Brahmanda Purana

चिरेण प्राप्तवान्काञ्चीं ब्रह्मणा पूर्वमोषिताम्

After a long time, he reached Kanchi, which had formerly been inhabited by Brahma.

पञ्चतीर्थे प्रतिदिनं स्नात्वा भूलक्षणाङ्किते

He bathed daily at the five sacred fords, marked by the signs of the earth.

काञ्चीक्षेत्रनिवासेन क्रमेण प्रयताशयः

By dwelling in the holy land of Kanchi, his mind gradually became pure.

उत्तरे सेवितुं लक्ष्म्या वासुदेवेन दक्षिणे

He served Lakshmi in the north, and Vasudeva in the south.

आदिलक्ष्मीपदध्यानमाततान यतात्मवान्

He, self-controlled, spread forth meditation on the feet of Adi-Lakshmi.

तथान्तर्वायुरोधेन न चचाला चलेश्वरः

Thus, by restraining his breath within, the Lord of the moving did not move.

न ब्रह्मा नैव विष्णुर्वा न सिद्धः कपिलो ऽपि वा

Neither Brahma, nor Vishnu, nor even the perfected sage Kapila was able.

तया समाधिनिष्ठायां न समर्थाः कथञ्चन

While she was established in that samadhi, none were capable in any way.

अर्धरात्रे पुरः स्थित्वा वाचं प्रोवाच वाङ्मयी

At midnight, standing before him, the Lady of Speech spoke these words.

मद्रूपस्त्वं कथं देहः सेयं लोकविडम्बना

How is it that you, who are my own form, have this body? This is a delusion for the world.

इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे तत्र महासिंहासनेश्वरी

Having spoken thus, the sovereign Lady vanished there upon the great lion-throne.

विनीय तं निशाशेषं श्रीध्यानैकपरायणः

Having passed that entire night, wholly absorbed in meditation on the glorious goddess,

पुनः पुनर्धूनुते स्म करलग्नं कपालकम्

again and again he shook the skull that was held in his hand.

स्वप्नः किमेष माया वा मानसभ्रान्तिरेव वा

Is this a dream, or an illusion, or merely a confusion of the mind?

स्वयमेव निगृह्याथ शोकं धीराग्रणीः शिवः

Then, mastering his own sorrow by himself, the foremost of the steadfast, Śiva,

निगृहीतेन्द्रियग्रामः समाधिस्थो ऽभवत्पुनः

having restrained the group of his senses, again entered into samādhi.

अलं समाधिना शम्भो निमज्जात्र सरोवरे

"Enough of samādhi, O Śambhu; now plunge into this lake."

इयं च माया स्वप्नो वा किं कर्त्तव्यं मयाथ वा

"This too may be illusion or a dream—what then should I do?"

इत्युक्तं श्रीपरादेव्या यामातीतमिदं दिनम्

Thus was spoken by Śrī Parādevī about the day that had just passed.

भगवान्व्यो मवाण्या तु निमज्जाप्स्विति गर्जितम्

The Blessed Lord, in a voice like thunder, said, "Plunge into the waters!"

निममज्ज सरस्यां तु गङ्गायां पुनरुत्थितः

He plunged into the lake, into the Gaṅgā, and then rose up again.

स मुहुर्तं स्थितस्तूष्णीं नखलीनकपालकः

He stood for a moment in silence, the skull still pressed to his fingernails.

भिक्षार्थं नगरीमेनां प्रविवेश वशी शिवः

For the sake of alms, the self-controlled Śiva entered that city.

सो ऽपश्यदग्रतः काञ्चित्काञ्चीं श्रीदेवताकृतिम्

There, before him, he saw a certain woman, radiant in the form of a divine goddess.

क्षणाद्ब्रह्मकपालं तत्प्रच्युतं तन्नखाग्रतः

In an instant, the skull of Brahmā slipped from the tip of his fingernail.

प्रसन्नवदनांभोजो बहु मेने मुहुः परम्

He regarded her, whose face was like a lotus in full bloom, again and again, with utmost reverence.

देवता सैव कामाक्षीत्यासीत्संभावना पुरः

It was believed there that this very goddess was Kāmākṣī.

स्वस्थः स्वस्थानमगमच्छ्लाघमानः परां श्रियम्

Restored to himself, he returned to his own abode, exulting in supreme fortune.

प्रभावं श्रीमहादेव्याः कामदं शृण्वतां सदा

Such is the power of Śrī Mahādevī, the wish-fulfilling one, for all who ever listen.