ममोद्वाहेन निर्विण्णान्निराशान्कामभोगयोः
By marrying me, you became disheartened and hopeless regarding enjoyment of desires.
मूर्घ्नि कीलं कनिष्ठाख्यं यो हि राजन्निखानयेत्
O king, whoever places the pin called 'kaniṣṭhā' on the head—
पतिव्रताश्रुदग्धायाः का शान्तिर्मे भविष्यति
What peace will there be for me, when a devoted wife is burned by tears?
किं पुनः प्राकृतं भूप त्वादृशीं तथा
What then of an ordinary woman, O king, like you?
तव स्नेहनिबद्धाङ्गी संभोजयति षड्रसैः
Bound to you by affection, she serves you with dishes of six tastes.
एवंविधा हि शतशो नार्यः संति गृहे तव
Hundreds of such women are present in your house.
मोहिनी वचनं श्रुत्वा व्रीडितो ह्यभवन्नृपः
Hearing Mohinī's words, the king became embarrassed.
इङ्गितज्ञः सुतो ज्ञात्वा दशावस्थागतां नृपम्
The son, skilled in reading gestures, understood the king's condition.
मातृः सर्वाः समाहूय संध्यावलिपुरोगमाः
He summoned all the mothers, with Sandhyāvali at their head.
विमोहिनी मे जननी नवोढा ब्राह्मणः सुता
Vimohinī, my mother, is newly married and the daughter of a brāhmaṇa.
आत्मना सह खेलार्थं तन्मोदध्वं सुहर्षिताः
Together with her, for the sake of play, you should delight her, joyfully.
को हि दीपयते वह्निं स्वदेहे देहिनां वर
Who, O best of embodied beings, would set fire to his own body?
कस्तरेत्सागरं बद्ध्वा ग्रीवायां दारुणां शिलाम्
Who would cross the ocean with a heavy stone tied to his neck?
को निषीदति धारायां खङ्गस्या काशभासिनः
Who would sit upon the blade of a sword shining like Kāśa grass?
सर्वस्यापि प्रदानेन नैतन्मनसि वर्तते
Even by giving away everything, this does not leave the mind.
का दृष्ट्या दयितं कान्तं निरीक्षेदन्ययाहृतम्
What woman would look upon her beloved, her dear one, taken by another?
आत्मप्राणसमं कान्तमन्यस्त्रीकुचपीडनम्
Her beloved, as dear as her own life, being pressed to the bosom of another woman—
सर्वेषामेव दुःखानां दुःखमेतदनन्तकम्
Of all sorrows, this is the sorrow without end.
वरं सर्वा मृताः पुत्र युगपन्मातरस्तव
It would be better, my son, if all your mothers died at once.
यदि मे न पितुः सौख्यं करिष्यथ शुभाननाः
If you, fair-faced ones, do not bring happiness to your father,
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा या पितुर्दुःखमाचरेत्
Whoever, by deed, thought, or word, causes sorrow to the father—
सर्वासां साधिका देवी मोहिनी जनकप्रिया
Among all, Mohinī, beloved of your father, is the foremost lady.
तत्पुत्रवचनं श्रुत्वा वेपमाना हि मातरः
Hearing those words of the son, the mothers trembled.
अवश्यं तव वाक्यं हि कर्तव्यं न्यायसंयुतम्
Certainly, your command, being just, must be carried out.
यो भार्यामुद्वहेद्भर्ता द्वितीयामपरामपि
If a husband should take another wife, a second one,
अनुज्ञाप्य यदा भार्ता ज्येष्ठामन्यां समुद्वहेतक्
When permitted, the husband may marry another, after the eldest.
ज्येष्ठया सहितः कुर्यादिष्टापूर्तं नरोत्तमः
The best of men should perform acts of charity and sacrifice together with his eldest wife.
श्रुत्वा तु मातृवचनं प्रहष्टेनान्तरात्मनो
Having heard his mother's words, he rejoiced inwardly.
सहस्रं नगराणां च ग्रामाणां प्रददौ तथा
He gave away a thousand cities and likewise villages.
एकैकस्य ददावष्टौ रथान्काञ्चनमालिनः
To each one, he gave eight chariots adorned with golden chains.