नानारत्नतृणानां च स्थलेषु मृदुदीप्तिषु । निर्झरेषु तरत्तारशीकरासारवर्षिषु
On grounds covered with soft, radiant grasses of many precious gems, and at waterfalls showering streams of sparkling droplets,
शैलानां हेममाणिक्यशिलाफलहकेषु च । देवर्षिमुनिगेहेषु दूरपुण्याश्रमेषु च
On mountains bearing golden and ruby-studded rocks, in the dwellings of divine sages, and in distant, meritorious hermitages,
कुमुद्वतीषु फुल्लासु स्मेरासु नलिनीषु च । वनस्थलीषु फुल्लासु फुल्लासूत्पलिनीषु च
In blooming ponds of white lotuses, in smiling water-lilies, in blossoming forest clearings, and in full-bloom blue-lotus beds,
प्रहेलिकाभिर् आख्यानैस् तथैवाक्षरमुष्टिभिः । अष्टापदैर् बहूद्द्योतैस् तथा गूढचतुर्थकैः
With riddles, stories, and also with handfuls of letter-games, with many kinds of board games and secret dice contests,
नाटकाख्यायिकाभिश् च श्लोकैर् बिन्दुमतीभ्रमैः । देशभाषाविभागैश् च नगरग्रामचेष्टितैः
With dramas and tales, with verses and intricate patterns of dots, with regional dialects, and the customs of cities and villages,
स्रग्दाममाल्यवलनैर् नानाभरणयोजनैः । लीलाविलोलचलनैर् विचित्ररसभाजनैः
With garlands, wreaths, and chains of flowers, with various ornaments, with playful, graceful movements, and with vessels of diverse delights,
आर्द्रक्रमुककर्पूरताम्बूलीदलचर्वणैः । समालम्भनलीलाभिर् दोलारोहणविभ्रमैः
With the chewing of tender betel leaves, areca nut, and camphor, with playful embraces, and the delightful motions of mounting swings,
गृहे कुसुमदोलाभिर् अन्योऽन्यान्दोलनक्रमैः । फुल्लपुष्पलताकुञ्जदेहगोपनखर्वणैः
At home, with swings adorned with flowers, with the mutual rhythm of swinging one another, and in bowers of blossoming creepers, concealing their bodies among the flowering vines,
नौयानयुग्यहस्त्यश्वदान्तोष्ट्रादिगमागमैः । जलकेलिविलासेन परस्परसमुक्षणैः
With journeys by boat, chariot, elephant, horse, and camel, with playful sports in the water, and with mutual sprinkling,
नृत्तगीतकलालास्यताण्डवोद्भटवृत्तिभिः । सङ्गीतकैस् सङ्कथनैर् वीणामुरजवादनैः
With dances, songs, artistic performances, vigorous tandava dances, with music, conversations, and the playing of the lute and drum,
उद्यानेषु सरित्तीरवृक्षेषु वनवीथिषु । अन्तःपुरेषु हर्म्येषु तेषु तेषु तथा तथा
In gardens, on riverbanks, among trees, along forest paths, within inner chambers and mansions, in all these places, in various ways,
सा बाला सुखसंवृद्धा तस्य प्रणयिनी प्रिया । एकदा चिन्तयाम् आस शुभसङ्कल्पशालिनी
That young woman, raised in comfort, his beloved and devoted wife, once began to reflect, her mind inclined toward auspicious thoughts:
प्राणेभ्यो ऽपि प्रियो भर्ता ममैष जगतीपतिः । यौवनोल्लासलक्ष्मीवान् कथं स्याद् अजरामरः
My husband, the lord of the world, is dearer to me than life itself; endowed with the splendor of youthful vigor—how might he become ageless and immortal?
भर्त्रानेन सहोत्तुङ्गस्तनी कुसुमसद्मसु । कथं स्वैरं चिरं कान्ता रमेयाब्दशतान्य् अहम्
With this husband, whose embrace lifts my swelling breasts, how might I, his beloved, freely delight with him in these flower-houses for hundreds of years?
तथा यतेय क्रमतस् तपोजपयमेहितैः । रजनीशरुची राजा यथा स्याद् अजरामरः
In the same way, by gradual effort in asceticism, recitation, and striving, one may become, like the moon among kings, ageless and deathless.
ज्ञानवृद्धांस् तपोवृद्धान् विद्यावृद्धान् अहं द्विजान् । पृच्छामि तावन् मरणं कथं न स्यान् नृणाम् इति
I ask the twice-born who are advanced in wisdom, asceticism, and learning: how is it that death does not occur for people?
अथानाय्याशु सम्पूज्य द्विजान् पप्रच्छ सानता । अमरत्वं कथं विप्रा भवेद् इति पुनः पुनः
Then, having duly honored the twice-born, she respectfully asked them again and again: O Brahmins, how can immortality be attained?
तपोजपयमैर् देवि समस्तास् सिद्धसिद्धयः । सम्प्राप्यन्ते ऽमरत्वं तु न कदाचन लभ्यते
O goddess, by all forms of asceticism and recitation, both the accomplished and the unaccomplished attain various results, but immortality is never obtained.
इत्य् आकर्ण्य द्विजमुखाच् चिन्तयाम् आस सा पुनः । इदं स्वप्रज्ञयैवाशु भीता प्रियवियोगतः
Hearing this from the mouths of the twice-born, she again reflected, quickly and with her own discernment, fearful of separation from her beloved.
मरणं भर्तुर् अग्रे मे यदि दैवाद् भविष्यति । तत् सर्वदुःखनिर्मुक्ता संस्थास्ये सुखम् आत्मनि
If, by fate, my husband should die before me, then, freed from all sorrow, I will peacefully abide in my own self.
अथ वर्षसहस्रेण भर्तादौ चेन् मरिष्यति । तत् करिष्ये तथा येन जीवो गेहान् न यास्यति
But if, after a thousand years, my husband dies first, then I will act in such a way that the soul does not depart from the house.
उद्भ्रमद्भर्तृजीवे ऽस्मिन् निजे शुद्धान्तमण्डपे । भर्त्रावलोकिता नित्यं निवत्स्यामि यथासुखम्
When my husband's soul departs and is present in my own pure inner chamber, I will remain, always seen by my husband, dwelling there as I please.
अद्यैवारभ्यैतदर्थं देवीं ज्ञप्तिं सरस्वतीम् । जपोपवासनियमैर् आतोषं पूजयाम्य् अहम्
Today itself, I begin this endeavor: I worship the goddess Sarasvati, the embodiment of knowledge, with recitation, fasting, and discipline, seeking her satisfaction.
इति निश्चित्य सा नाथम् अनुक्त्वैव वराङ्गना । यथाशास्त्रं चचारोग्रं तपो नियमम् आस्थिता
Having resolved thus, that noble lady, without informing her husband, undertook severe austerity and discipline according to the scriptures.
त्रिरात्रस्य त्रिरात्रस्य पर्यन्ते कृतपारणा । देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञविद्वत्पूजापरायणा
At the end of each three-night period, having completed her fast, she devoted herself to the worship of gods, brahmins, teachers, wise men, and scholars.
स्नानदानतपोध्याननित्योद्युक्तशरीरिका । सर्वास्तिक्यसदाचारकारिणी क्लेशभारिणी
Constantly engaged in bathing, giving, austerity, and study, she acted with a body ever diligent, performing all duties of faith and good conduct, bearing great hardship.
यथाकालं यथोद्योगं यथाशास्त्रं यथाक्रमम् । तोषयाम् आस भर्तारम् अपरिज्ञाततत्स्थितिम्
According to the proper time, effort, scripture, and order, she pleased her husband, though unaware of his true state.
त्रिरात्रशतम् एवं सा बाला नियमशालिनी । अनारततपोनिष्ठम् अतिष्ठत् कष्टचेष्टया
For a hundred periods of three nights, that young woman, steadfast in discipline, continuously practiced austerity with strenuous effort.
त्रिरात्राणां शतेनाथ पूजिता प्रतिमाम् इता । तुष्टा भगवती गौरी वागीशीदम् उवाच ताम्
After a hundred sets of three nights, having worshipped the image, the blessed goddess Gauri, mistress of speech, became pleased and spoke to her.
निरन्तरेण तपसा भर्तृभक्त्यतिशायिना । परितुष्टास्मि ते वत्से गृहाण वरम् ईप्सितम्
Through uninterrupted austerity and surpassing devotion to her husband, I am fully satisfied with you, child; receive the boon you desire.