गच्छन्समीपमार्गेण साम्बः परपुरंजयः साक्षात्कन्दर्पो रूपेण सर्वाभरणभूषितः
Sāmba, the conqueror of enemy cities, approaching by the path, will appear as Kāmadeva himself in form, adorned with all ornaments.
अनङ्गशरतप्ताभिः साभिलाषमवेक्षितः प्रवृद्धो मन्मथस्तासां भविष्यति यदात्मनि
Looked upon with longing by those women, scorched by the arrows of desire, the passion of love will grow strong in their hearts.
तदावेक्ष्य जगन्नाथः सर्वतो ज्ञानचक्षुषा शापं वक्ष्यति ताः सर्वा वो हरिष्यन्ति दस्यवः मत्परोक्षं यतः कामलौल्यादीदृग्विधं कृतम्
Then, seeing this, the Lord of the universe, with the eye of knowledge perceiving all, will pronounce a curse upon them: 'Thieves will carry you all away in my absence, because of this act born of greed and desire.'
ततः प्रसादितो देव इदं वक्ष्यति शार्ङ्गभृत् ताभिः शापाभितप्ताभिर् भगवान् भूतभावनः
Then, when the god bearing the Śārṅga bow is propitiated, the Lord, the source of beings, will speak this to those afflicted by the curse.
उत्तारभूतं दासत्वं समुद्राद्ब्राह्मणप्रियः उपदेक्ष्यत्यनन्तात्मा भाविकल्याणकारकम्
The infinite-souled one, dear to the Brāhmaṇas, will instruct those who have become slaves and have been rescued from the ocean, in a vow that brings future welfare.
भवतीनाम् ऋषिर्दाल्भ्यो यद्व्रतं कथयिष्यति तदैवोत्तारणायालं दासत्वे ऽपि भविष्यति इत्युक्त्वा ताः परिष्वज्य गतो द्वारवतीश्वरः
The sage Dālbhya will declare to you the vow; that alone will suffice for your deliverance, even in servitude. Having said this and embraced them, the Lord of Dvāravatī departed.
ततः कालेन महता भारावतरणे कृते निवृत्ते मौसले तद्वत् केशवे दिवमागते
Then, after a long time, when the burden of the earth had been removed, and the Mausala destruction had occurred, and Keśava had ascended to heaven—
शून्ये यदुकुले सर्वैश् चौरैरपि जिते ऽर्जुने हृतासु कृष्णपत्नीषु दासभोग्यासु चाम्बुधौ
When the Yadu clan was destroyed, all conquered by thieves, and Arjuna was deprived, the wives of Kṛṣṇa were carried off, made slaves, and taken to the ocean.
तिष्ठन्तीषु च दौर्गत्यसंतप्तासु चतुर्मुख आगमिष्यति योगात्मा दाल्भ्यो नाम महातपाः
While they remained, afflicted by misfortune, O Four-Faced One, the great ascetic named Dālbhya, possessed of yogic power, will come.
तास्तमर्घ्येण सम्पूज्य प्रणिपत्य पुनः पुनः लालप्यमाना बहुशो बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणाः
They will honor him with water for washing the feet, bowing again and again, lamenting repeatedly, their eyes filled with tears.
स्मरन्त्यो विपुलान्भोगान् दिव्यमाल्यानुलेपनान् भर्तारं जगतामीशम् अनन्तमपराजितम्
Remembering their vast enjoyments, their divine garlands and ointments, and their husband, the Lord of the worlds, infinite and unconquered—
दिव्यभावां तां च पुरीं नानारत्नगृहाणि च द्वारकावासिनः सर्वान् देवरूपान्कुमारकान् प्रश्नमेवं करिष्यन्ति मुनेरभिमुखं स्थिताः
Standing before the sage, they will question him about that divine city, its many jeweled houses, all the residents of Dvārakā, and the godlike young men.
दस्युभिर्भगवान्सर्वाः परिभुक्ता वयं बलात् स्वधर्माच्च्यवने ऽस्माकम् अस्मिन्नः शरणं भव
O Lord, we have all been forcibly exploited by bandits and cast down from our own duties; in this situation, be our refuge.
आदिष्टो ऽसि पुरा ब्रह्मन् केशवेन च धीमता कस्मादीशेन संयोगं प्राप्य वेश्यात्वमागताः
You were formerly instructed, O Brahmin, by the wise Keśava; why, having come into union with the Lord, have we now attained the state of courtesans?
वेश्यानामपि यो धर्मस् तं नो ब्रूहि तपोधन कथयिष्यत्यतस्तासां स दाल्भ्यश्चैकितायनः
O possessor of austerities, tell us the duty even of courtesans; Dālbhya and Caikitāyana will then explain it to them.
जलक्रीडाविहारेषु पुरा सरसि मानसे भवतीनां च सर्वासां नारदो ऽभ्याशमागतः
Once, while you all were sporting in the water at Lake Mānasa, Nārada approached you.
हुताशनसुताः सर्वा भवन्त्यो ऽप्सरसः पुरा अप्रणम्यावलेपेन परिपृष्टः स योगवित् कथं नारायणो ऽस्माकं भर्ता स्याद् इत्युपादिश
All of you, daughters of the fire-god, were formerly Apsarases; out of pride, without offering respect, you questioned that knower of yoga: 'How can Nārāyaṇa become our husband? Instruct us.'
तस्माद्वरप्रदानं वः शापश्चायमभूत्पुरा शय्याद्वयप्रदानेन मधुमाधवमासयोः
Therefore, you received both a boon and this curse long ago: by granting a double bed during the months of Madhu and Mādhava.
सुवर्णोपस्करोत्सर्गाद् द्वादश्यां शुक्लपक्षतः भर्ता नारायणो नूनं भविष्यत्यन्यजन्मनि
By offering golden vessels on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight, Nārāyaṇa will surely become your husband in another birth.
यदकृत्वा प्रणामं मे रूपसौभाग्यमत्सरात् परिपृष्टो ऽस्मि तेनाशु वियोगो वो भविष्यति चौरैरपहृताः सर्वा वेश्यात्वं समवाप्स्यथ
Because, out of envy for my beauty and good fortune, you did not bow to me and questioned me, you will quickly be separated, all carried off by thieves, and will attain the state of courtesans.
एवं नारदशापेन केशवस्य च धीमतः वेश्यात्वमागताः सर्वा भवन्त्यः काममोहिताः इदानीमपि यद्वक्ष्ये तच्छृणुध्वं वराङ्गनाः
Thus, by the curse of Nārada and the wise Keśava, you all, overcome by desire, have become courtesans. Now, hear what I will say, O noble ladies.
पुरा देवासुरे युद्धे हतेषु शतशः सुरैः दानवासुरदैत्येषु राक्षसेषु ततस्ततः
Once, in the battle between gods and demons, when hundreds of gods, Dānavas, Asuras, Daityas, and Rākṣasas were slain here and there—
तेषां व्रातसहस्राणि शतान्यपि च योषिताम् परिणीतानि यानि स्युर् बलाद्भुक्तानि यानि वै तानि सर्वाणि देवेशः प्रोवाच वदतां वरः
Thousands of groups, even hundreds, of women among them, whether married or forcibly enjoyed, all these, the Lord of the gods addressed, O best of speakers.
वेश्याधर्मेण वर्तध्वम् अधुना नृपमन्दिरे भक्तिमत्यो वरारोहास् तथा देवकुलेषु च
Now, dwell according to the duty of courtesans in the king’s palace, O noble ladies, devoted to worship, and likewise in the temples of the gods.
राजानः स्वामिनस्तुल्याः सुता वापि च तत्समाः भविष्यति च सौभाग्यं सर्वासामपि शक्तितः
Kings are equal to masters, and their sons are likewise equal; all of you will have prosperity according to your ability.
यः कश्चिच्छुल्कमादाय गृहमेष्यति वः सदा निधनेनोपचार्यो वः स तदान्यत्र दाम्भिकात्
Whoever, having given a fee, always comes to your house, should be served with care, except for one who is deceitful.
देवतानां पितॄणां च पुण्याहे समुपस्थिते गोभूहिरण्यधान्यानि प्रदेयानि स्वशक्तितः ब्राह्मणानां वरारोहाः कार्याणि वचनानि च
On auspicious days for the gods and ancestors, cows, land, gold, and grain should be given according to one’s ability; O noble ladies, the words of the Brahmins should be carried out.
यच्चाप्यन्यद्व्रतं सम्यग् उपदेक्ष्याम्यहं ततः अविचारेण सर्वाभिर् अनुष्ठेयं च तत्पुनः
And whatever other vow I shall properly instruct, that too should be performed by all without hesitation.
संसारोत्तारणायालम् एतद्वेदविदो विदुः यदा सूर्यदिने हस्तः पुष्यो याथ पुनर्वसुः
Those who know the Veda declare this to be sufficient for crossing over worldly existence: when, on a solar day, the hand is in Puṣya or Punarvasu.
भवेत्सर्वौषधीस्नानं सम्यङ्नारी समाचरेत् तदा पञ्चशरस्यापि संनिधातृत्वमेष्यति अर्चयेत्पुण्डरीकाक्षम् अनङ्गस्यानुकीर्तनैः
At that time, a woman should properly bathe with all herbs; then she will attain the role of witness even for the god of five arrows, and she should worship the lotus-eyed one with recitations of Kāma’s names.