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.
मृत्यो किमिदमत्यन्तं तपांसि चरसीति ह। ततोऽब्रवीत्पुनर्मृत्युर्भगवन्तं पितामहम्
O Death, why do you undertake such severe austerities? Thus questioned, Death again spoke to the revered Grandfather.
नाऽहं हन्यां प्रजा देव स्वस्थाश्चाक्रोशतीस्तथा। एतदिच्छामि सर्वेश त्वत्तो वरमहं प्रभो
O Lord, I do not wish to destroy living beings; let them remain unharmed and free from distress. This is the boon I desire from you, O Master of all.
अधर्मभयभीताऽस्मि ततोऽहं तप आस्थिता। भीतायास्तु महाभाग प्रयच्छाभयमव्यय
I am fearful of unrighteousness; therefore, I have embraced austerity. O illustrious one, grant me imperishable fearlessness, for I am afraid.
आर्ता चानागसी नारी याचामि भव मे गतिः। तामब्रवीत्ततो देवो भूतभव्यभविष्यवित्
Distressed and innocent, I, a woman, seek refuge in you; grant me a path. Then the Lord, knower of past, present, and future, spoke to her.
अधर्मो नास्ति ते मृत्यो संहरन्त्या इमाः प्रजाः। मया चोक्तं मृषा भद्रे भविता न कथञ्चन
O Death, there is no unrighteousness in you for taking away these beings. What I said before, O gentle one, was false; it shall never come to pass.
तस्मात्संहर कल्याणि प्रजाः सर्वाश्चतुर्विधाः। धर्मः सनातनश्च त्वां सर्वथा पावयिष्यति
Therefore, O auspicious one, take away all four kinds of creatures. The eternal Dharma will purify you in every way.
लोकपालो यमश्चैव सहाया व्याधयश्च ते। अहं च विबुधाश्चैव पुनर्दास्याम ते वरम्
Yama, the guardian of the world, and diseases will be your helpers. I and the gods will again grant you a boon.
यथा त्वमेनसा मुक्ता विरजाः ख्यातिमेष्यसि
Thus, freed from sin, you will attain renowned purity.
पुनरेवाब्रवीद्वाक्यं प्रसाद्य शिरसा तदा। यद्येवमेतत्कर्तव्यं धर्मतो नास्त्यतो भयम्
Then, bowing her head in reverence, she again spoke: If this must be done, and there is no unrighteousness in it, then I have no fear.
तवाज्ञा मूर्ध्नि मे न्यस्ता यत्ते वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु। लोभः क्रोधोऽभ्यसूयेर्ष्या द्रोहो मोहश्च देहिनां
Your command is placed upon my head; listen to what I say: Greed, anger, envy, jealousy, hostility, and delusion afflict embodied beings.