तेन च त्वय्यरालाक्षि न मुञ्चति शिलीमुखान् । अथवा मेऽहितैर्देवैर्वारितोऽसौ झषध्वजः
Therefore, O one with curling lashes, he does not release his arrows at you; or perhaps that fish-bannered god has been restrained by hostile gods.
सुखविध्वंसिभिस्तेन त्वयि न प्रहरत्यपि । त्यक्त्वा मां मृगशावाक्षि पश्चात्तापं करिष्यसि
Thus, he does not strike you with those happiness-destroying arrows; but if you abandon me, O fawn-eyed one, you will later feel regret.
मन्दोदरीव तन्वङ्गि परित्यज्य शुभं नृपम् । अनुकूलं पतिं पश्चात्सा चकार शठं पतिम् । कामार्ता च यदा जाता मोहेन व्याकुलान्तरा
O slender-waisted one, just as Mandodari abandoned her virtuous husband and later took a deceitful husband as her own, so too, when overcome by desire and bewildered within, she acted.
राजपुत्रीमन्दोदरीवृत्तवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच का सा मंदोदरी नारी कोऽसौ त्यक्तो नृपस्तया
Description of the conduct of the princess Mandodari. Vyasa said: Who is this woman Mandodari, and who is the king whom she abandoned?
शठः को वा नृपः पश्चात्तन्मे ब्रूहि कथानकम्
And who is this deceitful king she later accepted? Tell me this story.
महिष उवाच घनपादपसंयुक्तो धनधान्यसमृद्धिमान्
Mahisha said: There was a king, accompanied by mighty elephants, abundant in wealth and grain.
चंद्रसेनाऽभिधस्तत्र राजा धर्मपरायणः
His name was Candrasena, devoted to righteousness.
सत्यवादी मृदुः शूरस्तितिक्षुर्नीतिसागरः
He spoke the truth, was gentle, heroic, patient, and an ocean of good conduct.
तस्य भार्या वरारोहा सुन्दरी सुभगा शुभा
His wife was of excellent form, beautiful, fortunate, and auspicious.
नाम्ना गुणवती कांता सर्वलक्षणसंयुता
Her name was Gunavati, lovely and endowed with all auspicious marks.
पिता चातीव संतुष्टः पुत्रीं प्राप्य मनोरमाम्
Her father was exceedingly pleased to have obtained such a charming daughter.
इंदोः कलेव चात्यर्थं ववृधे सा दिनेदिने
She grew day by day, just like the waxing moon.
वरार्थं नृपतिश्चिन्तामवाप च दिनेदिने 5.17.
The king daily became anxious about finding a suitable husband for her.
तस्य पुत्रोऽतिमेधावी कंबुग्रीवोऽतिविश्रुतः
He had a son of great intelligence, renowned as Kambugriva.
सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नः सर्वविद्यार्थपारगः
He was endowed with all auspicious marks and accomplished in every branch of knowledge.
कंबुग्रीवाय कन्यां स्वां दास्यामि वरवर्णिनीम्
He thought, 'I will give my beautiful daughter to Kambugriva.'
विवाहं ते पिता कर्तुं कंबुग्रीवेण वांछति
Her father wished to arrange her marriage with Kambugriva.
नाहं पतिं करिष्यामि नेच्छा मेऽस्ति परिग्रहे
She said, 'I will not take a husband; I have no desire for marriage.'
स्वातंत्र्या न्मोक्षमित्याहुः पण्डिताः शास्त्रकोविदा
The learned, well-versed in the scriptures, say that independence is liberation.
विवाहे वर्तमाने तु पावकस्य च सन्निधौ
But when marriage is taking place, and in the presence of the sacred fire,
श्वश्रूदेवरवर्गाणां दासीत्वं श्वशुरालये
Serving as a maid to the group of mothers-in-law and gods in the house of the father-in-law.
कदाचित्पतिरन्यां वा कामिनीं च भजेद्यदि 5.17.
If at any time the husband should desire another woman or a lover.
तदेर्ष्या जायते पत्यौ क्लेशश्चापि भवेदथ
Then jealousy arises towards the husband, and distress also occurs.
स्वभावात्परतन्त्राणां संसारे स्वप्नधर्मिणि
By nature, those dependent on others in worldly life are like those in a dream.
उत्तमः सर्वधर्मज्ञो धुवादवरजो नृपः
The best is the one who knows all dharmas, the king who is steadfast and younger.
अपराधं विना कांतां त्यक्तवान्विपिने प्रियाम्
Without fault, he abandoned his beloved wife in the forest.
कालयोगान्मृते तस्मिन्नारी स्याद् दुःखभाजनम्
When he died by the force of time, the woman became a recipient of suffering.
परोषि(पि?)तपतित्वेऽपि दुःखं स्यादधिकं गृहे
Even if she becomes the wife of another, her suffering at home is even greater.
तस्मात्पतिर्न कर्तव्यः सर्वथेति मतिर्मम
Therefore, a husband should not be taken under any circumstances; this is my opinion.
न च वांछति भर्तारं कौमारव्रतधारिणी
One who observes the vow of maidenhood does not desire a husband.