सुधां तत्खादितुं चक्रुर्देवाः पंक्तिं यथाक्रमम् । श्रीविष्णोराज्ञया सर्वे चोचुश्चैव परस्परम्
The gods then arranged themselves in order to partake of the nectar, and by the command of Śrī Viṣṇu, they spoke to one another.
त्वं च देहि त्वं च देहि त्वं च देहीति चाब्रुवन् । न शक्तोऽस्मि न शक्तोऽस्मि न शक्तोऽस्मीति चाब्रुवन्
They said, 'You give, you give, you give,' and others replied, 'I am not able, I am not able, I am not able.'
ततो विष्णुः समुत्तस्थौ स्त्रीरूपं च दधार ह । चकार स्वर्णपात्रे तत्पीयूषपरिवेषणम्
Then Viṣṇu arose and assumed the form of a woman; he served that nectar in a golden vessel.
पीयूषभक्षणं राहुर्यावत्कुर्याद्द्विजोत्तम । चंद्रसूर्यौ चोक्तवंतौ राक्षसोऽसौ छलागतः
As long as Rāhu, O best of twice-born, was about to partake of the nectar, the Moon and the Sun spoke out; that demon had come there by deceit.
ततः क्रुद्धो जगन्नाथो जघान स्वर्णपात्रतः । शिरस्तस्य पपातोर्व्यां केतुर्नाम्ना बभूव ह
Then the Lord of the Universe, enraged, struck him from the golden vessel; his head fell to the earth and became known as Ketu.
राहुकेतू ततस्तूर्णं गतौ तौ भयविह्वलौ । इदानीं तद्दिने प्राप्ते चंद्रसूर्यौ स युध्यति
Rāhu and Ketu, terrified, quickly fled; now, on that day, he fights with the Moon and the Sun.
कुर्याद्ग्रासं सैंहिकेयस्तत्क्षणं दुर्लभं भवेत् । सर्वं गंगासमं तोयं वेदव्याससमा द्विजाः
The son of Siṃhikā would seize them in that moment, which becomes difficult; all water is like the Gaṅgā, and all twice-born are like Vyāsa.
स्नानं वायसतीर्थे यो गंगास्नानफलं लभेत् । दानमक्षयपुण्यं स्यात्कोटिजन्मार्जितं तथा
Whoever bathes at the Vāyasa Tīrtha obtains the fruit of bathing in the Gaṅgā; giving there yields inexhaustible merit, as if earned over millions of births.
पापं नश्येत्समूलं च किं पुनः क्रतुकोटिभिः । विद्यार्थी लभते विद्यां पुत्रार्थी पुत्रमाप्यते
Sin is utterly destroyed there—what need to speak of the merit of millions of sacrifices? One seeking knowledge attains knowledge, one desiring a son obtains a son.
मोक्षार्थी लभते मोक्षं मंत्रसिद्धिर्भवेद्ध्रुवम् । इति ते कथितं विप्र समुद्रमथनं तु तत्
One seeking liberation attains liberation; mantra accomplishment is certain. Thus, O brāhmaṇa, the churning of the ocean has been told to you.
शौनक उवाच- इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथयस्व यथार्थतः । हरिस्वरूपिणा साक्षाद्वेदव्यासेन शासित
Śaunaka said: Now I wish to hear—tell me truly—what was instructed by Vedavyāsa, the very form of Hari himself.
निरहंकार हे सूत लोकानुग्रहकारक । केन स्यात्सुभगा नारी पापिनी च सुदुर्भगा
O Sūta, free from pride, benefactor of the worlds, by what means does a woman become fortunate, and by what does a sinful woman become most unfortunate?
पतिप्रियांग केन स्याद्रूपिता चक्षुषोः सुधा । केन वा जायते लक्ष्मीस्तन्मे ब्रूहि तपोधन
By what does a woman become dear to her husband, her limbs pleasing to his eyes? And by what does she become endowed with beauty? Tell me this, O treasure of austerity.
सूत उवाच- यदि पुण्यमिदं विप्र वृत्तं परमदुर्लभम् । शृणुष्व भोः समासेन कथयामि विधानतः
Sūta said: If you wish to hear, O brāhmaṇa, of this most rare and virtuous account, then listen—I will tell you briefly and properly.
आसीद्भद्रश्रवा राजा युगे द्वापरसंज्ञके । सौराष्ट्रदेशवासी च वेदवेदांगपारगः
There was a king named Bhadraśravā in the age called Dvāpara, dwelling in the land of Saurāṣṭra, accomplished in the Vedas and their branches.
भार्या तस्य च संजाता नाम्ना सुरतिचंद्रिका । तस्यां बभूवुः श्रीराज्ञः सप्तपुत्रा मनोरमाः
His wife was born, named Suraticandrikā; in her, the noble king had seven delightful sons.
ततोऽभिजाता दुहिता सुंदरी सत्यवादिनी । श्यामबाला च विप्रेंद्र नाम्ना प्रीतिकरी पितुः
Then a daughter was born, beautiful and truthful in speech, dark-complexioned, O best of brāhmaṇas, named Prītikarī, beloved of her father.
अथैकदा श्यामबाला सुवर्णसिकतासु च । गूढैर्मनोहरै रत्नैः सखिभिः क्रीडितुं मुदा
Once, Śyāmabālā, with her friends, went joyfully to play among the golden sands with hidden, enchanting gems.
जगाम नीपवृक्षस्य तलं परमदुर्लभम् । एतस्मिन्नंतरे विप्र लक्ष्मीः संसारतारिणी
She went to the foot of a kadamba tree, a most rare place; at that moment, O brāhmaṇa, Lakṣmī, the savior from worldly existence—
लोकानां नीतिदा साथ समायाता स्वयं पुरः । धृत्वा च ब्राह्मणीरूपं पलितांगी च भूसुर
—the giver of conduct to the worlds, then arrived there herself, taking the form of an old brāhmaṇa woman.
अखिलानां च लोकानां शास्तू राज्ञः क्षयं विना । केषां क्षुद्रतराणां हि गृहे गच्छामि सांप्रतम्
Without the downfall of the king, who is the ruler of all the worlds, why should I now go to the house of those who are even more insignificant?
इति संचिंत्य मनसा गता राजनिकेतनम् । सुवर्णभित्तिभिर्युक्तं पताकाभिरलंकृतम्
Thinking thus in her mind, she went to the royal palace, adorned with golden walls and decorated with banners.
सिंहद्वारमतिक्रम्य प्राह दौवारिकीं ततः । द्वारं जहि हि भो द्वारि नियुक्ते शुभलक्षणे
Passing through the lion-gate, she then addressed the gatekeeper: 'O doorkeeper of auspicious marks, open the door!'
यामि वेगेन पश्यामि राज्ञीं सुरतिचंद्रिकाम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्या रत्नदंडकरा च सा । कोकिलावाक्यवन्मुक्तं परमं हर्षमाययौ
'I am going quickly to see the queen Suraticandrikā.' Hearing her words, the one holding the jeweled staff, delighted as if hearing the voice of a cuckoo, felt great joy.
द्वारनियुक्तोवाच- किं नाम वहसे वृद्धे कः पतिस्तावकः पुनः । आगतासि कथं किं ते कार्य्यं राज्ञ्याश्च दर्शने । कस्मात्किं ब्रूहि विप्रे त्वं श्रोतुं कौतुहलं हि मे
The gatekeeper said: 'Old woman, what is your name? Who is your husband? How have you come here? What business do you have, and why do you wish to see the queen? Tell me, brahmin, for I am curious to hear.'
वृद्धोवाच- शृणु पोष्ये महाराज पत्न्या दंडकरे यदा । श्रोतुं कौतूहलं तेऽस्ति मदागमनकारणम्
The old woman said: 'Listen, O nourisher, to what my wife Daṇḍakarā did. Since you are curious, I will tell you the reason for my coming.'
प्रसिद्धा कमला नाम्ना चाहं प्राणेश्वरो मम । भुवनेश इति ख्यातो नाम्ना द्वारवतीपुरी
'I am well known by the name Kamalā, and my husband is called Bhuvaneśa. The city is known by the name Dvāravatī.'
तस्यां वै वर्त्तते पोष्ये मम प्राणेश्वरस्ततः । आगताहं रत्नवेत्रकरे शृणु सकौतुकम्
'In that city, my husband resides, O nourisher. Therefore, I have come, holding a jeweled staff. Listen with curiosity.'
ममागमनकार्यं हि वच्मीदानीं तवाग्रतः । पुरासीद्वैश्यकुलजा राज्ञी तव च दुःखिनी
'Now, in your presence, I will tell you the reason for my coming. Formerly, the queen, born in a merchant family, was unhappy.'
एकस्मिन्दिवसे पोष्ये पतिना कलहः कृतः । तया नार्या च दुःखिन्या ततो वै भर्तृपीडिता
'One day in Poṣya, a quarrel arose with her husband. That woman, being distressed, was tormented by her husband.'