अपहाय गता सेयं स्वर्गे तात किमुच्यते । शिवशर्मोपरिभवं पुत्रं भक्तिपरायणम्
She has departed, leaving behind; what can be said, father, of her who has gone to heaven, having wronged Śivaśarman, her son devoted to devotion?
यज्ञशर्माणमाहूय इत्युवाच द्विजोत्तमः । शिवशर्मोवाच- अनेनापि सुतीक्ष्णेन शस्त्रेण निशितेन वै
Having summoned Yajñaśarman, the best of twice-born spoke thus. Śivaśarman said: 'Even with this sharp weapon, O Sutīkṣṇa—'
विच्छिद्यांगानि सर्वाणि यत्र तत्र क्षिपस्व ह । तत्कृतं तेन पुत्रेण यथादेशः श्रुतः पितुः
Cut off all the limbs and cast them wherever you wish; this was done by that son, as the command of the father was heard.
समायातः पुनः पश्चात्पितरं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । यथादिष्टं त्वया तात तत्सर्वं कृतवानहम्
Having returned again afterwards, he spoke to his father: 'All that you instructed, father, I have done.'
समादिश ममान्यच्च कार्यकारणमद्य च । तच्च सर्वं करिष्यामि दुर्जयं दुर्लभं पितः
'Command me today, father, regarding any other task or purpose; I will accomplish all that, even if it is unconquerable or difficult.'
तमाज्ञाय महाभागं पितृभक्तं स च द्विजः । निश्चयं परमं ज्ञात्वा द्वितीयस्य विचिंतयन्
Hearing him, that twice-born, recognizing his great devotion to his father and his firm resolve, considered the matter of the second son.
वेदशर्माणमाहूय गच्छ त्वं मम शासनात् । स्त्रिया विना न शक्नोमि स्थातुं कंदर्पमोहितः
Summoning Vedaśarman, he said: 'Go, by my command; I cannot remain without a woman, being deluded by Kāma.'
मायया दर्शिता नारी सर्वसौभाग्यसंपदा । एनामानय वत्स त्वं ममार्थे कृतनिश्चयः
'A woman, shown by illusion, endowed with all fortune and prosperity—bring her, my child, for my sake, with firm resolve.'
एवमुक्तस्तथा प्राह करिष्ये तव सुप्रियम् । पितरं तं नमस्कृत्य तामुवाच गतस्ततः
Thus addressed, he replied: 'I will do what pleases you greatly.' Having bowed to his father, he went and spoke to her.
त्वां देवि याचते तातः कामबाणप्रपीडितः । अतस्त्वं जरया युक्ते प्रसादसुमुखी भव
'My father, afflicted by the arrows of desire, requests you, O goddess; therefore, being joined with old age, show a gracious face.'
भज त्वं चारुसर्वांगि पितरं मम सुंदरि । एवमाकर्णितं तस्य मायया वेदशर्मणः
'O beautiful one with lovely limbs, unite with my father, O fair one.' Thus Vedaśarman, by illusion, spoke to her.
स्त्र्युवाच- जरया पीडितस्यापि नैवेच्छामि कदाचन । सश्लेष्ममुखरोगस्य व्याधिग्रस्तस्य सांप्रतम्
The woman said: 'Even though he is afflicted by old age, I do not desire him at any time, now stricken with phlegm, throat disease, and illness.'
शिथिलस्यापि चार्तस्य तस्य वृद्धस्य संगमम् । भवंतं रंतुमिच्छामि करिष्ये तव सुप्रियम्
'Though he is weak and suffering, I do not wish union with that old man; I wish to enjoy with you, I will do what pleases you greatly.'
भवंतं रूपसौभाग्यैर्गुणरत्नैरलंकृतम् । दिव्यलक्षणसंपन्नं दिव्यरूपं महौजसम्
'You, adorned with beauty, fortune, and jewel-like virtues, possessed of divine marks, divine form, and great energy—'
किं करिष्यसि तातेन वृद्धेन शृणु मानद । ममांगभोगभावेन सर्वं प्राप्स्यसि दुर्लभम्
'What will you do with that old father? Listen, O honorable one; by enjoying my body, you will obtain all that is difficult to attain.'
यद्यत्त्वमिच्छसे विप्र तद्ददामि न संशयः । एतद्वाक्यं महच्छ्रुत्वा अप्रियं पापसंकुलम्
'Whatever you desire, O brāhmaṇa, I will give without doubt.' Hearing these words, great, unpleasant, and filled with sin—
वेदशर्मोवाच- अधर्मयुक्तं ते वाक्यमयुक्तं पापमिश्रितम् । नेदृशं मां वदेर्देवि पितृभक्तिमनागसम्
Vedaśarman said: 'Your words are unrighteous, improper, and mixed with sin; do not speak thus to me, O goddess, devoted to my father and innocent.'
पितुरर्थं समायातस्त्वामहं प्रार्थये शुभे । अन्यदेवं न वक्तव्यं भज त्वं पितरं मम
'I have come for my father's sake, and I request you, O auspicious one; do not speak otherwise—unite with my father.'
यद्यत्त्वमिच्छसे देवि त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरम् । तत्तद्दद्मि न संदेहो देवराज्याधिकं शुभे
O goddess, whatever you desire in the three worlds, whether moving or unmoving, I grant it to you—there is no doubt. Even greater than the kingdom of the gods, O auspicious one.
स्त्र्युवाच- एवं समर्थो दातुं मे पितुरर्थे यदा भवान् । तदा मे दर्शयाद्यैव सेंद्रास्त्वं समहेश्वरान्
The woman spoke: Since you are able to give me anything for my father's sake, then today, show me—together with Indra and the great gods—that you are their equal.
दातुमेवं समर्थोसि दुर्लभं सांप्रतं किल । किं ते बलं महाभाग दर्शयस्व त्वमात्मनः
You are indeed capable of granting what is presently difficult to obtain. What is your strength, O highly fortunate one? Show me your own power.
वेदशर्मोवाच- पश्य पश्य बलं देवि प्रभावं तपसो मम । मयाहूताः समायाता इंद्राद्याः सुरसत्तमाः
Vedaśarma said: Behold, behold my strength, O goddess, the power of my austerity. Summoned by me, the foremost gods, including Indra, have arrived.
वेदशर्माणमूचुस्ते किं कुर्मो हि द्विजोत्तम । यमेवमिच्छसे विप्र तं ददामो न संशयः
The gods spoke to Vedaśarma: What shall we do, O best of twice-born? Whatever you desire, O Brahmin, we will grant it—there is no doubt.
वेदशर्मोवाच- यदि देवाः प्रसान्ना मे प्रसादसुमुखा यदि । ददंतु विमलां भक्तिं पादयोः पितुरेव मे
Vedaśarma said: If the gods are gracious to me, if their faces are kindly disposed, let them grant me pure devotion at the feet of my father.
एवमस्तु सुराः सर्वे यथायातास्तथा गताः । तमुवाच तथा दृष्ट्वा दृष्टं ते तपसो बलम्
So be it, said all the gods, and as they had come, so they departed. Then she spoke, having seen it: You have witnessed the power of austerity.
देवैस्तु नास्ति मे कार्यं यदि दातुमिहेच्छसि । यन्मां नयसि गुर्वर्थं तत्कुरुष्व मम प्रियम्
I have no business with the gods; if you wish to give, then do as you please for the sake of your teacher—fulfill my desire.
देहि त्वं स्वं शिरो विप्र स्वहस्तेन निकृत्य वै । वेदशर्मोवाच- धन्योहमद्य संजातो मुक्तश्चैव ऋणत्रयात्
Give your own head, O Brahmin, severed by your own hand. Vedaśarma said: Today I am blessed, freed from the three debts.
स्वशिरो देवि दास्यामि गृह्यतां गृह्यतां शुभे । शितेन तीक्ष्णधारेण शस्त्रेण द्विजसत्तमः
O goddess, I will give my own head; take it, take it, O auspicious one. With a sharp, keen-edged weapon, the best of Brahmins.
निकृत्य स्वं शिरश्चाथ दत्तं तस्यै प्रहस्य च । रुधिरेण प्लुतं सा च परिगृह्य गता मुनिम्
Then, severing his own head, he gave it to her with a smile. She, drenched in blood, took it and went to the sage.
स्त्र्युवाच- तवार्थे प्रेषितं विप्र पुत्रेण वेदशर्मणा । एतच्छिरः संगृहाण निकृत्तं चात्मनात्मनः
The woman spoke: For your sake, O Brahmin, Vedaśarma's son has been sent. Take this head, severed by himself, for your own self.