Narada on the Fault of Women and Its Atonement

Verse 1 (13.58.1)

श्रुतं नराणां चापल्यं परस्त्रीषु प्रजायताम् । प्रमदानां तु चापल्ये दोषमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥

śrutaṃ narāṇāṃ cāpalyaṃ parastrīṣu prajāyatām | pramadānāṃ tu cāpalye doṣamicchāmi veditum

I have heard of the fickleness of men toward other men's wives. Now I wish to learn what fault lies in the fickleness of women.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage No. 7A (printed after 13.22.19, lines 13.22.19d@007A_0160-0161).

Verse 2 (13.58.2)

एकवर्णे विदोषं तु गमनं पूर्वकालिकम् । धाता च समनुज्ञातो विष्णुना तत्तथाऽकरोत् ॥

ekavarṇe vidoṣaṃ tu gamanaṃ pūrvakālikam | dhātā ca samanujñāto viṣṇunā tattathā'karot

Union within a single class is without fault, and has been so from ancient times; and Dhata, permitted by Vishnu, ordained it so.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage No. 7A (printed after 13.22.19, lines 13.22.19d@007A_0162-0163). विदोषम् is kept as a valid word ("faultless"); the CE has ekavarṇe 'pi doṣaṃ tu (variant).

Verse 3 (13.58.3)

भगलिङ्गे महाप्राज्ञ पूर्वमेव प्रजापतिः । ससर्ज ताभ्यां संयोगमनुज्ञातश्चकार सः ॥

bhagaliṅge mahāprājña pūrvameva prajāpatiḥ | sasarja tābhyāṃ saṃyogamanujñātaścakāra saḥ

O greatly wise one, long ago Prajapati created a union between the two, the female and the male organs; and he did so with permission.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage No. 7A (printed after 13.22.19, lines 13.22.19d@007A_0164-0165).

Verse 4 (13.58.4)

अथ विष्णुप्रसादेन भगो दत्तवरः किल । तेन चैव प्रसादेन सर्वांल्लोकानुपाश्नुते ॥

atha viṣṇuprasādena bhago dattavaraḥ kila | tena caiva prasādena sarvāṃllokānupāśnute

Then, by the grace of Vishnu, Bhaga was granted a boon, it is said, and by that same grace he attains all the worlds.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage No. 7A (printed after 13.22.19, lines 13.22.19d@007A_0166-0167).

Verse 5 (13.58.5)

तस्मात्तु पुरुषे दोषो ह्यधिको नात्र संशयः । विना गर्भं सवर्णेषु न त्याज्या गमनात्स्त्रियः ॥

tasmāttu puruṣe doṣo hyadhiko nātra saṃśayaḥ | vinā garbhaṃ savarṇeṣu na tyājyā gamanātstriyaḥ

Therefore the fault lies more with the man, there is no doubt of it. Women are not to be abandoned for union with men of their own class, so long as there is no conception.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage No. 7A (printed after 13.22.19, lines 13.22.19d@007A_0168-0169).

Verse 6 (13.58.6)

प्रायश्चित्तं यथान्यायं दण्डं कुर्यात्स पण्डितः । श्वभिर्वा दंशनं स्नानं सवनत्रितयं निशि ॥

prāyaścittaṃ yathānyāyaṃ daṇḍaṃ kuryātsa paṇḍitaḥ | śvabhirvā daṃśanaṃ snānaṃ savanatritayaṃ niśi

The wise man should impose penance and punishment as is proper: being bitten by dogs, bathing, and performing the three savanas at night,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage No. 7A (printed after 13.22.19, lines 13.22.19d@007A_0170-0171).

Verse 7 (13.58.7)

भूमौ च भस्मशयनं दानं भोगविवर्जितम् । दोषगौरवतः कालो द्रव्यगौरवमेव च । मर्यादा स्थापिता पूर्वमिति तीर्थान्तरं गते ॥

bhūmau ca bhasmaśayanaṃ dānaṃ bhogavivarjitam | doṣagauravataḥ kālo dravyagauravameva ca | maryādā sthāpitā pūrvamiti tīrthāntaraṃ gate

sleeping on the ground on ashes, giving gifts, and abstaining from enjoyment. The time and the substance of the penance depend on the gravity of the fault. This limit was laid down long ago, when Bhaga went to the other tirtha.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage No. 7A (printed after 13.22.19, lines 13.22.19d@007A_0172-0174). This is a three-line verse (page 13-58-7a,b,c); the CE has the same three lines (@007A_0172-0174).

Verse 8 (13.58.8)

तद्योषितां तु दीर्घायो नास्ति दोषो व्यतिक्रमे । भगतीर्थान्तरे शुद्धो विष्णोस्तु वचनादिह ॥

tadyoṣitāṃ tu dīrghāyo nāsti doṣo vyatikrame | bhagatīrthāntare śuddho viṣṇostu vacanādiha

So, O long-lived one, there is no fault for women in such a transgression. Bhaga was purified at the other tirtha, by Vishnu's word, here.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage No. 7A (printed after 13.22.19, lines 13.22.19d@007A_0175-0176). Corrected तद्योषितीं → तद्योषितां (misprint in Wikisource; the accusative योषितीं does not parse, CE tad yoṣitāṃ (genitive)).

Verse 9 (13.58.9)

रक्ष्याश्चैवान्यसंवादैरन्यगेहाद्विचक्षणैः । आसां शुद्धौ विशेषेण कर्मणां फलमश्नुते ॥

rakṣyāścaivānyasaṃvādairanyagehādvicakṣaṇaiḥ | āsāṃ śuddhau viśeṣeṇa karmaṇāṃ phalamaśnute

And the discerning should guard them by keeping them from talk with others and from the houses of others. When they are kept pure, a man in particular reaps the fruit of his rites.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage No. 7A (printed after 13.22.19, lines 13.22.19d@007A_0177-0178). The CE has vimokṣaṇaiḥ for विचक्षणैः (variant, kept).

Verse 10 (13.58.10)

नैता वाच्या न वै वध्या न क्लेश्याः शुभमिच्छता । विष्णुप्रसादादित्येव भगस्तीर्थान्तरं गतः । मासिमासि ऋतुस्तासां दुष्कृतान्यपकर्षति ॥

naitā vācyā na vai vadhyā na kleśyāḥ śubhamicchatā | viṣṇuprasādādityeva bhagastīrthāntaraṃ gataḥ | māsimāsi ṛtustāsāṃ duṣkṛtānyapakarṣati

Those who seek their own good should not reproach these women, nor kill them, nor torment them. It was by Vishnu's grace, so it is said, that Bhaga went to the other tirtha; and month after month their monthly course carries away their misdeeds.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage No. 7A (printed after 13.22.19, lines 13.22.19d@007A_0179-0181). Three-line verse (13-58-10a,b,c; CE @007A_0179-0181). The CE has rajas for ऋतुः (variant, kept).

Verse 11 (13.58.11)

स्त्रियस्तोषकरा नॄणां स्त्रियः पुष्टिप्रदाः सदा । पुत्रसेतुप्रतिष्ठाश्च स्त्रियो लोके महाद्युते ॥

striyastoṣakarā nṝṇāṃ striyaḥ puṣṭipradāḥ sadā | putrasetupratiṣṭhāśca striyo loke mahādyute

Women give men delight; women always bring them prosperity; and women in the world, O greatly radiant one, are the foundation of the bridge of sons.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: part of the CE's inline Appendix I passage No. 7A (printed after 13.22.19, lines 13.22.19d@007A_0182-0183). The page ends with the colophon of adhyaya 58 and no further text.