13.021
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
अथ सा स्त्री तमुक्त्वा तु विप्रमेवं भवत्विति। तैलं दिव्यमुपादाय स्नानशाटीमुपानयत् ॥१३-२१-१॥
Then that woman, having said this to the brāhmaṇa, 'Let it be so', took the divine oil and brought the bathing cloth. (13-21-1)
अनुज्ञाता च मुनिना सा स्त्री तेन महात्मना। अथास्य तैलेनाङ्गानि सर्वाण्येवाभ्यमृक्षयत् ॥१३-२१-२॥
Having been permitted by the sage, that woman, by the great-souled one, then anointed all his limbs with oil. (13-21-2)
शनैश्चोत्सादितस्तत्र स्नानशालामुपागमत्। भद्रासनं ततश्चित्रं ऋषिरन्वाविशन्नवम् ॥१३-२१-३॥
Slowly, having risen there, he approached the bath-house. Then the sage entered the splendid new auspicious seat. (13-21-3)
अथोपविष्टश्च यदा तस्मिन्भद्रासने तदा। स्नापयामास शनकैस्तमृषिं सुखहस्तवत् ॥ दिव्यं च विधिवच्चक्रे सोपचारं मुनेस्तदा ॥१३-२१-४॥
Then, when the sage was seated on that auspicious seat, he gently bathed him with comfortable hands. Afterwards, he performed the divine worship of the sage with proper offerings, following the prescribed rules. (13-21-4)
स तेन सुसुखोष्णेन तस्या हस्तसुखेन च। व्यतीतां रजनीं कृत्स्नां नाजानात्स महाव्रतः ॥१३-२१-५॥
He, enjoying the very pleasant warmth and the comfort of her hand, the great vow-holder did not realize that the whole night had passed. (13-21-5)
तत उत्थाय स मुनिस्तदा परमविस्मितः। पूर्वस्यां दिशि सूर्यं च सोऽपश्यदुदितं दिवि ॥१३-२१-६॥
Then, having risen, the sage, greatly astonished, saw the sun risen in the eastern sky. (13-21-6)
तस्य बुद्धिरियं किं नु मोहस्तत्त्वमिदं भवेत्। अथोपास्य सहस्रांशुं किं करोमीत्युवाच ताम् ॥१३-२१-७॥
Is this his intellect, or is it delusion, or is this the truth? Then, having worshipped the thousand-rayed Sun, he said to her, "What should I do?" (13-21-7)
सा चामृतरसप्रख्यमृषेरन्नमुपाहरत्। तस्य स्वादुतयान्नस्य न प्रभूतं चकार सः ॥ व्यगमच्चाप्यहःशेषं ततः सन्ध्यागमत्पुनः ॥१३-२१-८॥
She brought to the sage food that was like the essence of nectar. Because of the sweetness of the food, he did not make it abundant. The rest of the day also passed, and then twilight arrived again. (13-21-8)
अथ स्त्री भगवन्तं सा सुप्यतामित्यचोदयत्। तत्र वै शयने दिव्ये तस्य तस्याश्च कल्पिते ॥१३-२१-९॥
Then the woman said to the blessed one, "Let him sleep." There, indeed, on the divine bed prepared for both him and her. (13-21-9)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
न भद्रे परदारेषु मनो मे सम्प्रसज्जति। उत्तिष्ठ भद्रे भद्रं ते स्वप वै विरमस्व च ॥१३-२१-१०॥
O auspicious one, my mind does not become attached to other men's wives. Arise, O auspicious one, may good come to you; sleep indeed, and desist. (13-21-10)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
सा तदा तेन विप्रेण तथा धृत्या निवर्तिता। स्वतन्त्रास्मीत्युवाचैनं न धर्मच्छलमस्ति ते ॥१३-२१-११॥
Then, she, having been thus firmly turned back by the brāhmaṇa, said to him, "I am independent; there is no deceit of dharma for you." (13-21-11)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
नास्ति स्वतन्त्रता स्त्रीणामस्वतन्त्रा हि योषितः। प्रजापतिमतं ह्येतन्न स्त्री स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति ॥१३-२१-१२॥
There is no independence for women; women are indeed not independent. This is the doctrine of Prajāpati: a woman is not entitled to independence. (13-21-12)
स्त्र्युवाच॥
The woman said.
बाधते मैथुनं विप्र मम भक्तिं च पश्य वै। अधर्मं प्राप्स्यसे विप्र यन्मां त्वं नाभिनन्दसि ॥१३-२१-१३॥
O Brāhmaṇa, sexual union obstructs my devotion, see indeed. You will attain unrighteousness, Brāhmaṇa, because you do not welcome me. (13-21-13)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
हरन्ति दोषजातानि नरं जातं यथेच्छकम्। प्रभवामि सदा धृत्या भद्रे स्वं शयनं व्रज ॥१३-२१-१४॥
They remove all kinds of faults from a man born as desired. By steadfastness, I am always capable, O auspicious one; go to your own bed. (13-21-14)
स्त्र्युवाच॥
The woman said.
शिरसा प्रणमे विप्र प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि। भूमौ निपतमानायाः शरणं भव मेऽनघ ॥१३-२१-१५॥
I bow my head, O brāhmaṇa; you are worthy to show favor. As I fall to the ground, be my refuge, O sinless one. (13-21-15)
यदि वा दोषजातं त्वं परदारेषु पश्यसि। आत्मानं स्पर्शयाम्यद्य पाणिं गृह्णीष्व मे द्विज ॥१३-२१-१६॥
If you see any fault arising in others' wives, O twice-born, today I touch my own self; take my hand.
न दोषो भविता चैव सत्येनैतद्ब्रवीम्यहम्। स्वतन्त्रां मां विजानीहि योऽधर्मः सोऽस्तु वै मयि ॥१३-२१-१७॥
There will be no fault, and indeed, I speak this truthfully. Know me as independent. If there is any unrighteousness, let that indeed be in me. (13-21-17)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
स्वतन्त्रा त्वं कथं भद्रे ब्रूहि कारणमत्र वै। नास्ति लोके हि काचित्स्त्री या वै स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति ॥१३-२१-१८॥
How are you independent, O auspicious lady? Tell the reason here. Indeed, there is no woman in the world who truly deserves independence. (13-21-18)
पिता रक्षति कौमारे भर्ता रक्षति यौवने। पुत्राश्च स्थविरीभावे न स्त्री स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति ॥१३-२१-१९॥
The father protects a woman in childhood, the husband protects her in youth, and the sons in old age; a woman does not deserve independence. (13-21-19)
स्त्र्युवाच॥
The woman said.
कौमारं ब्रह्मचर्यं मे कन्यैवास्मि न संशयः। कुरु मा विमतिं विप्र श्रद्धां विजहि मा मम ॥१३-२१-२०॥
My maidenhood is celibacy from childhood, O brāhmaṇa, of this there is no doubt. Do not hold a contrary opinion; do not abandon faith in me. (13-21-20)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
यथा मम तथा तुभ्यं यथा तव तथा मम। जिज्ञासेयमृषेस्तस्य विघ्नः सत्यं नु किं भवेत् ॥१३-२१-२१॥
As it is for me, so it is for you; as it is for you, so it is for me. I wish to know, O sage, whether there would truly be any obstacle for him. (13-21-21)
आश्चर्यं परमं हीदं किं नु श्रेयो हि मे भवेत्। दिव्याभरणवस्त्रा हि कन्येयं मामुपस्थिता ॥१३-२१-२२॥
This is a supreme wonder; what could be better for me? This maiden, adorned with divine ornaments and garments, has indeed appeared before me. (13-21-22)
किं त्वस्याः परमं रूपं जीर्णमासीत्कथं पुनः। कन्यारूपमिहाद्यैव किमिहात्रोत्तरं भवेत् ॥१३-२१-२३॥
But what was her supreme form that had become aged, and how did it become so again? How is it that today, here, she has the form of a maiden? What could be the answer to this here? (13-21-23)
यथा परं शक्तिधृतेर्न व्युत्थास्ये कथञ्चन। न रोचये हि व्युत्थानं धृत्यैवं साधयाम्यहम् ॥१३-२१-२४॥
As far as the utmost power of firmness allows, I will not rise in any way; indeed, I do not approve of rising, for by such firmness I accomplish my purpose. (13-21-24)
