सत्यलोकं समासाद्य भुंक्ष्व भोग्यं महेंद्रवत्। संख्या तेनापि वर्तेत भोग्यकालस्य धार्मिक
'Having reached the world of truth, enjoy pleasures like Indra; even by that reckoning, the time for enjoyment will be measured, O righteous one.'
इत्युक्तेषु च देवेषु शूद्रो वचनमब्रवीत्। कथं निर्ग्रंथकस्यास्य ज्ञानं चेष्टास्य भाषणम्
When the gods had spoken thus, the Śūdra spoke these words: 'How has this man, who is without possessions, gained such knowledge, conduct, and speech?'
किं वा हरिहरौ ब्रह्मा किं वा शक्रो बृहस्पतिः। किं वा मच्छलनादेव साक्षाद्धर्म इहागतः
'Is he Hari or Hara or Brahmā, or is he Śakra or Bṛhaspati? Or has Dharma himself come here in person, deceiving me?'
इत्युक्ते क्षपणश्चासौ स्मितो वचनमब्रवीत्। विज्ञातुं चैव वो धर्ममहं विष्णुरिहागतः
When this was said, that mendicant, smiling, spoke these words: 'To test your righteousness, I, Viṣṇu, have come here.'
विमानेन दिवं गच्छ सकुटुंबो महामुने। मत्प्रसादाच्च युष्माकं सदैव नवयौवनम्
Ascend to heaven in a celestial chariot with your family, O great sage; and by my grace, you all shall always possess youthful vigor.
भविष्यति महाप्राज्ञ भाग्यानंत्यं प्रलप्स्यथ। दिव्याभरणसंयुक्ता दिव्यवस्त्रोपशोभिताः
You shall attain endless fortune, O most wise one, and be adorned with divine ornaments, resplendent in celestial garments.
गतास्ते सहसा नाकं सर्वैर्बंधुजनैर्वृताः। एवं द्विजवरश्रेष्ठ लोभत्यागाद्ययुर्दिवम्
They swiftly reached heaven, surrounded by all their relatives; thus, O best of twice-born, those who renounce greed ascend to the heavens.
तुलाधारस्तथाधीमान्सत्यधर्म प्रतिष्ठितः। ये न जानाति तद्वृत्तं देशांतरसमुद्भवम्
Tuladhara, steadfast in truth and righteousness, whose conduct is unknown to those born in distant lands, was likewise wise.
तुलाधारसमो नास्ति सुरलोके प्रतिष्ठितः। तस्मात्त्वमपि भूदेव समं गत्वा दिवं व्रज
There is none equal to Tuladhara, established in the world of the gods; therefore, you too, O lord of the earth, go to heaven along with him.
य इदं शृणुयान्मर्त्यः सर्वधर्मप्रतिष्ठितः। जन्मजन्मार्जितं पापं तत्क्षणात्तस्य नश्यति
Whoever among mortals hears this, established in all dharmas, all the sins accumulated over many births are destroyed at that very moment.
सकृत्पठनमात्रेण सर्वयज्ञफलं लभेत्। लोकानां पुरतो विप्र देवानामर्च्यतां व्रजेत्
By merely reciting this once, one obtains the fruit of all sacrifices; before the worlds, O brahmin, one attains the honor of the gods.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। अद्रोहकस्य चाख्यातो महिमा लोकदुःसहः। एकतल्पगतां वामां क्षांत्वा सर्वजितोऽभवत्
The Blessed Lord said: The greatness of the non-harming one has been proclaimed as unbearable even to the worlds; having conquered desire for another's wife, he became victorious over all.
ज्ञानिनामपिदुःसाध्यं मुनीनां ब्रह्मचारिणां। सुरासुरमनुष्याणां विषमं तत्समं गतः
Even for the wise, for sages, for celibates, for gods, asuras, and humans, it is difficult to accomplish; he attained equality with that which is hard to reach.
स्वभावाद्विषमं कामं जेतुं कः पुरुषः क्षमः। अद्रोहकमृते विप्र स एव भवजित्पुमान्
By nature, who among men is able to conquer desire, O brahmin, except the non-harming one? He alone is the conqueror of the world.
अहल्याहरणादेव सुरेशस्य भगांकता। पुनर्देव्याः प्रसादाच्च सहस्राक्षेति विश्रुतः
Because of the abduction of Ahalya, the lord of the gods was marked with the stigma; but again, by the goddess's grace, he became renowned as the thousand-eyed one.
विदितं सर्वलोके च त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे। द्विज उवाच- कथं च देवदेवस्य अहल्याहरणं प्रभो
This is known in all the world and throughout the three realms, among all beings, moving and unmoving. The twice-born said: How did the abduction of Ahalya by the god of gods occur, O Lord?
भगांकत्वं च संप्राप सहस्राक्षः सुराधिपः। न गां कोपि भगांकत्वं संप्राप्तस्सुरराट्कथम्
How did the lord of the gods, the thousand-eyed one, come to be marked with the stigma? No other god has ever received such a mark; how did the king of the gods obtain it?
दुःश्रुतं सुरवैकल्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्वतः। श्रीभगवानुवाच- पुरा स्वांतोद्भवां कन्यां लोकेशश्च महामनाः
I wish to hear in truth about this painful deficiency among the gods. The Blessed Lord said: Long ago, the great-minded lord of the world gave his self-born daughter joyfully to Gautama, in the presence of the guardians of the world.
गौतमाय ददौ धाता लोकपालाग्रतो मुदा। ततस्तु लोकपालानां मन्मथाविष्टचेतसाम्
Then, among the guardians of the world, whose minds were seized by love, the lord of Sachi was afflicted, as if by a thorn in his heart.
शचीपतेस्तु संमोहो हृदि शल्य इव स्थितः। लोकपालानतिक्रम्य सुवेषा वरवर्णिनी
Surpassing the other guardians, the splendidly adorned and beautiful one was given to the brahmin as a jewel; or what else could I do? Thus thinking, while she was in the bloom of youth—
द्विजाय रत्नभूतैषा दत्ता किंवा करोम्यहम्। इति संचिंत्य तस्यास्तु वर्तमाने च यौवने
Again, by illusion, he saw her exceedingly beautiful form; and pondering further, he approached Gautama's seat.
पुनश्च मायया दृष्टं रूपं तस्यास्सुशोभनम्। पुनश्चिन्तयमानोऽसौ गौतमाध्यासनं गतः
Again, by illusion, he saw her form, exceedingly beautiful; and reflecting once more, he, Gautama, went to his seat.
पश्चात्तु तस्य गमनाद्यद्वृत्तं तच्छृणुष्व मे। एकदा गौतमः स्नातुं गतोऽसौ पुष्करं प्रति
Now, listen to what happened after his departure. Once, Gautama went to Puṣkara to bathe.
साध्वी च गृहशौचे च गृहवस्तुनि तत्परा। प्रवृत्ता देववास्तूनां बलिकर्तुं च तत्परा
His virtuous wife, diligent in household cleanliness and attentive to the household items, was engaged in preparing offerings for the household deities.
इंधनं वह्निकार्यं च नित्यकर्मानुसंचयम्। एतस्मिन्नंतरे शक्रो मुनेस्तस्य महात्मनः
She was gathering firewood and performing the daily duties related to the sacred fire. Meanwhile, Indra approached, intent on the great sage.
रूपमास्थाय गात्रेण प्रविवेशोटजं मुदा। पतिव्रता पतिं दृष्ट्वा श्रद्धया परया सती
Assuming the sage's form and appearance, Indra joyfully entered the hermitage. The devoted wife, seeing her 'husband,' greeted him with utmost faith.
देवस्थाने च वस्तूनां संचयं कर्तुमुद्यता। ततस्तामब्रवीदार्तो मुनिवेषधरो हरिः
She was preparing to collect items for the deity's place. Then, Hari, disguised as the sage, spoke to her in distress.
प्रद्युम्नवशगो वामे देहि मे चुंबनादिकम्। एतस्मिन्नंतरे सा च त्रपायुक्ताऽब्रवीद्वचः
"O lovely one, under Pradyumna's influence, give me a kiss and more." At that moment, she, filled with modesty, spoke these words.
देवकार्यादिकं त्यक्त्वा वक्तुं नार्हसि मे प्रभो। सर्वं जानासि धर्मज्ञ पुण्यानां निश्चयं मुने
"O lord, you should not speak of such things, abandoning divine duties. You know all, O knower of dharma, and the true nature of virtue, O sage."
अयमर्थो हि वेलायामधुनैव न युज्यते। ततस्तां चारुसर्वांगीं दृष्ट्वा मन्मथपीडितः
"Such a matter is not appropriate at this time." Then, seeing her, beautiful in every limb, he was overcome by desire.