The Glory of Madhuvana: The Unchaste Wife

Verse 1 (padma.6.213.1)

नारद उवाच- एतन्मधुवनं तात शिवे परमपावनम् । देवराजाय तुष्टेन स्थापिता विष्णुना पुरी

nārada uvāca- etanmadhuvanaṁ tāta śive paramapāvanam devarājāya tuṣṭena sthāpitā viṣṇunā purī

Narada said: 'O child, O Shiva, this Madhuvana is supremely purifying; this city was established by Vishnu, pleased, for the king of the gods.'

Verse 2 (padma.6.213.2)

अत्र विश्रांतिनामेदं तीर्थं त्रिभुवनोत्तमम् । विविदां मुक्तिदं पुंसां पवनं साधुसेवितम्

atra viśrāṁtināmedaṁ tīrthaṁ tribhuvanottamam vividāṁ muktidaṁ puṁsāṁ pavanaṁ sādhusevitam

'Here is this tirtha named Vishranti, best in the three worlds, granter of manifold liberation to men, purifying, frequented by the virtuous.'

Verse 3 (padma.6.213.3)

नित्यं वसति विश्वात्मा विष्णुः श्रीकोलरूपधृक् । अत्र तीर्थोत्तमे पुण्ये नृपविश्रांतिसंज्ञके

nityaṁ vasati viśvātmā viṣṇuḥ śrīkolarūpadhṛk atra tīrthottame puṇye nṛpaviśrāṁtisaṁjñake

'Here, at this excellent and sacred tirtha named Nripa-Vishranti, Vishnu, the Soul of the universe, dwells eternally, in the form of the glorious Boar.'

Verse 4 (padma.6.213.4)

बहुभिर्जन्मभिर्येन विष्णुराराधितः सदा । मरणं तस्य तीर्थेऽस्मिन्जायते किल भूपते

bahubhirjanmabhiryena viṣṇurārādhitaḥ sadā maraṇaṁ tasya tīrthe'sminjāyate kila bhūpate

'O king, he by whom Vishnu has been worshipped constantly through many births — his death, indeed, comes to pass at this tirtha.'

Verse 5 (padma.6.213.5)

कालिंद्या एव कूले तु द्वितीयं हरिणा कृतम् । तीर्थे विश्रांतिसंज्ञं तु यत्र कंसो निपातितः

kāliṁdyā eva kūle tu dvitīyaṁ hariṇā kṛtam tīrthe viśrāṁtisaṁjñaṁ tu yatra kaṁso nipātitaḥ

'A second Vishranti was made by Hari on the bank of the Kalindi itself — the tirtha named Vishranti where Kamsa was struck down.'

Verse 6 (padma.6.213.6)

एतद्द्वयं समं राजन्गुणैर्वैकुंठदातृभिः । भाग्योदयेन केनापि लभ्यते सकलार्थदम्

etaddvayaṁ samaṁ rājanguṇairvaikuṁṭhadātṛbhiḥ bhāgyodayena kenāpi labhyate sakalārthadam

'O king, these two are equal in their qualities, both granters of Vaikuntha; this all-desire-granting tirtha is obtained only through the rise of some great fortune.'

Verse 7 (padma.6.213.7)

अथ तीर्थस्य माहात्म्यं कथयामि तवाग्रतः । यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वतीर्थेषु मज्जनाल्लप्स्यसे फलम्

atha tīrthasya māhātmyaṁ kathayāmi tavāgrataḥ yacchrutvā sarvatīrtheṣu majjanāllapsyase phalam

'Now I shall tell you the glory of this tirtha before you; hearing it, you shall obtain the fruit of bathing in all tirthas.'

Verse 8 (padma.6.213.8)

हिमाचलोपत्यकायां किरातनगरे शुभे । ब्राह्मणो नाम कुशलो राजन्नासीद्दरिद्रतः

himācalopatyakāyāṁ kirātanagare śubhe brāhmaṇo nāma kuśalo rājannāsīddaridrataḥ

'In the foothills of the Himalaya, in the fair city of the Kiratas, O king, there lived a brahmin named Kushala, who was poor.'

Verse 9 (padma.6.213.9)

तस्य पत्नी दुराचारा दुराचारनरे रता । कर्मणा मोहयामास पतिं सा बंधकी वरा

tasya patnī durācārā durācāranare ratā karmaṇā mohayāmāsa patiṁ sā baṁdhakī varā

'His wife, ill-conducted, devoted to a man of evil conduct, that fine harlot beguiled her husband through her ways.'

Verse 10 (padma.6.213.10)

पतिस्तया मोहितस्तु न निवारयितुं क्षमः । तदाज्ञा तत्परो दीनः क्रयक्रीतइवाभवत्

patistayā mohitastu na nivārayituṁ kṣamaḥ tadājñā tatparo dīnaḥ krayakrītaivābhavat

'Her husband, bewitched by her, was unable to restrain her; wretched, devoted to her every word, he became like one bought and purchased.'

Verse 11 (padma.6.213.11)

लोका उपहरंति स्म तं द्विजं कुलटापतिम् । उपहासभयात्सोऽपि निर्ययौ न गृहात् कुधीः

lokā upaharaṁti sma taṁ dvijaṁ kulaṭāpatim upahāsabhayātso'pi niryayau na gṛhāt kudhīḥ

'The people would taunt that brahmin, husband of an unchaste wife; and he, dull of mind, out of fear of their ridicule, would not even leave his house.'

Verse 12 (padma.6.213.12)

महार्हाणि दुकूलानि भूषणानि च सा दधौ । जारैर्दत्तानि दुष्टात्मा हसितापि न लज्जते

mahārhāṇi dukūlāni bhūṣaṇāni ca sā dadhau jārairdattāni duṣṭātmā hasitāpi na lajjate

'She wore costly fine garments and ornaments, gifts from her lovers; that evil-souled woman, even when laughed at, felt no shame.'

Verse 13 (padma.6.213.13)

वस्त्रं पुरातनं दास्यादुत्तीर्णं यच्छरीरतः । अवज्ञापूर्वकं दुष्टा स्वभर्त्रे संप्रयच्छति

vastraṁ purātanaṁ dāsyāduttīrṇaṁ yaccharīrataḥ avajñāpūrvakaṁ duṣṭā svabhartre saṁprayacchati

'The worn-out garment, taken off her own body from a servant-girl's use, that wicked woman would give to her own husband, with contempt.'

Verse 14 (padma.6.213.14)

एवं तया कुलटया सोऽवज्ञातं स्वकः पतिः । नितांतं दुःखमापन्नो विषमत्त्वामृतो निशि

evaṁ tayā kulaṭayā so'vajñātaṁ svakaḥ patiḥ nitāṁtaṁ duḥkhamāpanno viṣamattvāmṛto niśi

'Thus disdained by that unchaste woman, her own husband fell into the deepest misery, and one night, having eaten poison, he yet lived on.'

Verse 15 (padma.6.213.15)

सा भीता राजतः पापा ह्यनयात्स्वैरिणी तदा । अनुयास्यामि भर्त्तारमित्युवाच मृषा वचः

sā bhītā rājataḥ pāpā hyanayātsvairiṇī tadā anuyāsyāmi bharttāramityuvāca mṛṣā vacaḥ

'That sinful, wanton woman, then fearing the king because of this misdeed, spoke this false word: "I shall follow my husband in death."'

Verse 16 (padma.6.213.16)

तयैवं शिक्षिता सख्यः स्वकीयस्तां समीपगाः । निवारयामासुरिति कथयित्वा महीपतेः

tayaivaṁ śikṣitā sakhyaḥ svakīyastāṁ samīpagāḥ nivārayāmāsuriti kathayitvā mahīpateḥ

'Her own friends, coached by her thus, coming near her, dissuaded her — having told this to the king.'

Verse 17 (padma.6.213.17)

सख्य ऊचुः - भो मृगाक्षि किमर्थं ते क्रियतेऽनर्थ ईदृश । यत्सुवर्णनिभं कायं त्वं नाशयितुमुद्यता

sakhya ūcuḥ - bho mṛgākṣi kimarthaṁ te kriyate'nartha īdṛśa yatsuvarṇanibhaṁ kāyaṁ tvaṁ nāśayitumudyatā

The friends said: '"O doe-eyed one, why do you do yourself such harm, that you are resolved to destroy this body, golden as it is?"'

Verse 18 (padma.6.213.18)

भवत्या किं सुखं दृष्टममुष्या व्यवसायिनः । दरिद्रस्यासमर्थस्य सखि स्वोदरपूरिणः

bhavatyā kiṁ sukhaṁ dṛṣṭamamuṣyā vyavasāyinaḥ daridrasyāsamarthasya sakhi svodarapūriṇaḥ

'"What happiness, O friend, have you ever seen from this hard-working, poor, incapable man, who can barely fill his own belly?"'

Verse 19 (padma.6.213.19)

पालयैनं सुतं बालं त्वदृते कोऽस्य पालकः । मरिष्यामो वयं सर्वा मृतायां त्वयि सुंदरि

pālayainaṁ sutaṁ bālaṁ tvadṛte ko'sya pālakaḥ mariṣyāmo vayaṁ sarvā mṛtāyāṁ tvayi suṁdari

'"Raise this young son of yours — without you, who else will raise him? O beauty, if you should die, all of us shall die too."'

Verse 20 (padma.6.213.20)

गृहमेतदवेक्षस्व समुत्तिष्ठवरानने । जीयादयं तव सुतोयस्त्रीभाविसुखप्रदः

gṛhametadavekṣasva samuttiṣṭhavarānane jīyādayaṁ tava sutoyastrībhāvisukhapradaḥ

'"Look after this household, rise up, O fair-faced one; may this son of yours live long, who will one day bring joy to his wife."'

Verse 21 (padma.6.213.21)

वांछंति बांधवाः सर्वे त्वदीयास्तव जीवितम् । उत्तिष्ठ निजबंधूनां कुरु चित्तं समीहितम्

vāṁchaṁti bāṁdhavāḥ sarve tvadīyāstava jīvitam uttiṣṭha nijabaṁdhūnāṁ kuru cittaṁ samīhitam

'"All your kinsmen desire your life; rise, and do as your own kin desire."'

Verse 22 (padma.6.213.22)

रुदंति तव रागेण वयस्याः सकलाः सति। निजवाक्यप्रदानेन वारयैताः सुदुःखिताः

rudaṁti tava rāgeṇa vayasyāḥ sakalāḥ sati nijavākyapradānena vārayaitāḥ suduḥkhitāḥ

'"O virtuous one, all your companions weep out of love for you; with your own word, comfort these grieving friends."'

Verse 23 (padma.6.213.23)

नारद उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तासां दुष्टा सा धर्मविश्रुतम् । उन्नमय्य मुखं प्राह श्रावयंती स्वबांधवान्

nārada uvāca- ityākarṇya vacastāsāṁ duṣṭā sā dharmaviśrutam unnamayya mukhaṁ prāha śrāvayaṁtī svabāṁdhavān

Narada said: 'Hearing their words, that wicked woman, raising her face, spoke this speech renowned for its righteousness, letting her kinsmen hear it.'

Verse 24 (padma.6.213.24)

सख्युवाच- युष्माभिर्यद्वचो धर्मं प्रोक्तं जाने ऋतं ननु । तथापि स्वपतिः स्त्रीभिर्मान्यो लोकद्वयप्रदः

sakhyuvāca- yuṣmābhiryadvaco dharmaṁ proktaṁ jāne ṛtaṁ nanu tathāpi svapatiḥ strībhirmānyo lokadvayapradaḥ

She said: '"The righteous word you have all spoken, I know indeed to be true; still, a woman's own husband is to be honored by her — he grants both this world and the next."'

Verse 25 (padma.6.213.25)

यदुच्यते मया वाक्यं धर्मशास्त्रसमन्वितम् । तद्वचः श्रूयतां सख्यो युक्तं चेदनुमोदत

yaducyate mayā vākyaṁ dharmaśāstrasamanvitam tadvacaḥ śrūyatāṁ sakhyo yuktaṁ cedanumodata

'"Hear now this word that I speak, in accord with the scriptures of dharma; friends, and if it seems right, approve of it."'

Verse 26 (padma.6.213.26)

या स्त्री निधनमापन्नं पतिमन्वेति तत्परा । पापापि सह तेनैव स्वर्गे वसति सा चिरम्

yā strī nidhanamāpannaṁ patimanveti tatparā pāpāpi saha tenaiva svarge vasati sā ciram

'"The woman who, devoted, follows her husband who has met his death — even if sinful, she dwells with him in heaven for a long time."'

Verse 27 (padma.6.213.27)

स्त्रीभिः पतिर्न हातव्यो निर्धनो रोगवानपि । जीवन्मृतोऽनुगंतव्यः श्रुतिरेषा सनातनी

strībhiḥ patirna hātavyo nirdhano rogavānapi jīvanmṛto'nugaṁtavyaḥ śrutireṣā sanātanī

'"A husband must never be abandoned by his wife, whether he be poor or diseased; whether living or dead, he must be followed — this is the eternal teaching of the scriptures."'

Verse 28 (padma.6.213.28)

विचिंत्येति स्वमनसि सख्योन्वेमि स्वकं पतिम् । वर्तिष्यते स्वभाग्येन करिष्येऽहं किमस्य वै

viciṁtyeti svamanasi sakhyonvemi svakaṁ patim vartiṣyate svabhāgyena kariṣye'haṁ kimasya vai

'"Having thought this in my own mind, O friends, I shall follow my own husband; he shall fare according to his own fortune — what indeed can I do for him?"'

Verse 29 (padma.6.213.29)

नारद उवाच- इत्युक्तास्तास्तया सख्यो दुष्टा दुष्टमतिप्रदाः । ऊचुस्तां धर्मवाक्येन समस्तजनमोहिनीम्

nārada uvāca- ityuktāstāstayā sakhyo duṣṭā duṣṭamatipradāḥ ūcustāṁ dharmavākyena samastajanamohinīm

Narada said: 'When she, wicked and prompting wicked resolve, had spoken thus, those friends replied to her — she who beguiled all people with such righteous-sounding words.'

Verse 30 (padma.6.213.30)

सख्य ऊचुः - जहि पूर्वं हि नः सुभ्रु पश्चादन्वेहि वल्लभे । समस्तास्त्वद्वियोगं न वयं सोढुं क्षमामहे

sakhya ūcuḥ - jahi pūrvaṁ hi naḥ subhru paścādanvehi vallabhe samastāstvadviyogaṁ na vayaṁ soḍhuṁ kṣamāmahe

The friends said: '"O fair-browed one, kill us first, and only then follow your beloved husband; all of us together cannot bear separation from you."'

Verse 31 (padma.6.213.31)

अस्मांस्तव विनिघ्नंत्या अनुयांत्याः स्वकं पतिम् । धर्मोऽल्पपापबाहुल्यं स्वर्गप्राप्तिस्तु कीदृशी

asmāṁstava vinighnaṁtyā anuyāṁtyāḥ svakaṁ patim dharmo'lpapāpabāhulyaṁ svargaprāptistu kīdṛśī

'"By killing us as you follow your own husband, there would be only a slight dharma amid a great mass of sin — what kind of heaven would you attain by that?"'

Verse 32 (padma.6.213.32)

जीवन्नयं पतिः स्वीयः साध्वयं प्रतिपालितः । यदुक्तं पतिपत्नीभ्यां तत्त्वया विहितं सखी

jīvannayaṁ patiḥ svīyaḥ sādhvayaṁ pratipālitaḥ yaduktaṁ patipatnībhyāṁ tattvayā vihitaṁ sakhī

'"This your own husband still lives, and has always been faithfully cared for by you; whatever is enjoined between husband and wife, that, O friend, you have already fulfilled."'

Verse 33 (padma.6.213.33)

यावत्स्वजीवनोपायं विधातुमयमक्षमः । तावत्त्वदीयभाग्येन जीविष्यति सुतस्तव

yāvatsvajīvanopāyaṁ vidhātumayamakṣamaḥ tāvattvadīyabhāgyena jīviṣyati sutastava

'"For as long as he is unable to provide the means of his own livelihood, until then, by your own good fortune, this son of yours shall live."'

Verse 34 (padma.6.213.34)

नारद उवाच- इत्युक्ता सा निववृते स्वभर्त्तुरनुयानतः । सुतेन कारयामास तदा तद्विरतिक्रियाम्

nārada uvāca- ityuktā sā nivavṛte svabhartturanuyānataḥ sutena kārayāmāsa tadā tadviratikriyām

Narada said: 'Thus addressed, she turned back from following her husband in death; and then, through her son, she had the rites of that abstention performed.'

Verse 35 (padma.6.213.35)

अथ कालेन कियता सुतोपनयने मतिम् । कारयामास सा विप्रैर्दत्त्वा जारार्पितं धनम्

atha kālena kiyatā sutopanayane matim kārayāmāsa sā viprairdattvā jārārpitaṁ dhanam

'Then, after some time, she resolved upon her son's sacred-thread ceremony, and had it performed by brahmins, giving them wealth given to her by her lovers.'

Verse 36 (padma.6.213.36)

कृतोपनयनः कुंडः स तत्त्वज्ञानवान्शिशुः । गृहान्निर्गम्य सपदि नारायणपरोऽभवत्

kṛtopanayanaḥ kuṁḍaḥ sa tattvajñānavānśiśuḥ gṛhānnirgamya sapadi nārāyaṇaparo'bhavat

'That child, called Kunda, his sacred-thread rite performed, possessed of true knowledge, at once left his home and became wholly devoted to Narayana.'

Verse 37 (padma.6.213.37)

सतां संगतिमासाद्य त्यक्त्वा स्वं प्राकृतं वपुः । आरुरोह निजं लोकमप्राप्यं योगिभिश्च तत्

satāṁ saṁgatimāsādya tyaktvā svaṁ prākṛtaṁ vapuḥ āruroha nijaṁ lokamaprāpyaṁ yogibhiśca tat

'Attaining the company of the virtuous, and casting off his own ordinary body, he ascended to his own true world, unattainable even by yogis.'

Verse 38 (padma.6.213.38)

अथ सा निर्गते पुत्रे मनो दुःखं चकार वै । तस्मिन्नेव दिने राजन्भूयो जारैः सहारमत्

atha sā nirgate putre mano duḥkhaṁ cakāra vai tasminneva dine rājanbhūyo jāraiḥ sahāramat

'O king, when her son had departed, she felt sorrow in her mind; yet on that very same day she again took her pleasure with her lovers.'

Verse 39 (padma.6.213.39)

इति तै रममाणायां तस्यां जारैः समं नृप । समागता जरा काले लावण्यमदनाशिनी

iti tai ramamāṇāyāṁ tasyāṁ jāraiḥ samaṁ nṛpa samāgatā jarā kāle lāvaṇyamadanāśinī

'O king, as she thus continued to disport herself with her lovers, in time old age came upon her, destroyer of beauty and passion.'

Verse 40 (padma.6.213.40)

त्यक्तोपपतिभिर्दृष्टा सा जराग्रस्तविग्रहा । बभूव दूतिकान्यासं कुलशीलविनाशिनी

tyaktopapatibhirdṛṣṭā sā jarāgrastavigrahā babhūva dūtikānyāsaṁ kulaśīlavināśinī

'Abandoned by her lovers, her body now seized by old age, she — destroyer of the honor of her own family — became a go-between for others.'

Verse 41 (padma.6.213.41)

तदा ह्येकस्य विप्रस्य सवत्सां गामपाहरत् । विक्रीता कियता राजन्द्रव्येण ननु सा तया

tadā hyekasya viprasya savatsāṁ gāmapāharat vikrītā kiyatā rājandravyeṇa nanu sā tayā

'Then she stole a milch-cow, with its calf, from a certain brahmin; and, O king, she sold it for some paltry sum.'

Verse 42 (padma.6.213.42)

तयेति गमितः कालो दूतित्वेन कियान्नृप । पश्चाच्छुष्करशरीरोऽस्या विगुणः समजायत

tayeti gamitaḥ kālo dūtitvena kiyānnṛpa paścācchuṣkaraśarīro'syā viguṇaḥ samajāyata

'O king, thus, for some time, she passed her days as a go-between; but afterward her body grew withered and dry, and she became repulsive.'

Verse 43 (padma.6.213.43)

तस्याः कुष्ठे समुत्पन्ने गलितं ह्यंगपंचकम् । हस्तौ पादौ च नृपते पंचमा नासिका तदा

tasyāḥ kuṣṭhe samutpanne galitaṁ hyaṁgapaṁcakam hastau pādau ca nṛpate paṁcamā nāsikā tadā

'O king, when leprosy arose in her, five of her limbs rotted away — both hands, both feet, and fifthly, her nose.'

Verse 44 (padma.6.213.44)

एवंभूता यदाहारं न लभेत कुतश्चन । तदा तु तत्रोदितया दास्या सा नीयता पणम्

evaṁbhūtā yadāhāraṁ na labheta kutaścana tadā tu tatroditayā dāsyā sā nīyatā paṇam

'Being thus afflicted, and unable to obtain food from anywhere, she was then, by a maidservant appointed there, taken about for alms.'

Verse 45 (padma.6.213.45)

तत्र सा पतिता पापा लोकान्संप्रार्थ्य दीनया । गिरा धिगिति कुर्वाणा चक्रे स्वोदरपूरणम्

tatra sā patitā pāpā lokānsaṁprārthya dīnayā girā dhigiti kurvāṇā cakre svodarapūraṇam

'There, that fallen, sinful woman, begging the people in a piteous voice, being cursed as she went, filled her own belly.'

Verse 46 (padma.6.213.46)

तदिहाभ्यासवर्त्त्ये को द्विजः सर्वागमार्थवित् । तां विलोक्य महावाग्मी प्रोवाचेदं वचो नृप

tadihābhyāsavarttye ko dvijaḥ sarvāgamārthavit tāṁ vilokya mahāvāgmī provācedaṁ vaco nṛpa

'O king, then a certain brahmin, versed in the meaning of all the scriptures, dwelling nearby, a great orator, seeing her, spoke these words.'

Verse 47 (padma.6.213.47)

जनानां दुःखदं पापमिहलोके परत्र च । तस्मात्पापं न कर्त्तव्यं मानवैर्दुःखभीरुभिः

janānāṁ duḥkhadaṁ pāpamihaloke paratra ca tasmātpāpaṁ na karttavyaṁ mānavairduḥkhabhīrubhiḥ

'"Sin brings suffering to people, both in this world and the next; therefore men who fear suffering should never commit sin."'

Verse 48 (padma.6.213.48)

पापं कृत्वा जनो यस्तु प्रायश्चित्तं करोति वै । न तदाचरिते भूयो न तत्फलमवाप्नुयात्

pāpaṁ kṛtvā jano yastu prāyaścittaṁ karoti vai na tadācarite bhūyo na tatphalamavāpnuyāt

'"He who, having committed sin, performs true penance, and does not repeat that act again, does not suffer its fruit."'

Verse 49 (padma.6.213.49)

यः कृत्वा मुहुरेनांसि प्रायश्चित्तं करोति न । तस्यास्या इव पापाया गतिरत्र परत्र च

yaḥ kṛtvā muhurenāṁsi prāyaścittaṁ karoti na tasyāsyā iva pāpāyā gatiratra paratra ca

'"But he who commits sins again and again and performs no penance — his fate, both here and hereafter, is like this sinful woman's."'

Verse 50 (padma.6.213.50)

अनया पापसंघातो लोकेऽत्र समुपार्जितः । इहैव तत्फलं भुंक्ते भोक्ष्यते नरकेऽप्यसौ

anayā pāpasaṁghāto loke'tra samupārjitaḥ ihaiva tatphalaṁ bhuṁkte bhokṣyate narake'pyasau

'"By her a mass of sin has been accumulated in this world; even here she suffers its fruit, and in hell too she shall suffer it."'

Verse 51 (padma.6.213.51)

सर्वशास्त्रेषु दृष्टं वै सर्वेषां पापकर्मणाम् । प्रायश्चित्तं न च स्त्रीणां विन्मुखानां तु कर्मणः

sarvaśāstreṣu dṛṣṭaṁ vai sarveṣāṁ pāpakarmaṇām prāyaścittaṁ na ca strīṇāṁ vinmukhānāṁ tu karmaṇaḥ

'"In all the scriptures, penance is indeed prescribed for every sinful deed — but not for women who have turned entirely away from proper conduct."'

Verse 52 (padma.6.213.52)

नारद उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा स द्विजश्रेष्ठो नमस्कृत्य रविं ययौ । विष्णुं संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य भीतस्तदवलोकनात्

nārada uvāca- ityuktvā sa dvijaśreṣṭho namaskṛtya raviṁ yayau viṣṇuṁ saṁsmṛtya saṁsmṛtya bhītastadavalokanāt

Narada said: 'Having said this, that foremost brahmin, having bowed to the sun, went on his way, remembering Vishnu again and again, frightened by the very sight of her.'

Verse 53 (padma.6.213.53)

एवं सा दुःखमापन्ना भुंजाना कर्मणः फलम् । अर्जितस्य स्वयं राजन्मृता कतिपयैर्दिनैः

evaṁ sā duḥkhamāpannā bhuṁjānā karmaṇaḥ phalam arjitasya svayaṁ rājanmṛtā katipayairdinaiḥ

'O king, thus, suffering the fruit of the deeds she had herself earned, that woman, in such misery, died within a few days.'

Verse 54 (padma.6.213.54)

न तस्या अग्निसंस्कारः संजातः पापकर्मणः । आकृष्य केशे सा नीता श्वपचैर्नगराद्बहिः

na tasyā agnisaṁskāraḥ saṁjātaḥ pāpakarmaṇaḥ ākṛṣya keśe sā nītā śvapacairnagarādbahiḥ

'No cremation rite was performed for that woman of sinful deeds; dragged by her hair, she was carried out of the city by outcastes.'

Verse 55 (padma.6.213.55)

मरणावसरे तस्या यमभृत्याः समागताः । प्रापप्य यातनादेहं तां निन्युर्भास्करेः पुरीम्

maraṇāvasare tasyā yamabhṛtyāḥ samāgatāḥ prāpapya yātanādehaṁ tāṁ ninyurbhāskareḥ purīm

'At the moment of her death, the servants of Yama came; having given her a body made for torment, they led her to the city of the son of the Sun.'

Verse 56 (padma.6.213.56)

सौम्यः सधर्मिणां देवः साक्षाद्गुह्यस्तु पापिनाम् । तस्या विलोकनाद्भूयः सोप्यभूद्वै पराङ्मुखः

saumyaḥ sadharmiṇāṁ devaḥ sākṣādguhyastu pāpinām tasyā vilokanādbhūyaḥ sopyabhūdvai parāṅmukhaḥ

'That god, gentle toward the righteous, but hidden and terrible indeed to sinners — even he, at the very sight of her, turned his face away.'

Verse 57 (padma.6.213.57)

भृत्यानाज्ञापयामास यम एव पराङ्मुखः । रौरवे नरके घोरे पात्यतां सा मयेरिता

bhṛtyānājñāpayāmāsa yama eva parāṅmukhaḥ raurave narake ghore pātyatāṁ sā mayeritā

'Yama, his face turned away, commanded his servants: "Let her, sent by me, be cast into the terrible hell of Raurava."'

Verse 58 (padma.6.213.58)

इत्युक्तास्ते तदा भृत्या नीत्वा तां घोररौरवे । न्यपातयन्नधोववक्त्रां स्मरंतीं कर्म यत्कृतम्

ityuktāste tadā bhṛtyā nītvā tāṁ ghoraraurave nyapātayannadhovavaktrāṁ smaraṁtīṁ karma yatkṛtam

'Thus commanded, those servants then took her, and cast her, face down, into the terrible Raurava, as she remembered the deeds she had done.'

Verse 59 (padma.6.213.59)

एकमन्वंतरं यावत्सा स्थित्वा तत्र रौरवे । पश्चाद्गोधा समुत्पन्ना श्मशाने मृतमांसभुक्

ekamanvaṁtaraṁ yāvatsā sthitvā tatra raurave paścādgodhā samutpannā śmaśāne mṛtamāṁsabhuk

'Having remained there in Raurava for the span of a full manvantara, she was then born as a godha, a monitor lizard, feeding on the flesh of the dead in a cremation ground.'

Verse 60 (padma.6.213.60)

तत्रापि सा वर्षशतं लेभे दुःखं स्वकर्मणः । फलं मृतकमांसे कुर्वत्याहारमुत्कटम्

tatrāpi sā varṣaśataṁ lebhe duḥkhaṁ svakarmaṇaḥ phalaṁ mṛtakamāṁse kurvatyāhāramutkaṭam

'There too she suffered the terrible fruit of her own deeds for a hundred years, making her fierce food of the flesh of corpses.'

Verse 61 (padma.6.213.61)

एकदा स मुनेः पुत्रो योऽस्या कुक्षौ व्यजायत । विप्रयोनौ समायातः श्मशाने तत्र पर्यटन्

ekadā sa muneḥ putro yo'syā kukṣau vyajāyata viprayonau samāyātaḥ śmaśāne tatra paryaṭan

'Once, that son of a sage, who had been born from her womb, having come, reborn, into a brahmin's family, wandering there in the cremation ground—'

Verse 62 (padma.6.213.62)

मुनिपुत्रस्तु तां वीक्ष्य मृतानां क्रव्यमश्नतीम् । ध्यात्वा क्षणं स्वमनसि बुबुधे तां स्वमातरम्

muniputrastu tāṁ vīkṣya mṛtānāṁ kravyamaśnatīm dhyātvā kṣaṇaṁ svamanasi bubudhe tāṁ svamātaram

'—that sage's son, seeing her eating the flesh of the dead, meditating for a moment in his own mind, recognized her as his own mother.'

Verse 63 (padma.6.213.63)

स उवाचात्मनात्मानं बुद्ध्वा तां निजमातरम् । मुनिपुत्र उवाच- एतां तु तारयाम्यद्य दुस्तराद्दुःखवारिधेः

sa uvācātmanātmānaṁ buddhvā tāṁ nijamātaram muniputra uvāca- etāṁ tu tārayāmyadya dustarādduḥkhavāridheḥ

'Having recognized her as his own mother, he said to himself. The sage's son said: "I shall this very day deliver her from this insurmountable ocean of suffering."'

Verse 64 (padma.6.213.64)

अहो न मुच्यते जंतुर्जातपापेन कर्मणा । आत्मनोपार्जितेनैव भोगकालावधिं विना

aho na mucyate jaṁturjātapāpena karmaṇā ātmanopārjitenaiva bhogakālāvadhiṁ vinā

'"Ah, a being is never freed from the sin born of its own deeds, self-acquired, without living out the full term of its allotted suffering."'

Verse 65 (padma.6.213.65)

अस्याः कालो व्यतीयाय निरये मानवाभिधः । सांप्रतं च जनैस्त्वत्र वत्सराणां शतं गतम्

asyāḥ kālo vyatīyāya niraye mānavābhidhaḥ sāṁprataṁ ca janaistvatra vatsarāṇāṁ śataṁ gatam

'"Her time in the hell called Manava has passed; and now, in this human reckoning, a hundred years have gone by in her present birth."'

Verse 66 (padma.6.213.66)

कियदग्रे च भोक्तव्यमेतया पापमुल्बणम् । नारद उवाच। इत्यालोच्य पुनर्दध्यौ ज्ञानेनामील्य चक्षुषी

kiyadagre ca bhoktavyametayā pāpamulbaṇam nārada uvāca ityālocya punardadhyau jñānenāmīlya cakṣuṣī

'"And how much more of this terrible sin remains for her yet to suffer?"' Narada said: 'Having thought thus, he closed his eyes and meditated once more, with his inner knowledge.'

Verse 67 (padma.6.213.67)

दृष्ट्वा तस्या गतिं घोरां पापाया दिव्यचक्षुषा । पुनरात्मानमादेहं स द्विजप्रवरो नृप

dṛṣṭvā tasyā gatiṁ ghorāṁ pāpāyā divyacakṣuṣā punarātmānamādehaṁ sa dvijapravaro nṛpa

'O king, having beheld, with his divine eye, the terrible fate awaiting that sinful woman, that foremost of brahmins spoke again to himself.'

Verse 68 (padma.6.213.68)

मुनिपुत्र उवाच- अहो कल्पशतेनापि निस्तारोऽस्या न दृश्यते । विना सत्तीर्थमरणं शरणं वा रमापतेः

muniputra uvāca- aho kalpaśatenāpi nistāro'syā na dṛśyate vinā sattīrthamaraṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ vā ramāpateḥ

The sage's son said: '"Ah, even after a hundred kalpas, no deliverance is seen for her — save through death at a true tirtha, or taking refuge in the Lord of Lakshmi."'

Verse 69 (padma.6.213.69)

अथवा पिंडदानेन गयायां मत्कृतेन च । विनास्याः सद्गतिं नैव कल्पकोटिशतैरपि

athavā piṁḍadānena gayāyāṁ matkṛtena ca vināsyāḥ sadgatiṁ naiva kalpakoṭiśatairapi

'"Or else, without the pinda-offering made by me at Gaya, no good end shall come to her, even after hundreds of millions of kalpas."'

Verse 70 (padma.6.213.70)

न घटेत द्वयं चास्या अस्यां योनौ कदाचन । तत्तीर्थविषये मृत्युः सेवायां श्रीपते रतिः

na ghaṭeta dvayaṁ cāsyā asyāṁ yonau kadācana tattīrthaviṣaye mṛtyuḥ sevāyāṁ śrīpate ratiḥ

'"Neither of these two — death within reach of that tirtha, or devotion to the service of the Lord of Shri — can ever come to pass for her in this present birth."'

Verse 71 (padma.6.213.71)

अस्या उद्धारहेतुर्वै मग्नायाः पापसागरे । भविता मत्कृतं श्राद्धं गयाया च हित्रकम्

asyā uddhāraheturvai magnāyāḥ pāpasāgare bhavitā matkṛtaṁ śrāddhaṁ gayāyā ca hitrakam

'"The means of her deliverance, sunk as she is in an ocean of sin, shall be the shraddha rite performed by me, and the beneficial rite of Gaya."'

Verse 72 (padma.6.213.72)

नारद उवाच- इत्यालोच्य स धर्मात्मा ययौ स्वपितुराश्रमम् । आचख्यौ पितरं सर्वं स्वमातुर्दुःखकारणम्

nārada uvāca- ityālocya sa dharmātmā yayau svapiturāśramam ācakhyau pitaraṁ sarvaṁ svamāturduḥkhakāraṇam

Narada said: 'Having resolved thus, that righteous man went to his own father's hermitage, and told his father all — the cause of his mother's suffering.'

Verse 73 (padma.6.213.73)

निशम्य पुत्रवचनं मातृदुःखनिवेदकम् । उवाच स मुनिश्रेष्ठः पुत्रं प्रणतकंधरम्

niśamya putravacanaṁ mātṛduḥkhanivedakam uvāca sa muniśreṣṭhaḥ putraṁ praṇatakaṁdharam

'Hearing his son's account, which told of his mother's suffering, that foremost of sages spoke to his son, whose head was bowed low.'

Verse 74 (padma.6.213.74)

मुनिरुवाच- हे तात मातरं स्वीयां शीघ्रमुद्धर दुर्गतेः । नयविद्भूपतिः शत्रोर्जयलक्ष्मीमिवाहवे

muniruvāca- he tāta mātaraṁ svīyāṁ śīghramuddhara durgateḥ nayavidbhūpatiḥ śatrorjayalakṣmīmivāhave

The sage said: '"My child, quickly deliver your own mother from her evil state — as a king skilled in policy swiftly seizes the goddess of victory from his enemy in battle."'

Verse 75 (padma.6.213.75)

न तारयति यः पुत्रो मातरं पितरं स्वकम् । दुःखात्स याति नरकं यदि तारयितुं क्षमः

na tārayati yaḥ putro mātaraṁ pitaraṁ svakam duḥkhātsa yāti narakaṁ yadi tārayituṁ kṣamaḥ

'"A son who does not deliver his own mother and father from suffering, though capable of doing so, goes to hell."'

Verse 76 (padma.6.213.76)

स्वपुत्रात्प्राप्य पानीयं पिंडाश्च वरतीर्थके । पितरो नरकात्स्वर्गं स्वर्गाद्यांति हरेः पदम्

svaputrātprāpya pānīyaṁ piṁḍāśca varatīrthake pitaro narakātsvargaṁ svargādyāṁti hareḥ padam

'"Receiving water and pindas from their own son at an excellent tirtha, ancestors pass from hell to heaven, and from heaven on to the abode of Hari."'

Verse 77 (padma.6.213.77)

तस्मादाशु समुत्तिष्ठ गच्छ खांडवकानने । तत्रास्ति यमुना पुण्या मुनिवर्यनिषेविता

tasmādāśu samuttiṣṭha gaccha khāṁḍavakānane tatrāsti yamunā puṇyā munivaryaniṣevitā

'"Therefore rise at once, and go to the Khandava forest; there is the sacred Yamuna, frequented by the finest of sages."'

Verse 78 (padma.6.213.78)

तत्तीरेऽस्ति हरिप्रस्थं सर्वतीर्थमयं ततः । पुण्यं मधुवनं तत्र विष्णुना स्थापितं स्वयम्

tattīre'sti hariprasthaṁ sarvatīrthamayaṁ tataḥ puṇyaṁ madhuvanaṁ tatra viṣṇunā sthāpitaṁ svayam

'"On its bank is Hariprastha, itself the essence of all tirthas; and there is the sacred Madhuvana, established by Vishnu himself."'

Verse 79 (padma.6.213.79)

तत्र स्नात्वा तु विधिवत्कृत्वा नित्यक्रियां निजाम् । तामुद्दिश्य कुरु श्राद्धं स्वप्रसूं च कुरु क्रियाम्

tatra snātvā tu vidhivatkṛtvā nityakriyāṁ nijām tāmuddiśya kuru śrāddhaṁ svaprasūṁ ca kuru kriyām

'"Having duly bathed there, and performed your own daily rites, offer the shraddha in her name, and perform the rite for your own mother."'

Verse 80 (padma.6.213.80)

त्वया तत्र कृते श्राद्धे तस्याः सद्गतिमिच्छता । सा प्राप्स्यति हरेर्लोकं हित्वा गोधांगमुल्बणम्

tvayā tatra kṛte śrāddhe tasyāḥ sadgatimicchatā sā prāpsyati harerlokaṁ hitvā godhāṁgamulbaṇam

'"When you have performed the shraddha there, desiring a good end for her, she shall attain the world of Hari, casting off her fearsome lizard-body."'

Verse 81 (padma.6.213.81)

गयायां पिंडदानेन यत्फलं तात जायते । ततः शतगुणं पुण्यं सद्भिर्मधुवने स्मृतम्

gayāyāṁ piṁḍadānena yatphalaṁ tāta jāyate tataḥ śataguṇaṁ puṇyaṁ sadbhirmadhuvane smṛtam

'"My child, whatever fruit arises from the offering of pindas at Gaya, a hundredfold that merit is remembered by the virtuous as belonging to Madhuvana."'

Verse 82 (padma.6.213.82)

इदानीं वर्तते तात कन्याराशिगतो रविः । पुत्र गत्वा कुरु श्राद्धं पूर्वानुद्दिश्य बांधवान्

idānīṁ vartate tāta kanyārāśigato raviḥ putra gatvā kuru śrāddhaṁ pūrvānuddiśya bāṁdhavān

'"Now, my child, the sun stands in the sign of Virgo; go, my son, and perform the shraddha, dedicating it to your departed forebears and kinsmen."'