13.021
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
atha sā strī tam uktvā tu vipram evaṃ bhavatv iti। tailaṃ divyam upādāya snānaśāṭīm upānayat ॥13-21-1॥
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)
anujñātā ca muninā sā strī tena mahātmanā। athāsya tailena aṅgāni sarvāṇi eva abhyamṛkṣayat ॥13-21-2॥
Having been permitted by the sage, that woman, by the great-souled one, then anointed all his limbs with oil. (13-21-2)
śanaiścot-sādita statra snānaśālā-m-upāgamat। bhadrāsanaṃ tataś citraṃ ṛṣir anvāviśannavam ॥13-21-3॥
Slowly, having risen there, he approached the bath-house. Then the sage entered the splendid new auspicious seat. (13-21-3)
athopaviṣṭaś ca yadā tasmin bhadrāsane tadā। snāpayām āsa śanakaiḥ tam ṛṣiṃ sukha-hasta-vat ॥ divyaṃ ca vidhivac cakre sopacāraṃ munes tadā ॥13-21-4॥
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)
sa tena susukhoṣṇena tasyā hastasukhena ca। vyatītāṃ rajanīṃ kṛtsnāṃ nājānāt sa mahāvrataḥ ॥13-21-5॥
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)
tat utthāya sa munis tadā paramavismitaḥ। pūrvasyāṃ diśi sūryaṃ ca so'paśyaduditaṃ divi ॥13-21-6॥
Then, having risen, the sage, greatly astonished, saw the sun risen in the eastern sky. (13-21-6)
tasya buddhir iyaṁ kiṁ nu mohas tattvam idaṁ bhavet। athopāsya sahasrāṁśuṁ kiṁ karomīty uvāca tām ॥13-21-7॥
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)
sā cāmṛtarasaprakhyam ṛṣer annam upāharat। tasya svādu tayānnasya na prabhūtaṃ cakāra saḥ॥ vyagamac cāpy ahaḥśeṣaṃ tataḥ sandhyāgamat punaḥ॥13-21-8॥
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)
atha strī bhagavantaṃ sā supyatām ity acodayat। tatra vai śayane divye tasya tasyāś ca kalpite ॥13-21-9॥
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)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
na bhadre paradāreṣu mano me samprasajjati। uttiṣṭha bhadre bhadraṃ te svapa vai viramasva ca ॥13-21-10॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
sā tadā tena vipreṇa tathā dhṛtyā nivartitā। svatantrāsmītyuvācainaṃ na dharmacchalamasti te ॥13-21-11॥
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)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
nāsti svatantratā strīṇām asvatantrā hi yoṣitaḥ। prajāpatimataṃ hy etan na strī svātantryam arhati ॥13-21-12॥
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)
stryuvāca॥
The woman said.
bādhate maithunaṃ vipra mama bhaktiṃ ca paśya vai। adharmaṃ prāpsyase vipra yan māṃ tvaṃ nābhinandasi ॥13-21-13॥
O Brāhmaṇa, sexual union obstructs my devotion, see indeed. You will attain unrighteousness, Brāhmaṇa, because you do not welcome me. (13-21-13)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
haranti doṣajātāni naraṃ jātaṃ yathecchakam। prabhavāmi sadā dhṛtyā bhadre svaṃ śayanaṃ vraja ॥13-21-14॥
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)
stryuvāca॥
The woman said.
śirasā praṇame vipra prasādaṃ kartum arhasi। bhūmau nipatamānāyāḥ śaraṇaṃ bhava me'nagha ॥13-21-15॥
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)
yadi vā doṣajātaṃ tvaṃ paradāreṣu paśyasi। ātmānaṃ sparśayāmyadya pāṇiṃ gṛhṇīṣva me dvija ॥13-21-16॥
If you see any fault arising in others' wives, O twice-born, today I touch my own self; take my hand.
na doṣo bhavitā caiva satyenaitadbravīmyaham। svatantrāṃ māṃ vijānīhi yo'dharmaḥ so'stu vai mayi ॥13-21-17॥
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)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
svatantrā tvaṃ kathaṃ bhadre brūhi kāraṇam atra vai। nāsti loke hi kācit strī yā vai svātantryam arhati ॥13-21-18॥
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)
pitā rakṣati kaumāre bhartā rakṣati yauvane। putrāś ca sthavirībhāve na strī svātantryam arhati ॥13-21-19॥
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)
stryuvāca॥
The woman said.
kaumāraṃ brahmacaryaṃ me kanyāivāsmi na saṃśayaḥ। kuru mā vimatiṃ vipra śraddhāṃ vijahi mā mama ॥13-21-20॥
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)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
yathā mama tathā tubhyaṃ yathā tava tathā mama। jijñāseyam ṛṣes tasya vighnaḥ satyaṃ nu kiṃ bhavet ॥13-21-21॥
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)
āścaryaṃ paramaṃ hīdaṃ kiṃ nu śreyo hi me bhavet। divyābharaṇavastrā hi kanyeyaṃ māmupasthitā ॥13-21-22॥
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)
kiṁ tvasyāḥ paramaṁ rūpaṁ jīrṇam āsīt kathaṁ punaḥ। kanyārūpam iha adya eva kim iha atra uttaraṁ bhavet ॥13-21-23॥
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)
yathā paraṃ śaktidhṛterna vyutthāsye kathañcana। na rocaye hi vyutthānaṃ dhṛtyaivaṃ sādhayāmyaham ॥13-21-24॥
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)
