The Boar-Wife's Redemption

Verse 1 (padma.2.52.1)

शिवशर्मोवाच-। मंगले श्रूयतां वाक्यं यदि पृच्छसि सांप्रतम् । यदर्थं हि त्वया पृष्टं तन्निबोध वरानने

śivaśarmovāca- maṁgale śrūyatāṁ vākyaṁ yadi pṛcchasi sāṁpratam yadarthaṁ hi tvayā pṛṣṭaṁ tannibodha varānane

Shivasharma said: Listen, Mangala, to my words, since you ask me now; understand, O fair one, the reason for what you have asked.

Verse 2 (padma.2.52.2)

इयं हि सांप्रतं प्राप्ता वराकी भिक्षुरूपिणी । वसुदत्तस्य विप्रस्य सुतेयं चारुलोचने

iyaṁ hi sāṁprataṁ prāptā varākī bhikṣurūpiṇī vasudattasya viprasya suteyaṁ cārulocane

This poor woman who has come here now in the guise of a beggar, O lovely-eyed one, is the daughter of the brahmin Vasudatta.

Verse 3 (padma.2.52.3)

सुदेवा नाम भद्रेयं मम जाया प्रिया सदा । केनापि कारणेनैव देशं त्यक्त्वा समागता

sudevā nāma bhadreyaṁ mama jāyā priyā sadā kenāpi kāraṇenaiva deśaṁ tyaktvā samāgatā

Her name is Sudeva, gentle one; she was ever my beloved wife. For some reason she left her land and has come here.

Verse 4 (padma.2.52.4)

ममदुःखेन दग्धेयं वियोगेन वरानने । मां ज्ञात्वा तु समायाता भिक्षुरूपेण ते गृहम्

mamaduḥkhena dagdheyaṁ viyogena varānane māṁ jñātvā tu samāyātā bhikṣurūpeṇa te gṛham

Consumed with grief at separation from me, O fair one, she has, recognizing me, come now to your house in this beggar's guise.

Verse 5 (padma.2.52.5)

एवं ज्ञात्वा त्वया भद्रे आतिथ्यं परिशोभितम् । कर्त्तव्यं न च संदेह इच्छंत्या मम सुप्रियम्

evaṁ jñātvā tvayā bhadre ātithyaṁ pariśobhitam karttavyaṁ na ca saṁdeha icchaṁtyā mama supriyam

Knowing this, gentle one, you should offer her fitting hospitality without doubt, if you wish to please me.

Verse 6 (padma.2.52.6)

भर्तुर्वाक्यं निशम्यैव मंगला पतिदेवता । हर्षेण महताविष्टा स्वयमेव सुमंगला

bharturvākyaṁ niśamyaiva maṁgalā patidevatā harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭā svayameva sumaṁgalā

Hearing her husband's words, Mangala, that devoted wife, filled with great joy, that most auspicious one, herself —

Verse 7 (padma.2.52.7)

स्नानाच्छादन भोज्यं च मम चक्रे वरानने । रत्नकांचनयुक्तैश्चाभरणैश्च पतिव्रता

snānācchādana bhojyaṁ ca mama cakre varānane ratnakāṁcanayuktaiścābharaṇaiśca pativratā

—O fair one, that devoted wife arranged bathing, garments, and food for me, along with ornaments set with gems and gold.

Verse 8 (padma.2.52.8)

अहं हि भूषिता भद्रे तयैव पतिकाम्यया । तयाहं भूषिता देवि मानस्नानैश्च भोजनैः

ahaṁ hi bhūṣitā bhadre tayaiva patikāmyayā tayāhaṁ bhūṣitā devi mānasnānaiśca bhojanaiḥ

I indeed was adorned, gentle one, by her, out of her own desire to please her husband; by her, O goddess, was I honored with respectful bathing and feeding.

Verse 9 (padma.2.52.9)

भर्त्राहं मानिता देवि जातं दुःखमनंतकम् । ममोरसि महातीव्रं सर्वप्राणविनाशनम्

bhartrāhaṁ mānitā devi jātaṁ duḥkhamanaṁtakam mamorasi mahātīvraṁ sarvaprāṇavināśanam

I was honored by my husband, O goddess; yet an endless sorrow arose, exceedingly intense in my breast, destroying all my life-breath.

Verse 10 (padma.2.52.10)

तस्या मानो मया दृष्टो दुःखमात्मगतं तथा । चिंता मे दारुणा जाता यया प्राणा व्रजंति मे

tasyā māno mayā dṛṣṭo duḥkhamātmagataṁ tathā ciṁtā me dāruṇā jātā yayā prāṇā vrajaṁti me

Seeing her honored state, and my own inner grief besides, a terrible anguish arose in me, by which my very life-breaths began to depart.

Verse 11 (padma.2.52.11)

कदापि वचनं दत्तं न मया पापया शुभम् । अस्यैव विप्रवर्यस्य आचरंत्या च दुष्कृतम्

kadāpi vacanaṁ dattaṁ na mayā pāpayā śubham asyaiva vipravaryasya ācaraṁtyā ca duṣkṛtam

'Never once did I, sinful one, speak a kind word to this finest of brahmins — I, who instead behaved wickedly toward him.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.52.12)

पादप्रक्षालनं नैव अंगसंवाहनं नहि । एकांतं न मया दत्तं तस्यैव हि महात्मनः

pādaprakṣālanaṁ naiva aṁgasaṁvāhanaṁ nahi ekāṁtaṁ na mayā dattaṁ tasyaiva hi mahātmanaḥ

'Never did I wash his feet, never did I massage his limbs, never did I give this great soul even a moment of intimacy.'

Verse 13 (padma.2.52.13)

संभाषां कथमस्यैव करिष्ये पापनिश्चया । रात्रौ चैव तदा तत्र पतिता दुःखसागरे

saṁbhāṣāṁ kathamasyaiva kariṣye pāpaniścayā rātrau caiva tadā tatra patitā duḥkhasāgare

'How, so fixed in sin, shall I even speak with him now?' Thus, that very night, there, she fell into an ocean of sorrow.

Verse 14 (padma.2.52.14)

एवं हि चिंतमानायाः स्फुटितं हृदयं मम । गताः प्राणास्तदा कायं परित्यज्य वरानने

evaṁ hi ciṁtamānāyāḥ sphuṭitaṁ hṛdayaṁ mama gatāḥ prāṇāstadā kāyaṁ parityajya varānane

Thus, as I lay in such thought, my heart burst; and then, O fair one, my life-breath departed, forsaking my body.

Verse 15 (padma.2.52.15)

तत्र दूताः समायाता धर्मराजस्य वै तदा । वीराश्च दारुणाः क्रूरा गदाचक्रासिधारिणः

tatra dūtāḥ samāyātā dharmarājasya vai tadā vīrāśca dāruṇāḥ krūrā gadācakrāsidhāriṇaḥ

There the messengers of Dharmaraja arrived at once — terrible, cruel warriors, bearing maces, discuses and swords.

Verse 16 (padma.2.52.16)

तैस्तु बद्धा महाभागे शृंखलैर्दृढबंधनैः । नीता यमपुरं तैस्तु रुदमाना सुदुःखिता

taistu baddhā mahābhāge śṛṁkhalairdṛḍhabaṁdhanaiḥ nītā yamapuraṁ taistu rudamānā suduḥkhitā

By them, O blessed one, I was bound with chains, tight fetters, and led away to Yama's city, weeping in deep sorrow.

Verse 17 (padma.2.52.17)

मुद्गरैस्ताड्यमानाहं दुर्गमार्गेण पीडिता । भर्त्स्यमाना यमस्याग्रे तैस्तत्राहं प्रवेशिता

mudgaraistāḍyamānāhaṁ durgamārgeṇa pīḍitā bhartsyamānā yamasyāgre taistatrāhaṁ praveśitā

Beaten with maces, tormented on that dreadful path, reviled all the way, I was brought there before Yama.

Verse 18 (padma.2.52.18)

दृष्टाहं यमराजेन सक्रोधेन महात्मना । अंगारसंचये क्षिप्ता क्षिप्ता नरकसंचये

dṛṣṭāhaṁ yamarājena sakrodhena mahātmanā aṁgārasaṁcaye kṣiptā kṣiptā narakasaṁcaye

Seen by the great-souled Yamaraja, filled with wrath, I was thrown into a heap of burning coals, thrown into a mass of hell.

Verse 19 (padma.2.52.19)

लोहस्य पुरुषं कृत्वा अग्निना परितापितः । ममोरसि समुत्क्षिप्तो निजभर्तुश्च वंचनात्

lohasya puruṣaṁ kṛtvā agninā paritāpitaḥ mamorasi samutkṣipto nijabhartuśca vaṁcanāt

An iron figure, heated with fire, was made and hurled upon my breast — for my deceit of my own husband.

Verse 20 (padma.2.52.20)

नानापीडातिसंतप्ता नरकाग्निप्रतापिता । तैलद्रोण्यां परिक्षिप्ता करम्भवालुकोपरि

nānāpīḍātisaṁtaptā narakāgnipratāpitā tailadroṇyāṁ parikṣiptā karambhavālukopari

Scorched by manifold torments, burned by the fire of hell, I was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil, and upon burning sand.

Verse 21 (padma.2.52.21)

असिपत्रैश्च संच्छिन्ना जलमंत्रेण वाहिता । कूटशाल्मलिवृक्षेषु क्षिप्ता तेन महात्मना

asipatraiśca saṁcchinnā jalamaṁtreṇa vāhitā kūṭaśālmalivṛkṣeṣu kṣiptā tena mahātmanā

Cut apart by sword-leaved trees, swept along by the flood-river, I was thrown by that great one upon the thorny silk-cotton trees.

Verse 22 (padma.2.52.22)

पूयशोणितविष्ठायां पतिता कृमिसंकुले । सर्वेषु नरकेष्वेवं क्षिप्ताहं नृपनंदिनि

pūyaśoṇitaviṣṭhāyāṁ patitā kṛmisaṁkule sarveṣu narakeṣvevaṁ kṣiptāhaṁ nṛpanaṁdini

I fell into a mass of pus, blood and filth, teeming with worms; O princess, thus I was thrown into every hell.

Verse 23 (padma.2.52.23)

पीडायुक्तेषु तीव्रेषु तेनैवापि महात्मना । करपत्रैः पाटिताहं शक्तिभिस्ताडिता भृशम्

pīḍāyukteṣu tīvreṣu tenaivāpi mahātmanā karapatraiḥ pāṭitāhaṁ śaktibhistāḍitā bhṛśam

In hells filled with intense torment, by that same great one I was sawn apart with hand-saws, and struck hard with spears.

Verse 24 (padma.2.52.24)

अन्येष्वेव नरकेषु पातिता नृपनंदिनि । योनिगर्तेषु क्षिप्तास्मि पतिता दुःखसंकटे

anyeṣveva narakeṣu pātitā nṛpanaṁdini yonigarteṣu kṣiptāsmi patitā duḥkhasaṁkaṭe

O princess, I was cast into other hells as well; I was thrown into pits of birth-wombs, fallen into dire distress.

Verse 25 (padma.2.52.25)

धर्मराजेन तेनाहं नरकेषु निपातिता । वल्गुनीयोनिमासाद्य भुक्तं दुःखं सुदारुणम्

dharmarājena tenāhaṁ narakeṣu nipātitā valgunīyonimāsādya bhuktaṁ duḥkhaṁ sudāruṇam

By that Dharmaraja I was cast down into the hells; and attaining the womb of a bat, I suffered most terrible sorrow.

Verse 26 (padma.2.52.26)

गताहं क्रौष्टुकीं योनिं शुनीयोनिं पुनर्गता । सकुक्कुटीं च मार्जारीमाखुयोनिं गता ह्यहम्

gatāhaṁ krauṣṭukīṁ yoniṁ śunīyoniṁ punargatā sakukkuṭīṁ ca mārjārīmākhuyoniṁ gatā hyaham

I went to the womb of a jackal, then again to the womb of a bitch; I went too to the wombs of a hen, a cat, and a mouse.

Verse 27 (padma.2.52.27)

एवं योनिविशेषेषु पापयोनिषु तेन च । क्षिप्तास्मि धर्मराजेन पीडिता सर्वयोनिषु

evaṁ yoniviśeṣeṣu pāpayoniṣu tena ca kṣiptāsmi dharmarājena pīḍitā sarvayoniṣu

Thus, through various such wombs, sinful wombs, was I cast by that Dharmaraja, tormented in every one of them.

Verse 28 (padma.2.52.28)

तेनैवाहं कृता भूमौ शूकरी नृपनंदिनि । तवहस्ते महाभागे संति तीर्थान्यनेकशः

tenaivāhaṁ kṛtā bhūmau śūkarī nṛpanaṁdini tavahaste mahābhāge saṁti tīrthānyanekaśaḥ

By him alone I was made a boar-wife upon this earth, O princess. In your hand, O blessed one, dwell many sacred waters.

Verse 29 (padma.2.52.29)

तेनोदकेन सिक्तास्मि त्वयैव वरवर्णिनि । मम पापं गतं देवि प्रसादात्तव सुंदरि

tenodakena siktāsmi tvayaiva varavarṇini mama pāpaṁ gataṁ devi prasādāttava suṁdari

By that very water was I sprinkled by you, O fair one; by your grace, O goddess, O beautiful one, my sin has departed.

Verse 30 (padma.2.52.30)

तवैव तेजःपुण्येन जातं ज्ञानं वरानने । इदानीं मामुद्धरस्व पतितां नरकसंकटे

tavaiva tejaḥpuṇyena jātaṁ jñānaṁ varānane idānīṁ māmuddharasva patitāṁ narakasaṁkaṭe

By your very splendor and merit, O fair one, knowledge has arisen in me. Now save me, fallen as I am into the peril of hell.

Verse 31 (padma.2.52.31)

यदा नोद्धरसे देवि पुनर्यास्यामि दारुणम् । नरकं च महाभागे त्राहि मां दुःखभागिनीम्

yadā noddharase devi punaryāsyāmi dāruṇam narakaṁ ca mahābhāge trāhi māṁ duḥkhabhāginīm

'If you do not save me, O goddess, I shall go again into that terrible hell. O blessed one, save me, one who has borne so much sorrow.'

Verse 32 (padma.2.52.32)

गताहं पापभावेन दीनाहं च निराश्रया । सुदेवोवाच- किं कृतं हि मया भद्रे सुकृतं पुण्यसंभवम्

gatāhaṁ pāpabhāvena dīnāhaṁ ca nirāśrayā sudevovāca- kiṁ kṛtaṁ hi mayā bhadre sukṛtaṁ puṇyasaṁbhavam

'I have gone through this sinful state, wretched and without refuge.' Sudeva said: 'What good deed, what merit-born virtue, have I ever done, gentle one —'

Verse 33 (padma.2.52.33)

येनाहमुद्धरे त्वां वै तन्मे त्वं वद सांप्रतम् । शूकर्युवाच- अयं राजा महाभाग इक्ष्वाकुर्मनुनंदनः

yenāhamuddhare tvāṁ vai tanme tvaṁ vada sāṁpratam śūkaryuvāca- ayaṁ rājā mahābhāga ikṣvākurmanunaṁdanaḥ

'—by which I might save you? Tell me that now.' The boar-wife said: 'This king here, O blessed one, Ikshvaku, son of Manu —'

Verse 34 (padma.2.52.34)

विष्णुरेष महाप्राज्ञो भवती श्रीर्हि नान्यथा । पतिव्रता महाभागा पतिव्रतपरायणा

viṣṇureṣa mahāprājño bhavatī śrīrhi nānyathā pativratā mahābhāgā pativrataparāyaṇā

'—is indeed Vishnu himself, most wise; and you are none other than Lakshmi — a chaste, blessed one, devoted wholly to your husband.'

Verse 35 (padma.2.52.35)

त्वं सती सर्वदा भद्रे सर्वतीर्थमयी प्रिया । देवि सर्वमयी नित्यं सर्वदेवमयी सदा

tvaṁ satī sarvadā bhadre sarvatīrthamayī priyā devi sarvamayī nityaṁ sarvadevamayī sadā

'You are ever chaste, gentle one, beloved, embodying every sacred tirtha. O goddess, you are ever all-pervading, always embodying every deity.'

Verse 36 (padma.2.52.36)

महापतिव्रता लोक एका त्वं नृपतेः प्रिया । यया शुश्रूषितो भर्ता भवत्या हि अहर्निशम्

mahāpativratā loka ekā tvaṁ nṛpateḥ priyā yayā śuśrūṣito bhartā bhavatyā hi aharniśam

'You alone are the greatest devoted wife in this world, beloved of the king, by whom your husband has been served day and night.'

Verse 37 (padma.2.52.37)

एकस्य दिवसस्यापि पुण्यं देहि वरानने । पति शुश्रूषितस्यापि यदि मे कुरुषे प्रियम्

ekasya divasasyāpi puṇyaṁ dehi varānane pati śuśrūṣitasyāpi yadi me kuruṣe priyam

'Give me the merit of even a single day, O fair one, of your service to your husband — if you would do me this kindness.'

Verse 38 (padma.2.52.38)

मम माता पिता त्वं वै त्वं मे गुरुः सनातनः । अहं पापा दुराचारा असत्या ज्ञानवर्जिता

mama mātā pitā tvaṁ vai tvaṁ me guruḥ sanātanaḥ ahaṁ pāpā durācārā asatyā jñānavarjitā

'You are my mother, my father, my eternal guru. I am sinful, of wicked conduct, untrue, devoid of knowledge.'

Verse 39 (padma.2.52.39)

मामुद्धर महाभागे भीताहं यमताडनैः । सुकलोवाच- एवं श्रुत्वा तया प्रोक्तं समालोक्य नृपं तदा

māmuddhara mahābhāge bhītāhaṁ yamatāḍanaiḥ sukalovāca- evaṁ śrutvā tayā proktaṁ samālokya nṛpaṁ tadā

'Save me, O blessed one — I am terrified of the blows of Yama.' Sukala said: Hearing this, and having spoken thus, she then looked at the king —

Verse 40 (padma.2.52.40)

किं करोमि महाराज एषा किं वदते पशुः । इक्ष्वाकुरुवाच- एनां दुःखां वराकीं वै पापयोनिं गतां शुभे

kiṁ karomi mahārāja eṣā kiṁ vadate paśuḥ ikṣvākuruvāca- enāṁ duḥkhāṁ varākīṁ vai pāpayoniṁ gatāṁ śubhe

'—and said: "What shall I do, O great king? What does this creature say?" Ikshvaku said: "This poor, sorrowful one, O auspicious one, who has gone through sinful wombs —"'

Verse 41 (padma.2.52.41)

समुद्धरस्व पुण्यैस्त्वं महच्छ्रेयो भविष्यति । एवमुक्ता वरा नारी सुदेवा चारुमंगला

samuddharasva puṇyaistvaṁ mahacchreyo bhaviṣyati evamuktā varā nārī sudevā cārumaṁgalā

'"—save her with your merit; great good will come of it."' Thus addressed, that excellent, lovely and auspicious woman, Sudeva —

Verse 42 (padma.2.52.42)

उवाचैकाब्दपुण्यं ते मया दत्तं वरानने । एवमुक्तेन वाक्येन तया देव्या हि तत्क्षणात्

uvācaikābdapuṇyaṁ te mayā dattaṁ varānane evamuktena vākyena tayā devyā hi tatkṣaṇāt

—said: 'The merit of one year's service have I given to you, O fair one.' By these very words spoken by that goddess-like queen, at that very instant —

Verse 43 (padma.2.52.43)

रूपयौवनसंपन्ना दिव्यमालाविभूषिता । दिव्यदेहा च संभूता तेजोज्वालासमावृता

rūpayauvanasaṁpannā divyamālāvibhūṣitā divyadehā ca saṁbhūtā tejojvālāsamāvṛtā

—she became endowed with beauty and youth, adorned with divine garlands; her body became divine, wreathed in flames of splendor.

Verse 44 (padma.2.52.44)

सर्वभूषणशोभाढ्या नानारत्नैश्च शोभिता । संजाता दिव्यरूपा सा दिव्यगंधानुलेपना

sarvabhūṣaṇaśobhāḍhyā nānāratnaiśca śobhitā saṁjātā divyarūpā sā divyagaṁdhānulepanā

Rich with the splendor of every ornament, adorned with various gems, she became of divine form, anointed with divine fragrance.

Verse 45 (padma.2.52.45)

दिव्यं विमानमारूढा अंतरिक्षं गता सती । तामुवाच ततो राज्ञीं प्रणतानतकंधरा

divyaṁ vimānamārūḍhā aṁtarikṣaṁ gatā satī tāmuvāca tato rājñīṁ praṇatānatakaṁdharā

Mounted upon a divine chariot, that virtuous one rose into the sky; and, her neck bowed low in reverence, she spoke to the queen —

Verse 46 (padma.2.52.46)

स्वस्त्यस्तु ते महाभागे प्रसादात्तव सुंदरि । व्रजामि पातकान्मुक्ता स्वर्गं पुण्यतमं शुभम्

svastyastu te mahābhāge prasādāttava suṁdari vrajāmi pātakānmuktā svargaṁ puṇyatamaṁ śubham

'—"May all be well with you, O blessed one; by your grace, O beautiful one, I go now, freed from sin, to that most sacred, auspicious heaven."'

Verse 47 (padma.2.52.47)

प्रणम्यैवं गता स्वर्गं सुदेवा शृणु सत्तम । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं सुकलाया निवेदितम्

praṇamyaivaṁ gatā svargaṁ sudevā śṛṇu sattama etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ sukalāyā niveditam

Having thus bowed, Sudeva went to heaven — hear this, O worthy one. All this has been related to you, told by Sukala.