Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 50
Sourceसुकलोवाच- तस्यास्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा गोभिलो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । भवती शप्तुकामासि कस्मान्मे कारणं वद १। केन दोषेण लिप्तोस्मि यस्मात्त्वं शप्तुमुद्यता । गोभिलो नाम दैत्योस्मि पौलस्त्यस्य भटः शुभे २। दैत्याचारेण वर्तामि जाने विद्यामनुत्तमाम् । वेदशास्त्रार्थवेत्तास्मि कलासु निपुणः पुनः ३। एवं सर्वं विजानामि दैत्याचारं शृणुष्व मे । परस्वं परदारांश्च बलाद्भुंजामि नान्यथा ४। वयं दैत्याः समाकर्ण्य दैत्याचारेण सांप्रतम् । वर्त्तामो ज्ञानिभावेन सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम् ५। ब्राह्मणानां हि च्छिद्राणि विपश्यामो दिने दिने । तेषां हि तपसो नाशं विघ्नैः कुर्मो न संशयः ६। छिद्रं प्राप्य वयं देवि नाशयामो न संशयः । ब्राह्मणाञ्छ्रूयतां भद्रे देवयज्ञं वरानने ७। नाशयामो वयं यज्ञान्धर्मयज्ञं न संशयः । सुब्राह्मणान्परित्यज्य देवं नारायणं प्रभुम् ८। पतिव्रतां महाभागां सुमतिं भर्तृतत्पराम् । दूरेणापि परित्यज्य तिष्ठामो नात्र संशयः ९। तेजो देवि सुविप्रस्य हरेश्चैव महात्मनः । नार्याः पतिव्रतायाश्च सोढुं दैत्याश्च न क्षमाः १०। पतिव्रताभयेनापि विष्णोः सुब्राह्मणस्य च । नश्यंति दानवाः सर्वे दूरं राक्षसपुंगवाः ११। अहं दानवधर्मेण विचरामि महीतलम् । कस्मात्त्वं शप्तुकामासि मम दोषो विचार्यताम् १२। पद्मावत्युवाच- मम धर्मः सुकायश्च त्वयैव परिनाशितः । अहं पतिव्रता साध्वी पतिकामा तपस्विनी १३। स्वमार्गे संस्थिता पाप मायया परिनाशिता । तस्मात्त्वामप्यहं दुष्ट आधक्ष्यामि न संशयः १४। गोभिल उवाच- धर्ममेव प्रवक्ष्यामि भवती यदि मन्यते । अग्निचिद्ब्राह्मणस्यापि श्रूयतां नृपनंदिनी १५। जुह्वन्देवं द्विकालं यो न त्यजेदग्निमंदिरम् । स चाग्निहोत्री भवति यजत्येव दिनेदिने १६। अन्यच्चैवं प्रवक्ष्यामि भृत्यधर्मं वरानने । मनसा कर्मणा वाचा विशुद्धो योऽपि नित्यशः १७। नित्यमादेशकारी यः पश्चात्तिष्ठति चाग्रतः । स भृत्यः कथ्यते देवि पुण्यभागी न संशयः १८। यः पुत्रो गुणवाञ्ज्ञाता पितरं पालयेच्छुभः । मातरं च विशेषेण मनसा काय कर्मभिः १९। तस्य भागीरथी स्नानमहन्यहनि जायते । अन्यथा कुरुते यो हि स पापीयान्न संशयः २०। अन्यच्चैवं प्रवक्ष्यामि पतिव्रतमनुत्तमम् । वाचा सुमनसा चैव कर्मणा शृणु भामिनि २१। शुश्रूषां कुरुते या हि भर्तुश्चैव दिन दिने । तुष्टे भर्त्तरि या प्रीता न त्यजेत्क्रोधनं पुनः २२। तस्य दोषं न गृह्णाति ताडिता तुष्यते पुनः । भर्त्तुः कर्मसु सर्वेषु पुरतस्तिष्ठते सदा २३। सा चापि कथ्यते नारी पतिव्रतपरायणा । पतितोपि पितापुत्रैर्बहुदोषसमन्वितः २४। कस्मादपि च न त्याज्यः कुष्ठितः क्रुधितोऽपि वा । एवं पुत्राः शुश्रूषंति पितरं मातरं किल २५। ते यांति परमं लोकं तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् । एवं हि स्वामिनं ये वै उपाचरंति भृत्यकाः २६। पत्युर्लोकं प्रयांत्येते प्रसादात्स्वामिनस्तदा । अग्निं नैव त्यजेद्विप्रो ब्रह्मलोकं प्रयाति सः २७। अग्नित्यागकरो विप्रो वृषलीपतिरुच्यते । स्वामिद्रोही भवेद्भृत्यः स्वामित्यागान्न संशयः २८। अग्निं च पितरं चैव न त्यजेत्स्वामिनं शुभे । सदा विप्रः सुतो भृत्यः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम् २९। परित्यज्य प्रगच्छंति ते यांति नरकार्णवम् । पतितं व्याधितं देवि विकलं कुष्ठिनं तथा ३०। सर्वकर्मविहीनं च गतवित्तादिसंचयम् । भर्तारं न त्यजेन्नारी यदि श्रेय इहेच्छति ३१। त्यक्त्वा कांतं व्रजेन्नारी अन्यत्कार्यमिहेच्छति । सा मता पुंश्चली लोके सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृता ३२। गते भर्तरि या ग्रामं भोगं शृंगारमेव च । लौल्याच्च कुरुते नारी पुंश्चली वदते जनः ३३। एवं धर्मं विजानामि वेदशास्त्रैश्च संमतम् । दानवा राक्षसाः प्रेता धात्रा सृष्टा यदादितः ३४। तत्रेह कारणं सर्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि न संशयः । ब्राह्मणा दानवाश्चैव पिशाचाश्चैव राक्षसाः ३५। धर्मार्थं सकलं प्रोक्तमधीतं तैस्तु सुंदरि । विंदंति सकलं सर्वे आचरंति न दानवाः ३६। विधिहीनं प्रकुर्वंति दानवा ज्ञानवर्जिताः । अन्यायेन व्रजंत्येते मानवा विधिवर्जिताः ३७। तेषां शासनहेत्वर्थं कृता एतेपि नान्यथा । विधिहीनं प्रकुर्वंति ये हि धर्मं नराधमाः ३८। तान्वयं शासयामो वै दंडेन महता किल । भवत्या दारुणं कर्म कृतमेव सुनिर्घृणम् ३९। गार्हस्थ्यं च परित्यज्य अत्रायाता किमर्थतः । वदस्येवं मुखेनापि अहं हि पतिदेवता ४०। कर्मणा नास्ति तद्दृष्टं पतिदैवत्यमेव ते । भर्तारं तं परित्यज्य किमर्थं त्वमिहागता ४१। शृंगारं भूषणं वेषं कृत्वा तिष्ठसि निर्घृणा । किमर्थं हि कृतं पापे कस्यहेतोर्वदस्व मे ४२। निःशंका वर्त्तसे चापि प्रमत्ता गिरिकानने । मया त्वं साधिता पापा दंडेन महता शृणु ४३। अधर्मचारिणी दुष्टा पतिं त्यक्त्वा समागता । क्वास्ते तत्पतिदेवत्वं दर्शय त्वं ममाग्रतः ४४। भवती पुंश्चली नाम यया त्यक्तः स्वकः पतिः । पृथक्छय्या यदा नारी तदा सा पुंश्चली मता ४५। योजनानां शतैकस्य सोन्तरेण प्रवर्त्तते । क्वास्ति ते पतिदैवत्यं पुंश्चल्याचारचारिणी ४६। निर्लज्जे निर्घृणे दुष्टे किं मे वदसि संमुखी । तपसः क्वास्ति ते भावः क्व तेजोबलमेव च ४७। दर्शयस्व ममाद्यैव बलवीर्यपराक्रमम् । पद्मावत्युवाच- स्नेहेनापि समानीता श्रूयतामसुराधम ४८। भर्तुर्गेहादहं पित्रा क्वास्ते तत्र च पातकम् । नैव कामान्न लोभाच्च न मोहान्न च मत्सरात् ४९। आगताहं पतिं त्यक्त्वा पतिभावेन संस्थिता । भर्तृरूपच्छलेनापि त्वयैव परिवंचिता ५०। भवंतं माथुरं ज्ञात्वा गताहं सम्मुखं तव । मायाविनं यदा जाने त्वामेवं दानवाधम ५१। एकेन हुंकृतेनैव भस्मीभूतं करोम्यहम् । गोभिल उवाच- चक्षुर्हीना न पश्यंति मानवाः शृणु सांप्रतम् ५२। धर्मनेत्रविहीना त्वं कथं जानासि मामिह । यदा ते भाव उत्पन्नः पितुर्गेहं प्रति शृणु ५३। पतिध्यानं परित्यज्य मुक्ता ध्यानेन त्वं तदा । ज्ञाननेत्रं तदा नष्टं स्फुटं च हृदये तव ५४। कथं मां त्वं विजानासि ज्ञानचक्षुर्हता भुवि । कस्या माता पिता भ्राता कस्याः स्वजनबांधवाः ५५। सर्वस्थाने पतिर्ह्येको भार्यायास्तु न संशयः । इत्युक्त्वा हि प्रहस्यैव गोभिलो दानवाधमः ५६। न भयं विद्यते तेऽद्य ममापि शृणु पुंश्चलि । किं भवेत्तव शापेन वृथैव परिकंपसे ५७। ममगेहं समाश्रित्य भुंक्ष्व भोगान्मनोऽनुगान् । पद्मावत्युवाच- गच्छ पापसमाचार किं त्वं वदसि निर्घृणः ५८। सतीभावेन संस्थास्मि पतिव्रतपरायणा । धक्ष्यामि त्वां महापाप यद्येवं तु वदिष्यसि ५९। एवमुक्त्वा तथैकांते निषसाद महीतले । दुःखेन महताविष्टां तामुवाच स गोभिलः ६०। तवोदरे मया न्यस्तं स्ववीर्यं सुकृतं शुभे । तस्मादुत्पत्स्यते पुत्रस्त्रैलोक्यक्षोभकारकः ६१। एवमुक्त्वा जगामाथ गोभिलो दानवस्तदा । गते तस्मिन्दुराचारे दानवे पापचारिणी ६२। दुःखेन महताविष्टा नृपकन्या रुरोद ह ६३। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने सुकलाचरित्रे पंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः ५०।
sukalovāca- tasyāstu vacanaṃ śrutvā gobhilo vākyamabravīt | bhavatī śaptukāmāsi kasmānme kāraṇaṃ vada 1| kena doṣeṇa liptosmi yasmāttvaṃ śaptumudyatā | gobhilo nāma daityosmi paulastyasya bhaṭaḥ śubhe 2| daityācāreṇa vartāmi jāne vidyāmanuttamām | vedaśāstrārthavettāsmi kalāsu nipuṇaḥ punaḥ 3| evaṃ sarvaṃ vijānāmi daityācāraṃ śṛṇuṣva me | parasvaṃ paradārāṃśca balādbhuṃjāmi nānyathā 4| vayaṃ daityāḥ samākarṇya daityācāreṇa sāṃpratam | varttāmo jñānibhāvena satyaṃ satyaṃ vadāmyaham 5| brāhmaṇānāṃ hi cchidrāṇi vipaśyāmo dine dine | teṣāṃ hi tapaso nāśaṃ vighnaiḥ kurmo na saṃśayaḥ 6| chidraṃ prāpya vayaṃ devi nāśayāmo na saṃśayaḥ | brāhmaṇāñchrūyatāṃ bhadre devayajñaṃ varānane 7| nāśayāmo vayaṃ yajñāndharmayajñaṃ na saṃśayaḥ | subrāhmaṇānparityajya devaṃ nārāyaṇaṃ prabhum 8| pativratāṃ mahābhāgāṃ sumatiṃ bhartṛtatparām | dūreṇāpi parityajya tiṣṭhāmo nātra saṃśayaḥ 9| tejo devi suviprasya hareścaiva mahātmanaḥ | nāryāḥ pativratāyāśca soḍhuṃ daityāśca na kṣamāḥ 10| pativratābhayenāpi viṣṇoḥ subrāhmaṇasya ca | naśyaṃti dānavāḥ sarve dūraṃ rākṣasapuṃgavāḥ 11| ahaṃ dānavadharmeṇa vicarāmi mahītalam | kasmāttvaṃ śaptukāmāsi mama doṣo vicāryatām 12| padmāvatyuvāca- mama dharmaḥ sukāyaśca tvayaiva parināśitaḥ | ahaṃ pativratā sādhvī patikāmā tapasvinī 13| svamārge saṃsthitā pāpa māyayā parināśitā | tasmāttvāmapyahaṃ duṣṭa ādhakṣyāmi na saṃśayaḥ 14| gobhila uvāca- dharmameva pravakṣyāmi bhavatī yadi manyate | agnicidbrāhmaṇasyāpi śrūyatāṃ nṛpanaṃdinī 15| juhvandevaṃ dvikālaṃ yo na tyajedagnimaṃdiram | sa cāgnihotrī bhavati yajatyeva dinedine 16| anyaccaivaṃ pravakṣyāmi bhṛtyadharmaṃ varānane | manasā karmaṇā vācā viśuddho yo'pi nityaśaḥ 17| nityamādeśakārī yaḥ paścāttiṣṭhati cāgrataḥ | sa bhṛtyaḥ kathyate devi puṇyabhāgī na saṃśayaḥ 18| yaḥ putro guṇavāñjñātā pitaraṃ pālayecchubhaḥ | mātaraṃ ca viśeṣeṇa manasā kāya karmabhiḥ 19| tasya bhāgīrathī snānamahanyahani jāyate | anyathā kurute yo hi sa pāpīyānna saṃśayaḥ 20| anyaccaivaṃ pravakṣyāmi pativratamanuttamam | vācā sumanasā caiva karmaṇā śṛṇu bhāmini 21| śuśrūṣāṃ kurute yā hi bhartuścaiva dina dine | tuṣṭe bharttari yā prītā na tyajetkrodhanaṃ punaḥ 22| tasya doṣaṃ na gṛhṇāti tāḍitā tuṣyate punaḥ | bharttuḥ karmasu sarveṣu puratastiṣṭhate sadā 23| sā cāpi kathyate nārī pativrataparāyaṇā | patitopi pitāputrairbahudoṣasamanvitaḥ 24| kasmādapi ca na tyājyaḥ kuṣṭhitaḥ krudhito'pi vā | evaṃ putrāḥ śuśrūṣaṃti pitaraṃ mātaraṃ kila 25| te yāṃti paramaṃ lokaṃ tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam | evaṃ hi svāminaṃ ye vai upācaraṃti bhṛtyakāḥ 26| patyurlokaṃ prayāṃtyete prasādātsvāminastadā | agniṃ naiva tyajedvipro brahmalokaṃ prayāti saḥ 27| agnityāgakaro vipro vṛṣalīpatirucyate | svāmidrohī bhavedbhṛtyaḥ svāmityāgānna saṃśayaḥ 28| agniṃ ca pitaraṃ caiva na tyajetsvāminaṃ śubhe | sadā vipraḥ suto bhṛtyaḥ satyaṃ satyaṃ vadāmyaham 29| parityajya pragacchaṃti te yāṃti narakārṇavam | patitaṃ vyādhitaṃ devi vikalaṃ kuṣṭhinaṃ tathā 30| sarvakarmavihīnaṃ ca gatavittādisaṃcayam | bhartāraṃ na tyajennārī yadi śreya ihecchati 31| tyaktvā kāṃtaṃ vrajennārī anyatkāryamihecchati | sā matā puṃścalī loke sarvadharmabahiṣkṛtā 32| gate bhartari yā grāmaṃ bhogaṃ śṛṃgārameva ca | laulyācca kurute nārī puṃścalī vadate janaḥ 33| evaṃ dharmaṃ vijānāmi vedaśāstraiśca saṃmatam | dānavā rākṣasāḥ pretā dhātrā sṛṣṭā yadāditaḥ 34| tatreha kāraṇaṃ sarvaṃ pravakṣyāmi na saṃśayaḥ | brāhmaṇā dānavāścaiva piśācāścaiva rākṣasāḥ 35| dharmārthaṃ sakalaṃ proktamadhītaṃ taistu suṃdari | viṃdaṃti sakalaṃ sarve ācaraṃti na dānavāḥ 36| vidhihīnaṃ prakurvaṃti dānavā jñānavarjitāḥ | anyāyena vrajaṃtyete mānavā vidhivarjitāḥ 37| teṣāṃ śāsanahetvarthaṃ kṛtā etepi nānyathā | vidhihīnaṃ prakurvaṃti ye hi dharmaṃ narādhamāḥ 38| tānvayaṃ śāsayāmo vai daṃḍena mahatā kila | bhavatyā dāruṇaṃ karma kṛtameva sunirghṛṇam 39| gārhasthyaṃ ca parityajya atrāyātā kimarthataḥ | vadasyevaṃ mukhenāpi ahaṃ hi patidevatā 40| karmaṇā nāsti taddṛṣṭaṃ patidaivatyameva te | bhartāraṃ taṃ parityajya kimarthaṃ tvamihāgatā 41| śṛṃgāraṃ bhūṣaṇaṃ veṣaṃ kṛtvā tiṣṭhasi nirghṛṇā | kimarthaṃ hi kṛtaṃ pāpe kasyahetorvadasva me 42| niḥśaṃkā varttase cāpi pramattā girikānane | mayā tvaṃ sādhitā pāpā daṃḍena mahatā śṛṇu 43| adharmacāriṇī duṣṭā patiṃ tyaktvā samāgatā | kvāste tatpatidevatvaṃ darśaya tvaṃ mamāgrataḥ 44| bhavatī puṃścalī nāma yayā tyaktaḥ svakaḥ patiḥ | pṛthakchayyā yadā nārī tadā sā puṃścalī matā 45| yojanānāṃ śataikasya sontareṇa pravarttate | kvāsti te patidaivatyaṃ puṃścalyācāracāriṇī 46| nirlajje nirghṛṇe duṣṭe kiṃ me vadasi saṃmukhī | tapasaḥ kvāsti te bhāvaḥ kva tejobalameva ca 47| darśayasva mamādyaiva balavīryaparākramam | padmāvatyuvāca- snehenāpi samānītā śrūyatāmasurādhama 48| bharturgehādahaṃ pitrā kvāste tatra ca pātakam | naiva kāmānna lobhācca na mohānna ca matsarāt 49| āgatāhaṃ patiṃ tyaktvā patibhāvena saṃsthitā | bhartṛrūpacchalenāpi tvayaiva parivaṃcitā 50| bhavaṃtaṃ māthuraṃ jñātvā gatāhaṃ sammukhaṃ tava | māyāvinaṃ yadā jāne tvāmevaṃ dānavādhama 51| ekena huṃkṛtenaiva bhasmībhūtaṃ karomyaham | gobhila uvāca- cakṣurhīnā na paśyaṃti mānavāḥ śṛṇu sāṃpratam 52| dharmanetravihīnā tvaṃ kathaṃ jānāsi māmiha | yadā te bhāva utpannaḥ piturgehaṃ prati śṛṇu 53| patidhyānaṃ parityajya muktā dhyānena tvaṃ tadā | jñānanetraṃ tadā naṣṭaṃ sphuṭaṃ ca hṛdaye tava 54| kathaṃ māṃ tvaṃ vijānāsi jñānacakṣurhatā bhuvi | kasyā mātā pitā bhrātā kasyāḥ svajanabāṃdhavāḥ 55| sarvasthāne patirhyeko bhāryāyāstu na saṃśayaḥ | ityuktvā hi prahasyaiva gobhilo dānavādhamaḥ 56| na bhayaṃ vidyate te'dya mamāpi śṛṇu puṃścali | kiṃ bhavettava śāpena vṛthaiva parikaṃpase 57| mamagehaṃ samāśritya bhuṃkṣva bhogānmano'nugān | padmāvatyuvāca- gaccha pāpasamācāra kiṃ tvaṃ vadasi nirghṛṇaḥ 58| satībhāvena saṃsthāsmi pativrataparāyaṇā | dhakṣyāmi tvāṃ mahāpāpa yadyevaṃ tu vadiṣyasi 59| evamuktvā tathaikāṃte niṣasāda mahītale | duḥkhena mahatāviṣṭāṃ tāmuvāca sa gobhilaḥ 60| tavodare mayā nyastaṃ svavīryaṃ sukṛtaṃ śubhe | tasmādutpatsyate putrastrailokyakṣobhakārakaḥ 61| evamuktvā jagāmātha gobhilo dānavastadā | gate tasmindurācāre dānave pāpacāriṇī 62| duḥkhena mahatāviṣṭā nṛpakanyā ruroda ha 63| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe bhūmikhaṃḍe venopākhyāne sukalācaritre paṃcāśattamo'dhyāyaḥ 50|
English translation
Sukalā said :
1-12. Hearing her words, Gobhila said (these) words: “Tell me the reason for which you desire to curse me. By what blemish am I defiled that you are ready to curse me? O auspicious one, I am a demon by name Gobhila, a warrior of Paulastya (i.e. Rāvaṇa ). I act like a demon, I know excellent lore. I know the meaning of the Vedas and branches of knowledge, I am also skilled in arts. All this I know. (Now) listen about my demonish behaviour. I enjoy per force the wealth and the wives of others, and do so in no other way. Listen, we demons properly follow the demonish ways and do so knowingly. I am telling you the truth (and) the truth (only). Everyday we observe the loopholes of brāhmaṇas . By (putting in) difficulties we destroy their penance; there is no doubt about this. Finding a loophole in the brāhmaṇas we destroy them, O respectable lady. There is no doubt about this. O you of a beautiful face, listen. We destroy a sacrifice in honour of gods, (other) sacrifices and religious rites. There is no doubt about this. There is no doubt that we live by keeping far away excellent brāhmaṇas, the god Lord Nārāyaṇa , and a chaste, illustrious lady of a good mind and devoted to her husband. O respectable lady, demons cannot bear the lustre of a good brāhmaṇa , of glorious Hari (i.e. Viṣṇu ), and of a lady loyal to her husband. The demons, the best evil spirits flee away due to the fear of a chaste lady, of Viṣṇu and of a good brāhmaṇa. I am roaming over the earth, according to the way of life of a demon. Why do you desire to curse me? What do you think my fault is?”
Padmāvatī said :
13-14. You alone have destroyed my dharma (chastity) and good body. O sinner, I am a chaste, pitiable, and virtuous woman, loving my husband. I remained on my own (i.e. followed my own) course (of life). You have defiled me through deceit. Therefore, O wicked one, I shall certainly burn you too.
Gobhila said :
15-16. If you agree I shall explain to you the way of the life of even a brāhmaṇa, who has kept the sacred fire. O princess, listen. Offering oblation (to fire), he should not leave the fire-chamber. He alone is one who has kept the sacred fire and who offers sacrifice everyday.
17-18. O you of an excellent face, I shall also tell you about another (thing)—the way of life of a servant. O respectable lady, he is called a meritorious servant, who is always pure in mind, deeds and speech, who always obeys (his master) and remains behind and in front of him.
19-20. “That virtuous, learned and eminent son, who protects his father and especially his mother by his mind (i.e. willingly), by his body and his actions, has (the merit of) a bath in Bhāgīrathī everyday. He who does (i.e. behaves) in an opposite manner, is undoubtedly a sinner.
21-24a. I shall also narrate to you another excellent vow (in honour) of the husband. O you beautiful lady, listen. That lady alone, who everyday renders service to her husband by good words, mind (i.e. willingly) and actions, and she, who is pleased when her husband is pleased, she, who would not abandon her angry husband, she who does not find fault with him, and she who is contented (though) beaten (by him), and she who always stands in the forefront in all the deeds of her husband, is called a woman devoted to her husband.
24b-28. A father, though fallen, or full of many blemishes, or affected with leprosy or who is angry, is never to be abandoned on any account by his sons. Those sons (who) indeed serve their father or mother, go to the highest heaven. That is the highest place of Viṣṇ U. The servants who in this way wait upon their masters go to the heaven of the lord through the grace of the master. A brāhmaṇa (who) does not abandon (keeping) fire, goes to Brahmā ’s heaven. A brāhmaṇa, who abandons (keeping) fire is called the husband of a śūdra woman. There is no doubt that a servant, by deserting his master, would be plotting against his master.
29. A brāhmaṇa should never give up (keeping) fire, a son should never abandon his father, and a servant should never desert his master. I am telling the truth (and) the truth (only).
30-34. Those who go away leaving (these), go to the ocean in the form of hell. If, O respectable lady, a woman desires her welfare here (i.e. in this world), she should never desert her husband who is fallen, diseased, languid, affected with leprosy, or who is void of (i.e. unable to do) all acts, and whose accumulation of wealth has been lost. A woman who would leave her husband and go and desire to work for someone else here (i.e. in this world), is looked upon as an unchaste woman and is fully excommunicated. People call that woman an unchaste one, who, through fickleness, enjoys pleasures and decorates herself when her husband has gone to (some other) village. Thus I know the dharma (which is) also approved by the Vedas and the sacred treatises.
35-45. There is no doubt that I shall tell you the entire reason about this, viz. as to why at the beginning the creator created demons, goblins and evil spirits. Brāhmaṇas, demons, fiends, goblins, have, O beautiful lady, studied all that is said about dharma. Demons know all (that), but do not practise it. Demons, void of knowledge, do (all acts) without the (proper) rite. Men abandoned by (i.e. not practising) rites go (i.e. act) unjustly. They (i.e. demons) are created for disciplining them (i.e. such men); and not for anything else. We discipline those mean men, who perform (various) acts without proper rites by severely punishing them. You have done a terrible and very cruel act. Why, abandoning your state of a housewife, did you come here? And with your own mouth (i.e. you yourself) are saying that you are a lady loyal to your husband! But that your loyalty to your husband is not seen through your action. Leaving the husband, why have you come here? Decorating yourself, putting on ornaments and (attractive) dress, and (thus) being shameless, you are staying here. O sinful one, tell me why, for what purpose, you have done (this). Being fearless and wanton, you are living in the mountain-forest. Listen, I have subdued you, a sinner, with a great (i.e. severe) punishment. Behaving impiously, you, a wicked woman, have abandoned your husband, and come (here). Where is your loyalty to your husband? Show that before (i.e. to) me. You are indeed an unchaste woman, who have deserted your husband. When a woman occupies a separate bed (i.e. does not occupy the same bed as her husband does), she is looked upon as unchaste.
46. Your husband is at a distance of a hundred yojanas . Where is your loyalty to your husband? You are behaving like an unchaste woman.
47-48a. O you shameless woman, O you cruel one, O you wicked one, facing me (i.e. to me) what (will) you say (now)? Where does your penance exist? Where is your lustre? Where is your power? Show me, today only, your power, valour and prowess.
Padmāvatī said :
48b-52a. O you mean demon, listen. My father brought me here from my husband’s house through affection. What sin is there? I, who am devoted to my husband, have come (here) leaving my husband not through lust, or greed, or delusion or hostility (to him). You yourself, taking the guise of my husband, have deceived me. I went forth to you, taking you to be (the king of) Mathura . O you mean demon, (now) when I know you to be (a demon) using tricks, I shall reduce you to ashes just with one hum-sound.
Gobhila said :
52b-56a. Blind human beings do not (i.e. cannot) see. Now listen. How do you, bereft of the eye of dharma know me now? Listen; when a desire for (visiting) your father’s house arose in you after you had stopped thinking about your husband, then, your eye of wisdom in your heart had evidently perished. (Now), with your eye of wisdom lost, how do you recognise me on the earth (i.e. here)? To which wife mother, father, brother, kinsmen and relatives belong? (i.e. none of them is related to her). In all (these) places (i.e. in the places of all these), the husband alone (remains); there is no doubt about this.
56b-58a. Saying so, and laughing loudly, the mean demon Gobhila (again spoke:) “O you unchaste woman, listen. Today I have no (cause of) fear from you. What would happen by means of your curse? You are unnecessarily trembling. Resorting to my house, enjoy pleasures as you like.”
Padmāvatī said :
58b-59. Go (away), O you of wicked acts. What are you, being shameless, talking? I have (always) lived as a chaste woman, devoted to my husband. O you great sinner, if you talk (shamelessly) like this, I shall burn you.
60-62. Saying so, she sat on the ground in a secluded place. Gobhila said to her who was afflicted with great grief; “O you beautiful one, I have deposited my germ into your womb. From it will spring up a son who will agitate the three worlds.” Speaking like this, the demon Gobhila then left.
63. When that demon of wicked acts and sinful behaviour had gone, the princess, full of great grief, wept...
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 37457, revision 335476 (2022-04-09T00:06:38Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364257.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.