एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु पौलोमी वरसुन्दरी । भूषणैर्भूषिता सर्वैः स्वयं तद्गृहमाययौ
At that very moment, Paulomi, the most beautiful, adorned with all ornaments, herself came to that house.
दृष्ट्वा तथाविधं शक्रं सर्वदेवाधिपं प्रभुम् । भृशं चुकोप पौलोमी प्राहेति च सुलक्षणा
Seeing Shakra thus, lord of all gods, master, Paulomi became greatly angry and, being well-featured, spoke.
शच्युवाच- देव किं कुरुषे कांत त्वं समस्तसुराधिप । मम दासीस्वरूपायै ददासि स्वर्णवीटिकाम्
Śacī said: O god, what are you doing, beloved, you who are lord of all the gods? You give a golden betel box to a woman who is but a servant to me.
स्पृशंति त्रिदशाः सर्वे शिरसा चरणौ तव । त्वं कथं पद्मगन्धाया दास्याः पादतले प्रभोः
All the gods bow their heads and touch your feet, yet how can you, O lord, touch the feet of Padmagandhā, a mere servant?
याचितश्च सुगन्धित्वाद्भृंगः स्यानचतद्यशः । सुंदरी कोटिभर्त्ता त्वं समस्तरसवित्प्रभो
Even a bee, when asked, would become fragrant but lose its fame; you, who are the husband of countless beauties and lord of all radiance, O master—
कथमेवंविधं कर्म करोष्यत्यंतकुत्सितम् । निर्गुणे पद्मगन्धेहे दासिदूरं परिव्रज
How can you perform such an utterly disgraceful act? Leave far behind the servant Padmagandhā, who is devoid of qualities.
त्वमीश्वरी च पर्यंके शक्रः पादतले तव । व्यास उवाच- तया निर्भर्त्सिता साध्वी पौलोम्या बहुधा ततः
You are the queen upon the couch, while Śakra is at your feet. Vyāsa said: Thus, that virtuous lady, Paulomī, rebuked her in many ways.
उवाच पद्मगन्धा सा क्रोधादिति वरांगना । पद्मगंधोवाच- गुणं च मम दोषं च स्वयं स्वाम्येव वेत्ति वै
Padmagandhā, that noble woman, spoke in anger: Padmagandhā said: Only the master knows my virtues and faults himself.
केनाधिकारेणागत्य त्वं मां निंदसि निर्गुणे । अन्ये नेत्रद्वयेनापि पश्यंति गुणदोषकौ
By what authority do you come and insult me, who is without qualities? Others, even with two eyes, see both virtues and faults.
सहस्रनेत्रैरप्येष न पश्येत्किं दुराशये । यथा दोषो हि लोकानां प्रचरेन्न गुणं तथा
Even with a thousand eyes, one with evil intent does not see; just as the faults of people spread, not their virtues.
आदौ कलंकश्चन्द्रस्य दृश्यते गुणवज्जनैः । अनर्थभाषिणी क्रूरा कुमूर्त्तिर्गुणवर्जिता
At first, the blemish of the moon is seen by those who value virtue; one who speaks harm, is cruel, and has a wicked form, is devoid of virtue.
यदाहं नास्मि गुणिनी भजतु त्वां तदा पतिः । व्यास उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा पद्मगंधा सा क्रोधात्कोकनदेक्षणा
When I am not virtuous, then let your husband worship you. Vyāsa said: Having spoken thus, Padmagandhā, her eyes like lotuses, in anger—
उत्तस्थौ स्वर्णपर्यङ्कात्कुर्वंती करुणं महत् । इन्द्र उवाच- प्रिये प्राणेश्वरि श्रेष्ठे मां विहाय क्व गच्छसि
Rose from the golden couch, making a great lament. Indra said: Beloved, mistress of my life, best of women, where are you going, leaving me?
मया किमपराद्धं ते मम तद्वद सुंदरि । कांते दासोऽस्म्यहं नूनं दासकर्म करोमि ते
What wrong have I done to you? Tell me, beautiful one. Dearest, I am surely your servant, and I perform the duties of a servant for you.
दासपत्नी भवेद्दासी वाक्यं त्वं न शृणोषि कम् । समुत्थाय ततः शक्रस्तन्मोहाकुलमानसः
The wife of a servant becomes a servant; you do not listen to my words. Then Śakra, rising, his mind bewildered by delusion—
अंके निवेशयामास भूयस्तां वरसुंदरीम् । शच्युवाच- क्रौंचित्वज्जीवनं धन्यं व्यर्थं मज्जीवनं ध्रुवम्
Placed that most beautiful woman again upon his lap. Śacī said: The life of a Krauncha bird is blessed; surely my life is wasted.
त्वं स्वामिसुभगा नित्यं दुर्भगाहं वरांगना । यावत्पुण्यक्षयं क्रौंचि तत्पुण्यं यास्यते क्षयम्
You are always fortunate, O mistress, while I am unfortunate, O noble lady. As long as the merit of the Krauncha lasts, that merit will be exhausted.
क्रौंचवंशसमुत्पन्ना दुःखंभूयोऽपि भोक्ष्यसि । देवेन्द्रेणसमं तावत्कुरु केलि यथासुखम्
Born in the Krauncha lineage, you will again experience sorrow. Until then, enjoy pleasure with the king of gods as you wish.
कियद्भिर्दिवसैः क्रौंचि न भवेत्तव निर्गुणे । अत्यद्भुतं वचस्तस्याः पद्मगन्धा निशम्य सा ५० 7.8.
How many days, O Krauncha, will you not be, O one without virtue? Hearing her words, Padmagandhā was greatly astonished.
द्वन्द्वभावं परित्यज्य प्रणम्योवाच तां सतीम् । पद्मगंधोवाच- पुलोमजे वरारोहे चित्रमेतत्त्वयोदितम्
Abandoning the state of conflict, she bowed and spoke to that virtuous lady. Padmagandhā said: O daughter of Puloma, O exalted one, what you have said is remarkable.
क्रौंची कथमहं ब्रूहि श्रोतुमिच्छामि यत्नतः । काहं कुत्रस्थिता चापि कथमत्रागता सती
O Krauñcī, tell me—who are you? Where do you dwell, and how did you come here? I wish to hear this from you in detail.
कालैः कियद्भिर्मत्पुण्यं क्षीणत्वं प्रतियास्यति । शच्युवाच- पद्मगन्धे पुरा त्वं हि क्रौंची पक्षिसमुद्भवा
How long will it take for my merit to be exhausted?—Śacī said: In the past, you were Krauñcī, born among birds, with the fragrance of lotuses.
अमेध्यमामिषं कीटान्भक्षयंती क्षितौ स्थिता । न्यग्रोधतरुरेकोऽस्ति गङ्गातीरे मनोरमे
Dwelling on earth, you ate impure flesh and insects. There was a single banyan tree on the charming bank of the Gaṅgā.
तत्र नीडं विनिर्माय भवत्या वसतिः कृता । एकदा कृष्णसर्पेण तस्मिन्न्यग्रोधपादपे
There, after building your nest, you made your home. One day, a black serpent entered that banyan tree.
नीडं प्रविश्य दष्टा त्वं सहसा पंचतां गता । क्रव्याणि तव सर्वाणि स सर्पो भक्षयत्क्रुधा
Entering the nest, you were suddenly bitten and died. That serpent, enraged, devoured all your flesh.
स्थितानि तत्रैवास्थीनि निर्मांसानि वरानने । कदाचित्पवनैर्भद्रे महद्भिः स च पातितः
Your bones, stripped of flesh, remained there, O beautiful one. Once, by a great wind, that serpent too was cast down.
भग्नः पपात गङ्गायां समूलोऽपि वरांगने । गङ्गायां पतिते तस्मिन्न्यग्रोधे धरणीरुहे
Broken, it fell into the Gaṅgā, roots and all, O lovely one. When that banyan fell into the Gaṅgā, the tree on the earth—
गङ्गाजलैः प्लावितानि तान्यस्थीनि तवोत्तमे । यावदस्थीनि गङ्गायां तावत्तिष्ठंति तानि च
Your excellent bones were washed by the waters of the Gaṅgā. As long as your bones remain in the Gaṅgā, so long do they stay there.
तावत्त्वं स्वामिसुभगा भविष्यसि सदैव हि । इति ते कथितं सर्वं पद्मगंधे मयाधुना
For that same duration, you will always be dear to your lord. Thus, O Padmagandhā, I have now told you everything.
येन पुण्यप्रभावेण शक्रोऽपि वशगस्तव । धन्या तु जाह्नवी देवी क्रौंची यस्याः प्रसादतः
By the power of whose merit even Śakra is under your control. Blessed indeed is the goddess Jāhnavī, by whose grace, O Krauñcī—