महासाध्वी महाभागा सुशीला धर्मचारिणी । यदंशकलया सर्वा धर्मिष्ठाश्च पतिव्रताः
Most virtuous, greatly fortunate, gentle, and righteous in conduct; by your portion, all will be righteous and devoted to their husbands.
शान्तरूपाः सुशीलाश्च प्रतिविश्वेषु पूजिताः । तिस्रो भार्यास्त्रिशीलाश्च त्रयो भृत्याश्च बान्धवाः
Peaceful in form, gentle in nature, honored among all worlds; three wives, three virtues, and three servants and relatives.
ध्रुवं वेदविरुद्धाश्च न ह्येते मङ्गलप्रदाः । स्त्रीपुंवच्च गृहे येषां गृहिणां स्त्रीवशः पुमान्
Certainly, those whose householders are under the control of women, like men and women, are opposed to the Vedas and do not bring auspiciousness.
निष्फलं च जन्म तेषामशुभं च पदे पदे । मुखे दुष्टा योनिदुष्टा यस्य स्त्री कलहप्रिया
Their birth is fruitless and inauspicious at every step, for whom the wife is wicked in speech, of impure origin, and fond of quarrel.
अरण्यं तेन गन्तव्यं महारण्यं गृहाद्वरम् । जलानां च स्थलानां च फलानां प्राप्तिरेव च
For such a one, it is better to go to the forest, even a great wilderness is preferable to the house; water, land, and fruits are always easily obtained there.
सततं सुलभा तत्र न तेषां गृह एव च । वरमग्नौ स्थितिर्हिंस्रजन्तूनां सन्निधौ सुखम्
There, these are always easily available, not so in their own house; it is better to dwell in fire or among violent creatures than to be in their company.
ततोऽपि दुःखं पुंसां च दुष्टस्त्रीसन्निधौ ध्रुवम् । व्याधिज्वाला विषज्वाला वरं पुंसां वरानने
Even more painful than that for men is certainly the company of a wicked woman; O beautiful one, the flame of disease or poison is preferable for men.
दुष्टस्त्रीणां मुखज्वाला मरणादतिरिच्यते । पुंसां च स्त्रीजितां चैव भस्मान्तं शौचमध्रुवम्
The fire of a wicked woman's mouth surpasses even death; for men subdued by women, purity lasts only until they are reduced to ashes.
यदह्नि कुरुते कर्म न तस्य फलभाग्भवेत् । निन्दितोऽत्र परत्रैव सर्वत्र नरकं व्रजेत्
Whatever action he performs in a day, he does not obtain its fruit; he is condemned here and hereafter, and everywhere he goes to hell.
यशःकीर्तिविहीनो यो जीवन्नपि मृतो हि सः । बह्वीनां च सपत्नीनां नैकत्र श्रेयसे स्थितिः
He who is devoid of fame and reputation is as good as dead even while living; for many co-wives, there is no benefit in residing together.
एकभार्यः सुखी नैव बहुभार्यः कदाचन । गच्छ गङ्गे शिवस्थानं ब्रह्मस्थानं सरस्वति
A man with one wife is happy, never one with many wives; go, O Ganga, to the abode of Shiva, to the abode of Brahma, O Sarasvati.
अत्र तिष्ठतु मद्गेहे सुशीला कमलालया । सुसाध्या यस्य पत्नी च सुशीला च पतिव्रता
Let her of good conduct, dwelling in the lotus, remain in my house; whose wife is easily managed, of good character, and devoted to her husband.
इह स्वर्गे सुखं तस्य धर्मो मोक्षः परत्र च । पतिव्रता यस्य पत्नी स च मुक्तः शुचिः सुखी । जीवन्मृतोऽशुचिर्दुःखी दुःशीलापतिरेव च
Here and in heaven, happiness, righteousness, and liberation in the next world belong to him whose wife is devoted to her husband; he is liberated, pure, and happy. But one whose wife is of bad conduct is as if dead while living, impure, and miserable.
गङ्गादीनां शापोद्धारवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच इत्युक्त्वा जगतां नाथो विरराम च नारद । अतीव रुरुदुर्देव्यः समालिङ्ग्य परस्परम्
Description of the removal of the curse from Ganga and others. Shri Narayana said: Having spoken thus, the Lord of the worlds became silent, O Narada. The goddesses wept greatly, embracing each other.
ताश्च सर्वाः समालोक्य क्रमेणोचुस्तदेश्वरम् । कम्पिताः साश्रुनेत्राश्च शोकेन च भयेन च
Seeing all of them, one by one, they spoke to the Lord of that place, their eyes trembling with tears, overcome by grief and fear.
सरस्वत्युवाच विशापं देहि हे नाथ दुष्टमाजन्मशोचनम् । सत्स्वामिना परित्यक्ताः कुतो जीवन्ति ताः स्त्रियः
Sarasvati said: O Lord, grant release from the curse, for this wicked, lifelong sorrow; abandoned by a righteous husband, how can those women live?
देहत्यागं करिष्यामि योगेन भारते ध्रुवम् । अत्युन्नतो हि नियतं पातुमर्हति निश्चितम्
I will certainly abandon my body through yoga in Bharata; one who is excessively proud is surely fit to fall, that is certain.
गङ्गोवाच अहं केनापराधेन त्वया त्यक्ता जगत्पते । देहत्यागं करिष्यामि निर्दोषाया वधं लभ
Ganga said: For what fault have I been abandoned by you, O Lord of the worlds? I will abandon my body; let the killing of one who is blameless be obtained.
निर्दोषकामिनीत्यागं करोति यो नरो भुवि । स याति नरकं घोरं किन्तु सर्वेश्वरोऽपि वा
Whoever, on earth, abandons a blameless and devoted wife, that man goes to terrible hell, even if he is the Lord of all.
पद्मोवाच नाथ सत्त्वस्वरूपस्त्वं कोपः कथमहो तव । प्रसादं कुरु भार्ये द्वे सदीशस्य क्षमा वरा
Padma said: O Lord, you are the embodiment of virtue, how can you be angry? Show favor to your two wives; forgiveness is best for one who is equal to all.
भारते भारतीशापाद्यास्यामि कलया ह्यहम् । कियत्कालं स्थितिस्तत्र कदा द्रक्ष्यामि ते पदम्
By the curse of Bhāratī, I shall go to Bhārata in a partial form; how long will I remain there, and when shall I behold your feet?
दास्यन्ति पापिनः पापं सद्यः स्नानावगाहनात् । केन तेन विमुक्ताहमागमिष्यामि ते पदम्
Sinners will impart sin, but by immediate bathing and immersion, by what means shall I be freed and come to your feet?
कलया तुलसीरूपं धर्मध्वजसुता सती । भुक्त्वा कदा लभिष्यामि त्वत्पादाम्बुजमच्युत
In a partial form, as Tulasī, the virtuous daughter of Dharmadhvaja, after experiencing enjoyment, when shall I attain your lotus feet, O Acyuta?
वृक्षरूपा भविष्यामि त्वदधिष्ठातृदेवता । समुद्धरिष्यसि कदा तन्मे ब्रूहि कृपानिधे
I shall become a tree, the presiding deity established by you; when will you deliver me? Tell me this, O ocean of compassion.
गङ्गा सरस्वतीशापाद्यदि यास्यति भारते । शापेन मुक्ता पापाच्च कदा त्वां च लभिष्यति
If, by the curse of Gaṅgā or Sarasvatī, she goes to Bhārata, when will she be freed from the curse and from sin, and attain you?
गङ्गाशापेन वा वाणी यदि यास्यति भारतम् । कदा शापाद्विनिर्मुच्य लभिष्यति पदं तव
If, by Gaṅgā's curse, Vāṇī goes to Bhārata, when, released from the curse, will she attain your abode?
तां वाणीं ब्रह्मसदनं गङ्गां वा शिवमन्दिरम् । गन्तुं वदसि हे नाथ तत्क्षमस्व च ते वचः
You say, O Lord, that Vāṇī should go to Brahmā's abode or Gaṅgā to Śiva's temple; forgive this word of yours.
इत्युक्त्वा कमला कान्तपादं धृत्वा ननाम सा । स्वकेशैर्वेष्टनं कृत्वा रुरोद च पुनः पुनः
Having spoken thus, she grasped the feet of the consort of Kamalā, bowed down, wrapped herself with her own hair, and wept again and again.
(उवाच पद्मनाभस्तां पद्मां कृत्वा स्ववक्षसि । ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्यो भक्तानुग्रहकातरः श्रीभगवानुवाच त्वद्वाक्यमाचरिष्यामि स्ववाक्यं च सुरेश्वरि । समतां च करिष्यामि शृणु त्वं कमलेक्षणे
(Padmanābha took her, Padmā, upon his chest, his face slightly smiling and gracious, eager to show favor to devotees. The Blessed Lord spoke:) 'I shall carry out your words, O Queen of the gods, and my own as well; I shall make them equal. Listen, O lotus-eyed one.'
भारती यातु कलया सरिद्रूपा च भारते । अर्धा सा ब्रह्मसदनं स्वयं तिष्ठतु मद्गृहे
Let Bhāratī go in a partial form, and as a river in Bhārata; let half of her remain in Brahmā's abode, and herself dwell in my house.