13.124
शाण्डिलीसुमनासंवादः
Dialogue between Śāṇḍilī and Sumanā.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
सत्स्त्रीणां समुदाचारं सर्वधर्मभृतां वर। श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं त्वत्तस्तं मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१३-१२४-१॥
O best among all upholders of dharma, I desire to hear from you about the complete conduct of virtuous women; please tell me that, O grandsire. (13-124-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
सर्वज्ञां सर्वधर्मज्ञां देवलोके मनस्विनीम्। कैकेयी सुमना नाम शाण्डिलीं पर्यपृच्छत ॥१३-१२४-२॥
Kaikeyi asked Śāṇḍilī, the wise, all-knowing, knower of all dharmas, and Sumanā by name, in the world of the gods. (13-124-2)
केन वृत्तेन कल्याणि समाचारेण केन वा। विधूय सर्वपापानि देवलोकं त्वमागता ॥१३-१२४-३॥
O auspicious one, by what conduct or practice have you, having purified yourself of all sins, attained the world of the gods? (13-124-3)
हुताशनशिखेव त्वं ज्वलमाना स्वतेजसा। सुता ताराधिपस्येव प्रभया दिवमागता ॥१३-१२४-४॥
You, shining with your own brilliance like a flame of fire, have come to heaven radiant, like the daughter of the moon. (13-124-4)
अरजांसि च वस्त्राणि धारयन्ती गतक्लमा। विमानस्था शुभे भासि सहस्रगुणमोजसा ॥१३-१२४-५॥
O beautiful one, wearing dustless clothes, free from fatigue, standing in the aerial chariot, you shine with a thousandfold splendor. (13-124-5)
न त्वमल्पेन तपसा दानेन नियमेन वा। इमं लोकमनुप्राप्ता तस्मात्तत्त्वं वदस्व मे ॥१३-१२४-६॥
You have not attained this world by little austerity, charity, or discipline; therefore, speak the truth to me. (13-124-6)
इति पृष्टा सुमनया मधुरं चारुहासिनी। शाण्डिली निभृतं वाक्यं सुमनामिदमब्रवीत् ॥१३-१२४-७॥
Thus, when questioned by Sumanā, the charming-smiling Śāṇḍilī softly spoke these sweet words to Sumanā. (13-124-7)
नाहं काषायवसना नापि वल्कलधारिणी। न च मुण्डा न जटिला भूत्वा देवत्वमागता ॥१३-१२४-८॥
I am not one who wears ochre robes, nor one clad in bark; nor am I shaven-headed, nor with matted hair—having become such, I have not attained divinity. (13-124-8)
अहितानि च वाक्यानि सर्वाणि परुषाणि च। अप्रमत्ता च भर्तारं कदाचिन्नाहमब्रुवम् ॥१३-१२४-९॥
I, being attentive, never spoke any unwholesome or harsh words to my husband. (13-124-9)
देवतानां पितॄणां च ब्राह्मणानां च पूजने। अप्रमत्ता सदायुक्ता श्वश्रूश्वशुरवर्तिनी ॥१३-१२४-१०॥
One who is not heedless, always engaged in the worship of deities, ancestors, and brāhmaṇas, and serves her mother-in-law and father-in-law. (13-124-10)
पैशुन्ये न प्रवर्तामि न ममैतन्मनोगतम्। अद्वारे न च तिष्ठामि चिरं न कथयामि च ॥१३-१२४-११॥
I do not engage in tale-bearing, neither does such thought occur in my mind; I do not stay at improper places, nor do I speak for a long time. (13-124-11)
असद्वा हसितं किञ्चिदहितं वापि कर्मणा। रहस्यमरहस्यं वा न प्रवर्तामि सर्वथा ॥१३-१२४-१२॥
I never engage in untruthful words, laughter, any unwholesome act, whether openly or secretly. (13-124-12)
कार्यार्थे निर्गतं चापि भर्तारं गृहमागतम्। आसनेनोपसंयोज्य पूजयामि समाहिता ॥१३-१२४-१३॥
When my husband, who had gone out for a task, returns home, I seat him and worship him attentively. (13-124-13)
यद्यच्च नाभिजानाति यद्भोज्यं नाभिनन्दति। भक्ष्यं वाप्यथ वा लेह्यं तत्सर्वं वर्जयाम्यहम् ॥१३-१२४-१४॥
Whatever I do not know and whatever food I do not approve, whether it is to be eaten, consumed, or to be licked, I abandon all of that. (13-124-14)
कुटुम्बार्थे समानीतं यत्किञ्चित्कार्यमेव तु। प्रातरुत्थाय तत्सर्वं कारयामि करोमि च ॥१३-१२४-१५॥
For the sake of the family, whatever task has been assembled, I rise in the morning and both have it done and do it myself. (13-124-15)
प्रवासं यदि मे भर्ता याति कार्येण केनचित्। मङ्गलैर्बहुभिर्युक्ता भवामि नियता सदा ॥१३-१२४-१६॥
If my husband goes on a journey for some business, I always remain devoted, endowed with many auspicious things. (13-124-16)
अञ्जनं रोचनां चैव स्नानं माल्यानुलेपनम्। प्रसाधनं च निष्क्रान्ते नाभिनन्दामि भर्तरि ॥१३-१२४-१७॥
I do not enjoy collyrium, yellow pigment, bathing, garlands, unguents, or adornment when my husband is absent. (13-124-17)
नोत्थापयामि भर्तारं सुखसुप्तमहं सदा। आतुरेष्वपि कार्येषु तेन तुष्यति मे मनः ॥१३-१२४-१८॥
I never awaken my husband when he is sleeping comfortably; even during times of illness or duties, my mind is content with this. (13-124-18)
नायासयामि भर्तारं कुटुम्बार्थे च सर्वदा। गुप्तगुह्या सदा चास्मि सुसंमृष्टनिवेशना ॥१३-१२४-१९॥
I never distress my husband about family matters. I am always modest and keep my dwelling well cleaned. (13-124-19)
इमं धर्मपथं नारी पालयन्ती समाहिता। अरुन्धतीव नारीणां स्वर्गलोके महीयते ॥१३-१२४-२०॥
A woman who devotedly observes this path of dharma is honored among women in heaven, like Arundhatī. (13-124-20)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
एतदाख्याय सा देवी सुमनायै तपस्विनी। पतिधर्मं महाभागा जगामादर्शनं तदा ॥१३-१२४-२१॥
Having narrated this to Sumanā, the ascetic goddess, who was greatly fortunate, followed her husband's duty and then disappeared from sight. (13-124-21)
यश्चेदं पाण्डवाख्यानं पठेत्पर्वणि पर्वणि। स देवलोकं सम्प्राप्य नन्दने सुसुखं वसेत् ॥१३-१२४-२२॥
Whoever reads this account of the Pandavas on every holy day will, having reached the world of the gods, dwell with great happiness in the Nandana garden. (13-124-22)
