उवाच तं जगन्माता नीतिसारं परं वचः
The Mother of the Universe spoke to him words of supreme wisdom and righteousness.
अहो तपःप्रभावश्च तेजसश्च न जीविनाम्
Indeed, the power of asceticism and brilliance is unmatched among living beings.
पार्वत्युवाच वक्ता चतुर्णां वेदानां जनकश्च स्वयं विभुः
Pārvatī said: He is the reciter of the four Vedas and himself their origin, the all-pervading Lord.
मुक्तिप्रदाता भक्तानां दाता च सर्वसंपदाम् 4.37.
He grants liberation to devotees and bestows all wealth.
सदा ते परिपाल्याऽहं पोष्या भक्त्या च किंकरी
I am always to be protected and nourished by you, serving with devotion.
किंचिच्छुद्धं हिरण्येन किंचिद्वस्तु च वायुना
Some things are purified by gold, and some by wind.
विष्णोर्निवेदितान्नेन यष्टव्याः सर्वदेवताः
All the deities are to be worshipped with food offered to Viṣṇu.
अनिवेद्यमभक्ष्यं च नैवेद्यमुदरे हरेः
That which has not been offered, or is unfit to be eaten, is not to be offered into Hari’s belly.
अमृतं सर्ववस्तूनामिष्टसारं सुदुर्लभम्
It is the nectar among all things, the essence of what is desired, exceedingly rare.
हन्त्यकालिकमृत्युं तदमृतं मूढरंजनम्
That nectar destroys untimely death and delights the ignorant.
यदृच्छया तं नैवेद्यं यो भुङ्क्ते साधुसंगतः
Whoever, by chance, eats that offering in the company of the virtuous—
यो निवेद्य हरिं भुङ्क्ते भक्त्या भक्तश्च नित्यशः
Whoever, having offered it to Hari, eats with devotion, and is ever a devotee—
श्रुतं पुरा त्वन्मुखतः पुष्करे मुनिसंसदि
Formerly, in the assembly of sages at Puṣkara, I heard this from your own mouth.
सुचिरं च तपस्तप्त्वा मया लब्धस्त्वमीश्वरः 4.37.
After performing austerities for a long time, I have obtained you, O Lord.
यतो न दत्तं नैवद्यं विष्णोर्मह्यं त्वयाऽधुना
Because you have not now offered the food to Viṣṇu, nor to me—
अद्यप्रभृति ये लोका नैवेद्यं भुञ्जते तव
From today onward, those people who eat your offering—
इत्युक्त्वा पार्वती माता रुरोद पुरतो विभोः
Having spoken thus, Mother Pārvatī wept before the Lord.
तदा शिवः शिवां भक्त्या कृत्वा वक्षसि सादरम्
Then Śiva, with devotion, respectfully placed Śivā upon his chest.
करेण चक्षुषोर्नीरं संमृज्य च पुनःपुनः
With his hand, he gently wiped the tears from her eyes again and again.
परितुष्टा च सा देवी भर्तारं समुवाच ह
The goddess, being satisfied, spoke to her husband.
बिभर्ति देहं सततं तव सौभाग्यवर्द्धनम्
She always bears a body that increases your good fortune.
अपूर्वं तव नैवेद्यं जन्ममृत्युजराहरम्
Your offering is unprecedented, removing birth, death, and old age.
लिङ्गोपरि च यद्दत्तं तदेवाग्राह्यमीश्वर
Whatever is offered upon the liṅga, O Lord, that alone is to be accepted.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा सा देवी देहं त्यक्तुं समुद्यता 4.37.
Having spoken thus, the goddess prepared to abandon her body.
शंकर उवाच ममापराधमखिलं क्षन्तुमर्हसि सुन्दरि
Śaṃkara said: You must forgive all my faults, O beautiful one.
मां भृत्यं तपसा क्रीतं कृपां कुरु ममोपरि
Show mercy to me, who am your servant, won by your austerities.
अहो गोलोकनाथस्थ गुणातीतस्य निर्गुणे
Ah! The Lord of Goloka, transcending qualities, is beyond all attributes.
साकारे च निराकारे नित्ये स्वेच्छामये प्रिये
He is both with form and formless, eternal, and acts according to his own will, O beloved.
सर्वबीजस्वरूपे च महामाये मनोहरे ४५ इच्छैव श्रीहरेः साक्षान्नाहं दातुमपि क्षमः
In the form of the seed of all, O enchanting great Māyā, even I am not able to grant the very wish of Śrī Hari himself.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा पुरतस्तस्थौ च चन्द्रशेखरः
Having spoken thus, Candraśekhara stood there before her.