प्रदक्षिणं जलावर्तं शुभ्रं पापहरं शुभम्। तज्जलस्पर्शमात्रेण कुठारः शुद्धतां गतः
He saw a clear, sin-removing, auspicious pool with a swirling current; by merely touching its water, the axe became pure.
ततो रामोभिषेकं तु कृतवान्प्रमुदान्वितः। शुद्धात्मनस्त्वपापस्य बुद्धिर्जाता प्रपाविनी५० 1.55.
Then Rāma, filled with joy, performed his ablution; pure in soul and free from sin, his mind became inclined toward attainment.
स रामः सुचिरं स्थित्वा तीर्थराजं प्रसाद्य तम्। ततस्ततोऽचलात्प्राप्य पुरं वेगसमन्वितः
Rāma, having remained there for a long time and propitiated the king of sacred fords, then departed swiftly from that place and reached the city.
ख्यातं कृत्वा ततश्चोर्व्यां गतोसौ लवणार्णवम्। अयं तीर्थवरः साक्षात्पितामहकृतो भुवि
Having made it renowned on earth, he went to the salt ocean; this supreme sacred ford was indeed established on earth by the Grandfather (Brahmā).
सुखदः सर्वतः शुद्धो मुक्तिमार्गप्रदः किल। एवं कामप्रभावं च विद्धि दुर्वारदुःसहम्
It bestows happiness everywhere, is completely pure, and truly grants the path to liberation; thus, know the power of desire to be difficult to resist and unbearable.
कामाज्जातं वृषं पापं पुण्यं पुण्यप्रयोगतः। स जातश्चैव लौहित्यो विरंचेश्चैव चौरसः
Sin arises from desire, and merit from the practice of virtue; thus was born the river Lauhitya, the legitimate son of Virin̄ci (Brahmā).
शंतनो क्षेत्र संजातस्त्वमोघागर्भसंभवः। विरिञ्चिना जितः कामः शांतनोरप्यमत्सरात्
You were born in the field of Śaṃtanu, conceived from the unfailing womb; desire was conquered by Viriñci (Brahmā), and also by Śāṃtanu out of absence of envy.
तस्याः पतिव्रतात्वाच्च तीर्थात्तीर्थवरो हि सः। एवं यस्तु पठेन्नित्यं पुण्याख्यानमिदं शिवम्
Because of her fidelity to her husband, that sacred ford became the foremost among fords; in this way, whoever recites daily this auspicious narrative of merit,
शृणुयाद्वा मुदा पृथ्व्यां मुक्तिमार्गं स गच्छति
or hears it with joy on earth, attains the path to liberation.
सप्तपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः। । श्रीभगवानुवाच- पुरा शर्वः स्त्रियो दृष्ट्वा युवती रूपशालिनीः। गंधर्वकिन्नराणां च मनुष्याणां च सर्वतः
Chapter Fifty-Five. The Blessed Lord said: Long ago, Śarva (Śiva), seeing women—young and beautiful—among Gandharvas, Kinnaras, and all humans,
मंत्रेण ताः समाकृष्य त्वतिदूरे विहायसि। तपोव्याजपरो देवस्तासु संगतमानसः
by means of a mantra, drew them together from a great distance in the sky; the god, under the pretense of austerity, became absorbed in union with them.
अतिरम्यां कुटीं कृत्वा ताभिः सह महेश्वरः। क्रीडां चकार सहसा मनोभव पराभवः
Having made a most delightful hut, Maheśvara (Śiva) played together with them at once, he who had conquered the god of love.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे गौर्याश्चित्तमुद्भ्रांततां गतम्। अपश्यद्ध्यानयोगेन क्रीडंतं जगदीश्वरम्
Meanwhile, Gaurī's mind became agitated; through yogic meditation, she saw the Lord of the universe sporting.
स्त्रीभिरंतर्गतं ज्ञात्वा रोषस्य वशगाभवत्। ततः क्षेमंकरी रूपा भूत्वा च प्रविवेश सा
Realizing he was among women, she became subject to anger; then, taking the form of Kṣemaṅkarī, she entered there.
व्योमैकांतेतिदूरे च कामदेव समप्रभम्। वामातिमध्यगं शुभ्रं पुरुषं पुरुषोत्तमम्
At a far-off place in the sky, she saw a man as radiant as Kāmadeva, exceedingly handsome, fair, supreme among men, surrounded by women.
स्त्रीभिः सह समालिग्य प्रक्रीडंतं मुहुर्मुहुः। चुंबंतं निर्भरं देवं हरं रागप्रपीडितम्
Embraced by women, he was playing again and again, kissing the god Hara passionately, overwhelmed by desire.
वृत्तं क्षेमंकरी दृष्ट्वा निपपाताग्रतस्तदा। तासां केशेषु चाकृष्य चकार चरणाहतिम्
Seeing this, Kṣemaṅkarī fell at the front; seizing their hair, she struck them with her feet.
त्रपया पीडितश्शर्वः पराङ्मुखमवस्थितः। केशेष्वाकृष्य रोषात्ताः पातयामास भूतले
Śarva, afflicted by shame, turned away; out of anger, she pulled their hair and made them fall to the ground.
स्त्रियः सर्वाधरां प्राप्य सहसा विकृताननाः। उमाशापप्रदग्धांगा म्लेच्छानां वशमागताः
The women, reaching the lowest state, suddenly became disfigured in face; scorched by Umā's curse, they came under the power of the Mlecchas.
ताश्चांडालस्त्रियः ख्याता अधवा धवसंयुताः। अद्याप्युमाकृतं शापं सर्वास्ताश्च समश्नुयुः
They became known as the women of the Caṇḍālas, or as those joined with the outcastes; even today, all of them equally experience the curse pronounced by Umā.
अथोमा शतधा रूपं कृत्वेशं संगता तदा। एवं प्रभावं जानीहि कामस्य सततं द्विज
Then, having assumed a hundred forms, she approached the Lord; know thus, O twice-born, the constant power of Kāma.
ततश्चिरात्तया सार्द्धं गतः कैलासमंदिरं। अतः क्षेमंकरीं दृष्ट्वा येभिनंदंति मानवाः
After a long time, together with her, he went to the mansion of Kailāsa; seeing her, who brings well-being, people rejoice.
तेषां वित्तर्द्धि विभवा भवंतीह परत्र च। कुंकुमारक्तसर्वांगि कुंदेन्दुधवलानने
For them, prosperity and wealth arise here and hereafter; her limbs are red as saffron, her face white as jasmine and the moon.
सर्वमंगलदे देवि क्षेमंकरि नमोस्तु ते। योगिनीसाम्यं तेनैव संमुखा विमुखापि वा
O Goddess, bestower of all auspiciousness, Kṣemaṅkarī, I bow to you; whether facing or not facing, she is equal to the Yoginīs.
दृष्ट्वा तां नाभिवंदेद्यस्तस्य युद्धे पराजयः। राजगृहेषु विद्यायां नमस्काराज्जयो भवेत्
Whoever, seeing her, does not bow, is defeated in battle; but by salutation, one gains victory in royal courts and in learning.
एवं कामस्य माहात्म्यं भवो मोहवशं गतः। अयं देवासुराणां च क्षमया प्रभुतां गतः
Thus is the greatness of Kāma, and Bhava was overcome by delusion; by her forbearance, he attained lordship over gods and demons.
अस्यैव सदृशो लोके न भूतो न भविष्यति। रामामङ्कस्थितां रम्यां क्षमातल्पगतेन च
There has never been, nor will there be, anyone like her in the world; beautiful, seated on Rāma's lap, resting on the bed of forbearance.
त्यक्त्वैव साधिता लोकास्सुरासुरसुदुर्लभाः। एवं वैष्णवमुख्यश्च सुरासुरगणार्चितः
Having renounced, she accomplished worlds difficult for gods and demons to attain; thus, the foremost Vaiṣṇava is worshipped by hosts of gods and demons.
यो नो ददाति भुक्त्यग्र्यं शेषं च स्वयमश्नुते। एवमभ्यासधैर्येण दीर्घकाले सुखंगते
He who does not give us the best food, eats the remainder himself; thus, by practice and patience, one attains happiness in the long term.
प्राक्संगमात्स्वभार्यां च दृष्ट्वा मां प्रददौ मुदा। द्वादशाब्दं प्रसंकल्प्य प्राग्भोगो मयि वेशितः
Before union, seeing his own wife, he joyfully gave her to me; having resolved for twelve years, he devoted his enjoyment to me.