तस्माद्भार्यां विना धर्मः पुरुषस्य न सिध्यति । नास्ति भार्यासमं तीर्थं पुंसां सुगतिदायकम्
Therefore, without a wife, a man’s dharma does not succeed; there is no holy place like a wife for granting good destiny to men.
भार्यां विना च यो धर्मः स एव विफलो भवेत्
And any dharma performed without a wife becomes fruitless.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने सुकलाचरित्रे एकोनषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-ninth chapter, the story of Sukalā, in the narrative of Vena, in the Bhūmikhaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
कृकल उवाच- कथं मे जायते सिद्धिः कथं पितृविमोचनम् । एतन्मे विस्तरेणापि धर्मराज वदाधुना
Kṛkala said: How can I attain success? How can I free my ancestors? O Lord of Dharma, tell me this in detail now.
धर्म उवाच- गच्छ गेहं महाभाग त्वां विना दुःखमाचरत् । संबोधय त्वं सुकलां स्वपत्नीं धर्मचारिणीम्
Dharma said: Go home, O highly fortunate one; without you, she lives in sorrow. Awaken your virtuous wife, Sukalā, who walks the path of righteousness.
श्राद्धदानं गृहं गत्वा तस्या हस्तेन वै कुरु । स्मृत्वा पुण्यानि तीर्थानि यजस्व त्वं सुरोत्तमान्
Having gone home, perform the śrāddha offering with her own hand. Remembering the holy places, worship the excellent gods.
तीर्थयात्राकृता सिद्धिस्तव चैव भविष्यति । भार्यां विना तु यो लोके धर्मं साधितुमिच्छति
By undertaking a pilgrimage, you will surely attain success. But in this world, one who seeks to practice dharma without his wife—
स गार्हस्थ्यं विलोप्यैव एकाकी विचरेद्वनम् । विफलो जायते लोके तं न मन्यंति देवताः
—should abandon household life and wander alone in the forest. Such a one becomes fruitless in the world; the gods do not regard him.
यज्ञाः सिद्धिं तदायांति यदा स्याद्गृहिणी गृहे । एकाकी स समर्थो न धर्मार्थसाधनाय च
Sacrifices attain success when the wife is present at home. Alone, a man is not capable of accomplishing the aims of dharma and wealth.
विष्णुरुवाच- एवमुक्त्वा च तं वैश्यं गतो धर्मो यथागतम् । कृकलोपि स धर्मात्मा स्वगृहं प्रतिप्रस्थितः
Viṣṇu said: Having thus spoken to the Vaiśya, Dharma departed as he had come. Then Kṛkala, devoted to righteousness, set out for his own home.
स्वगृहं प्राप्य मेधावी दृष्ट्वा तां च पतिव्रताम् । सार्थवाहेन तेनापि स्वस्थानं प्राप्य बुद्धिमान्
Arriving at his house, the wise man saw his devoted wife. The caravan leader, too, having reached his own place, was thoughtful.
तया समागतं दृष्ट्वा भर्तारं धर्मकोविदम् । कृतं सुमंगलं पुण्यं भर्तुरागमने तदा
Seeing her husband, learned in dharma, return, she performed auspicious and meritorious acts at his arrival.
समाचष्ट स धर्मात्मा धर्मस्यापि विचेष्टितम् । समाकर्ण्य महाभागा भर्तुर्वाक्यं मुदावहम्
That righteous man recounted to her all that Dharma had done. Hearing her husband's joyful words, the blessed woman rejoiced.
धर्मवाक्यं प्रशस्याथ अनुमेने च तं तथा । विष्णुरुवाच- अथो स कृकलो वैश्यस्तया सार्धं सुपुण्यकम्
She praised Dharma's words and accepted them as such. Viṣṇu said: Then that Vaiśya Kṛkala, together with her, performed a most virtuous act.
चकार श्रद्धया श्राद्धं देवतागृहसंस्थितः । पितरो देव गंधर्वा विमानैश्च समागताः
With faith, he performed the śrāddha, while the gods were present in the house. Ancestors, gods, and gandharvas arrived in their celestial vehicles.
तुष्टुवुस्तौ महात्मानौ दंपती मुनयस्तथा । अहं चापि तथा ब्रह्मा देव्यायुक्तो महेश्वरः
They praised those two great souls, the husband and wife, as did the sages. I myself, along with Brahmā, the goddess, and Maheśvara, was present.
सर्वे देवाः सगंधर्वा विमानैश्च समागताः । अहमेव ततो ब्रह्मा देव्यायुक्तो महेश्वरः
All the gods, together with the gandharvas, arrived in their celestial vehicles. I myself, along with Brahmā, the goddess, and Maheśvara, was present.
सर्वे देवाः सगंधर्वास्तस्याः सत्येन तोषिताः । ऊचुश्च तौ महात्मानौ धर्मज्ञौ सत्यपंडितौ
All the gods and gandharvas were pleased by her truthfulness. They spoke to those two great souls, wise in dharma and truth.
भार्यया सह भद्रं ते वरं वरय सुव्रत । कृकल उवाच- कस्य पुण्यप्रसंगेन तपसश्च सुरोत्तमाः
With your wife, may you be blessed! Choose a boon, O steadfast one. Kṛkala said: By whose merit and austerity, O best of gods,
सभार्याय वरं दातुं भवंतो हि समागताः । इंद्र उवाच- एषा सती महाभागा सुकला चारुमंगला
have you all gathered here to grant a boon to me together with my wife?
अस्याः सत्येन तुष्टाः स्म दातुकामा वरं तव । समासेन तु तत्प्रोक्तं पूर्ववृत्तांतमेव च
Indra said: This virtuous, highly fortunate, and auspicious Sukalā—by her truthfulness we are pleased and wish to grant you a boon. In brief, the former story has been told.
तस्याश्चरितमाहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा भर्ता स हर्षितः । तया सह स धर्मात्मा हर्षव्याकुललोचनः
Hearing of her deeds and greatness, her husband was delighted. With her, that righteous man’s eyes were filled with joy.
ननाम देवताः सर्वा उवाच च पुनः पुनः । यदि तुष्टा महाभागा त्रयो देवाः सनातनाः
All the deities bowed repeatedly and spoke again and again: If the three eternal gods are satisfied, O greatly fortunate one,
अन्ये च ऋषयः पुण्याः कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि । जन्मजन्मनि देवानां भक्तिमेवं करोम्यहम्
And other virtuous sages, showing compassion toward me, I perform devotion to the gods in every birth in this way.
धर्मसत्यरतिः स्यान्मे भवतां हि प्रसादतः । पश्चाद्धि वैष्णवं लोकं सभार्यश्च पितामहैः
May I have delight in righteousness and truth by your grace; afterwards, may I reach the Vaishnava realm with my wife and ancestors.
गंतुमिच्छाम्यहं देवा यदि तुष्टा महौजसः । देवा ऊचुः- एवमस्तु महाभाग सर्वमेव भविष्यति
I wish to go there, O gods, if you, mighty ones, are pleased. The gods said: So be it, O greatly fortunate one, all shall come to pass.
पुष्पवृष्टिं ततश्चक्रुस्तयोरुपरि भूपते । जगुर्गीतं महापुण्यं ललितं सुस्वरं ततः
Then, O king, they showered flowers upon them; they sang a highly auspicious, charming song with melodious voices.
गंधर्वा गीततत्त्वज्ञा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः । ततो देवाः सगंधर्वाः स्वंस्वं स्थानं नृपोत्तम
The Gandharvas, who know the essence of song, sang, and the groups of Apsaras danced; then the gods together with the Gandharvas, O best of kings,
वरं दत्वा प्रजग्मुस्ते स्तूयमानाः पतिव्रताम् । नारीतीर्थं समाख्यातमन्यत्किंचिद्वदामि ते
Having granted the boon, departed, praised by the devoted wife; the sacred place for women has been described, I will tell you something else.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं पुण्याख्यानमनुत्तमम् । यः शृणोति नरो राजन्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
All this has been told to you, the supreme, auspicious story; whoever hears it, O king, is freed from all sins.