Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच अथ सा स्त्री तमुक्त्वा तु विप्रमेवं भवत्विति तैलं दिव्यमुपादाय स्नानशाटीमुपानयत्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Thus ordered the lady said Be it so! She then brought oil and a piece of cloth for his wear during the ablutions.
अनुज्ञाता च मुनिना सा स्त्री तेन महात्मना अथास्य तैलेनाङ्गानि सर्वाण्येवाभ्यमृक्षयत्
M. N. Dutt: With the ascetic's permission she rubbed every part of his body with the fragrant oil she had brought for him.
शनैश्चोत्सादितस्तत्र स्नानशालामुपागमत् भद्रासनं ततश्चित्रं ऋषिरन्वाविशन्नवम्
M. N. Dutt: The Rishi was rubbed, and when the process of rubbing was over, he went to the room set apart set apart for the performance of ablutions. There he sat upon a new and Excellent seat.
अथोपविष्टश्च यदा तस्मिन्भद्रासने तदा स्नापयामास शनकैस्तमृषिं सुखहस्तवत् दिव्यं च विधिवच्चक्रे सोपचारं मुनेस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: After the Rishi had taken his seat upon it, the old lady began to wash his body with her own soft hands whose touch was highly agrecable.
स तेन सुसुखोष्णेन तस्या हस्तसुखेन च व्यतीतां रजनीं कृत्स्नां नाजानात्स महाव्रतः
AI Translation: By that very pleasant warmth and by the touch of her hand, the great ascetic did not know that the entire night had passed.
तत उत्थाय स मुनिस्तदा परमविस्मितः पूर्वस्यां दिशि सूर्यं च सोऽपश्यदुदितं दिवि
AI Translation: Then, rising up, the sage was extremely amazed. In the eastern direction, he saw the sun rising in the sky.
Supplementary Passages:
13.21.6 After 6, S ins.: *195 संध्योपासनमित्याहो सर्वपापहरं नमे
तस्य बुद्धिरियं किं नु मोहस्तत्त्वमिदं भवेत् अथोपास्य सहस्रांशुं किं करोमीत्युवाच ताम्
AI Translation: "His mind was thus: ""What is this? Is it delusion or is it the truth?"" Then, having worshipped the thousand-rayed one, he said to her: ""What shall I do?"""
सा चामृतरसप्रख्यमृषेरन्नमुपाहरत् तस्य स्वादुतयान्नस्य न प्रभूतं चकार सः व्यगमच्चाप्यहःशेषं ततः संध्यागमत्पुनः
M. N. Dutt: On account of the sweetness of that food the Rishi could not take much. In taking that little however, the day passed away and evening set in.
Supplementary Passages:
13.21.8 For 8ef, D4-9 subst.: *196 भुञ्जतोऽभ्यागमदहस्ततः संध्याभवत्प्रभो
अथ स्त्री भगवन्तं सा सुप्यतामित्यचोदयत् तत्र वै शयने दिव्ये तस्य तस्याश्च कल्पिते
M. N. Dutt: The old lady then asked the Rishi to go to bed and sleep. An excellent bed was given ts) the Rishi and another was taken by herself.
Supplementary Passages:
13.21.9 After 9, V1 B Dn D5.8.10 ins.: *197 पृथक्चैव तथा सुप्तौ सा स्त्री स च मुनिस्तदा अथार्धरात्रे सा स्त्री तु शयनं तदुपागमत्
अष्टावक्र उवाच न भद्रे परदारेषु मनो मे संप्रसज्जति उत्तिष्ठ भद्रे भद्रं ते स्वप वै विरमस्व च
M. N. Dutt: Ashtavakra said O blessed lady, I am not inclined for sexual union with one who is the wife of another. Leave my bed, O good lady. Blessed be you do, you desist from this of your own accord.
भीष्म उवाच सा तदा तेन विप्रेण तथा धृत्या निवर्तिता स्वतन्त्रास्मीत्युवाचैनं न धर्मच्छलमस्ति ते
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Thus dissuaded by the Brahmana with the help of his selfcontrol, the lady answered him saying I am my own mistress! In accepting me you will commit no sin.
अष्टावक्र उवाच नास्ति स्वतन्त्रता स्त्रीणामस्वतन्त्रा हि योषितः प्रजापतिमतं ह्येतन्न स्त्री स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: Ashtavakra said Women can never be their own mistresses. This is the opinion of the Creator himself, viz., that a woman should never be indepent.
स्त्र्युवाच बाधते मैथुनं विप्र मम भक्तिं च पश्य वै अधर्मं प्राप्स्यसे विप्र यन्मां त्वं नाभिनन्दसि
M. N. Dutt: The lady said O learned Brahmana, I am pained by desire. Mark my devotion to you. You commit sin by refusing to accept me lovingly.
अष्टावक्र उवाच हरन्ति दोषजातानि नरं जातं यथेच्छकम् प्रभवामि सदा धृत्या भद्रे स्वं शयनं व्रज
M. N. Dutt: Ashtavakra said Various shortcomings drag away the man who acts as he likes. As for myself I am able to govern my inclinations by selfcontrol. O good lady, return to your own bed.
स्त्र्युवाच शिरसा प्रणमे विप्र प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि भूमौ निपतमानायाः शरणं भव मेऽनघ
M. N. Dutt: The lady said I bow to you. You should show me your favour. O sinless one, I prostrate myself before you, do you become my refuge.
यदि वा दोषजातं त्वं परदारेषु पश्यसि आत्मानं स्पर्शयाम्यद्य पाणिं गृह्णीष्व मे द्विज
M. N. Dutt: If you see sin in knowing one who is not your wife, I yield myself to you. Do you, O twice born one, accept my hand in marriage.
न दोषो भविता चैव सत्येनैतद्ब्रवीम्यहम् स्वतन्त्रां मां विजानीहि योऽधर्मः सोऽस्तु वै मयि
M. N. Dutt: You will incur no sin. I tell you truly. Know that I am my own mistress. It there be any sin in this, let it visit me only. My heart is devoted to you. I am my own mistress. Do you accept me.
Supplementary Passages:
13.21.17 After 17, D5 reads 15ab. V1 B Dn D2.7-10 ins. after 17: D4.6 after 16: D5 after 15ab: *198 त्वय्यावेशितचित्ता च स्वतन्त्रास्मि भजस्व माम्
अष्टावक्र उवाच स्वतन्त्रा त्वं कथं भद्रे ब्रूहि कारणमत्र वै नास्ति लोके हि काचित्स्त्री या वै स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: Ashtavakra said How is it, O good lady that you are your own mistress? Tell me the reason of this. There is not a single woman in the three worlds who can be considered as the mistress of her own self.
Supplementary Passages:
13.21.18 After the ref. M4 ins.: *199 अन्यत्कर्म न चान्यस्य स्वातन्त्र्यं तन्न युज्यते
पिता रक्षति कौमारे भर्ता रक्षति यौवने पुत्राश्च स्थविरीभावे न स्त्री स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: The father protects her while she is a maiden. The husband protects her while she is young. Sons protect her when she is aged. Woman can never be independent as long as they live.
Supplementary Passages:
13.21.19 After 19, T G ins.: *200 न वृद्धामक्षमां मन्ये न चेच्छा त्वयि मेऽनघे
स्त्र्युवाच कौमारं ब्रह्मचर्यं मे कन्यैवास्मि न संशयः कुरु मा विमतिं विप्र श्रद्धां विजहि मा मम
M. N. Dutt: The lady said I have, since my maidenhood adopted the vow of celibacy. Do not doubt it. I am still a maid. Do you make me your wife. O Brahmana, do not kill this devotion of mine to you.
अष्टावक्र उवाच यथा मम तथा तुभ्यं यथा तव तथा मम जिज्ञासेयमृषेस्तस्य विघ्नः सत्यं नु किं भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: Ashtavakra said As you are inclined to me so am I inclined to you. There is this question, however, that should be settled. It is true that by giving way to iny inclinations I shall not be considered as acting contrary to what the Rishi (Vadanya) wishes.
Supplementary Passages:
13.21.21 After 21ab, B4.5 ins.: *201 अष्टावक्रोऽथ स मुनिश्चिन्तयामास विस्मितः
आश्चर्यं परमं हीदं किं नु श्रेयो हि मे भवेत् दिव्याभरणवस्त्रा हि कन्येयं मामुपस्थिता
M. N. Dutt: This is very wonderful. Will this lead to what is good? Here is a maiden adorned with good ornaments and robes!
किं त्वस्याः परमं रूपं जीर्णमासीत्कथं पुनः कन्यारूपमिहाद्यैव किमिहात्रोत्तरं भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: She is highly beautiful. Why did decrepitude hide her beauty so long? At present she looks like a beautiful maiden. I do not know what forin she may assume hereafter.
यथा परं शक्तिधृतेर्न व्युत्थास्ये कथंचन न रोचये हि व्युत्थानं धृत्यैवं साधयाम्यहम्
M. N. Dutt: I shall never Swerve from that control which I have over desire and the other passions or from contentment with what I have already gol. Such swerving is not good. I shall keep myself united with truth.