येनाहमुद्धरे त्वां वै तन्मे त्वं वद सांप्रतम् । शूकर्युवाच- अयं राजा महाभाग इक्ष्वाकुर्मनुनंदनः
By which I might rescue you—tell me that now. The sow said: This king, O noble one, is the descendant of Ikshvaku.
विष्णुरेष महाप्राज्ञो भवती श्रीर्हि नान्यथा । पतिव्रता महाभागा पतिव्रतपरायणा
He is Vishnu, most wise; you are truly Shri herself, not otherwise. O noble lady, devoted to your husband, intent on fidelity.
त्वं सती सर्वदा भद्रे सर्वतीर्थमयी प्रिया । देवि सर्वमयी नित्यं सर्वदेवमयी सदा
You are ever chaste, O gentle one, beloved, embodying all sacred waters; O goddess, you are always the essence of all, ever the embodiment of all the gods.
महापतिव्रता लोक एका त्वं नृपतेः प्रिया । यया शुश्रूषितो भर्ता भवत्या हि अहर्निशम्
You alone are the great chaste wife in the world, beloved of the king, by whom the husband was served by you day and night.
एकस्य दिवसस्यापि पुण्यं देहि वरानने । पति शुश्रूषितस्यापि यदि मे कुरुषे प्रियम्
Grant me, O lovely-faced one, the merit of even a single day in which you served your husband, if you wish to favor me.
मम माता पिता त्वं वै त्वं मे गुरुः सनातनः । अहं पापा दुराचारा असत्या ज्ञानवर्जिता
You are my mother and father, you are my eternal teacher; I am sinful, of bad conduct, untruthful, and devoid of knowledge.
मामुद्धर महाभागे भीताहं यमताडनैः । सुकलोवाच- एवं श्रुत्वा तया प्रोक्तं समालोक्य नृपं तदा
Rescue me, O noble lady, I am afraid of the torments of Yama. Sukala said: Thus, having heard what she spoke, she looked at the king then.
किं करोमि महाराज एषा किं वदते पशुः । इक्ष्वाकुरुवाच- एनां दुःखां वराकीं वै पापयोनिं गतां शुभे
"What shall I do, O great king? What does this animal say?" Ikshvaku said: "This miserable, wretched one, who has entered a sinful birth, O auspicious one—
समुद्धरस्व पुण्यैस्त्वं महच्छ्रेयो भविष्यति । एवमुक्ता वरा नारी सुदेवा चारुमंगला
Rescue her by your merits; great good will result." Thus addressed, the noble lady Sudeva, auspicious and beautiful,
उवाचैकाब्दपुण्यं ते मया दत्तं वरानने । एवमुक्तेन वाक्येन तया देव्या हि तत्क्षणात्
Said, "I have given you the merit of one year, O lovely-faced one." By that word spoken by the goddess, at that very moment—
रूपयौवनसंपन्ना दिव्यमालाविभूषिता । दिव्यदेहा च संभूता तेजोज्वालासमावृता
She was endowed with beauty and youth, adorned with divine garlands and ornaments, and a celestial body appeared, enveloped in a radiance of splendor.
सर्वभूषणशोभाढ्या नानारत्नैश्च शोभिता । संजाता दिव्यरूपा सा दिव्यगंधानुलेपना
Rich in the brilliance of all ornaments and shining with various jewels, she emerged with a divine form, anointed with heavenly fragrances.
दिव्यं विमानमारूढा अंतरिक्षं गता सती । तामुवाच ततो राज्ञीं प्रणतानतकंधरा
Mounted upon a celestial chariot, she ascended into the sky; then, bowing with her head lowered, she addressed the queen.
स्वस्त्यस्तु ते महाभागे प्रसादात्तव सुंदरि । व्रजामि पातकान्मुक्ता स्वर्गं पुण्यतमं शुभम्
"Blessings to you, O greatly fortunate and beautiful one! By your grace, I am freed from sin and now go to the most auspicious and holy heaven."
प्रणम्यैवं गता स्वर्गं सुदेवा शृणु सत्तम । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं सुकलाया निवेदितम्
Having bowed, Sudevā thus went to heaven. Listen, O noble one, all this has been told to you as related by Sukalā.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने सुकलाचरित्रे सुदेवास्वर्गारोहणंनाम द्विपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-second chapter, named 'The Ascension of Sudevā to Heaven,' in the story of Sukalā, within the Vena narrative, in the Bhūmikhaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
सुकलोवाच- एवं धर्मं श्रुतं पूर्वं पुराणेषु तदा मया । पतिहीना कथं भोगं करिष्ये पापनिश्चया
Sukalā said: 'Thus I once heard about this dharma in the Purāṇas; but how can I, bereft of my husband and certain of my sin, enjoy any pleasure?'
कांतेन तु विना तेन जीवं काये न धारये । विष्णुरुवाच- एवमुक्त्वा परं धर्मं पतिव्रतमनुत्तमम्
'Without my beloved husband, I cannot sustain life in this body.' Viṣṇu said: 'Having spoken thus, she upheld the supreme dharma of unwavering fidelity to her husband.'
तास्तु सख्यो वरा नार्यो हर्षेण महतान्विताः । श्रुत्वा धर्मं परं पुण्यं नारीणां गतिदायकम्
Then those noble ladies, her companions, filled with great joy, having heard of this supreme and meritorious dharma that grants women their ultimate goal,
स्तुवंति तां महाभागां सुकलां धर्मवत्सलाम् । ब्राह्मणाश्च सुराः सर्वे पुण्यस्त्रियो नरोत्तम
praised that greatly fortunate Sukalā, who was devoted to righteousness; and all the Brahmins, gods, and virtuous women, O best of men,
तस्या ध्यानं प्रकुर्वंति पतिकामप्रभावतः । अत्यर्थं दृढतामिंद्र सुःविचिंत्य सुरेश्वरः
meditated upon her, inspired by her steadfastness in longing for her husband; and Indra, lord of the gods, deeply considered her extraordinary firmness.
सुकलायाः परं भावं सुविचार्यामरेश्वरः । चालये धैर्यमस्याश्च पतिस्नेहं न संशयः
The lord of the immortals, having carefully reflected on Sukalā's supreme devotion, resolved to test her courage and her love for her husband—there was no doubt.
सस्मार मन्मथं देवं त्वरमाणः सुराधिपः । पुष्पचापं स संगृह्य मीनकेतुः समागतः
Then the king of the gods, eager, remembered the god of love; and Mīnaketu, bearing his flower-bow, arrived.
प्रियया च तया युक्तो रत्या दृष्टमहाबलः । बद्धांजलिपुटो भूत्वा सहस्राक्षमुवाच सः
Joined by his beloved Rati, the mighty one appeared; with hands folded in reverence, he addressed the thousand-eyed one.
कस्मादहं त्वया नाथ अधुना संस्मृतो विभो । आदेशो दीयतां मेद्य सर्वभावेन मानद
"O lord, for what reason have you now remembered me? Command me, O giver of honor, and I shall act with all my being."
इंद्र उवाच- सुकलेयं महाभागा पतिव्रतपरायणा । शृणुष्व कामदेव त्वं कुरु साहाय्यमुत्तमम्
Indra said: 'This Sukalā is greatly fortunate and devoted to her husband. Listen, O Kāmadeva, and render your best assistance.'
निष्कर्षय महाभागां सुकलां पुण्यमंगलाम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य शक्रस्य तमथाब्रवीत्
'Draw forth the supremely auspicious and virtuous Sukalā.' Hearing these words of Śakra, he replied:
एवमस्तु सहस्राक्ष करिष्यामि न संशयः । साहाय्यं देवदेवेश तव कौतुककारणात्
"So be it, O thousand-eyed one; I shall do this without doubt. For your pleasure, O lord of the gods, I will offer my assistance."
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजाः कंदर्पो मुनिदुर्जयः । देवाञ्जेतुं समर्थोऽहं समुनीनृषिसत्तमान्
Having spoken thus, the mighty Kamadeva, unconquerable by sages, said: I am able to conquer even the gods, as well as the greatest of sages and seers.
किं पुनः कामिनीं देव यस्या अंगे न वै बलम् । कामिनीनामहं देव अंगेषु निवसाम्यहम्
What then of a woman, O god, whose body truly lacks strength? O god, I dwell in the bodies of women, in all their limbs.