हरेर्भक्तिव्यवहिता सर्वमायाकरण्डिका । संसारकारागारे च शश्वन्निगडरूपिणी
She obstructs devotion to Hari, is the vessel of all illusion, and in the prison of worldly existence, she is ever like a shackle.
इन्द्रजालस्वरूपा च मिथ्या च स्वप्नरूपिणी । बिभ्रती बाह्यसौन्दर्यमधोऽङ्गमतिकुत्सितम्
Her nature is like a magical illusion, false, like a dream; she bears external beauty, but her limbs are utterly contemptible.
नानाविण्मूत्रपूयानामाधारं मलसंयुतम् । दुर्गन्धिदोषसंयुक्तं रक्तारक्तमसंस्कृतम्
She is the receptacle of various excretions—urine, feces, pus—filled with filth, joined with foul odors and defects, bloody and unrefined.
मायारूपा मायिनां च विधिना निर्मिता पुरा । विषरूपा मुमुक्षूणामदृश्याप्यभिवाञ्छताम्
She is of the form of illusion, created by the Creator for those deluded; like poison for those seeking liberation, yet invisible to those who desire her.
इत्युक्त्वा तुलसी तं तु विरराम च नारद । सस्मितः शङ्खचूडश्च प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे
Having spoken thus, Tulasī became silent, and Nārada also paused. Smiling, Śaṅkhacūḍa began to speak.
शङ्खचूड उवाच त्वया यत्कथितं देवि न च सर्वमलीककम् । किञ्चित्सत्यमलीकं च किञ्चिन्मत्तो निशामय
Śaṅkhacūḍa said: What you have told, O Goddess, is not entirely false; some is true, some is not. Now listen to what I have to say.
निर्मितं द्विविधं धात्रा स्त्रीरूपं सर्वमोहनम् । कृत्वा रूपं वास्तवं च प्रशस्यं चाप्रशंसितम्
The Creator has fashioned two kinds of feminine forms, all enchanting: one is genuine and praiseworthy, the other is not.
लक्ष्मीः सरस्वती दुर्गा सावित्री राधिकादिका । सृष्टिसूत्रस्वरूपा च आद्या सृष्टिर्विनिर्मिता
Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, Durgā, Sāvitrī, Rādhikā and others, as well as the forms of creation's thread, are the primordial manifestations brought forth at the beginning.
एतासामंशरूपं च स्त्रीरूपं वास्तवं स्मृतम् । तत्प्रशस्यं यशोरूपं सर्वमङ्गलकारकम्
The partial forms of these, regarded as true feminine forms, are praised as embodiments of fame and bring all auspiciousness.
शतरूपा देवहूती स्वधा स्वाहा च दक्षिणा । छायावती रोहिणी च वरुणानी शची तथा
Śatarūpā, Devahūtī, Svadhā, Svāhā, Dakṣiṇā, Chāyāvatī, Rohiṇī, Varuṇānī, and Śacī as well,
कुबेरस्य च पत्नी याप्यदितिश्च दितिस्तथा । लोपामुद्रानसूया च कोटभी तुलसी तथा
Kubera's wife, Aditi, Diti, Lopāmudrā, Anasūyā, Koṭabhī, and Tulasī too,
अहल्यारुन्धती मेना तारा मन्दोदरी तथा । दमयन्ती वेदवती गङ्गा च मनसा तथा
Ahalyā, Arundhatī, Menā, Tārā, Mandodarī, Damayantī, Vedavatī, Gaṅgā, and Manasā,
पुष्टिस्तुष्टिः स्मृतिर्मेधा कालिका च वसुन्धरा । षष्ठी मङ्गलचण्डी च मूर्तिश्च धर्मकामिनी
Puṣṭi, Tuṣṭi, Smṛti, Medhā, Kālikā, Vasundharā, Ṣaṣṭhī, Maṅgalacaṇḍī, Mūrti, and Dharmakāminī,
स्वस्तिः श्रद्धा च शान्तिश्च कान्तिः क्षान्तिस्तथा परा । निद्रा तन्द्रा क्षुत्पिपासा सन्ध्या रात्रिदिनानि च
Svasti, Śraddhā, Śānti, Kānti, Kṣānti, Parā, Nidrā, Tandrā, Hunger, Thirst, Sandhyā, and the days and nights,
सम्पत्तिर्धृतिकीर्ती च क्रिया शोभा प्रभा शिवा । यत्स्त्रीरूपं च सम्भूतमुत्तमं तु युगे युगे
Prosperity, Fortitude, Fame, Action, Beauty, Radiance, Auspiciousness—whatever feminine form arises as excellent in every age,
कलाकलांशरूपं च स्वर्वेश्यादिकमेव च । तदप्रशस्यं विश्वेषु पुंश्चलीरूपमेव च
And those forms that are partial, or belonging to the arts, or to the rulers of the senses—these are considered unworthy, and in the world are known as the forms of wanton women.
सत्त्वप्रधानं यद्रूपं तद्युक्तं च प्रभावतः । तदुत्तमं च विश्वेषु साध्वीरूपं प्रशंसितम्
The form dominated by sattva, endowed with power, is regarded as excellent everywhere and praised as the form of a virtuous woman.
तद्वास्तवं च विज्ञेयं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः । रजोरूपं तमोरूपं कलासु विविधं स्मृतम्
That genuine form is to be understood, say the wise; the forms of rajas and tamas are remembered as various manifestations among the arts.
मध्यमा रजसश्चांशास्तास्तु भोगेषु लोलुपाः । सुखसम्भोगवश्याश्च स्वकार्ये निरताः सदा
Those dominated by rajas are of middling nature, eager for pleasures, always devoted to enjoyment and their own pursuits.
कपटा मोहकारिण्यो धर्मार्थविमुखाः सदा । रजोरूपस्य साध्वीत्वमतो नैवोपजायते
Deceitful, causing delusion, always turned away from righteousness and wealth; thus, virtue does not arise in those of rajasic nature.
इदं मध्यमरूपं च प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः । तमोरूपं दुर्निवार्यमधमं तद्विदुर्बुधाः
This middling form is described by the wise; the tamasic form is difficult to restrain and is known by the learned as the lowest.
न पृच्छति कुले जातः पण्डितश्च परस्त्रियम् । निर्जने निर्जले वापि रहस्यपि परस्त्रियम्
One born in a noble family, even if learned, does not approach another's wife, whether in solitude, in water, or in secret.
आगच्छामि त्वत्समीपमाज्ञया ब्रह्मणोऽधुना । गान्धर्वेण विवाहेन त्वां ग्रहीष्यामि शोभने
By the command of Brahmā, I have now come to your presence; O beautiful one, I will take you as my wife in the Gandharva manner of marriage.
अहमेव शङ्खचूडो देवविद्रावकारकः । दनुवंश्यो विशेषेण सुदामाहं हरेः पुरा
I myself am Shankhacuda, the one who drives away the gods; I am especially of the lineage of Danu, and formerly I was Sudama, an attendant of Hari.
अहमष्टसु गोपेषु गोपोऽपि पार्षदेषु च । अधुना दानवेन्द्रोऽहं राधिकायाश्च शापतः
Among the eight cowherd boys I was a cowherd, and among the attendants as well; now, by the curse of Radhika, I am the king of the Daityas.
जातिस्मरोऽहं जानामि कृष्णमन्त्रप्रभावतः । जातिस्मरा त्वं तुलसी सम्भुक्ता हरिणा पुरा
I am one who remembers my past births, knowing this through the power of Krishna's mantra; you too, Tulasi, remember your births, having once been enjoyed by Hari.
त्वमेव राधिकाकोपाज्जातासि भारते भुवि । त्वां सम्भोक्तुमुत्सुकोऽहं नालं राधाभयात्ततः
You were born on the earth in Bharata due to Radhika's anger; I am eager to unite with you, but I am unable because of fear of Radha.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा स पुमान्विरराम महामुने । सस्मितं तुलसी तुष्टा प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे
Having spoken thus, that man became silent, O great sage; then Tulasi, smiling and pleased, began to speak.
तुलस्युवाच एवंविधो बुधो नित्यं विश्वेषु च प्रशंसितः । कान्तमेवंविधं कान्ता शश्वदिच्छति कामतः
Tulasi said: Such a wise man is always praised in all the worlds; a beloved woman always desires such a beloved man out of love.
त्वयाहमधुना सत्यं विचारेण पराजिता । स निन्दितश्चाप्यशुचिर्यः पुमांश्च स्त्रिया जितः
Now, by your reasoning, I am truly defeated by you; and that man who is conquered by a woman is also considered impure and censured.