एवमुक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा ब्राह्मणः शुभकर्मकृत् १.
Thus addressed, the righteous Brahmin, performer of auspicious deeds,
भवतीनां चरित्रेण परिमुह्यामि चेतसि १.
I am bewildered in my mind by your conduct, O ladies.
मस्त कस्थायिनं मृत्युं यदि पश्येदयं जनः १.
If people were to see death as a being made of wood and clay.
आहो मानुष्यकं जन्म सर्वजन्मसु दुर्लभम् १.
Indeed, human birth is rare among all births.
तान्वयं समपृच्छामो जनिर्वः किंनिमित्ततः १.
We now ask you: for what reason does your birth occur?
न चैताः परिनिन्दामो जनिर्यार्भ्यः प्रवर्तते १.
Nor do we disparage those whose birth arises from childhood.
यतः पद्मभुवा सृष्टं मिथुनं विश्ववृद्धये १.
For the pair was created by the Lotus-born for the growth of the world.
या बांधवैः प्रदत्ता स्याद्वह्निद्विजसमागमे १.
That which is given by relatives at the meeting of fire and twice-born.
यथाप्रकृति पुंयोमो यत्नेनापि परस्परम् १.
According to their nature, men and women strive together, even with effort.
एवं यत्नात्साध्यमानं स्वकं गार्हस्थ्यमुत्तमम् १.
Thus, through effort, one's own excellent household life is accomplished.
पुरे पंचमुखे द्वाःस्थ एकादशभटैर्युतः १.
In the city, at the five-faced gate, accompanied by eleven guards.
यश्चस्त्रिया समायोगः पंचयज्ञादिकर्मभिः १.
And the union with a woman, along with acts like the five sacrifices.
अहो श्रृणुध्वं नो चेद्वः शुश्रूषा जायते शुभा १.
Listen, if you wish, for auspicious eagerness to hear arises.
षड्धातुसारं तद्वीर्यं समानं परिहाय च १.
Having abandoned the essence of the six elements, that seed which is equal.
प्रथमं चौषधीद्रोग्धा आत्मद्रोग्धा ततः पुनः १.
First, the milker of herbs, then again the milker of oneself.
मनुष्यं पितरो देवा मुनयो मानवास्तथा १.
Humans, ancestors, gods, sages, and likewise men.
वचसा मनसा चैव जिह्वया करश्रोत्रकैः १.
By speech, by mind, and also by tongue, hands, and ears.
काकप्राये नरे यस्मिन्रमंते तामसा जनाः १.
In the man who is like a crow, those of tamasic nature delight.
एवंविधं हि विश्वस्य निर्माणं स्मरतोहृदि १.
Such is the creation of the universe, remembered in the heart.
तदिदं चान्यमर्त्यानां शास्त्रदृष्टमहो स्त्रियः १.
And this, too, concerning mortal women, is seen in scripture, indeed.
भवतीषु च कः कोपो ये यदर्थे हि निर्मिताः १.
What anger could there be among you, for you were created for that very purpose.
शतं सहस्रं विश्वं च सर्वमक्षय वाचकम् १.
A hundred, a thousand, the whole universe—all are called imperishable.
यदा च वो ग्राहभूता गृह्णतीः पुरुषाञ्जले १.
And when you become objects of worship, men will take you with folded hands.
तदा यूयं पुनः सर्वाः स्वं रूपं प्रतिपत्स्यथ कल्याणस्य सुपृक्तस्य शुद्धिस्तद्वद्वरा हि वः॥ १.
Then all of you will regain your own form; purity, auspiciousness, and excellence will be yours.
ततोभिवाद्य तं विप्रं कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणम्॥ १.
Then, having saluted that Brahmin and circumambulated him,
अचिंतयामापसृत्य तस्माद्देशात्सुदुःखिताः १.
They departed from that place, deeply distressed.
समागच्छेम यो नः स्वं रूपमापादयेत्पुनः १.
Let us approach the one who can restore our own form.
दृष्टवत्यो महाभागं देवर्षिमथ नारदम् १.
They saw the illustrious sage Narada.
अभिवाद्य च तं पार्थ स्थिताः स्मो व्यथिताननाः १.
Having saluted him, O Partha, we stood with troubled faces.
श्रुत्वा तच्च यथातत्त्वमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् १.
Hearing this, he spoke these words as they truly are.