13.011

śriyo nivāsasthānāni

The abodes of prosperity;

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥

Yudhiṣṭhira said.

kīdṛśe puruṣe tāta strīṣu vā bharatarṣabha। śrīḥ padmā vasate nityaṃ tanme brūhi pitāmaha ॥13-11-1॥

O grandsire, O bull among the Bharatas, tell me in what kind of man or among what kind of women Śrī Padmā always dwells. (13-11-1)

bhīṣma uvāca॥

Bhishma said.

atra te vartayiṣyāmi yathādṛṣṭaṃ yathāśrutam। rukmiṇī devakīputrasaṃnidhau paryapṛcchata ॥13-11-2॥

Here I shall tell you exactly as I have seen and heard. Rukmini questioned in the presence of the son of Devaki. (13-11-2)

nārāyaṇasyāṅkagatāṃ jvalantīṃ; dṛṣṭvā śriyaṃ padmasamānavaktrām। kautūhalādvismitacārunetrā; papraccha mātā makaradhvajasya ॥13-11-3॥

Seeing Śrī, radiant and lotus-faced, seated on the lap of Nārāyaṇa, the mother of Makaradhvaja, her beautiful eyes wide with astonishment and curiosity, asked. (13-11-3)

kānīha bhūtānyupasevase tvaṃ; santiṣṭhatī kāni na sevase tvam. tāni trilokeśvarabhūtakānte; tattvena me brūhi maharṣikanye ॥13-11-4॥

Which beings here do you serve, and which do you not serve? O beloved of beings, consort of the lord of the three worlds, tell me truly, O daughter of the great sage. (13-11-4)

evaṃ tadā śrīr abhibhāṣyamāṇā; devyā samakṣaṃ garuḍadhvajasya। uvāca vākyaṃ madhurābhidhānaṃ; manoharaṃ candramukhī prasannā ॥13-11-5॥

Thus, at that time, Lakṣmī, being addressed by the goddess in the presence of Garuḍa-bannered Viṣṇu, the moon-faced and gracious one, spoke charming and sweet words. (13-11-5)

vasāmi satye subhage pragalbhe; dakṣe nare karmaṇi vartamāne। nākarmaśīle puruṣe vasāmi; na nāstike sāṅkarike kṛtaghne ॥ na bhinnavṛtte na nṛśaṁsavṛtte; na cāpi caure na guruṣvasūye ॥13-11-6॥

I reside in those who are truthful, fortunate, bold, and competent, who are engaged in action. I do not reside in those who are inactive, atheistic, impure, or ungrateful. I am not present in those of deviated or cruel conduct, nor in thieves, nor in those who envy their elders. (13-11-6)

ye cālpa-tejo-bala-sattva-sārā; hṛṣyanti kupyanti ca yatra tatra। na devi tiṣṭhāmi tathā-vidheṣu; nareṣu saṃsupta-manoratheṣu ॥13-11-7॥

O goddess, I do not remain among those men who, having little energy, strength, spirit, and essence, rejoice and become angry here and there, and whose desires are asleep. (13-11-7)

yaś cātmani prārthayate na kiṃ ci; dyaś ca svabhāvopahatāntarātmā. teṣv alpasantoṣarateṣu nityaṃ; nareṣu nāhaṃ nivasāmi devi ॥13-11-8॥

O goddess, I do not reside among those men who, in themselves, desire nothing at all and whose inner self is afflicted by their own nature, who are always content with little.

vasāmi dharmaśīleṣu dharmajñeṣu mahātmasu। vṛddhaseviṣu dānteṣu sattvajñeṣu mahātmasu ॥13-11-9॥

I reside among those of righteous character, those who know dharma, the great souls, those who serve elders, the self-restrained, and those who know the essence, among the great souls. (13-11-9)

strīṣu kṣāntāsu dāntāsu devadvijaparāsu ca। vasāmi satyaśīlāsu svabhāvaniratāsu ca ॥13-11-10॥

I dwell among women who are patient, self-restrained, devoted to gods and the twice-born, truthful in conduct, and intent on their own nature. (13-11-10)

prakīrṇabhāṇḍāmanavekṣyakāriṇīṃ; sadā ca bhartuḥ pratikūlavādinīm. parasya veśmābhiratāmalajjā; mevaṃvidhāṃ strīṃ parivarjayāmi ॥13-11-11॥

I avoid a woman who scatters her utensils, acts without consideration, always speaks against her husband, delights in another's house, and is shameless. (13-11-11)

lolāmacokṣāmavalehinīṃ ca; vyapetadhairyāṃ kalahapriyāṃ ca. nidrābhibhūtāṃ satataṃ śayānā; mevaṃvidhāṃ strīṃ parivarjayāmi ॥13-11-12॥

I avoid a woman who is fickle, unattractive, greedy, lacking in courage, fond of quarrels, always overcome by sleep, and always lying down. (13-11-12)

satyāsu nityaṃ priyadarśanāsu; saubhāgyayuktāsu guṇānvitāsu. vasāmi nārīṣu pativratāsu; kalyāṇaśīlāsu vibhūṣitāsu ॥13-11-13॥

I always reside in women who are truthful, pleasant to look at, endowed with good fortune, and possessed of virtues; who are devoted to their husbands, of auspicious conduct, and adorned. (13-11-13)

yāneṣu kanyāsu vibhūṣaṇeṣu; yajñeṣu megheṣu ca vṛṣṭimatsu. vasāmi phullāsu ca padminīṣu; nakṣatravīthīṣu ca śāradīṣu ॥13-11-14॥

I dwell in vehicles, maidens, ornaments, sacrifices, clouds and those bearing rain; I am present in blossoming lotuses, in the paths of stars, and in all things of autumn. (13-11-14)

śaileṣu goṣṭheṣu tathā vaneṣu; saraḥsu phullotpalapaṅkajeṣu. nadīṣu haṃsasvananāditāsu; krauñcāvaghuṣṭasvaraśobhitāsu ॥13-11-15॥

In the mountains, cow-pens, and forests; in lakes filled with blooming blue and red lotuses; in rivers resounding with the calls of swans and beautified by the cries of cranes. (13-11-15)

vistīrṇakūlahradaśobhitāsu; tapasvisiddhadvijasevitāsu. vasāmi nityaṃ subahūdakāsu; siṃhairgajaiścākulitodakāsu ॥ matte gaje govṛṣabhe narendre; siṃhāsane satpuruṣe ca nityam ॥13-11-16॥

I always dwell in places adorned with lakes with wide banks, frequented by ascetics, perfected beings, and twice-born; in places with abundant water, where the waters are stirred by lions and elephants. I am present in the intoxicated elephant, in the cow, in the bull, in the king, on the lion-throne, and always in the virtuous man. (13-11-16)

yasmin gṛhe hūyate havyavāho; go-brāhmaṇaś cārcyate devatāś ca. kāle ca puṣpair balayāḥ kriyante; tasmin gṛhe nityam upaimi vāsam ॥13-11-17॥

In the house where Agni is offered oblations, where the cow, brāhmaṇa, and deities are worshipped, and where offerings are made with flowers at the proper time, in that house I always choose to dwell. (13-11-17)

svādhyāyanityeṣu dvijeṣu nityaṃ; kṣatre ca dharmābhirate sadaiva. vaiśye ca kṛṣyābhirate vasāmi; śūdre ca śuśrūṣaṇanityayukte ॥13-11-18॥

I always dwell among the twice-born who are ever devoted to self-study, among kṣatriyas who are always engaged in righteousness, among vaiśyas devoted to agriculture, and among śūdras who are always engaged in service. (13-11-18)

nārāyaṇe tvekamanā vasāmi; sarveṇa bhāvena śarīrabhūtā। tasmin hi dharmaḥ sumahān niviṣṭaḥ; brahmaṇyatā cātra tathā priyatvam ॥13-11-19॥

With single-minded devotion, I dwell in Nārāyaṇa, having become wholly identified in feeling and body. In him, indeed, is established the highest dharma, as well as devotion to Brahman and supreme dearness. (13-11-19)

nāhaṃ śarīreṇa vasāmi devi; naivaṃ mayā śakyamihābhidhātum। yasmiṃstu bhāvena vasāmi puṃsi; sa vardhate dharmayaśorthakāmaiḥ ॥13-11-20॥

O goddess, I do not dwell by the body; it is not possible for me to state it thus here. But in whatever man I dwell by disposition, he prospers in virtue, fame, wealth, and desires. (13-11-20)