Shloka 56
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ तत्र यतो वृत्तं नराधिप । ततः प्रभामयी देवी शरीरात् तस्य निर्यया
ity uktvā prayayau tatra yato vṛttaṃ narādhipa | tataḥ prabhāmayī devī śarīrāt tasya niryayau | tvayā tyaktā gamiṣyāmi bala-hānugatā hāham |
Nói xong, vị ấy đi đến nơi chánh hạnh đã đi qua, hỡi bậc quân vương. Rồi từ thân thể ông hiện ra một nữ thần rực sáng. Nàng tuyên rằng: “Bị ngươi ruồng bỏ, ta sẽ ra đi. Than ôi, ta theo sau Sức Mạnh (Bala).”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Lakṣmī (fortune, splendor) is not independent of moral strength: she accompanies Bala—understood as righteous vigor, self-control, and steadfast conduct. When a person abandons that strength, prosperity naturally departs.
After a declaration, Bala goes away following the path of proper conduct. Immediately a radiant goddess emerges from the (former) host’s body and announces that she is Lakṣmī; since she has been forsaken, she will leave, because she follows Bala.