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.
भारतं भारतीशापाद्यास्यामि कलया यदि
If, by the curse of Bhāratī, I go to Bhārata in a portion of myself,
दास्यन्ति पापिनः पापं मह्यं स्नानावगाहनात्
then sinners will give their sins to me by bathing and immersing themselves.
कलया तुलसीरूपा धर्मध्वजसुता सती
By a portion of myself, I will become Tulasī, the virtuous daughter of Dharmadhvaja.
वृक्षरूपा भविष्यामि तदधिष्ठातृदेवता
I will become in the form of a tree, the presiding deity over it.
गंगा सरस्वतीशापाद्यदि यास्यति भारतम्
If, by the curse of Sarasvatī, Gaṅgā goes to Bhārata,
गंगाशापेन सा वाणी यदि यास्यति भारतम् 2.6.
If, by the curse of Gaṅgā, Sarasvatī goes to Bhārata,
तां वाणीं ब्रह्मसदनं गंगां वा शिवमन्दिरम्
then let Sarasvatī go to the abode of Brahmā, or Gaṅgā to the temple of Śiva.
इत्युक्त्वा कमला कान्तपदं धृत्वा ननाम च
Having spoken thus, Lakṣmī, holding the feet of her beloved, bowed down.
उवाच पद्मनाभस्तां प्रभां कृत्वा स्ववक्षसि
Padmanābha spoke to her, drawing her radiance to his own chest.
नारायण उवाच समतां च करिष्यामि शृणु तत्क्रममेव च
Nārāyaṇa said: I will bring about equality; listen now to the sequence of events.