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,
गरुडो वासुदेवस्य यमस्य महिषस्तथा । वृषभः शङ्करस्यापि ब्रह्मणो वरटापतिः
Garuda is the vehicle of Vasudeva, the buffalo for Yama, the bull for Shankara, and the swan for Brahma.
मयूरः कार्तिकेयस्य गजास्यस्य तु मूषकः । इच्छाम्यहमपूर्वं वै वाहनं ते सुराधिप
The peacock is Kartikeya’s mount, and the mouse for the one with the elephant head; I desire for you, O lord of the gods, a vehicle never before seen.
यन्न विष्णोर्न रुद्रस्य नासुराणां न रक्षसाम् । वहन्तु त्वां महाराज मुनयः संशितव्रताः
That which belongs neither to Vishnu nor to Rudra, nor to the asuras nor to the rakshasas—let the great sages, steadfast in their vows, carry you, O great king.
सर्वे शिबिकया राजन्नेतद्धि मम वाञ्छितम् । सर्वदेवाधिकं त्वां वै जानामि वसुधाधिप
Let all of them bear you in a palanquin, O king; this is my wish. I know you to be superior to all the gods, O lord of the earth.
तेन ते तेजसो वृद्धिं वाञ्छाम्यहमतन्द्रिता । व्यास उवाच तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य ज्ञानदुर्बलः
Therefore, I earnestly desire the increase of your splendor. Vyasa said: Hearing her words, he laughed, his wisdom clouded,
मोहितस्तु महादेव्या कृतमोहेन तत्क्षणम् । उवाच वचनं भूपः संस्तुवन्वासवप्रियाम्
Deluded at that moment by the great goddess’s enchantment, the king, praising the beloved of Vasava, spoke these words:
नहुष उवाच सत्यमुक्तं त्वया तन्वि वाहनं रुचिरं मम । करिष्यामि सुकेशान्ते वचनं तव सर्वथा
Nahusha said: What you have spoken is true, slender-waisted one; such a splendid vehicle is fitting for me. I will certainly fulfill your command, O lovely-haired one.
न ह्यल्पवीर्यो भवति यो वाहान्कुरुते मुनीन् । अहमारुह्य यानेन त्वामेष्यामि शुचिस्मिते
For he who makes sages his vehicle is not of little power. Mounting the conveyance, I shall come to you, O pure-smiling one.
सप्तर्षयो मां वक्ष्यन्ति सर्वे देवर्षयस्तथा । समर्थं त्रिषु लोकेषु ज्ञात्वा मां तपसाधिकम्
The seven sages will carry me, and all the divine seers as well, knowing me to be supreme in austerity and capable in all the three worlds.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा तां सुसन्तुष्टो विससर्ज हरिप्रियाम् । मुनीनाहूय सर्वास्तानित्युवाच स्मरान्वितः
Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, well pleased, he dismissed the beloved of Hari, and, summoning all the sages, spoke to them, his mind filled with desire.