अनेककोटिजन्मोत्थपुण्यपुञ्जैर्हि लभ्यते । इत्युक्ता सा तदा देवी तामाह प्रणता पुरः
"It is gained only through the accumulated merit of countless millions of births." Thus addressed, the goddess then spoke to her as she bowed before her.
शक्रपत्नी भगवतीं प्रसन्नां परमेश्वरीम् । वाञ्छामि दर्शनं मातः पत्युः परमदुर्लभम्
The wife of Śakra, bowing before the gracious and supreme goddess, said: "Mother, I desire the vision of my husband, which is exceedingly difficult to obtain."
नहुषाद्भयनाशं च स्वपदप्रापणं तथा । देव्युवाच गच्छ त्वमनया दूत्या सार्धं श्रीमानसं सरः
The removal of fear from Nahusha and the regaining of your own place as well—
यत्र मे मूर्तिरचला विश्वकामाभिधा मता । तत्र पश्यसि शक्रं त्वं दुःखितं भयविह्वलम्
The Goddess said: Go now, together with this messenger, to the sacred lake Manasa, where my immovable form, known as Vishvakama, abides; there you will see Indra, distressed and overcome by fear.
मोहयिष्यामि राजानं कालेन कियता पुनः । स्वस्था भव विशालाक्षि करोमि तव चेप्सितम्
In a short time, I will delude the king; be at ease, O wide-eyed one, I will accomplish what you desire.
भ्रंशयिष्यामि भूपालं मोहितं त्रिदशासनात् । व्यास उवाच देवीदूती तां गृहीत्वा शक्रपत्नीं त्वरान्विता
I will cause the deluded king to fall from the throne of the gods;—
प्रापयामास सान्निध्यं स्वपत्युः परमेश्वरीम् । सा दृष्ट्वा तं पतिं बाला सुरेशं गुप्तसंस्थितम् । मुदिताभूद्वरं वीक्ष्य बहुकालाभिवाञ्छितम्
Vyasa said: The goddess's messenger, taking Indra's wife with her in haste, brought her into the presence of her husband, the Supreme Lord. Seeing her husband, the lord of the gods, concealed and in hiding, she rejoiced greatly, beholding the beloved she had longed for over many ages.
नहुषस्वर्गच्युतिवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच तां वीक्ष्य विपुलापाङ्गीं रहः शोकसमन्विताम् । आखण्डलः प्रियां भार्यां विस्मितश्चाब्रवीत्तदा
The account of Nahusha's fall from heaven. Vyasa said: Seeing her, with broad eyes, alone and filled with sorrow, Akhandala, astonished, spoke to his beloved wife:
कथमत्रागता कान्ते कथं ज्ञातस्त्वया ह्यहम् । दुर्ज्ञेयः सर्वभूतानां संस्थितोऽस्मि शुभानने
"How have you come here, dear one? How did you find me? I am hidden, unknowable to all beings, O auspicious one."
शच्युवाच देव देव्याः प्रसादेन ज्ञातोऽस्यद्य भवानिह । पुनस्तस्याः प्रसादेन प्राप्तास्मि त्वां दिवस्पते
Shachi said: "O lord, by the grace of the Goddess, I have found you here today; again, by her grace, I have reached you, O lord of heaven."
नहुषो नाम राजर्षिः स्थापितो भवदासने । त्रिदशैर्मुनिभिश्चैव स मां बाधति नित्यशः
"A royal sage named Nahusha has been placed on your throne by the gods and sages; he torments me constantly."
पतिं मां कुरु चार्वङ्गि: तुरासाहं सुराधिपम् । एवं वदति मां पाप्मा किं करोमि बलार्दन
"Make me your wife, O beautiful one; I have rejected the king of the gods. Thus, the wicked one speaks to me—what am I to do, O destroyer of foes?"
इन्द्र उवाच कालाकाङ्क्षी वरारोहे संस्थितोऽस्मि यदृच्छया । तथा त्वमपि कल्याणि सुस्थिरं स्वमनः कुरु
Indra said: "O lovely one, I remain here, awaiting the right time, by fate; you too, O blessed one, keep your mind steady and firm."
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्ता तेन सा देवी पतिनातिप्रशंसिना । निःश्वसन्त्याह तं शक्रं वेपमानातिदुःखिता
Vyasa said: Thus addressed by her greatly praiseworthy husband, the goddess, sighing and trembling in deep sorrow, spoke to Indra:
कथं तिष्ठे महाभाग पापात्मा मां वशानुगाम् । करिष्यति मदोन्मत्तो वरदानेन गर्वितः
"How can I remain, O greatly fortunate one, when that sinful soul, maddened by pride and intoxicated by his boon, will force me to his will?"
देवाश्च मुनयः सर्वे मामूचुस्तद्भयाकुलाः । तं भजस्व वरारोहे देवराजं स्मरातुरम्
"All the gods and sages, stricken with fear, have said to me: 'O beautiful one, serve the king of the gods, who is tormented by love.'"
बृहस्पतिस्तु शत्रुघ्न वाडवो बलवर्जितः । कथं मां रक्षितुं शक्तो भवेद्देवानुगः सदा
"Brihaspati, the enemy-slayer, is powerless, like a burnt-out fire; how can he, always devoted to the gods, protect me?"
तस्माच्चिन्तास्ति महती नार्यहं वशवर्तिनी । अनाथा किं करिष्यामि विपरीते विधौ विभो
"Therefore, I am filled with great anxiety, for I am a woman under another's control; abandoned, what am I to do, O Lord, when fate is adverse?"
नार्यस्म्यहं न कुलटा त्वच्चित्तातिपतिव्रता । नास्ति मे शरणं तत्र यो मां रक्षति दुःखिताम्
"I am a woman, not unchaste; my heart is wholly devoted to you. I have no refuge there—no one to protect me in my sorrow."
इन्द्र उवाच उपायं प्रब्रवीम्यद्य तं कुरुष्व वरानने । शीलं ते दुःखिते काले परित्रातं भविष्यति
Indra said: "I will tell you a means today, O beautiful one; do this. Your virtue, in this time of distress, will become your protection."
परेण रक्षिता नारी न भवेच्च पतिव्रता । उपायैः कोटिभिः कामभिन्नचित्तातिचञ्चला
A woman, even if guarded by another, does not become devoted to her husband; her mind, pierced by desire, is exceedingly fickle through countless schemes.
शीलमेव हि नारीणां सदा रक्षति पापतः । तस्मात्त्वं शीलमास्थाय स्थिरा भव शुचिस्मिते
It is only character that always protects women from sin; therefore, you, of pure smile, hold fast to virtue and be steadfast.
यदा त्वां नहुषो राजा बलादाकर्षयेत्खलः । तदा त्वं समयं कृत्वा गजं वञ्चय भूपतिम्
When the wicked king Nahusha seizes you by force, then, making an agreement, deceive the king with an elephant.
एकान्ते तत्समीपे त्वं गत्वा वद मदालसे । ऋषियानेन दिव्येन मामुपैहि जगत्पते
Go to him alone, nearby, and say, 'O lord of the world, come to me by the sage's divine vehicle.'
एवं तव वशे प्रीता भविष्यामीति मे ततम् । इति तं वद सुश्रोणि तदा तु परिमोहितः
Say to him, 'In this way, pleased, I will be under your control,' O lovely-hipped one; then, deluded, he will believe you.
कामान्धः स मुनीन् याने योजयिष्यति पार्थिवः । अवश्यं तापसो भूपं शापदग्धं करिष्यति
Blinded by desire, that king will order the sages to be his bearers; surely, the ascetic will curse the king, burning him.
साहाय्यं जगदम्बा ते करिष्यति न संशयः । जगदम्बापदस्मर्तुः सङ्कटं न कदाचन
The Mother of the Universe will surely help you—there is no doubt; for one who remembers the feet of the Mother of the Universe, there is never any calamity.
यदि जायेत तच्चापि ज्ञेयं तत्स्वस्तये किल । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन मणिद्वीपाधिवासिनीम्
If anything should arise, know that it is for your welfare; therefore, with all effort, worship the Dweller in the Jeweled Island.
भज त्वं भुवनेशानीं गुरुवाक्यानुसारतः । व्यास उवाच इत्याख्याता शची तेन जगाम नहुषं प्रति
Worship the Lady of the Worlds, following the words of your teacher; Vyasa said: Thus instructed, Shachi went to Nahusha.
तथेत्युक्त्वातिविश्वस्ता भाविकार्ये कृतोद्यमा । नहुषस्तां समालोक्य मुदितो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Saying 'so be it,' fully trusting in the destined outcome, she set forth; Nahusha, seeing her, joyfully spoke these words.