शक्रपत्नी सदा साध्वी जीवमाने पतौ पुनः । कथमन्ये पतिं कुर्यात्सुभगातिपतिव्रता
Śakra’s wife is always virtuous; while her husband lives, how could she take another as husband, being supremely fortunate and devoted to her spouse?
त्रिलोकीशस्त्वमधुना शास्ता धर्मस्य वै विभो । त्वादृशोऽधर्ममातिष्ठेत्तदा नश्येत्प्रजा ध्रुवम्
You are now lord of the three worlds, ruler of Dharma, O mighty one. If one like you acts unrighteously, surely the people will perish.
सर्वथा प्रभुणा कार्यं शिष्टाचारस्य रक्षणम् । वारमुख्याश्च शतशो वर्तन्तेऽत्र शचीसमाः
In every way, the ruler must protect proper conduct. Hundreds of chief women, equal to Śacī, are present here.
रतिस्तु कारणं प्रोक्तं शृङ्गारस्य महात्मभिः । रसहानिर्बलात्कारे कृते सति तु जायते
Pleasure is said by the great to be the cause of passion. When pleasure is forced, the essence is lost.
उभयोः सदृशं प्रेम यदि पार्थिवसत्तम । तदा वै सुखसम्पत्तिरुभयोरुपजायते
If love is mutual between both, O best of kings, then happiness and prosperity arise for both.
तस्माद्भावमिमं मुञ्च परदाराभिमर्शने । सद्भावं कुरु देवेन्द्र पदं प्राप्तोऽस्यनुत्तमम्
Therefore, abandon this intention regarding another’s wife. Cultivate noble feelings, O Indra; you have attained this supreme position.
ऋद्धिक्षयस्तु पापेन पुण्येनातिविवर्धनम् । तस्मात्पापं परित्यज्य सन्मतिं कुरु पार्थिव
Loss of prosperity comes from sin, and great increase from virtue. Therefore, abandoning sin, cultivate noble intent, O king.
नहुष उवाच गौतमस्य यदा भुक्ता दाराः शक्रेण देवताः । वाचस्पतेस्तु सोमेन क्व यूयं संस्थितास्तदा
Nahusha said: When Gautama’s wife was enjoyed by Śakra, O gods, and when Vācaspati’s wife was enjoyed by Soma, where were you then?
परोपदेशे कुशला प्रभवन्ति नराः किल । कर्ता चैवोपदेष्टा च दुर्लभः पुरुषो भवेत्
People are indeed skilled in advising others, but a person who acts and instructs as well is truly rare.
मामागच्छतु सा देवी हितं स्यादद्भुतं हि वः । एतस्याः परमं देवाः सुखमेव भविष्यति
Let that goddess come to me; it will be for your benefit and truly wondrous. For her, O gods, there will be only the highest happiness.
अन्यथा न हि तुष्येऽहं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि वः । विनयाद्वा बलाद्वापि तामाशु प्रापयन्त्विह
Otherwise, I will not be satisfied—this I tell you truthfully. Whether by persuasion or by force, bring her here at once.
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा देवाश्च मुनयस्तथा । तमूचुश्चातिसन्त्रस्ता नहुषं मदनातुरम्
Hearing these words of his, the gods and sages, greatly alarmed, spoke to Nahusha, who was tormented by desire.
इन्द्राणीमानयिष्यामः सामपूर्वं तवान्तिकम् । इत्युक्त्वा ते तदा जग्मुर्बृहस्पतिनिकेतनम्
"We will bring Indrani to you, first approaching her with gentle words." Saying this, they then went to the house of Brihaspati.
व्यास उवाच ते गत्वाङ्गिरसः पुत्रं प्रोचुः प्राञ्जलयः सुराः । जानीमः शरणं प्राप्तामिन्द्राणीं तव वेश्मनि
Vyasa said: Having gone there, the gods, with joined palms, spoke to the son of Angiras: "We know that Indrani has taken refuge in your house."
सा देया नहुषायाद्य वासवोऽसौ कृतो यतः । वृणोत्वियं वरारोहा पतित्वे वरवर्णिनी
"She must be given to Nahusha today, since he has become the lord of the gods. Let this beautiful woman of excellent form choose him as her husband."
बृहस्पतिः सुरानाह तच्छ्रुत्वा दारुणं वचः । नाहं त्यक्ष्ये तु पौलोमीं सतीं च शरणागताम्
Hearing these harsh words, Brihaspati said to the gods: "I will not abandon Paulomi, who is virtuous and has sought my protection."
देवा ऊचुः उपायोऽन्यः प्रकर्तव्यो येन सोऽद्य प्रसीदति । अन्यथा कोपसंयुक्तो दुराराध्यो भविष्यति
The gods said: "Another means must be devised by which he will be pleased today. Otherwise, if he becomes angry, he will be very difficult to appease."
गुरुरुवाच तत्र गत्वा शची भूपं प्रलोभ्य वचसा भृशम् । करोतु समयं बाला पतिं ज्ञात्वा मृतं भजे
The guru said: "Let Shachi go there and, by persuasive words, strongly entice the king. Let the young woman make a condition, knowing her husband is alive, that she will accept him."
इन्द्रे जीवति मे कान्ते कथमन्यं करोम्यहम् । अन्वेषणार्थं गन्तव्यं मया तस्य महात्मनः
"While Indra, my beloved, lives, how can I take another? I must go to search for that great-souled one."
इति सा समयं कृत्वा वञ्चयित्वा च भूपतिम् । भर्तुरानयने यत्नं करोतु मम वाक्यतः
Thus, making this agreement and deceiving the king, let her strive to bring back her husband, as I have instructed.
इति सञ्चिन्त्य मे सर्वे बृहस्पतिपुरोगमाः । नहुषं सहिता जग्मुरिन्द्रपत्न्या दिवौकसः
Having thus resolved, all the gods, led by Brihaspati, went together with Indra's wife to Nahusha.
तानागतान्ममीक्ष्याह तदा कृत्रिमवासवः । जहर्ष च मुदायुक्तस्तां वीक्ष्य मुदितोऽब्रवीत्
Seeing them arrive, the false Indra rejoiced, filled with delight, and, beholding her, spoke joyfully.
अद्यास्मि वासवः कान्ते भज मां चारुलोचने । पतित्वे सर्वलोकस्य पूज्योऽहं विहितः सुरैः
"Today I am Indra, O beautiful-eyed one; unite with me. I have been appointed by the gods as the lord of all worlds, worthy of worship."
इत्युक्ता सा नृपं प्राह वेपमाना त्रपायुता । वरमिच्छाम्यहं राजंस्त्वत्तः प्राप्तं सुरेश्वर
Thus addressed, she, trembling and filled with shame, said to the king: "O lord of the gods, I desire a boon from you, granted by you."
किञ्चित्कालं प्रतीक्षस्व यावत्कुर्वे विनिर्णयम् । इन्द्रोऽस्तीति न वास्तीति सन्देहो मे हृदि स्थितः
"Wait a little while until I make a decision, for there is doubt in my heart whether Indra is alive or not."
ततस्त्वां समुपस्थास्ये कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनि । तावत्क्षमस्व राजेन्द्र सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
"After I have resolved this in my mind, I will come to you. Until then, O king of kings, please be patient—this I truly tell you."
न हि विज्ञायते शक्रो नष्टः किं वा क्व वा गतः । एवमुक्तः स चेन्द्राण्या नहुषः प्रीतिमानभूत्
Indeed, no one knows where Indra has gone or what has happened to him. Hearing this from Indrani, Nahusha became pleased.
व्यसर्जयत्स तां देवीं तथेत्युक्त्वा मुदान्वितः । सा विसृष्टा नृपेणाशु गत्वा प्राह सुरान्सती
He dismissed that goddess, saying 'So be it,' with delight. Released by the king, she quickly went and addressed the gods.
इन्द्रस्यागमने यत्नं कुरुताद्य कृतोद्यमाः । श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं देवा इन्द्राण्या रसवच्छुचि
Make every effort today for Indra's return, striving with determination. Hearing these words from Indrani, the gods, pure and attentive, listened.
मन्त्रयामासुरेकाग्राः शक्रार्थं नृपसत्तम । ते गत्वा वैष्णवं धाम तुष्टुवुः परमेश्वरम्
With focused minds, they deliberated for Indra's sake, O best of kings. They went to the abode of Vishnu and praised the Supreme Lord.