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.
कामाय पादौ सम्पूज्य जङ्घे वै मोहकारिणे मेढ्रं कन्दर्पनिधये कीटं प्रीतिमते नमः
I worship the feet for desire, the shanks for delusion, the genitals as the treasury of Kāma, and the perineum for delight—homage to you, O beloved one.
नाभिं सौख्यसमुद्राय वामाय च तथोदरम् हृदयं हृदयेशाय स्तनावाह्लादकारिणे
The navel is the ocean of pleasure, the left side and the belly likewise; the heart belongs to the Lord of hearts, and the breasts are bringers of delight.
उत्कण्ठायेति वैकुण्ठम् आस्यमानन्दकारिणे वामाङ्गं पुष्पचापाय पुष्पबाणाय दक्षिणम्
The throat is for longing, Vaikuṇṭha for transcendence, the mouth for producing bliss; the left side is for the flower-bow, the right for the flower-arrow.
मानसायेति वै मौलिं विलोलायेति मूर्धजम् सर्वात्मने च सर्वाङ्गं देवदेवस्य पूजयेत्
The mind is for worship, the crown for sovereignty, the hair for playfulness; one should worship the whole body as the embodiment of the Lord of gods.
नमः शिवाय शान्ताय पाशाङ्कुशधराय च गदिने पीतवस्त्राय शङ्खचक्रधराय च
Homage to Śiva, the peaceful one, bearer of noose and goad, wielder of the mace, clad in yellow garments, and holding conch and discus.
नमो नारायणायेति कामदेवात्मने नमः सर्वशान्त्यै नमः प्रीत्यै नमो रत्यै नम श्रियै
Homage to Nārāyaṇa, who is the soul of Kāma; homage to all tranquility, to affection, to pleasure, and to prosperity.
नमः पुष्ट्यै नमस्तुष्ट्यै नमः सर्वार्थसम्पदे एवं सम्पूज्य देवेशम् अनङ्गात्मकमीश्वरम् गन्धैर्मौल्यैस्तथा धूपैर् नैवेद्येन च कामिनी
Thus, having worshipped the Lord of gods, the Lord whose essence is desire, with fragrances, garlands, incense, and offerings, the woman should proceed.
तत आहूय धर्मज्ञं ब्रह्माणं वेदपारगम् अव्यङ्गावयवं पूज्य गन्धपुष्पार्चनादिभिः
Then, inviting the knower of dharma, the Brahmin learned in the Vedas, she should worship him, whose limbs are without defect, with fragrances, flowers, and other offerings.
शालेयतण्डुलप्रस्थं घृतपात्रेण संयुतम् तस्मै विप्राय सा दद्यान् माधवः प्रीयतामिति
She should give him a prastha of rice from Śāli grain, together with a vessel of ghee, saying, 'May Mādhava be pleased with this.'
यथेष्टाहारयुक्तं वै तमेव द्विजसत्तमम् रत्यर्थं कामदेवो ऽयम् इति चित्ते ऽवधार्य तम्
She should provide that excellent Brahmin with whatever food he desires, reflecting in her mind, 'This is Kāma for the sake of pleasure.'