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.
निन्दन्ति पितरो देवा बान्धवाः स्त्रीजितं नरम् । स्त्रीजितं मनसा माता पिता भ्राता च निन्दति
Fathers, gods, and relatives all reproach a man conquered by a woman; even his mother, father, and brother reproach him in their minds.
शुद्धो विप्रो दशाहेन जातके मृतके यथा । भूमिपो द्वादशाहेन वैश्यः पञ्चदशाहतः
A Brahmin becomes pure in ten days after a birth or death; a king in twelve days, and a merchant in fifteen days.
शूद्रो मासेन वेदेषु मातृवद्धीनसङ्करः । अशुचिः स्त्रीजितः शुद्ध्येच्चितादहनकालतः
A Shudra becomes pure in a month according to the Vedas, but one who is subdued by a woman, like a child separated from its mother, is purified only after the time of cremation.
न गह्णन्तीच्छया तस्य पितरः पिण्डतर्पणम् । न गह्णन्त्येव देवाश्च तस्य पुष्पजलादिकम्
The ancestors do not willingly accept the offerings of rice-balls and water from him; nor do the gods accept his offerings of flowers, water, and the like.
किं वा ज्ञानेन तपसा जपहोमप्रपूजनैः । किं विद्यया च यशसा स्त्रीभिर्यस्य मनो हृतम्
What use is knowledge, austerity, recitation, sacrifice, or worship? What use is learning or fame for one whose mind is stolen by women?
विद्याप्रभावज्ञानार्थं मया त्वं च परीक्षितः । कृत्वा परीक्षां कान्तस्य वृणोति कामिनी वरम्
I tested you, too, to know the power of knowledge and learning; after making such a test, a passionate woman chooses her beloved.
वराय गुणहीनाय वृद्धायाज्ञानिने तथा । दरिद्राय च मूर्खाय रोगिणे कुत्सिताय च
A woman may choose as her husband one who is without virtues, old, ignorant, poor, foolish, diseased, or deformed.
अत्यन्तकोपयुक्ताय वात्यन्तदुर्मुखाय च । पङ्गवे चाङ्गहीनाय चान्धाय बधिराय च
Or one who is extremely angry, very ugly, lame, crippled, blind, or deaf.
जडाय चैव मूकाय क्लीबतुल्याय पापिने । ब्रह्महत्यां लभेत्सोऽपि स्वकन्यां प्रददाति यः
Or one who is dull, mute, impotent, or sinful; but he who gives his own daughter to such a person incurs the sin of killing a Brahmin.
शान्ताय गुणिने चैव यूने च विदुषेऽपि च । साधवे च सुतां दत्त्वा दशयज्ञफलं लभेत्
But if one gives his daughter to a peaceful, virtuous, young, learned, or righteous man, he obtains the fruit of performing ten sacrifices.
यः कन्यापालनं कृत्वा करोति यदि विक्रयम् । विक्रेता धनलोभेन कुम्भीपाकं स गच्छति
He who, after protecting a maiden, sells her out of greed for wealth—such a seller goes to the hell called Kumbhipāka.
कन्यामूत्रं पुरीषं च तत्र भक्षति पातकी । कृमिभिर्दंशितः काकैर्यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्दश
There, the sinner eats the maiden’s urine and feces, bitten by worms and crows, for as many ages as the fourteen Indras.
तदन्ते व्याधिसंयुक्तः स लभेज्जन्म निश्चितम् । विक्रीणाति मांसभारं वहत्येव दिवानिशम्
After that, he is certainly born afflicted with disease, and, carrying loads of flesh, he labors day and night.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा तुलसी विरराम तपोनिधे । ब्रह्मोवाच किं करोषि शङ्खचूड संवादमनया सह
Thus, having spoken, Tulasī, the ascetic, became silent. Brahmā said: What are you doing, Shankhacūḍa, conversing with her?
गान्धर्वेण विवाहेन त्वं चास्या ग्रहणं कुरु । पुरुषेष्वसि रत्नं त्वं स्त्रीषु रत्नं त्वियं सती
Take her as your wife through the Gandharva rite of marriage; you are a jewel among men, and she, Satī, is a jewel among women.
विदग्धाया विदग्धेन सङ्गमो गुणवान्भवेत् । निर्विरोधसुखं राजन् को वा त्यजति दुर्लभम्
The union of a clever woman with a clever man is truly virtuous; who would abandon such rare, harmonious happiness, O King?
योऽविरोधसुखत्यागी स पशुर्नात्र संशयः । किं परीक्षसि त्वं कान्तमीदृशं गुणिनं सति
He who abandons harmonious happiness is surely like a beast—of this there is no doubt. Why do you test such a worthy beloved?
देवानामसुराणां च दानवानां विमर्दकम् । यथा लक्ष्मीश्च लक्ष्मीशे यथा कृष्णे च राधिका
He who subdues the gods, asuras, and dānavas—just as Lakṣmī is to the Lord of Wealth, and Rādhikā to Kṛṣṇa—
यथा मयि च सावित्री भवानी च भवे यथा । यथा धरा वराहे च दक्षिणा च यथाध्वरे
As Sāvitrī is to me, as Bhavānī is to Bhava, as Dharā is to Varāha, and as Dakṣiṇā is at the sacrifice—
द्यथात्रेरनसूया च दमयन्ती यथा नले । रोहिणी च यथा चन्द्रे यथा कामे रतिः सती
As Anasūyā is to Atri, as Damayantī is to Nala, as Rohiṇī is to the Moon, and as Rati, the chaste one, is to Kāma—