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.
सन्तानरहितो ऽतिष्ठद्बहुकालं शुचाकुलः
He remained for a long time, afflicted by purity, without offspring.
उवाचाचारसंशुद्धः सर्वशास्त्रार्थवेदिनम्
He spoke, purified by conduct, knowing the meaning of all scriptures.
किं कुर्वे यदि संतानसंपत्स्यात्तन्निवेदय
What should I do so that offspring may be obtained? Please tell me that.
एता पुण्यतमाः प्रोक्ताः पुरीणामुत्तमोत्तमाः
These have been declared as the most sacred and highest of cities.
अर्चयन्ति ह्ययोध्यायां मनुष्या अधिदेवताम्
Indeed, in Ayodhya, people worship the presiding deity.
एनामेवर्चयन्त्यन्ये सर्वे श्रीदेवतां नृप
Others likewise worship this very goddess, O king, all of them.
नारिकेलफलालीभिः पनसैः कदलीफलैः
With coconut fruits, jackfruits, and bananas.
अभीष्टमचिरेणैव संप्रदास्यति सैव नः
She will grant us the desired boon very soon.
स्वाङ्गजप्राप्तये भूयो विससर्ज विशांपतिः
For the attainment of his own offspring, the lord of the people again sent forth.
अर्चयामास राजेन्द्रो भक्त्या परमया युतः
The king worshipped with supreme devotion.