स दृष्ट्वाऽदृष्टपूर्वां तां मार्गपृच्छाकृते ततः
He, seeing her—never seen before—then asked her for directions.
उवाच देशं तां पृच्छन्स्त्रीधर्मांश्च विशेषतः
He questioned her about the region, and especially about the duties of women.
सदैव वासुदेवस्य भक्तिश्चाव्यभिचारिणी चारित्रविनयोपेता सर्वदा प्रियवादिनी ॥ ६.४२.
Is your devotion to Vāsudeva always unwavering, accompanied by good conduct and humility, and do you always speak kindly?
कच्चित्त्वं सर्वदाभीष्टा पत्युर्दानैस्तथार्च्चनैः
Are you always pleasing to your husband with gifts and acts of worship?
कच्चिद्भर्तरि संसुप्ते त्वं निशवशमेष्यसि
When your husband is asleep, do you remain awake at night?
कच्चित्प्रातः समुत्थाय करोषि गृहमार्जनम्
Do you, rising early in the morning, sweep the house?
कच्चिदेवान्नमस्कृत्य गुरुं च तदनंतरम्
Do you, after bowing to the gods, then honor your teacher?
कच्चिदस्तंगते सूर्ये नान्नमश्नासि भाभिनि
O radiant one, when the sun has set, do you refrain from eating food?
कच्चित्पिबसि पानीयं सप्तवारविशोधितम् [। निबिडेन स्ववस्त्रेण पालयंती जलोद्भवान्॥ २६. यूकामत्कुणदंशादीन्पुत्रवत्परिरक्षसि
Do you drink water that has been purified seven times, carefully filtering it with your own cloth, and do you protect creatures born in water—like lice, bugs, and mosquitoes—as if they were your own children?
कच्चित्साधुमुखान्नित्यं शिवधर्मं सुभक्तितः
Are you always devoted to the righteous, faithfully following the sacred duties of Śiva?
क्वचिच्छ्रुत्वाऽऽगमं पुण्यं प्रकरोषि च पूजनम्
Do you sometimes hear of a sacred tradition and perform worship accordingly?
कच्चित्पुराणशास्त्राणि प्रणीतानि जनेश्वरैः ६.४२.
Do you study the ancient scriptures composed by the lords of men?
यः श्रुत्वा सर्व शास्त्राणि निष्क्रयं न प्रयच्छति
Is there anyone who, after hearing all the scriptures, does not offer the prescribed fee?
कच्चिच्छिवालये नृत्यगीतवाद्यादिकाः क्रियाः
Are dance, song, music, and similar activities performed in the temple of Shiva?
कच्चित्प्रावरणं वस्त्रं सुभगे सर्वमेव च
O fortunate one, do you provide clothing and all coverings as needed?
वृथा पर्यटनं नित्यं कच्चिन्न परमंदिरे
Do you ever wander about aimlessly, never entering the supreme temple?
कच्चिन्नाश्नासि भद्रे त्वं स्वभर्तरि बुभुक्षिते
O good lady, do you eat while your husband is hungry?
कच्चित्प्रकुपिते कांते नोत्तराणि प्रयच्छसि
When your beloved is angry, do you refrain from speaking harsh words?
कच्चित्त्वं प्रोषिते कांते मलिनांबरधारिणी
When your beloved is away, do you wear soiled garments?
कच्चिन्मंदिरपृष्ठे त्वं न धत्से भिन्नभाजनम्
Do you ever place broken vessels behind the temple?
कच्चिन्न कुरुषे मैत्रीं बंधकीभिः समं शुभे ६.४२.
O auspicious one, do you avoid forming friendships with courtesans?
कञ्चिद्दधासि नित्यं त्वं मुखं कुंकुमरंजितम्
Do you always adorn your face with red vermilion?
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीति साहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये विश्वामित्रकुण्डोत्पत्तिवृत्तान्ते विश्वामित्रमेनकासमागमवर्णनंनाम द्विचत्वारिंशो ध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-second chapter, entitled 'The Meeting of Viśvāmitra and Menakā,' in the account of the origin of Viśvāmitra's pool, in the glory of the Hāṭakeśvara field, in the sixth section, the Nāgara division, of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
स्वेच्छाचारविहारिण्यो वयं वेश्या दिवौकसाम्
We courtesans of the gods dwell and act as we please.
स त्वं वद महाभाग कस्माद्देशात्समागतः
So, tell me, O highly fortunate one, from what land have you come?
त्वां दृष्ट्वाहं महाभाग कामदेव समाकृतिम्
Seeing you, O highly fortunate one, I perceive the very form of Kāma, the god of love.
तस्माद्भजस्व मां रक्तां नो चेद्यास्यामि संक्षयम् ततः स्त्रीवधपापेन लिप्यसे त्वं न संशयः
Therefore, unite with me who am enamored; if not, I will perish, and you will surely incur the sin of killing a woman.
मूर्खाः कामविधौ भद्रे निरताः शिवशासने
O good lady, the foolish are devoted to lustful acts, but not to the commands of Shiva.
सर्वेषां व्रतिनां मूलं ब्रह्मचर्यमुदाहृतम्
Brahmacharya is declared to be the root of all vows.
अपि वर्षशतं साग्रं यत्तपः कुरुते व्रती
Even if a person observing a vow performs austerity for a full hundred years,