तं दृष्ट्वासमनुप्राप्तं रूपं वीक्ष्य महामतिः । तं प्रोवाच पिता एवं को भवान्वै भविष्यति
Seeing him arrive, observing his form, the wise one—my father—spoke to him: 'Who are you, and what will you become?'
किं ते नाम कुलं गोत्रमाचारं वद सांप्रतम् । समाकर्ण्य पितुर्वाक्यं वसुदत्तमुवाच सः
'What is your name, lineage, and family tradition? Tell me now.' Hearing my father's words, Vasudatta replied:
कौशिकस्यान्वये जातो वेदवेदांगपारगः । शिवशर्मेति मे नाम पितृमातृविवर्जितः
'Born in the line of Kaushika, accomplished in the Vedas and their branches, my name is Shivaśarman, and I am without father or mother.'
संति मे भ्रातरश्चान्ये चत्वारो वेदपारगाः । एवं कुलं समाख्यातमाचारः कुलसंभवः
'I have other brothers, four in number, all accomplished in the Vedas. Thus I have described my family and its tradition.'
एवं सर्वं समाख्यातं पितरं शिवशर्मणा । शुभे लग्ने तिथौ प्राप्ते नक्षत्रे भगदैवते
Thus, everything was related by Shivaśarman to my father. When an auspicious moment, date, and constellation presided by Bhagadaiva arrived—
पित्रा दत्तास्मि सुभगे तस्मै विप्राय वै तदा । पितृगेहे वसाम्येका तेन सार्धं महात्मना
At that time, my father gave me, O fortunate one, to that Brahmin. I lived alone in my father-in-law's house with that great soul.
नैव शुश्रूषितो भर्ता मया स पापया तदा । पितृमातृसुद्रव्येण गर्वेणापि प्रमोहिता
I did not serve my husband then, being sinful, deluded by pride in my father's and mother's wealth.
अंगसंवाहनं तस्य न कृतं हि मया कदा । रतिभावेन स्नेहेन वचनेन मया शुभे
I never massaged his limbs, O auspicious one, neither with affection nor with loving words.
क्रूरबुद्ध्या हि दृष्टोसौ सर्वदा पापया मया । पुंश्चलीनां प्रसंगेन तद्भावं हि गता शुभे
With a cruel mind, I always looked upon him with sinfulness. Through association with unchaste women, I came to possess such a disposition, O auspicious one.
मातापित्रोश्च भर्तुश्च भ्रातॄणां हितमेव च । न करोम्यहमेवापि यत्रयत्र व्रजाम्यहम्
I never did what was beneficial for my mother, father, husband, or brothers, wherever I went.
एवं मे दुष्कृतं दृष्ट्वा शिवशर्मा पतिर्मम । स्नेहाच्छ्वशुरवर्गस्य मम भर्त्ता महामतिः
Thus, seeing my misdeeds, Śivaśarmā, my husband, out of affection for the family of my father-in-law, my husband, wise and noble, bore it.
न किंचिद्वक्ति मां सोपि क्षमते दुष्कृतं मम । वार्यमाणा कुटुंबेन अहमेवं सुपापिनी
He does not say anything to me, and he even forgives my wrongdoing; though restrained by the household, I alone acted so wickedly.
तस्य शीलं विदित्वा ते साधुत्वं शिवशर्मणः । पितामाता च मे सर्वे मम पापेन दुःखिताः
Knowing his character and the virtue of Śivaśarmā, all my parents are distressed by my sin.
भर्त्ता मे दुष्कृतं दृष्ट्वा स्वगृहान्निर्गतो बहिः । तं देशं ग्राममेनं च परित्यज्य गतस्ततः
My husband, having seen my misdeed, left the house and departed, abandoning this village and place.
गते भर्तरि मे तातः संजातश्चिंतयान्वितः । मम दुःखेन दुःखात्मा यथा रोगेण पीडितः
When my husband had gone, my father became troubled with anxiety, afflicted by my sorrow as if tormented by disease.
मम माता उवाचैनं भर्तारं दुःखपीडितम् । कस्माच्चिंतयसे कांत वद दुःखं ममाग्रतः
My mother spoke to my husband, who was afflicted with grief: 'Why do you worry, beloved? Tell me your sorrow before me.'
वसुदत्त उवाचैनां मातरं मम नंदने । सुतां त्यक्त्वा गतो विप्रो जामाता शृणु वल्लभे
Vasudatta spoke to my mother in the garden: 'The Brahmin, my son-in-law, has left after abandoning your daughter; listen, dear.'
इयं पापसमाचारा निर्घृणा पापचारिणी । अनया हि परित्यक्तः शिवशर्मा महामतिः
This one is of sinful conduct, merciless, a doer of evil; by her, indeed, Śivaśarmā, wise, has been abandoned.
समस्तस्य कुटुंबस्य दाक्षिण्येन महामतिः । ममायं स द्विजः कांते सुदेवां नैव भाषते
For the sake of the whole family, with kindness, that wise Brahmin, my dear, does not speak to Sudevā.
वसते सौम्यभावेन नैव निंदति कुत्सति । सुदेवां पापसंचारां स वै पंडितबुद्धिमान्
He dwells with gentle demeanor, never censuring or reproaching; Sudevā, of sinful ways, he regards with the mind of a learned man.
भविष्यति त्वियं दुष्टा सुदेवा कुलनाशिनी । अहमेनां परित्यज्य व्रजामि गृहवासिनि
But this wicked Sudevā will destroy the lineage; I, abandoning her, will depart, O house-dweller.
ब्राह्मण्युवाच- अद्य ज्ञातं त्वया कांत सुताया गुणदूषणम् । तव मोहेन स्नेहेन नष्टेयं शृणु सांप्रतम्
The Brahmin woman said: 'Today you have understood, beloved, the faults in your daughter; through your delusion and affection, she is lost—listen now.'
तावद्विलाडयेत्पुत्रं यावत्स्यात्पंचवार्षिकः । शिक्षाबुद्ध्या सदा कांत पुनर्मोहेन पोषयेत्
One should nurture the son until he is five years old; always, beloved, instruct him with wisdom, then again raise him with affection.
स्नानाच्छादनकैर्भक्ष्यैर्भोज्यैः पेयैर्न संशयः । गुणेषु योजयेत्कांत सद्विद्यासु च तं सुतम्
With bathing, clothing, foods, meals, and drinks—without doubt, beloved, one should engage the son in virtues and in true knowledge.
गुणशिक्षार्थंनिर्मोहः पिता भवति सर्वदा । पालने पोषणे कांत संमोहः परिजायते
For the sake of teaching virtue, the father should always be free from delusion; but in nurturing and raising, beloved, delusion arises.
सगुणं न वदेत्पुत्रं कुत्सयेच्च दिनेदिने । काठिन्यं च वदेन्नित्यं वचनैः परिपीडयेत्
He should not praise the son for virtues, but reproach him daily; he should always speak harshly and afflict him with words.
यथाहि साधयेन्नित्यं सुविद्यां ज्ञानतत्परः । अभिमानेच्छलेनापि पापं त्यक्त्वा प्रदूरतः
Just as one should always accomplish good learning, being intent on knowledge, even by feigned pride, one should abandon sin from afar.
नैपुण्यं जायते नित्यं विद्यासु च गुणेषु च । माता च ताडयेत्कन्यां स्नुषां श्वश्रूर्विताडयेत्
Skill arises always in learning and virtues; and the mother should chastise her daughter, the mother-in-law should chastise her daughter-in-law.
गुरुश्च ताडयेच्छिष्यं ततः सिध्यंति नान्यथा । भार्यां च ताडयेत्कांत अमात्यं नृपतिस्तथा
The teacher should strike the student; only then is success attained, not otherwise. Likewise, a husband should strike his wife, and a king his minister.
हयं च ताडयेद्धीरो गजं मात्रो दिनेदिने । शिक्षाबुद्ध्या प्रसिध्यंति ताडनात्पालनाद्विभो
A resolute man should strike a horse, and daily a mother should strike an elephant. Through discipline and instruction, success is achieved by striking and nurturing, O lord.