दाहिकाशक्तिहीनश्च यथा मन्दो हुताशनः
Just as a weak fire cannot burn, so is one lacking the power of a wife.
शक्तिहीनो यथा जीवो यथा चात्मा तनुं विना
Just as a living being without strength, or a self without a body—
न च शक्तो यथा यज्ञः फलदो दक्षिणां विना
Just as a sacrifice cannot yield fruit without a gift—
विना स्वर्णं स्वर्णकारो यथा शक्तः स्वकर्मणि
Just as a goldsmith is unable to work without gold—
तथा गृही न शक्तश्च सततं सर्वकर्मणि 2.59.
So too, a householder is never able to perform all his duties without a wife.
भार्य्यामूलाः क्रियाः सर्वा भार्य्यामूला गृहास्तथा
All rites are rooted in the wife; so too are households rooted in the wife.
भार्य्यामूलः सदा हर्षो भार्य्यामूलं च मङ्गलम्
Joy always arises from the wife, and auspiciousness too has its root in the wife.
यथा रथश्च रथिनां गृहिणां च तथा गृहम्
Just as a chariot belongs to the charioteer, so too is the house to the householder.
सर्वरत्नप्रधाना च स्त्रीरत्नं दुष्कुलादपि
Among all jewels, the jewel of a woman is foremost, even if she comes from a low family.
यथा जलं विना पद्मं पद्मं शोभां विना यथा
Just as a lotus cannot exist without water, so too a lotus is without beauty without its radiance.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा स गुरुः प्रविवेश गृहं मुहुः
Having spoken thus, the teacher repeatedly entered the house.
मुहुर्मुहुश्च मूर्च्छां च चेतनां समवाप सः
Again and again he fell unconscious, and then regained his senses.
अथान्तरे महाज्ञानी ज्ञानिभिश्च प्रबोधितः
Then, in the meantime, the great knower was awakened by the wise.
स गुरुः पूजितस्तेन चातिथ्येन मरुत्वता
That teacher was honored with hospitality by Marutvat.
बृहस्पतिवचः श्रुत्वा रक्तपङ्कजलोचनः 2.59.
Hearing the words of Brihaspati, his eyes became red like a lotus smeared with mud.
महेन्द्र उवाच अतीव निपुणं दक्षं तत्त्वप्राप्तिनिमित्तकम्
Mahendra said: 'Extremely skillful and capable is he, fit for the attainment of truth.'
यत्रास्ति पातकी चन्द्रो मन्मात्रा तारया सह
Wherever the sinful Chandra is, together with Tara, by my measure—
त्यज चिन्तां महाभाग सर्वं भद्रं भविष्यति
Abandon worry, O greatly fortunate one; all will turn out well.
इत्युक्त्वा च शुनासीरो दूतानां च सहस्रकम्
Having said this, Shunashira dispatched a thousand messengers.
ते दूता वै वर्षशतं ययुर्निर्जनमेव च
Those messengers wandered for a hundred years, even in deserted places.
चन्द्रं च शुक्रभवने तं प्रपन्नं च विज्वरम्
And they found Chandra in the house of Shukra, free from fever.
इति श्रुत्वा शुनासीरो नतवक्त्रो बृहस्पतिम्
Hearing this, Shunashira, with bowed head, approached Brihaspati.
महेन्द्र उवाच भयं त्यज महाभाग सर्वं भद्रं भविष्यति
Mahendra said: 'Abandon fear, O greatly fortunate one; all will turn out well.'
त्वया नहि जितः शुक्रो न मया दितिनन्दनः
Shukra has not been conquered by you, nor have I conquered the son of Diti.
गच्छ शीघ्रं ब्रह्मलोकमस्माभिः सार्द्धमेव च 2.59.
Go quickly to Brahmaloka together with us.
इत्युक्त्वा तु महेन्द्रश्च सन्तप्तो गुरुणा सह
Having spoken thus, Mahendra, afflicted, went with his teacher.
तत्र दृष्ट्वा च ब्रह्माणं ननाम गुरुणा सह
There, seeing Brahma, he bowed together with his teacher.
महेन्द्रवचनं श्रुत्वा हसित्वा कमलोद्भवः
Hearing Mahendra’s words, the lotus-born laughed.
ब्रह्मोवाच तस्मै ददाति दुःखं च शास्ता कृष्णः सनातनः
Brahma spoke: To him, the eternal Krishna, the teacher, gives suffering.
अहं स्रष्टा च सृष्टेश्च पाता विष्णुः सनातनः
I am the creator, and Vishnu, the eternal, is the protector of creation.