Maheshvara Asks Uma for the Dharma of Women

Verse 1 (13.248.1)

एवमुक्त्वा महादेवः श्रोतुकामः स्वयं प्रभुः । अनुकूलां प्रियां भार्यां पार्श्वस्तामभ्यभाषत ॥

evamuktvā mahādevaḥ śrotukāmaḥ svayaṃ prabhuḥ | anukūlāṃ priyāṃ bhāryāṃ pārśvastāmabhyabhāṣata

Having spoken thus, the lord Mahadeva, eager to hear for himself, addressed his beloved wife, who was ever agreeable to him and stood at his side.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4403-4404.

Verse 2 (13.248.2)

परावरज्ञे धर्माणां तपोवननिवासिनाम् । दीक्षाविधिदमोपेते सततं व्रतचारिणि । पृच्छामि त्वां वरारोहे पृष्टा वद ममेप्सितम् ॥

parāvarajñe dharmāṇāṃ tapovananivāsinām | dīkṣāvidhidamopete satataṃ vratacāriṇi | pṛcchāmi tvāṃ varārohe pṛṣṭā vada mamepsitam

“You who know the higher and the lower in the duties of those who dwell in the forests of austerity, who are skilled in the rules of initiation and self-restraint and keep your vows without break, O lovely-hipped one: I ask you. Being asked, tell me what I wish to know.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4405-4407.

Verse 3 (13.248.3)

सावित्री ब्रह्मणः पत्नी कौशिकस्य शची शुभा । लक्ष्मीर्विष्णोः प्रिया भार्या धृतिर्भार्या यमस्य तु ॥

sāvitrī brahmaṇaḥ patnī kauśikasya śacī śubhā | lakṣmīrviṣṇoḥ priyā bhāryā dhṛtirbhāryā yamasya tu

“Savitri is the wife of Brahma, the fair Shachi of Kaushika, Lakshmi the beloved wife of Vishnu, Dhriti the wife of Yama,”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4408-4409.

Verse 4 (13.248.4)

मार्कण्डेयस्य धूमोर्णा ऋद्धिर्वैश्रवणस्य तु । वरुणस्य प्रिया गौरी सवितुश्च सुवर्चला ॥

mārkaṇḍeyasya dhūmorṇā ṛddhirvaiśravaṇasya tu | varuṇasya priyā gaurī savituśca suvarcalā

“Dhumorna of Markandeya, Riddhi of Vaishravana, the beloved Gauri of Varuna, and Suvarchala of Savitr,”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4410-4411.

Verse 5 (13.248.5)

रोहिणी शशिनो भार्या स्वाहा चाग्नेरनिन्दिता । काश्यपस्यादितिश्चैव वसिष्ठस्याप्यरुन्धती ॥

rohiṇī śaśino bhāryā svāhā cāgneraninditā | kāśyapasyāditiścaiva vasiṣṭhasyāpyarundhatī

“Rohini the wife of the Moon, the blameless Svaha of Agni, Aditi of Kashyapa, and Arundhati of Vasishtha.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4412-4413.

Verse 6 (13.248.6)

एताश्चान्याश्च देव्यस्तु सर्वास्ताः पतिदेवताः । श्रूयन्ते लोकविख्यातास्त्वया चैव सहोषिताः ॥

etāścānyāśca devyastu sarvāstāḥ patidevatāḥ | śrūyante lokavikhyātāstvayā caiva sahoṣitāḥ

“These goddesses and others, all of whom hold their husbands as gods, are heard of as famous in the world, and they have lived with you.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4414-4415.

Verse 7 (13.248.7)

ताभिश्च पूजिताऽपि त्वमनुवृत्त्यनुभाषणैः । तस्मात्तु परिपृच्छामि धर्मज्ञे लोकसम्मते ॥

tābhiśca pūjitā'pi tvamanuvṛttyanubhāṣaṇaiḥ | tasmāttu paripṛcchāmi dharmajñe lokasammate

“You have been honoured by them too, with devoted attendance and gracious words. Therefore I ask you, who know dharma and are esteemed in the world.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4416-4417.

Verse 8 (13.248.8)

स्त्रीधर्मं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वयैव समुदाहृतम् । सधर्मचारिणी मे त्वं लोकसन्धारिणी तथा ॥

strīdharmaṃ śrotumicchāmi tvayaiva samudāhṛtam | sadharmacāriṇī me tvaṃ lokasandhāriṇī tathā

“I wish to hear the dharma of women, set forth by you yourself. You are my partner in dharma and the upholder of the world.”

Note on the text: Corrected सध्रमचारिणी → सधर्मचारिणी (misprint in Wikisource; letters transposed; CE 4419 sadharmacāriṇī). The second line combines CE 4419 and 4422 (4420-4421 are not on the page). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4418-4419 and 4422.

Verse 9 (13.248.9)

अयं हि स्त्रीगणस्त्वां तु अनुयाति न मुञ्चति । त्वत्प्रसादाद्धितं श्रोतुं स्त्रीवृत्तं शुभलक्षणम् ॥

ayaṃ hi strīgaṇastvāṃ tu anuyāti na muñcati | tvatprasādāddhitaṃ śrotuṃ strīvṛttaṃ śubhalakṣaṇam

“This company of women follows you and never leaves you. By your grace I wish to hear what is good for them: the conduct of women, with its auspicious marks.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4423-4424.

Verse 10 (13.248.10)

त्वया चोक्तं विशेषेण गुणभूतं हि तिष्ठति । स्त्रिय एव सदा लोके स्त्रीगणस्य गतिः प्रिये ॥

tvayā coktaṃ viśeṣeṇa guṇabhūtaṃ hi tiṣṭhati | striya eva sadā loke strīgaṇasya gatiḥ priye

“What you say carries special weight, for in the world it is women, dear one, who are always the refuge of womankind.”

Note on the text: The CE reads गुरुभूतम् (4425) for गुणभूतम्; the page reading is kept. Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4425-4426.

Verse 11 (13.248.11)

शश्वद्गौर्गोषु गच्छेत नान्यत्र रमते नरः । एवं लोकगतिर्देवि आदिप्रभृति वर्तते ॥

śaśvadgaurgoṣu gaccheta nānyatra ramate naraḥ | evaṃ lokagatirdevi ādiprabhṛti vartate

“A cow always goes among cows, and a man does not take delight elsewhere. Thus has the way of the world been from the beginning, O goddess.”

Note on the text: The CE reads मनः (4427) for नरः; the page reading is kept. Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4427-4428.

Verse 12 (13.248.12)

प्रमदोक्तं तु यत्किञ्चित्तत्स्त्रीषु बहुमन्यते । न तथा मन्यते स्त्रीषु पुरुषोक्तमनिन्दिते ॥

pramadoktaṃ tu yatkiñcittatstrīṣu bahumanyate | na tathā manyate strīṣu puruṣoktamanindite

“Whatever is said by a woman is held in high regard among women; what is said by a man is not so regarded among them, O blameless one.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4429-4430.

Verse 13 (13.248.13)

त्वयैष विदितो ह्यर्थः स्त्रीणां धर्मः सनातनः । तस्मात्त्वां प्रति पृच्छामि पृष्टा वद ममेप्सितम् ॥

tvayaiṣa vidito hyarthaḥ strīṇāṃ dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ | tasmāttvāṃ prati pṛcchāmi pṛṣṭā vada mamepsitam

“This matter, the eternal dharma of women, is known to you; therefore I ask you. Being asked, tell me what I wish to know.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4431-4432.

Verse 14 (13.248.14)

एवमुक्ता तदा देवी महादेवेन शोभना । सोद्वेगा च सलज्जा च नावदत्तत्र किञ्चन । पुनः पुनस्तदा देवी देवः किमिति चाब्रवीत् ॥

evamuktā tadā devī mahādevena śobhanā | sodvegā ca salajjā ca nāvadattatra kiñcana | punaḥ punastadā devī devaḥ kimiti cābravīt

Thus addressed by Mahadeva, the beautiful goddess, agitated and bashful, said nothing then. Again and again the god said to her, “What is it?”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4433-4435.

Verse 15 (13.248.15)

भगवन्देवदेवेश सुरासुरनमस्कृत । त्वदन्तिके मया वक्तुं स्त्रीणां धर्मः कथं भवेत् ॥

bhagavandevadeveśa surāsuranamaskṛta | tvadantike mayā vaktuṃ strīṇāṃ dharmaḥ kathaṃ bhavet

“Blessed lord, god of gods, honoured by gods and demons: how can I speak of the dharma of women in your presence?”

Note on the text: The CE places its speaker labels differently around 4436-4439; the page's headings are followed (verse 15 Uma, verse 16 Maheshvara). CE 4436 (urged again and again, the shy goddess said this) is not on the page. Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4437-4438.

Verse 16 (13.248.16)

मन्नियोगादवश्यं तु वक्तव्यं तु मम प्रिये ॥

manniyogādavaśyaṃ tu vaktavyaṃ tu mama priye

“By my command it must surely be told, dear one.”

Note on the text: Speaker: the page prints a मन्नियोगात् line under a महेश्वर उवाच heading (the input carried उमा); set to Maheshvara. Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4439.

Verse 17 (13.248.17)

इमा नद्यो महादेव सर्वतीर्थोदकान्विताः । उपस्पर्शनहेतोस्त्वां न त्यजन्ति समीपतः ॥

imā nadyo mahādeva sarvatīrthodakānvitāḥ | upasparśanahetostvāṃ na tyajanti samīpataḥ

“These rivers, O Mahadeva, bearing the waters of all holy places, do not leave your side, but stay near you for the sake of ritual ablution.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4440-4441.

Verse 18 (13.248.18)

एताभिः सह सम्मन्त्र्य प्रवक्ष्यामि तवेप्सितम् । अयुक्तं सत्सु तन्त्रेषु तानतिक्रम्य भाषितुम् ॥

etābhiḥ saha sammantrya pravakṣyāmi tavepsitam | ayuktaṃ satsu tantreṣu tānatikramya bhāṣitum

“I shall consult them and then tell you what you wish. It is not fitting to speak on established teaching among the good while passing them over.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4442-4443.

Verse 19 (13.248.19)

मया सम्मानिताश्चैव भविष्यन्ति सरिद्वराः ॥

mayā sammānitāścaiva bhaviṣyanti saridvarāḥ

“And the best of rivers will be honoured by me.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4444.

Verse 20 (13.248.20)

इति मत्वा महादेवी नदीर्देवीः समाह्वयत् । विपाशां च वितस्त्यां च चन्द्रभागां सरस्वतीम् ॥

iti matvā mahādevī nadīrdevīḥ samāhvayat | vipāśāṃ ca vitastyāṃ ca candrabhāgāṃ sarasvatīm

Thinking thus, the great goddess called the divine rivers: the Vipasha, the Vitasta, the Chandrabhaga, the Sarasvati,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4445-4446.

Verse 21 (13.248.21)

शतद्रुं देविकां सिन्धुं गौतमीं कौशिकीं तथा । यमुनां नर्मदां चैव कावेरीमथ निम्नगाम् ॥

śatadruṃ devikāṃ sindhuṃ gautamīṃ kauśikīṃ tathā | yamunāṃ narmadāṃ caiva kāverīmatha nimnagām

the Shatadru, the Devika, the Sindhu, the Gautami, the Kaushiki, the Yamuna, the Narmada, the Kaveri, and the Nimnaga,

Note on the text: Corrected देविक्तां → देविकां (misprint in Wikisource; stray conjunct; CE 4447 devikām). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4447-4448.

Verse 22 (13.248.22)

तथा देवनदीं गङ्गां श्रेष्ठां त्रिपथगां शुभाम् । सर्वतीर्थोदकवहां सर्वपापविनाशिनीम् । एता नदीः समाहूय समुद्वीक्ष्येदमब्रवीत् ॥

tathā devanadīṃ gaṅgāṃ śreṣṭhāṃ tripathagāṃ śubhām | sarvatīrthodakavahāṃ sarvapāpavināśinīm | etā nadīḥ samāhūya samudvīkṣyedamabravīt

and the divine river Ganga, the foremost, the auspicious river of three paths, who carries the waters of all holy places and destroys all sin. Having called these rivers together and looked upon them, she said this.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4449-4451.

Verse 23 (13.248.23)

हे पुण्याः सरितः श्रेष्ठाः सर्वपापविनाशिकाः । ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्नाः शृणुध्वं वचनं मम ॥

he puṇyāḥ saritaḥ śreṣṭhāḥ sarvapāpavināśikāḥ | jñānavijñānasampannāḥ śṛṇudhvaṃ vacanaṃ mama

“O holy rivers, best of streams, destroyers of all sin, rich in knowledge and wisdom, hear my words.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4452-4453.

Verse 24 (13.248.24)

अयं भगवता प्रश्न उक्तः स्त्रीधर्ममाश्रितः । न चैकया मया साध्यं तस्माद्वस्त्वानयाम्यहम् ॥

ayaṃ bhagavatā praśna uktaḥ strīdharmamāśritaḥ | na caikayā mayā sādhyaṃ tasmādvastvānayāmyaham

“The Blessed Lord has put this question, which concerns the dharma of women. I cannot settle it alone, and so I have brought you here.”

Note on the text: Corrected साद्यं → साध्यं (misprint in Wikisource; द for ध; CE 4455 sādhyaṃ). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4454-4455.

Verse 25 (13.248.25)

युष्माभिस्तद्विचार्यैवं वक्तुमिच्छामि शोभनाः । तत्कथं देवदेवाय वाच्यः स्त्रीधर्म उत्तमः ॥

yuṣmābhistadvicāryaivaṃ vaktumicchāmi śobhanāḥ | tatkathaṃ devadevāya vācyaḥ strīdharma uttamaḥ

“Having reflected on it with you, O lovely ones, I wish to speak. So how should the highest dharma of women be told to the God of gods?”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4456-4457.

Verse 26 (13.248.26)

इति पृष्टास्तथा देव्या महानद्यश्चकम्पिरे । तासां श्रेष्ठतमा गङ्गा वचनं त्विदमब्रवीत् ॥

iti pṛṣṭāstathā devyā mahānadyaścakampire | tāsāṃ śreṣṭhatamā gaṅgā vacanaṃ tvidamabravīt

Asked thus by the goddess, the great rivers trembled. The greatest of them, Ganga, spoke these words.

Note on the text: Corrected त्ववेमब्रवीत् → त्विदमब्रवीत् (misprint in Wikisource; garbled; CE 4459 cedam abravīt). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4458-4459.

Verse 27 (13.248.27)

धन्याश्चानुगृहीताः स्म अनेन वचनेन ते । या त्वं सुरासुरैर्मान्या नदीराद्रियसेऽनघे ॥

dhanyāścānugṛhītāḥ sma anena vacanena te | yā tvaṃ surāsurairmānyā nadīrādriyase'naghe

“We are blessed and favoured by these words of yours, you who, though honoured by gods and demons, show honour to the rivers, O sinless one.”

Note on the text: Speaker: Ganga's reply (verses 27-32) has no printed heading; verse 26 introduces it and verse 33 returns to narration, so it is set to Ganga, not the carried-over Narada. Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4460-4461.

Verse 28 (13.248.28)

तवैवार्हति कल्याणि एवं सान्त्वप्रसादनम् । अशक्यमपि ये मूर्खाः स्वात्मसम्भावनायुताः । वाक्यं वदन्ति संसत्सु स्वयमेव यथेष्टतः ॥

tavaivārhati kalyāṇi evaṃ sāntvaprasādanam | aśakyamapi ye mūrkhāḥ svātmasambhāvanāyutāḥ | vākyaṃ vadanti saṃsatsu svayameva yatheṣṭataḥ

“Such soothing graciousness befits you alone, O auspicious one. Fools full of conceit speak in assemblies, as they please, of things they cannot do.”

Note on the text: Speaker: Ganga (see verse 27). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4462-4464.

Verse 29 (13.248.29)

शक्तो यश्चानहंवादी सुदुर्लभतमो मतः ॥

śakto yaścānahaṃvādī sudurlabhatamo mataḥ

“One who is capable and yet does not boast is held to be exceedingly rare.”

Note on the text: Speaker: Ganga (see verse 27). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4465.

Verse 30 (13.248.30)

त्वं हि शक्ता सती देवी वक्तुं प्रश्नमशेषतः । व्याहर्तुं नेच्छसि स्त्रीत्वात्संपूजयति नस्तथा ॥

tvaṃ hi śaktā satī devī vaktuṃ praśnamaśeṣataḥ | vyāhartuṃ necchasi strītvātsaṃpūjayati nastathā

“You are capable, goddess, and virtuous, of speaking on the question completely; yet out of womanly modesty you do not wish to speak out, and so you honour us.”

Note on the text: Speaker: Ganga (see verse 27). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4466-4467.

Verse 31 (13.248.31)

त्वं हि देवि महादेवी ऊहापोहविशारदा । दिव्यज्ञानयुता देवि दिव्यज्ञानेन्धनैधिता ॥

tvaṃ hi devi mahādevī ūhāpohaviśāradā | divyajñānayutā devi divyajñānendhanaidhitā

“You, goddess, are the great goddess, skilled in weighing arguments for and against, endowed with divine knowledge, kindled by the fuel of divine knowledge.”

Note on the text: Speaker: Ganga (see verse 27). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4468-4469.

Verse 32 (13.248.32)

त्वमेवार्हसि तद्वक्तुं स्त्रीणां वृत्तं शुभाशुभम् । याचामहे वयं श्रोतुममृतं त्वन्मुखोद्गतम् । कुरु देवप्रियं देवि वद स्त्रीधर्ममुत्तमम् ॥

tvamevārhasi tadvaktuṃ strīṇāṃ vṛttaṃ śubhāśubham | yācāmahe vayaṃ śrotumamṛtaṃ tvanmukhodgatam | kuru devapriyaṃ devi vada strīdharmamuttamam

“You alone are fit to tell the conduct of women, good and bad. We beg to hear the nectar that comes from your mouth. Do what pleases the god, O goddess; speak the highest dharma of women.”

Note on the text: Speaker: Ganga (see verse 27). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4470-4472.

Verse 33 (13.248.33)

एवं प्रसादिता देवी गङ्गया लोकपूज्यया । प्राह धर्ममशेषेण स्त्रीधर्मं सुरसुन्दरी ॥

evaṃ prasāditā devī gaṅgayā lokapūjyayā | prāha dharmamaśeṣeṇa strīdharmaṃ surasundarī

Thus gratified by Ganga, whom the world honours, the goddess, lovely among the gods, spoke the dharma of women in full.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4473-4474.

Verse 34 (13.248.34)

भगवन्देवदेवेश सुरेश्वर महेश्वर । त्वत्प्रसादात्सुरश्रेष्ठ तवैव प्रियकाम्यया । तमहं कीर्तयिष्यामि यथावच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥

bhagavandevadeveśa sureśvara maheśvara | tvatprasādātsuraśreṣṭha tavaiva priyakāmyayā | tamahaṃ kīrtayiṣyāmi yathāvacchrotumicchasi

“Blessed lord, god of gods, lord of the gods, Maheshvara! By your grace, best of gods, and only to please you, I shall tell it, as you wish to hear it.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4475-4477.