भृगुरुवाच जलबुद्बुदवत्सर्वं संसारे च चराचरम्
Bhrigu said: All things, both moving and unmoving in the world, are like bubbles in water.
सत्यसारं सत्यबीजं कृष्णं चिन्तय पुत्रक
Think upon Krishna, who is the essence of truth and the seed of truth, O child.
यद्भवेत्तद्भवत्येव भविता यद्भविष्यति
Whatever is to be, surely comes to be; whatever will be, will indeed happen.
भूतं भव्यं भविष्यं च यत्कृष्णेन निरूपितम्
Past, present, and future—all are determined by Krishna.
मायाबीजं मायिनां च शरीरं पाञ्चभौतिकम्
The seed of illusion, and the bodies of the illusionists, are composed of the five elements.
क्षुधा निद्रा दया शान्तिः क्षमा कान्त्यादयस्तथा
Hunger, sleep, compassion, peace, patience, beauty, and so forth—
बुद्धिश्च शक्तयः सर्वा राजेन्द्रमिव किंकराः
Intellect and all powers serve like attendants to a king.
के वा केषां च पितरः के वा केषां सुताः सुत
Who are the fathers of whom, and who are the sons of whom, O son?
ज्ञानिनो मा रुदन्त्येव मा रोदीः पुत्र साम्प्रतम्
The wise do not weep; do not weep now, my child.
संकेताख्योच्चारणेन यद्रुदन्ति च बान्धवाः पार्थिवांशं च पृथिवी गृह्णात्यस्थित्वचादिकम्
When relatives weep at the utterance of a sign or name, the earth takes back its earthly portion, such as bones and flesh.
तोयांशं च तथा तोयं शून्यांशं गगनं तथा
The watery portion returns to water, and the empty portion to sky.
सर्वे विलीनाः सर्वेषु को वाऽऽयास्यति रोदनात्
All are dissolved in all; who will come from weeping?
वेदोक्तं चैव यत्कर्म कुरु तत्पारलौकिकम्
And whatever action is prescribed in the Vedas, perform that for the sake of the next world.
भृगोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शोकं तत्याज तत्क्षणम्
Hearing those words of Bhrigu, he abandoned his grief at that very moment.
रेणुकोवाच ।। ब्रह्मन्ननुगमिष्यामि प्राणनाथस्य साम्प्रतम् । ऋतोश्चतुर्थदिवसे मृतोऽयं चाद्य मानदः
Reṇukā said: O Brāhmaṇa, I will now follow my beloved husband; today is the fourth day since his death, O bestower of honor.
कर्त्तव्या का व्यवस्थाऽत्र वद वेदविदां वर
What rule or arrangement should be observed here? Tell me, O best among knowers of the Veda.
भृगुरुवाच चतुर्थदिवसं शुद्धं स्वामिनः सर्वकर्मसु
Bhrigu said: On the fourth day, the wife is pure for all duties regarding her husband.
शुद्धा भर्त्तुश्चतुर्थेऽह्नि न शुद्धा दैवपित्र्ययोः
On the fourth day, the wife is pure with respect to her husband, but not pure regarding the rites for gods and ancestors.
व्यालग्राही यथा व्यालं बिलादुद्धरते बलात्
Just as a snake-catcher forcefully pulls a snake out of its hole,
मोदते स्वामिना तत्र यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्दश
so does the wife rejoice with her husband there as long as the fourteen Indras exist.
स पुत्रो भक्तिदाता यः सा च स्त्री याऽनुगच्छति
That son who gives devotion, and that wife who follows her husband—
सोऽभीष्टदेवो यो रक्षेत्स राजा पालयेत्प्रजाः
He is the desired deity who protects; he is the king who rules the subjects.
स गुरुर्धर्मदाता यो हरिभक्तिप्रदायकः
He is the guru who gives dharma, who bestows devotion to Hari.
रेणुकोवाच का वाऽप्यशक्ता नारीषु तन्मे ब्रूहि तपोधन
Reṇukā said: Which women are incapable of this? Tell me that, O possessor of austerity.
भृगुरुवाच रजस्वला च कुलटा गलितव्याधिसंयुता
Bhrigu said: A menstruating woman, an adulteress, one afflicted with wasting disease,
पतिसेवाविहीना या ह्यभक्ता कटुभाषिणी
one who neglects service to her husband, who is without devotion, or who speaks harshly—
संस्कृताग्निं पुरो दत्त्वा चितासु शयितं पतिम्
Having placed the consecrated fire in front and her husband laid on the funeral pyre,
अनुगच्छन्ति याः कान्तं तमेव प्राप्नुवन्ति ताः
those women who follow their beloved attain him alone.
इयं ते कथिता साध्वि व्यवस्था गृहिणां ध्रुवम्
This, O virtuous one, is the established rule for household women, as told to you.
या साध्वी वैष्णवं कान्तं यत्र यत्रानुगच्छति
Wherever the chaste wife follows her Vaiṣṇava husband—