Critical Edition
महेश्वर उवाच परावरज्ञे धर्मज्ञे तपोवननिवासिनि साध्वि सुभ्रु सुकेशान्ते हिमवत्पर्वतात्मजे
M. N. Dutt: Mahadeva said You, O goddess, know what is Supreme and what is not so. You know all duties, O you who love to live in the retreats of ascetics. You are gifted with every virtue, possessed of beautiful eyebrows, and hair ending in the fairest earls, O daughter of Himavat, the king of mountains.
Supplementary Passages:
13.134.1 Before the ref., Dn2 ins.: *628 नारद उवाच एवमुक्त्वा महादेवः श्रोतुकामः स्वयं प्रभुः अनुकूलां प्रियां भार्यां पार्श्वस्थां समभाषत
दक्षे शमदमोपेते निर्ममे धर्मचारिणि पृच्छामि त्वां वरारोहे पृष्टा वद ममेप्सितम्
M. N. Dutt: You are skilled in every work. You are gifted with self-control and look impartially towards all creatures. Divested of the senses of mineness, you are devoted to the practice of all the duties. O you of beautiful features, I wish to ask you (about something). I wish that, asked by me, you will describe to me that subject.
सावित्री ब्रह्मणः साध्वी कौशिकस्य शची सती मार्तण्डजस्य धूमोर्णा ऋद्धिर्वैश्रवणस्य च
M. N. Dutt: Savitri is the chaste wife of Brahman. The caste Shachi is the wife of Indra. Dhumorna is the wife of Markandeya, and Riddhi of (king) Vaishravana.
वरुणस्य ततो गौरी सूर्यस्य च सुवर्चला रोहिणी शशिनः साध्वी स्वाहा चैव विभावसोः
M. N. Dutt: Varuna has Gouri for his consort, and the Sun God has Suvarchala. Rohini is the chaste wife of Shashin, and Svaha of Vibhavasu.
अदितिः कश्यपस्याथ सर्वास्ताः पतिदेवताः पृष्टाश्चोपासिताश्चैव तास्त्वया देवि नित्यशः
M. N. Dutt: Kashyapa has Aditi. All these consider their husbands as their gods. You have, O goddess, conversed and associated with all of them every day.
तेन त्वां परिपृच्छामि धर्मज्ञे धर्मवादिनि स्त्रीधर्मं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वयोदाहृतमादितः
M. N. Dutt: It is, therefore, O you knowing every duty, that I wish to question you about the duties of women, you whose words are always consistent with righteousness. I wish to hear you describe that subject from the beginning.
सहधर्मचरी मे त्वं समशीला समव्रता समानसारवीर्या च तपस्तीव्रं कृतं च ते त्वया ह्युक्तो विशेषेण प्रमाणत्वमुपैष्यति
M. N. Dutt: You practice all the duties of virtue with me. Your conduct is exactly like mine, and the vows you observe are the same that are observed by me. Your power and energy are equal to mine, and you have practised the austerest penances.
Supplementary Passages:
13.134.7 After 7e, V1 B Dn ins.: *629 गुणवान्स भविष्यति लोके चैव तथा देवि
स्त्रियश्चैव विशेषेण स्त्रीजनस्य गतिः सदा गौर्गां गच्छति सुश्रोणि लोकेष्वेषा स्थितिः सदा
M. N. Dutt: Women, in especial, are the highest refuge of women. O you of beautiful hips, among human beings the course of conduct laid down by you will be followed from generation to generation.
मम चार्धं शरीरस्य मम चार्धाद्विनिःसृता सुरकार्यकरी च त्वं लोकसंतानकारिणी
M. N. Dutt: Half of my body is made up of half your body. You are always engaged in doing the work of the celestials, and it is you are the cause of have peopling the Earth.
तव सर्वः सुविदितः स्त्रीधर्मः शाश्वतः शुभे तस्मादशेषतो ब्रूहि स्त्रीधर्मं विस्तरेण मे
M. N. Dutt: O auspicious lady, you know all the eternal duties of women. Do you, therefore, tell me in full what the duties are of your sex.
उमोवाच भगवन्सर्वभूतेश भूतभव्यभवोद्भव त्वत्प्रभावादियं देव वाक्चैव प्रतिभाति मे
M. N. Dutt: Uma said O holy one, O lord of all created things o source of all that is past, present, and future, it is through your favour that the words I am uttering are originating in my inind.
इमास्तु नद्यो देवेश सर्वतीर्थोदकैर्युताः उपस्पर्शनहेतोस्त्वा समीपस्था उपासते
M. N. Dutt: All these Rivers (that are of my sex), O god of gods, having the waters of all the Tirthas, are approaching your presence for enabling you to perform your ablutions in them.
एताभिः सह संमन्त्र्य प्रवक्ष्याम्यनुपूर्वशः प्रभवन्योऽनहंवादी स वै पुरुष उच्यते
M. N. Dutt: After consulting them I shall describe the subject in duc order. That person who, though capable, is still free from egotism, is rightly called a Purusha.
स्त्री च भूतेश सततं स्त्रियमेवानुधावति मया संमानिताश्चैव भविष्यन्ति सरिद्वराः
M. N. Dutt: As for women, O lord of all beings, she follows persons of her sex. By consulting these foremost of Rivers, they will be honoured by me.
एषा सरस्वती पुण्या नदीनामुत्तमा नदी प्रथमा सर्वसरितां नदी सागरगामिनी
M. N. Dutt: The sacred Sarasvati is the foremost river of all rivers. She goes towards the ocean and is truly the first of all rivers.
विपाशा च वितस्ता च चन्द्रभागा इरावती शतद्रुर्देविका सिन्धुः कौशिकी गोमती तथा
AI Translation: Vipasha, Vitasta, Chandrabhaga, Iravatī, Shatadru, Devika, Sindhu, Koushiki, and Gomati.
तथा देवनदी चेयं सर्वतीर्थाभिसंवृता गगनाद्गां गता देवी गङ्गा सर्वसरिद्वरा
AI Translation: And this divine river, filled with all the sacred places, The goddess Ganga, the best of all rivers, has come down from the sky to the earth.
इत्युक्त्वा देवदेवस्य पत्नी धर्मभृतां वरा स्मितपूर्वमिवाभाष्य सर्वास्ताः सरितस्तदा
AI Translation: Having spoken thus, the wife of the Lord of the gods, the best of the upholders of dharma, smiled and spoke to all those rivers at that time.
अपृच्छद्देवमहिषी स्त्रीधर्मं धर्मवत्सला स्त्रीधर्मकुशलास्ता वै गङ्गाद्याः सरितां वराः
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, the wife of the great god, devoted to the performance of all duties, questioned those individuals of her sex about the duties of women. Indeed, those foremost of rivers, having Ganga for their first all know the duties of women.
अयं भगवता दत्तः प्रश्नः स्त्रीधर्मसंश्रितः तं तु संमन्त्र्य युष्माभिर्वक्तुमिच्छामि शंकरे
M. N. Dutt: Uma said The illustrious god has asked a question about the duties of women. I wish to answer Shankara after having consulted with you.
न चैकसाध्यं पश्यामि विज्ञानं भुवि कस्यचित् दिवि वा सागरगमास्तेन वो मानयाम्यहम्
M. N. Dutt: I do not find any branch of knowledge on Earth or Heaven that is capable of being mastered by any individual without your hcip. You rivers that run towards the ocean, it is, therefore, that I seek your opinions.
भीष्म उवाच एवं सर्वाः सरिच्छ्रेष्ठाः पृष्टाः पुण्यतमाः शिवाः ततो देवनदी गङ्गा नियुक्ता प्रतिपूज्य ताम्
M. N. Dutt: It was in this way that those foremost of Rivers, all of whom were auspicious and highly sacred, were accosted by Shiva's wife. Then the celestial River Ganga, who adored the daughter of the king of mountains in return, was selected for answering the question,
बह्वीभिर्बुद्धिभिः स्फीता स्त्रीधर्मज्ञा शुचिस्मिता शैलराजसुतां देवीं पुण्या पापापहां शिवाम्
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, she of sweet smiles is held as swelling with various kinds of understanding and well conversant with the duties of women. The sacred goddess capable of removing all fear of sin, gifted with humility in consequence of her intelligence, well acquainted with all duties, and endued with an exceedingly comprehensive intelligence sweetly smiling, uttered these words :
बुद्ध्या विनयसंपन्ना सर्वज्ञानविशारदा सस्मितं बहुबुद्ध्याढ्या गङ्गा वचनमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: endowed with discipline and wisdom, skilled in all knowledge, the smiling one, full of great wisdom, spoke these words: Ganga said:
धन्याः स्मोऽनुगृहीताः स्मो देवि धर्मपरायणा या त्वं सर्वजगन्मान्या नदीर्मानयसेऽनघे
AI Translation: We are blessed, we are favored, O Goddess, who are devoted to Dharma, You who bring the rivers, honored by the entire world, O sinless one.
प्रभवन्पृच्छते यो हि संमानयति वा पुनः नूनं जनमदुष्टात्मा पण्डिताख्यां स गच्छति
M. N. Dutt: That person who, though himself competent yet asks another, or who pays a graceful tribute to another certainly deserves, I think, to be considered as righteoussouled. Indeed, such a person deserves to be called learned and wise.
ज्ञानविज्ञानसंपन्नानूहापोहविशारदान् प्रवक्तॄन्पृच्छते योऽन्यान्स वै ना पदमर्च्छति
M. N. Dutt: That person never falls into disgrace who asks such speakers as are gifted with knowledge and science and as are well conversant with premises and inferences.
अन्यथा बहुबुद्ध्याढ्यो वाक्यं वदति संसदि अन्यथैव ह्यहंमानी दुर्बलं वदते वचः
M. N. Dutt: A proud man, even when gifted with intelligence, by speaking in the midst of an assembly otherwise, finds himself uttering only words of weak meaning.
दिव्यज्ञाने दिवि श्रेष्ठे दिव्यपुण्ये सदोत्थिते त्वमेवार्हसि नो देवि स्त्रीधर्ममनुशासितुम्
M. N. Dutt: You are gifted with spiritual insight. You are the foremost of all the celestials. You have taken your rise accompanied by various kinds of excellent merit. You, O goddess are fully competent to describe the duties of women.
भीष्म उवाच ततः साराधिता देवी गङ्गया बहुभिर्गुणैः प्राह सर्वमशेषेण स्त्रीधर्मं सुरसुन्दरी
M. N. Dutt: In this way, the goddess Uma was adored by Ganga and honoured with the ascription of many high merits. The beautiful goddess, thus praised, then began to discourse upon all the duties of women in full.
स्त्रीधर्मो मां प्रति यथा प्रतिभाति यथाविधि तमहं कीर्तयिष्यामि तथैव प्रथितो भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: Uma said I shall, according to the ordinance, describe the subject of women's duties as far as they are known to me. Do you all listen with rapt attention.
स्त्रीधर्मः पूर्व एवायं विवाहे बन्धुभिः कृतः सहधर्मचरी भर्तुर्भवत्यग्निसमीपतः
M. N. Dutt: The duties of women begin when created by kinsmen in the rites of wedding. Indeed, woman becomes, in the presence of the nuptial fire, the companion of her husband in the performance of all righteous acts.
सुस्वभावा सुवचना सुवृत्ता सुखदर्शना अनन्यचित्ता सुमुखी भर्तुः सा धर्मचारिणी
AI Translation: Good-natured, good-speaking, well-behaved, pleasant to behold, Devoted to her husband, good-faced, she who practices Dharma.
Supplementary Passages:
13.134.33 V1 B Dn3 ins. after 33: Dn1 D8 after the first occurrence of 34: *630 दंपत्योरेष वै धर्मः सहधर्मकृतः शुभः
सा भवेद्धर्मपरमा सा भवेद्धर्मभागिनी देववत्सततं साध्वी या भर्तारं प्रपश्यति
AI Translation: She will be devoted to the Dharma, she will share in the Dharma. She will always be virtuous like a goddess, she who sees her husband.
शुश्रूषां परिचारं च देववद्या करोति च नान्यभावा ह्यविमनाः सुव्रता सुखदर्शना
AI Translation: She serves and attends on him like a goddess. She is not of another mind, is not depressed, is of good conduct, and is pleasant to behold.
पुत्रवक्त्रमिवाभीक्ष्णं भर्तुर्वदनमीक्षते या साध्वी नियताचारा सा भवेद्धर्मचारिणी
AI Translation: She looks at her husband's face as if it were her son's face. That chaste woman who is restrained in conduct, she becomes a follower of Dharma.
श्रुत्वा दंपतिधर्मं वै सहधर्मकृतं शुभम् अनन्यचित्ता सुमुखी भर्तुः सा धर्मचारिणी
AI Translation: Having heard about the Dharma of the couple, the auspicious practice of the Dharma together, The faithful Su-mukhi, devoted to her husband, practiced the Dharma.
परुषाण्यपि चोक्ता या दृष्टा वा क्रूरचक्षुषा सुप्रसन्नमुखी भर्तुर्या नारी सा पतिव्रता
AI Translation: She who, even when spoken to harshly, or looked at with a cruel eye, is always smiling to her husband, she is a true wife.
न चन्द्रसूर्यौ न तरुं पुंनाम्नो या निरीक्षते भर्तृवर्जं वरारोहा सा भवेद्धर्मचारिणी
AI Translation: And she who does not look at the moon, the sun, or the punnāga tree, that beautiful lady, free from her husband, will be a follower of dharma.
दरिद्रं व्याधितं दीनमध्वना परिकर्शितम् पतिं पुत्रमिवोपास्ते सा नारी धर्मभागिनी
AI Translation: She who serves her husband like a son, who is poor, sick, or distressed, or exhausted by travel, is a woman who shares in the Dharma.
या नारी प्रयता दक्षा या नारी पुत्रिणी भवेत् पतिप्रिया पतिप्राणा सा नारी धर्मभागिनी
AI Translation: The woman who is diligent and skillful, the woman who becomes a mother, The woman who is dear to her husband, the woman who is devoted to her husband, she is the woman who shares in the Dharma.
शुश्रूषां परिचर्यां च करोत्यविमनाः सदा सुप्रतीता विनीता च सा नारी धर्मभागिनी
AI Translation: She is always eager to serve and attend to him without any hesitation. She is well-behaved and disciplined, and such a woman is a sharer of the Dharma.
न कामेषु न भोगेषु नैश्वर्ये न सुखे तथा स्पृहा यस्या यथा पत्यौ सा नारी धर्मभागिनी
AI Translation: One who has no desire for sensual pleasures, for enjoyments, for power, or for happiness, and who has as much desire for her husband as for these, is a woman who shares in the Dharma.
कल्योत्थानरता नित्यं गुरुशुश्रूषणे रता सुसंमृष्टक्षया चैव गोशकृत्कृतलेपना
AI Translation: Always devoted to rising early, devoted to serving the guru, Well-swept and smeared with cow dung.
अग्निकार्यपरा नित्यं सदा पुष्पबलिप्रदा देवतातिथिभृत्यानां निरुप्य पतिना सह
AI Translation: Always engaged in the rites of fire, always offering flowers and oblations, Having performed the rites for the deities, guests, and servants, together with her husband,
शेषान्नमुपभुञ्जाना यथान्यायं यथाविधि तुष्टपुष्टजना नित्यं नारी धर्मेण युज्यते
AI Translation: Eating the leftovers of others, according to proper procedure and in accordance with the rules, the people are always satisfied and nourished. The woman is united with Dharma.
श्वश्रूश्वशुरयोः पादौ तोषयन्ती गुणान्विता मातापितृपरा नित्यं या नारी सा तपोधना
M. N. Dutt: That woman who is gifted with accomplishments, who salutes the feet of her father-in-law and mother-in-law, and who is always devoted to his father and mother, is considered as possessed of ascetic merit.
ब्राह्मणान्दुर्बलानाथान्दीनान्धकृपणांस्तथा बिभर्त्यन्नेन या नारी सा पतिव्रतभागिनी
M. N. Dutt: That woman who supports with food Brahmanas who are weak and helpless, who are distressed or blind or destitute, comes to be considered as entitled to share the merits of her husband.
व्रतं चरति या नित्यं दुश्चरं लघुसत्त्वया पतिचित्ता पतिहिता सा पतिव्रतभागिनी
M. N. Dutt: That woman who always observes, with a light heart, vows which are difficult of observance, whose heart is devoted to her husband, and who always seeks the behoof of her husband, is considered as entitled to share the merits of her husband.
पुण्यमेतत्तपश्चैव स्वर्गश्चैष सनातनः या नारी भर्तृपरमा भवेद्भर्तृव्रता शिवा
M. N. Dutt: Devotion to her husband is woman's merit; it is her penance; it is her eternal Heaven. Merit, penances and Heaven become hers who considers her husband as her all in all, and who gifted with chastity, seeks to devote herself to her husband in all things.
पतिर्हि देवो नारीणां पतिर्बन्धुः पतिर्गतिः पत्या समा गतिर्नास्ति दैवतं वा यथा पतिः
M. N. Dutt: The husband is the god which women have. The husband is their friend. The husband is their great refuge. Women have no refuge that can compare with their husband, and no god that can compare with him.
पतिप्रसादः स्वर्गो वा तुल्यो नार्या न वा भवेत् अहं स्वर्गं न हीच्छेयं त्वय्यप्रीते महेश्वर
M. N. Dutt: A woman considers husband's grace and Heaven as equal; or, if unequal the inequality is very trivial. O Maheshvara 1 do not wish Heaven itself if you are not satisfied with me.
यद्यकार्यमधर्मं वा यदि वा प्राणनाशनम् पतिर्ब्रूयाद्दरिद्रो वा व्याधितो वा कथंचन
AI Translation: If the husband says so, even if it is something that is not to be done, or is against the law, or is harmful to life, or if the husband is poor or sick, in any way,
आपन्नो रिपुसंस्थो वा ब्रह्मशापार्दितोऽपि वा आपद्धर्माननुप्रेक्ष्य तत्कार्यमविशङ्कया
AI Translation: Even if one is in a difficult situation, or in the midst of enemies, or afflicted by a curse of the Brahmins, One should not consider the Dharma in a difficult situation, but should perform that duty without hesitation.
एष देव मया प्रोक्तः स्त्रीधर्मो वचनात्तव या त्वेवंभाविनी नारी सा भवेद्धर्मभागिनी
M. N. Dutt: I have thus, O god, explained at your command, what the duties of women are. Indeed, that woman who acts thus, becomes entitled to a share of the merits acquired by her husband.
भीष्म उवाच इत्युक्तः स तु देवेशः प्रतिपूज्य गिरेः सुताम् लोकान्विसर्जयामास सर्वैरनुचरैः सह
M. N. Dutt: Narada said Thus addressed, the great god highly spoke of the daughter of the king of mountains and then dismissed all persons who had assembled there, together with all his own attendants.
ततो ययुर्भूतगणाः सरितश्च यथागतम् गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव प्रणम्य शिरसा भवम्
M. N. Dutt: The various tribes of ghostly beings, as also all the embodied Rivers, and the Gandharvas and Apsaras, all bowed their heads to Mahadeva and departed for returning to the places whence they had come. The various tribes of ghostly beings, as also all the embodied Rivers, and the Gandharvas and Apsaras, all bowed their heads to Mahadeva and departed for returning to the places whence they had come.