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.
स्वागतं सत्यवचनैस्त्वदधीनोऽस्मि कामिनि । दासोऽहं तव सत्येन पालितं वचनं त्वया
Welcome! By your truthful words I am under your control, O lovely one; by your truth I am your servant, and your word is upheld by you.
यदागता समीपे मे तुष्टोऽस्मि मितभाषिणि । न च व्रीडा त्वया कार्या भक्तं मां भज सुस्मिते
Now that you have come near me, I am pleased, O one of measured speech; you need not feel any shame—accept me, O smiling one, as your devotee.
कार्यं वद विशालाक्षि करिष्यामि तव प्रियम् । शच्युवाच सर्वं कृतं त्वया कार्यं मम कृत्रिमवासव
Tell me, wide-eyed one, what you wish; I will do what pleases you. Shachi said: All that I desired has been done by you, O false Indra.
मनोरथोऽस्ति मे देव शृणु चित्तेऽधुना विभो । वाञ्छितं कुरु कल्याण त्वद्वशाहमतः परम्
I have a wish, O lord; listen now with your mind, O mighty one. Fulfill my desire, O auspicious one; from now on, I am under your power.
ब्रवीमि मानसोत्साहं त्वं तं कर्तुमिहार्हसि । नहुष उवाच कार्यं त्वं ब्रूहि चन्द्रास्ये करोमि तव वाञ्छितम्
I will speak my heartfelt wish; you ought to do that here. Nahusha said: State your desire, moon-faced one; I will fulfill what you wish.
अलभ्यमपि दास्यामि तुभ्यं सुभ्रु वदस्व माम् । शच्युवाच कथं ब्रवीमि राजेन्द्र प्रत्ययो नास्ति मे तव
Even if it is unattainable, I will give it to you, beautiful-browed one; tell me. Shachi said: How can I speak, O king of kings? I have no trust in you.
शपथं कुरु राजेन्द्र यत्करोमि प्रियं तव । राजानः सत्यवचसो दुर्लभा एव भूतले
Swear an oath, O king of kings, that you will do what pleases me; kings who speak the truth are indeed rare on earth.
पश्चाद्ब्रवीम्यहं राजन् ज्ञात्वा सत्येन यन्त्रितम् । कृते चेद्वाञ्छिते भूप सदा ते वशवर्तिनी
Afterwards, I will tell you, O king, knowing you are bound by truth; if my wish is fulfilled, I will always remain under your control.
भविष्यामि तुराषाड् वै सत्यमेतद्वचो मम । नहुष उवाच अवश्यमेव कर्तव्यं वचनं तव सुन्दरि
I shall indeed become the king of the Turaṣkas; this word of mine is true. Nahusha said: Your command must certainly be carried out, O beautiful one.
शपामि सुकृतेनाहं यज्ञदानकृतेन वै । शच्युवाच इन्द्रस्य हरयो वाहा गजश्चैव रथस्तथा
I curse you, by the merit of my good deeds, by the power of sacrifice and charity. Shachi said: The steeds of Indra, the elephant, and the chariot as well,