ततस्ते मुनयः क्रुद्धा ब्रह्मदत्तां महास्वनाम्
Then the sages, angered, uttered a mighty sound bestowed by Brahma.
शब्देन तेन व्याघ्रोऽपि मुक्त्वा गावं सव त्सिकाम् तं प्रपश्यंति ये पार्थ ते रुद्रा नात्र संशयः
By that sound, the tiger released the cow and her calf; those who see him, O Partha, are Rudras, there is no doubt.
अथ प्रत्यक्षतां श्रेष्ठस्तेषां देवो महेश्वरः
Then the greatest among them, the god Maheshvara, became manifest.
उमासहायो वरदः सस्वामी सविनायकः
Accompanied by Uma, the boon-giver, the lord, together with Vinayaka.
वीरभद्रा च चामुंडा घंटाकर्णादिभिर्वृता देवदानवगन्धर्वमुनिविद्याधरोरगैः
Virabhadra and Chamunda, surrounded by Ghantakarna and others, with gods, demons, gandharvas, sages, vidyadharas, and serpents.
प्रणम्य देवदेवाय पत्नीभिः सहितैरुमा
Uma, together with her wives, bowed to the god of gods.
कार्तिके शुक्लपक्षे तु द्वादश्यां नंदिनीव्रतम् 4.69.
In Kartika, during the bright fortnight, on the twelfth day, the Nandini vow is observed.
उत्तानपादेन तथा व्रतं चीर्णमिदं शृणु
By Uttanapada, likewise, this vow was performed; listen.
तस्य भार्या द्वयं चासीद्रुचिशुघ्नीति विश्रुतम्
He had two wives, famed as Ruchi and Shughni.
रुच्याः समर्पितः शुघ्न्या ध्रुवोऽयं रक्ष्यतां सखि
Dhruva was entrusted by Ruchi to Shughni: 'Let him be protected, friend.'
रुची रसवतीं नित्यं प्रत्यहं कुरुते गृहे
Ruchi daily prepares flavorful food in the house.
कदाचित्क्रोधमात्सर्यात्सापत्न्यं दर्शितं तया
Once, out of anger and jealousy, rivalry was shown by her.
तापिकायां तथा स्थाल्यां पक्वसिद्धः सुसं स्कृतः
In a heated pan and pot, well-cooked and properly prepared.
तं वै भक्षयितुं दुष्टा सामिषं भोजनं किल
To eat that, the wicked one indeed made the food mixed with meat.
तथैव प्रहसन्बालो मातुरुत्संगजोऽभवत्
In the same way, the boy laughed and sat on his mother's lap.
किमेतद्ब्रूहि वृत्तांतं कस्येयं व्युष्टिरुत्तमा
What is this? Tell me the story—whose is this excellent awakening?
सत्यंसत्यं पुनः सत्यं येन जीवति ते सुतः 4.69.
Truly, truly, and again truly, by what means does your son live?
पक्वः स्वयं कृतः स्थाल्यां व्यञ्जनैः सह भोजनैः
He was cooked, fully prepared in the pot, together with spices and food.
किं ते सिद्धा महाविद्या मृतसञ्जीवनी शुभा
Do you possess the great science, the auspicious mṛtasañjīvanī (life-restoring knowledge)?
कथयस्व महाभागे सत्यंसत्यं भगिन्यसि
Tell me, O noble lady, truly, truly, for you are my sister.
कार्त्तिके चैव द्वादश्यां यथा चानुष्ठितं पुरा
And on the twelfth day in the month of Kārttika, as was performed before,
वत्सो मे वत्सवेलायां मृतोऽर्थं लभते पुनः
My calf, having died at the time of the calf-offering, regains life again.
यथार्थमेतद्व्याख्यातं ते च गोद्वादशीव्रतम्
Thus, this has been explained as it happened, and also the vow of Godvādaśī.
एवमुक्तं व्रतं चीर्णं रुच्या पुत्राः सुखं धनम्
Thus, the vow was observed; by Ruci, sons, happiness, and wealth were obtained.
ब्रह्मणा सृष्टिकारेण रुचिर्भर्त्रा सहासिता धुवर्क्षे च यदा दृष्टे लोकः पापैः प्रमुच्यते
By Brahmā, the creator, together with her husband Ruci, it was smiled upon; and when the dhūva tree is seen, people are freed from sins.
यत्कृतं शुघ्निवचनाद्रुच्या यदुकुलोद्भव
That which was done by Ruci, born of the Yadu lineage, at the instruction of Śughni—
संप्राप्ते कार्तिके मासि शुक्लपक्षे कुरूत्तम नरो वा यदि वा नारी एकभक्तं प्रकल्पयेत् ।।4.69.
When the month of Kārttika arrives, in the bright fortnight, O best of Kurus, if a man or a woman observes a single meal—
ततो मध्याह्नसमये दृष्ट्वा धेनुं सवत्सिकाम्
Then, at midday, having seen a cow with her calf—
ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां स्त्रीजनेश्वर
For Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras, O lord of women—
कुंकुमालक्तकैर्दीपैर्माषान्नवटकैः शुभैः
With saffron, red dye, lamps, and auspicious cakes of black gram rice—