Kurma Purana

मत्तमातङ्गगामनो दिग्वासा जगदीश्वरः

The Lord of the universe, moving like an intoxicated elephant, clothed in the directions alone,

दधानो भगवानीशः समागच्छति सस्मितः

The blessed Lord, smiling, approached while bearing his attributes.

स्त्रीवेषं विष्णुरास्थाय सो ऽनुगच्छति शूलिनम्

Vishnu, assuming the form of a woman, followed the wielder of the trident.

शुचिस्मितं सुप्रसन्नं रणन्नुपुरकद्वयम्

With a pure smile, most radiant, with a pair of anklets ringing,

उदारहंसचलनं विलासि सुमनोहरम्

With noble gait like a swan, playful and exceedingly charming,

चचार हरिणा भिक्षां मायया मोहयन् जगत्

Hari, by his illusion, wandered begging alms in the world, deluding it.

मायया मोहिता नार्यो देवदेवं समन्वयुः

The women, deluded by illusion, followed the god of gods.

सहैव तेन कामार्ता विलासिन्यश्चरन्तिहि

Together with him, overcome by desire, the playful women wandered about.

अन्वगच्छन् हृषीकेशं सर्वे कामप्रपीडिताः

All, afflicted by desire, followed Hrishikesha.

मिच्छन्त्यथालिङ्गनमाचरन्ति

Desiring union, they engage in embraces.

भ्रूभङ्गमन्ये विचरन्ति तेन

Others wander about with the movement of their eyebrows.

मायानुभूयन्त इतिव सम्यक्

They experience illusion, as if truly so.

यथैकशक्त्या सह देवदेवः

Just as the Lord of gods, with a single power,

तदीशवृत्तामृतमादिदेवः

The primeval Lord, whose conduct is immortal,

मोहयन्तं मुनिश्रेष्ठाः कोपं संदधिरे भृशम्

The foremost sages, greatly angered, directed their wrath at the one who was deluding them.

शेषुश्च शापैर्विविधैर्मायया तस्य मोहिताः

And, deceived by his illusion, they cursed him in various ways.

यथादित्यप्रकाशेन तारका नभसि स्थिताः

Just as stars remain in the sky by the light of the sun,

को भवानिति देवेशं पृच्छन्ति स्म विमोहिताः

Bewildered, they asked the Lord of gods, 'Who are you?'

इदानीं भार्यया देशे भवद्भिरिह सुव्रताः

Now, with your wife, in this place, you should remain here, O virtuous ones.

ऊचुर्गृहीत्वा वसनं त्यक्त्वा भार्यां तपश्चर

They said, 'Take up the garment, abandon your wife, and practice austerity.'

संप्रेक्ष्य जगतो योनिं पार्श्वस्थं च जनार्दनम्

Beholding the source of the world and Janardana standing nearby,

त्यक्तव्या मम भार्येति धर्मज्ञैः शान्तमानसैः

'My wife should be abandoned'—so say those who know dharma and are of tranquil mind.

अस्माभिरेषा सुभगा तादृशी त्यागमर्हति

'This fortunate one among us is such as to deserve abandonment.'

नाहमेनामपि तथा विमुञ्चामि कदाचन

I will never abandon her in such a way.

उक्तं ह्यसत्यं भवता गम्यतां क्षिप्रमेव हि

'What you have said is untrue; depart at once!'

भवतां प्रतिभात्येषेत्युक्त्वासौ विचचार ह

Saying, 'This appears to you,' he then wandered about.

वसिष्ठस्याश्रमं पुण्यं भिक्षार्थो परमेश्वरः

The supreme Lord went to the holy hermitage of Vasiṣṭha, seeking alms.

वसिष्ठस्य प्रिया भार्या प्रत्युद्गम्य ननाम नम्

Vasiṣṭha’s beloved wife approached and bowed in reverence.

संधयामास भैषज्यैर्विष्णा वदना सती

She, virtuous, applied medicines to Viṣṇā’s face.