The Redemption of Kalaha

Verse 1 (padma.6.106.1)

पृथुरुवाच। सेतिहासमिमं ब्रह्मन्माहात्म्यं कथितं त्वया । अत्याश्चर्यकरं सम्यक्तुलस्यास्तु श्रुतं महत्

pṛthuruvāca setihāsamimaṁ brahmanmāhātmyaṁ kathitaṁ tvayā atyāścaryakaraṁ samyaktulasyāstu śrutaṁ mahat

Prithu said: O Brahman, you have told this glory together with its history, which is exceedingly wondrous. I have duly heard this great glory of tulasi.

Verse 2 (padma.6.106.2)

यदूर्जव्रतिनः पुंसः फलं महदुदाहृतम् । तत्पुनर्ब्रूहि माहात्म्यं केन चीर्णमिदं कथम्

yadūrjavratinaḥ puṁsaḥ phalaṁ mahadudāhṛtam tatpunarbrūhi māhātmyaṁ kena cīrṇamidaṁ katham

Tell me again that glory, describing the great fruit declared for the man who keeps the Kartika vow — and tell me too by whom and how it was practiced.

Verse 3 (padma.6.106.3)

नारद उवाच। आसीत्सह्याद्रिविषये करवीरपुरे पुरा । ब्राह्मणो धर्मवित्कश्चिद्धर्मदत्तोऽतिविश्रुतः

nārada uvāca āsītsahyādriviṣaye karavīrapure purā brāhmaṇo dharmavitkaściddharmadatto'tiviśrutaḥ

Narada said: Long ago, in the Sahyadri region, in the city of Karavirapura, there lived an exceedingly renowned brahmin, learned in dharma, named Dharmadatta.

Verse 4 (padma.6.106.4)

विष्णुव्रतकरः शश्वद्विष्णुपूजारतः सदा । द्वादशाक्षरविद्यायां जपनिष्ठोऽतिथिप्रियः

viṣṇuvratakaraḥ śaśvadviṣṇupūjārataḥ sadā dvādaśākṣaravidyāyāṁ japaniṣṭho'tithipriyaḥ

He ever performed the Vishnu vow, was ever devoted to Vishnu's worship, steadfast in the recitation of the twelve-syllabled mantra, and fond of guests.

Verse 5 (padma.6.106.5)

कदाचित्कार्तिके मासि हरिजागरणाय सः । रात्र्या तुर्यांशशेषायां जगाम हरिमंदिरम्

kadācitkārtike māsi harijāgaraṇāya saḥ rātryā turyāṁśaśeṣāyāṁ jagāma harimaṁdiram

Once, in the month of Kartika, for the vigil of Hari, when the last quarter of the night remained, he went to the temple of Hari.

Verse 6 (padma.6.106.6)

हरिपूजोपकरणान्प्रगृह्य व्रजता तदा । तेन दृष्टा समायाता राक्षसी भीमनिःस्वना

haripūjopakaraṇānpragṛhya vrajatā tadā tena dṛṣṭā samāyātā rākṣasī bhīmaniḥsvanā

As he went, carrying the materials for Hari's worship, he saw approaching a rakshasi with a terrible voice.

Verse 7 (padma.6.106.7)

वक्रदंष्ट्रानना जिह्वा निमग्ना रक्तलोचना । दिगंबरा शुष्कमांसा लंबोष्ठी घर्घरस्वना

vakradaṁṣṭrānanā jihvā nimagnā raktalocanā digaṁbarā śuṣkamāṁsā laṁboṣṭhī ghargharasvanā

With crooked-tusked mouth, a sunken tongue, red eyes, unclothed, with withered flesh, hanging lips, and a rasping voice.

Verse 8 (padma.6.106.8)

तां दृष्ट्वा भयवित्रस्तः कंपितावयवस्तदा । पूजोपकरणैर्वेगात्पयोभिश्चाहनद्भयात्

tāṁ dṛṣṭvā bhayavitrastaḥ kaṁpitāvayavastadā pūjopakaraṇairvegātpayobhiścāhanadbhayāt

Seeing her, terrified with fear, his limbs trembling, he, in fear, swiftly struck at her with his worship materials and water.

Verse 9 (padma.6.106.9)

संस्मृत्य च हरेर्नाम तुलसीयुतवारिणा । सा हता पातकं तस्मात्तस्याः सर्वमगात्क्षयम्

saṁsmṛtya ca harernāma tulasīyutavāriṇā sā hatā pātakaṁ tasmāttasyāḥ sarvamagātkṣayam

When she was struck with water mingled with tulasi, while he called upon the name of Hari, all her sin was thereby destroyed.

Verse 10 (padma.6.106.10)

अथ संस्मृत्य सा पूर्वजन्मकर्मविपाकजम् । स्वां दशामब्रवीत्सर्वां दंडवत्तं प्रणम्य सा

atha saṁsmṛtya sā pūrvajanmakarmavipākajam svāṁ daśāmabravītsarvāṁ daṁḍavattaṁ praṇamya sā

Then, recalling her own state, born of the ripening of deeds from a former life, she, bowing flat to him, began to relate her whole condition.

Verse 11 (padma.6.106.11)

कलहोवाच । पूर्वकर्मविपाकेन दशामेतां गता ह्यहम् । तत्कथं तु पुनर्विप्र याम्युत्तमगतिं शुभाम्

kalahovāca pūrvakarmavipākena daśāmetāṁ gatā hyaham tatkathaṁ tu punarvipra yāmyuttamagatiṁ śubhām

Kalaha said: 'By the ripening of my past deeds, I have come to this condition. O brahmin, how then may I once more attain an auspicious, excellent state?'

Verse 12 (padma.6.106.12)

नारद उवाच। तां दृष्ट्वा प्रणतामग्रे वदमानां स्वकर्म तत् । अतीव विस्मितो विप्रस्तदा वचनमब्रवीत्

nārada uvāca tāṁ dṛṣṭvā praṇatāmagre vadamānāṁ svakarma tat atīva vismito viprastadā vacanamabravīt

Narada said: Seeing her bowing before him and relating her own deeds, that brahmin, exceedingly astonished, spoke these words.

Verse 13 (padma.6.106.13)

धर्मदत्त उवाच। केन कर्मविपाकेन त्वं दशामीदृशीं गता । कुतस्त्वं का च किं शीला तत्सर्वं कथयस्व मे

dharmadatta uvāca kena karmavipākena tvaṁ daśāmīdṛśīṁ gatā kutastvaṁ kā ca kiṁ śīlā tatsarvaṁ kathayasva me

Dharmadatta said: 'By the ripening of what deed have you come to such a condition? Whence are you, who are you, and what was your nature? Tell me all of this.'

Verse 14 (padma.6.106.14)

कलहोवाच। सौराष्ट्रनगरे ब्रह्मन्भिक्षुनामाभवद्द्विजः । तस्याऽहं गृहिणी पूर्वं कलहाख्याति निष्ठुरा

kalahovāca saurāṣṭranagare brahmanbhikṣunāmābhavaddvijaḥ tasyā'haṁ gṛhiṇī pūrvaṁ kalahākhyāti niṣṭhurā

Kalaha said: 'O Brahman, in the city of Saurashtra there was a brahmin named Bhikshu. In a former life, I was his cruel-natured wife, known as Kalaha.'

Verse 15 (padma.6.106.15)

न कदाचिन्मया भर्तुर्वचसापि शुभं कृतम् । नार्पितं तस्य मिष्टान्नं भर्तुर्वचनभंगया

na kadācinmayā bharturvacasāpi śubhaṁ kṛtam nārpitaṁ tasya miṣṭānnaṁ bharturvacanabhaṁgayā

'I never did anything auspicious, not even in obedience to my husband's word. Ever breaking my husband's command, I did not even offer him sweet food.'

Verse 16 (padma.6.106.16)

कलहप्रियया नित्यं भयोद्विग्नस्तदा द्विजः । परिणेतुं तदाऽन्या स मतिं चक्रे पतिर्मम

kalahapriyayā nityaṁ bhayodvignastadā dvijaḥ pariṇetuṁ tadā'nyā sa matiṁ cakre patirmama

Ever fearful and disturbed by me, so fond of quarreling, my husband then resolved to marry another woman.

Verse 17 (padma.6.106.17)

ततो गरं समादाय प्राणास्त्यक्ता मया द्विज । अथ बध्वा बध्यमानां मां विनिन्युर्यमानुगाः

tato garaṁ samādāya prāṇāstyaktā mayā dvija atha badhvā badhyamānāṁ māṁ vininyuryamānugāḥ

'O brahmin, then I took poison and gave up my life. Then Yama's servants bound me and, thus bound, began to lead me away.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.106.18)

यमश्च मां तदा दृष्ट्वा चित्रगुप्तमपृच्छत । यम उवाच। अनया किं कृतं कर्म चित्रगुप्त विलोकय

yamaśca māṁ tadā dṛṣṭvā citraguptamapṛcchata yama uvāca anayā kiṁ kṛtaṁ karma citragupta vilokaya

Then Yama, seeing me, asked Chitragupta. Yama said: 'O Chitragupta, examine what deeds this woman has done.'

Verse 19 (padma.6.106.19)

प्राप्नोत्वेषा कर्मफलं शुभं वाशुभमेव च । चित्रगुप्तस्ततो वाक्यं भर्त्सयन्समुवाच ह

prāpnotveṣā karmaphalaṁ śubhaṁ vāśubhameva ca citraguptastato vākyaṁ bhartsayansamuvāca ha

'Let her receive the fruit of her deeds, whether auspicious or inauspicious.' Then Chitragupta, rebuking me, spoke these words.

Verse 20 (padma.6.106.20)

चित्रगुप्त उवाच। अनया तु शुभं कर्म कृतं किंचिन्न विद्यते । मिष्टान्नं भुक्तमनया न भर्तरि तदर्पितम्

citragupta uvāca anayā tu śubhaṁ karma kṛtaṁ kiṁcinna vidyate miṣṭānnaṁ bhuktamanayā na bhartari tadarpitam

Chitragupta said: 'This woman has performed no auspicious deed whatsoever. She ate sweet food herself, and never offered it to her husband.'

Verse 21 (padma.6.106.21)

अतश्च वल्गुली योन्यां स्वविष्ठादावतिष्ठतु । भर्तुर्द्वेषकरी त्वेषा नित्यं कलहकारिणी

ataśca valgulī yonyāṁ svaviṣṭhādāvatiṣṭhatu bharturdveṣakarī tveṣā nityaṁ kalahakāriṇī

'Therefore let her dwell in the womb of a bat, eating her own filth. She was hateful toward her husband and ever prone to quarreling.'

Verse 22 (padma.6.106.22)

विष्ठादा शूकरी योन्यां ततस्तिष्ठत्वियं हरे । पाकभांडे सदा भुक्तं नित्यं चैवानया यतः

viṣṭhādā śūkarī yonyāṁ tatastiṣṭhatviyaṁ hare pākabhāṁḍe sadā bhuktaṁ nityaṁ caivānayā yataḥ

'O Hari, then let her dwell in the womb of a filth-eating sow, since she always ate directly from the cooking pot.'

Verse 23 (padma.6.106.23)

तस्माद्दोषाद्बिडाली तु स्वजातापत्यभक्षिणी । भर्तारमनयोद्दिश्य ह्यात्मघातः कृतो यतः

tasmāddoṣādbiḍālī tu svajātāpatyabhakṣiṇī bhartāramanayoddiśya hyātmaghātaḥ kṛto yataḥ

'For this fault, let her become a cat that devours the young of its own kind, since she committed suicide in reproach against her husband.'

Verse 24 (padma.6.106.24)

तस्मात्प्रेतपिशाचेषु तिष्ठत्वेषातिनिंदिता । ततश्चैव मरुं देशं प्रापितव्या भटैः सह

tasmātpretapiśāceṣu tiṣṭhatveṣātiniṁditā tataścaiva maruṁ deśaṁ prāpitavyā bhaṭaiḥ saha

'Therefore, most reproached, let her dwell among ghosts and demons. Then let her be conveyed by the soldiers to the desert land.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.106.25)

तत्र प्रेतशरीराख्या चिरं तिष्ठत्वियं ततः । इत्थं योनित्रयं त्वेषा भुनक्त्वा शुभकारिणी

tatra pretaśarīrākhyā ciraṁ tiṣṭhatviyaṁ tataḥ itthaṁ yonitrayaṁ tveṣā bhunaktvā śubhakāriṇī

'There, embodied as a preta, let her remain for a long time.' Thus, having endured three such wombs, may she in the end become blessed.

Verse 26 (padma.6.106.26)

कलहोवाच । साहं पंचशताब्दानि प्रेतदेहे स्थिता किल । क्षुतृड्भ्यां पीडिता नित्यं दुःखिता स्वेन कर्मणा

kalahovāca sāhaṁ paṁcaśatābdāni pretadehe sthitā kila kṣutṛḍbhyāṁ pīḍitā nityaṁ duḥkhitā svena karmaṇā

Kalaha said: 'For five hundred years I remained in a preta's body, ever tormented and sorrowful with hunger and thirst, because of my own deeds.'

Verse 27 (padma.6.106.27)

ततः क्षुत्पीडिता नित्यं शरीरं वणिजस्त्वहम् । आयाता दक्षिणं देशं कृष्णावेण्यास्तु संगमे

tataḥ kṣutpīḍitā nityaṁ śarīraṁ vaṇijastvaham āyātā dakṣiṇaṁ deśaṁ kṛṣṇāveṇyāstu saṁgame

'Then, ever tormented by hunger, I came, following the body of a merchant, to the southern land, to the confluence of the Krishna and the Veni.'

Verse 28 (padma.6.106.28)

तत्तीरसंश्रिता यावत्तावत्तस्य शरीरतः । शिवविष्णुगणैर्दूरमपाकृष्टा बलादहम्

tattīrasaṁśritā yāvattāvattasya śarīrataḥ śivaviṣṇugaṇairdūramapākṛṣṭā balādaham

'As soon as I took refuge upon that riverbank near his body, the attendants of Shiva and Vishnu forcibly drove me far away.'

Verse 29 (padma.6.106.29)

ततः क्षुत्क्षामया दृष्टो भ्रमंत्या त्वं मया द्विज । प्रक्षिप्ततुलसीवारिसंसर्गगतपापया

tataḥ kṣutkṣāmayā dṛṣṭo bhramaṁtyā tvaṁ mayā dvija prakṣiptatulasīvārisaṁsargagatapāpayā

'Then, O brahmin, wasted with hunger and wandering, I saw you; and through contact with the tulasi-water you cast at me, my sin has been destroyed.'

Verse 30 (padma.6.106.30)

तत्कृपां कुरु विप्रेंद्र कथं मुक्तिमियाम्यहम् । योनित्रयादति भयादस्माच्च प्रेतदेहतः

tatkṛpāṁ kuru vipreṁdra kathaṁ muktimiyāmyaham yonitrayādati bhayādasmācca pretadehataḥ

'Therefore, O foremost of brahmins, be gracious — how may I attain liberation from those three most fearful wombs and from this body of a preta?'

Verse 31 (padma.6.106.31)

इत्थं निशम्य कलहा वचनं द्विजश्च तत्कर्मपाकभवविस्मयदुःखयुक्तः । तद्ग्लानिदर्शनकृपाचलचित्तवृत्तिर्ध्यात्वा चिरं स वचनं निजगाद दुःखात्

itthaṁ niśamya kalahā vacanaṁ dvijaśca tatkarmapākabhavavismayaduḥkhayuktaḥ tadglānidarśanakṛpācalacittavṛttirdhyātvā ciraṁ sa vacanaṁ nijagāda duḥkhāt

Having thus heard Kalaha's words, and filled with wonder and sorrow at the ripening of her karma, that brahmin's mind, seeing her miserable state, was moved with compassion. Having pondered for a long while, he spoke these words with sorrow.