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.
लोकानां कुश्रुतिर्वार्ता तेन पुण्यबलाच्छ्रुता। जनापवादमोक्षार्थं बुद्धिस्तस्याभवच्छुभा
The rumor of the people, whether good or bad, was heard by the power of his merit. For the sake of freeing her from public blame, his mind became auspicious.
दारूणि स्वयमाहृत्याजिज्वलत्स महानलम्। एतस्मिन्नंतरे तात राजपुत्रः प्रतापवान्
He himself gathered wood and kindled a great fire. Meanwhile, O dear one, the valiant prince—
आगमत्तद्गृहं सद्यः सोपश्यत्तं च योषितम्। प्रोत्फुल्लवदनां नारीं प्रविषादगतं नरं
At once came to that house and saw the woman. The woman, her face blooming, saw the man who had entered.
अनयोर्मानसं ज्ञात्वा राजपुत्रोवदद्वचः। किं न संभाषसे मां च मित्रकं चिरमागतम्
Knowing their thoughts, the prince spoke these words: 'Why do you not speak to me, your friend, who has come after a long time?'
अब्रवीत्सोपि धर्मात्मा राजपुत्रमनष्टधीः। यत्कृतं दुष्करं कर्म मया त्वद्धितकारणात्
That righteous-souled one, his mind unshaken, spoke to the prince: 'The difficult deed I performed was for your benefit.'
सर्वं व्यर्थमहं मन्ये जनानां च प्रवादतः। अद्य वह्निमहं यास्ये प्रपश्यंतु नरास्सुराः
I consider all the talk of people to be in vain; today I shall enter the fire—let men and gods witness this.
इत्युक्त्वा स महाभागः प्रविवेश हुताशनम्। विशतस्तस्य वह्नौ न कुसुमं चिकुरालये
Having spoken thus, that illustrious one entered the sacrificial fire; as he entered the flames, not a single hair on his head was harmed.
नांगमस्यानलोधाक्षीन्न च वस्त्रं न कुंतलम्। खे च देवा मुदा सर्वेसाधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवन्
Neither his body, nor his garments, nor his hair were scorched by the fire; and in the sky, all the gods exclaimed with joy, 'Well done! Well done!'
अपतन्पुष्पवर्षाणि तस्य मूर्ध्नि समंततः। यैर्यैश्च दुष्कृतं वाक्यं गदितं तावुभौ प्रति
Showers of flowers fell all around upon his head; and for those who had spoken wicked words against the two,
तेषां मुखे प्रजायंते कुष्ठानि विविधानि च। तत्रागत्य च देवाश्च वह्नेराकृष्यतं मुदा
Various kinds of leprosy appeared on their faces; and the gods, having come there, joyfully drew near the fire.