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.'
बहिर्भूय द्रुतं गेहाद्रुदंती च पुनः पुनः । तस्याश्च रोदनं श्रुत्वा चागताहं समीपतः
'She repeatedly ran out of the house, weeping again and again. Hearing her cries, I approached her.'
अपृच्छं सर्ववृत्तांतं कथितो वै यथार्थतः । तया ततो व्रतवरमुपदेशं ददाम्यहम्
'I inquired about the whole matter, and she told me everything truthfully. Then I gave her instruction in a noble vow.'
ममोपदेशतः सा वै चक्रे व्रतवरं मुदा । तस्य प्रसादाद्भो द्वाःस्थे संजाता सुखिता च सा
'By my instruction, she joyfully undertook the noble vow. O doorkeeper, by its grace, she became happy.'
कदाचिद्वैश्यकुलजा पत्या मृत्योर्वशं गता । समानेतुं ततस्तौ तु विहिताखिलघातकौ
'Once, the merchant's daughter was claimed by death through her husband. Then, the two were destined for total destruction.'
किंकरान्प्रेषयामास चंडाद्यान्धर्मराट्प्रभुः । यमाज्ञया समायाता यमदूता भयंकराः
'The lord of Dharma, Yama, sent his fierce servants, Caṇḍa and others. By Yama's command, the terrifying messengers arrived.'
बद्ध्वा तौ चर्मपाशेन लोहमुद्गरपाणयः । उद्यमं चक्रिरे गंतुं यमस्य शरणं प्रति
'Binding them with leather straps and holding iron clubs, they prepared to take them to the refuge of Yama.'
अत्रांतरे च लक्ष्म्यास्ते दूता विष्णुपरायणाः । समानेतुं समायाताः शंखचक्रगदाधराः
'Meanwhile, Lakṣmī's messengers, devoted to Viṣṇu, arrived to bring them back, bearing conch, discus, and mace.'
दृष्ट्वा तथाविधांस्तांश्च यमदूताः पलायिताः । लक्ष्मीदूता महात्मानः स्वप्रकाशादयस्तथा
'Seeing those messengers in such a form, the messengers of Yama fled. The great-souled messengers of Lakṣmī, shining with their own radiance, stood there.'
पाशं छित्त्वा समारोप्य राजहंसयुते रथे । जग्मुर्लक्ष्मीपुरं सर्वे सहसाकाशवर्त्मना
Having cut the noose, they mounted a chariot drawn by royal swans and all proceeded to the city of Lakshmi by the celestial path.
यावद्वारं व्रतवरं कृत्वा वैश्या च सा तदा । तावत्कल्पसहस्राणि तस्थतुः कमलापुरे
As long as the excellent vow was performed by that merchant woman at the gate, for that many thousands of aeons they remained in the city of the Lotus.