वटमूलाद्गते रुद्रे पार्वती तपसे ययौ
When Rudra departed from beneath the banyan tree, Pārvatī went to undertake austerities.
गत्वा सा स्वर्णदीतीरं स्नात्वा त्रिषवणं मुदा
Having gone to the bank of the golden river, she bathed three times daily with joy.
वर्षमेकं च संपूर्णमनाहारा स्वभक्तितः
For a full year, she remained without food, devoted solely to her worship.
ग्रीष्मे च परितो वह्निं प्रज्वलन्तं दिवानिशम् कृत्वा प्रतस्थौ तन्मध्ये संततं जपती मनुम्
In the summer, she surrounded herself with blazing fires day and night, and standing in their midst, she continuously recited her mantra.
शश्वत्स्मशाने वर्षासु कृत्वा योगासनं शिवा
During the rains, Śivā always established her yogic seat in the cremation ground.
शीते जलान्तरे शश्वत्प्रतस्थौ भक्तिपूर्वकम्
In winter, she constantly stood in the water, with devotion.
एवं कृत्वा परं वर्षमप्राप्य शंकरं सती
Having performed thus for another year, Satī did not obtain Śaṃkara.
तामग्निकुण्डं विशतीं तपसाऽतिकृशां सतीम्
Entering the fire-pit, emaciated by her austerities, Satī—
अतीव वामनो बालो विप्ररूपी स्वतेजसा 4.40.
A very short, young boy, in the form of a brāhmaṇa, radiant with his own splendor,
शुक्लयज्ञोपवीती च शुक्लवासाश्च सस्मितः
Wearing a white sacred thread and white garments, smiling,
निर्जने बालकं दृष्ट्वा स्निग्धा सापि जगाद ह
Seeing the boy in that lonely place, she, affectionate, spoke to him.
को भवानिति पप्रच्छ तं शिशुं पुरतः स्थितम्
She asked the child standing before her, 'Who are you?'
श्रुत्वा शैलसुता प्रश्नं प्रहस्य परमेश्वरः
Hearing the question of the daughter of the mountain, the Supreme Lord smiled.
शंकर उवाच का त्वं कान्ताऽतिकान्तारे तपश्चरसि सुन्दरि
Śaṃkara said: Who are you, O beautiful one, performing austerities in this deep forest?
वद कस्य कुले जाता कस्य कन्या च काऽभिधा
Tell me, in which family were you born? Whose daughter are you? What is your name?
अहो वा तपसां राशिः स्वयं मूर्तिमती सती
Ah, what a heap of austerities! Satī herself, embodied, stands before me.
स्वयं तेजःस्वरूपा वा मूलप्रकृतिरीश्वरी
Are you yourself the embodiment of radiance, or the primal nature, the supreme Lady?
किं वा त्रिलोके लक्ष्मीस्त्वं संपद्रूपा सनातनी
Or are you Lakshmi in the three worlds, the eternal form of prosperity?
किं वाम्बिका त्वं देवानां स्वयं मूर्तिमती सती 4.40.
Or are you Ambika, the manifest form of the gods, truly existing as Sati?
रागाधिष्ठातृदेवी वा स्वयं साक्षात्सरस्वती
Or are you the goddess presiding over passion, or Sarasvati herself, directly present?
एतासु मध्ये का वा त्वं नाहं तर्कितुमीश्वरः
Among these, which one are you? I am not capable of discerning this, O Lady.
सति त्वयि प्रसन्नायां प्रसन्नः परमेश्वरः
When you are pleased, the Supreme Lord is pleased.
तुष्टे नारायणे देवे शश्वत्तुष्टं जगत्त्रयम्
When the god Narayana is satisfied, the three worlds are always satisfied.
शिशोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य परमेश्वरी
Hearing those words of the child, the Supreme Lady smiled.
पार्वत्युवाच जन्म मे भारते वर्षे साम्प्रतं शैलकन्यका
Parvati said: My birth is now in the land of Bharata, as the daughter of the mountain.
पूर्वं जन्म दक्षगेहे सती शंकरकामिनी
In my previous birth I was Sati, the daughter of Daksha, desiring Shankara.
अत्र जन्मनि पुण्येन सम्प्राप्ते शंकरे द्विज
In this birth, through merit, I have attained Shankara, O twice-born one.
प्रयाते शंकरे तापाद्व्रीडयाऽहं पितुर्गृहात्
When Shankara departed, out of grief and shame I left my father's house.
तपः कृत्वा कठोरं च सुचिरं प्राणवल्लभम् 4.40.
Having performed severe austerities for a long time, for the sake of my beloved.
गच्छ त्वं प्रविशाम्यग्नौ प्रलयाग्निशिखोपमे
He said, 'Go, I will enter the fire, blazing like the fire of dissolution.'