पुंश्चली योग्यमिच्छन्ती नापरं चञ्चलाऽधमा
The courtesan, desiring a suitable man, was restless and base, not seeking another.
प्रविवेश महारण्यं तं निक्षिप्य स्वतेजसा
He entered the great forest, having deposited it with his own radiance.
साऽतो बभूव वशगा योषिज्जातिः सुखार्थिनी
Then she became submissive; the class of women, seeking pleasure, was under control.
हरिस्तन्मस्तकं छित्त्वा योजयामास बालके गजास्ययोजनायाश्च कारणं पापनाशनम्
Hari, having severed that head, attached it to the boy; the reason for joining the elephant's head was the destruction of sin.
नारद उवाच बभूवुस्तद्रहस्यं च गोपनीयं सुदुर्लभम्
Nārada said: That secret became hidden and extremely difficult to obtain.
कथं वा प्रापुरेते तां कमलां जगतां प्रसूम्
How did these obtain that Kamalā, the flower of the worlds?
नारायण उवाच भ्रष्टश्रीर्दैन्ययुक्तश्च स जगामामरावतीम्
Nārāyaṇa said: Bereft of fortune and afflicted with misery, he went to Amarāvatī.
तां ददर्श निरानन्दो निरानन्दां पुरीं मुने
He saw her, devoid of joy, and the city, O sage, was joyless.
इति श्रुत्वा दूतमुखाज्जगाम गुरुमन्दिरम्
Having heard this from the messenger's mouth, he went to the guru's temple.
गत्वा ननाम तं शक्रः सुरैः सार्द्धं तथा गुरुः
Having gone, Śakra bowed to him along with the gods, and so did the guru.
प्रवृत्तिं कथयामास वाक्पतिस्तं प्रजापतिम्
The eloquent one narrated the situation to that lord of creatures.
ब्रह्मोवाच लक्ष्मीसमशचीभर्त्ता परस्त्रीलोलुपः सदा
Brahmā said: The husband of Śacī is equal to Lakṣmī, yet always lustful for other women.
गौतमस्याभिशापेन भगांगः सुरसंसदि
By Gautama's curse, Bhaga lost his eye in the assembly of the gods.
यः परस्त्रीषु निरतस्तस्य श्री वा कुतो यशः
He who is engrossed with other men's wives—how can he possess fortune or fame?
नैवेद्यं श्रीहरेरेव दत्तं दुर्वाससा च ते
The offering to Śrī Hari was given to you by Durvāsas.
क्व सा रम्भा सर्वभोग्या क्वाधुना त्वं श्रिया हतः
Where is Rambhā, who was enjoyed by all? Where are you now, deprived of fortune?
वेश्या सश्रीकमिच्छन्ती निःश्रीकं न च चञ्चला
A courtesan, desiring wealth, is fickle and never stays with one who is destitute.
यद्गतं तद्गतं वत्स निष्पन्नं न निवर्त्तते
Whatever has happened, my child, is accomplished and cannot be undone.
इत्युक्त्वा तं जगत्स्रष्टुः स्तोत्रं च कवचं ददौ
Having spoken thus, he gave him the hymn and protective charm of the Creator of the worlds.
स तैः सार्द्धं च गुरुणा ह्यजपन्मन्त्रमीप्सितम्
Together with his teacher and those others, he recited the desired mantra.
वर्षमेकं निराहारो भारते पुण्यदे शुभे
For one year, without food, he stayed in the sacred and auspicious land of Bhārata.
आगत्य तं हरिस्तस्मै वाञ्छितं च वरं ददौ
Hari came and granted him the boon he desired.
दत्त्वा जगाम वैकुण्ठमिन्द्रः क्षीरोदमेव च
After granting the boon, he departed to Vaikuṇṭha, and Indra returned to the ocean of milk.
सुरेश्वरोऽरिं जित्वा वै ह्यलभच्चामरावतीम्
The lord of the gods, having conquered his enemy, obtained Amarāvatī.
इति श्रीब्रह्मवैवर्त्ते महापुराणे तृतीये गणपतिखण्डे नारदनारायणसंवादे शक्रलक्ष्मीप्राप्तिर्नामैकविंशतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the twenty-first chapter, named 'The Attainment of Lakṣmī by Śakra,' in the third section, Gaṇapati-khaṇḍa, of the glorious Brahma-vaivarta Mahāpurāṇa, in the dialogue between Nārada and Nārāyaṇa.
नारद उवाच महालक्ष्म्याश्च लक्ष्मीशस्तन्मे ब्रूहि तपोधन
Nārada said: O ascetic, tell me about Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, and Mahālakṣmī.
नारायण उवाच आविर्बभूव तत्रैव क्लिष्टं दृष्ट्वा हरिः स्वयम्
Nārāyaṇa said: Hari himself appeared there, seeing the afflicted one.
तमुवाच हृषीकेशो वरं वृणु यथेप्सितम्
Hṛṣīkeśa spoke to him: 'Choose the boon you desire.'
वरं दत्त्वा हृषीकेशः प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे
Having granted the boon, Hṛṣīkeśa began to speak further.
श्रीमधुसूदन उवाच परमैश्वर्य्यजनकं सर्वशत्रुविमर्दनम्
Śrī Madhusūdana said: This grants supreme prosperity and destroys all enemies.