इत्युक्त्वा ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो गृहीत्वा शङ्करं मुने
Having spoken thus, the son of Brahma, O sage, took hold of Shankara.
दृष्ट्वा शिवं गृह्यमाणं कुमारेण च पार्वती
Seeing Shiva being seized by the boy, Parvati—
विचिन्त्य मनसा साध्वीत्येवमेव दुरत्ययम्
That virtuous lady, reflecting in her mind, thought this was truly insurmountable.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे देवाः पार्वतीसहितास्तदा
Meanwhile, at that moment, the gods together with Parvati—
कोटिसूर्य्यप्रभोर्ध्वं च प्रज्वलन्तं दिशो दश
Saw, above, a radiance blazing in all ten directions, outshining millions of suns.
विष्णुरुवाच सोऽयं ते षोडशांशश्च के वयं यो महाविराट्
Vishnu said: This one is your sixteenth part; who are we, compared to the Great Cosmic Being?
ब्रह्मोवाच स्तोतुं तद्वर्णितुमहं शक्तः किं स्तौमि तत्परः
Brahma said: Am I able to praise or describe Him? How can I praise the Supreme?
देवा उचुः स्तोतुं न शक्ता वेदा यं न च शक्ता सरस्वती
The gods said: The Vedas are not able to praise Him, nor is Sarasvati capable.
मुनय उचुः स्तोतुमीशा न वाणी च त्वां वाङ्मनसयोः परम्
The sages said: Speech is not able to praise You, who are beyond both speech and mind.
सरस्वत्युवाच किञ्चिन्न शक्ता त्वां स्तोतुमहो वाङ्मनसोः परम्
Sarasvati said: I am not at all able to praise You, who are beyond speech and mind.
सावित्र्युवाच किं स्तौमि स्त्रीस्वभावेन सर्वकारणकारणम्
Savitri said: How can I, by my feminine nature, praise the Cause of all causes?
लक्ष्मीरुवाच किं स्तौमि त्वत्कलासृष्टा जगतां बीजकारणम्
Lakshmi said: How can I praise You, the seed-cause of the worlds, from whom even my own powers arise?
हिमालय उवाच स्तोतुं समुद्यतं क्षुद्रः किं स्तौमि स्तोतुमक्षमः
Himalaya said: Though I am eager to praise, I am insignificant; how can I praise, being unfit to do so?
क्रमेण सर्वे तं स्तुत्वा देवा विररमुर्मुने
One by one, having offered their praises, all the gods fell silent, O sage.
धौतवस्त्रा जटाभारं बिभ्रती सुव्रता व्रते
Clad in washed garments, bearing matted locks, she, steadfast in her vow, observed her discipline.
ज्वलदग्निशिखारूपा तेजोमूर्तिमती सती
She, Sati, whose form was blazing like tongues of fire, was the embodiment of radiance.
पार्वत्युवाच के वा जानन्ति वेदज्ञा वेदा वा वेदकारकाः
Pārvatī said: Who indeed knows, those who know the Vedas, or the Vedas themselves, or their composers?
त्वदंशास्त्वां न जानन्ति कथं ज्ञास्यन्ति ते कलाः
Even your own portions do not know you—how then could your manifestations know you?
सूक्ष्मात्सूक्ष्मतमोऽव्यक्तः स्थूलात्स्थूलतमो महान्
You are subtler than the subtlest, unmanifest; greater than the greatest, the Supreme.
कार्य्यं त्वं कारणं त्वं च कारणानां च कारणम्
You are the effect, you are the cause, and you are the cause of all causes.
निर्लिप्तो निर्गुणः साक्षी स्वात्मारामः परात्परः सगुणस्त्वं प्राकृतिकः कलया सृष्टिहेतवे
Unattached, without qualities, the witness, delighting in your own Self, transcendent beyond the highest; yet, with qualities, you take on a material form by your portion for the sake of creation.
प्रकृतिस्त्वं पुमांस्त्वं च वेदाऽन्यो न क्वचिद्भवेत्
You are Prakṛti, you are Puruṣa; there is no Veda apart from you anywhere.
कर्म त्वं कर्मबीजं त्वं कर्मणां फलदायकः केचिच्चतुर्भुजं शान्तं लक्ष्मीकान्तं मनोहरम्
You are karma, you are the seed of karma, you are the giver of the fruits of actions; some envision you as the four-armed, peaceful, enchanting beloved of Lakṣmī.
वैष्णवाश्चैव साकारं कमनीयं मनोहरम्
And the Vaiṣṇavas see you with form, charming and captivating.
द्विभुजं कमनीयं च किशोरं श्यामसुन्दरम्
As a two-armed, beautiful, youthful, dark and lovely one.
एवं तेजस्विनं भक्ताः सेवन्ते सन्ततं मुदा १३. आविर्भूता सुराणां च वधाय ब्रह्मणा स्तुता
Thus, devotees joyfully serve you, radiant one, constantly; you appeared, praised by Brahmā, for the destruction of the gods’ enemies.
नित्या तेजस्त्वरूपाऽहं धृत्वा वै विग्रहं विभो
I am eternally of the nature of radiance; having assumed a form, O Lord,
मायया तव मायाऽहं मोहयित्वाऽसुरान्पुरा
By your māyā, I am your māyā; formerly I deluded the demons.
ततोऽहं संस्तुता देवैस्तारकाक्षेण पीडितैः
Then I was praised by the gods, afflicted by Tāraka.
त्यक्त्वा देहं दक्षयज्ञे शिवाऽहं शिवनिन्दया
Having abandoned my body at Dakṣa’s sacrifice, I became Śivā because of the slander of Śiva.