यद्देयं तद्ददात्येष ह्यदेयं प्रार्थयस्व मा
Whatever may be given, he gives; but do not ask for what cannot be given.
न भुक्तं येन सुभगे शैशवे ऽपि हरेर्दिने
O fortunate one, he has never eaten, even in childhood, on the day of Hari.
कामं वरय वामोरुवरमन्यं सुदुर्लभम्
Choose, O slender-thighed one, any other boon you desire, however rare.
मन्यसे यदि मां देवि धर्माङ्गदविरोहिणीम्
If you consider me, O goddess, as one who does not oppose Dharmangada,
सप्तद्वीपसमेतं हि ससरिद्वनपर्वतम्
Together with the seven continents, along with rivers, forests, and mountains,
भर्तुरर्थे विशालाक्षि प्रसीद तनुमध्यमे
For the sake of your husband, O wide-eyed, slender-waisted one, be gracious.
अकार्यं कारयेत्पापा सा नारी निरये वसेत्
A sinful woman who causes wrongdoing will dwell in hell.
सूकरीं योनिमाप्नोति चाण्डालीं च ततः परम्
She attains the womb of a sow, and then that of a Chandala.
निवारितासि वामोरु सखीभावेन सुंदरि
You have been restrained, O beautiful one with lovely thighs, in the manner of a friend.
किं पुनः सखिसंस्थायास्तव पद्मनिभानने
What then, O lotus-faced one, of your status as a companion?
उवाच कनकाभां तां भर्तुर्ज्येष्ठां प्रियां तदा
Then he spoke to her, golden-hued, the eldest and beloved wife of her husband.
विद्वद्भिर्मुनिभिर्य्यत्तु गीयते नारदादिभिः
That which is sung by the learned, by sages such as Narada,
क्रियतामपरं देवि मरणादधिकं तव
Let something else be done, O goddess, greater than death for you.
कस्येष्टमात्महननं कस्येष्टं विषभक्षणम्
Who desires self-destruction? Who desires the drinking of poison?
व्याघ्रसिंहाभिगमनं समुद्रतरणं तथा
The approach of tigers and lions, and likewise the crossing of the ocean,
अपथ्यभक्षणं लोके तथाभक्ष्यस्य भक्षणम्
The eating of what is unwholesome in the world, and likewise the eating of what is forbidden,
छेदनं तृणकाष्ठानां लोष्टानामवमर्द्दनम्
The cutting of grass and wood, the crushing of clods,
दैवाविष्टो वरारोहे नरः सर्वं करोति वै
A man possessed by fate, O beautiful-hipped one, indeed does everything.
नरकार्हे नरो देवि करोत्यशुभकर्म तत्
A man destined for hell, O goddess, performs that inauspicious deed.
यादृशेन हि भावेन योनौ शुक्रं समुत्सृजेत्
Just as, with whatever disposition, a man emits semen into the womb,
साहं विवादभावेन राज्ञो रुक्माङ्गदस्य हि
So I, with a contentious mind, indeed toward King Rukmangada,
दुष्टभावा तथा जाता कर्त्री दुष्टं नृपस्य तु
Having such an evil disposition, I became the perpetrator of evil for the king.
तत्कालभावना ग्राह्या तद्भावो जायते सुतः
The disposition present at that time should be grasped; the child is born with that disposition.
न च व्रीडा न च स्नेहो न धर्मो देवि विद्यते
Neither shame nor affection nor righteousness, O Lady, is found there.
जानन्नपि यथायुक्तस्तं भावमनुवर्तते
Even knowing, as appropriate, one follows that disposition.
धर्मापहं वाच्यकरं ममापि कर्तुं न शक्यं मनसापि भीरु
A deed that destroys righteousness and brings reproach cannot be done by me, not even in thought, O timid one.
भर्तुर्यशः स्यात्त्रिदिवे गतिस्ते पुत्रे प्रशंसा मम धिग्विवादः
If your husband's fame reaches the three worlds, your path and your son's praise will be mine; shame on quarrel.
धैर्यमालंब्य तां तन्वीं ब्रूहि ब्रूहीत्यचोदयत्
Relying on courage, he urged that slender woman, saying, 'Speak, speak.'
भर्तुरर्थे प्रकुर्वन्त्या राज्यनाशे न मे व्यथा
For the sake of her husband, though she acts, the loss of the kingdom brings me no distress.
समृद्धायाः सपापायास्तस्याः प्रोक्ता ह्यधोगतिः
For that prosperous yet sinful woman, a downward path is declared.