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.
कुष्ठिनः पूतिगंधस्य संपर्के दुःखिता भृशम्। दिनैकं च करिष्यामि यद्यागच्छति मद्गृहम्
I am greatly distressed by contact with a leper who has a foul smell; for one day, I will do it, if he comes to my house.
पतिव्रतोवाच- आगमिष्यामि ते गेहमद्य रात्रौ च सुंदरि। भुक्तभोग्यं पतिं हृष्टं पुनर्नेष्यामि मद्गृहम्
The devoted wife said: 'I will come to your house tonight, O beautiful one; after my husband has eaten and is pleased, I will bring him again to my house.'
गणिकोवाच- गच्छ शीघ्रं महाभागे स्वगृहं च पतिव्रते। पतिस्ते चार्द्धरात्रे स आगच्छतु च मद्गृहम्
The courtesan said: 'Go quickly, O noble one, to your own house, devoted wife; let your husband come to my house at midnight.'
बहवो मे प्रियास्संति राजानस्तत्समाश्च ये। एकैको मद्गृहे नित्यं तिष्ठतीह निरंतरम्
Many beloveds are mine, kings and those equal to them; each one always stays in my house without interruption.
अद्याहं मे गृहं शून्यं करिष्यामि च त्वद्भयात्। स चागच्छतु ते भर्त्ता स चास्मान्प्राप्य गच्छतु
Today I will make my house empty because of fear of you; let your husband come, and after meeting us, let him depart.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु सा साध्वी गतासौ स्वगृहे तथा। पत्यौ निवेदयामास कृत्यं ते फलितं प्रभो
Hearing this, the virtuous woman went to her own house; she informed her husband, 'Your task has been accomplished, Lord.'
अद्य रात्रौ च तद्गेहं गंतुं ख्यातिं करोति सा। प्रभूताः पतयस्तस्यास्तव कालो न विद्यते
Tonight she will go to that house, making it known; she has many husbands, and you have no time there.
विप्र उवाच- कथं यास्यामि तद्गेहं मया गंतुं न शक्यते। एतज्ज्ञात्वा कुतः क्षांतिः कृतं कार्यं कथं भवेत्
The Brahmin said: 'How shall I go to that house? I am unable to go; knowing this, how can there be patience, and how will the task be accomplished?'
पतिव्रतोवाच- स्वपृष्ठस्थमहं कृत्वा नेष्यामि तद्गृहं प्रति। सिद्धे ह्यर्थे नयिष्यामि पुनस्ते नैव वर्त्मना
The devoted wife said: I will carry him on my back and take him to his house; once my purpose is fulfilled, I will not return by the same path.
द्विज उवाच- कल्याणि त्वत्कृतेनैव सर्वं मे कृत्यमेष्यति। इदानीं यत्कृतं कर्म स्त्रीजनैरपि दुःसहम्
The brahmin said: O auspicious one, because of you, all my tasks will be accomplished; what you have done now is unbearable even for women.