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.
संध्यावलीति संबोध्य सखीमध्यसमास्थिताम्
Addressing Saṃdhyāvalī, who was seated among her companions,
पूर्वजन्मनि पत्नी च कैण्डिन्यस्य शुभानने
O auspicious-faced one, in a previous birth I was the wife of Kaiṇḍinya.
जनन्या बन्धुवर्गस्य पितुरिष्टतमा ह्यहम्
I was the most beloved of my father, mother, and the entire family circle.
कुलीनाय सरूपाय स्त्रीसंगरहिताय च
I was given to a noble, handsome man who was free from association with other women.
श्वशुरेणापि मे दत्तं सुवर्णस्यायुतं पुरा
Long ago, even my father-in-law gave me ten thousand pieces of gold.
गोमहिष्यादिसंयुक्ता धनधान्यसमन्विता
I was endowed with cows, buffaloes, and other wealth, and possessed abundant riches and grain.
कालेन पञ्चतां प्राप्तः श्वशुरो वेदतत्त्ववित्
In time, my father-in-law, who was learned in the essence of the Vedas, passed away.
ततो भर्ताञ्जलिं दत्वा पित्रोः श्राद्धमथाकरोत्
After that, my husband, offering reverence, performed the śrāddha rites for his parents.
गतः कौतुकभावेनहृच्छयेन प्रपीडितः
He went, filled with curiosity and tormented by longing in his heart.
प्रविशत्यां नृपगृहे दृष्टास्तेन द्विजन्मना
When entering the king’s house, he was seen by that twice-born man.