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.
अलं प्रियेन वक्तव्यं हृच्छयो मे प्रजायते। कर्तव्यं चाप्यकर्तव्यं पत्युर्वचनसंमतम्
"Enough words, my beloved; longing arises in my heart. What should or should not be done is determined by the husband's command."
करोति सततं या च सा च नारी पतिव्रता। लंघयेद्या च तस्याज्ञां सुरते च विशेषतः
"A woman who always acts according to her husband's wishes is truly devoted. But if she disobeys him, especially in intimacy—"
पुण्यं तस्या भवेन्नष्टं दुर्गतिं चाधिगच्छति। साब्रवीद्देववस्तूनि संति देवार्थतो मुने
"—her merit is lost, and she attains misfortune." She replied, "The offerings for the deities are for divine purposes, O sage."
नित्यकर्माणि चान्यानि किं वा तेषु विपर्ययः। स चोवाच सतीं तत्र देह्यालिगादिकं मम
"There are other daily duties as well—why would you disrupt them?" He then said to the chaste woman, "Grant me an embrace and more."
मनसा भयमुत्सृज्य मया दत्तानि तानि च। इत्युक्त्वा तां परिष्वज्य कृतस्तेन मनोरथः
"Let go of fear in your mind; I have given you these things." Saying this, he embraced her, and thus his desire was fulfilled.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे विप्र मुनेर्हृद्या सकल्मषम्। ततो ध्यानं समारभ्याजानाद्वृत्तं शचीपतेः
Meanwhile, the sage, pure of heart, sensed something amiss. Entering meditation, he learned what had been done by the lord of Śacī.
तूर्णमेव द्वारदेशे गत्वा च समुपस्थितः। शक्रो मुनिं तु संलक्ष्य चौतुदेहं विवेश ह
He quickly went to the doorway and arrived there. Indra, seeing the sage, left the hermitage.
गच्छतः पृषदंशस्य पद्धतौ प्रचचाल ह। मुनिस्तत्रावदत्तं वै कस्त्वं मार्जाररूपधृत्
As Indra, in the form of a cat, was leaving, the sage noticed and said, "Who are you, taking the form of a cat?"
भयात्तस्य मुनेरग्रे शक्रः प्रांजलिराश्रितः। मघवंतं पुरो दृष्ट्वा चुकोप मुनिपुंगवः
Out of fear of the sage, Indra stood before him with joined palms. Seeing Maghavan before him, the eminent sage grew angry.
यत्त्वया चेदृशं कर्म भगार्थं छलसाहसम्। कृतं तस्मात्तवांगेषु सहस्रभगमुत्तमम्
"Because you have committed such a deceitful and violent act for your own pleasure, therefore, on your body shall appear a thousand marks of the vulva."