यः शिवः शिवदः साक्षात्प्रकृतीशः परात्परः
He who is Śiva, the giver of auspiciousness, the very lord of nature, supreme beyond the supreme,
तस्माद्द्विज सदाचारो निषेव्यो विधिना विधिः
Therefore, O twice-born, a man of good conduct should be served as the ordinance, according to rule.
स शान्तिमाप्नुयादग्र्यां धम्यामुभयसंस्थिताम्
May he attain the highest and most righteous peace, established in both worlds.
तन्मया साधितो धर्मः सर्वोत्तमधनात्मना
The dharma established by him, who is united with the highest wealth of the Self, is supreme.
यदा समागतो भर्ता मम कन्यां समाहरन्
When the lord arrived and took my daughter in marriage,
मया पृष्टः कथं नाम कन्येयं समुपाहृता
I asked him, 'By what means has this maiden been brought here?'
तन्निशम्याह मां बद्धा स्वयं चास्थानि दर्शनात्
Hearing this, he replied to me, bound by his own steadfastness and by the sight of righteousness,
न ते तत्त्वदृशो ज्ञेया न सा भार्या विरोधिनी
Those who see the truth are not to be doubted; a wife who is hostile is not a true wife.
सा भार्यान्या कर्मवल्लीरूपा संसारदायीनी
Another wife, resembling a creeper of actions, brings about worldly bondage.
अलीकं नैव वक्तव्यं प्राणैः कण्ठगतैरपि
One must not speak falsehood, even if life itself is at the throat.
सत्ये समास्थितो ब्रह्मा सत्ये सन्तः समास्थिताः
Brahmā is established in truth; the good are established in truth.
सत्यं ब्रूयादिति वचो वेदान्तेषु प्रगीयते
The statement, 'One should speak the truth,' is celebrated in the Upaniṣads.
सत्यं तु सर्वदा विप्र मङ्गलं मङ्गलप्रदम्
Truth, O Brahmin, is always auspicious and brings forth auspiciousness.
स्त्रीषु सत्यं न वक्तव्यं तत्रापि शृणु कारणम्
But truth should not be spoken to women; listen here to the reason for that.
उक्तं तद्धर्मजनकं धर्मसूक्ष्मत्वदर्शकम्
What has been said is the origin of dharma and reveals the subtlety of dharma.
साक्ष्ये यत्र विवाहेषु दांपत्यं तदुदीरितम्
Wherever there is testimony in marriages, that pertains to the conjugal relationship.
स्त्रीपुंसोर्द्विजसंस्कारे निर्दिष्टं गुरुशिष्ययोः
In the rites for women and men, and for teacher and student, it is prescribed.
नानयोरणुमात्रो ऽपि भेदो बोध्यो विजानता
One who knows should understand that there is not even the slightest difference between the two.
क्वचिद्व्यत्ययदोषश्चेद्दैवमेवात्र कारणम्
If there is ever a fault due to reversal, then fate alone is the cause in that matter.
दैवं तत्पूर्वजन्मानि संचिताः कर्मवासनाः
That fate consists of previous births and the accumulated tendencies of actions.
शुभं वाप्यशुभं विप्र तं तु शान्तं विदुर्बुधाः
Whether auspicious or inauspicious, O Brahmin, the wise know it to be pacified.
एवमादि विदित्वा तु नायं भर्ता निपातितः
Knowing thus, this husband has not been cast down.
गतिं प्रयातः कृतिनां त्वद्धस्तविनिपातितः
He has attained the path of the virtuous, having been struck down by your hand.
त्वत्प्राणरक्षणे धर्मो ममाभूद्द्विजसत्तम
In protecting your life, O best of twice-born, my dharma was fulfilled.
राक्षसीं योनिमापन्ना राक्षसस्य प्रिया ह्यहम्
I have entered the lineage of the rakshasas and am indeed the beloved of a rakshasa.
धर्मकामदुघा धेनुः संतोषो नन्दनं वनम्
The cow that yields dharma and desire, contentment, and the delightful forest of Nandana.
वैतरण्यां पतन्भर्ता मयोद्धृत इहाभवत्
The husband, falling into the Vaitarani, was rescued by me and became present here.
इयं त्वसंगिनी भार्या भविष्यति पितुर्गृहे
This wife, who is not attached, will remain in her father's house.
मत्संगमात्पूर्वमेव या भार्या विप्र ते ऽभवत्
Before my association, O Brahmin, the wife who was yours.
सापि तिर्यग्गतिं प्राप्य मुच्यते मदनुग्रहात्
She too, having attained the path of animals, is released by my grace.