ब्राह्मण्युवाच- अशक्यं यदि वा शक्यं मया गंतुं मुने वद । अग्निप्रवेशकालो वै व्यतीतो न भवेद्यथा
The Brahmin woman said: 'Whether it is possible or not for me to go, tell me, O sage; let it not be that the time for entering the fire has already passed.'
नारद उवाच- योजनानां शतं त्वेकमितः स्थानात्पुरं हितत् । श्वो दाहः किल विप्रस्य भविता गंतुमर्हसि
Nārada said: 'A hundred yojanas from here is the city; tomorrow the Brahmin's cremation will take place there—you should go.'
अव्ययोवाच- दूरस्थितं कायनाथं गंतुमर्हामि हे मुने । तद्वचस्तु समाकर्ण्य नारदस्तामभाषत
Avyaya said: O sage, I am permitted to go to my distant lord. Hearing these words, Narada spoke to her.
विपंची नालसंस्था त्वं भव गच्छाम्यहं क्षणात् । इत्युदीर्य तदा गत्वा त्वरां चक्रे गतं च तत्
"You, Vipaṃcī, remain at the base of the nāla; I will go and return in a moment." Saying this, he went at once, hastening, and then returned.
देशं नष्टद्विजस्थानं तामुवाचाव्ययां मुनिः । रोदनं नेह कर्तव्यं यदि तत्राग्निमेष्यसि
The sage spoke to Avyaya at that place, where the dwelling of the twice-born was lost: "You must not weep here, if you intend to enter the fire there."
पापं यदि कृतं भद्रे परपूरुषसेवनम् । एतद्विशुद्धये पुत्रि प्रायश्चित्तं समाचर
O blessed one, if you have committed the sin of serving another man, then, daughter, perform expiation for your purification.
तवोपपातकव्रात नाशो वह्निप्रवेशनात् । नान्यत्पश्यामि नारीणां सर्वपापोपशांतये
By entering the fire, the multitude of your minor sins is destroyed; I see no other way for women to bring all sins to rest.
अग्निप्रवेशं मुक्त्वैकं प्रायश्चित्तं जगत्त्रये । दधीच उवाच- अथ नारदवाक्येन नोदिता सा वचोऽब्रवीत्
Except for entering the fire, there is no other expiation in the three worlds. Dadhīca said: Then, prompted by Narada's words, she spoke.
अग्निप्रवेशे नारीणां किं कर्तव्यं महामुने । नारद उवाच- स्नानं मंगलसंस्कारो भूषणांजनधारणम्
"O great sage, what must a woman do when entering the fire?" Narada said: "Bathing, auspicious rites, adorning with ornaments and collyrium—"
गंधपुष्पं तथा धूपं हरिद्राक्षतधारणम् । मंगलं च तथा सूत्रं पादालक्तकमेव च
"—fragrance, flowers, incense, applying turmeric and rice grains, an auspicious thread, and also lac for the feet—"
शक्त्या दानं प्रियोक्तिश्च प्रसन्नास्यत्वमेव च । नानामंगलवाद्यानां श्रवणं गीतकस्य च
"—giving gifts according to ability, speaking kindly, keeping a cheerful face, listening to various auspicious instruments and to singing—"
व्यभिचारकृते पापे तत्पापस्य प्रशांतये । अतीतं पातकं स्पृष्ट्वा प्रायश्चित्तं तदीरितम्
"—for the sin committed through infidelity, to pacify that sin, this expiation is prescribed, touching upon the past transgression."
कुर्यादथ स्वकां भूषां विप्राय प्रतिपादयेत् । भूषाभावे स्वकीयेन प्रायश्चित्तं तु कारयेत्
"Then she should give her ornaments to a Brahmin; if there are no ornaments, she should perform expiation with her own means."
नान्यथा तस्य पापस्य नाशनं वेति कुत्रचित् । अव्ययोवाच- सर्वमेतत्करिष्यामि हरिद्रा मे न विद्यते
"Otherwise, there is no destruction of that sin anywhere." Avyaya said: "I will do all this, but I do not have turmeric."
भूषणं किमुत ब्रह्मन्सर्वमेतत्प्रदीयताम् । नारद उवाच- न ह्यस्ति किंचित्सौभाग्यद्रव्यमन्यत्त्वपेक्षया
"O Brahmin, what about ornaments? Let all this be given to me." Narada said: "There is no other auspicious substance you require."
दधीच उवाच- अथ क्षणेनाभ्यगमत्कैलासं शिवमंदिरम् । गिरिजामथ दृष्ट्वासौ प्रणिपत्येदमब्रवीत्
Dadhīca said: Then, in a moment, he reached Kailāsa, the abode of Shiva. Seeing Girijā, he bowed and said this:
हरिद्रा दीयतां मातर्भूषणानि च सूत्रकम् । पार्वत्युवाच- विधवायै मया किंचिद्भूषणं दीयतां कथम्
"Mother, please give turmeric, ornaments, and a thread." Pārvatī said: "How can I give any ornament to a widow?"
मया दत्ते हि तस्मिन्वै वैधव्यं नोपपद्यते । नारद उवाच- मातर्न विधवा यावद्धवांगं वर्तते स्त्रियः
"If I give it, widowhood will not arise in that case." Narada said: "Mother, as long as the signs of a husband remain, a woman is not a widow."
आदाहात्सूतकं नास्ति तिष्ठेत्सौभाग्यमुत्तमम् । पार्वत्युवाच- न चान्यदेहो मद्भूषां हरिद्रां धर्तुमर्हति
"There is no impurity from death before cremation; supreme good fortune remains." Pārvatī said: "No other body than mine is worthy to wear my ornaments or turmeric."
भूषणादौ मया दत्ते चिरंजीवितमिष्यते । दीयते हि जयंत्यैव सर्वमेतत्त्वयोदितम्
"When I give ornaments and the like, long life is desired. All this you have said is indeed granted by Jayantī alone."
जयंतीं स जगामाथ तया दत्तमथाहरत् । स्नपंत्या अव्ययायास्तु हरिद्रां दत्तवान्मुनिः
Then he went to Jayantī and took what she had given; as she was bathing, the sage gave her turmeric for imperishability.
ततः स सूक्ष्मवसनभूषणानि मुनिर्ददौ । आह चैनां तवांतेष्टिं कः करोति नियुंक्ष्व तम्
After that, the sage gave her fine garments and ornaments, and said to her, 'Who will perform your final offering? Appoint him.'
अव्ययोवाच- त्वयैव मे समस्तानां क्रियाणां कारणं मुने । पितासि सर्वं कुर्वद्य नमस्ते मुनिसत्तम
Avyayā said: 'You alone are the cause of all my rites, O sage; you are my father—do everything today. Salutations to you, best of sages.'
दधीच उवाच- अथ तं ब्राह्मणं दग्ध्वा नारदस्तामुवाच ह । अव्यये गच्छ दहनं प्रविश त्वं यदीच्छसि
Dadhīca said: 'Then, after burning that brāhmaṇa, Nārada spoke to her: "Avyayā, go, enter the fire if you wish."'
अथ सा भूषिता साध्वी त्रिःप्रदक्षिणपूर्वकम् । नारदं तु नमस्कृत्य गौरांगीमर्पयन्मनः
Then that virtuous, adorned woman, after circling three times in reverence, bowed to Nārada and fixed her mind on Gaurāṅgī.
सुसूक्ष्मं मंगलंसूत्रं हरिद्रामक्षतांस्तथा । कुसुमानि च वासांसि कस्तूरीचंदनं तथा
She offered a very fine auspicious thread, turmeric, unbroken rice, flowers, garments, musk, and sandalwood.
सौवर्णकंकतिकां च फलानि विविधानि च । स्वदक्षिणादिवस्त्रांतं स्पर्शयित्वा पृथक्पृथक्
She also offered a golden girdle and various fruits; after touching each item, including her own gift and garments, separately.
पार्वतीप्रीतिकामा सा पुरंध्रीभ्योऽखिलं ददौ । ज्वालामालाभिराकाशं दहंतमिव चानलम्
Desiring Pārvatī’s favor, that noble woman gave everything to the married women, like fire burning the sky with garlands of flames.
त्रिःप्रदक्षिणमागत्य स्थित्वाग्नेः पुरतः सती । इदं प्राह तदा वाक्यं प्रांजलिः प्रहसन्मुखी
Having circled three times, she stood before the fire, and with joined palms and a smiling face, she then spoke these words.
अव्ययोवाच- इंद्रादयो दिशांपाला मातर्मेदिनि भास्कर । धर्मादयः सुराः सर्वे शृणुध्वं मम भाषितम्
Avyayā said: 'Indra and the guardians of the directions, Mother Earth, Sun, Dharma and all the gods—listen to my words.'