आहूता स्वामिना गच्छ सम्मानेन तदन्तिकम्
Summoned by her lord, she was told, 'Go to him with due honor.'
सा तु ध्वाङ्क्षी भवेत्पुत्रि जन्मानि दश पञ्च च
But, O daughter, she would become an owl for fifteen births.
दोलामारोप्य गच्छेति प्रोचुः स्निग्धा मुहुर्मुर्हुः
With affection, they said again and again, 'Go, ascend the palanquin.'
जग्मुर्महोदयपुरं यत्र तिष्ठति मे पतिः
She went to the great city, Mahodaya, where my husband resides.
आसनीयैश्च भोज्यैश्च धनैर्वस्त्रैर्युतं ततः
There, with seats, food, wealth, and garments, she was honored.
प्रीत्या च भक्त्या कुरुतां प्रणतिं मम सुन्दरि
With affection and devotion, offer your respects to me, O beautiful one.
भर्तृवाक्येन संप्रीता स्नात्वाभुजं तथाहृता
Pleased by her husband's words, she bathed and then was brought to him.
परिष्वज्य चिरं दोर्भ्यां पर्यङ्के संन्यवेशयत्
Embracing her for a long time with his arms, he seated her on the couch.
भक्त्या युवाभ्यां कर्तव्यमस्याश्चरणसेवनम्
With devotion, you both must serve her feet.
पत्युर्वाक्यात्ततस्ताभ्यां गृहीतौ चरणौ मम
Then, at the husband's command, both of them took hold of my feet.
ततः प्रेष्यान्समाहूय भर्ता मे वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Then, having summoned the attendants, my husband spoke these words:
सुतामुद्वहतो राज्ञो यच्च लब्धं मयाखिलम्
All that I have received from the king for marrying his daughter—
इयं हि स्वामिनी प्राप्ता तस्य वित्तस्य किङ्कराः
Indeed, this lady has become the mistress, and we are now servants of that wealth.
भर्ता समर्पयामास प्रीत्या युक्तो ऽखिलं तदा
Then, the husband, filled with affection, entrusted everything to her.
उभयोस्तत्र पश्यन्त्यो राक्षसीराजकन्ययोः
There, observing both—the daughter of the king of the Rākṣasas and the other—
तद्दृष्ट्वा चाद्भुतं भर्तुर्देहवित्तसमर्पणम्
Seeing that wondrous act of the husband offering his body and wealth,
छिन्ना गौरिव खङ्गेन गताः प्राणा ममाभवन्
My life departed, as if a cow struck down by a sword.
तामतीत्य सुदुःखार्ता काष्ठीला चाभवं शुभे
Surviving that, though overwhelmed by deep sorrow, I became insensible, O auspicious one.
या भर्तुर्नापयेद्वित्तं जीवितं च शुभानने
O beautiful-faced one, she who does not protect her husband's wealth and life—
एवं ज्ञात्वानिशं रक्षेत्पत्युर्वित्तं च जीवितम्
Knowing this, one should always guard the husband's wealth and life.
पतिर्माता पिता वित्तं जीवितं च गुरुर्गतिः
The husband is mother, father, wealth, life, teacher, and refuge.
विष्णोः पदं वित्तशरीरलुब्धा प्रयाति यामीं च कुयोनिपीडाम्
One greedy for wealth and body does not attain Viṣṇu's abode but goes to Yama's realm and the torment of evil births.
सन्ध्यावली नाम भृशं तामुवाच ह सादरम्
Then Sandhyāvalī, with great respect, spoke to her thus:
कथं दृष्टा मया त्वं च यास्यन्ती कुत्सितां गतिम्
How is it that I have seen you, who are about to go to a wretched state?
तन्मे वद विशालाङ्गे त्वां दृष्ट्वा दुःखिता ह्यहम्
Tell me this, O wide-hipped one; seeing you, I am indeed distressed.
शरीरं तव संवीक्ष्य तया मे जायते हृदि
Looking upon your body, this feeling arises in my heart.
तथापि नैव मुच्येयं सद्यः कुत्सितयोनितः
Yet, I cannot be freed at once from this vile birth.
तन्निर्दिशामि सुमहद्गतिदं त्वं निशामय
Therefore, I will indicate to you a means of attaining a most excellent state; listen.
यस्मिन् क्रोशन्ति पापानि ब्रह्महत्यादिकानि च
In which all sins, even the killing of a Brāhmaṇa and the like, are destroyed,
दुर्ल्लभं चोषसि स्नानं दुर्लभं कृष्णसेवनम्
Where bathing is difficult to obtain, and service to Kṛṣṇa is rare.