रुक्माङ्गद महाबाहो निबोध मम चेष्टितम्
O Rukmāṅgada, mighty-armed one, listen to my actions.
रूपयौवनसंपन्ना तस्य नातिप्रिया विभो
Though endowed with beauty and youth, she was not greatly dear to him, O lord.
नान्यस्य कस्यचिद्द्वेष्टा स तु मे नृपते पतिः
He is not hostile to anyone; yet, O king, he is my husband.
अपृच्छं प्रमदा राजन्यास्त्यक्ताः पतिभिः किल
I questioned the women—royal ladies abandoned by their husbands, indeed.
अस्माकं प्रत्ययो जातो भर्तृत्यागावमाननात्
We gained conviction due to the disrespect from abandonment by our husbands.
त्वं पृच्छ तां वरारोहे दास्यते भेषजं शुभम्
You ask that beautiful woman; she will give you an auspicious remedy.
ततो ऽहं त्वरितं गत्वा तासां वाक्येन भूपते
Then, O king, I quickly went, following their words.
शतस्तंभसमायुक्तः कान्तिमत्सुधया युतः
She was adorned with a hundred pillars and radiant with lovely nectar.
प्रावृतां दीर्घवस्त्रेण सन्ध्यारागसवर्णिनीम्
She was covered with a long garment, resembling the hue of twilight.
परिचारकैस्तु संयुक्ता वीज्यमाना शनैः शनैः
Attended by servants, she was gently fanned again and again.
सर्ववश्यकरं मन्त्रं क्षोभकं प्रत्ययावहम्
A mantra that compels all, agitates, and brings certainty.
मृदुकाञ्चनसंभूतं अतिरिक्तप्रभान्वितम्
It was made from soft gold and endowed with extraordinary brilliance.
अपृष्टया तया ज्ञातं मम भर्त्तुर्विमाननम्
Without being asked by her, she knew of my husband's disrespect toward me.
चूर्णो रक्षान्वितो ह्येष सर्वभूतवशानुगः
This powder, endowed with protection, brings all beings under control.
भविष्यति पतिर्वश्यो नान्यां यास्यति सुन्दरीम्
The husband will become obedient and will not go to another beautiful woman.
प्रदोषे पयसा युक्तश्चूर्णो भर्तरि योजितः
At dusk, the powder mixed with milk is to be given to the husband.
यदा स पीतचूर्णस्तु भर्ता नृपवरोत्तमा
When her husband, O best of kings, had consumed the yellow powder,
गुह्ये तु क्रिमयो जाताः क्षतदुष्टव्रणोद्भवाः
Worms arose in his private parts, originating from wounds corrupted by blood.
हततेजास्तथा भर्त्ता मामुवाचाकुलेन्द्रियः
His vigor destroyed, the husband, his senses disturbed, spoke to me thus:
त्राहि मां शरणं प्राप्तं न गच्छेयं परिस्त्रियम्
Save me, for I have come to you for refuge; let me not go to another woman.
तस्यां निवेदितं सर्वं कथं भर्ता भवेत्सुखी
To her, everything was revealed: how might the husband become happy?
दत्ते तु भेषजे तस्मिन्सुस्थो ऽभूत्तत्क्षणात्पतिः
When medicine was given to him, the husband became healthy at that very moment.
ततः प्रभृति मे भर्ता वश्यो ऽभूद्वचने स्थितः
From then onward, my husband was obedient to me and remained steadfast in my words.
ताम्रभ्राष्ट्रे ह्यहं दग्धा युगानि दश पञ्च च
I was burned in a copper vessel for fifteen ages.
किञ्चित्पातकशेषेण धरायामवतारिता
Due to a remnant of sin, I was cast down upon the earth.
साहमत्र स्थिता भूप वर्षाणामयुतं पुरा
Here, O king, I remained for ten thousand years in former times.
वृथाधर्मा दुराचारा दह्यते ताम्रभ्राष्ट्रके
A woman who is unrighteous and of evil conduct is burned in a copper vessel.
तस्य वश्यं चरेद्या तु सा कथं सुखमाप्नुयात्
If she acts under his control, how can she attain happiness?
तस्माद्भूपाल कर्तव्यं स्त्रीभिर्भर्तृवचः सदा
Therefore, O king, women must always follow their husband's words.
यदि नोद्धरसे राजन्नद्य मां शरणागताम्
If you do not rescue me today, O king, though I have come to you for refuge,