Gobhila's Cruel Argument

Verse 1 (padma.2.50.1)

सुकलोवाच- तस्यास्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा गोभिलो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । भवती शप्तुकामासि कस्मान्मे कारणं वद

sukalovāca- tasyāstu vacanaṁ śrutvā gobhilo vākyamabravīt bhavatī śaptukāmāsi kasmānme kāraṇaṁ vada

Sukala said: Hearing her words, Gobhila spoke thus: 'You wish to curse me — tell me the reason why.'

Verse 2 (padma.2.50.2)

केन दोषेण लिप्तोस्मि यस्मात्त्वं शप्तुमुद्यता । गोभिलो नाम दैत्योस्मि पौलस्त्यस्य भटः शुभे

kena doṣeṇa liptosmi yasmāttvaṁ śaptumudyatā gobhilo nāma daityosmi paulastyasya bhaṭaḥ śubhe

'By what fault am I tainted, that you are ready to curse me? I am the demon named Gobhila, a warrior of Paulastya's line, O auspicious one.'

Verse 3 (padma.2.50.3)

दैत्याचारेण वर्तामि जाने विद्यामनुत्तमाम् । वेदशास्त्रार्थवेत्तास्मि कलासु निपुणः पुनः

daityācāreṇa vartāmi jāne vidyāmanuttamām vedaśāstrārthavettāsmi kalāsu nipuṇaḥ punaḥ

'I live by the conduct proper to demons; I know unsurpassed knowledge; I am versed in the meaning of the Vedas and scriptures, and skilled in the arts besides.'

Verse 4 (padma.2.50.4)

एवं सर्वं विजानामि दैत्याचारं शृणुष्व मे । परस्वं परदारांश्च बलाद्भुंजामि नान्यथा

evaṁ sarvaṁ vijānāmi daityācāraṁ śṛṇuṣva me parasvaṁ paradārāṁśca balādbhuṁjāmi nānyathā

'Thus I know everything; hear now of the demon's way of life from me: I take another's wealth and another's wives by force — that is the way, nothing else.'

Verse 5 (padma.2.50.5)

वयं दैत्याः समाकर्ण्य दैत्याचारेण सांप्रतम् । वर्त्तामो ज्ञानिभावेन सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्

vayaṁ daityāḥ samākarṇya daityācāreṇa sāṁpratam varttāmo jñānibhāvena satyaṁ satyaṁ vadāmyaham

'We demons, having learned this, now live by the demon's way with the awareness of the wise — I speak the truth, the very truth.'

Verse 6 (padma.2.50.6)

ब्राह्मणानां हि च्छिद्राणि विपश्यामो दिने दिने । तेषां हि तपसो नाशं विघ्नैः कुर्मो न संशयः

brāhmaṇānāṁ hi cchidrāṇi vipaśyāmo dine dine teṣāṁ hi tapaso nāśaṁ vighnaiḥ kurmo na saṁśayaḥ

'We look for the flaws of brahmins day after day; and, without doubt, we bring about the ruin of their austerity through obstacles.'

Verse 7 (padma.2.50.7)

छिद्रं प्राप्य वयं देवि नाशयामो न संशयः । ब्राह्मणाञ्छ्रूयतां भद्रे देवयज्ञं वरानने

chidraṁ prāpya vayaṁ devi nāśayāmo na saṁśayaḥ brāhmaṇāñchrūyatāṁ bhadre devayajñaṁ varānane

'Finding their weakness, O goddess, we destroy them without doubt. Hear, gentle one, O fair-faced one — we destroy brahmins and the sacrifice to the gods.'

Verse 8 (padma.2.50.8)

नाशयामो वयं यज्ञान्धर्मयज्ञं न संशयः । सुब्राह्मणान्परित्यज्य देवं नारायणं प्रभुम्

nāśayāmo vayaṁ yajñāndharmayajñaṁ na saṁśayaḥ subrāhmaṇānparityajya devaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ prabhum

'We destroy sacrifices, the sacrifice of dharma, without doubt — abandoning good brahmins, and the very Lord Narayana himself.'

Verse 9 (padma.2.50.9)

पतिव्रतां महाभागां सुमतिं भर्तृतत्पराम् । दूरेणापि परित्यज्य तिष्ठामो नात्र संशयः

pativratāṁ mahābhāgāṁ sumatiṁ bhartṛtatparām dūreṇāpi parityajya tiṣṭhāmo nātra saṁśayaḥ

'—and yet from a chaste, blessed, wise wife who is truly devoted to her husband, we keep far away, without doubt.'

Verse 10 (padma.2.50.10)

तेजो देवि सुविप्रस्य हरेश्चैव महात्मनः । नार्याः पतिव्रतायाश्च सोढुं दैत्याश्च न क्षमाः

tejo devi suviprasya hareścaiva mahātmanaḥ nāryāḥ pativratāyāśca soḍhuṁ daityāśca na kṣamāḥ

'For the splendor of a fine brahmin, of great Hari himself, and of a chaste woman — that, O goddess, demons are unable to bear.'

Verse 11 (padma.2.50.11)

पतिव्रताभयेनापि विष्णोः सुब्राह्मणस्य च । नश्यंति दानवाः सर्वे दूरं राक्षसपुंगवाः

pativratābhayenāpi viṣṇoḥ subrāhmaṇasya ca naśyaṁti dānavāḥ sarve dūraṁ rākṣasapuṁgavāḥ

'Out of fear of a chaste wife, of Vishnu, and of a fine brahmin, all demons, even the foremost of rakshasas, flee far away.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.50.12)

अहं दानवधर्मेण विचरामि महीतलम् । कस्मात्त्वं शप्तुकामासि मम दोषो विचार्यताम्

ahaṁ dānavadharmeṇa vicarāmi mahītalam kasmāttvaṁ śaptukāmāsi mama doṣo vicāryatām

'I roam this earth according to demon-dharma. Why then do you wish to curse me? Let my fault be considered.'

Verse 13 (padma.2.50.13)

पद्मावत्युवाच- मम धर्मः सुकायश्च त्वयैव परिनाशितः । अहं पतिव्रता साध्वी पतिकामा तपस्विनी

padmāvatyuvāca- mama dharmaḥ sukāyaśca tvayaiva parināśitaḥ ahaṁ pativratā sādhvī patikāmā tapasvinī

Padmavati said: 'My dharma, and even my own body, have been utterly ruined by you alone. I was a chaste, virtuous wife, devoted wholly to my husband, given to austerity.'

Verse 14 (padma.2.50.14)

स्वमार्गे संस्थिता पाप मायया परिनाशिता । तस्मात्त्वामप्यहं दुष्ट आधक्ष्यामि न संशयः

svamārge saṁsthitā pāpa māyayā parināśitā tasmāttvāmapyahaṁ duṣṭa ādhakṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ

'Firmly established on my own true path, O sinner, I have been utterly ruined by your illusion. Therefore, O wicked one, I shall surely burn you, without doubt.'

Verse 15 (padma.2.50.15)

गोभिल उवाच- धर्ममेव प्रवक्ष्यामि भवती यदि मन्यते । अग्निचिद्ब्राह्मणस्यापि श्रूयतां नृपनंदिनी

gobhila uvāca- dharmameva pravakṣyāmi bhavatī yadi manyate agnicidbrāhmaṇasyāpi śrūyatāṁ nṛpanaṁdinī

Gobhila said: 'I shall now speak of dharma itself, if you will hear it. Hear, O princess, even of the fire-tending brahmin —'

Verse 16 (padma.2.50.16)

जुह्वन्देवं द्विकालं यो न त्यजेदग्निमंदिरम् । स चाग्निहोत्री भवति यजत्येव दिनेदिने

juhvandevaṁ dvikālaṁ yo na tyajedagnimaṁdiram sa cāgnihotrī bhavati yajatyeva dinedine

'—whoever offers oblation to the gods twice daily and never abandons the fire-shrine, he indeed becomes a true fire-tender, sacrificing thus day after day.'

Verse 17 (padma.2.50.17)

अन्यच्चैवं प्रवक्ष्यामि भृत्यधर्मं वरानने । मनसा कर्मणा वाचा विशुद्धो योऽपि नित्यशः

anyaccaivaṁ pravakṣyāmi bhṛtyadharmaṁ varānane manasā karmaṇā vācā viśuddho yo'pi nityaśaḥ

'I shall tell you also of the dharma of a servant, O fair one: whoever is ever pure in mind, deed and speech —'

Verse 18 (padma.2.50.18)

नित्यमादेशकारी यः पश्चात्तिष्ठति चाग्रतः । स भृत्यः कथ्यते देवि पुण्यभागी न संशयः

nityamādeśakārī yaḥ paścāttiṣṭhati cāgrataḥ sa bhṛtyaḥ kathyate devi puṇyabhāgī na saṁśayaḥ

'—ever obedient to command, who stands behind his master yet ready before him — such a one, O goddess, is called a true servant, and shares in merit, without doubt.'

Verse 19 (padma.2.50.19)

यः पुत्रो गुणवाञ्ज्ञाता पितरं पालयेच्छुभः । मातरं च विशेषेण मनसा काय कर्मभिः

yaḥ putro guṇavāñjñātā pitaraṁ pālayecchubhaḥ mātaraṁ ca viśeṣeṇa manasā kāya karmabhiḥ

'That auspicious son who is virtuous and wise, who cares for his father, and especially for his mother, in mind, in body, and in deed —'

Verse 20 (padma.2.50.20)

तस्य भागीरथी स्नानमहन्यहनि जायते । अन्यथा कुरुते यो हि स पापीयान्न संशयः

tasya bhāgīrathī snānamahanyahani jāyate anyathā kurute yo hi sa pāpīyānna saṁśayaḥ

'—for him arises, every single day, the merit of bathing in the Bhagirathi. But whoever does otherwise is indeed most sinful, without doubt.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.50.21)

अन्यच्चैवं प्रवक्ष्यामि पतिव्रतमनुत्तमम् । वाचा सुमनसा चैव कर्मणा शृणु भामिनि

anyaccaivaṁ pravakṣyāmi pativratamanuttamam vācā sumanasā caiva karmaṇā śṛṇu bhāmini

'I shall tell you further of the highest dharma of a chaste wife, O lovely one — hear it, in speech, in good mind, and in deed.'

Verse 22 (padma.2.50.22)

शुश्रूषां कुरुते या हि भर्तुश्चैव दिन दिने । तुष्टे भर्त्तरि या प्रीता न त्यजेत्क्रोधनं पुनः

śuśrūṣāṁ kurute yā hi bhartuścaiva dina dine tuṣṭe bharttari yā prītā na tyajetkrodhanaṁ punaḥ

'She who serves her husband day after day; who rejoices when he is pleased, and never grows angry with him in turn —'

Verse 23 (padma.2.50.23)

तस्य दोषं न गृह्णाति ताडिता तुष्यते पुनः । भर्त्तुः कर्मसु सर्वेषु पुरतस्तिष्ठते सदा

tasya doṣaṁ na gṛhṇāti tāḍitā tuṣyate punaḥ bharttuḥ karmasu sarveṣu puratastiṣṭhate sadā

'—who takes no note of his faults, and even if struck, remains content still; who ever stands ready before him in every task of his —'

Verse 24 (padma.2.50.24)

सा चापि कथ्यते नारी पतिव्रतपरायणा । पतितोपि पितापुत्रैर्बहुदोषसमन्वितः

sā cāpi kathyate nārī pativrataparāyaṇā patitopi pitāputrairbahudoṣasamanvitaḥ

'—she indeed is called a woman devoted wholly to the vow of chastity. Even a father or son who has fallen, and is possessed of many faults —'

Verse 25 (padma.2.50.25)

कस्मादपि च न त्याज्यः कुष्ठितः क्रुधितोऽपि वा । एवं पुत्राः शुश्रूषंति पितरं मातरं किल

kasmādapi ca na tyājyaḥ kuṣṭhitaḥ krudhito'pi vā evaṁ putrāḥ śuśrūṣaṁti pitaraṁ mātaraṁ kila

'—should never be forsaken for any reason, whether leprous or given to anger. Thus indeed do good sons serve their father and mother.'

Verse 26 (padma.2.50.26)

ते यांति परमं लोकं तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् । एवं हि स्वामिनं ये वै उपाचरंति भृत्यकाः

te yāṁti paramaṁ lokaṁ tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam evaṁ hi svāminaṁ ye vai upācaraṁti bhṛtyakāḥ

'Such sons go to the supreme realm, to that highest abode of Vishnu. And likewise, those servants who serve their master thus —'

Verse 27 (padma.2.50.27)

पत्युर्लोकं प्रयांत्येते प्रसादात्स्वामिनस्तदा । अग्निं नैव त्यजेद्विप्रो ब्रह्मलोकं प्रयाति सः

patyurlokaṁ prayāṁtyete prasādātsvāminastadā agniṁ naiva tyajedvipro brahmalokaṁ prayāti saḥ

'—by their master's grace they too go to their master's own realm. And the brahmin who never forsakes his fire goes to Brahmaloka.'

Verse 28 (padma.2.50.28)

अग्नित्यागकरो विप्रो वृषलीपतिरुच्यते । स्वामिद्रोही भवेद्भृत्यः स्वामित्यागान्न संशयः

agnityāgakaro vipro vṛṣalīpatirucyate svāmidrohī bhavedbhṛtyaḥ svāmityāgānna saṁśayaḥ

'A brahmin who abandons his fire is called the husband of a low-born woman, a degraded man; and a servant who forsakes his master becomes, without doubt, a betrayer of his lord.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.50.29)

अग्निं च पितरं चैव न त्यजेत्स्वामिनं शुभे । सदा विप्रः सुतो भृत्यः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्

agniṁ ca pitaraṁ caiva na tyajetsvāminaṁ śubhe sadā vipraḥ suto bhṛtyaḥ satyaṁ satyaṁ vadāmyaham

'One should never forsake fire, or father, or master, O auspicious one — this holds always for the brahmin, the son, and the servant; I speak the truth, the very truth.'

Verse 30 (padma.2.50.30)

परित्यज्य प्रगच्छंति ते यांति नरकार्णवम् । पतितं व्याधितं देवि विकलं कुष्ठिनं तथा

parityajya pragacchaṁti te yāṁti narakārṇavam patitaṁ vyādhitaṁ devi vikalaṁ kuṣṭhinaṁ tathā

'Those who forsake them and go their own way fall into the very ocean of hell. O goddess, a husband fallen, diseased, disabled, or leprous —'

Verse 31 (padma.2.50.31)

सर्वकर्मविहीनं च गतवित्तादिसंचयम् । भर्तारं न त्यजेन्नारी यदि श्रेय इहेच्छति

sarvakarmavihīnaṁ ca gatavittādisaṁcayam bhartāraṁ na tyajennārī yadi śreya ihecchati

'—bereft of all capacity for action, whose wealth and possessions are gone — a woman should never forsake her husband, if she desires her own good here.'

Verse 32 (padma.2.50.32)

त्यक्त्वा कांतं व्रजेन्नारी अन्यत्कार्यमिहेच्छति । सा मता पुंश्चली लोके सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृता

tyaktvā kāṁtaṁ vrajennārī anyatkāryamihecchati sā matā puṁścalī loke sarvadharmabahiṣkṛtā

'A woman who forsakes her husband and goes about, desiring some other end here, is deemed in this world a wanton woman, cast out from all dharma.'

Verse 33 (padma.2.50.33)

गते भर्तरि या ग्रामं भोगं शृंगारमेव च । लौल्याच्च कुरुते नारी पुंश्चली वदते जनः

gate bhartari yā grāmaṁ bhogaṁ śṛṁgārameva ca laulyācca kurute nārī puṁścalī vadate janaḥ

'And a woman who, when her husband has gone to another village, indulges in enjoyment and adornment out of mere fickleness, is called by people a wanton woman.'

Verse 34 (padma.2.50.34)

एवं धर्मं विजानामि वेदशास्त्रैश्च संमतम् । दानवा राक्षसाः प्रेता धात्रा सृष्टा यदादितः

evaṁ dharmaṁ vijānāmi vedaśāstraiśca saṁmatam dānavā rākṣasāḥ pretā dhātrā sṛṣṭā yadāditaḥ

'Thus I know this dharma, agreed upon by the Vedas and scriptures. Demons, rakshasas, and pretas were created by the Creator from the very beginning —'

Verse 35 (padma.2.50.35)

तत्रेह कारणं सर्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि न संशयः । ब्राह्मणा दानवाश्चैव पिशाचाश्चैव राक्षसाः

tatreha kāraṇaṁ sarvaṁ pravakṣyāmi na saṁśayaḥ brāhmaṇā dānavāścaiva piśācāścaiva rākṣasāḥ

'—and here I shall tell you the entire reason, without doubt. Brahmins, demons, pishachas, and rakshasas —'

Verse 36 (padma.2.50.36)

धर्मार्थं सकलं प्रोक्तमधीतं तैस्तु सुंदरि । विंदंति सकलं सर्वे आचरंति न दानवाः

dharmārthaṁ sakalaṁ proktamadhītaṁ taistu suṁdari viṁdaṁti sakalaṁ sarve ācaraṁti na dānavāḥ

'—all of them, O beautiful one, have studied all that is taught concerning dharma; all of them know it fully — yet demons alone do not practice it.'

Verse 37 (padma.2.50.37)

विधिहीनं प्रकुर्वंति दानवा ज्ञानवर्जिताः । अन्यायेन व्रजंत्येते मानवा विधिवर्जिताः

vidhihīnaṁ prakurvaṁti dānavā jñānavarjitāḥ anyāyena vrajaṁtyete mānavā vidhivarjitāḥ

'Demons, devoid of true wisdom, act contrary to prescribed rule; and those men too, devoid of rule, go about through unjust ways.'

Verse 38 (padma.2.50.38)

तेषां शासनहेत्वर्थं कृता एतेपि नान्यथा । विधिहीनं प्रकुर्वंति ये हि धर्मं नराधमाः

teṣāṁ śāsanahetvarthaṁ kṛtā etepi nānyathā vidhihīnaṁ prakurvaṁti ye hi dharmaṁ narādhamāḥ

'For the very purpose of disciplining such men, we too were made — for no other reason — those base men who transgress dharma against all rule.'

Verse 39 (padma.2.50.39)

तान्वयं शासयामो वै दंडेन महता किल । भवत्या दारुणं कर्म कृतमेव सुनिर्घृणम्

tānvayaṁ śāsayāmo vai daṁḍena mahatā kila bhavatyā dāruṇaṁ karma kṛtameva sunirghṛṇam

'Them indeed we discipline with a mighty rod of punishment. But you, for your part, have done a terrible deed, utterly merciless.'

Verse 40 (padma.2.50.40)

गार्हस्थ्यं च परित्यज्य अत्रायाता किमर्थतः । वदस्येवं मुखेनापि अहं हि पतिदेवता

gārhasthyaṁ ca parityajya atrāyātā kimarthataḥ vadasyevaṁ mukhenāpi ahaṁ hi patidevatā

'Abandoning your household duties, why have you come here? And yet with your own mouth you claim: "I am one who holds her husband as her deity."'

Verse 41 (padma.2.50.41)

कर्मणा नास्ति तद्दृष्टं पतिदैवत्यमेव ते । भर्तारं तं परित्यज्य किमर्थं त्वमिहागता

karmaṇā nāsti taddṛṣṭaṁ patidaivatyameva te bhartāraṁ taṁ parityajya kimarthaṁ tvamihāgatā

'But in your deeds that devotion to your husband as deity is nowhere seen. Having left your husband, why then have you come here?'

Verse 42 (padma.2.50.42)

शृंगारं भूषणं वेषं कृत्वा तिष्ठसि निर्घृणा । किमर्थं हि कृतं पापे कस्यहेतोर्वदस्व मे

śṛṁgāraṁ bhūṣaṇaṁ veṣaṁ kṛtvā tiṣṭhasi nirghṛṇā kimarthaṁ hi kṛtaṁ pāpe kasyahetorvadasva me

'Adorned in fine dress, ornaments and attire, you, merciless one, remain here. For what reason, O sinner, was this done? Tell me the cause.'

Verse 43 (padma.2.50.43)

निःशंका वर्त्तसे चापि प्रमत्ता गिरिकानने । मया त्वं साधिता पापा दंडेन महता शृणु

niḥśaṁkā varttase cāpi pramattā girikānane mayā tvaṁ sādhitā pāpā daṁḍena mahatā śṛṇu

'You wander here fearlessly and heedlessly in this mountain forest. Listen — you, O sinner, have been brought to task by me, with a mighty punishment.'

Verse 44 (padma.2.50.44)

अधर्मचारिणी दुष्टा पतिं त्यक्त्वा समागता । क्वास्ते तत्पतिदेवत्वं दर्शय त्वं ममाग्रतः

adharmacāriṇī duṣṭā patiṁ tyaktvā samāgatā kvāste tatpatidevatvaṁ darśaya tvaṁ mamāgrataḥ

'O wicked one, walking the path of adharma, you have come here abandoning your husband. Where now is that devotion to husband-as-deity? Show it to me now.'

Verse 45 (padma.2.50.45)

भवती पुंश्चली नाम यया त्यक्तः स्वकः पतिः । पृथक्छय्या यदा नारी तदा सा पुंश्चली मता

bhavatī puṁścalī nāma yayā tyaktaḥ svakaḥ patiḥ pṛthakchayyā yadā nārī tadā sā puṁścalī matā

'You are indeed a wanton woman, by whom your own husband has been forsaken. When a woman sleeps apart from her husband, then she is deemed a wanton woman.'

Verse 46 (padma.2.50.46)

योजनानां शतैकस्य सोन्तरेण प्रवर्त्तते । क्वास्ति ते पतिदैवत्यं पुंश्चल्याचारचारिणी

yojanānāṁ śataikasya sontareṇa pravarttate kvāsti te patidaivatyaṁ puṁścalyācāracāriṇī

'—even at a distance of a hundred yojanas, this holds true. Where then is your devotion to husband-as-deity, you who behave in the manner of a wanton woman?'

Verse 47 (padma.2.50.47)

निर्लज्जे निर्घृणे दुष्टे किं मे वदसि संमुखी । तपसः क्वास्ति ते भावः क्व तेजोबलमेव च

nirlajje nirghṛṇe duṣṭe kiṁ me vadasi saṁmukhī tapasaḥ kvāsti te bhāvaḥ kva tejobalameva ca

'O shameless, merciless, wicked one, why do you speak to my face thus? Where is the power of your austerity? Where indeed your strength and splendor?'

Verse 48 (padma.2.50.48)

दर्शयस्व ममाद्यैव बलवीर्यपराक्रमम् । पद्मावत्युवाच- स्नेहेनापि समानीता श्रूयतामसुराधम

darśayasva mamādyaiva balavīryaparākramam padmāvatyuvāca- snehenāpi samānītā śrūyatāmasurādhama

'Show me this very day your strength, your valor, your prowess.' Padmavati said: 'Listen, vilest of demons — I was brought here even by love itself —'

Verse 49 (padma.2.50.49)

भर्तुर्गेहादहं पित्रा क्वास्ते तत्र च पातकम् । नैव कामान्न लोभाच्च न मोहान्न च मत्सरात्

bharturgehādahaṁ pitrā kvāste tatra ca pātakam naiva kāmānna lobhācca na mohānna ca matsarāt

'—by my own father, from my husband's house. Where is any sin in that? Not from lust, not from greed, not from delusion, and not from envy —'

Verse 50 (padma.2.50.50)

आगताहं पतिं त्यक्त्वा पतिभावेन संस्थिता । भर्तृरूपच्छलेनापि त्वयैव परिवंचिता

āgatāhaṁ patiṁ tyaktvā patibhāvena saṁsthitā bhartṛrūpacchalenāpi tvayaiva parivaṁcitā

'—did I come, abandoning my husband; I remained ever established in devotion to him. It is you alone who deceived me, through the very disguise of my husband's form.'

Verse 51 (padma.2.50.51)

भवंतं माथुरं ज्ञात्वा गताहं सम्मुखं तव । मायाविनं यदा जाने त्वामेवं दानवाधम

bhavaṁtaṁ māthuraṁ jñātvā gatāhaṁ sammukhaṁ tava māyāvinaṁ yadā jāne tvāmevaṁ dānavādhama

'I went to you thinking you were the lord of Mathura. Only now do I know you for the deceiver you are, O vilest of demons.'

Verse 52 (padma.2.50.52)

एकेन हुंकृतेनैव भस्मीभूतं करोम्यहम् । गोभिल उवाच- चक्षुर्हीना न पश्यंति मानवाः शृणु सांप्रतम्

ekena huṁkṛtenaiva bhasmībhūtaṁ karomyaham gobhila uvāca- cakṣurhīnā na paśyaṁti mānavāḥ śṛṇu sāṁpratam

'With a single roar alone I could reduce you to ashes!' Gobhila said: 'Those without eyes cannot see, O men — hear now —'

Verse 53 (padma.2.50.53)

धर्मनेत्रविहीना त्वं कथं जानासि मामिह । यदा ते भाव उत्पन्नः पितुर्गेहं प्रति शृणु

dharmanetravihīnā tvaṁ kathaṁ jānāsi māmiha yadā te bhāva utpannaḥ piturgehaṁ prati śṛṇu

'—so you too, bereft of the eye of dharma, how could you truly know me here? Listen: when the very desire arose in you to go to your father's house —'

Verse 54 (padma.2.50.54)

पतिध्यानं परित्यज्य मुक्ता ध्यानेन त्वं तदा । ज्ञाननेत्रं तदा नष्टं स्फुटं च हृदये तव

patidhyānaṁ parityajya muktā dhyānena tvaṁ tadā jñānanetraṁ tadā naṣṭaṁ sphuṭaṁ ca hṛdaye tava

'—abandoning meditation upon your husband, you were then freed of that very meditation; and thereupon the eye of true knowledge in your heart was clearly destroyed.'

Verse 55 (padma.2.50.55)

कथं मां त्वं विजानासि ज्ञानचक्षुर्हता भुवि । कस्या माता पिता भ्राता कस्याः स्वजनबांधवाः

kathaṁ māṁ tvaṁ vijānāsi jñānacakṣurhatā bhuvi kasyā mātā pitā bhrātā kasyāḥ svajanabāṁdhavāḥ

'How then, your eye of knowledge destroyed here on earth, could you truly know me? Whose mother, whose father, whose brother, whose kinsfolk and relations —'

Verse 56 (padma.2.50.56)

सर्वस्थाने पतिर्ह्येको भार्यायास्तु न संशयः । इत्युक्त्वा हि प्रहस्यैव गोभिलो दानवाधमः

sarvasthāne patirhyeko bhāryāyāstu na saṁśayaḥ ityuktvā hi prahasyaiva gobhilo dānavādhamaḥ

'—in every place, a wife has but one husband alone, without doubt.' Having said this, that vilest of demons, Gobhila, laughed aloud —

Verse 57 (padma.2.50.57)

न भयं विद्यते तेऽद्य ममापि शृणु पुंश्चलि । किं भवेत्तव शापेन वृथैव परिकंपसे

na bhayaṁ vidyate te'dya mamāpi śṛṇu puṁścali kiṁ bhavettava śāpena vṛthaiva parikaṁpase

'—and said: "I have no fear of you today, O wanton one — hear me. What could your curse do? You tremble here in vain."'

Verse 58 (padma.2.50.58)

ममगेहं समाश्रित्य भुंक्ष्व भोगान्मनोऽनुगान् । पद्मावत्युवाच- गच्छ पापसमाचार किं त्वं वदसि निर्घृणः

mamagehaṁ samāśritya bhuṁkṣva bhogānmano'nugān padmāvatyuvāca- gaccha pāpasamācāra kiṁ tvaṁ vadasi nirghṛṇaḥ

'"Take refuge in my house, and enjoy pleasures to your heart's content."' Padmavati said: 'Go, sinner! What is this you say, merciless one?'

Verse 59 (padma.2.50.59)

सतीभावेन संस्थास्मि पतिव्रतपरायणा । धक्ष्यामि त्वां महापाप यद्येवं तु वदिष्यसि

satībhāvena saṁsthāsmi pativrataparāyaṇā dhakṣyāmi tvāṁ mahāpāpa yadyevaṁ tu vadiṣyasi

'I remain established in the state of a chaste wife, devoted wholly to my husband. I shall burn you, great sinner, if you speak thus again.'

Verse 60 (padma.2.50.60)

एवमुक्त्वा तथैकांते निषसाद महीतले । दुःखेन महताविष्टां तामुवाच स गोभिलः

evamuktvā tathaikāṁte niṣasāda mahītale duḥkhena mahatāviṣṭāṁ tāmuvāca sa gobhilaḥ

Having said this, she sat down there alone upon the ground; and Gobhila spoke to her, overwhelmed as she was with great sorrow —

Verse 61 (padma.2.50.61)

तवोदरे मया न्यस्तं स्ववीर्यं सुकृतं शुभे । तस्मादुत्पत्स्यते पुत्रस्त्रैलोक्यक्षोभकारकः

tavodare mayā nyastaṁ svavīryaṁ sukṛtaṁ śubhe tasmādutpatsyate putrastrailokyakṣobhakārakaḥ

'—"In your womb, O auspicious one, my own seed has been well and truly placed by me. From it shall be born a son who will trouble the three worlds."'

Verse 62 (padma.2.50.62)

एवमुक्त्वा जगामाथ गोभिलो दानवस्तदा । गते तस्मिन्दुराचारे दानवे पापचारिणी

evamuktvā jagāmātha gobhilo dānavastadā gate tasmindurācāre dānave pāpacāriṇī

Having said this, the demon Gobhila then departed; and when that ill-conducted, sinful demon had gone —

Verse 63 (padma.2.50.63)

दुःखेन महताविष्टा नृपकन्या रुरोद ह

duḥkhena mahatāviṣṭā nṛpakanyā ruroda ha

—the princess, overwhelmed with great sorrow, wept bitterly.