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."
भवत्विह तु पापिष्ठ लिंगं ते निपतिष्यति। गच्छ मे पुरतो मूढ सुरस्थानं दिवौकसः
But here, O most sinful one, your mark will fall; go before me, fool, to the abode of the gods.
पश्यंति मुनिशार्दूला नराः सिद्धास्सहोरगाः। एवमुक्त्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठो रुदंतीं तां पतिव्रताम्
Men, accomplished beings, and serpents will see, O best of sages; having spoken thus, the eminent sage questioned her, weeping though she was, devoted to her husband.
पप्रच्छ किमिदानीं ते कर्म दारुणमागतम्। इत्युक्ता वेपमाना सा भीता पतिमुवाच ह
He asked, 'What is this terrible deed that has now come upon you?' Thus addressed, trembling and afraid, she spoke to her husband.
अज्ञानाद्यत्कृतं कर्म क्षंतुमर्हसि वै प्रभो। मुनिरुवाच- परेणाभिगतासि त्वममेध्या पापचारिणी
'Whatever action was done out of ignorance, you ought to forgive, O lord.' The sage said: 'You have been approached by another, unclean, a doer of evil.'
अस्थिचर्मसमाविष्टा निर्मांसा नखवर्जिता। चिरं स्थास्यसि चैकापि त्वां पश्यंतु जनाः स्त्रियः
Covered only with skin and bones, without flesh, without nails, you shall remain alone for a long time, so that women may see you.
दुःखिता तमुवाचेदं शापस्यांतो विधीयताम्। इत्युक्ते करुणाविष्टो मन्युनापि परिप्लुतः
Distressed, she said to him, 'Let there be an end to this curse.' When she had spoken thus, he, filled with compassion yet overcome by anger,
जगाद गौतमो वाक्यं रामो दाशरथिर्यदा। वनमभ्यागतो विष्णुः सीतालक्ष्मणसंयुतः
Gautama spoke these words: 'When Rāma, son of Daśaratha, comes to the forest, accompanied by Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa,
दृष्ट्वा त्वां दुःखितां शुष्कां निर्देहां पथिसंस्थितां। गदिष्यति च वै रामो वसिष्ठस्याग्रतो हसन्
Seeing you, miserable, dried up, bodiless, standing by the path, Rāma will speak, laughing, before Vasiṣṭha,
किमियं शुष्करूपा च प्रतिमास्थिमयी शवा। न दृष्टं मे पुरा ब्रह्मन्रूपं लोकविपर्ययम्
'What is this dried-up form, this figure made of bones, a corpse? Never before have I seen, O brāhmaṇa, such a reversal in the world.'
ततो रामं महाभागं विष्णुं मानुषविग्रहम्। यद्वृत्तमासीत्पूर्वं तद्वसिष्ठः कथयिष्यति
Then Vasiṣṭha will tell Rāma, the illustrious one, Viṣṇu in human form, what happened before.