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.
गच्छ गंगे शिवस्थानं ब्रह्मस्थानं सरस्वति
Go, O Sarasvati, to the place of Shiva, to the place of Brahma, to the Ganga.
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 spoken thus, the Lord of the worlds, Nārada, became silent.
ताश्च सर्वाः समालोच्य क्रमेणोचुः सदीश्वरम्
Then all of them, after due consideration, spoke in turn to the Lord.
सरस्वत्युवाच सत्स्वामिना परित्यक्ताः कुत्र जीवन्ति काः स्त्रियः ।।2.6.
Sarasvati said: If abandoned by a virtuous husband, where do such women live?
देहत्यागं करिष्यामि ध्रुवं योगेन भारते
I will surely give up my body through yoga in Bhārata.
गंगोवाच देहत्यागं करिष्यामि निर्दोषाया वधं लभ
Ganga said: I will give up my body; grant death to one who is faultless.
निर्दोषकामिनीत्यागं कुरुते यो जनो भवे
Whoever abandons a faultless, loving woman in this world,
लक्ष्मीरुवाच प्रसादं कुरु चास्मभ्यं सदीशस्य क्षमा वरा
Lakshmi said: Grant us your favor, and forgiveness from the Lord.