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.
अपूजयन्सुपुष्पैश्च मुनयो विस्मयं गताः। सर्वैर्मुनिवरैरेवं मनुष्यैर्विविधैस्तदा
The sages, filled with wonder, worshipped him with beautiful flowers; and so did all the foremost sages and various people at that time.
अर्च्यते तु महातेजाः स च सर्वानपूजयत्। सज्जनाद्रोहकं नाम कृतं देवासुरैर्नृभिः
That great-souled one was worshipped by all, and he in turn honored everyone; the act called 'injury to the virtuous' was committed by gods, asuras, and men.
तस्य पादरजः पूता सस्यपूर्णा धराभवत्। सुराश्चाहुश्च तं तत्र भार्या ते संप्रगृह्यताम्
Sanctified by the dust of his feet, the earth became abundant with crops; and there the gods said, 'Let your wife be restored to you.'
एतस्य सदृशो लोके न भूतो न भविष्यति। नास्तीति सांप्रतं पृथ्व्यां कामलोभाजितः पुमान्
No one like him has ever existed in the world, nor will there ever be; at present, there is no man on earth overcome by desire and greed like him.
देवासुरमनुष्याणां रक्षसां मृगपक्षिणाम्। कीटादीनां च सर्वेषां काम एष सुदुर्जयः
Among gods, asuras, humans, rakshasas, beasts, birds, and all insects, this desire is exceedingly hard to conquer.
कामाल्लोभात्तथाक्रोधान्नित्यं सत्त्वेषु जायते। संसारबंधकः कामो ह्यकामो न क्वचिद्भवेत्
From desire, greed, and anger constantly arise among beings; desire is the bond of worldly existence—without desire, it cannot exist anywhere.
अनेनैव जितं सर्वं भुवनानि चतुर्दश। अमुष्य हृदये नित्यं वासुदेवो मुदास्थितः
By this alone, all the fourteen worlds have been conquered; in his heart, Vasudeva always dwells with joy.
एवं स्पृष्ट्वाथ दृष्ट्वा तं मनुष्याः सर्वकल्मषात्। पूयंते ह्यनघाश्चैव लभंते चाक्षयां दिवम्
Thus, whoever touches or beholds him is purified from all sin; they become spotless and attain the eternal heaven.
एवमुक्त्वा गता देवा विमानैश्च दिवं मुदा। मनुष्याः प्रययुस्तुष्टा दंपती स्वगृहं तथा
Having spoken thus, the gods departed joyfully to heaven in their celestial cars; and the people, pleased, returned home with the couple.
दिव्यं चक्षुस्तदा तस्य चासीद्देवान्स पश्यति। त्रैलोक्यस्य च वार्त्तां च जानाति लीलया भृशम्
At that time, he obtained divine sight and saw the gods; he easily came to know all the affairs of the three worlds.