नास्ति सत्यात्परो धर्मो नानृतात्पातकं परम्। विशेषे समभावस्य पुरुषस्यानघस्य च
There is no dharma higher than truth, nor any sin greater than falsehood; especially in the impartiality of a blameless person.
अरौ मित्रेप्युदासीने मनो यस्य समं व्रजेत्। सर्वपापक्षयस्तस्य विष्णुसायुज्यतां व्रजेत्
Whose mind remains equal toward enemy, friend, and stranger, for him all sins are destroyed and he attains union with Vishnu.
एवं यो वर्तते नित्यं कुलकोटिं समुद्धरेत्। सत्यं दमः शमश्चैव धैर्यं स्थैर्यमलोभता
One who acts thus always uplifts countless generations of his family; truth, self-restraint, tranquility, courage, steadiness, and absence of greed—
अनाश्चर्यमनालस्यं तस्मिन्सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्। तेन वै देवलोकस्य नरलोकस्य सर्वशः
Absence of wonder and laziness—all are established in him; through him, the realms of gods and humans are entirely sustained.
वृत्तं जानाति धर्मज्ञस्तस्यदेहे स्थितो हरिः। लोके तस्य समो नास्ति समः सत्यार्जवेषु च
The knower of dharma knows conduct; Hari dwells in his body; in the world, there is none equal to him in truth and uprightness.
स च धर्ममयः साक्षात्तेनैव धारितं जगत्। द्विज उवाच-। ज्ञातं मे त्वत्प्रसादाच्च तुलाधारस्य कारणम्
He is directly composed of dharma, and by him the world is sustained. The twice-born said: By your grace, I have understood the reason for the balance-holder.
अद्रोहकस्य यद्वृत्तं तद्ब्रूहि त्वं यदीच्छसि। हरिरुवाच-। पुरैव राजपुत्रस्य कुलस्त्रीनवयौवना
Tell me, if you wish, the conduct of the one who does not harm; Hari said: Long ago, the prince's wife was in the prime of youth—
पत्नीव कामदेवस्य शचीव वासवस्य च। तस्य प्राणसमा भार्या सुन्दरी नाम सुन्दरी
Like the wife of Kamadeva, or Shachi, wife of Indra; his wife, named Sundari, was as dear to him as life itself.
अकस्मात्पार्थिवस्यैव कार्ये गन्तुं समुद्यतः। मनसालोचितं तेन प्राणेभ्योपि गरीयसीम्
Suddenly, the king resolved to go on some business; he considered in his mind what was weightier than even his own life.
कस्मिन्स्थाने स्थापयामि यतो रक्षा भवेद्ध्रुवम्। इत्यालोच्यैव सहसा त्वागतोस्य गृहं प्रति १०० 1.50.
Where should I place her, so that protection will be certain? Thinking thus, he quickly came to your house.
उक्तं च तादृशं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा स विस्मयंगतः। न तातस्ते न च भ्राता न चाहं तव बान्धवः
And having spoken such words, hearing them, he was amazed: 'Neither your father, nor your brother, nor I am your kinsman.'
पितृमातृकुलस्यैव तस्या न हि सुहृज्जनः। कथं च मद्गृहे तात स्थित्या स्वस्थो भविष्यसि
Of his paternal and maternal families, there is no friend; how will you remain at ease staying in my house, O dear one?
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तेन चोक्तं वाक्यं यथोचितम्। लोके त्वत्सदृशो नास्ति धर्मज्ञो विजितेन्द्रियः
Meanwhile, he spoke fitting words: 'In the world, there is none like you—knower of dharma, conqueror of the senses.'
स चाह तं च सर्वज्ञं वक्तुं नार्हसि दूषणम्। त्रैलोक्यमोहिनीं भार्यां कः पुमान्रक्षितुं क्षमः
He said to him: 'You should not reproach the all-knowing one; who among men is capable of protecting a wife who deludes the three worlds?'
राजपुत्र उवाच-। धरण्यां परिविज्ञाय त्वागतोहं तवान्तिकम्। एषा तिष्ठतु तेऽगारे व्रजामि निजमन्दिरम्
The prince said: 'Having considered on earth, I have come to you; let her remain in your house, I will return to my own palace.'
इत्युक्ते स पुनः प्राह नगरेऽस्मिन्प्रशोभने। बहुकामुक संपूर्णे कथं रक्षा भवेत्स्त्रियाः
When this was said, he spoke again: 'In this splendid city, filled with many lustful men, how can a woman be protected?'
स चोवाच पुनस्तं च कुरु रक्षां व्रजाम्यहम्। गृहस्थस्सङ्कटादाह धर्मस्य राजपुत्रकम्
He then spoke again to him: 'You go and protect (her); I will go. The householder, distressed, said to the prince, 'This is the duty of dharma.'
करोम्यनुचितं कार्यं स्वदास्यमुचितं हितम्। सदा चैवेदृशी भार्या स्थातव्या मद्गृहे पितः
I am doing what is not proper, though my service is proper and beneficial. And such a wife must always remain in my house, father.
अरक्षारक्षणे देव वदाभीष्टं कुरु प्रियम्। मम तल्पे मया सार्धं शयानं भार्यया सह
O lord, in the matter of guarding or not guarding, do what is dear to you. My wife lies with me on my bed.
मन्यसे दैवतं स्वं चेत्तिष्ठेन्नोचेत्तु गच्छतु। क्षणं विमृश्य तं प्राह राजपुत्रः पुनस्तदा
If you consider her your own deity, then stay; if not, then go. After reflecting for a moment, the prince spoke again.
बाढमेतद्वचस्तात यथाभीष्टं तथा कुरु। ततो भार्यां जगादाथ अस्य वाक्याच्छिवाशिवम्
'So be it, father; do as you wish.' Then he addressed his wife, speaking both auspicious and inauspicious words.
कर्तव्यं च न ते दोष आज्ञया मम सुंदरि। एतदुक्त्वा गतः सोपि भूपतेः शासनात्पितुः
'This must be done; you are not at fault, beautiful one, for it is by my command.' Having said this, he too departed, by order of his father, the king.
अनंतरं क्षपायां च यदुक्तं च तथाकृतम्। योषितोर्मध्यगः सोपि नित्यं स्वपिति धार्मिकः
Immediately that night, what had been said was done accordingly. The righteous one slept always between the two women.
धर्मान्न चलते सोपि स्वभार्यापरभार्ययोः। संस्पर्शात्स्वस्त्रियश्चास्य कामाभिलषितं मनः
He did not deviate from dharma, even while in contact with his own and another's wife. His mind, though longing for desire, was restrained from touching the other woman.
तस्याः संसर्गतश्चैव दुहितैव प्रमन्यते। स्तनौ तस्यास्तु पृष्ठे च लगन्तौ च पुनःपुनः
From his contact with her, she considered him only as a daughter would. Her breasts would rest on his back again and again.
बालकस्येव पुत्रस्य स्तनौ मातुः समन्यते। तस्या अंगानि चांगेषु लगंति च पुनःपुनः
Just as a child thinks of his mother's breasts, so did he. Her limbs would touch his body again and again.
ततो मातुस्सुतस्येव सोमन्यत दिने दिने। तस्य योषासुसंसर्गो निवृत्तस्त्वभवत्ततः
Then, day by day, he regarded her as a mother regards her son. Thus, the union with the woman ceased.
एवं संवत्सरस्यार्द्धे तत्पतिश्चागतः पुरं। अपृच्छत्तं च लोकेषु तस्या वृत्तमथोदितम्
In this way, after half a year had passed, her husband returned to the city. He inquired among the people, and was told what had happened.
केचिद्भद्रं बोधयन्तो युवानोपि सुविस्मिताः। केचिदाहुस्त्वया दत्ता तया सार्द्धं स्वपित्यसौ
Some, wishing him well, though young, were greatly astonished. Some said, 'He whom you entrusted slept with her.'
स्त्रीपुंसोरेकसंसर्गात्शांतता तु कथं भवेत्। तस्यां यस्याभिलाषोस्ति न पृष्टस्स वदेद्युवा
How can there be restraint when a man and woman are together alone? If there is desire in her, let the young man be questioned.