स राजा प्रेतकृत्यानि तस्य कृत्वा शुचान्वितः। शोचन्नहनि रात्रौ च नालभत्सुखमात्मनः
That king, performing the funeral rites for him, was overcome with grief and found no peace for himself, lamenting day and night.
तस्य शोकं विदित्वा तु पुत्रव्यसनसम्भवम्। आजगामाथ देवर्षिर्नारदोऽस्य समीपतः
Knowing his sorrow, arising from the loss of his son, the divine sage Narada then came near him.
स तु राजा महाभागो दृष्ट्वा देवर्षिसत्तमम्। पूजयित्वा यथान्यायं कथामकथयत्तदा
That illustrious king, seeing the foremost of divine sages, honored him as was proper and then recounted his tale.
तस्य सर्वं समाचष्ट यथावृत्तं युधिष्ठिर। शत्रुभिर्विजयं सङ्ख्ये पुत्रस्य च वधं तथा
He told Narada everything as it had happened, O Yudhishthira—his son's victory in battle and also his death at the hands of his enemies.
मम पुत्रो महावीर्य इन्द्रविष्णुसमद्युतिः। शत्रुभिर्बहुभिः सङ्ख्ये पराक्रम्य हतो बली
My son, of great heroism, equal in splendor to Indra and Vishnu, was slain in battle by many enemies, though he was mighty.
शृणु मे प्राणिनां चापि मृत्युः प्रभवते किल। क एष मृत्युर्भगवन्किंवीर्यबलपौरुषः। एतदिच्छामि तत्त्वेन श्रोतुं मतिमतां वर
Hear from me: death indeed prevails over all living beings. Who is this Death, O blessed one? What are his power, strength, and prowess? I wish to hear this truly, O best of the wise.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नारदो वरदः प्रभुः। आख्यानमिदमाचष्ट पुत्रशोकापहं महत्
Hearing these words, Narada, the gracious and mighty sage, told him this great tale that dispels grief for a son.
शृणु राजन्महाबाहो आख्यानं बहुविस्तरम्। यथावृत्तं श्रुतं चैव मयाऽपि वसुधाधिप
Hear, O king of mighty arms, this extensive narrative, just as it happened and as I have heard it, O lord of the earth.
प्रजाः सृष्टा तदा ब्रह्मा आदिसर्गे पितामहः। असंहृतं महातेजा दृष्ट्वा जगदिदं प्रभुः
Then, at the beginning of creation, Brahma the grandsire created beings; seeing the world unrestrained, the mighty lord,
तस्य चिन्ता समुत्पन्ना संहारं प्रति पार्थिव। चिन्तयन्न ह्यसौ देव संहारं वसुधाधिप
A thought arose in him, O king, regarding destruction; pondering thus, that god considered the dissolution of the world.
तस्य रोषान्महाराज मुखेभ्योऽग्निरजायत। तेन सर्वा दिशो व्याप्ताः सान्तर्देशा दिधक्षता
From his anger, O great king, fire sprang forth from his mouths; with it, all directions, including the spaces between, were pervaded, wishing to burn.
ततो दिवं भुवं चैव ज्वालामालासमाकुलम्। चारचरं जगत्सर्वं ददाह भगवान्प्रभुः
Then the Lord, filling heaven and earth with garlands of flames, burned the entire world of moving and unmoving beings.
ततो हतानि भूतानि चराणि स्थावराणि च। महता क्रोधवेगेन त्रासयन्निव वीर्यवान्
Then, by the force of his great wrath, the mighty one terrified and destroyed both moving and unmoving beings.
ततो रुद्रो जटी स्याणुर्निशाचरपतिर्हरः। जगाम शरणं देवं ब्रह्माणं परमेष्ठिनम्
Thereupon Rudra, matted-haired, the lord of night-wanderers, Hara, went to take refuge with the god Brahma, the supreme creator.
तस्मिन्नापतिते स्थाणौ प्रजानां हितकाम्यया। अब्रवीत्परमो देवो ज्वलन्निव महामुनिः
When he approached Sthāṇu (Shiva), desiring the welfare of beings, the supreme god, blazing like fire, spoke like a great sage.
किं कर्म कामं कामार्ह कामाज्जातोऽसि पुत्रक। करिष्यामि प्रियं सर्वं ब्रूहि स्थाणो यदिच्छसि
"What deed, what desire, what wish do you have, O son, for which you have come? Tell me, Sthāṇu, whatever you wish—I will do everything dear to you."
उपसंहरतस्तस्य तमग्निं रोषजं तथा। प्रादुर्बभूव विश्वेभ्यो गोभ्योनारी महात्मनः
As he withdrew that fire born of anger, from all the worlds and cows, a woman of great soul appeared.
कृष्णरक्ता तथा पिङ्गा रक्तजिह्वास्यलोचना। कुण्डलाभ्यां च राजेन्द्र तप्ताभ्यां तप्तभूषणा
She was dark, red, and tawny, with a red tongue, mouth, and eyes; adorned with two blazing earrings and glowing ornaments, O king.
सा निःसृत्य तथा खेभ्यो दक्षिणां दिशमाश्रिता। स्मयमाना च साऽवेक्ष्य देवौ विश्वेश्वरावुभौ
Emerging thus from the spaces, she took refuge in the southern direction; smiling, she looked upon both the lords of the universe.
तां तु तत्र तदा देवीं ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। उक्तवान्मधुरं वाक्यं सान्त्वयित्वा पुनः पुनः'। मृत्यो इति महीपाल जहि चेमाः प्रजा इति
Then, at that place, Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, addressed that goddess with sweet words, soothing her again and again: 'O Death, destroy these creatures.'
त्वं हि संहारबुद्ध्याऽथ प्रादुर्भूता रुषो मम। तस्मात्संहर सर्वास्त्वं प्रजाः सजडपण्डिताः
'You have arisen from my wrath with the intent to destroy; therefore, take away all creatures, both dull and wise.'
अविशेषेण चैव त्वं प्रजाः संहर भामिनि। मम त्वं हि नियोगेन ततः श्रेयो ह्यवाप्स्यासि
'Without distinction, destroy all beings, O beautiful one; by my command you will thus attain the highest good.'
एवमुक्ता तु सा तेन मृत्युः कमललोचना। प्रारुदद्भृशसंविग्ना प्रापतन्नश्रुबिन्दवः
Thus addressed by him, Death, lotus-eyed, wept greatly, deeply distressed, and tears fell from her eyes.
पाणिभ्यां प्रतिजग्राह तान्यश्रूणि पितामहः। सर्वभूतहितार्थाय तां चाप्यनुनयत्तदा
With his hands, the grandsire gathered those tears, for the welfare of all beings, and then consoled her at that time.
सप्तगङ्गासु सा पुण्या कन्या वेतसकेषु च। तपोविशेषैर्बहुभिः कर्षयद्देहमात्मनः
In the seven Gangas, and in the Vetasaka groves, that pure maiden wore down her body with many intense austerities.
ततो गत्वा तु सा गङ्गां महामेरुं च केवलम्। तस्थौ चाश्मेव निश्चेष्टा प्राणायामपरायणा
Then she went to the Ganga and to the great Meru alone, and stood unmoving as a stone, devoted to breath-control.
पुनर्हिमवतो मूर्ध्नि यत्र देवाः पुराऽयजन्। तत्राङ्गुष्ठेन सा तस्थौ निखर्वंल परमा शुभा
Again, on the summit of Himavat, where the gods once performed sacrifice, she stood on her thumb, exceedingly radiant and most auspicious.
पुष्करेष्वथ गोकर्णे नैमिषे मलये तथा। अकर्शयत्स्वकं देहं नियमैर्मानसप्रियैः
In Pushkara, Gokarna, Naimisha, and also in Malaya, she wore down her body by disciplines dear to her mind.
अनन्यदेवता नित्यं दृढभक्ता पितामहे। तस्थौ पितामहं चैव तोषयामास धर्मतः
With unwavering devotion, always steadfast, she worshipped the grandsire, and by righteousness she pleased him.
ततस्तामब्रवीत्प्रीतो लोकानां प्रभवोऽव्ययः। सौम्येन मनसा राजन्प्रीतः प्रीतमनास्तदा
Then, pleased, the imperishable lord of the worlds spoke to her with a gentle mind, O king, delighted and well-disposed.