एवं देवेषु नो शक्तिः शक्रे वा ब्रह्मरुद्रयोः
Thus, among the gods, there is no power—not even for Indra, Brahmā, or Rudra.
स्वामी कर्त्ता च हर्त्ता च शास्ता पोष्टा च रक्षिता
The husband is the doer, the taker, the ruler, the nourisher, and the protector.
कन्या सत्कुलजाता या सा कान्तवशवर्तिनी
A maiden born in a noble family, who is obedient to her husband—
दुष्टा परपुमांसं च सेवते या नराधमा
But the wicked one, the lowest among women, serves another man—
उपबर्हणभार्य्याऽहं कन्या चित्ररथस्य च
I am Upabarhaṇa’s wife, and also the daughter of Citraratha.
सर्वं कालयितुं शक्तस्त्वं च वेदविदां वर
You, best of those who know the Veda, are able to measure all time.
मालावतीवचः श्रुत्वा विप्रो वेदविदां वरः 1.15.
Hearing the words of Mālāvatī, the best of the knowers of the Veda—
ददर्श मृत्युकन्यां च प्रथमं मालती सती
First, the virtuous Mālatī saw the maiden of death.
सस्मितां षड्भुजां शान्तां दयायुक्तां महासतीम्
She saw her smiling, with six arms, peaceful, endowed with compassion, a great chaste woman.
कालं नारायणांशं च ददर्श पुरतः सती
The chaste woman saw Time, a portion of Nārāyaṇa, standing before her.
षड्वक्त्रं षोडशभुजं चतुर्विंशतिलोचनम्
He had six faces, sixteen arms, and twenty-four eyes.
देवस्य देवं विकृतं सर्वसंहाररूपिणम्
She saw the god of gods, terrifying, in the form of the destroyer of all.
ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्यमक्षमालाकरं वरम्
His face was slightly smiling and gracious, holding a rosary, a boon-giver.
सती ददर्श पुरतो व्याधिसंघान्सुदुर्जयान्
The chaste woman saw before her hosts of diseases, difficult to overcome.
स्थूलपादं कृष्णवर्णं धर्मिष्ठं रविनन्दनम्
She saw one with large feet, dark in color, righteous, the son of the sun.
धर्माधर्मविचारज्ञं परं धर्मस्वरूपिणम्
He knows the judgment of righteousness and unrighteousness, and is the very form of supreme righteousness.
तांश्च दृष्ट्वा च निःशङ्का पप्रच्छ प्रथमं यमम् 1.15.
Seeing them, without fear, she first questioned Yama.
मालावत्युवाच कालव्यतिक्रमे कान्तं कथं हरसि मे विभो
Mālāvatī said: O Lord, how do you take my husband before his time?
यम उवाच ईश्वराज्ञां विना साध्वि नामृतं चालयाम्यहम्
Yama said: O virtuous one, without the command of the Lord, I do not disturb the life of anyone.
अहं कालो मृत्युकन्या व्याधयश्च सुदुर्जयाः
I am Time, the maiden of death, and the diseases, all very difficult to overcome.
मृत्युकन्या विचारज्ञा यं प्राप्नोति निषेकतः
The daughter of Death, skilled in discernment, approaches one from the moment of conception.
मालावत्युवाच कथं हरसि मत्कान्तं जीवितायां मयि प्रिये
Mālavatī said: How do you take my beloved from me while I am still alive, O dear one?
मृत्युकन्योवाच न च क्षमा परित्यक्तुं बहुना तपसा सति
The daughter of Death said: It is not possible to abandon him, even with much austerity performed.
सती सतीनां मध्ये च काचित्तेजस्विनी वरा
Among all virtuous women, there is one who is radiant and exceptional.
सर्वापच्छान्तिरेवेह तदा भवति सुन्दरि
O beautiful one, at that time, all calamities are pacified here.
कालेन प्रेरिताऽहं च मत्पुत्रा व्याधयश्च वै
Driven by Time, I and my sons, as well as diseases, indeed act.
पृच्छ कालं महात्मानं धर्मज्ञं धर्मसंसदि 1.15.
Ask Time, the great soul, the knower of dharma, in the assembly of dharma.
मालावत्युवाच नारायणांशो भगवन्नमस्तुभ्यंपराय च
Mālavatī said: O Lord, portion of Nārāyaṇa, I bow to you and to the supreme.
कथं हरसि मत्कान्तं जीवितायां मयि प्रभो
How do you take my beloved from me while I am still alive, O master?
कालपुरुष उवाच वयं भ्रमामः सततमीशाज्ञापरिपालकाः
The Personification of Time said: We wander constantly, upholding the commands of the Lord.