सर्वबीजान्विते चैव सितवस्त्रावगुण्ठिते
Endowed with all seeds, and veiled in white cloth—
विधिना पूजयित्वा चकुर्याज्जागरणं व्रती
Having worshipped according to the rite, the votary should keep vigil.
तत्कुंभक्रोडसंयुक्तं सनैवेद्यपरिच्छदम्
With a pot placed on his lap, together with the offerings and utensils.
एवं कृते वरारोहे न भूयो जायते क्वचित्
O fair one, when this is done, one is never born again anywhere.
तत्सर्वं नाशमायाति तमः सूर्योदये यथा
All that is destroyed, just as darkness is by sunrise.
या सा कृता त्वया पूर्वमासीद्देव्यन्यजन्मनि
That which was performed by you before, O goddess, in another birth—
भर्त्तुस्तव च पुत्रस्य सर्वदा सुखदायिनी
Always bringing happiness to your husband and your son,
तदा प्रीता गमिष्यामि तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम्
Then, pleased, I shall go to that supreme abode of Vishnu.
तस्य पावनहेतुं च तुरीयांशं प्रयच्छ मे
Grant me that fourth portion, which is the cause of his purification.
कृमियोनिशतं गत्वा पुल्कसी जायते तु सा
Having passed through a hundred births as a worm, she is born as a pulkasi.
या न यच्छति दुर्बुद्धिः काष्ठीला जायते ध्रुवम्
She who, being of wicked mind, does not give, is certainly born as a woman of Kāṣṭhīla.
तुरीयांशमितं पुण्यं यद्यस्ति मयि ते घृणा
If there is any merit in me equal to a fourth part, and if you have compassion for me,
पुण्यं दत्तवती तस्यै पाणौ वारि प्रगृह्य च
Having given merit to her, and taking water in the hand,
तत्तुरीयांशपुण्येन काष्ठीलेयं विमुच्यताम्
By the merit of that fourth portion, let this woman of Kāṣṭhīla be released.
एवमुक्ते तु वचने मया विद्युत्समप्रभा
When I had spoken these words, she shone like lightning.
पतिर्हि दैवतं लोके वञ्चनीयो न भार्यया
In this world, the husband is the deity; he must not be deceived by the wife.
सा त्वं ब्रूहि प्रदास्यामि भर्तुरर्थे तवेप्सितम्
So, tell me what you desire for your husband; I will grant it.
किमन्यद्दैवतं लोके स्त्रीणामेकं पतिं विना
What other deity is there in the world for women besides the one husband?
कल्पकोटिशतं साग्रं विष्णुलोके महीयते
She is honored in the world of Vishnu for a full hundred million kalpas.
पतिं ददौ नैव च याचिता धनं तेनैव पापेन बभूव कीटा
She did not give her husband, nor was she asked; by that very sin she became an insect.
ज्ञात्वा हितं तथ्यमिदं स्वभर्तुर्ददामि सर्वं च गृहाण सुभ्रु
Knowing this true and beneficial thing for your husband, I give all; receive it, O beautiful-browed one.
उवाच तत्परा स्वीये कार्ये मोहकरण्डिका
Then Mohakarandikā, devoted to her own purpose, spoke.
भर्तुरर्थे प्रदात्री च धनजीवितयोरपि
She, who would give even wealth and life for her husband's sake,
देहि पुत्रशिरोः मह्यं यदिष्टं हृदयाधिकम्
Give me the head of your son, if that is your dearest wish.
तदा स्वहस्ते संगृह्य खड्गं राजा पतिस्तव
Then, your husband the king took up his sword with his own hand.
अजातश्मश्रुकं चैव कुण्डलाभ्यां विभूषितम्
He was adorned with earrings and had not yet grown a beard.
एतद्वा कुरुतद्भद्रे यदान्नं न भुनक्ति च
O fortunate one, do this also: when he does not eat food.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्या मोहिन्याः कटुकाक्षरम्
Hearing those harsh words from that bewildering woman,
संध्यावली ततो धैर्यमास्थाय वरवार्णिनी
Then Saṃdhyāvalī, the beautiful one, composed herself with courage.
श्रूयन्ते हि पुराणेषु गाथाः सुभ्रु समीरिताः
O beautiful-browed one, there are verses spoken in the Purāṇas that are heard.