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.
तस्मान्मुञ्च महाभाग गुरोः पत्नीं मनोरमाम् । कलहस्त्वन्निमित्तोऽद्य सुराणां न भवेद्यथा
Therefore, O illustrious one, release your teacher’s lovely wife, so that today there will not be conflict among the gods because of you.
सूत उवाच सोमः शक्रवचः श्रुत्वा किञ्चित्क्रोधसमाकुलः । भङ्ग्या प्रतिवचः प्राह शक्रदूतं तदा शशी
Sūta said: Hearing Indra’s words, Soma became somewhat agitated with anger and, with a crooked smile, replied to Indra’s messenger.
इन्दुरावाच धर्मज्ञोऽसि महाबाहो देवानामधिपः स्वयम् । पुरोधापि च ते तादृग्युवयोः सदृशी मतिः
The Moon said: You are righteous, O mighty-armed one, and the lord of the gods yourself; your priest is also of such a kind, and your minds are alike.
परोपदेशे कुशला भवन्ति बहवो जनाः । दुर्लभस्तु स्वयं कर्ता प्राप्ते कर्मणि सर्वदा
Many people are skilled in giving advice to others, but it is rare to find one who acts himself when the time for action comes.
बार्हस्पत्यप्रणीतं च शास्त्रं गृह्णन्ति मानवाः । को विरोधोऽत्र देवेश कामयानां भजन्स्त्रियम्
People accept the treatises composed by Bṛhaspati; O lord of gods, what fault is there in enjoying a woman whom one desires?
स्वकीयं बलिनां सर्वं दुर्बलानां न किञ्चन । स्वीया च परकीया च भ्रमोऽयं मन्दचेतसाम्
For the strong, everything is their own; for the weak, nothing is theirs. The distinction between one’s own and another’s is a delusion of the dull-minded.
तारा मय्यनुरक्ता च यथा न तु तथा गुरौ । अनुरक्ता कथं त्याज्या धर्मतो न्यायतस्तथा
Tārā is attached to me, not so to her teacher; how can one who is devoted be abandoned, either by righteousness or by justice?
गृहारम्भस्तु रक्तायां विरक्तायां कथं भवेत् । विरक्तेयं यदा जाता चकमेऽनुजकामिनीम्
How can a household begin with one who is indifferent, whether she is attached or not? When she became indifferent, I desired another woman.
न दास्येऽहं वरारोहां गच्छ दूत वद स्वयम् । ईश्वरोऽसि सहस्राक्ष यदिच्छसि कुरुष्व तत्
I will not give up the beautiful one; go, messenger, and tell him yourself. You are the lord, O thousand-eyed one—do as you wish.
सूत उवाच इत्युक्तः शशिना दूतः प्रययौ शक्रसन्निधिम् । इन्द्रायाचष्ट तत्सर्वं यदुक्तं शीतरश्मिना
Sūta said: Thus addressed by the Moon, the messenger went to Indra’s presence and reported everything that had been said by the cool-rayed one.