तस्यां च ब्रह्मजातीया सेव्या नाम्नी पतिव्रता। तस्या धवोऽभवत्कुष्ठी पूर्वकर्मविरोधतः
There, among the Brahmin class, was a chaste woman named Sevya; her husband became afflicted with leprosy due to the opposition of former deeds.
गलद्व्रणास्य पत्युश्च नित्यं चर्यापरायणा। यद्यन्मनोरथं तस्य शक्त्या सा कुरुते भृशम्
Her husband's mouth was always oozing with sores, yet she was ever devoted to service; whatever desire he had, she fulfilled it to the utmost of her ability.
अर्चयेद्देववन्नित्यं स्नेहं कुर्यादमत्सरा। कदाचित्पथि गच्छंतीं वेश्यां परमसुंदरीम्
He should worship the gods daily, and act with affection, free from envy; once, while walking along the road, he saw a courtesan of exceptional beauty.
दृष्ट्वाऽतीवाभवन्मोहान्मन्मथाविष्टचेतनः। निश्श्वस्य सुतरां दीर्घं ततस्तु विमनाऽभवत्
Seeing her, his mind became utterly deluded, seized by passion; he sighed deeply and then became despondent.
श्रुत्वा गृहाद्विनिःसृत्य साध्वी पप्रच्छ तं पतिं। उन्मनास्त्वं कथं नाथ निःश्वासस्ते कथं विभो
Hearing this, the virtuous wife came out of the house and questioned her husband: 'Why are you so distracted, lord? Why do you sigh so, master?'
ब्रूहि मे यच्च कर्तव्यमकर्तव्यं च यत्प्रियम्। दयितं ते करिष्यामि त्वमेको मे गुरुः प्रियः
Tell me what should be done and what should not be done, and what is dear to you; I will do what you desire, for you alone are my teacher and beloved.
अभीष्टं वद मे नाथ यथाशक्ति करोम्यहम्। इत्युक्ते तामुवाचेदं वृथा किं भाषसे प्रिये
Speak your wish to me, lord; I will do it to the best of my ability; when she said this, he replied to her: 'Why do you speak in vain, dear?'
न शक्ता त्वं न चैवाहं मोघं वक्तुं न युज्यते। प्रष्टुं नाधिकरोषीति यथा दीर्घतरोः फलम्
You are not able, nor am I; it is not proper to speak uselessly; you do not have the right to ask, just as one standing on the ground desires the fruit of a tall tree.
भूमौ स्थित्वा तु खर्वात्मा समुद्धर्तुं प्रवांछति। तथा मे रमणी लोभान्मोहाद्यदभिवांछितम्
Standing on the ground, a person of short stature wishes to reach up and take the fruit of a tall tree; in the same way, out of longing and delusion, I desire something unattainable.
दंपत्योरपि दुःसाध्यमपयानं वदाम्यहम्। पतिव्रतोवाच- ज्ञात्वा तु त्वन्मनोवृत्तं शक्ताहं कार्यसाधने
Even for a married couple, I speak of something difficult to accomplish—departure; the devoted wife said: 'Knowing your heart's intent, I am able to fulfill the task.'
आदेशं कुरु मे नाथ कर्तव्यं येन केनचित्। यदि ते दुर्लभं कार्यं कर्तुं शक्नोमि यत्नतः
Give me your command, lord, so that I may do what must be done by any means; if your desired task is difficult, I will strive to accomplish it.
तदा मे त्वतिकल्याणं फलिष्यति परे त्विह। इत्युक्ते परमः प्रीतः स्थितो वचनमब्रवीत्
Then my great merit will bear fruit here and hereafter; when she said this, he, greatly pleased, remained and spoke these words:
पापाभ्यासाच्च पाप्मानं पृच्छतीति विनिश्चयः। पथ्यस्मिन्संप्रगच्छंतीं वेश्यां परमसुंदरीम्
Because of habitual sin, I am afflicted by sin—this is certain; while walking on the road, I saw a courtesan of exceptional beauty.
सर्वतश्चानवद्यांगीं दृष्ट्वा मे दह्यते मनः। यदि तां त्वत्प्रसादाच्च प्राप्नोमि नवयौवनां
Seeing her, flawless in every limb, my mind burns; if, by your favor, I obtain that young woman in the bloom of youth—
तदा मे सफलं जन्म कुरु साध्वि हितं मम। यदि मां कुष्ठिनं दीनं पूतिगंधं नवव्रणम्
Then my birth will be fruitful; fulfill this, virtuous one, for my benefit; but if that lovely woman does not come to me, wretched, leprous, foul-smelling, and covered in fresh sores—
न गच्छति वरारोहा तदा मे निधनं हितम्। श्रुत्वा तेनेरितं वाक्यं साध्वी वचनमब्रवीत्
Then death is best for me; hearing these words of his, the virtuous wife spoke:
यथाशक्ति करिष्यामि स्थिरी भव प्रभोऽधुना। मनसाथ समालोच्य क्षपांते ह्युषसि द्रुतम्
I will do as much as I am able; be steadfast now, lord; having considered in her mind, at the end of the night, at dawn, she quickly—
गोमयं सह शोधन्या गृहीत्वा सा ययौ मुदा। संप्राप्य गणिकागेहं शोधयित्वा च चत्वरम्
Taking cow dung together with cleansing water, she went joyfully; reaching the courtesan's house, she cleaned the courtyard.
प्रतोलीं वीथिकां चैव गोमयं प्रददौ मुदा। सा तूर्णमागता गेहे जनस्यालोकने भयात्
She gladly spread cow dung on the street and the lane; she came quickly to the house, fearful of being seen by people.
एवं क्रमेण सा साध्वी चरति स्म दिनत्रयम्। अथ सा वारमुख्या च चेटिकाश्चेटकानपि
In this way, the virtuous wife acted for three days in succession; then that chief courtesan, along with her maidservants and attendants—
अपृच्छत्कस्य कर्माणि शोभनानि च चत्वरे। मया नोक्तेप्युषः काले कस्य मत्प्रियकारणात्
Whose deeds and virtues were inquired about in the square? Even though I did not speak at dawn, for whose sake, dear to me, was it done?
रुच्यकर्मणि दीप्यंते रथ्या चत्त्वर वीथिकाः। परस्परेण संचिंत्य वारमुख्यां च तेऽब्रुवन्
The streets, squares, and avenues shine with pleasing actions; after discussing among themselves, they spoke about the chief event of the day.
अस्माभिर्न कृतं भद्रे कर्म चैतत्प्रमार्जनम्। अथ सा विस्मयं गत्वा संचिंत्य रजनीक्षये
We did not perform this, dear one, nor did we do this cleaning; then she, astonished, reflected as the night came to an end.
तया च दृश्यते सा च तथैव पुनरागता। दृष्ट्वा तां महतीं साध्वीं ब्राह्मणीं च पतिव्रताम्
She was seen, and she returned again just as before; seeing that great and virtuous woman, a Brahmin lady devoted to her husband.
दधार चरणे तस्या हा क्षमस्वेति भाषिणी। आयुर्देहं च संपत्तिर्यशोर्थः कीर्तिरेव च
She placed herself at her feet, saying, 'Ah, forgive me'; life, body, wealth, fame, and reputation.
एतासां मे विनाशाय स्फुरसीव पतिव्रते। यद्यत्प्रार्थयसे साध्वि नित्यं दास्यामि तद्दृढम्
All these seem to be lost to me because of you, devoted wife; whatever you desire, O virtuous one, I will always firmly give.
सुवर्णं मणिरत्नं वा चेलं वा यन्मनोरथं। तामुवाच ततः साध्वी न मे चार्थे प्रयोजनम्
Gold, jewels, gems, or cloth—whatever you wish; then the virtuous woman replied, 'I have no need for wealth.'
अस्ति कार्यं च ते किञ्चिद्वदामि कुरुषे यदि। तदा मे हृदि संतोषः कृतं सर्वं त्वयाऽधुना
If you have any task, tell me, and if you do it; then my heart will be satisfied, for you have now accomplished everything.
गणिकोवाच- सत्यं सत्यं करिष्यामि द्रुतं वद पतिव्रते। कुरु मे रक्षणं मातर्द्रुतं कृत्यं च मे वद
The courtesan said: 'Truly, truly, I will do it quickly; speak, O devoted wife. Protect me, mother, and quickly tell me what must be done.'
त्रपया निकृतं वाच्यं तस्यामुक्तं वरं प्रियम्। क्षणं विमृश्य सा वेश्या कृत्वा क्षांतिमुवाच च
Out of modesty, what was to be spoken was withheld, and she did not utter the dear wish; after pondering for a moment, the courtesan made up her mind and spoke.