प्रकुर्वती महच्छब्दं दृष्टदेवेव सा बभौ । पूजिता मानिता प्रज्ञा धूपदीपादिभिस्तदा
Making a great sound, she shone as if she had seen a deity; at that time, Prajñā was honored and respected with incense, lamps, and the like.
ब्राह्मणं सुकलापृच्छत्किमेषा च वदेन्मम । ब्राह्मण उवाच- भर्तुश्चागमनं ब्रूते तवैव सुभगे स्थिरा
Sukalā asked the brāhmaṇa, 'What does she say to me?' The brāhmaṇa said: 'O fortunate one, she speaks of your husband's return, which is certain.'
दिनसप्तकमध्ये स आगमिष्यति नान्यथा
Within seven days, he will return—there is no doubt.
इत्येवमाकर्ण्यसुमंगलं वचः प्रहर्षयुक्ता सहसा बभूव । धर्मज्ञमेकं सगुणं हि कांतं शकुनात्प्रदिष्टं हि समागतं तम्
Hearing these most auspicious words, she was suddenly filled with joy; for the virtuous, wise, and noble beloved, indicated by the omen, was indeed returning.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने सुकलाचरित्रे षट्पंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-sixth chapter in the story of Sukalā, in the narrative of Vena, in the Bhūmikhaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
विष्णुरुवाच- क्रीडा सतीरूप धरा प्रभूत्वा गेहं गता चारु पतिव्रतायाः । तामागतां सत्यस्वरूपयुक्ता सा सादरं वाक्यमुवाच धन्या
Viṣṇu said: The Earth, taking the form of Satī, entered the house of the devoted wife, and, endowed with the nature of truth, that blessed one spoke to her with respect.
वाक्यैः सुपुण्यैः परिपूजिता सा उवाच क्रीडा सुकलां विहस्य । मायानुगं विश्वविमोहनं सती प्रत्युत्तरं सत्यप्रमेयुक्तम्
Honored with most virtuous words, Krīḍā smiled and spoke to Sukalā; Satī, with words full of truth and immeasurable meaning, replied with an answer that was accompanied by illusion and capable of enchanting the world.
ममापि भर्ता प्रबलो गुणज्ञो धीरः सविद्यो महिमाप्रयुक्तः । त्यक्त्वा गतः पापतरांसुपुण्यो मामेव नाथः शृणु पुण्यकीर्तिः
My husband too is strong, wise, steadfast, learned, and endowed with greatness; having abandoned those who are sinful, he, most virtuous, has gone—listen to the fame of my lord.
वाक्यैस्तु पुण्यैरबलास्वभावादाकर्ण्य सर्वं सुकला समुक्तम् । संशुद्धभावां च विचिंत्य चाह कस्माद्गतः सुंदरि तेऽद्य नाथः
Hearing all these virtuous words, due to her gentle nature, Sukalā, with a purified mind, considered and asked: 'O beautiful one, why has your lord left you today?'
विहाय ते रूपमतीव सत्यमाचक्ष्व सर्वं भवती सुभर्तुः । ध्यानोपयुक्ता सकलं करोति सखीस्वरूपा गृहमागता मे
Abandoning your beauty, speak the whole truth, O lady of a noble husband; my friend, who has come to my house in the form of a companion, does everything through meditation.
क्रीडा बभाषे शृणु सत्यमेतं चरित्रभावं मम भर्त्तुरस्य । अहं प्रिये यस्य सदैव युक्ता यमिच्छते तं प्रतिसांत्वयामि
Krīḍā said: 'Listen to this truth, the nature of my character and my husband's; O dear one, I am always devoted to him, and I comfort him in whatever he desires.'
कर्तुः सुपुण्यं वचनं सुभर्तुर्ध्यानोपयुक्ता सकलं करोमि । एकांतशीला सगुणानुरूपा शुश्रूषयैकस्तमिहैव देवि
I perform all the virtuous acts and words of my noble husband, engaged in meditation; I am devoted to solitude, suited to his virtues, and serve him alone here, O goddess.
मम पूर्व विपाकोऽयं संप्रत्येव प्रवर्तते । यतस्त्यक्त्वा गतो भर्त्ता मामेवं मंदभागिनीम्
This is the result of my previous actions, which is now manifest; therefore, my husband has left me, so unfortunate as I am.
सखे न धारये जीवं स्वकीय कायमेव च । पत्याहीनाः कथं नार्यः सुजीवंति च निर्घृणाः
O friend, I cannot bear to live, nor even my own body; how do women, deprived of their husbands, live on, being so pitiless?
रूपशृंगारसौभाग्यं सुखं संपच्च नान्यथा । नारीणां हि महाभागो भर्ता शास्त्रेषु गीयते
Beauty, charm, good fortune, happiness, and prosperity—none of these are otherwise; for in the scriptures, the husband is praised as the greatest blessing for women.
तया सर्वं समाकर्ण्य यदुक्तं क्रीडया तदा । सत्यभावं विदित्वा सा मेने संभाषितं तदा
Having heard all that was spoken by Krīḍā, she, knowing her sincerity, accepted her words as true.
विश्वस्ता सा महाभागा सुकला पतिदेवता । तामुवाच पुनः सर्वमात्मचेष्टानुगं वचः
That noble, faithful wife, full of trust, then spoke again, saying all that was in her heart.
समासेन समाख्यातं पूर्ववृत्तांतमात्मनः । यथा भर्ता गतो यात्रां पुण्यसाधनतत्परः
In brief, she recounted the past events of her life—how her husband, intent on gaining merit, had set out on a journey.
आत्मदुःखं सुसत्यं च तप एव मनस्विनि । बोधिता क्रीडया सा तु समाश्वास्य पतिव्रता
She revealed her own true suffering and her austerities, O steadfast one; yet, in play, she was comforted by the devoted wife.
सूत उवाच- एकदा तु तया प्रोक्तं क्रीडया सुकलां प्रति । सखे पश्य वनं सौम्यं दिव्यवृक्षैरलंकृतम्
Sūta said: Once, in jest, she spoke to Sukalā: 'Friend, look at this lovely forest adorned with divine trees.'
तत्र तीर्थं परं पुण्यमस्ति पातकनाशनम् । नानावल्लीवितानैश्च सुपुष्पैः परिशोभितम्
There is a most holy pilgrimage site there, destroyer of sins, splendid with various creepers and beautiful blossoms.
आवाभ्यामपि गंतव्यं पुण्यहेतोर्वरानने । समाकर्ण्य तया सार्द्धं सुकला मायया तदा
'We too should go there, O beautiful-faced one, for the sake of merit.' Hearing this, Sukalā went along with her, through illusion.
प्रविवेश वनं दिव्यं नंदनोपममेव सा । सर्वर्तुकुसुमोपेतं कोकिलाशतनादितम्
She entered that divine forest, as enchanting as Nandana, filled with flowers of every season and the calls of hundreds of cuckoos.
गीयमानं सुमधुरैर्नादैर्मधुकरैरपि । कूजद्भिः पक्षिभिः पुण्यैः पुण्यध्वनिसमाकुलम्
The place resounded with the sweet songs of bees and the auspicious cries of birds, filling the air with sacred sounds.
चंदनादिकवृक्षैश्च सौरभैश्च विराजितम् । सर्वभोगैः सुसंपूर्णं माधव्या माधवेन वै
It shone with sandalwood and other fragrant trees, and was abundantly supplied with every pleasure, by Mādhavya and Mādhava.
रचितं मोहनायैव सुकलायाश्च कारणात् । तया सार्धं प्रविष्टा सा तद्वनं सर्वभावनम्
It was created solely to enchant Sukalā; together with her, she entered that wondrous, all-nourishing forest.
ददर्श सौख्यदं पुण्यं मायाभावं न विंदति । वीक्षमाणा वनं दिव्यं तया सह जनेश्वर
She beheld that bliss-giving, holy place, yet found no trace of illusion; gazing upon the divine forest with her companion, O lord of men.
शक्रोपि चाभ्ययात्तत्र देवमूर्तिविराजितः । तया दूत्या समं प्राप्तः कामस्तत्र समागतः
Indra himself arrived there, radiant in divine form; with that messenger, Kāma also came to that place.
सर्वभोगपतिर्भूत्वा कामलीलासमाकुलः । काममाह समाभाष्य एषा सा सुकुला गता
Becoming lord of all enjoyments, overwhelmed by the play of desire, Kāma spoke: 'Here is Sukalā, she has arrived.'
प्रहरस्व महाभाग क्रीडायाः पुरतः स्थिताम् । मायां कृत्वा समानीता क्रीडया तव संनिधौ
'Strike, O fortunate one, at her who stands before you in play; she has been brought here by illusion, for your pleasure.'