अथ संस्मृत्य सा पूर्वजन्मकर्मविपाकजाम्
Then she remembered the consequences of actions from her previous birth.
तत्कथं नु पुनर्विप्र प्रयास्याम्युत्तमां गतिम्
How, O Brahmin, can I now attain the highest state again?
अतीव विस्मितो विप्रस्तदा वचनमब्रवीत्
The Brahmin was greatly astonished and then spoke these words.
धर्मदत्त उवाच केन कर्मविपाकेन त्वं दशामीदृशीं गता 2.4.24.
Dharmadatta said: By what result of actions have you come to such a condition?
तस्याहं गृहिणी पूर्वं कलहाख्याऽतिनिष्ठुरा
She said: Formerly, I was a housewife named Kalahā, exceedingly harsh.
न कदाचिन्मया भर्तुर्वचसाऽपि शुभं कृतम्
Never did I perform any good act, even in word, for my husband.
कलहप्रियया नित्यं मयोद्विग्नमना यदा
Being always fond of quarrels, I constantly disturbed his mind.
ततो गरं समादाय प्राणास्त्यक्ता मया द्विज
Then, taking poison, I ended my life, O Brahmin.
यमश्च मां तदा दृष्ट्वा चित्रगुप्तमपृच्छत
Yama, seeing me at that time, questioned Citragupta.
प्राप्नोत्वेषा च तत्कर्म शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम्
Let her receive the result of her actions, whether auspicious or inauspicious.
कलहोवाच चित्रगुप्तस्तदा वाक्यं भर्त्सयन्मामुवाच सः चित्रगुप्त उवाच अनया तु कृतं कर्म शुभं किंचिन्न विद्यते
Kalahā said: Citragupta, rebuking me, spoke these words: Citragupta said: She has performed no good deed at all.
मिष्टान्नं भुंजमानेयं न भर्तरि तदर्पितम्
While eating delicious food, she never offered it to her husband.
भर्तुर्द्वेषात्तदाप्येषा नित्यं कलहकारिणी
Because of her enmity toward her husband, she was always quarrelsome at that time.
पाकभांडे सदा भुंक्ते भुंक्ते चैका यतस्ततः 2.4.24.
She would always eat from the cooking pot, and she ate alone, for this reason.
भर्तारमपि चोद्दिश्य ह्यात्मघातः कृतोऽनया
She even incited her husband, and by her, suicide was committed.
अतश्चैषा मरुद्देशं प्रापितव्या भटैरियम्
Therefore, she must be taken by the guards to the region of the wind.
ऊर्ध्वं योनित्रयं चैषा भुनक्त्वशुभकारिणी
Hereafter, this doer of evil will experience three wombs above.
क्षुतृड्भ्यां पीडिताऽऽविश्य शरीरं वणिजस्य च
Afflicted by hunger and thirst, she will enter the body of a merchant.
तत्तीरं संश्रिता यावत्तावत्तस्य शरीरतः
As long as she remains on that bank, so long will she stay in his body.
ततः क्षुत्क्षामया दृष्टो मया हि त्वं द्विजोत्तम
Then, tormented by hunger and thirst, I saw you, O best of twice-born.
तत्कृत्यं कुरु विप्रेंद्र कथं मुक्तिमियाम्यहम्
Therefore, do what is to be done, O foremost of Brahmins; how may I attain liberation?
इत्थं विचिंत्य कलहावचनं द्विजाग्र्यस्तत्कर्मपाकभयविस्मयदुःखयुक्तः
Thinking thus about her quarrelsome words, the foremost of Brahmins, filled with amazement and sorrow at the fear of the ripening of her deeds,
प्रेतदेहस्थितायास्ते तेषु नैवाऽधिकारिता
For her, who was situated in a ghostly body, there was no eligibility among them.
त्वद्ग्लानिदर्शनादस्मात्खिन्नं च मम मानसम्
Because of seeing your suffering, my mind too is distressed.
तस्मादाजन्मचरितं यन्मया कार्तिकव्रतम्
Therefore, the Kartika vow that I have observed since birth—
इत्युक्त्वा धर्मदत्तोऽसौ यावत्तामभ्यषेचयत्
Having said this, Dharmadatta then sprinkled her.
तावत्प्रेतत्वनिर्मुक्ता ज्वलदग्निशिखोपमा
Immediately she was freed from ghosthood, shining like a blazing flame.
ततः सा दंडवद्भूमौ प्रणनामाथ तं द्विजम्
Then she bowed down on the ground like a staff and saluted that Brahmin.
कलहोवाच त्वत्प्रसादाद्द्विजश्रेष्ठ विमुक्ता निरयादहम्
Kalahā spoke: 'By your grace, O best of Brahmins, I am freed from hell.'
विमानं भास्वरं युक्तं विष्णुरूपधरैर्गणैः
A radiant aerial chariot appeared, equipped with attendants in the form of Vishnu.