कथं रविः कथं चन्द्रः कथमत्र हुताशनः
How is the sun, how is the moon, and how is the fire here?
हे मालावति ते क्रोडे कोऽतिशुष्कश्शवोऽनघे 1.14.
O Mālāvati, in your lap lies a corpse, extremely dried up, O sinless one.
इत्युक्त्वा तांश्च तां विप्रो विरराम सभातले
Having spoken thus to them, the sage became silent in the assembly hall.
मालावत्युवाच तुष्टा देवा हरिस्तुष्टो यस्य पुष्पजलेन च
Mālāvati said: The gods are pleased, and Hari is pleased, by one who offers flowers and water.
अवधानं कुरु विभो शोकार्ताया निवेदने
O Lord, pay attention to the plea of one afflicted by sorrow.
उपबर्हणभार्य्याऽहं कन्या चित्ररथस्य च
I am the wife of Upabarhaṇa and the daughter of Citraratha.
दिव्यं लक्षयुगं रम्ये स्थाने स्थाने मनोहरे
For a divine hundred thousand years, in delightful and charming places,
प्रिये स्नेहो हि साध्वीनां यावान्विप्रेन्द्र योषिताम्
O beloved, the affection of virtuous women for their husbands is as great as that of all women, O best of sages.
अकस्माद्ब्रह्मणः शापात्प्राणांस्तत्याज मत्पतिः
Suddenly, by the curse of Brahmā, my husband gave up his life.
स्वकार्य्यसाधने सर्वे व्यग्राश्च जगतीतले
All are engaged in accomplishing their own tasks upon the earth.
सुखं दुःखं भयं शोकं सन्तापः कर्मणां नृणाम्
Happiness, sorrow, fear, grief, and distress are the results of actions for men.
देवाश्च सर्वज नका दातारः कर्मणां फलम् 1.14.
O gods, you are all the givers of the fruits of actions.
न हि देवात्परो बन्धुर्न हि देवात्परो बली
There is no friend greater than the gods, nor is anyone stronger than the gods.
सर्वान्देवानहं याचे पतिदानं ममेप्सितम्
I beseech all the gods for the gift of my husband, which I desire.
यदि दास्यन्ति देवा मे कान्तदानं यथेप्सितम्
If the gods grant me the gift of my beloved as I wish,
शपिष्यामि च सर्वांश्च दारुणं दुर्निवारकम्
I will curse all of them with a dreadful and irresistible curse.
इत्युक्त्वा मालती साध्वी शोकार्ता सुरसंसदि
Having spoken thus, Mālatī, the virtuous one, afflicted by sorrow, in the assembly of the gods,
ब्राह्मण उवाच न सद्यः सुचिरेणैव धान्यं कृषकवन्नृणाम्
The brāhmaṇa said: Not immediately, but only after a long time, does grain ripen for men, just as for a farmer.
गृही च कृषकद्वारा क्षत्रे धान्यं वपेत्सति
The householder, through the farmer, sows grain in the field of the kṣatriya.
काले सुपक्वं भवति काले प्राप्नोति तद्गृही
In due time, it ripens fully; in due time, the householder receives it.
अष्ठी वपति संसारे गृहस्थो विष्णुमायया
In this world, the householder sows eight kinds of seeds by the power of Viṣṇu's māyā.
पुण्यवान्पुण्यभूमौ च करोति सुचिरं तपः 1.14.
The virtuous person performs long austerities in the land of merit.
ब्राह्मणानां मुखे क्षेत्रे श्रेष्ठेऽनूषर एव च
In the mouths of brāhmaṇas, in the best field, and even in the uncultivated land.
न बलं न च सौन्दर्यं नैश्वर्यं न धनं सुतः
Neither strength, nor beauty, nor lordship, nor wealth is a son.
सेवते प्रकृतिं यो हि भक्त्या जन्मनि जन्मनि
He who serves Prakṛti with devotion, birth after birth,
श्रियं च निश्चलां पुत्रं पौत्रं भूमिं धनं प्रजाम्
Obtains unwavering prosperity, sons, grandsons, land, wealth, and progeny.
शिवं शिवस्वरूपं च शिवदं शिवकारणम्
The auspicious, the form of Śiva, the giver of auspiciousness, and the cause of auspiciousness.
तमीशं सेवते यो हि भक्त्या जन्मनि जन्मनि
He who serves that Lord with devotion, birth after birth,
विद्यां ज्ञानं सुकवितां पुत्रं पौत्रं परां श्रियम्
Obtains knowledge, wisdom, poetic skill, sons, grandsons, and supreme prosperity.
ब्रह्माणं भजते यो हि लभेत्सोऽपि प्रजां श्रियम्
He who worships Brahmā also attains progeny and prosperity.