Uma on the Duties of Wives: Devapriya and Yama

Verse 1 (13.249.1)

एवं ब्रुवन्त्यां स्त्रीधर्मं देव्यां देवस्य शासनात् । ऋषिगन्धर्वयक्षाणां योषितश्चाप्सरोगणाः ॥

evaṃ bruvantyāṃ strīdharmaṃ devyāṃ devasya śāsanāt | ṛṣigandharvayakṣāṇāṃ yoṣitaścāpsarogaṇāḥ

While the goddess was thus speaking on the duties of women at the god's bidding, the wives of the sages, gandharvas and yakshas, and the hosts of apsarases,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4478-4479. The page heads the speech "नारद उवाच"; the CE prints nāradaḥ before the first line of this passage.

Verse 2 (13.249.2)

नागभूतस्त्रियश्चैव नद्यश्चैव समागताः । श्रोतुकामाः परं वाक्यं सर्वाः पर्यवतस्थिरे ॥

nāgabhūtastriyaścaiva nadyaścaiva samāgatāḥ | śrotukāmāḥ paraṃ vākyaṃ sarvāḥ paryavatasthire

and the women of the nagas and the bhutas, and the rivers as well, came together; eager to hear her excellent words, they all stood round her.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4480-4481. Corrected श्रुतुकामाः → श्रोतुकामाः (misprint in Wikisource; not a word; CE śrotukāmāḥ).

Verse 3 (13.249.3)

उमादेवी मुदा युक्ता पूज्यमानाऽङ्गनागणैः । आनृशंस्यपरा देवी सततं स्त्रीगणं प्रति ॥

umādevī mudā yuktā pūjyamānā'ṅganāgaṇaiḥ | ānṛśaṃsyaparā devī satataṃ strīgaṇaṃ prati

The goddess Uma, glad at heart and honoured by the throngs of women, was ever kindly disposed toward womankind.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4482-4483. Corrected पुज्यमानाऽङ्गनागणैः → पूज्यमानाऽङ्गनागणैः (misprint in Wikisource; short u for ū; CE pūjyamānāṅganāgaṇaiḥ).

Verse 4 (13.249.4)

स्त्रीगणस्य हितार्थाय भवप्रियचिकीर्षया । वक्तुं वचनमारेभे स्त्रीणां धर्माश्रयान्वितम् ॥

strīgaṇasya hitārthāya bhavapriyacikīrṣayā | vaktuṃ vacanamārebhe strīṇāṃ dharmāśrayānvitam

For the welfare of the women, and wishing to please Bhava, she began to speak words to them that rested on dharma and concerned the duties of women.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4484-4485. Line 2 differs from the CE (धर्माश्रयान्वितम् against CE dharmāśritaṃ hitam); a recension variant, kept.

Verse 5 (13.249.5)

भगवन्सर्वभूतेश श्रूयतां वचनं मम । ऋतुप्राप्ता सुशुद्धा या कन्या सेत्यभिधीयते ॥

bhagavansarvabhūteśa śrūyatāṃ vacanaṃ mama | ṛtuprāptā suśuddhā yā kanyā setyabhidhīyate

O Lord, master of all beings, hear my words. A girl who has reached the time of her season and is perfectly pure is called a maiden.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4486-4487. The page heads Uma's speech "उमोवाच"; the CE marks the speech of Uma from line 4485. Line 1 reads सर्वभूतेश where the CE has sarvadharmajña; a recension variant, kept. Corrected सुशुद्दा → सुशुद्धा (misprint in Wikisource; dd for ddh; CE suśuddhā).

Verse 6 (13.249.6)

तां तु कन्यां पिता माता भ्राता मातुल एव वा । पितृव्यश्चैव पञ्चैते दातुं प्रभवतां गताः ॥

tāṃ tu kanyāṃ pitā mātā bhrātā mātula eva vā | pitṛvyaścaiva pañcaite dātuṃ prabhavatāṃ gatāḥ

Her father, mother, brother, maternal uncle and paternal uncle: these five have come to hold the power to give such a maiden away.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4488-4489. Corrected पञ्चते → पञ्चैते (misprint in Wikisource; the five just named; CE pañcaite).

Verse 7 (13.249.7)

विवाहाश्च तथा पञ्च तासां धर्मार्थकारणात् । कामतश्च मिथो दानमितरेतरकाम्यया ॥

vivāhāśca tathā pañca tāsāṃ dharmārthakāraṇāt | kāmataśca mitho dānamitaretarakāmyayā

There are likewise five kinds of marriage for such women, for the sake of dharma and wealth; and there is also a mutual giving out of desire, from each one's longing for the other.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4490-4491. Line 2 differs from the CE (इतरेतरकाम्यया against CE bhayāc ca prasabhāt tathā); a recension variant, kept.

Verse 8 (13.249.8)

दत्ता यस्य भवेद्भार्या एतेषां येन केन चित् । दातारः सुविमृश्यैव दातुमर्हन्ति नान्यथा ॥

dattā yasya bhavedbhāryā eteṣāṃ yena kena cit | dātāraḥ suvimṛśyaiva dātumarhanti nānyathā

She becomes the wife of the man to whom she is given by any one of these. The givers should give her only after careful consideration, and not otherwise.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4492-4493.

Verse 9 (13.249.9)

उत्तमानां तु वर्णानां मन्त्रवत्पाणिसङ्ग्रहः । विवाहकारणं चाहुः शूद्राणां सम्प्रयोगतः ॥

uttamānāṃ tu varṇānāṃ mantravatpāṇisaṅgrahaḥ | vivāhakāraṇaṃ cāhuḥ śūdrāṇāṃ samprayogataḥ

For the higher classes they say the joining of hands with sacred verses is what makes a marriage; for shudras it arises from mere union.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4494-4495.

Verse 10 (13.249.10)

यदा दत्ता भवेत्कन्या तस्माद्भार्यार्थिने स्वकैः । तदाप्रभृति सा नारी दशरात्रं विलज्जया । मनसा कर्मणा वाचा अनुकूला च सा भवेत् ॥

yadā dattā bhavetkanyā tasmādbhāryārthine svakaiḥ | tadāprabhṛti sā nārī daśarātraṃ vilajjayā | manasā karmaṇā vācā anukūlā ca sā bhavet

When a maiden has been given by her own people to the man who seeks a wife, from that time onward that woman should, for ten nights, with modest reserve, be compliant in mind, deed and word.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4496-4498. Line 2 differs from the CE (दशरात्रं विलज्जया against CE daśarātraṃ vivarjya ca); a recension variant, kept.

Verse 11 (13.249.11)

इति भर्तृव्रतं कुर्यात्पतिमुद्दिश्य शोभना । तदाप्रभृति सा नारी न कुर्यात्पत्युरप्रियम् ॥

iti bhartṛvrataṃ kuryātpatimuddiśya śobhanā | tadāprabhṛti sā nārī na kuryātpatyurapriyam

In this way the lovely woman should keep the vow of devotion to her husband, with her mind on him. From that time on she should never do anything displeasing to her husband.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4499-4500.

Verse 12 (13.249.12)

यद्यदिच्छति वै भर्ता धर्मकामार्थकारणात् । तथैवानुप्रिया भूत्वा तथैवोपचरेत्पतिम् । पतिव्रतात्वं नारीणामेतदेव सनातनम् ॥

yadyadicchati vai bhartā dharmakāmārthakāraṇāt | tathaivānupriyā bhūtvā tathaivopacaretpatim | pativratātvaṃ nārīṇāmetadeva sanātanam

Whatever her husband wishes for the sake of dharma, pleasure or wealth, she should become agreeable in just that way and serve him in just that way. This alone is the ancient duty of a devoted wife.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4501-4503. Corrected ध्रमकामार्थकारणात् → धर्मकामार्थकारणात् (misprint in Wikisource; letters transposed; CE dharmakāmārthakāraṇāt).

Verse 13 (13.249.13)

तादृशी सा भवेन्नित्यं यादृशस्तु भवेत्पतिः । शुभाशुभसमाचार एतद्वृत्तं समासतः ॥

tādṛśī sā bhavennityaṃ yādṛśastu bhavetpatiḥ | śubhāśubhasamācāra etadvṛttaṃ samāsataḥ

She should always be of the kind her husband is, whether his conduct is good or bad. This, in brief, is the rule of conduct.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4504-4505.

Verse 14 (13.249.14)

दैवतं सततं साध्वी भर्तारं या तु पश्यति । दैवमेव भवेत्तस्याः पतिरित्यवगम्यते ॥

daivataṃ satataṃ sādhvī bhartāraṃ yā tu paśyati | daivameva bhavettasyāḥ patirityavagamyate

The virtuous wife who always looks upon her husband as her god: for her, her husband is understood to be her very deity.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4506-4507. Line 1 ends या तु पश्यति where the CE has yānupaśyati; a recension variant, kept.

Verse 15 (13.249.15)

एतस्मिन्कारणं देव पौराणी श्रूयते श्रुतिः । कथयामि प्रसादात्ते शृणु देव समासतः ॥

etasminkāraṇaṃ deva paurāṇī śrūyate śrutiḥ | kathayāmi prasādātte śṛṇu deva samāsataḥ

On this point, O god, an ancient sacred tradition is heard. By your grace I shall tell it; listen, O god, in brief.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4508-4509. Line 2 differs from the CE (शृणु देव समासतः against CE śṛṇu deva samāhitaḥ); a recension variant, kept.

Verse 16 (13.249.16)

कस्य चित्त्वथ विप्रस्य भार्ये द्वे हि बभूवतुः । तयोरेका धर्मकामा देवानुद्दिश्य भक्तितः ॥

kasya cittvatha viprasya bhārye dve hi babhūvatuḥ | tayorekā dharmakāmā devānuddiśya bhaktitaḥ

A certain brahmin once had two wives. One of them, desiring dharma, out of devotion kept the gods in view,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4510-4511.

Verse 17 (13.249.17)

भर्तारमवमत्यैव देवतासु समाहिता । चकार विपुलं धर्मं पूजयानाऽर्चयाऽन्वितम् ॥

bhartāramavamatyaiva devatāsu samāhitā | cakāra vipulaṃ dharmaṃ pūjayānā'rcayā'nvitam

and, slighting her husband and wholly intent on the deities, performed great acts of merit together with worship and homage.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4512-4513. Line 2 differs from the CE (पूजयानाऽर्चयाऽन्वितम् against CE pūjanārcanayānvitam); a recension variant, kept.

Verse 18 (13.249.18)

अपरा धर्मकामा च पतिमुद्दिश्य शोभना । भर्तारं दैवतं कृत्वा चकार किल तत्प्रियम् ॥

aparā dharmakāmā ca patimuddiśya śobhanā | bhartāraṃ daivataṃ kṛtvā cakāra kila tatpriyam

The other, also desiring dharma and lovely in conduct, kept her husband in view; she made her husband her god and did what pleased him.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4514-4515.

Verse 19 (13.249.19)

एवं विवर्तमाने तु युगपन्मरणेऽध्वनि । गते किल महादेव तत्रैका या पतिव्रता । देवप्रियायां तिष्ठन्त्यां पुण्यलोकं जगाम सा ॥

evaṃ vivartamāne tu yugapanmaraṇe'dhvani | gate kila mahādeva tatraikā yā pativratā | devapriyāyāṃ tiṣṭhantyāṃ puṇyalokaṃ jagāma sā

As they went on in this way, both of them died at the same time on the road. Then, O Mahadeva, the one among them who was devoted to her husband went to the world of the righteous, while Devapriya was left standing there.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4516-4518. Line 1 differs from the CE (विवर्तमाने against CE saṃvartamāne); a recension variant, kept.

Verse 20 (13.249.20)

देवप्रिया च तिष्ठन्ती विललाप सुदुःखिता । तां यमो लोकपालस्तु बभाषे पुष्कलं वचः ॥

devapriyā ca tiṣṭhantī vilalāpa suduḥkhitā | tāṃ yamo lokapālastu babhāṣe puṣkalaṃ vacaḥ

Devapriya, standing there, wept in great distress. Then Yama, guardian of the world, spoke weighty words to her.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4519-4520.

Verse 21 (13.249.21)

मा शुचस्त्वं निवर्तस्व न लोकाः सन्ति तेऽनघे । स्वधर्मविमुखा सा त्वं तस्माल्लोका न सन्ति ते ॥

mā śucastvaṃ nivartasva na lokāḥ santi te'naghe | svadharmavimukhā sā tvaṃ tasmāllokā na santi te

"Do not grieve; turn back. There are no worlds for you, blameless one. You turned away from your own duty; therefore there are no worlds for 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 4521-4522. Yama speaks from this verse on (CE gives no separate speaker mark). Speaker settled as Yama: the page prints no heading, but his direct speech fills verses 21-24 (introduced in verse 20).

Verse 22 (13.249.22)

देवता हि पतिर्नार्याः स्थापिता सर्वदैवतैः । अवमत्य शुभे तत्त्वं कथं लोकान्गमिष्यसि ॥

devatā hi patirnāryāḥ sthāpitā sarvadaivataiḥ | avamatya śubhe tattvaṃ kathaṃ lokāngamiṣyasi

For a woman the husband is her deity, set up as such by all the gods. Having scorned that truth, auspicious one, how will you reach the worlds?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4523-4524. Speaker settled as Yama (his speech continues from verse 21).

Verse 23 (13.249.23)

मोहेन त्वं वरारोहे न जानीषे स्वदैवतम् । पतिमत्या स्त्रिया कार्यो धर्मः पत्यर्पणस्त्विति ॥

mohena tvaṃ varārohe na jānīṣe svadaivatam | patimatyā striyā kāryo dharmaḥ patyarpaṇastviti

Through delusion, lovely woman, you did not know your own deity. A woman who has a husband should perform her dharma by dedicating it to her husband."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4525-4526. Corrected मोहेनि → मोहेन (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; CE mohena). Speaker settled as Yama (his speech continues from verse 21).

Verse 24 (13.249.24)

तस्मात्त्वं हि निवर्तस्व कुरु पत्याश्रितं हितम् । तदा गन्तासि लोकांस्तान्यान्गच्छन्ति पतिव्रताः । नान्यथा शक्यते प्राप्तुं पतीनां लोकमुत्तमम् ॥

tasmāttvaṃ hi nivartasva kuru patyāśritaṃ hitam | tadā gantāsi lokāṃstānyāngacchanti pativratāḥ | nānyathā śakyate prāptuṃ patīnāṃ lokamuttamam

"Therefore turn back, and do what is beneficial that rests on your husband. Then you will reach those worlds which devoted wives attain. In no other way can the highest world of husbands be won."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4527-4529. Speaker settled as Yama (his speech ends with this verse).

Verse 25 (13.249.25)

यमेनैवंविधं चोक्ता निवृत्ता पुनरेव सा । बभूव पतिमालम्ब्य पतिप्रियपरायणा ॥

yamenaivaṃvidhaṃ coktā nivṛttā punareva sā | babhūva patimālambya patipriyaparāyaṇā

Thus addressed by Yama, she turned back again, and relying on her husband she became wholly devoted to what pleased him.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4530-4531. Speaker settled as Uma, who resumes narrating her tale.

Verse 26 (13.249.26)

एवमेतन्महादेव दैवतं हि स्त्रियाः पतिः । तस्मात्पतिपरा भूत्वा पतीनुपचरेदिति ॥

evametanmahādeva daivataṃ hi striyāḥ patiḥ | tasmātpatiparā bhūtvā patīnupacarediti

So it is, Mahadeva: a woman's deity is her husband. Therefore, becoming wholly devoted to her husband, she should wait upon her husband.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 4532-4533. Last line differs from the CE (पतीनुपचरेदिति against CE patiṃ paricared iti); the CE continues with further lines (4534 ff.), which Wikisource prints as the next adhyaya. Corrected महगादेव → महादेव (misprint in Wikisource; stray ग; CE mahādeva).