इत्युक्तः शशिना तत्र गुरुरत्यन्तदुःखितः । जगाम स्वगृहं तूर्णं चिन्ताविष्टः स्मरातुरः
Thus addressed by the Moon, the guru, overwhelmed with grief, quickly returned to his own house, absorbed in anxious thoughts and stricken by love.
दिनानि कतिचित्तत्र स्थित्वा चिन्तातुरो गुरुः । ययावथ गृहं तस्य त्वरितश्चौषधीपतेः
After spending a few days there, the guru, tormented by worry, hurried to the house of the lord of medicines.
स्थितः क्षत्रा निषिद्धोऽसौ द्वारदेशे रुषान्वितः । नाजगाम शशी तत्र चुकोपाति बृहस्पतिः
He stood there, forbidden by the kṣatriyas, at the entrance, filled with anger; the Moon did not come out, and Bṛhaspati became even more enraged.
अयं मे शिष्यतां यातो गुरुपत्नीं तु मातरम् । जग्राह बलतोऽधर्मी शिक्षणीयो मयाधुना
"This one, who has become my disciple, has forcibly taken my guru's wife, my mother; now he must be disciplined by me, for he is unrighteous."
उवाच वाचं कोपात्तु द्वारदेशस्थितो बहिः । किं शेषे भवने मन्द पापाचार सुराधम
Standing outside at the doorway, he spoke in anger: 'Why do you remain in the house, fool, wicked one, lowest of the gods?'
देहि मे कामिनीं शीघ्रं नोचेच्छापं ददाम्यहम् । करोमि भस्मसान्नूनं न ददासि प्रियां मम
Give me my beloved woman at once, or else I will curse you; if you do not give me my dear one, I will surely reduce you to ashes.
सूत उवाच क्रूराणि चैवमादीनि भाषणानि बृहस्पतेः । श्रुत्वा द्विजपतिः शीघ्रं निर्गतः सदनाद्बहिः
The bard said: Hearing these and other cruel words from Brihaspati, the lord of the twice-born quickly left the house in haste.
तमुवाच हसन्सोमः किमिदं बहु भाषसे । न ते योग्यासितापाङ्गी सर्वलक्षणसंयुता
Soma, laughing, said to him: 'Why do you speak so much? That dark-eyed, perfectly endowed woman is not suitable for you.'
कुरूपां च स्वसदृशीं गृहाणान्यां स्त्रियं द्विज । भिक्षुकस्य गृहे योग्या नेदृशी वरवर्णिनी
Take another woman, one who is ugly and like yourself, O twice-born; such a beauty is not fit for a beggar's house.
रतिः स्वसदृशे कान्ते नार्याः किल निगद्यते । त्वं न जानासि मन्दात्मन् कामशास्त्रविनिर्णयम्
It is said that pleasure is with a beloved who is one's equal, O woman; you do not understand, dull-minded one, the decision of the science of love.
यथेष्टं गच्छ दुर्बुद्धे नाहं दास्यामि कामिनीम् । यच्छक्यं कुरु तत्कामं न देया वरवर्णिनी
Go wherever you wish, fool; I will not give you the woman you desire. Do whatever you can, but this beautiful woman will not be given.
कामार्तस्य च ते शापो न मां बाधितुमर्हति । नाहं ददे गुरो कान्तां यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु
Your curse, born of desire, cannot harm me; I will not give you my beloved, O teacher—do as you wish.
सूत उवाच इत्युक्तः शशिना चेज्यश्चिन्तामाप रुषान्वितः । जगाम तरसा सद्म क्रोधयुक्तः शचीपतेः
The bard said: Thus addressed by the moon, Brihaspati was filled with anger and worry, and quickly went to the house of Indra, lord of Shachi, his mind burning with rage.
दृष्ट्वा शतक्रतुस्तत्र गुरुं दुःखातुरं स्थितम् । पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीयाद्यैः पूजयित्वा सुसंस्थितः
There, seeing his teacher sitting in distress and sorrow, Shatakratu (Indra) respectfully honored him with water for washing the feet, offerings, and refreshments.
पप्रच्छ परमोदारस्तं तथावस्थितं गुरुम् । का चिन्ता ते महाभाग शोकार्तोऽसि महामुने
That most generous one then asked his teacher, who was in such a state: 'What troubles you, O blessed one? Why are you so afflicted, great sage?'
केनापमानितोऽसि त्वं मम राज्ये गुरुश्च मे । त्वदधीनमिदं सर्वं सैन्यं लोकाधिपैः सह
'Who has insulted you in my kingdom, O teacher, who are also my master? All this army, along with the lords of the worlds, is under your command.'
बह्मा विष्णुस्तथा शम्भुर्ये चान्ये देवसत्तमाः । करिष्यन्ति च साहाय्यं का चिन्ता वद साम्प्रतम्
'Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and all the other best of gods will give you their support. What is your concern now? Tell me.'
गुरुरुवाच शशिनापहृता भार्या तारा मम सुलोचना । न ददाति स दुष्टात्मा प्रार्थितोऽपि पुनः पुनः
The teacher said: 'My wife Tara, beautiful-eyed, has been taken by the moon. Though I have repeatedly asked, that wicked one does not return her.'
किं करोमि सुरेशान त्वमेव शरणं मम । साहाय्यं कुरु देवेश दुःखितोऽस्मि शतक्रतो
'What shall I do, lord of the gods? You alone are my refuge. Help me, O lord of the gods; I am afflicted, O Shatakratu.'
इन्द्र उवाच मा शोकं कुरु धर्मज्ञ दासोऽस्मि तव सुव्रत । आनयिष्याम्यहं नूनं भार्यां तव महामते
Indra said: 'Do not grieve, knower of righteousness; I am your servant, O steadfast one. I will surely bring back your wife, O wise one.'
प्रेषिते चेन्मया दूते न दास्यति मदाकुलः । ततो युद्धं करिष्यामि देवसैन्यैः समावृतः
'If, when I send my messenger, that arrogant one does not give her back, then I will wage war, surrounded by the armies of the gods.'
इत्याश्वास्य गुरुं शक्रो दूतं वक्तृविचक्षणम् । प्रेषयामास सोमाय वार्ताशंसिनमद्भुतम्
Thus consoling his teacher, Shakra sent a most eloquent messenger to Soma, one who would deliver the message.
स गत्वा शशिलोकं तु त्वरितः सुविचक्षणः । उवाच वचनेनैव वचनं रोहिणीपतिम्
He, swift and discerning, went to the realm of the Moon and spoke these words to the lord of Rohiṇī.
प्रेषितोऽहं महाभाग शक्रेण त्वां विवक्षया । कथितं प्रभुणा यच्च तद्ब्रवीमि महामते
O greatly fortunate one, I have been sent by Indra with a message for you; I will tell you exactly what the lord has said, O wise one.
धर्मज्ञोऽसि महाभाग नीतिं जानासि सुव्रत । अत्रिः पिता ते धर्मात्मा न निद्यं कर्तुमर्हसि
You are righteous, O illustrious one, and you know proper conduct, steadfast in your vows; your father Atri is virtuous—do not act in a way that should be censured.
भार्या रक्ष्या सर्वभूतैर्यथाशक्ति ह्यतन्द्रितैः । तदर्थे कलहः कामं भविता नात्र संशयः
A wife must be protected by all beings, each according to their ability and without negligence; for this reason, conflict may indeed arise—there is no doubt of this.
यथा तव तथा तस्य यत्नः स्याद्दाररक्षणे । आत्मवत्सर्वभूतानि चिन्तय त्वं सुधानिधे
As you would protect your own, so should he strive to protect his wife; consider all beings as yourself, O treasure of nectar.
अष्टाविंशतिसंख्यास्ते कामिन्यो दक्षजाः शुभाः । गुरुपत्नीं कथं भोक्तुं त्वमिच्छसि सुधानिधे
You have twenty-eight beautiful daughters of Dakṣa as your consorts; O nectar-born, how can you desire to enjoy your teacher’s wife?
स्वर्गे सदा वसन्त्येता मेनकाद्या मनोरमाः । भुंक्ष्व ताः स्वेच्छया कामं मुञ्च पत्नीं गुरोरपि
These charming ones like Menakā always dwell in heaven; enjoy them as you wish, but release even your teacher’s wife.
ईश्वरा यदि कुर्वन्ति जुगुप्सितमहन्तया । अज्ञास्तदनुवर्तन्ते तदा धर्मक्षयो भवेत्
If the great ones act in ways that are reprehensible, the ignorant will follow them, and then righteousness will decline.