सर्वगंधसमोपेतो भोगी चेष्टार्थसंयुतः । यथेष्टवर्तनो भूत्वा ततो जायेत भूमिपः
Endowed with all fragrances, enjoying pleasures and desired objects, living as he wishes, then becomes a king.
कस्तूरीचंदनं चंद्रमगरुद्वितयं तथा । पंचगंधं समाख्यातं सर्वकार्येषु शोभनम्
Musk, sandalwood, camphor, and the two kinds of agaru—these are called the fivefold fragrance, auspicious for all purposes.
विलिप्तपंचगंधेषु ब्राह्मणेषु महात्मसु । आसीनेषु तदाभ्यागाद्ब्राह्मणः स्थविरः कृशः
When the great-souled Brahmins, anointed with the fivefold fragrance, were seated, then there arrived an aged, emaciated Brahmin.
उन्मत्तवेषो दिग्वासा जराजर्ज्जरितस्त्वरी । खल्वाटः श्वासकासी च बहुहिक्की क्षुधान्वितः
With the appearance of a madman, clothed in the directions, worn out by old age, bald, wheezing and coughing, hiccuping much, afflicted by hunger.
लालास्नुतः श्मश्रुकूर्चश्लेष्मानम्रः स्खलत्पदः । द्व्यष्टवर्षा तथा नारी सर्वाभरणभूषिता
Drooling, with a tangled beard, bent by phlegm, stumbling in his steps; and a woman, twenty-eight years old, adorned with all ornaments,
रूपलावण्यसंयुक्ता लोकोत्कृष्टस्वरूपिणी । पुरुषान्रूपसंयुक्तान्वीक्षंती च ततस्ततः
Endowed with beauty and charm, of form surpassing the world, glancing here and there at men endowed with handsome appearance.
गायंती त्वथ नृत्यंती तं दृष्ट्वाह सती पतिम् । प्रबाधते वृद्धधवं शीघ्रमेहि कृशाधम
Then, as she sang and danced, seeing her husband, the virtuous woman spoke: 'Hurry, come quickly, you wretched, emaciated old man!'
आलंब्य त्वत्करं वृद्ध दुःखिता नित्यमस्म्यहम् । भूषणं वसनं घ्राणं स्रग्विलेपनमेव च
Clinging to your hand, O old one, I am always afflicted with sorrow; whether it is ornaments, clothing, fragrance, garlands, or ointments—
हासो गीतिस्तथा पानं मंडनं शोभनं गृहम् । सर्वऋतुसमृद्धिश्च कामस्यैवाभिवृद्धये
Laughter, song, drinking, adornment, a splendid house, and prosperity in every season—all these exist only to increase desire.
सर्वेषामेव कामानां रतिरेका प्रयोजनम् । सुखानि सर्वाण्येकत्र रतिरेकत्र च स्थिता
For all desires, pleasure is the one purpose; all enjoyments are gathered in one place, and pleasure is found there alone.
तुलया तुलितं सर्वं रतिः शतगुणाधिका । तन्मादृशी समासाद्य भवंतं किं करिष्यति
If all were weighed on a scale, pleasure would be a hundred times greater; what could someone like me do, having obtained you?
इति चान्यानि वाक्यानि ब्रुवाणा गृह्य वै करे । तदुत्तरमुवाचेदं किं कुर्म्मो भाग्यमीदृशम्
Thus, as she spoke other words, taking his hand, he replied: 'What can we do? Such is our fate.'
मा मारय दुरुक्त्या त्वं मां विज्ञायाथ चेदृशम् । एतादृशो द्विजः प्रायात्पार्वतीमंदिरं तदा
'Do not kill me with harsh words, knowing me to be like this; at that time, such a brahmin went to Parvati’s abode.'
अविज्ञायैव गिरिजामिदं वचनमब्रवीत् । द्विज उवाच- अन्नार्थिनमिह प्राप्तं विद्धि मामतिथिं मुने
Without recognizing Girija, he spoke these words: The brahmin said— 'Know me, who have come here seeking food, as your guest, O sage.'
भोजनावसरे प्राप्तं ब्राह्मणान्न हि भोजय । तद्भार्यावचनं प्राह क्व मुनिर्योषिदेव हि
'A brahmin who arrives at mealtime must not go unfed; but his wife said, Where is the sage? It is only a woman.'
अंधस्य वचनं सर्वमेवमेतादृशं दृढम् । पार्वत्युवाच- प्रक्षाल्य चरणावेतमासने उपवेशय
'All the words of the blind man are always like this, firm and unchanging.' Parvati said: 'Wash his feet and seat him on the throne.'
जांबूनदकृतेतीव भोज्येनातर्पयद्द्विजम् । सुरत्नचषकोपेतममृतं ब्रह्मवादिनीम्
She satisfied the brahmin with food served in golden vessels, accompanied by cups of divine nectar.
अरुंधतीमथाहूय पर्य्यवेषयदंबिका । कला चारुंधती चैव अनसूया पतिव्रता
Then Ambika called Arundhati, who served him; Kala, Arundhati, and the devoted Anasuya—
परिवेषं पदार्थानां स्रग्गंधाक्षतभूषणाः । अकुर्वन्नंबिकावाक्यात्षड्रसानां पृथक्पृथक्
Adorned with garlands, fragrance, unbroken rice, and ornaments, at Ambika’s command they served the various dishes of the six tastes separately.
भुंजानेषु तु विप्रेषु दिग्वासा ब्राह्मणाकृतिः । क्षणेन बुभुजे सर्वं दातुं नो शेकुरंगनाः
As the brahmins were eating, a figure in the form of a brahmin, clad only in the directions, consumed everything in an instant; the women could not serve fast enough.
अथ सा गिरिजा देवी स्वयं दातुं प्रचक्रमे । यथादत्तमशेषं तु क्षणेनाश्नाति स द्विजः
Then Girija herself began to serve; whatever was given, that brahmin ate it all in a moment.
भांडस्थितमशेषं च भोक्तुमैच्छत्प्रिया सह । तथांबिका समादाय प्रादादक्षय्यमस्त्विति
He wished to eat everything that remained in the vessels, together with his beloved; so Ambika took it and gave it, saying, 'Let it be inexhaustible.'
अथ वामकरेणासौ भोक्तुमैच्छत्ततः सती । तत्राप्यक्षय्यमेवास्तु तवान्नमिति चार्पयत्
Then, with his left hand, he wished to eat; and there too, she served, saying, 'Let your food be inexhaustible.'
करांतरमथोत्पाद्य भोक्तुमैच्छद्द्विजोत्तमः । एवं करसहस्रं च कृत्वैच्छद्भोजनं द्विजः
Then, producing another hand, the best of brahmins wished to eat; thus, making a thousand hands, the brahmin desired food.
दत्त्वा दत्त्वा पुनर्देवी संतुष्टा न च कोपना । न चित्तमन्यथाकर्तुं शक्यमस्या इति द्विजः
Having given again and again, O goddess, she is satisfied and never angry; her mind cannot be changed by anyone, O twice-born.
प्रक्षाल्य हस्तौ चरणौ हस्तार्पितसुगंधवान् । पार्वतीं वाक्यमाहेदं तोषितोहं वरं वृणु
After washing his hands and feet, fragrant with scents placed in his hands, he addressed Pārvatī with these words: 'I am pleased—choose a boon.'
पार्वत्युवाच- मम दातुं वरं शक्तो यदि त्वं ब्राह्मणोत्तम । वरेण मम किं कार्य्यं शंकरो मे यतः पतिः
Pārvatī said: 'If you are able to grant me a boon, O best of Brāhmaṇas, what need do I have for a boon, since Śaṅkara is my husband?'
तदाह ब्राह्मणो देवीं शंकरः कीदृशस्त्विति । सदृशोऽसौ त्वया नो वा त्वद्योग्यो नान्यथा भवेत्
Then the Brāhmaṇa said to the goddess: 'What kind of person is Śaṅkara? Is he your equal or not? Today he should be suitable, not otherwise.'
स्त्रीवल्लभत्वमप्येव रूपं दाक्ष्यं शुभांगना । नो चेदेतादृशी भार्य्या मदधीना कथं भवेत्
Even the belovedness to women, beauty, skill, O auspicious lady—if a wife is not like this, how could she be under my control?
पार्वत्युवाच- त्वद्भार्य्यावचनं श्रुत्वा तव वाक्यं तथा द्विज । अपलापस्त्वयं ब्रह्मञ्च्छ्रुतं किंवा तथाविषम्
Pārvatī said: 'Having heard your words about your wife, and your statement thus, O Brāhmaṇa, is this a rejection, O Brāhmaṇa, or is it truly so?'