Shandili Teaches Sumana the Duties of a Devoted Wife

Verse 1 (13.185.1)

स्त्रीणां हि समुदाचारं सर्वधर्मविदांवर । श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं त्वत्तस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥

strīṇāṃ hi samudācāraṃ sarvadharmavidāṃvara | śrotumicchāmyahaṃ tvattastanme brūhi pitāmaha

I wish to hear from you, O best of those who know all dharma, about the right conduct of women. Tell me that, grandfather.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads स्त्रीणां हि समुदाचारं … सर्वधर्मविदांवर against CE 1a satstrīṇāṃ samudācāraṃ … sarvadharmabhṛtāṃ vara (recension variant, Wikisource reading kept). The alignment found no match.

Verse 2 (13.185.2)

सर्वज्ञां सर्वतत्त्वज्ञां देवलोके मनस्विनीम् । कैकेयी सुमना नाम शाण्डिलीं पर्यपृच्छत ॥

sarvajñāṃ sarvatattvajñāṃ devaloke manasvinīm | kaikeyī sumanā nāma śāṇḍilīṃ paryapṛcchata

In the world of the gods, Kaikeyi, who was called Sumana, questioned Shandili, the all-knowing, who knew the truth of all things and was of noble mind.

Verse 3 (13.185.3)

केन वृत्तेन कल्याणि समाचारेण केन वा । विधूय सर्वपापानि देवलोकं त्वमागता ॥

kena vṛttena kalyāṇi samācāreṇa kena vā | vidhūya sarvapāpāni devalokaṃ tvamāgatā

By what way of life, O blessed lady, or by what conduct have you shaken off all your sins and come to the world of the gods?

Note on the text: The page prints no speaker heading between the narrator's line (verse 2) and these verses; the words are Sumana's question to Shandili, so the speech is given to Sumana (the input had Bhishma carried over). The critical edition has no speaker label here either (Bhishma's narration runs on to 13.124.21).

Verse 4 (13.185.4)

हुताशनशिखेव त्वं ज्वलमाना स्वतेजसा । सुता ताराधिपस्येव प्रभया दिवमागता ॥

hutāśanaśikheva tvaṃ jvalamānā svatejasā | sutā tārādhipasyeva prabhayā divamāgatā

You blaze with your own radiance like the flame of a fire; you have come to heaven shining like the daughter of the Lord of the Stars.

Verse 5 (13.185.5)

अरजांसि च वस्त्राणि धारयन्ती गतक्लमा । विमानस्था शुभा भासि सहस्रगुणमोजसा ॥

arajāṃsi ca vastrāṇi dhārayantī gataklamā | vimānasthā śubhā bhāsi sahasraguṇamojasā

Wearing spotless garments and free of weariness, you shine, auspicious one, seated in your celestial car, with a splendour a thousand times greater.

Verse 6 (13.185.6)

न त्वमल्पेन तपसा दानेन नियमेन वा । इमं लोकमनुप्राप्ता त्वं हि तत्त्वं वदस्व मे ॥

na tvamalpena tapasā dānena niyamena vā | imaṃ lokamanuprāptā tvaṃ hi tattvaṃ vadasva me

You have not come to this world by slight austerity, by giving, or by observance. Therefore tell me the truth.

Verse 7 (13.185.7)

इति पृष्टा सुमनया मधुरं चारुहासिनी । शाण्डिली निभृतं वाक्यं सुमनामिदमब्रवीत् ॥

iti pṛṣṭā sumanayā madhuraṃ cāruhāsinī | śāṇḍilī nibhṛtaṃ vākyaṃ sumanāmidamabravīt

Questioned thus by Sumana, Shandili, of the lovely smile, spoke these quiet and gentle words to Sumana.

Verse 8 (13.185.8)

नाहं काषायवसना नापि वल्कलधारिणी । न च मुण्डा च जटिला भूत्वा देवत्वमागता ॥

nāhaṃ kāṣāyavasanā nāpi valkaladhāriṇī | na ca muṇḍā ca jaṭilā bhūtvā devatvamāgatā

I did not become a goddess by wearing ochre robes or garments of bark, nor by being shaven or by wearing matted locks.

Note on the text: The page prints no speaker heading; from here to verse 23 the speech is Shandili's account of her own conduct, so it is given to Shandili (the input had Bhishma carried over). Wikisource reads न च मुण्डा च जटिला against CE 8c na ca muṇḍā na jaṭilā (recension variant, kept).

Verse 9 (13.185.9)

अहितानि च वाक्यानि सर्वाणि परुषाणि च । अप्रमत्ता च भर्तारं कदाचिन्नाहमब्रवम् ॥

ahitāni ca vākyāni sarvāṇi paruṣāṇi ca | apramattā ca bhartāraṃ kadācinnāhamabravam

Never, being ever watchful, did I say to my husband any unwelcome or harsh word.

Verse 10 (13.185.10)

देवतानां पितॄणां च ब्राह्मणानां च पूजने । अप्रमत्ता सदा युक्ता श्वश्रूश्वशुरवर्तिनी ॥

devatānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca brāhmaṇānāṃ ca pūjane | apramattā sadā yuktā śvaśrūśvaśuravartinī

I was always attentive and devoted in worshipping the gods, the ancestors and the brahmins, and I served my mother-in-law and father-in-law.

Verse 11 (13.185.11)

पैशुन्ये न प्रवर्तामि न ममैतन्मनो गतम् । अद्वारि न च तिष्ठामि चिरं न कथयामि च ॥

paiśunye na pravartāmi na mamaitanmano gatam | advāri na ca tiṣṭhāmi ciraṃ na kathayāmi ca

I do not engage in slander; my mind has never gone that way. I do not stand at the door, and I do not talk for long.

Verse 12 (13.185.12)

असद्वा हसितं किञ्चिदहितं वाऽपि कर्मणा । रहस्यमरहस्यं वा न प्रवर्तामि सर्वथा ॥

asadvā hasitaṃ kiñcidahitaṃ vā'pi karmaṇā | rahasyamarahasyaṃ vā na pravartāmi sarvathā

I never, in any way, engage in improper laughter or in any harmful act, whether in secret or in the open.

Verse 13 (13.185.13)

कार्यार्थे निर्गतं चापि भर्तारं गृहमागतम् । आसनेनोपसंयोज्य पूजयामि समाहिता ॥

kāryārthe nirgataṃ cāpi bhartāraṃ gṛhamāgatam | āsanenopasaṃyojya pūjayāmi samāhitā

When my husband went out on some business and came back home, I would offer him a seat and honour him with a composed mind.

Verse 14 (13.185.14)

यदन्नं नाभिजानाति यद्भोज्यं नाभिनन्दति । भक्ष्यं वा यदि वा लेह्यं तत्सर्वं वर्जयाम्यहम् ॥

yadannaṃ nābhijānāti yadbhojyaṃ nābhinandati | bhakṣyaṃ vā yadi vā lehyaṃ tatsarvaṃ varjayāmyaham

Whatever food he does not recognise, or does not take pleasure in, whether to be chewed or to be licked, all of that I avoid.

Verse 15 (13.185.15)

कुटुंबार्थे समानीतं यत्किञ्चित्कार्यमेव तु । पुनरुत्थाय तत्सर्वं कारयामि करोमि च ॥

kuṭuṃbārthe samānītaṃ yatkiñcitkāryameva tu | punarutthāya tatsarvaṃ kārayāmi karomi ca

Whatever task has been brought in for the sake of the family, I rise again and have all of it done, and do it myself as well.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads पुनरुत्थाय against CE 15c prātar utthāya (recension variant, kept).

Verse 16 (13.185.16)

अग्निसंरक्षणपरा गृहशुद्धिं च कारये । कुमारान्पालये नित्यं कुमारीं परिशिक्षये ॥

agnisaṃrakṣaṇaparā gṛhaśuddhiṃ ca kāraye | kumārānpālaye nityaṃ kumārīṃ pariśikṣaye

Intent on guarding the sacred fire, I have the house kept clean. I always look after the boys and I instruct the girl.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's numbered text: star passage 13,124.015d*0617_01 and _03 (the CE's star lines *0617_01-08 follow 13.124.15; its line _02 is not in Wikisource). Line 1 = *0617_01, line 2 = *0617_03. Wikisource divides the star lines into couplets differently.

Verse 17 (13.185.17)

आत्मप्रियाणि हित्वाऽपि गर्भसंरक्षणे रता । बालानां वर्जये नित्यं शापं कोपं प्रतापनम् ॥

ātmapriyāṇi hitvā'pi garbhasaṃrakṣaṇe ratā | bālānāṃ varjaye nityaṃ śāpaṃ kopaṃ pratāpanam

Setting aside even what I myself like, I am devoted to protecting the child in the womb. I always keep curses, anger and harsh treatment away from the children.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's numbered text: star passage 13,124.015d*0617_04-05. Wikisource divides the star lines into couplets differently.

Verse 18 (13.185.18)

अविक्षिप्तानि धान्यानि नान्नविक्षेपणं गृहे । रत्नवत्स्पृहये गेहे गावः सयवसोदकाः । समुद्गम्य च शुद्धाऽहं भिक्षां दद्यां द्विजातिषु ॥

avikṣiptāni dhānyāni nānnavikṣepaṇaṃ gṛhe | ratnavatspṛhaye gehe gāvaḥ sayavasodakāḥ | samudgamya ca śuddhā'haṃ bhikṣāṃ dadyāṃ dvijātiṣu

No grain is scattered about and no food is wasted in my house. I cherish the cows of the house like jewels, supplied with fodder and water. And having risen, pure, I would give alms to the twice-born.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's numbered text: star passage 13,124.015d*0617_06-08 (line 1 = *0617_06, line 2 = *0617_07, line 3 = *0617_08). Wikisource divides the star lines into couplets differently. Corrected रक्तवत्स्पृहये → रत्नवत्स्पृहये (misprint in Wikisource; रक्त for रत्न; CE star line *0617_07 reads 'ratnavat spṛhaye').

Verse 19 (13.185.19)

प्रवासं यदि मे याति भर्ता कार्येण केनचित् । मङ्गलैर्बहुभिर्युक्ता भवामि नियता तदा ॥

pravāsaṃ yadi me yāti bhartā kāryeṇa kenacit | maṅgalairbahubhiryuktā bhavāmi niyatā tadā

If my husband goes abroad on some errand, I remain restrained and keep many auspicious observances.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads नियता तदा against CE 16c niyatā sadā (recension variant, kept). The alignment found no match.

Verse 20 (13.185.20)

अञ्जनं रोचनां चैव स्नानं माल्यानुलेपनम् । प्रसाधनं च निष्क्रान्ते नामिनन्दामि भर्तरि ॥

añjanaṃ rocanāṃ caiva snānaṃ mālyānulepanam | prasādhanaṃ ca niṣkrānte nāminandāmi bhartari

Collyrium, red pigment, bathing, garlands, ointments and adornment: I take no delight in these once my husband has gone away.

Verse 21 (13.185.21)

नोत्थापयामि भर्तारं सुखं सुप्तमहं सदा । आतुरेष्वपि कार्येषु तेन तुष्यति मे मनः । नोत्थापये सुखं सुप्तं ह्यातुरं पालये पतिम् ॥

notthāpayāmi bhartāraṃ sukhaṃ suptamahaṃ sadā | ātureṣvapi kāryeṣu tena tuṣyati me manaḥ | notthāpaye sukhaṃ suptaṃ hyāturaṃ pālaye patim

I never wake my husband when he is sleeping soundly, even when there are urgent matters; my mind is content with that. I do not wake him when he sleeps in comfort, and when he is ailing I tend my husband.

Note on the text: Lines 1 and 2 = CE 13.124.18a and 18c; line 3 = CE star line 13.124.018b*0618_01. Wikisource orders them a, c, star. The alignment found no match.

Verse 22 (13.185.22)

नायासयामि भर्तारं कुटुम्बार्थेऽपि सर्वदा । गुप्तगुह्या सदा चास्मि सुसंमृष्टनिवेशना ॥

nāyāsayāmi bhartāraṃ kuṭumbārthe'pi sarvadā | guptaguhyā sadā cāsmi susaṃmṛṣṭaniveśanā

I never trouble my husband, even for the sake of the family. I keep what should be hidden well hidden, and my dwelling is always well swept.

Verse 23 (13.185.23)

इमं धर्मपथं नारी पालयन्ती समाहिता । अरुन्धतीव नारीणां स्वर्गलोके महीयते ॥

imaṃ dharmapathaṃ nārī pālayantī samāhitā | arundhatīva nārīṇāṃ svargaloke mahīyate

A woman who keeps to this path of dharma with a collected mind is honoured in the world of heaven, as Arundhati is among women.

Note on the text: Corrected नारीणीस्वर्गलोके → नारीणां स्वर्गलोके (misprint in Wikisource; two words run together with a wrong vowel; CE reads 'nārīṇāṃ svargaloke').

Verse 24 (13.185.24)

एतदाख्याय सा देवी सुमनायै तपस्विनी । पतिधर्मं महाभागा जगामादर्शनं तदा ॥

etadākhyāya sā devī sumanāyai tapasvinī | patidharmaṃ mahābhāgā jagāmādarśanaṃ tadā

Having taught Sumana this duty of a wife toward her husband, the goddess, the greatly fortunate ascetic, then vanished from her sight.

Verse 25 (13.185.25)

यश्चेदं पाण्डवाख्यानं पठेत्पर्वणि पर्वणि । स देवलोकं सम्प्राप्य नन्दने स सुखी वसेत् ॥

yaścedaṃ pāṇḍavākhyānaṃ paṭhetparvaṇi parvaṇi | sa devalokaṃ samprāpya nandane sa sukhī vaset

Whoever, O Pandava, recites this account on every parva day will reach the world of the gods and dwell happily in Nandana.