गच्छ त्वमनया सार्द्धं पार्वत्याऽसुरदूषण। गौरी त्वदग्रतो यातु पश्चात्त्वं गच्छ शंकर
Go with Parvati, destroyer of demons. Let Gauri go before you, and you follow after, O Shankara.
प्रतिबोध्यानय यथा शीघ्रमायाति तत्कुरु। एवमुक्तौ तदा तौ तु पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ
Awaken her and bring her quickly; do what is needed so she comes at once. Thus instructed, Parvati and the Supreme Lord then—
गत्वादिष्टौ दंपती तां प्रोचतुर्ब्रह्मणः प्रियाम्। बृहत्कृत्यं त्वया तत्र करणीयं पतिव्रते
The divine couple went as commanded and spoke to Brahma’s beloved: 'A great task must be performed by you, O devoted wife.'
पृच्छस्वेमां वरारोहां गौरीं पर्वतनंदिनीम्। लक्ष्मीं चैतां विशालाक्षीमिंद्राणीं वा शुभानने
Ask this noble Gauri, daughter of the mountain, or this wide-eyed Lakshmi, or Indrani, O auspicious-faced one.
यासां वा श्रद्धधासि त्वं पृच्छ देवि नमोस्तु ते। आशीर्वादस्तया दत्तो देवदेवस्य शूलिनः
Ask whichever of them you trust, O goddess, I bow to you. A blessing was given by her to the trident-bearing Lord of the gods.
शरीरार्धे च ते गौरी सदा स्थास्यति शंकर। अनया शोभसे देव त्वया त्रैलोक्यसुंदर
Gauri will always abide in half your body, O Shankara. With her, you shine, O god, beautiful in all three worlds.
सुखभागि जगत्सर्वं त्वया नाथेन शत्रुहन्। एवं ब्रुवंती सावित्री गृहीता ब्रह्मणः प्रिया
The whole world enjoys happiness because of you, O Lord, destroyer of enemies. Thus speaking, Savitri was taken by Brahma’s beloved.
गौर्य्या च वामहस्ते तु लक्ष्म्या वै दक्षिणे करे। अभिवंद्य तु तां देवीं शंकरो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Gauri held her by the left hand, and Lakshmi by the right. After bowing to her, Shankara spoke these words.
एह्यागच्छ महाभागे यत्र तिष्ठति ते पतिः। तत्र गच्छ वरारोहे स्त्रीणां भर्ता परागतिः
Come, O highly fortunate one, to where your husband stands. Go there, O beautiful one; for women, the husband is the highest goal.
बृहदाग्रहणे देवि प्रणयाद्गंतुमर्हसि। लक्ष्मीश्चैषा पार्वती च स्थिता देवि तवाग्रतः
At this great invitation, O goddess, you should go with affection. Lakshmi and Parvati stand before you, O goddess.
एतयोर्वचसा देवि आवयोश्च शुभानने। मानभंगो न ते कर्तुं यज्यते ब्रह्मणः प्रिये
By the words of these two and of us, O auspicious-faced one, no disrespect to you is intended, beloved of Brahma.
अस्मदभ्यर्थिता देवि तत्र याहि मुदान्विता। गौर्युवाच॥ अहं च ते प्रिया देवि सर्वदा वदसि स्वयम्
Requested by us, O goddess, go there joyfully. Gauri said: I am always your dear one, O goddess, as you yourself say.
लक्ष्मीश्च ते करे लग्ना दक्षिणे च मया धृता। एह्यागच्छ महाभागे यत्र तिष्ठति ते पतिः
Lakshmi is placed in your hand, and I have held her in your right. Come, O greatly fortunate one, to where your husband is waiting.
नीता सा तु तदा ताभ्यां देवी सा मध्यतः कृता। पुरस्सरौ विष्णुरुद्रौ शक्राद्याश्च तथा सुराः
Then she was led by those two, the goddess positioned in the center, with Vishnu and Rudra at the front, and Indra and the other gods as well.
गंधर्वाप्सरसश्चैव त्रैलोक्यं सचराचम्। तत्रायाता च सा देवी सावित्री ब्रह्मणः प्रिया
The Gandharvas and Apsaras, and all beings of the three worlds, both moving and unmoving, came there; and the goddess Savitri, beloved of Brahma, arrived.
सावित्रीं सुमुखीं दृष्ट्वा सर्वलोकपितामहः। गायत्र्या सहितो ब्रह्मा इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Seeing Savitri, whose face was beautiful, the grandfather of all worlds, Brahma, together with Gayatri, spoke these words.
एषा देवी कर्मकरी अहं ते वशगस्थितः। समादिश वरारोहे यत्ते कार्यं मया त्विह
This goddess is a performer of deeds; I am now under your control. Command me, O beautiful one, whatever work you wish me to do here.
एवमुक्ता च सा देवी स्वयं देवेन ब्रह्मणा। त्रपयाधोमुखी देवी न च किंचिदवोचत
Thus addressed by the god Brahma himself, the goddess, her face lowered in modesty, said nothing.
पादयोः पतिता देवी गायत्री ब्रह्मचोदिता। कृतवत्यपराधं ते क्षम देवि नमोस्तु ते
Gayatri, prompted by Brahma, fell at the feet of the goddess and said: 'I have committed an offense against you; forgive me, O goddess, I bow to you.'
आलिंग्य सादरं कंठे सा परिष्वज्य पीडितां। गायत्रीं सांत्वयामास मान्यश्चैष पतिर्मम
Embracing her affectionately around the neck, she comforted the distressed Gayatri, saying: 'He is my honored husband.'
कर्त्तव्यं वचनं तस्य स्त्रीणां प्राणेश्वरः पतिः। उक्तं भगवता पूर्वं सृष्टिकाले विरिंचिना
The husband's word must be obeyed; he is the lord of life for women. This was declared by the blessed Virinchi at the time of creation.
न च स्त्रीणां पृथग्यज्ञो न व्रतं नाप्युपोषणम्। भर्ता यद्वदते वाक्यं तत्तु कुर्यादकुत्सया
There is no separate sacrifice, vow, or fasting for women; whatever the husband says, she should do without disdain.
भर्तृनिंदां या कुरुते स्वसृनिंदां तथैव च। परिवादं प्रलापं वा नरकं सा तु गच्छति
A woman who reviles her husband, or likewise her sister, or indulges in slander or idle talk, goes to hell.
पत्यौ जीवति या नारी उपवासव्रतं चरेत्। आयुष्यं हरते भर्तुर्मृता नरकमिच्छति
If a woman undertakes fasting or vows while her husband is alive, she diminishes his lifespan; if he dies, she desires hell.
एवं ज्ञात्वा त्वया भर्तुर्न कार्यं विप्रियं सति। न चास्य दक्षिणं त्वंगं त्वया सेव्यं कथंचन
Knowing this, you must not do anything displeasing to your husband, O virtuous one; nor should you ever serve his right side.
सर्वकार्ये त्वहं चास्य दक्षिणं पक्षमाश्रिता। सव्यं त्वमायेस्साध्वि पार्श्वे नारदपुष्करौ
In all matters, I myself have taken the right side of him; you, O virtuous one, should approach the left side, along with Narada and Pushkara.
ब्रह्मस्थानानि चान्यानि स्थितान्यायतनानि च। लभे वै शोभमानेह यावत्सृष्टिः प्रजायते
Other seats of Brahma and sacred places are established; you will obtain beauty here as long as creation continues.
भवत्या च मया चैव स्थातव्यं च न संशयः। पुष्करे ब्रह्मणः पार्श्वे वामं च त्वं समाश्रय
Both you and I must remain, without doubt, at the side of Brahma in Pushkara; you should take the left side.
अनेन चोपदेशेन सुखं तिष्ठ मयान्विता। गायत्र्युवाच॥ एवमेतत्करिष्यामि तव निर्देशकारिका
By this instruction, remain happily with me. Gayatri said: 'I will do exactly as you direct.'
तवैवाज्ञा मया कार्या त्वं मे प्राणसमा सखी। अहं ते त्वनुजा देवि सदा मां पातुमर्हसि
Your command must be followed by me; you are my friend equal to my life. I am your younger, O goddess; you should always protect me.