शुभाशुभं च यत्किंचित्सर्वं कर्मोद्भवं भवेत्
Whatever is auspicious or inauspicious, all arises from karma.
चकाराराधनं भक्त्या नैष्कृत्यं च चकार ह
He performed worship with devotion and also accomplished atonement.
वनं गत्वा चिरं तिष्ठ विधाय मूर्तिमश्मनः अकामां चकमे शक्रः सर्वं जानाम्यहं प्रिये
Go to the forest and remain there for a long time, having fashioned an image of stone; Indra desired her without desire—I know everything, beloved.
तथा च परभोग्या मे न भोग्या व्रजाधमे
Thus, you are not to be enjoyed by me, but by others; go, O lowest of Vraja.
अहल्ये याति दैवेन तदुपायं निशामय
Ahalya departs by divine will; observe that method.
कामभोगेन त्याज्या सा कर्मभोगेन शुद्ध्यति 4.47.
She is to be renounced through enjoyment of desire; through enjoyment of karma, she is purified.
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि कालसूत्रं प्रयाति सा
For sixty thousand years, she enters the thread of time.
स्वामिनो वचनात्सा तु प्रणम्य स्वामिनं भिया
By the master's command, she, fearful, bowed to her master.
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि भुक्त्वा भोगं मुनिप्रिया
Having enjoyed pleasures for sixty thousand years, the sage's beloved—
त्रैलोक्यमोहनं रूपं विधाय मुनिकामिनी
Having assumed a form enchanting the three worlds, the sage's desired woman—
अथ शक्रस्य वृत्तांतं परमं शृणु सुन्दरि
Now, O beautiful one, hear the supreme account of Indra.
एकदा च गुरोः कोपात्प्रकृतेरवहेलनात्
Once, due to the guru's anger and disregard for nature—
शक्रस्त्यक्तगुरुर्दैवग्रस्तो दैत्यनिपीडितः
Indra, having abandoned his guru, afflicted by fate, was oppressed by the demons.
तदाज्ञया विश्वरूपं चकार च पुरोहितम्
By that command, he made Viśvarūpa his priest.
दैत्यदौहित्रस्य भावं विज्ञाय च विचक्षणः
Perceiving the intention of the Daitya's daughter, the wise one understood.
विश्वरूपपिता त्वष्टा श्रुत्वा सद्यश्चुकोप ह 4.47.
Hearing this, Tvaṣṭṛ, the father of Viśvarūpa, became instantly enraged.
यज्ञकुंडात्समुत्तस्थौ वृत्रो नाम महासुरः
From the sacrificial fire-pit arose Vṛtra, the great asura.
शक्रो महामुनेरस्थ्नां वज्रं कृत्वा सुदारुणम्
Indra fashioned a most terrible thunderbolt from the sage's bones.
ब्रह्महत्या शुनासीरं दुद्राव हतचेतनम्
Brahmahatyā, the personification of Brahminicide, pursued him, bereft of consciousness.
सप्ततालप्रमाणा सा शुष्ककण्ठोष्ठतालुका
She was as tall as seven palm trees, with a parched throat, lips, and palate.
धावंतं परिधावंती बलिष्ठा हतचेतनम्
As he fled, she, powerful and relentless, chased after him, devoid of sense.
इंद्रो दृष्ट्वा च तां घोरां स्मारंस्मारं गुरोः पदम्
Seeing that dreadful being, Indra kept recalling his teacher's feet.
तत्र गंतुं न शक्ता सा ब्रह्मणः शापकारणात्
She was unable to go there because of Brahmā's curse.
अथात्र नहुषो भूपस्त्रिलोकेशो बभूव ह
Then Nahusha, the king, became the lord of the three worlds.
शची श्रुत्वा महाभीता तारकां शरणं ययौ
Hearing this, Śacī, greatly afraid, sought refuge with Tārā.
शचीमाश्वास्य स्वगुरुर्जगाम तत्सरो मुदा 4.47.
Her own teacher comforted Śacī and joyfully went to that lake.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच त्वदीश्वरं स्वरेणैव निशामय भयं त्यज
Bṛhaspati said: 'Listen with your own voice to your lord; abandon fear.'
सूक्ष्मरूपं परित्यज्य स्वरूपं च दधार सः
He abandoned his subtle form and assumed his own true form.
दृष्ट्वा ननाम संप्रीत्या संप्रीतं त्यक्तकोपकम्
Seeing him, she bowed with joy, and he, pleased, let go of his anger.
निधाय वक्षसि प्रेम्णा रुरोद प्रेमविह्वलः पुटांजलिः पुलकितो भक्तिनम्रात्मकंधरः
Placing her on his chest with love, he wept, overwhelmed with affection, hands joined, his body thrilled, bowing with devotion.