पतिव्रताव्रतार्थञ्च पतिरूपो हरिः स्वयम् । सर्वदानं सर्वयज्ञः सर्वतीर्थनिषेवणम्
The purpose of the vow of fidelity is fulfilled by worshiping the husband, who is himself Hari; all gifts, all sacrifices, all pilgrimages—
सर्वं व्रतं तपः सर्वमुपवासादिकं च यत् । सर्वधर्मश्च सत्यं च सर्वदेवप्रपूजनम्
All vows, all austerities, all fasting and the like, all righteousness, truth, and worship of all the gods—
तत्सर्वं स्वामिसेवायाः कलां नार्हति षोडशीम् । पुण्ये च भारते वर्षे पतिसेवा करोति या
None of these equal even a sixteenth part of service to one's husband; in the holy land of Bharata, she who serves her husband—
वैकुण्ठे स्वामिना सार्धं सा याति ब्रह्मणः पदम् । विप्रियं कुरुते भर्तुर्विप्रियं वदति प्रियम्
She attains the abode of Brahma in Vaikuntha, together with her husband; but one who acts or speaks against her husband's wishes—
असत्कुले प्रसूता हि तत्फलं श्रूयतां सति । कुम्भीपाकं व्रजेत्सा च यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरौ
If born in an ignoble family, O faithful woman, hear the result: she goes to the Kumbhipaka hell for as long as the sun and moon endure.
ततो भवति चाण्डाली पतिपुत्रविवर्जिता । इत्युक्त्वा च मुनिश्रेष्ठो बभूव स्फुरिताधरः
Afterwards, she becomes an outcaste, deprived of husband and children; having spoken thus, the foremost sage's lips quivered.
चकम्पे तेन सा साध्वी भयेनोवाच तं पतिम् । साध्व्युवाच सन्ध्यालोपभयेनैव निद्राभङ्गः कृतस्तव
Out of fear, the virtuous wife trembled and spoke to her husband: 'O virtuous one, I disturbed your sleep only out of fear of neglecting the twilight worship.'
कुरु शान्तिं महाभाग दुष्टाया मम सुव्रत । शृङ्गाराहारनिद्राणां यश्च भङ्गं करोति वै
'O most fortunate one, grant peace to me, who am devoted but erring; whoever disrupts love, food, or sleep—'
स व्रजेत्कालसूत्रं वै यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरौ । इत्युक्त्वा मनसा देवी स्वामिनश्चरणाम्बुजे
'He goes to the Kaalasūtra hell for as long as the sun and moon endure.' Having said this, the goddess mentally bowed at her husband's lotus feet.
पपात भक्त्या भीता च रुरोद च पुनः पुनः । कुपितं च मुनिं दृष्ट्वा श्रीसूर्यं शप्तुमुद्यतम्
She fell in devotion, fearful, and wept again and again; seeing the sage enraged and about to curse the Sun.
तत्राजगाम भगवान्सन्ध्यया सह नारद । तत्रागत्य मुनिं सम्यगुवाच भास्करः स्वयम्
There arrived the venerable Sun, together with Sandhya and Narada; having come there, the Sun himself spoke properly to the sage.
विनयेन च भीतश्च तया सह यथोचितम् । भास्कर उवाच सूर्यास्तसमयं दृष्ट्वा साध्वी धर्मभयेन च
With humility and fear, as was fitting, together with her, the Sun spoke: Seeing the time of the Sun's setting, the virtuous woman, out of fear of dharma—
बोधयामास त्वां विप्र शरणं त्वामहं गतः । क्षमस्व भगवन्ब्रह्मन् मां शप्तुं नोचितं मुने
She awakened you, O Brahmin; I have come to you for refuge. Forgive me, O Lord, O Brahmin; it is not proper for you to curse me, O sage.
ब्राह्मणानां च हृदयं नवनीतसमं सदा । तेषां क्षणार्धं क्रोधश्च ततो भस्म भवेज्जगत्
The hearts of Brahmins are always like fresh butter; for half a moment, their anger can turn the world to ashes.
पुनः स्रष्टुं द्विजः शक्तो न तेजस्वी द्विजात्परः । ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मणो वंशः प्रज्वलन्ब्रह्मतेजसा
Yet to create again, the Brahmin alone is capable; none surpasses the Brahmin in brilliance. The Brahmin is of the lineage of Brahma, blazing with Brahma's radiance.
श्रीकृष्णं भावयेन्नित्यं ब्रह्मज्योतिः सनातनम् । सूर्यस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा द्विजस्तुष्टो बभूव ह
He constantly contemplates Shri Krishna, the eternal Brahma-light. Hearing the Sun's words, the Brahmin became pleased.
सूर्यो जगाम स्वस्थानं गृहीत्वा ब्राह्मणाशिषम् । तत्याज मनसां विप्रः प्रतिज्ञापालनाय च
The Sun departed to his own place, having received the Brahmin's blessing. The Brahmin abandoned his anger in mind, in order to keep his vow.
रुदतीं शोकसंयुक्तां हृदयेन विदूयता । सा सस्मार गुरुं शम्भुमिष्टदेवं विधिं हरिम्
She, weeping and afflicted with sorrow, her heart torn, remembered her teacher, Shambhu, her chosen deity, Brahma, and Hari.
कश्यपं जन्मदातारं विपत्तौ भयकर्शिता । तत्राजगाम गोपीशो भगवाच्छम्भुरेव च
She remembered Kashyapa, her progenitor, distressed by calamity and fear. There arrived the Lord of the Gopis and the blessed Shambhu as well.
विधिश्च कश्यपश्चैव मनसा परिचिन्तितः । दृष्ट्वा विप्रोऽभीष्टदेवं निर्गुणं प्रकृतेः परम्
Brahma and Kashyapa, too, were contemplated in her mind. Seeing his desired deity, the sage, transcending qualities and beyond nature—
तुष्टाव परया भक्त्या प्रणनाम मुहुर्मुहुः । नमश्चकार शम्भुं च ब्रह्माणं कश्यपं तथा
He praised with supreme devotion and bowed again and again; he offered salutations to Shambhu, Brahma, and Kashyapa likewise.
कथमागमनं देवा इति प्रश्नं चकार सः । ब्रह्मा तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सहसा समयोचितम्
He asked, 'How did the gods arrive?' Brahma, hearing these words, immediately responded as was appropriate.
प्रत्युवाच नमस्कृत्य हृषीकेशपदाम्बुजम् । यदि त्यक्ता धर्मपत्नी धर्मिष्ठा मनसा सती
Brahma replied, after bowing to the lotus feet of Hrishikesha: 'If the righteous wife has been abandoned, yet remains steadfast in mind—'
कुरुष्वास्यां सुतोत्पत्तिं स्वधर्मपालनाय वै । जायायां च सुतोत्पत्तिं कृत्वा पश्चात्त्यजेन्मुने
'Then produce a son with her, for the sake of upholding your own dharma. After producing a son in your wife, you may then renounce her, O sage.'
अकृत्वा तु सुतोत्पत्तिं विरागी यस्त्यजेत्प्रियाम् । स्रवते तस्य पुण्यं च चालन्यां च यथा जलम्
'But if one renounces his beloved without producing a son, out of detachment, his merit flows away, just as water flows elsewhere.'
ब्रह्मणो वचनं श्रुत्वा जरत्कारुर्मुनीश्वरः । चकार नाभिसंस्पर्शं योगेन मन्त्रपूर्वकम्
Hearing Brahma's words, the sage Jaratkaru performed the ritual of touching the navel, with yoga and mantra.
मनसाया मुनिश्रेष्ठ मुनिश्रेष्ठ उवाच ताम् । जरत्कारुरुवाच गर्भेणानेन मनसे तव पुत्रो भविष्यति
In his mind, the foremost sage spoke to her: Jaratkaru said, 'By this union in mind, you will have a son.'
जितेन्द्रियाणां प्रवरो धार्मिको ब्राह्मणाग्रणीः । तेजस्वी च तपस्वी च यशस्वी च गुणान्वितः
He will be foremost among those who have mastered their senses, righteous, chief among Brahmins, radiant, austere, renowned, and endowed with virtues.
वरो वेदविदां चैव ज्ञानिनां योगिनां तथा । स च पुत्रो विष्णुभक्तो धार्मिकः कुलमुद्धरेत्
He is the best among those who know the Vedas, among the wise and the yogis; and such a son, devoted to Vishnu and righteous, uplifts the family.
नृत्यन्ति पितरः सर्वे जन्ममात्रेण वै मुदा । पतिव्रता सुशीला या सा प्रिया प्रियवादिनी
All the ancestors rejoice with delight simply at her birth—she who is devoted to her husband, virtuous, dear, and speaks sweetly.