SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 3

(1) Maitreya said: 'After the departure of the parents did the chaste woman, understanding the desires of her husband, constantly serve her spouse with great love, like Pârvatî did with S'iva, her Lord. (2) Intimately, with a pure soul, great respect and sense-control she served with love and sweet words, o Vidura. (3) Forsaking lust, pride, envy, greed, sinful actions and vanity she always pleased her powerful spouse sanely and dilligently. (4-5) He, surely being the foremost of the divine rishis, the husband of whom she, the daughter of Manu fully devoted expected greater blessings than from providence, saw that she grew weak and emaciated from the protracted religious observance and with an of love stammering voice he, overcome by compassion, spoke to her. (6) Kardama said: 'At present I am pleased with you, o respectful daughter of Manu, because of your most excellent supreme service and devotion. That body, so extremely dear to this embodiment, you do not take properly care of though, expending it on my account. (7) The blessings of the Lord I achieved myself in my religious life of full engagement in austerity, meditation and fixing my mind in the knowing, can just as well be obtained by you in your devotional service to me; just see the vision free from fear and lamentation, that I am offering you. (8) What else but the Lord His grace is of value when all material achievements are annihilated in the single movement of an eyebrow; successful of the farther reach of Lord Vishnu you are to enjoy the transcendental gifts, gained by your principles of good conduct, which are so difficult to obtain for people proud of their noble stature.' (9) After his talking this way, did the woman, hearing of his excell in the special knowledge of yoga, find satisfaction and with a voice choked up of humility and love and a shining face smiling with a slightly bashful glance, she spoke to him.

(10) Devahûti said: 'It has indeed been achieved, o best of the brahmins, this mastery of infallibility in you in the power of yoga, o mighty one. That I know, o husband, that you gave the promise that once we are very glorious as one in the body, there may be the progenity which for a chaste woman is such a great quality. (11) Do hereof what needs to be as is ordained by the scriptures, by which this, of an unfulfilled passion emaciated, body may be rendered fit for you. And I, victim of emotions, am poor, o Lord, therefore please think of a suitable mansion'.

(12) Maitreya said: 'Seeking the pleasure of his dearest, exercised Kardama his yogic power and produced he thereafter a high rising palace that came as desired, o Vidura. (13) It answered all desires and was wonderfully bedecked with all sorts of jewels, all kinds of luxury increasing over time and pillars carved out of precious stone. (14-15) It was equipped with a heaven of paraphernalia and brought happiness throughout all seasons, was decorated with festoons and flags and wreaths of various colors and fabrics, charming sweet flowers humming with bees, fine cloth of linen and silk and embellished with various tapestries. (16) In stories one over the other there were separate arrangements of beds, comfortable couches and fanned seats. (17) Here and there various artistic engravings were displayed with the extraordinary beauty of a floor with emeralds, furnished with coral daises. (18) The doorways had thresholds of coral and doors beautifully bedecked with diamonds. Its domes of sapphire were crowned with golden pinnacles. (19) On the diamond walls there were the choicest of rubies that seemed to give them eyes and it was furnished with various canopies and highly valuable gates of gold. (20) The many artificial swans and groups of pigeons here and there made the real ones, thinking them their own, repeatedly fly over, vibrating their sounds. (21) The pleasure grounds, resting chambers, bedrooms, inner and outer yards designed to comfort, indeed astonished the sage himself.

(22) Devahûti, with a heart not very pleased beholding such a mansion, made Kardama, who could understand the heart of everyone address her in person. (23) 'O fearful one, bathe in the sacred lake created of Vishnu [Bindu-sarovar] that fulfills all desires of man, before you ascend this high rising palace'. (24) She, the lotus-eyed one with her matted hair and wearing dirty clothes, then followed the order of her husband. (25) Her body and her breasts were discolored, covered by dirt, as she entered the lake containing the sacred waters of the Sarasvatî river. (26) In the lake she saw, alike the fragrant lotuses, laid out a house with a thousand girls in the prime of youth. (27) Seeing her all of a sudden the damsels rose and said with folded hands: 'We are your maidservants, please tell us what we can do for you'. (28) After bathing her with the most costly oils gave the respectful girls the virtuous wife fine new spotless clothes to wear. (29) They also gave her the most valuable ornaments and very excellent splendid food and intoxicating beverages containing all the good nectarine qualities.

(30) Then, seeing her own reflection in a mirror, with her body freed from all dirt and in spotless robes, she was adorned with a garland auspicious marks decorated by the highly respectful, serving maids. (31) Bathed from head to toe she was decorated with a golden necklace with locket and bangles and tinkling ankle bells made of gold. (32) On her hips she wore a girdle made of gold decorated with numerous jewels and she had a precious perl necklace and auspicious substances [like saffron, kunkuma - which is perfumed red powder for the breasts -, mustard seed oil and sandelwood pulp]. (33) With her beautiful teeth, charming eyebrows, lovely moist eyes that defeated the beauty of lotus buds and her bluish curly hair, she shone all over. (34) When she thought of her dear husband, the formost among the sages, she found herself along with her maidservants there where he, the founding father, the Prajâpati was. (35) Then seeing herself in the presence of her husband, surrounded by a thousand maids, she was amazed about his yogic achievement.

(36-37) The sage, seeing her bathed clean, shining forth with a soul of unprecedented beauty, girdled and with charming breasts, attended by a thousand celestial girls and excellently dressed, relished the sights and led her into that heavenly mansion, o destroyer of the enemy. (38) He did not lose his glory being attached to his beloved one attended by the girls of heaven; together with her in the palace his person shone as charmingly as the moon in the sky surrounded by the stars, that opens rows of lillies in the night. (39) In it he reached the pleasure grounds of the gods of heaven, the mountains and valleys of King Indra accompanied by the beauty of breezes of passion; like treasurer Kuvera surrounded by damsels, he for a long time enjoyed the downfall of the Ganges under the vibrating auspicous sounds of praise of the ones of perfection. (40) Satisfied by his wife he enjoyed the gardens of Vais'rambhaka, Surasana, Nandana, Pushpabhadraka and Caitrarathya, and the Mânasa-sarovara Lake. (41) With the splendid palace which came as desired, he, like the air that goes everywhere, surpassed the abodes of the greatest gods. (42) What would be of difficulty to achieve for those men who are determined, for those who have taken refuge of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality that vanquish all danger?

(43) After showing his wife the sphere of the world with all its arrangements and many wonders, did the great yogi return to his own surroundings. (44) Having divided himself in nine, pleasing his eager wife, the daughter of Manu, in sex-life, he enjoyed the many years as if in a moment. (45) In the palace lying on an excellent bed conducive to their love she didn't notice the passage of time in the company of her most handsome husband. (46) Thus by the power of yoga passed a hundred autumns as in a trice to the eagerly longing couple enjoying sexually. (47) The powerful Kardama, who knew the spiritual essence and all desires had, having divided his own body into nine, deposited his semen in her regarding her as his other half. (48) She, Devahûti, then consequently gave birth to a progeny of [nine] women who were all in every limb as charming as a fragrant red lotus. (49) Seeing that her husband was about to leave home, she smiled outwardly but was agitated with a heart in distress. (50) Surpressing her tears, scratching the floor with the radiant gemlike nails of her foot and with her head bent down, she slowly spoke in charming words.

(51) Devahûti said: 'All that you promised me my Lord has been fulfilled, but you should grant me, a surrendered soul, also fearlessness. (52) My dear brahmin, it is to your daughters to find out what suitable husbands are; but who is there for the solace of me, when you have departed for the forest? (53) Disregarding the knowledge of the Supreme Soul, so much time passed for nothing, my master, indulging in being good to our senses. (54) Attached to sense-gratification my affinity for you went without recognizing your transcendental existence; nonetheless, let it rid me of all fear. (55) Association with those engaged in sense gratification is the cause of the cycle of birth and death, but the same thing of acting in ignorance leads, in association with a saintly person, to liberation. (56) One is indeed dead although alive if the work which is done here is not for a more righteous life, does not lead to detachment and is not of service to the feet of the Holy. (57) Surely am I the one who was greaty deluded by the material energy of the Lord; because I, though having attained to you who gives liberation, did not seek to be freed from material bondage'.

Maitreya said: 'After the departure of the parents did the chaste woman, understanding the desires of her husband, constantly serve her spouse with great love, like Pârvatî did with S'iva, her Lord.

Maitreya continued: After the departure of her parents, the chaste woman Devahûti, who could understand the desires of her husband, served him constantly with great love, as Bhavânî, the wife of Lord S'iva, serves her husband. (Vedabase)

Text 2

Intimately, with a pure soul, great respect and sense-control she served with love and sweet words, o Vidura.

O Vidura, Devahûti served her husband with intimacy and great respect, with control of the senses, with love and with sweet words. (Vedabase)

Text 3

Forsaking lust, pride, envy, greed, sinful actions and vanity she always pleased her powerful spouse sanely and dilligently.

Working sanely and diligently, she pleased her very powerful husband, giving up all lust, pride, envy, greed, sinful activities and vanity. (Vedabase)

Text 4-5:

He, surely being the foremost of the divine rishis, the husband of whom she, the daughter of Manu fully devoted expected greater blessings than from providence, saw that she grew weak and emaciated from the protracted religious observance and with an of love stammering voice he, overcome by compassion, spoke to her.

The daughter of Manu, who was fully devoted to her husband, looked upon him as greater even than providence. Thus she expected great blessings from him. Having served him for a long time, she grew weak and emaciated due to her religious observances. Seeing her condition, Kardama, the foremost of celestial sages, was overcome with compassion and spoke to her in a voice choked with great love. (Vedabase)

Text 6

Kardama said: 'At present I am pleased with you, o respectful daughter of Manu, because of your most excellent supreme service and devotion. That body, so extremely dear to this embodiment, you do not take properly care of though, expending it on my account.

Kardama Muni said: O respectful daughter of Svâyambhuva Manu, today I am very much pleased with you for your great devotion and most excellent loving service. Since the body is so dear to embodied beings, I am astonished that you have neglected your own body to use it on my behalf. (Vedabase)

Text 7

The blessings of the Lord I achieved myself in my religious life of full engagement in austerity, meditation and fixing my mind in the knowing, can just as well be obtained by you in your devotional service to me; just see the vision free from fear and lamentation, that I am offering you.

Kardama Muni continued: I have achieved the blessings of the Lord in discharging my own religious life of austerity, meditation and Krishna consciousness. Although you have not yet experienced these achievements, which are free from fear and lamentation, I shall offer them all to you because you are engaged in my service. Now just look at them. I am giving you the transcendental vision to see how nice they are. (Vedabase)

Text 8

What else but the Lord His grace is of value when all material achievements are annihilated in the single movement of an eyebrow; successful of the farther reach of Lord Vishnu you are to enjoy the transcendental gifts, gained by your principles of good conduct, which are so difficult to obtain for people proud of their noble stature.'

Kardama Muni continued: What is the use of enjoyments other than the Lord's grace? All material achievements are subject to be annihilated simply by a movement of the eyebrows of Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By your principles of devotion to your husband, you have achieved and can enjoy transcendental gifts very rarely obtained by persons proud of aristocracy and material possessions. (Vedabase)

Text 9

After his talking this way, did the woman, hearing of his excell in the special knowledge of yoga, find satisfaction and with a voice choked up of humility and love and a shining face smiling with a slightly bashful glance, she spoke to him.

Upon hearing the speaking of her husband, who excelled in knowledge of all kinds of transcendental science, innocent Devahûti was very satisfied. Her smiling face shining with a slightly bashful glance, she spoke in a choked voice because of great humility and love. (Vedabase)

Text 10

Devahûti said: 'It has indeed been achieved, o best of the brahmins, this mastery of infallibility in you in the power of yoga, o mighty one. That I know, o husband, that you gave the promise that once we are very glorious as one in the body, there may be the progenity which for a chaste woman is such a great quality.

S'rî Devahûti said: My dear husband, O best of brâhmanas, I know that you have achieved perfection and are the master of all the infallible mystic powers because you are under the protection of yogamâyâ, the transcendental nature. But you once made a promise that our bodily union should now fulfill, since children are a great quality for a chaste woman who has a glorious husband. (Vedabase)

Text 11

Do hereof what needs to be as is ordained by the scriptures, by which this, of an unfulfilled passion emaciated, body may be rendered fit for you. And I, victim of emotions, am poor, o Lord, therefore please think of a suitable mansion'.

Devahûti continued: My dear lord, I am struck by excited emotion for you. Therefore kindly make what arrangements must be made according to the scriptures so that my skinny body, emaciated through unsatisfied passion, may be rendered fit for you. Also, my lord, please think of a suitable house for this purpose. (Vedabase)

Text 12

Maitreya said: ' Seeking the pleasure of his dearest, exercised Kardama his yogic power and produced he thereafter a high rising palace that came as desired, o Vidura.

Maitreya continued: O Vidura, seeking to please his beloved wife, the sage Kardama exercised his yogic power and instantly produced an aerial mansion that could travel at his will. (Vedabase)

Text 13

It answered all desires and was wonderfully bedecked with all sorts of jewels, all kinds of luxury increasing over time and pillars carved out of precious stone.

It was a wonderful structure, bedecked with all sorts of jewels, adorned with pillars of precious stones, and capable of yielding whatever one desired. It was equipped with every form of furniture and wealth, which tended to increase in the course of time. (Vedabase)

Text 14-15:

It was equipped with a heaven of paraphernalia and brought happiness throughout all seasons, was decorated with festoons and flags and wreaths of various colors and fabrics, charming sweet flowers humming with bees, fine cloth of linen and silk and embellished with various tapestries.

The castle was fully equipped with all necessary paraphernalia, and it was pleasing in all seasons. It was decorated all around with flags, festoons and artistic work of variegated colors. It was further embellished with wreaths of charming flowers that attracted sweetly humming bees and with tapestries of linen, silk and various other fabrics. (Vedabase)

Text 16

In stories one over the other there were separate arrangements of beds, comfortable couches and fanned seats.

The palace looked charming, with beds, couches, fans and seats, all separately arranged in seven stories. (Vedabase)

Text 17

Here and there various artistic engravings were displayed with the extraordinary beauty of a floor with emeralds, furnished with coral daises.

Its beauty was enhanced by artistic engravings here and there on the walls. The floor was of emerald, with coral daises. (Vedabase)

Text 18:

The doorways had thresholds of coral and doors beautifully bedecked with diamonds. Its domes of sapphire were crowned with golden pinnacles.

The palace was very beautiful, with its coral thresholds at the entrances and its doors bedecked with diamonds. Gold pinnacles crowned its domes of sapphire. (Vedabase)

Text 19:

On the diamond walls there were the choicest of rubies that seemed to give them eyes and it was furnished with various canopies and highly valuable gates of gold.

With the choicest rubies set in its diamond walls, it appeared as though possessed of eyes. It was furnished with wonderful canopies and greatly valuable gates of gold. (Vedabase)

Text 20:

The many artificial swans and groups of pigeons here and there made the real ones, thinking them their own, repeatedly fly over, vibrating their sounds.

Here and there in that palace were multitudes of live swans and pigeons, as well as artificial swans and pigeons so lifelike that the real swans rose above them again and again, thinking them live birds like themselves. Thus the palace vibrated with the sounds of these birds. (Vedabase)

Text 21:

The pleasure grounds, resting chambers, bedrooms, inner and outer yards designed to comfort, indeed astonished the sage himself.

The castle had pleasure grounds, resting chambers, bedrooms and inner and outer yards designed with an eye to comfort. All this caused astonishment to the sage himself. (Vedabase)

Text 22:

Devahûti, with a heart not very pleased beholding such a mansion, made Kardama, who could understand the heart of everyone address her in person.

When he saw Devahûti looking at the gigantic, opulent palace with a displeased heart, Kardama Muni could understand her feelings because he could study the heart of anyone. Thus he personally addressed his wife as follows. (Vedabase)

Text 23:

'O fearful one, bathe in the sacred lake created of Vishnu [Bindu-sarovar] that fulfills all desires of man, before you ascend this high rising palace'.

My dear Devahûti, you look very much afraid. First bathe in Lake Bindu-sarovara, created by Lord Vishnu Himself, which can grant all the desires of a human being, and then mount this airplane. (Vedabase)

Text 24:

She, the lotus-eyed one with her matted hair and wearing dirty clothes, then followed the order of her husband.

The lotus-eyed Devahûti accepted the order of her husband. Because of her dirty dress and the locks of matted hair on her head, she did not look very attractive. (Vedabase)

Text 25:

Her body and her breasts were discolored, covered by dirt, as she entered the lake containing the sacred waters of the Sarasvatî river.

Her body was coated with a thick layer of dirt, and her breasts were discolored. She dove, however, into the lake, which contained the sacred waters of the Sarasvatî. (Vedabase)

Text 26:

In the lake she saw, alike the fragrant lotuses, laid out a house with a thousand girls in the prime of youth.

In a house inside the lake she saw one thousand girls, all in the prime of youth and fragrant like lotuses. (Vedabase)

Text 27:

Seeing her all of a sudden the damsels rose and said with folded hands: 'We are your maidservants, please tell us what we can do for you'.

Seeing her, the damsels suddenly rose and said with folded hands, "We are your maidservants. Tell us what we can do for you. (Vedabase)"

Text 28

After bathing her with the most costly oils gave the respectful girls the virtuous wife fine new spotless clothes to wear.

The girls, being very respectful to Devahûti, brought her forth, and after bathing her with valuable oils and ointments, they gave her fine, new, spotless cloth to cover her body. (Vedabase)

Text 29

They also gave her the most valuable ornaments and very excellent splendid food and intoxicating beverages containing all the good nectarine qualities.

They then decorated her with very excellent and valuable jewels, which shone brightly. Next they offered her food containing all good qualities, and a sweet, inebriating drink called âsavam. (Vedabase)

Text 30:

Then, seeing her own reflection in a mirror, with her body freed from all dirt and in spotless robes, she was adorned with a garland auspicious marks decorated by the highly respectful, serving maids.

Then in a mirror she beheld her own reflection. Her body was completely freed from all dirt, and she was adorned with a garland. Dressed in unsullied robes and decorated with auspicious marks of tilaka, she was served very respectfully by the maids. (Vedabase)

Text 31:

Bathed from head to toe she was decorated with a golden necklace with locket and bangles and tinkling ankle bells made of gold.

Her entire body, including her head, was completely bathed, and she was decorated all over with ornaments. She wore a special necklace with a locket. There were bangles on her wrists and tinkling anklets of gold about her ankles. (Vedabase)

Text 32:

On her hips she wore a girdle made of gold decorated with numerous jewels and she had a precious perl necklace and auspicious substances [like saffron, kunkuma - which is perfumed red powder for the breasts -, mustard seed oil and sandelwood pulp].

About her hips she wore a girdle of gold, set with numerous jewels, and she was further adorned with a precious pearl necklace and auspicious substances. (Vedabase)

Text 33:

With her beautiful teeth, charming eyebrows, lovely moist eyes that defeated the beauty of lotus buds and her bluish curly hair, she shone all over.

Her countenance shone, with beautiful teeth and charming eyebrows. Her eyes, distinguished by lovely moist corners, defeated the beauty of lotus buds. Her face was surrounded by dark curling tresses. (Vedabase)

Text 34:

When she thought of her dear husband, the formost among the sages, she found herself along with her maidservants there where he, the founding father, the Prajâpati was.

When she thought of her great husband, the best of the sages, Kardama Muni, who was very dear to her, she, along with all the maidservants, at once appeared where he was. (Vedabase)

Text 35:

Then seeing herself in the presence of her husband, surrounded by a thousand maids, she was amazed about his yogic achievement.

She was amazed to find herself surrounded by a thousand maids in the presence of her husband and to witness his yogic power. (Vedabase)

Text 36-37:

The sage, seeing her bathed clean, shining forth with a soul of unprecedented beauty, girdled and with charming breasts, attended by a thousand celestial girls and excellently dressed, relished the sights and led her into that heavenly mansion, o destroyer of the enemy.

The sage could see that Devahûti had washed herself clean and was shining forth as though no longer his former wife. She had regained her own original beauty as the daughter of a prince. Dressed in excellent robes, her charming breasts duly girded, she was waited upon by a thousand Gandharva girls. O destroyer of the enemy, his fondness for her grew, and he placed her on the aerial mansion. (Vedabase)

Text 38:

He did not lose his glory being attached to his beloved one attended by the girls of heaven; together with her in the palace his person shone as charmingly as the moon in the sky surrounded by the stars, that opens rows of lillies in the night.

Though seemingly attached to his beloved consort while served by the Gandharva girls, the sage did not lose his glory, which was mastery over his self. In the aerial mansion Kardama Muni with his consort shone as charmingly as the moon in the midst of the stars in the sky, which causes rows of lilies to open in ponds at night. (Vedabase)

Text 39:

In it he reached the pleasure grounds of the gods of heaven, the mountains and valleys of King Indra accompanied by the beauty of breezes of passion; like treasurer Kuvera surrounded by damsels, he for a long time enjoyed the downfall of the Ganges under the vibrating auspicous sounds of praise of the ones of perfection.

In that aerial mansion he traveled to the pleasure valleys of Mount Meru, which were rendered all the more beautiful by cool, gentle, fragrant breezes that stimulated passion. In these valleys, the treasurer of the gods, Kuvera, surrounded by beautiful women and praised by the Siddhas, generally enjoys pleasure. Kardama Muni also, surrounded by the beautiful damsels and his wife, went there and enjoyed for many, many years. (Vedabase)

Text 40:

Satisfied by his wife he enjoyed the gardens of Vais'rambhaka, Surasana, Nandana, Pushpabhadraka and Caitrarathya, and the Mânasa-sarovara Lake.

Satisfied by his wife, he enjoyed in that aerial mansion not only on Mount Meru but in different gardens known as Vais'rambhaka, Surasana, Nandana, Pushpabhadraka and Caitrarathya, and by the Mânasa-sarovara Lake. (Vedabase)

Text 41:

With the splendid palace which came as desired, he, like the air that goes everywhere, surpassed the abodes of the greatest gods.

He traveled in that way through the various planets, as the air passes uncontrolled in every direction. Coursing through the air in that great and splendid aerial mansion, which could fly at his will, he surpassed even the demigods. (Vedabase)

Text 42:

What would be of difficulty to achieve for those men who are determined, for those who have taken refuge of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality that vanquish all danger?

What is difficult to achieve for determined men who have taken refuge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead's lotus feet? His feet are the source of sacred rivers like the Ganges, which put an end to the dangers of mundane life. (Vedabase)

Text 43:

After showing his wife the sphere of the world with all its arrangements and many wonders, did the great yogi return to his own surroundings.

After showing his wife the globe of the universe and its different arrangements, full of many wonders, the great yogi Kardama Muni returned to his own hermitage. (Vedabase)

Text 44:

Having divided himself in nine, pleasing his eager wife, the daughter of Manu, in sex-life, he enjoyed the many years as if in a moment.

After coming back to his hermitage, he divided himself into nine personalities just to give pleasure to Devahûti, the daughter of Manu, who was eager for sex life. In that way he enjoyed with her for many, many years, which passed just like a moment. (Vedabase)

Text 45:

In the palace lying on an excellent bed conducive to their love she didn't notice the passage of time in the company of her most handsome husband.

In that aerial mansion, Devahûti, in the company of her handsome husband, situated on an excellent bed that increased sexual desires, could not realize how much time was passing. (Vedabase)

Text 46:

Thus by the power of yoga passed a hundred autumns as in a trice to the eagerly longing couple enjoying sexually.

While the couple, who eagerly longed for sexual pleasure, were thus enjoying themselves by virtue of mystic powers, a hundred autumns passed like a brief span of time. (Vedabase)

Text 47:

The powerful Kardama, who knew the spiritual essence and all desires had, having divided his own body into nine, deposited his semen in her regarding her as his other half.

The powerful Kardama Muni was the knower of everyone's heart, and he could grant whatever one desired. Knowing the spiritual soul, he regarded her as half of his body. Dividing himself into nine forms, he impregnated Devahûti with nine discharges of semen. (Vedabase)

Text 48:

She, Devahûti, then consequently gave birth to a progeny of [nine] women who were all in every limb as charming as a fragrant red lotus.

Immediately afterward, on the same day, Devahûti gave birth to nine female children, all charming in every limb and fragrant with the scent of the red lotus flower. (Vedabase)

Text 49:

Seeing that her husband was about to leave home, she smiled outwardly but was agitated with a heart in distress.

When she saw her husband about to leave home, she smiled externally, but at heart she was agitated and distressed. (Vedabase)

Text 50:

Surpressing her tears, scratching the floor with the radiant gemlike nails of her foot and with her head bent down, she slowly spoke in charming words.

She stood and scratched the ground with her foot, which was radiant with the luster of her gemlike nails. Her head bent down, she spoke in slow yet charming accents, suppressing her tears. (Vedabase)

Text 51:

Devahûti said: 'All that you promised me my Lord has been fulfilled, but you should grant me, a surrendered soul, also fearlessness.

S'rî Devahûti said: My lord, you have fulfilled all the promises you gave me, yet because I am your surrendered soul, you should give me fearlessness too. (Vedabase)

Text 52:

My dear brahmin, it is to your daughters to find out what suitable husbands are; but who is there for the solace of me, when you have departed for the forest?

My dear brâhmana, as far as your daughters are concerned, they will find their own suitable husbands and go away to their respective homes. But who will give me solace after your departure as a sannyâsî? (Vedabase)

Text 53:

Disregarding the knowledge of the Supreme Soul, so much time passed for nothing, my master, indulging in being good to our senses,

Until now we have simply wasted so much of our time in sense gratification, neglecting to cultivate knowledge of the Supreme Lord. (Vedabase)

Text 54:

Attached to sense-gratification my affinity for you went without recognizing your transcendental existence; nonetheless, let it rid me of all fear.

Not knowing your transcendental situation, I have loved you while remaining attached to the objects of the senses. Nonetheless, let the affinity I have developed for you rid me of all fear. (Vedabase)

Text 55:

Association with those engaged in sense gratification is the cause of the cycle of birth and death, but the same thing of acting in ignorance leads, in association with a saintly person, to liberation.

Association for sense gratification is certainly the path of bondage. But the same type of association, performed with a saintly person, leads to the path of liberation, even if performed without knowledge. (Vedabase)

Text 56:

One is indeed dead although alive if the work which is done here is not for a more righteous life, does not lead to detachment and is not of service to the feet of the Holy.

Anyone whose work is not meant to elevate him to religious life, anyone whose religious ritualistic performances do not raise him to renunciation, and anyone situated in renunciation that does not lead him to devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must be considered dead, although he is breathing. (Vedabase)

Text 57:

Surely am I the one who was greaty deluded by the material energy of the Lord; because I, though having attained to you who gives liberation, did not seek to be freed from material bondage'.

My lord, surely I have been solidly cheated by the insurmountable illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for in spite of having obtained your association, which gives liberation from material bondage, I did not seek such liberation. (Vedabase)