त्रपान्वितौ विष्णुरुद्रौ सर्वे चान्ये द्विजातयः। सभासदस्तथा भीतास्तथा चान्ये दिवौकसः
Viṣṇu and Rudra, filled with embarrassment, as well as all the other twice-born, the assembly members, and the other gods, were likewise afraid.
पुत्राःपौत्रा भागिनेया मातुला भ्रातरस्तथा। ऋभवो नाम ये देवा देवानामपि देवताः
Sons, grandsons, nephews, maternal uncles, and brothers, and the Ṛbhus—those gods who are even deities among the gods—
वैलक्ष्येवस्थिताः सर्वे सावित्री किं वदिष्यति। ब्रह्मपार्श्वे स्थिता तत्र किंतु वै गोपकन्यका
All stood there in discomfort, wondering, 'What will Sāvitrī say?' She stood by Brahmā's side, but she was, in truth, a cowherd maiden.
मौनीभूता तु शृण्वाना सर्वेषां वदतां गिरः। अद्ध्वर्युणा समाहूता नागता वरवर्णिनी
She became silent, listening to the words of all who spoke; though summoned by the Adhvaryu, the woman of excellent complexion did not come.
शक्रेणान्याहृता-आभीरादत्ता सा विष्णुनास्वयम्। अनुमोदिताचरुद्रेणपित्राऽदत्तास्वयं तथा
Another, brought by Śakra from the Ābhīras, was given to Viṣṇu himself; approved by Rudra, she was also given by her own father.
कथं सा भविता यज्ञे समाप्तिं वा व्रजेत्कथम्। एवं चिंतयतां तेषां प्रविष्टा कमलालया
How would she participate in the sacrifice, or how would it reach completion? As they pondered thus, the Lotus-born entered.
वृतो ब्रह्मासदस्यैस्तु ऋत्विग्भिर्दैवतैस्तथा। हूयंते चाग्नयस्तत्र ब्राह्मणैर्वैदपारगैः
Brahmā was surrounded by assembly members, officiating priests, and gods; there, fires were being offered into by Brāhmaṇas learned in the Vedas.
पत्नीशालास्थिता गोपी सैणश्रृँगा समेखला। क्षौमवस्त्रपरीधाना ध्यायंती परमं पदम्
The cowherd woman stood in the wives' pavilion, adorned with a girdle of sheep's wool, clothed in linen garments, meditating on the supreme state.
पतिव्रता पतिप्राणा प्राधान्ये च निवेशिता। रूपान्विता विशालाक्षी तेजसा भास्करोपमा
Devoted to her husband, her very life centered on him, foremost among the women, endowed with beauty, wide-eyed, and radiant like the sun.
द्योतयन्ती सदस्तत्र सूर्यस्येव यथा प्रभा। ज्वलमानं तथा वह्निं श्रयन्ते ऋत्विजस्तथा
Illuminating the assembly there like the radiance of the sun, she shone, and the officiating priests likewise approached the blazing fire.
पशूनामिह गृह्णानाभागं स्वस्व चरोर्मुदा। यज्ञभागार्थिनो देवा विलम्बाद्ब्रुवते तदा
There, as they joyfully took their respective portions of the sacrificial animals, the gods, desiring their share of the sacrifice, spoke up due to the delay.
कालहीनं न कर्तव्यं कृतं न फलदं यतः। वेदेष्वेवमधीकारो दृष्टःसर्वैर्मनीषिभिः
'A sacrifice performed out of time should not be done, for what is done then bears no fruit; such is the rule seen by all the wise in the Vedas.'
प्रावर्ग्ये क्रियमाणे तु ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः। क्षीरद्वयेन संयुक्त शृतेनाध्वर्युणा तथा
When the Prāvargya rite was being performed by Brāhmaṇas learned in the Vedas, with two measures of milk and with clarified butter by the Adhvaryu,
उपहूतेनागते नचाहूतेषु द्विजन्मसु। क्रियमाणे तथाभक्ष्ये दृष्ट्वा देवी रुषान्विता
Though called, the twice-born did not come when summoned; as the offering was being prepared, seeing this, the goddess became angry.
उवाच देवी ब्रह्माणं सदोमध्ये तु मौनिनम्। किमेतद्युज्यते देव कर्तुमेतद्विचेष्टितम्
The goddess spoke to Brahmā, silent in the midst of the assembly: 'O god, is this act proper, this thing you have done?'
मां परित्यज्य यत्कामात्कृतवानसि किल्बिषम्। नतुल्यापादरजसा ममैषा या शिरः कृता
'Having abandoned me out of desire, you have committed a sin; this one whom you have made your wife is not equal even to the dust of my feet.'
यद्वदन्ति जनास्सर्वे संगताः सदसि स्थिताः। आज्ञामीश्वरभूतानां तां कुरुष्व यदीच्छसि
Do as all the people assembled here in the council say, for they are like lords; act according to their command if you wish.
भवता रूपलोभेन कृतं लोकविगर्हितम्। पुत्रेषु नकृतालज्जा पौत्रेषुचन ते प्रभो
Because of your desire for beauty, you have done what is condemned by the world; you have shown no shame before your sons or grandsons, O Lord.
कामकारकृतं मन्य एतत्कर्मविगर्हितम्। पितामहोसि देवानामृषीणां प्रपितामहः
This act, done out of desire, is considered blameworthy; you are the grandsire of the gods and the great-grandfather of the sages.
कथं न ते त्रपा जाता आत्मनःपश्यतस्तनुम्। लोकमध्येकृतं हास्यमहं चापकृता प्रभो
How did you not feel shame, seeing your own body, having done this disgraceful deed in the midst of the world? I too have been dishonored, O Lord.
यद्येष ते स्थिरो भावस्तिष्ठ देव नमोस्तुते। अहंकथंसखीनांतु दर्शयिष्यामि वैमुखम्
If this is your firm resolve, then remain, O god, I bow to you; but how shall I show my face to my friends?
भर्त्रा मे विधृता पत्नी कथमेतदहं वदे। "ब्रह्मोवाच। ऋत्विग्भिस्त्वरितश्चाहं दीक्षाकालादनंतरम्
My husband has kept me as his wife—how can I speak of this?
पत्नीं विना न होमोत्र शीघ्रं पत्नीमिहानय। शक्रेणैषा समानीता दत्तेयं मम विष्णुना
Brahmā said: Urged by the priests, I came quickly after the consecration period; without a wife, the sacrifice cannot be performed here—bring a wife here at once. She was brought by Śakra and given to me by Viṣṇu.
गृहीता च मया सुभ्रु क्षमस्वैतं मया कृतम्। न चापराधं भूयोन्यं करिष्ये तव सुव्रते
I have accepted her, O fair-browed one; forgive me for what I have done. I will not commit any further offense against you, O virtuous lady.
पादयोः पतितस्तेहं क्षमस्वेह नमोस्तुते। "पुलस्त्य उवाच। एवमुक्ता तदा क्रुद्धा ब्रह्माणं शप्तुमुद्यता
I fall at your feet—please forgive me, I bow to you here.
यदि मेस्ति तपस्तप्तं गुरवो यदि तोषिताः। सर्वब्रह्मसमूहेषु स्थानेषु विविधेषु च
Pulastya said: Thus addressed, she became angry and prepared to curse Brahmā.
नैव ते ब्राह्मणाः पूजां करिष्यंति कदाचन। ॠते तु कार्तिकीमेकां पूजां सांवत्सरीं तव
If I have performed austerities, if my teachers have been pleased, then among all assemblies of Brahmins, in all various places,
करिष्यन्ति द्विजाः सर्वे मर्त्या नान्यत्र भूतले। एतद्ब्रह्माणमुक्त्वाह शतक्रतुमुपस्थितम्
the Brahmins will never worship you, except for one annual worship in the month of Kārtika.
भोभोः! शक्र त्वयानीता आभीरी ब्रह्मणोन्तिकम्। यस्मात्ते क्षुद्रकंकर्मतस्मात्वं लप्स्यसे फलम्
All the twice-born on earth will perform only that worship and no other. Having thus spoken to Brahmā, she addressed Śatakratu, who was present.
यदा संग्राममध्ये त्वं स्थाता शक्र भविष्यसि। तदा त्वं शत्रुभिर्बद्धो नीतः परमिकां दशाम्
O Śakra! You brought the cowherd woman to Brahmā; because of this petty act, you will reap its result.