असद्वंशप्रसूता या सा द्वेष्टि स्वामिनं सदा
A woman born in a wicked lineage always hates her husband.
पतितं रोगिणं दुष्टं निर्धनं गुणहीनकम् 1.9.
Whether fallen, sick, evil, poor, or lacking virtue,
सगुणं निर्गुणं वापि द्वेष्टि या संत्यजेत्पतिम्
Whether possessing qualities or devoid of them, she who hates and abandons her husband,
कीटैः शुनकतुल्यैश्च भक्षिता सा दिवानिशम्
Is eaten day and night by insects and creatures like dogs.
गृध्रः कोटिसहस्राणि शतजन्मानि सूकरः
As a vulture for ten million births, as a pig for a hundred births,
ततो मानवजन्मानि लभेच्चेत्पूर्वकर्मणः
Then, if her previous actions allow, she may obtain human birth.
देहि नः कान्तदानं च कामपूरं विधेः सुत
O son of the creator, grant us the gift of a beloved, fulfilling our desires.
कन्यानां वचनं श्रुत्वा दक्षः शंकरसन्निधिम्
Hearing the words of the maidens, Daksha approached the presence of Shiva.
दक्षस्तस्याशिषं कृत्वा समुवाच कृपानिधिम्
Daksha, having granted their blessing, spoke to the compassionate one.
दक्ष उवाच मत्सुतानां च प्राणानां परमेव प्रियं पतिम्
Daksha said: For my daughters, the husband is supremely dear, even dearer than life.
न चेद्ददासि जामातर्मम जामातरं विधुम्
If you do not give my son-in-law, O moon, as my son-in-law,
दक्षस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा तमुवाच कृपानिधिः 1.9.
Hearing Daksha's words, the compassionate one replied to him.
शिव उवाच नाहं दातुं समर्थश्च चन्द्रं च शरणागतम्
Śiva said: I am not able to give up the Moon, who has taken refuge with me.
शिवस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा दक्षस्तं शप्तुमुद्यतः
Hearing Śiva’s words, Dakṣa became ready to curse him.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे कृष्णो वृद्धब्राह्मणरूपधृक्
At that moment, Kṛṣṇa appeared, taking the form of an aged brāhmaṇa.
दत्त्वा शुभाशिषं तौ स ब्रह्मज्योतिः सनातनः
That eternal Brahman, having bestowed auspicious blessings on the two, shone forth.
श्रीभगवानुवाच आत्मानं रक्ष दक्षाय देहि चन्द्रं सुरेश्वर
The Blessed Lord said: Protect yourself, O Dakṣa; give the Moon to the Lord of the gods.
तपस्विनां वरः शान्तस्त्वमेवं वैष्णवाग्रणीः
You are the foremost among ascetics, peaceful, and the chief of the Vaiṣṇavas.
दक्षः क्रोधी च दुर्द्धर्षस्तेजस्वी ब्रह्मणः सुतः
Dakṣa is wrathful, hard to withstand, radiant, and the son of Brahmā.
नारायणवचः श्रुत्वा हसित्वा शङ्करः स्वयम्
Hearing Nārāyaṇa’s words, Śaṅkara himself laughed.
शङ्कर उवाच प्राणांश्च न समर्थोऽहं प्रदातुं शरणागतम्
Śaṅkara said: I am not able to give up the life of one who has sought my refuge.
यो ददाति भयेनैव प्रपन्नं शरणागतम् 1.9.
He who gives up one who has sought refuge, out of fear—
सर्वं त्यक्तुं समर्थोऽहं न स्वधर्मं जगत्प्रभो
I am able to give up everything, O Lord of the world, but not my own duty.
यश्च धर्मं सदा रक्षेद्धर्मस्तं परिरक्षति
And whoever always protects dharma, dharma in turn protects him.
त्वं सर्वमाता स्रष्टा च हन्ता च परिणामतः
You are the mother of all, the creator, and, in transformation, the destroyer as well.
शङ्करस्य वचः श्रुत्वा भगवान्सर्वभाववित्
Hearing Śaṅkara’s words, the Lord, knower of all hearts,
प्रतस्थावर्द्धचन्द्रश्च निर्व्याधिः शिवशेखरे
The waxing Moon, now free from disease, departed, adorned on Śiva’s crest.
यक्ष्मग्रस्तं च तं दृष्ट्वा दक्षस्तुष्टाव माधवम्
Seeing him afflicted with consumption, Dakṣa praised Mādhava.
कृष्णस्तेभ्यो वरं दत्त्वा जगाम स्वालयं द्विज
Kṛṣṇa, having granted them a boon, returned to his own abode, O brāhmaṇa.
चन्द्रस्ताश्च परिप्राप्य विजहार दिवानिशम्
The Moon, having regained them, sported day and night.