दधीच उवाच- अत्र ते कथयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम् । चित्रगुप्तयमाभ्यां च यद्विख्यातं बभूव ह
Dadhīca said: 'Here I will tell you an ancient story, renowned among Citragupta and Yama.'
मिथिलायां पुरा कश्चिच्छुनः पर्यटते क्षुधा । पुरा जन्मशतात्पूर्वं ब्राह्मणः पापनिश्चयः
Once, in Mithilā, a dog wandered about in hunger; long ago, a hundred lifetimes before, there was a Brahmin intent on sin.
पूर्वेवयसि वेदाढ्यः शास्त्राढ्यश्च सुबुद्धिमान् । स स्नातुं जाह्नवीं गत्वा स्नानं कृत्वा पितॄनपि
In his earlier youth, he was rich in Vedic knowledge, learned in scriptures, and possessed of good intellect; he went to the Jāhnavī to bathe, performed his ablutions, and honored his ancestors.
देवानृषीन्समभ्यर्च्य ययौ प्रात्तलिकापुरम् । प्रतिश्रयमथो चक्रे ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने
After worshipping the gods and sages, he proceeded to Prāttalikā city; there he sought shelter in the house of a Brahmin.
तत्रैका क्षत्रियसुता यौवनस्था हतप्रिया । भ्रष्टराज्या च षट्कोटि निष्कद्रव्येण संयुता
There was a young Kṣatriya maiden, bereft of her beloved, deprived of her kingdom, possessing sixty million coins without value.
भुक्त्वाथ शयितं विप्रं सर्वावयवसुंदरम् । रात्रौ चंद्रोदये शुद्धे ज्योत्स्नाहसितदिङ्मुखे
Having eaten, the Brahmin, beautiful in every limb, lay down; at night, when the moon had risen, with pure moonlight whitening the directions.
ब्राह्मणाभ्याशमागत्य तमुदीक्ष्येदमब्रवीत् । कुतस्त्वमागतो विप्र कं वा देशं गमिष्यसि
Approaching the Brahmin, she gazed at him and spoke: 'From where have you come, O Brahmin? To which land will you go?'
ब्राह्मण उवाच- अकालचर्या सर्वेषां शंकामुत्पादयेद्ध्रुवम् । वयःस्थयोर्मिथोवादो रहस्ये हास्यमंदिरे
The Brahmin said: 'Untimely wandering surely arouses suspicion in all; conversation between those advanced in age, in secret, within the hall of laughter.'
क्षत्रियोवाच- कथाप्रसंगे यात्रायां तीर्थे देशादि विप्लवे । दुर्भिक्षे ग्रामदहने रहोवादो न दूषितः
The Kshatriya said: In the course of conversation, on a journey, at a sacred place, during upheaval in the land, in famine, or when a village is burned, speaking privately is not considered improper.
प्रतिश्रयस्तु मद्गेहे भवतैव पुरा कृतः । मद्गेहवासिनी चाहं न शंका त्विह कस्यचित्
Previously, you yourself granted me shelter in your house; and I am a resident of your house—there is no cause for suspicion here from anyone.
ब्राह्मण उवाच- तूष्णींभावो मया कार्यो गच्छ त्वं शीघ्रमग्रतः । इत्युक्ता ब्राह्मणेनासौ मनसेदमचिंतयत्
The Brahmin said: I must remain silent; you go ahead quickly. Thus addressed by the Brahmin, she thought this in her mind:
अनेन संगमो मह्यं यथाभूयात्तथाविधि । रोदनं तु करिष्यामि तथा यास्यति सांत्वितुम्
May our meeting happen as I desire; I will weep in such a way that he will come to console me.
मां च सांत्वयितुं प्राप्तो मां समुत्थापयिष्यति । अहमुत्तिष्ठमानैव दोर्लताकंठसंगिनी
When he comes to comfort me, he will try to raise me up; as I rise, I will entwine my arms around his neck like a vine.
कुचयुग्मेन तद्गात्रं स्पर्शयंती विमूर्च्छिता । गतभानां हि मां दृष्ट्वा निषण्णः स्वयमेव सः
Fainting, I will press my breasts against his body; seeing me unconscious, he himself will sit down.
उत्संगे मामकं देहं निधास्यति द्विजाग्रणीः । अचेतनेव वसनमपास्य रुदतीव च
The foremost of Brahmins will place my body on his lap; as if insensible, I will cast off my garment and appear to be weeping.
सुस्निग्धं रोमरहितं पक्वाश्वत्थदलाकृति । दर्शयिष्यामि तत्स्थानं कामगेहं सुगंधि च
I will reveal that place, smooth, hairless, shaped like a ripe ashvattha leaf, fragrant and the abode of desire.
मयैव विलुठंत्यांगे तस्य वस्त्रमपास्यते । विलुप्यमानसं तस्य करिष्ये स्ववशं द्विजम्
As I roll about, his garment will be cast aside by me; while he is being enticed, I will bring the Brahmin under my control.
अदृष्टौ यादृशं चित्तं दृष्टौ नैतादृशं भवेत् । दर्शने यादृशं चित्तं संलापे नैव तादृशम्
The mind is not the same when unseen as when seen; the mind in seeing is not the same as in conversation.
संलापे यादृशं चित्तं हास्योक्तौ नैव तादृशम् । हास्योक्तौ यादृशं चित्तं स्पर्शने नैव तादृशम्
The mind in conversation is not the same as in joking; the mind in joking is not the same as in touching.
स्पर्शने यादृशं चित्तं योनिदृष्टौ न तादृशम् । तद्दृष्टौ यादृशं चित्तं योनिस्पर्शे न तादृशम्
The mind in touching is not the same as in seeing the sexual organ; the mind in seeing that is not the same as in touching it.
बाहुमूलकुचद्वंद्व स्वयोनिस्पर्शदर्शनात् । कस्य न स्खलते चेतो रेतः स्कन्नं च नो भवेत्
Who does not have their mind falter or their semen not spill upon seeing or touching the root of the arm, the pair of breasts, or one's own sexual organ?
दधीच उवाच- इति संचिंत्य मनसा क्षत्रिया गृहमभ्यगात् । स्वगृहद्वारमासाद्य मंदं मंदं रुरोद वै
Dadhichi said: Thus reflecting in her mind, the Kshatriya woman went to her house; reaching her own doorway, she wept softly and gently.
चिरं कालं च रुदितं ब्राह्मणः करुणानिधिः
After she had wept for a long time, the Brahmin, full of compassion—
स्त्रीबालवृद्धातुर राजयोगिनां विषाग्नितोयाद्रि निपातनादिना । दुःखस्य चैवोद्धरणं प्रशस्यते कूपस्यदानेन समं वदंति
It is said that rescuing women, children, the aged, the sick, kings, ascetics, and those afflicted by poison, fire, water, or falling from a mountain, and relieving suffering, is praised as equal to giving a well.
इत्थं विचार्य विप्रोऽसौ शुचिर्भूतः प्रसन्नधीः । तस्याः समीपमगमत्तामुवाच ततो द्विजः
Thus considering, that pure and clear-minded Brahmin approached her and then spoke to her.
अलं शोकेन महता इहामुत्र विरोधिना । शरीरशोषणं ह्येतच्चित्तविध्वंसनं तथा
Enough of this great sorrow, which is harmful both here and hereafter; it dries up the body and destroys the mind as well.
त्यज शोकमिमं बाले न चार्थः शोचितेन वै । शोकस्य कारणं किं वा येनेत्थं रुद्यते त्वया
Abandon this sorrow, child; there is truly no purpose in grieving. What is the cause of your grief, for which you weep in this way?
दधीच उवाच- एवमुक्ता द्विजेनाथ न सा किंचिदुवाच ह । मूर्च्छितेवापतद्भूमौ तमदृष्ट्वेव वीक्षते
Dadhīca said: Thus addressed by the twice-born, she did not say anything at all, but collapsed to the ground as if fainting, looking at him as though she did not see.
तामथोत्थापयामास ब्राह्मणः परमार्थवित् । उत्थितोत्थापिता तेन निपपात पुनः पुनः
Then the Brāhmaṇa, knower of the highest truth, raised her up. Though lifted and made to stand, she fell down again and again.
पतितां पतितां विप्रो निषद्योत्थाप्य तां पुनः । अंकमारोपयामास प्रममार्ज विलोचने
The Brāhmaṇa, seeing her fall repeatedly, sat down and lifted her up once more, placed her on his lap, and gently wiped her eyes.