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—
त्वमस्पृश्यासि चाण्डालैरंकेस्वपिषि वज्रिणः । तेनापमानिता साध्वी शक्रेणापि पुलोमजा
You are untouched by outcastes, even among the hosts of Indra. By him, Pulomajā, the virtuous one, was also insulted.
परिम्लानमुखांभोजा सा जगाम यथागता । शक्रांक एव सा तस्थौ पद्मगन्धा वरांगना
Her lotus face faded, and she departed as she had come. Padmagandhā, the lovely one, remained in Indra's abode.
तद्वाक्यं हृदये तस्या जागरूकमिवस्थितम् । अथैकदा सुराधीशः सुप्रीतस्तद्गुणैर्द्विज
Those words stayed in her heart, as if ever awake. Then one day, O twice-born, the lord of the gods, pleased by her virtues—
वरं वरय सुश्रोणि स्वयं तामित्युवाच ह । पद्मगंधोवाच । त्वं सर्वदेवताधीशो नारीकोटिपतिस्थता
Said, 'Choose a boon, O beautiful-hipped one, whatever you wish.' Padmagandhā said: 'You are lord of all the gods, master of countless women—'
तथाप्यसि ममाधीनः स्वामिन्किमपरैर्वरैः । तथापि त्वं वरं दित्सुर्यदा नूनं सुरोत्तम
Yet you are under my power, lord; what need have I of other boons? Still, if you wish to grant a boon, O best of gods—
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा प्रतिज्ञां कुरु मत्पुरः । इंद्र उवाच- जीवितं च धनं चैव राज्यं चैव परिच्छदम्
By deed, thought, and word, make a vow before me.' Indra said: 'Life, wealth, kingdom, and retinue—'
आज्ञापय किमेतद्वै तुभ्यं दास्यामि सुंदरि । सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यं संदेहो नात्र विद्यते
'Command me, O beautiful one, and I will give it to you. Truly, truly, again truly—there is no doubt in this.'
यदीच्छसि मृगीनेत्रे तत्ते दास्याम्यहं ध्रुवम् । पद्मगंधोवाच- नूनमेव प्रसन्नोऽसि यदि त्वं त्रिदशेश्वर
'Whatever you desire, O doe-eyed one, I will surely give you.' Padmagandhā said: 'If you, lord of the gods, are truly pleased—'
जन्म मे हस्तियोनौ च भूयो देहीति मे वरम् । इंद्र उवाच- कृतप्रतिज्ञः सुश्रोणि वरं तेऽहं ददामि वै
Let my birth be in the womb of an elephant; grant me this boon once more. Indra said: I have made a promise, O lovely-hipped one, and I surely grant you this boon.
किंतु दुःखानि यातानि बहूनि हृदये मम । त्वामदृष्ट्वा वरारोहे प्रीतिर्न प्राप्यते क्षणम्
Yet many sorrows have passed through my heart; O beautiful one, not seeing you, I find no joy even for a moment.