.
स निन्दितोऽत्र सर्वत्र परत्र नरकं व्रजेत्
He is reviled everywhere in this world, and in the next, he goes to hell.
बह्वीनां च सपत्नीनां नैकत्र श्रेयसी स्थितिः
For many co-wives, it is not good for them to live together in one place.