कुर्वन्ति नैव विबुधास्तपसो व्ययं वै शापेन तुच्छफलदेन महानुभावाः । व्यास उवाच इत्थं निशम्य वचनं सुरकामिनीनां तावूचतुर्मुनिवरौ विनयानतानाम्
The gods, of great power, never waste their asceticism by giving curses with trivial results. Vyasa said: Hearing the words of the celestial maidens, the two eminent sages replied to them, who were bowed in humility.
प्रीतौ प्रसन्नवदनौ जितकामलोभौ धर्मात्मजौ निजतपोरुचिशोभिताङ्गौ । नरनारायणावूचतुः ब्रुवन्तु वाञ्छितान् कामान्ददावस्तुष्टमानसौ
With faces pleased and serene, having conquered desire and greed, sons of Dharma, their bodies shining with the radiance of their own asceticism, Narayana and Nara said: Speak your desired wishes; we shall grant them, our minds satisfied.
यान्तु स्वर्गं गहीत्वेमामुर्वशीं चारुलोचनाम् । उपायनमियं बाला गच्छत्वद्य मनोहरा
Let them go to heaven, taking this Urvashi with beautiful eyes; this maiden is your gift, depart today, O enchanting ones.
दत्तावाभ्यां मघवतः प्रीणनायोरुसम्भवा । स्वस्त्यस्तु सर्वदेवेभ्यो यथेष्टं प्रव्रजन्तु च
Born from our thighs for the delight of Maghavan, Urvashi is given; may all the gods fare well, and let them depart as they wish.
( न कस्यापि तपोविघ्नं प्रकर्तव्यमतः परम् ।) ॥ देव्य ऊचुः क्व गच्छामो महाभाग प्राप्तास्ते पादपङ्कजम् । नारायण सुरश्रेष्ठ भक्त्या परमया मुदा
(Henceforth, no one should cause any hindrance to asceticism.) The goddesses said: Where shall we go, O greatly fortunate one? We have reached your lotus feet, O Narayana, best of gods, with supreme devotion and joy.
वाञ्छितं चेद्वरं नाथ ददासि मधुसूदन । तुष्टः कमलपत्राक्ष ब्रवीमो मनसेप्सितम्
If you, O Lord, grant the boon we desire, O Madhusudana, pleased and lotus-eyed, we shall speak what is wished in our hearts.
पतिस्त्वं भव देवेश वरमेनं परन्तप । भवामः प्रीतियुक्तास्त्वां सेवितुं जगदीश्वर
Become our husband, O Lord of gods, grant us this boon, O destroyer of foes; let us, filled with affection, serve you, O Lord of the universe.
त्वया चोत्पादिता नार्यः सन्त्यन्याश्चारुलोचनाः । उर्वश्याद्यास्तथा यान्तु स्वर्गं वै भवदाज्ञया
There are other beautiful-eyed women created by you; let Urvashi and the rest go to heaven by your command.
स्त्रीणां षोडशसाहस्रं तिष्ठत्वत्र शतार्धकम् । सेवां तेऽत्र करिष्यामो युवयोस्तापसोत्तमौ
Let sixteen thousand and five hundred women remain here; we shall serve you two, the foremost ascetics, here.
वाञ्छितं देहि देवेश सत्यवाग्भव माधव । आशाभङ्गो हि नारीणां हिंसनं परिकीर्तितम्
Grant the desired boon, O Lord of gods, be truthful, O Madhava; for the breaking of hope is said to be harm to women.
कामार्तानाञ्च मुनिभिर्धर्मज्ञैस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः । भाग्ययोगादिह प्राप्ताः स्वर्गात्प्रेमपरिप्लुताः
Those who are afflicted by desire, having attained fortune and union here through sages who know dharma and perceive truth, are filled with love even more than those in heaven.
त्यक्तुं नार्हसि देवेश समर्थोऽसि जगत्पते । नारायण उवाच पूर्णं वर्षसहस्रं तु तपस्तप्तं मयात्र वै
You should not abandon, O Lord of the gods, for you are capable, O Lord of the world. Narayana said: I have performed austerity here for a full thousand years.
जितेन्द्रियेण चार्वङ्ग्यः कथं भङ्गं करोम्यतः । नेच्छा कामे सुखे काचित्सुखधर्मविनाशके
With self-control and a beautiful body, how could I break this? I have no desire for pleasure, which destroys the happiness of dharma.
पशूनामपि साधर्म्ये रमेत मतिमान्कथम् । अप्सरस ऊचुः शब्दादीनां च पञ्चानां मध्ये स्पर्शसुखं वरम्
How could a wise person, even in similarity with animals, delight in this?
आनन्दरसमूलं वै नान्यदस्ति सुखं किल । अतोऽस्माकं महाराज वचनं कुरु सर्वथा
The Apsaras said: Among the five senses, the pleasure of touch is the best; it is the root of the essence of bliss, and truly there is no other happiness. Therefore, O great king, fulfill our request in every way.
निर्भरं सुखमासाद्य चरस्व गन्धमादने । यदि वाञ्छसि नाकत्वं नाधिको गन्धमादनात्
Having attained abundant happiness, enjoy yourself in Gandhamadana; if you desire heaven, there is nothing greater than Gandhamadana.
रमस्वात्र शुभे स्थाने प्राप्य सर्वाः सुराङ्गनाः
Enjoy here in this auspicious place, having obtained all the divine maidens.
अहङ्कारावर्तनवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तासां धर्मपुत्रः प्रतापवान् । विमर्शमकरोच्चित्ते किं कर्तव्यं मयाधुना
Description of the cycle of ego. Vyasa said: Hearing their words, the righteous and powerful son of Dharma reflected in his mind, 'What should I do now?'
हास्योऽहं मुनिवृन्देषु भविष्याम्यद्य सङ्गमात् । अहंकारादिदं प्राप्तं दुःखं नात्र विचारणा । मूलं धर्मविनाशस्य प्रथमं यदहङ्कृतिः
I will become a laughingstock among the sages today because of this union; this suffering has arisen from ego, there is no doubt. The root of the destruction of dharma is first this pride.
मूलं संसारवृक्षस्य यतः प्रोक्तो महात्मभिः । दृष्ट्वा मौनं समाधाय न स्थितोऽहं समागतम्
The root of the tree of worldly existence, as declared by the great souls, is this; seeing this, I did not remain silent and composed, but came together.
वाराङ्गनागणं जुष्टं तेनासं दुःखभाजनम् । उत्पादितास्तथा नार्यो मया धर्मव्ययेन वै
Because of this, I have become a recipient of suffering, surrounded by groups of celestial women; likewise, women have been produced by me through the loss of dharma.
तास्तु मां बाधितुं वृत्ताः कामार्ताः प्रमदोत्तमाः । ऊर्णनाभिरिवाद्याहं जालेन स्वकृतेन वै
Those excellent women, overwhelmed by desire, have turned against me to torment me; like a spider, I am caught in a web of my own making.
बद्धोऽस्मि सुदृढेनात्र किं कर्तव्यमतः परम् । यदि चिन्तां समुत्सृज्य सन्त्यजाम्यबला इमाः
I am bound here by a strong bond; what should I do next? If I abandon worry and renounce these powerless women—
शप्त्वा भ्रष्टा व्रजिष्यन्ति सर्वा भग्नमनोरथाः । मुक्तोऽहं सञ्चरिष्यामि विजने परमं तपः
Having cursed them, they will depart, all with broken desires; freed, I will wander in solitude and perform supreme austerity.
तस्मात्क्रोधं समुत्पाद्य त्यक्ष्यामि सुन्दरीगणम् । व्यास उवाच इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा मुनिर्नारायणस्तदा
Therefore, arousing anger, I will abandon the group of beautiful women. Vyasa said: Thus, having considered in his mind, the sage Narayana—
विमर्शमकरोच्चित्ते सुखोत्पादनसाधने । द्वितीयोऽयं महाशत्रुः क्रोधः सन्तापकारकः
He reflected in his mind on the means of producing happiness: this second great enemy, anger, is the cause of distress.
कामादप्यधिको लोके लोभादपि च दारुणः । क्रोधाभिभूतः कुरुते हिंसां प्राणविघातिनीम्
In the world, it is greater than desire and more terrible than greed; one overcome by anger commits violence that destroys life.
दुःखदां सर्वभूतानां नरकारामदीर्घिकाम् । यथाग्निर्घर्षणाज्जातः पादपं प्रदहेत्तथा
It brings suffering to all beings and creates a deep pit of hell; just as fire produced by friction burns a tree.
देहोत्पन्नस्तथा क्रोधो देहं दहति दारुणः । व्यास उवाच इति सञ्चिन्त्यमानं तं भ्रातरं दीनमानसम्
Anger arising from the body burns the body fiercely. Vyāsa said: Thus, reflecting upon his brother, whose mind was distressed—
उवाच वचनं तथ्यं नरो धर्मसुतोऽनुजः । नर उवाच नारायण महाभाग कोपं यच्छ महामते
He spoke truthful words; the son of Dharma addressed his younger brother. Nara said: O Nārāyaṇa, greatly fortunate one, restrain your anger, O wise one.