The Boon and the Fruits of the Tale

Verse 1 (padma.2.60.1)

कृकल उवाच- कथं मे जायते सिद्धिः कथं पितृविमोचनम् । एतन्मे विस्तरेणापि धर्मराज वदाधुना

kṛkala uvāca- kathaṁ me jāyate siddhiḥ kathaṁ pitṛvimocanam etanme vistareṇāpi dharmarāja vadādhunā

Krikala said: 'How may I attain success? How may my ancestors be freed? Tell me this now in full detail, O Dharmaraja.'

Verse 2 (padma.2.60.2)

धर्म उवाच- गच्छ गेहं महाभाग त्वां विना दुःखमाचरत् । संबोधय त्वं सुकलां स्वपत्नीं धर्मचारिणीम्

dharma uvāca- gaccha gehaṁ mahābhāga tvāṁ vinā duḥkhamācarat saṁbodhaya tvaṁ sukalāṁ svapatnīṁ dharmacāriṇīm

Dharma said: 'Go home, O blessed one — she has suffered greatly without you. Awaken and inform your righteous wife Sukala.'

Verse 3 (padma.2.60.3)

श्राद्धदानं गृहं गत्वा तस्या हस्तेन वै कुरु । स्मृत्वा पुण्यानि तीर्थानि यजस्व त्वं सुरोत्तमान्

śrāddhadānaṁ gṛhaṁ gatvā tasyā hastena vai kuru smṛtvā puṇyāni tīrthāni yajasva tvaṁ surottamān

'Going home, perform the ancestral offering by her very hand; recalling the sacred tirthas, worship the excellent gods.'

Verse 4 (padma.2.60.4)

तीर्थयात्राकृता सिद्धिस्तव चैव भविष्यति । भार्यां विना तु यो लोके धर्मं साधितुमिच्छति

tīrthayātrākṛtā siddhistava caiva bhaviṣyati bhāryāṁ vinā tu yo loke dharmaṁ sādhitumicchati

'Then the success of your pilgrimage will indeed be yours. But whoever in this world wishes to accomplish dharma without a wife —'

Verse 5 (padma.2.60.5)

स गार्हस्थ्यं विलोप्यैव एकाकी विचरेद्वनम् । विफलो जायते लोके तं न मन्यंति देवताः

sa gārhasthyaṁ vilopyaiva ekākī vicaredvanam viphalo jāyate loke taṁ na manyaṁti devatāḥ

'—he, having thus destroyed the householder's state, wanders the forest alone; he becomes fruitless in this world, and the gods do not honor him.'

Verse 6 (padma.2.60.6)

यज्ञाः सिद्धिं तदायांति यदा स्याद्गृहिणी गृहे । एकाकी स समर्थो न धर्मार्थसाधनाय च

yajñāḥ siddhiṁ tadāyāṁti yadā syādgṛhiṇī gṛhe ekākī sa samartho na dharmārthasādhanāya ca

'Sacrifices attain success only when there is a wife in the house; alone, a man is not capable of accomplishing dharma and artha.'

Verse 7 (padma.2.60.7)

विष्णुरुवाच- एवमुक्त्वा च तं वैश्यं गतो धर्मो यथागतम् । कृकलोपि स धर्मात्मा स्वगृहं प्रतिप्रस्थितः

viṣṇuruvāca- evamuktvā ca taṁ vaiśyaṁ gato dharmo yathāgatam kṛkalopi sa dharmātmā svagṛhaṁ pratiprasthitaḥ

Vishnu said: Having spoken thus to that merchant, Dharma departed the way he had come; and the righteous Krikala too set out toward his own home.

Verse 8 (padma.2.60.8)

स्वगृहं प्राप्य मेधावी दृष्ट्वा तां च पतिव्रताम् । सार्थवाहेन तेनापि स्वस्थानं प्राप्य बुद्धिमान्

svagṛhaṁ prāpya medhāvī dṛṣṭvā tāṁ ca pativratām sārthavāhena tenāpi svasthānaṁ prāpya buddhimān

That wise, intelligent man, reaching his own home together with the caravan-leader, and beholding his devoted wife —

Verse 9 (padma.2.60.9)

तया समागतं दृष्ट्वा भर्तारं धर्मकोविदम् । कृतं सुमंगलं पुण्यं भर्तुरागमने तदा

tayā samāgataṁ dṛṣṭvā bhartāraṁ dharmakovidam kṛtaṁ sumaṁgalaṁ puṇyaṁ bharturāgamane tadā

—and she too, seeing her husband arrive, so skilled in dharma, performed all the most auspicious, sacred rites for her husband's return.

Verse 10 (padma.2.60.10)

समाचष्ट स धर्मात्मा धर्मस्यापि विचेष्टितम् । समाकर्ण्य महाभागा भर्तुर्वाक्यं मुदावहम्

samācaṣṭa sa dharmātmā dharmasyāpi viceṣṭitam samākarṇya mahābhāgā bharturvākyaṁ mudāvaham

That righteous soul related to her all that Dharma had done; and that blessed woman, hearing her husband's joyful words —

Verse 11 (padma.2.60.11)

धर्मवाक्यं प्रशस्याथ अनुमेने च तं तथा । विष्णुरुवाच- अथो स कृकलो वैश्यस्तया सार्धं सुपुण्यकम्

dharmavākyaṁ praśasyātha anumene ca taṁ tathā viṣṇuruvāca- atho sa kṛkalo vaiśyastayā sārdhaṁ supuṇyakam

—praised Dharma's own words and agreed to all of it. Vishnu said: Then that merchant Krikala, together with her, performed a most sacred rite.

Verse 12 (padma.2.60.12)

चकार श्रद्धया श्राद्धं देवतागृहसंस्थितः । पितरो देव गंधर्वा विमानैश्च समागताः

cakāra śraddhayā śrāddhaṁ devatāgṛhasaṁsthitaḥ pitaro deva gaṁdharvā vimānaiśca samāgatāḥ

With full faith he performed the ancestral rite, established there in his house of the gods; and the ancestors, the gods, and the gandharvas arrived in their celestial chariots.

Verse 13 (padma.2.60.13)

तुष्टुवुस्तौ महात्मानौ दंपती मुनयस्तथा । अहं चापि तथा ब्रह्मा देव्यायुक्तो महेश्वरः

tuṣṭuvustau mahātmānau daṁpatī munayastathā ahaṁ cāpi tathā brahmā devyāyukto maheśvaraḥ

The great sages praised that noble couple; and I too came, along with Brahma, and Maheshvara joined with his goddess.

Verse 14 (padma.2.60.14)

सर्वे देवाः सगंधर्वा विमानैश्च समागताः । अहमेव ततो ब्रह्मा देव्यायुक्तो महेश्वरः

sarve devāḥ sagaṁdharvā vimānaiśca samāgatāḥ ahameva tato brahmā devyāyukto maheśvaraḥ

All the gods, together with the gandharvas, arrived in their chariots; I myself, and Brahma, and Maheshvara joined with his goddess —

Verse 15 (padma.2.60.15)

सर्वे देवाः सगंधर्वास्तस्याः सत्येन तोषिताः । ऊचुश्च तौ महात्मानौ धर्मज्ञौ सत्यपंडितौ

sarve devāḥ sagaṁdharvāstasyāḥ satyena toṣitāḥ ūcuśca tau mahātmānau dharmajñau satyapaṁḍitau

—all the gods, together with the gandharvas, satisfied by her truthfulness, spoke to that noble couple, knowers of dharma, learned in truth —

Verse 16 (padma.2.60.16)

भार्यया सह भद्रं ते वरं वरय सुव्रत । कृकल उवाच- कस्य पुण्यप्रसंगेन तपसश्च सुरोत्तमाः

bhāryayā saha bhadraṁ te varaṁ varaya suvrata kṛkala uvāca- kasya puṇyaprasaṁgena tapasaśca surottamāḥ

'—"Together with your wife, good fortune be yours; choose your boon, O one of good vows."' Krikala said: 'By whose merit and austerity, O foremost of gods —'

Verse 17 (padma.2.60.17)

सभार्याय वरं दातुं भवंतो हि समागताः । इंद्र उवाच- एषा सती महाभागा सुकला चारुमंगला

sabhāryāya varaṁ dātuṁ bhavaṁto hi samāgatāḥ iṁdra uvāca- eṣā satī mahābhāgā sukalā cārumaṁgalā

'—have you come here, to grant a boon to me and my wife?' Indra said: 'This chaste, blessed, lovely and auspicious woman, Sukala —'

Verse 18 (padma.2.60.18)

अस्याः सत्येन तुष्टाः स्म दातुकामा वरं तव । समासेन तु तत्प्रोक्तं पूर्ववृत्तांतमेव च

asyāḥ satyena tuṣṭāḥ sma dātukāmā varaṁ tava samāsena tu tatproktaṁ pūrvavṛttāṁtameva ca

'—by her truth we have all been satisfied, and we wish to give you a boon.' And they told him, in brief, the whole account of what had happened before.

Verse 19 (padma.2.60.19)

तस्याश्चरितमाहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा भर्ता स हर्षितः । तया सह स धर्मात्मा हर्षव्याकुललोचनः

tasyāścaritamāhātmyaṁ śrutvā bhartā sa harṣitaḥ tayā saha sa dharmātmā harṣavyākulalocanaḥ

Hearing of the greatness of his wife's own conduct, that husband was filled with joy; that righteous soul, together with her, his eyes brimming with joyful tears —

Verse 20 (padma.2.60.20)

ननाम देवताः सर्वा उवाच च पुनः पुनः । यदि तुष्टा महाभागा त्रयो देवाः सनातनाः

nanāma devatāḥ sarvā uvāca ca punaḥ punaḥ yadi tuṣṭā mahābhāgā trayo devāḥ sanātanāḥ

—bowed to all the gods and said again and again: 'If you are satisfied, O blessed ones, you three eternal gods —'

Verse 21 (padma.2.60.21)

अन्ये च ऋषयः पुण्याः कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि । जन्मजन्मनि देवानां भक्तिमेवं करोम्यहम्

anye ca ṛṣayaḥ puṇyāḥ kṛpāṁ kṛtvā mamopari janmajanmani devānāṁ bhaktimevaṁ karomyaham

'—and other sacred sages, having shown grace upon me, then in birth after birth may I ever hold such devotion to the gods.'

Verse 22 (padma.2.60.22)

धर्मसत्यरतिः स्यान्मे भवतां हि प्रसादतः । पश्चाद्धि वैष्णवं लोकं सभार्यश्च पितामहैः

dharmasatyaratiḥ syānme bhavatāṁ hi prasādataḥ paścāddhi vaiṣṇavaṁ lokaṁ sabhāryaśca pitāmahaiḥ

'May I have delight in dharma and truth, by your very grace; and afterward may I go to Vishnu's own realm, together with my wife and my ancestors —'

Verse 23 (padma.2.60.23)

गंतुमिच्छाम्यहं देवा यदि तुष्टा महौजसः । देवा ऊचुः- एवमस्तु महाभाग सर्वमेव भविष्यति

gaṁtumicchāmyahaṁ devā yadi tuṣṭā mahaujasaḥ devā ūcuḥ- evamastu mahābhāga sarvameva bhaviṣyati

'—wish to go, O gods, if you, of great splendor, are truly satisfied.' The gods said: 'So be it, O blessed one; all this shall indeed come to pass.'

Verse 24 (padma.2.60.24)

पुष्पवृष्टिं ततश्चक्रुस्तयोरुपरि भूपते । जगुर्गीतं महापुण्यं ललितं सुस्वरं ततः

puṣpavṛṣṭiṁ tataścakrustayorupari bhūpate jagurgītaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ lalitaṁ susvaraṁ tataḥ

O king, they then rained down a shower of flowers upon that couple; and then they sang a most sacred song, graceful and sweet-toned.

Verse 25 (padma.2.60.25)

गंधर्वा गीततत्त्वज्ञा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः । ततो देवाः सगंधर्वाः स्वंस्वं स्थानं नृपोत्तम

gaṁdharvā gītatattvajñā nanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ tato devāḥ sagaṁdharvāḥ svaṁsvaṁ sthānaṁ nṛpottama

The gandharvas, knowers of the essence of music, and the hosts of apsaras danced; then, O foremost of kings, the gods, together with the gandharvas, each to their own abode —

Verse 26 (padma.2.60.26)

वरं दत्वा प्रजग्मुस्ते स्तूयमानाः पतिव्रताम् । नारीतीर्थं समाख्यातमन्यत्किंचिद्वदामि ते

varaṁ datvā prajagmuste stūyamānāḥ pativratām nārītīrthaṁ samākhyātamanyatkiṁcidvadāmi te

—having given the boon, departed, while that devoted wife was still being praised. Thus has the tirtha of woman been declared; now let me tell you something more.

Verse 27 (padma.2.60.27)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं पुण्याख्यानमनुत्तमम् । यः शृणोति नरो राजन्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ puṇyākhyānamanuttamam yaḥ śṛṇoti naro rājansarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

All this most sacred, unsurpassed narrative has been told to you; O king, whatever man hears it is freed from all sins.

Verse 28 (padma.2.60.28)

श्रद्धया शृणुते नारी सुकलाख्यानमुत्तमम् । सौभाग्येन तु सत्येन पुत्रपौत्रैर्न मुच्यते

śraddhayā śṛṇute nārī sukalākhyānamuttamam saubhāgyena tu satyena putrapautrairna mucyate

A woman who hears this excellent tale of Sukala with faith is never parted from good fortune, from truth, and from sons and grandsons.

Verse 29 (padma.2.60.29)

मोदते धनधान्येन सहभर्त्रा सुखी भवेत् । पतिव्रता भवेत्सा च जन्मजन्मनि नान्यथा

modate dhanadhānyena sahabhartrā sukhī bhavet pativratā bhavetsā ca janmajanmani nānyathā

She rejoices in wealth and grain, becomes happy together with her husband; and she becomes a devoted wife in birth after birth, and in no other way.

Verse 30 (padma.2.60.30)

ब्राह्मणो वेदविद्वांश्च क्षत्रियो विजयी भवेत् । धनधान्यं भवेच्चैव वैश्यगेहे न संशयः

brāhmaṇo vedavidvāṁśca kṣatriyo vijayī bhavet dhanadhānyaṁ bhaveccaiva vaiśyagehe na saṁśayaḥ

A brahmin who hears it becomes learned in the Vedas; a kshatriya becomes victorious; and in the house of a vaishya, wealth and grain arise, without doubt.

Verse 31 (padma.2.60.31)

धर्मज्ञो जायते राजन्सदाचारः सुखी भवेत् । शूद्र सुःखमवाप्नोति पुत्रपौत्रैः प्रवर्धते

dharmajño jāyate rājansadācāraḥ sukhī bhavet śūdra suḥkhamavāpnoti putrapautraiḥ pravardhate

O king, one becomes a knower of dharma, of good conduct, and happy; a shudra attains happiness, and prospers with sons and grandsons.

Verse 32 (padma.2.60.32)

विपुला जायते लक्ष्मीर्धनधान्यैरलंकृता

vipulā jāyate lakṣmīrdhanadhānyairalaṁkṛtā

Abundant fortune arises, adorned with wealth and grain.