पृथिव्यां सारभूतं स्यात् तन्मध्ये दण्डकं वनम् तत्र गङ्गा जगद्धात्री तत्रेशं पूजय प्रभो
The essence of the earth is found within, and in its midst is the Dandaka forest; there, the Ganga, sustainer of the world, resides—worship the lord there, O master.
विष्णुं वा जगताम् ईशं दीनार्तार्तिहरं विभुम् अनाथानाम् इह नृणां मज्जतां दुःखसागरे
Worship Vishnu, lord of the worlds, remover of the distress of the afflicted and the suffering, the mighty one for those among men who are helpless and sinking in the ocean of sorrow.
हरो हरिर् वा गङ्गा वा क्वाप्य् अन्यच् छरणं नहि तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन तोषयैतान् समाहितः
There is no other refuge anywhere than Hara, Hari, or Ganga; therefore, with all effort and concentration, strive to please them.
भक्त्या स्तोत्रैश् च तपसा कुरु चैव मया सह ततः प्राप्स्यसि कल्याणम् ईशविष्णुप्रसादजम्
With devotion, hymns, and austerity, perform worship together with me; then you will obtain auspiciousness born from the grace of Shiva and Vishnu.
अज्ञात्वैकगुणं कर्म फलं दास्यति कर्मिणः ज्ञात्वा शतगुणं तत् स्याद् भार्यया च तद् अक्षयम्
Without knowledge, a deed yields its ordinary fruit to the doer; with knowledge, it yields a hundredfold, and with the wife, it becomes inexhaustible.
पुंसः सर्वेषु कार्येषु भार्यैवेह सहायिनी स्वल्पानाम् अपि कार्याणां नहि सिद्धिस् तया विना
In all undertakings, the wife alone is the companion for a man; even in the smallest tasks, success is not possible without her.
एकेन यत् कृतं कर्म तस्माद् अर्धफलं भवेत् जायया तु कृतं नाथ पुष्कलं पुरुषो लभेत्
Whatever action is performed alone yields only half its fruit; but when performed with the wife, O lord, a man obtains abundant reward.
तस्माद् एतत् सुविदितम् अर्धो जाया इति श्रुतेः श्रूयते दण्डकारण्ये सरिच्छ्रेष्ठास्ति गौतमी
Therefore, let this be well understood: the wife is one's half, as is taught; in the Dandaka forest, the best river, Gautami, is heard to exist.
अशेषाघप्रशमनी सर्वाभीष्टप्रदायिनी तस्माद् गच्छ मया तत्र कुरु पुण्यं महाफलम्
She removes all sins and grants all desired blessings; therefore, go there with me and perform meritorious acts of great fruit.
ततः शत्रून् निहत्याजौ महत् सुखम् अवाप्स्यसि
Then, having slain your enemies in battle, you will obtain great happiness.
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा स गुरुणा भार्यया च शतक्रतुः ययौ गङ्गां जगद्धात्रीं गौतमीं चेति विश्रुताम्
Having replied 'so be it' to his teacher and with his wife, Shatakratu went to the Ganga, sustainer of the world, renowned as Gautami.
दण्डकारण्यमध्यस्थां ययौ स प्रीतिमान् हरिः तपः कर्तुं मनश् चक्रे देवदेवाय शंभवे
Hari, joyful, went to the midst of the Dandaka forest, resolved to perform austerity for Shambhu, lord of the gods.
गङ्गां नत्वा तु प्रथमं स्नात्वा च स कृताञ्जलिः शिवैकशरणो भूत्वा स्तोत्रं चेदं ततो ऽब्रवीत्
First bowing to the Ganga and bathing, he stood with joined palms; taking refuge in Shiva alone, he then spoke this hymn.
स्वमायया यो ह्य् अखिलं चराचरं सृजत्य् अवत्य् अत्ति न सज्जते ऽस्मिन् एकः स्वतन्त्रो ऽद्वयचित् सुखात्मकः स नः प्रसन्नो ऽस्तु पिनाकपाणिः
May Pinakapani, who by his own power creates, protects, and consumes all that moves and is still, yet is not attached to it, who is one, independent, non-dual, and blissful in nature, be gracious to us.
न यस्य तत्त्वं सनकादयो ऽपि जानन्ति वेदान्तरहस्यविज्ञाः स पार्वतीशः सकलाभिलाष दाता प्रसन्नो ऽस्तु ममान्धकारिः
Even Sanaka and the other sages, who are knowers of the secret of Vedānta, do not know his true nature; may that Lord of Pārvatī, giver of all desires, be gracious to me and dispel my darkness.
सृष्ट्वा स्वयंभूर् भगवान् विरिञ्चिं भयंकरं चास्य शिरो ऽन्वपश्यत् छित्त्वा नखाग्रैर् नखसक्तम् एतच् चिक्षेप तस्माद् अभवत् त्रिवर्गः
Having created the self-born god, the blessed Viśvakarman, he saw his terrifying head; cutting it with the tips of his nails, he cast it away, and from that act the threefold aims of life arose.
पापं दरिद्रं त्व् अथ लोभयाच्ञे मोहो विपच् चेति ततो ऽप्य् अनन्तम् जातप्रभावं भवदुःखरूपं बभूव तैर् व्याप्तम् इदं समस्तम्
Sin, poverty, greed, delusion, and suffering then arose endlessly; these, manifesting as the form of worldly sorrow, pervaded all this world.
अवेक्ष्य सर्वं चकितः सुरेशो देवीम् अवोचज् जगद् अस्तम् एति त्वं पाहि लोकेश्वरि लोकमातर् उमे शरण्ये सुभगे सुभद्रे
Seeing all this, the Lord of the gods became fearful and spoke to the Goddess: 'The world is sinking; protect it, O Lady of the worlds, Mother of the worlds, O Umā, refuge of all, auspicious and gracious one.'
जगत्प्रतिष्ठे वरदे जय त्वं भुक्तिः समाधिः परमा च मुक्तिः स्वाहा स्वधा स्वस्तिर् अनादिसिद्धिर् गीर् बुद्धिर् आसीर् अजरामरे त्वम्
O foundation of the universe, bestower of boons, be victorious! You are enjoyment, concentration, supreme liberation, the sacred syllables svāhā and svadhā, well-being, the primordial perfection, speech, wisdom, blessings, and you are ageless and immortal.
विद्यादिरूपेण जगत्त्रये त्वं रक्षां करोष्य् एव मदाज्ञया च त्वयैव सृष्टं भुवनत्रयं स्याद् यतः प्रकृत्यैव तथैव चित्रम्
In the form of knowledge and more, you protect the three worlds by my command; by you alone the three worlds are created, for by your very nature, so too is their wondrous diversity.
इत्य् एवम् उक्ता दयिता हरेण संश्लेषसंलापपरा बभूव श्रान्ता भवस्यार्धतनौ सुलग्ना चिक्षेप च स्वेदजलं कराग्रैः
Thus addressed by Hari, his beloved, absorbed in intimate union and conversation, became weary and clung closely to half the body of Bhava; she sprinkled sweat-water from her fingertips.
तस्माद् बभूव प्रथमं स धर्मो लक्ष्मीर् अथो दानम् अथो सुवृष्टिः सत्त्वं सुसंपन्नधरं सरांसि धान्यानि पुष्पाणि फलानि चैव
From that, first arose Dharma, then Lakṣmī, then charity, then good rainfall, virtue endowed with excellence, waters, grains, flowers, and fruits.
सौभाग्यवस्तूनि वपुः सुवेषः शृङ्गारभाजीनि महौषधानि नृत्यानि गीतान्य् अमृतं पुराणं श्रुतिस्मृती नीतिर् अथान्नपाने
Auspicious objects, beauty, fine attire, things of love, great medicines, dances, songs, nectar, ancient lore, the Vedas and Smṛtis, ethics, and food and drink.
शस्त्राणि शास्त्राणि गृहोपयोग्यान्य् अस्त्राणि तीर्थानि च काननानि इष्टानि पूर्तानि च मङ्गलानि यानानि शुभ्राभरणासनानि
Weapons, sciences, household implements, missiles, sacred places, forests, sacrifices, charitable works, auspicious rites, vehicles, and pure ornaments and seats.
भवाङ्गसंसर्गसुसंप्रहास सुस्वेदसंलापरहःप्रकारैः तथैव जातं सचराचरं च अपापकं देवि ततश् च जातम्
Through the joyful union with the body of Bhava, through sweet conversation and gentle laughter, thus all moving and unmoving beings were born, O Goddess, and from that, sinless things came into being.
सुखं प्रभूतं च शुभं च नित्यं विराजि चैतत् तव देवि भावात् तस्मात् तु मां रक्ष जगज्जनित्रि भीतं भयेभ्यो जगतां प्रधाने
Happiness, abundance, and everlasting good arose, shining forth from your nature, O Goddess; therefore, protect me, Mother of the world, who am fearful of the dangers that threaten all beings.
एके तर्कैर् विमुह्यन्ति लीयन्ते तत्र चापरे शिवशक्त्योस् तदाद्वैतं सुन्दरं नौमि विग्रहम्
Some are bewildered by arguments and others become absorbed therein; I praise that beautiful non-dual form of Śiva and Śakti.
एवं तु स्तुवतस् तस्य पुरस्ताद् अभवच् छिवः
As he thus praised, Śiva appeared before him.
किम् अभीष्टं वरयसे हरे वद परायणम्
Speak, Hari, what boon do you desire? Tell me your supreme wish.
बलवान् मे रिपुश् चासीद् दर्शनैश् च शनिर् यथा तेन बद्धस् तलं नीतः परिभूतस् त्व् अनेकधा
My enemy was powerful, and like Saturn with his gaze, he bound me and cast me down, humiliating me in many ways.