The House of Truth and the Omen of Return

Verse 1 (padma.2.56.1)

विष्णुरुवाच- तस्याः सत्यविनाशाय मन्मथः ससुराधिपः । प्रस्थितः सुकलां तर्हि सत्यो धर्ममथाब्रवीत्

viṣṇuruvāca- tasyāḥ satyavināśāya manmathaḥ sasurādhipaḥ prasthitaḥ sukalāṁ tarhi satyo dharmamathābravīt

Vishnu said: As Manmatha, together with the lord of the gods, set out to destroy her truth and go toward Sukala, then Satya spoke to Dharma —

Verse 2 (padma.2.56.2)

पश्य धर्म महाप्राज्ञ मन्मथस्य विचेष्टितम् । तवार्थमात्मनश्चैव पुण्यस्यापि महात्मनः

paśya dharma mahāprājña manmathasya viceṣṭitam tavārthamātmanaścaiva puṇyasyāpi mahātmanaḥ

'Behold, O Dharma, most wise one, the doings of Manmatha — for your sake, my own, and for the sake of that great-souled, meritorious one.'

Verse 3 (padma.2.56.3)

विसृजामि महास्थानं वास्तुरूपं सुखोदयम् । सत्याख्यं च सुप्रियाख्यं सुदेवाख्यं गृहोत्तमम्

visṛjāmi mahāsthānaṁ vāsturūpaṁ sukhodayam satyākhyaṁ ca supriyākhyaṁ sudevākhyaṁ gṛhottamam

'I describe now that great abode, in the form of a dwelling, source of happiness — the finest of houses, named Truth, named Beloved, named Godly.'

Verse 4 (padma.2.56.4)

तमेव नाशयेद्गत्वा काम एष प्रमत्तधीः । रिपुरूपः सुदुष्टात्मा अस्माकं हि न संशयः

tameva nāśayedgatvā kāma eṣa pramattadhīḥ ripurūpaḥ suduṣṭātmā asmākaṁ hi na saṁśayaḥ

'This very Kama, of reckless mind, going there, would destroy it — he, appearing as an enemy, most wicked-souled, is indeed our foe, without doubt.'

Verse 5 (padma.2.56.5)

पतिस्तपोधनो विप्रः सुसती या पतिव्रता । सुसत्यो भूपतिर्धर्मममगेहानसंशयः

patistapodhano vipraḥ susatī yā pativratā susatyo bhūpatirdharmamamagehānasaṁśayaḥ

'The husband, a brahmin rich in austerity; the truly chaste, devoted wife; the truthful king, dharma itself — these, without doubt, dwell in my house.'

Verse 6 (padma.2.56.6)

यत्राहं वृद्धिसंपुष्टस्तत्र वासो हि ते भवेत् । तत्र पुण्यं समायाति श्रद्धया सह क्रीडते

yatrāhaṁ vṛddhisaṁpuṣṭastatra vāso hi te bhavet tatra puṇyaṁ samāyāti śraddhayā saha krīḍate

'Wherever I am established and flourishing, there indeed your own dwelling too shall be; there merit comes and sports together with faith.'

Verse 7 (padma.2.56.7)

क्षमा शांत्या समायुक्ता आयाति मम मंदिरम् । यथा सत्यो दमश्चैव दया सौहृदमेव च

kṣamā śāṁtyā samāyuktā āyāti mama maṁdiram yathā satyo damaścaiva dayā sauhṛdameva ca

'Forgiveness, joined with peace, comes to my very house; so too do truth, self-control, compassion, and friendship.'

Verse 8 (padma.2.56.8)

प्रज्ञायुक्तः स निर्लोभो यत्राहं तत्र संस्थितः । शुचिः स्वभावस्तत्रैव अमी च मम बांधवाः

prajñāyuktaḥ sa nirlobho yatrāhaṁ tatra saṁsthitaḥ śuciḥ svabhāvastatraiva amī ca mama bāṁdhavāḥ

'Endowed with wisdom, free of greed — wherever I am, he is established there too; a pure nature dwells there as well — these are my own kinsmen.'

Verse 9 (padma.2.56.9)

अस्तेयमप्यहिंसा च तितिक्षा वृद्धिरेव च । मम गेहे समायाता धन्यतां शृणु धर्मराट्

asteyamapyahiṁsā ca titikṣā vṛddhireva ca mama gehe samāyātā dhanyatāṁ śṛṇu dharmarāṭ

'Non-stealing, non-violence, forbearance, and prosperity — all have come to my house; hear, O king of dharma, of its blessedness.'

Verse 10 (padma.2.56.10)

गुरूणां चापि शुश्रूषा विष्णुर्लक्ष्म्या समावृतः । मद्गेहं तु समायांति देवाश्चाग्निपुरोगमाः

gurūṇāṁ cāpi śuśrūṣā viṣṇurlakṣmyā samāvṛtaḥ madgehaṁ tu samāyāṁti devāścāgnipurogamāḥ

'Service to elders too, and Vishnu, surrounded by Lakshmi — all come to my house, along with the gods headed by Agni.'

Verse 11 (padma.2.56.11)

मोक्षमार्गं प्रकाशेद्यो ज्ञानोदीप्त्या समन्वितः । एतैः सार्धं वसाम्येव सतीषु धर्मवत्सु च

mokṣamārgaṁ prakāśedyo jñānodīptyā samanvitaḥ etaiḥ sārdhaṁ vasāmyeva satīṣu dharmavatsu ca

'He who illumines the path of liberation, endowed with the radiance of knowledge — together with all these I dwell, in chaste women and in the righteous.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.56.12)

साधुष्वेतेषु सर्वेषु गृहरूपेषु मे सदा । उक्तेनापि कुटुंबेन वसाम्येव त्वया सह

sādhuṣveteṣu sarveṣu gṛharūpeṣu me sadā uktenāpi kuṭuṁbena vasāmyeva tvayā saha

'In all these good souls, ever the very form of my house, together with this whole family I have described, I dwell, and with you as well.'

Verse 13 (padma.2.56.13)

ससत्वाः साधुरूपास्ते वेधसा मे गृहीकृताः । संचरामि महाभाग स्वच्छंदेन च लीलया

sasatvāḥ sādhurūpāste vedhasā me gṛhīkṛtāḥ saṁcarāmi mahābhāga svacchaṁdena ca līlayā

'Filled with good essence, of virtuous form, they have been made my household by the Creator; and, O blessed one, I move about among them freely, at my own will, in play.'

Verse 14 (padma.2.56.14)

ईश्वरश्च जगत्स्वामी त्रिनेत्रो वृषवाहनः । मम गेहे स्वरूपेण वर्तते शिवया युतः

īśvaraśca jagatsvāmī trinetro vṛṣavāhanaḥ mama gehe svarūpeṇa vartate śivayā yutaḥ

'Ishvara too, lord of the universe, three-eyed, bull-mounted, dwells in my house in his own true form, together with Shiva.'

Verse 15 (padma.2.56.15)

तदिदं संसृतेः सारं गृहरूपं महेश्वरम् । सदनं शंकरेत्याख्यं नाशितं मन्मथेन वै

tadidaṁ saṁsṛteḥ sāraṁ gṛharūpaṁ maheśvaram sadanaṁ śaṁkaretyākhyaṁ nāśitaṁ manmathena vai

'This, then, is the very essence of transmigratory existence — this house in the form of the great lord, this dwelling called Shankara's own — and it is this that Manmatha would destroy indeed.'

Verse 16 (padma.2.56.16)

विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं तपंतं तप उत्तमम् । मेनकां हि समाश्रित्य कामोयं जितवान्पुरा

viśvāmitraṁ mahātmānaṁ tapaṁtaṁ tapa uttamam menakāṁ hi samāśritya kāmoyaṁ jitavānpurā

'This very Kama once conquered the great soul Vishvamitra, though he practiced supreme austerity, by making use of Menaka.'

Verse 17 (padma.2.56.17)

सती पतिव्रताहल्या गौतमस्य प्रिया शुभा । सुसत्याच्चालिता तेन मन्मथेन दुरात्मना

satī pativratāhalyā gautamasya priyā śubhā susatyāccālitā tena manmathena durātmanā

'The chaste and devoted Ahalya, the auspicious beloved of Gautama, was likewise shaken from her true steadfastness by that wicked-souled Manmatha.'

Verse 18 (padma.2.56.18)

मुनयः सत्यधर्मज्ञा नानास्त्रियः पतिव्रताः । मद्गृहास्ता इमाः सर्वा दीपिताः कामवह्निना

munayaḥ satyadharmajñā nānāstriyaḥ pativratāḥ madgṛhāstā imāḥ sarvā dīpitāḥ kāmavahninā

'Sages, knowers of true dharma, and countless devoted women besides — all these dwellers of my house have been set ablaze by the fire of Kama.'

Verse 19 (padma.2.56.19)

दुर्धरो दुःसहो व्यापी योतिसत्येषु निष्ठुरः । मामेवं पश्यते नित्यं क्व सत्यः परितिष्ठति

durdharo duḥsaho vyāpī yotisatyeṣu niṣṭhuraḥ māmevaṁ paśyate nityaṁ kva satyaḥ paritiṣṭhati

'Unrestrainable, unbearable, all-pervading, merciless toward those joined with truth — he ever eyes me thus: "Where does truth still stand firm?"'

Verse 20 (padma.2.56.20)

समां ज्ञात्वा समायाति बाणपाणिर्धनुर्धरः । नाशयेन्मद्गृहं पापो वीतिहोत्रैश्च नामकैः

samāṁ jñātvā samāyāti bāṇapāṇirdhanurdharaḥ nāśayenmadgṛhaṁ pāpo vītihotraiśca nāmakaiḥ

'Learning of my equanimity, he comes, bow and arrow in hand; that sinner would destroy my house with the very fires named vitihotra.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.56.21)

पापलेशाश्च ये क्रूरा अन्ये पाखंडसंश्रयाः । ते तु बुद्ध्याऽहिताः सर्वे सत्यगेहं विशंति हि

pāpaleśāśca ye krūrā anye pākhaṁḍasaṁśrayāḥ te tu buddhyā'hitāḥ sarve satyagehaṁ viśaṁti hi

'Those tainted with the least sin, the cruel ones, and others given over to hypocrisy — all these, of unfriendly mind, do indeed enter the house of truth in disguise.'

Verse 22 (padma.2.56.22)

सेनाध्यक्षैरसत्यैस्तु छद्मना तेन साधितः । पातयेदर्दयेद्गेहं पापः शस्त्रैर्दुरात्मभिः

senādhyakṣairasatyaistu chadmanā tena sādhitaḥ pātayedardayedgehaṁ pāpaḥ śastrairdurātmabhiḥ

'With his commanders, who are but falsehoods themselves, accomplished through deceit, that sinner would tear down and ravage the house with wicked, soul-destroying weapons.'

Verse 23 (padma.2.56.23)

मामेवं ताडयेत्पापो महाबल मनोभवः । अस्य धाम्ना प्रदग्धोहं शून्यतां हि व्रजामि वै

māmevaṁ tāḍayetpāpo mahābala manobhavaḥ asya dhāmnā pradagdhohaṁ śūnyatāṁ hi vrajāmi vai

'That sinner, mighty Manobhava, would strike me down thus; burned by his very fire, I shall indeed come to nothingness.'

Verse 24 (padma.2.56.24)

नूतनं गृहमिच्छामि स्त्रियाख्यं पतिभूपतिम् । कृकलस्यापि पुण्यस्य प्रियेयं शिवमंगला

nūtanaṁ gṛhamicchāmi striyākhyaṁ patibhūpatim kṛkalasyāpi puṇyasya priyeyaṁ śivamaṁgalā

'I now seek a new house, one named "wife," whose lord is her very husband; this auspicious, blessed one is the beloved of the meritorious Krikala.'

Verse 25 (padma.2.56.25)

तद्गृहं सुकलाख्यं मे दग्धुं पापः समुद्यतः । अयमेष सहस्राक्षः कामेन सहितो बली

tadgṛhaṁ sukalākhyaṁ me dagdhuṁ pāpaḥ samudyataḥ ayameṣa sahasrākṣaḥ kāmena sahito balī

'That house of mine, named Sukala — this sinner is now bent on burning it down; here comes that mighty thousand-eyed one, together with Kama.'

Verse 26 (padma.2.56.26)

कामस्य कारणात्कस्मात्पूर्ववृत्तं न विंदति । अहल्यायाः प्रसंगेन मेषोपस्थो व्यजायत

kāmasya kāraṇātkasmātpūrvavṛttaṁ na viṁdati ahalyāyāḥ prasaṁgena meṣopastho vyajāyata

'Why does he, on account of Kama, not recall what happened before? Through the affair of Ahalya, he came to bear the private mark of a ram.'

Verse 27 (padma.2.56.27)

पौरुषं हि मुनेर्दृष्ट्वा सत्याश्चैव प्रधषर्णात् । नष्टः कामस्य दोषेण सुरराट्तत्र संस्थितः

pauruṣaṁ hi munerdṛṣṭvā satyāścaiva pradhaṣarṇāt naṣṭaḥ kāmasya doṣeṇa surarāṭtatra saṁsthitaḥ

'Seeing the sage's own power, and through that violation of truth, he was ruined; by the very fault of Kama did the king of the gods find himself thus disgraced.'

Verse 28 (padma.2.56.28)

भुक्तवान्दारुणं शापं दुःखेन महतान्वितः । कृकलस्य प्रियामेनां सुकलां पुण्यचारिणीम्

bhuktavāndāruṇaṁ śāpaṁ duḥkhena mahatānvitaḥ kṛkalasya priyāmenāṁ sukalāṁ puṇyacāriṇīm

'He suffered a terrible curse, overcome with great sorrow; and now again he comes against this Sukala, beloved of Krikala, of most virtuous conduct.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.56.29)

एष हंतुं सहस्राक्ष उद्यतः कामसंयुतः । यथा चेंद्रेण नायाति काम एष तथा कुरु

eṣa haṁtuṁ sahasrākṣa udyataḥ kāmasaṁyutaḥ yathā ceṁdreṇa nāyāti kāma eṣa tathā kuru

'This thousand-eyed one, joined with Kama, is bent on destroying her. Do something, so that this Kama may not come along with Indra.'

Verse 30 (padma.2.56.30)

धर्मराज महाप्राज्ञ भवान्मतिमतां वरः । धर्मराज उवाच- ऊनं तेजः करिष्यामि कामस्य मरणं तथा

dharmarāja mahāprājña bhavānmatimatāṁ varaḥ dharmarāja uvāca- ūnaṁ tejaḥ kariṣyāmi kāmasya maraṇaṁ tathā

'O Dharmaraja, most wise one, you are the finest among the wise.' Dharmaraja said: 'I shall diminish his splendor, and bring about even the death of Kama's power there.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.56.31)

एकोपायो मया दृष्टस्तमिहैव प्रपश्यतु । प्रज्ञा चैषा महाप्राज्ञा शकुनीरूपचारिणी

ekopāyo mayā dṛṣṭastamihaiva prapaśyatu prajñā caiṣā mahāprājñā śakunīrūpacāriṇī

'One remedy have I seen — let it be seen here itself. This one, Prajna, most wise, moves about in the form of an omen-bird.'

Verse 32 (padma.2.56.32)

भर्तुरागमनं पुण्यं शब्देनाख्यातु खे यतः । शकुनस्य प्रभावेण भर्तुश्चागमनेन च

bharturāgamanaṁ puṇyaṁ śabdenākhyātu khe yataḥ śakunasya prabhāveṇa bhartuścāgamanena ca

'Let her, from the sky, proclaim by her cry the auspicious return of her husband; for by the power of that omen, and by her husband's very return —'

Verse 33 (padma.2.56.33)

दुष्टैर्नष्टा न भूयेत स्वस्थचित्ता न संशयः । प्रज्ञा संप्रेषिता तेन गता सा सुकलागृहम्

duṣṭairnaṣṭā na bhūyeta svasthacittā na saṁśayaḥ prajñā saṁpreṣitā tena gatā sā sukalāgṛham

'—she will not be ruined by the wicked, and will remain of settled mind, without doubt.' Sent forth by him, Prajna went to Sukala's house.

Verse 34 (padma.2.56.34)

प्रकुर्वती महच्छब्दं दृष्टदेवेव सा बभौ । पूजिता मानिता प्रज्ञा धूपदीपादिभिस्तदा

prakurvatī mahacchabdaṁ dṛṣṭadeveva sā babhau pūjitā mānitā prajñā dhūpadīpādibhistadā

Making a great sound, she shone there as though a visible deity; and Prajna was then honored and worshipped with incense, lamps, and the like.

Verse 35 (padma.2.56.35)

ब्राह्मणं सुकलापृच्छत्किमेषा च वदेन्मम । ब्राह्मण उवाच- भर्तुश्चागमनं ब्रूते तवैव सुभगे स्थिरा

brāhmaṇaṁ sukalāpṛcchatkimeṣā ca vadenmama brāhmaṇa uvāca- bhartuścāgamanaṁ brūte tavaiva subhage sthirā

Sukala asked a brahmin: 'What does this one say to me?' The brahmin said: 'She proclaims, O fortunate one, firmly, the return of your very husband —'

Verse 36 (padma.2.56.36)

दिनसप्तकमध्ये स आगमिष्यति नान्यथा

dinasaptakamadhye sa āgamiṣyati nānyathā

'—within seven days he shall come; there is no other outcome.'

Verse 37 (padma.2.56.37)

इत्येवमाकर्ण्यसुमंगलं वचः प्रहर्षयुक्ता सहसा बभूव । धर्मज्ञमेकं सगुणं हि कांतं शकुनात्प्रदिष्टं हि समागतं तम्

ityevamākarṇyasumaṁgalaṁ vacaḥ praharṣayuktā sahasā babhūva dharmajñamekaṁ saguṇaṁ hi kāṁtaṁ śakunātpradiṣṭaṁ hi samāgataṁ tam

Hearing this most auspicious word, she was at once filled with great joy — for that righteous, virtuous, beloved husband of hers, foretold by the omen, was indeed about to arrive.