पुण्यशेषस्य भोगार्थं जातौ राजान्वयेऽधुना । व्रतं च विस्मृतौ द्वाःस्थे राजसंपत्तिगर्वितौ । तस्माच्च तव तस्यापि चोपदेशार्थमागता
For the sake of enjoying the remaining merit, they have now been born in a royal lineage; but, proud of royal wealth, both the doorkeeper and she have forgotten the vow; therefore, I have come to instruct you and her.
द्वाःस्थोवाच- केनैव तु विधानेन वृद्धे व्रतवरं कृतम् । कस्मिन्मासे व्रतं श्रेष्ठं देवता का च पूज्यते
The doorkeeper said: By what procedure, O aged one, was the excellent vow performed? In which month is the vow supreme, and which deity is to be worshipped?
एतन्मे पृच्छतो मातर्यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि । कमलोवाच- कार्त्तिके च व्यतिक्रांते मार्गशीर्षे समागते । तस्मिन्मासे च भो पोष्ये वासरे गुरुसंज्ञके
As I ask this, Mother, you should tell me properly. Kamala said: When Karttika has passed and Margashirsha arrives, in that month, O dear one, on the day called Guru (Thursday)...
ततः पूर्वाह्णसमये सकलैर्व्रतिभिर्वृता । नारायणेन सहितां लक्ष्मीं संपूजयेत्ततः
Then, in the forenoon, surrounded by all the vow-observers, one should worship Lakshmi together with Narayana.
मिष्टैः पायसयुक्तैश्च भुक्तैश्च खंडमिश्रितैः । लक्ष्मीं संतोषयेत्प्रेष्ये ततः संप्रार्थयेदिदम्
With sweet foods, rice pudding, and offerings mixed with sugar, one should satisfy Lakshmi, and then make this request:
त्रैलोक्यपूजिते देवि कमले विष्णुवल्लभे । यथा त्वमचला कृष्णे तथा भव मयि स्थिता
"O goddess worshipped by the three worlds, O Kamala, beloved of Vishnu, as you are steadfast with Krishna, so may you remain with me."
ईश्वरी कमले देवि शरणं च भवानघे । नानोपहारद्रव्यैश्च लक्ष्मीमाज्ञाप्य तोषयेत्
"O sovereign, O Kamala, O sinless goddess, be my refuge. With various offerings and gifts, one should propitiate Lakshmi."
शास्त्रैश्च पूजयेद्देवीं महोत्सवसमन्विताम् । ततो नैवेद्यशेषांश्च दत्वा ब्राह्मणसत्तमम्
With scriptures, one should worship the goddess, accompanied by a great festival; then, giving the remnants of the offering to an excellent Brahmin...
आत्मानं स्वपतिं पुत्रान्पोष्येऽन्यानपि सेवकान् । द्वितीये तु गुरोर्वारे विशेषं शृणु सुंदरि
...to oneself, one's husband, sons, dependents, and other servants. Now, on the second Thursday, listen, O beautiful one, to the special observance.
चित्रधूलीप्रशस्तैश्च भ्राष्ट्रैर्गोधूमनिर्मितैः । तोषयेत्कमलादेव्याः कुर्य्याद्वै भक्तिभावतः
With pans made of fine rice-flour dust, prepared from wheat flour, one should, with devotion, satisfy the goddess Kamala.
तृतीये खंडसंयुक्तं दध्योदननिवेदनम् । शामाक शालि कासारैश्चतुर्थे पूजयेन्मुदा
On the third Thursday, one should offer curd-rice mixed with sugar; with shāmāka, rice, and kāsāra, on the fourth, one should worship joyfully.
लक्ष्मीदेवीं प्रयत्नेन रत्नदंडकरे ततः । लक्ष्मीदेवी प्रीतये तु ब्राह्मणान्पूजयेद्धनैः
With effort, one should worship the goddess Lakshmi, holding a staff of jewels; for the pleasure of Lakshmi, one should honor Brahmins with wealth.
वस्त्रालंकारभोज्यैश्च फलैर्नानाविधैस्तथा । पोष्योवाच- अत्रैव तिष्ठ भो वृद्धे राज्ञीं सुरतिचंद्रिकाम्
With garments, ornaments, food, and various kinds of fruits as well. The dependent said: Remain here, O aged one, while I inform Queen Suratachandrikā.
विज्ञाप्य त्वां नयिष्यामि मा क्रोधं कुरु सत्तमे । इत्युक्त्वा सा तु चार्वंगी गता राज्ञीसमीपतः
"Having informed you, I will take you; do not be angry, O noble one." Having said this, the beautiful-limbed one went to the queen.
शिरस्यंजलिमाधाय पोष्या ब्रह्मन्समूलतः । आरभ्य सांगपर्यंतं यदूचे कमलालया
With hands joined upon her head, the dependent, along with the Brahmin, recited from beginning to end all that Kamala had said.
तत्सर्वं कथयामास राज्ञीं सुरतिचंद्रिकाम् । द्वारपालीवचः श्रुत्वा राज्ञी सुरतिचंद्रिका
She related all of it to Queen Suratachandrikā; hearing the words of the doorkeeper, Queen Suratachandrikā...
जगाम ब्राह्मणीपार्श्वं सगर्वा प्राह सुंदर । राज्ञ्युवाच- वृद्धे ब्राह्मणि किं वृत्तं चोपदेशार्थमागता
She went to the Brahmin woman with pride and spoke beautifully. The queen said: O aged Brahmin woman, what has happened that you have come here to give advice?
कथयस्व चिरं मह्यं भयं त्यक्त्वा यथासुखम् । ब्राह्मण्युवाच- तवानीतिमहं दृष्ट्वा गंतुमिच्छामि चंचला
Speak to me at length, without fear, as you wish. The Brahmin woman said: Having seen your conduct, I, unsettled, wish to leave.
कथयिष्यामि किं दुष्टे व्रतं परमदुर्लभम् । इंदिरावासरे चाद्य चांडालेन करोषि यत्
I will tell you, O wicked one, about the extremely rare vow. On this day sacred to Indirā, you are performing it with a caṇḍāla.
तद्दृष्टं मयि का दुष्टे तद्गेहे गर्वितेऽधुना । तच्छ्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणीवाक्यं क्रोधसंरक्तलोचना
O wicked and proud one, I have seen that in your house. Hearing the words of the Brahmin woman, her eyes became red with anger.
जरंतीं ब्राह्मणीं चैव प्रहारं च चकार सा । ततः सा कमला वृद्धा क्रंदमाना पलायिता
She struck the aged Brahmin woman. Then that old Kamalā, crying, fled.
क्रीडमाना ततः श्यामा ब्राह्मणीक्रन्दनध्वनिम् । आगतास्याः समीपं तु श्रुत्वा बाला तपोधना
Then, as Śyāmā was playing, she heard the sound of the Brahmin woman's weeping and, being an ascetic child, came near her.
श्यामाबालोवाच- वृद्धे व्यथेदृशी केन दत्ता तुभ्यं वदस्व मे । तस्या वचनमाकर्ण्य शोकगद्गदया गिरा
Śyāmā, the young girl, said: O aged one, who has caused you such pain? Tell me. Hearing her words, Kamalā, with a voice choked by sorrow,
कमला कथितं सर्वं वृत्तांतं द्विजसत्तम । श्यामाबाला ततः श्रुत्वा व्रतं परमदुर्ल्लभम्
Kamalā told everything, the entire event, to the best of the twice-born. Then, after hearing about the extremely rare vow,
शास्त्रोक्तविधिना चक्रे सश्रद्धं च सभक्तितः । त्रिवारे परिपूर्णे तु तुर्यवारे समागते
Śyāmā, with faith and devotion, performed it according to the injunctions of the scriptures. When she had completed it three times and the fourth time arrived,
विवाहकर्मसंसिद्धं द्विजलक्ष्मीप्रसादतः । श्रीसिद्धेश्वरदेवस्य नृपतेर्भूपतेजसः
Her marriage was accomplished by the grace of the goddess of the twice-born. She was taken by Mālādhara, the son of the illustrious king Śrīsiddheśvara.
मालाधरो नाम सुतो गृहीत्वा तां गृहं गतः । अथ तस्यां गतायां तु ब्रह्मन्शृणुष्व कौतुकम्
Mālādhara, by name, took her to his home. Now, O Brahmin, listen to what happened when she went there.
राज्ञीगृहे च सर्वाणि स्थितानि सुबहूनि च । द्रव्याणि केन नीतानि न ज्ञातान्यपि भूसुर
In the queen's house, all the many possessions that were there—O best of Brahmins—no one knew who had taken them.
निर्वित्ता बुद्धिहीना सा चान्नवस्त्रविवर्जिता । उपविष्टा च केनापि गंतुं च दुहितुर्गृहम्
She was left destitute, without sense, deprived of food and clothing, and sat there, unable to go to her daughter's house.
प्रेषयामास भर्त्तारं किंचित्प्रार्थनहेतवे । तस्य मालाधरस्यापि ग्रामे च सरसीतटे
She sent her husband to request something. Meanwhile, Mālādhara, in the village by the lake,