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.
ततश्छुछुन्दरी स्याच्च सप्त जन्मानि भारते
Then Chuchundari will be born in Bharata for seven lifetimes.
भर्तुरर्थे तु या वित्तें विद्यमानं न यच्छति
But the woman who, for her husband's sake, does not give available wealth—
क्रिमियोनिविनिर्मुक्ता काष्ठीला जायते शुभे
Freed from worm-birth, O auspicious one, she is born as a wood insect.
अग्निप्रज्वालनाथ हि काष्ठं पाटयते चिरम्
Indeed, the fire that is kindled splits wood for a long time.
काष्ठं पाटयतस्तस्य समीपमगमं तदा
As the wood was being split, I then approached nearby.
नवनीतनिभं देहं बिभ्राणा चाञ्जनत्विषम्
She bore a body like fresh butter, with the radiance of collyrium.
तां दृष्ट्वा पतितां भूमौ हन्तुं ध्वाङ्क्षः समागतः
Seeing her fallen on the ground, a vulture arrived to kill her.
तावन्निवारितः सद्यो मया लोष्टेन तत्क्षणात्
At that moment, I immediately warded him off with a clod.
सक्षता तुण्डसंस्पृष्टा न च शक्ता पलायितुम्
Struck and touched by the beak, she was unable to flee.
सिक्ता किञ्चिज्जलैनैव ततः स्वास्थ्यमुपागता
Sprinkled with a little water, she then regained her health.