इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने सुकलाचरित्रे- चतुःपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-fourth chapter, called the 'Story of Sukalā,' in the Vena narrative of the Bhūmikhaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
विष्णुरुवाच- भावं विदित्वा सुरराट्च तस्याः प्रोवाच कामं पुरतः स्थितं सः । न चास्ति शक्या स्मर ते जयाय सत्यात्मकध्यान सुदंशिता सती
Viṣṇu said: Knowing her state of mind, the king of the gods spoke to Kāma, who stood before him: 'There is no way, O Smara, for you to conquer her, for she is a chaste woman, firmly established in meditation on truth.'
धर्माख्य चापं स्वकरे गृहीत्वा ज्ञानाभिधानं वरमेव बाणम् । योद्धुं रणे संप्रति संस्थिता सती वीरो यथा दर्पितवीर्यभावः
Taking up the bow called Dharma in his hand, and the excellent arrow named Knowledge, she now stands ready to fight in battle, like a hero filled with pride in his strength.
जिगीषयेयं पुरुषार्थमेव त्वमात्मनः कुरुषे पौरुषं तु । त्वामद्य जेतुं समरे समर्था यद्भाव्यमेवं तदिहैव चिंत्यम्
She desires to win only the true purpose of life; you, for your part, display your own strength. If you are able to defeat her in battle today, then let whatever is destined be considered here.
दग्धोसि पूर्वं त्वमिहैव शंभुना महात्मना तेन समं विरोधम् । कृत्वा फलं तस्य विकर्मणश्च जातोस्यनंगः स्मर सत्यमेव
You were previously burned here by the great soul Śaṃbhu; having opposed him, you received the result of your wrongful action, and thus you were born as Anaṅga, O Smara, this is indeed the truth.
यथा त्वया कर्म कृतं पुरा स्मर फलं तु प्राप्तं तु तथैव तीव्रम् । सुकुत्सितां योनिमवाप्स्यसि ध्रुवं साध्व्यानया सार्धमिहैव कथ्यसे
Just as you performed deeds before, remember that you received their intense result; you will surely attain a contemptible birth, and here you are spoken of together with this virtuous woman.
ये ज्ञानवंतः पुरुषा जगत्त्रये वैरं प्रकुर्वन्ति महात्मभिः समम् । भुंजन्ति ते दुष्कृतमेवतत्फलं दुःखान्वितं रूपविनाशनं च
Those wise men in the three worlds who make enmity with great souls experience only the fruit of their evil deeds—suffering and the destruction of their form.
व्याघुष्य आवां तु व्रजाव काम एनां परित्यज्य सतीं प्रयुज्य । सत्याः प्रसंगेन पुरा मया तु लब्धं फलं पापमयं त्वसह्यम्
Let us declare openly and depart, O Kāma, abandoning this chaste woman; through my association with truth in the past, I received a sinful and unbearable result.
त्वमेव जानासि चरित्रमेतच्छप्तोस्मि तेनापि च गौतमेन । जातश्च मेषवृषणः सदा ह्यहं भवान्गतो मां तु विहाय तत्र
You alone know this conduct; I was cursed by Gautama as well, and I was always born with the genitals of a ram; you departed, leaving me there.
तेजः प्रभावो ह्यतुलः सतीनां धाता समर्थः सहितुं न सूर्यः । सुकुत्सितं रूपमिदं तु रक्षेत्पुरानुसूया मुनिना हि शप्तम्
The power and radiance of chaste women is incomparable; the creator is capable, but even the sun cannot endure it; this contemptible form is protected, for it was cursed by the sage Anasūyā.
निरुध्य सूर्यं परिवेगवंतमुद्यंतमेवं प्रभया सुदीप्तम् । भर्तुश्च मृत्युं परिबाधमानं मांडव्यशापस्य च कौंडिनस्य
Blocking the sun, which moves swiftly and rises with brilliant light, and opposing the death of the husband, as well as the curse of Māṇḍavya and Kauṇḍinya—
अत्रेः प्रिया सत्यपतिव्रता तया स्वपुत्रतां देवत्रयं हि नीतम् । न किं पुरा मन्मथ ते श्रुतं सदा संस्कारयुक्ताः प्रभवंति सत्यः
Satyā, the beloved and devoted wife of Atri, led the three gods to become her own sons; have you not always heard, O Manmatha, that those endowed with discipline truly prevail?
सावित्रीनाम्नी द्युमत्सेनपुत्री नीतं प्रियं सा पुनरानिनाय । यमादिहैवाश्वपतेः सुपुत्रं सती त्वमेवं परिसंश्रुतं च
Sāvitrī, named thus, daughter of Dyumatsena, brought back her beloved, and again restored him; here, Satī also gave the noble son of the lord of horses, as you have heard.
अग्नेः शिखां कः परिसंस्पृशेद्वै तरेद्धिकः सागरमेव मूढः । गले तु बद्धासु शिलां भुजाभ्यां को वा सतीं वश्यति वीतरागाम्
Who can touch the flame of Agni, or cross the ocean, O fool? Who, with stones tied around his neck by his own arms, can subdue a chaste woman who is free from passion?
उक्ते तु वाक्ये बहुनीतियुक्ते इंद्रेण कामस्य सुशिक्षणार्थम् । आकर्ण्य वाक्यं मकरध्वजस्तु उवाच देवेंद्रमथैनमेव
When Indra spoke these many wise words for the proper instruction of Kāma, hearing them, the bannered one of Makara replied to Indra himself.
काम उवाच- तवातिदेशादहमागतो वै धैर्यं सुहृत्त्वं पुरुषार्थमेव । त्यक्त्वा तदर्थं परिभाषसे मां निःसत्वरूपं बहुभीतियुक्तम्
Kāma said: By your command I have come, abandoning courage, friendship, and human purpose; for that reason you speak to me, lacking all vigor and filled with many fears.
व्याबुद्धि यास्यामि यदा सुरेशस्याल्लोकमध्ये मम कीर्तिनाशः । ऊढिंकरोमानविहीन एव सर्वे वदिष्यंत्यनया जितं माम्
When I go with a confused mind, O lord of gods, my fame will be destroyed among people; I will be mocked, deprived of honor, and all will say that I have been defeated by her.
ये वै जिता देवगणाश्च दानवाः पूर्वं मुनींद्रास्तपसः प्रयुक्ताः । हास्यं करिष्यंति ममापि सद्यो नार्या जितो मन्मथ एष भीमः
Those gods and demons who were previously conquered, and the great sages engaged in austerity, will at once make me a laughingstock—Manmatha, the terrible, conquered by a woman.
तस्मात्प्रयास्यामि त्वयैव सार्धमस्या बलं मानमतः सुरेश । तेजश्च धैर्यं परिणाशयिष्ये कस्माद्भवानत्र बिभेति शक्र
Therefore, I will go together with you, O lord of gods, and destroy her strength and pride; I will annihilate her power and courage—why do you fear here, O Śakra?
संबोध्य चैवं स सुराधिनाथं चापं गृहीतं सशरं सुपुष्पम् । उवाच क्रीडां पुरतः स्थितां तां विधाय मायां भवती प्रयातु
Thus addressing the lord of the gods, he took up his bow, with arrows and beautiful flowers, and said to her, who stood before them in play: 'Let this illusion be enacted, O lady, proceed.'
वैश्यस्य भार्यां सुकलां सुपुण्यां सत्येस्थितां धर्मविदां गुणज्ञाम् । इतो हि गत्वा कुरु कार्यमुक्तं साहाय्यरूपं च प्रिये सखे शृणु
Go to the wife of the merchant, Sukalā, virtuous, steadfast in truth, knowing righteousness and qualities; go from here and do the task as instructed, in the form of assistance, dear friend, listen.
क्रीडां समाभाष्य ततो मनोभवस्त्वंते स्थितां प्रीतिमथाह्वयत्पुनः । कार्यं भवत्या ममकार्यमुत्तममे तां सुस्नेहैः परिभावयत्वम्
After speaking of play, then Manobhava, standing there, again invited her with affection; let your task be my highest purpose, honor her with true affection.
इंद्रं हि दृष्ट्वा सुकला यथा भवेत्स्नेहानुगा चारुविलोचनेयम् । तैस्तैः प्रभावैर्गुणवाक्ययुक्तैर्नयस्व वश्यं च प्रिये सखे शृणु
Just as Sukalā, with her lovely eyes, becomes affectionate upon seeing Indra, so you should guide her to be under your sway, dear friend, by means of various influences and words of virtue; listen.
भो भोः सखे साधय गच्छ शीघ्रं मायामयं नंदनरूपयुक्तम् । पुष्पोपयुक्तं च फलप्रधानं घुष्टं रुतैः कोकिलषट्पदानाम्
O friend, accomplish this and go quickly, employing the wondrous form of Nandana, adorned with flowers and abundant fruits, resounding with the calls of cuckoos and bees.
आहूय वीरं मकरंदमेव रसायनं स्वादुगुणैरुपेतम् । सहानिलाद्यैर्निजकर्मयुक्तैः संप्रेषयित्वा पुनरेव कामम्
Summon the valiant Makara, endowed with the qualities of sweet nectar, accompanied by the wind and other agents of your own actions, and send forth desire once again.
एवं समादिश्य महत्ससैन्यं त्रैलोक्यसंमोहकरं तु कामः । चक्रे प्रयाणं सुरराजसार्धं संमोहनायैव महासतीं ताम्
Thus instructing his great army, which could enchant the three worlds, Kāma set out together with the king of the gods, intending to captivate that great and virtuous woman.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने सुकलाचरित्रे पंचपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-fifth chapter, concerning the story of Sukalā, in the Bhūmikhaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Purāṇa, within the tale of Vena.
विष्णुरुवाच- तस्याः सत्यविनाशाय मन्मथः ससुराधिपः । प्रस्थितः सुकलां तर्हि सत्यो धर्ममथाब्रवीत्
Viṣṇu said: For the destruction of her truthfulness, Manmatha, along with the lord of the gods, set out; then Satya spoke to Dharma.
पश्य धर्म महाप्राज्ञ मन्मथस्य विचेष्टितम् । तवार्थमात्मनश्चैव पुण्यस्यापि महात्मनः
See, O Dharma, wise one, the actions of Manmatha, undertaken for your sake, for himself, and for the virtuous great soul.
विसृजामि महास्थानं वास्तुरूपं सुखोदयम् । सत्याख्यं च सुप्रियाख्यं सुदेवाख्यं गृहोत्तमम्
I create a great abode, a dwelling that brings happiness, named Satya, Supriya, and Sudeva, the finest of houses.