व्रतं समाप्य सा दुर्गा दत्त्वा दानानि सस्मिता
Having completed her vow, Durga, smiling, gave gifts.
ताम्बूलं च वरं रम्यं कर्पूरादिसुवासितम्
She also offered betel, delightful and fragrant with camphor and other scents.
पयःफेननिभां शय्यां रम्यां सद्रत्नमञ्चके रहसि स्वामिना सार्द्धं सुष्वाप परमेश्वरी
On a beautiful bed, white as milk froth and adorned with precious gems, the supreme goddess slept in private together with her lord.
कैलासस्यैकदेशे च रम्ये चन्दनकानने
In a delightful part of Kailāsa, within a fragrant sandalwood grove,
भ्रमरध्वनिसंयुक्ते पुंस्कोकिलरुताश्रये
Where the air was filled with the hum of bees and the calls of male cuckoos,
रेतःपतनकाले च स विष्णुर्विष्णुमायया
At the moment of the emission of seed, Viṣṇu, by his own māyā,
जटावन्तं विना तैलं कुचैलं भिक्षुकं मुने
O sage, appeared as a matted-haired ascetic, without oil, in soiled garments, like a beggar,
अतीव कृशगात्रं च बिभ्रत्तिलकमुज्ज्वलम्
Extremely thin in body, yet bearing a radiant tilaka mark,
आजुहाव महादेवमतिवृद्धोऽन्नयाचकः
He called out to Mahādeva, appearing as a very old man, begging for food.
ब्राह्मण उवाच सप्तरात्रिव्रतेऽतीते पारणाकांक्षिणं क्षुधा
The brāhmaṇa said: After completing a seven-night vow, I am eager to break my fast and am hungry.
किं करोषि महादेव हे तात करुणानिधे
What are you doing, O Mahādeva? O father, ocean of compassion!
मातरुत्तिष्ठ मेऽन्नं त्वं प्रयच्छाद्य शिवं जलम्
Mother, arise! Give me food today, and O Śiva, give me water.
मातर्मातर्जगन्मातरेहि नाहं स्थितो बहिः
Mother, mother, mother of the world, come! I am not standing outside.
इति काकुस्वरं श्रुत्वा शिवस्योत्तिष्ठतो मुने
Hearing that plaintive voice as Śiva was rising, O sage,
उत्तस्थौ पार्वती त्रस्ता सूक्ष्मवस्त्रं पिधाय च
Pārvatī rose in fear, covering herself with a thin garment.
ददर्श ब्राह्मणं दीनं जरया परिपीडितम्
She saw a brāhmaṇa, destitute and afflicted by old age.
तपस्विनमशान्तं च शुष्ककण्ठौष्ठतालुकम्
An ascetic, restless, with parched throat, lips, and palate.
श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं तत्र नीलकण्ठः सुधोपमम्
Hearing those words there, Nīlakaṇṭha, sweet as nectar,
शंकर उवाच किन्नाम भवतः क्षिप्रं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि साम्प्रतम्
Śaṃkara said: What is it that you desire? I wish to know at once.
पार्वत्युवाच अद्य मे सफलं जन्म ब्राह्मणो मद्गृहेऽतिथिः
Pārvatī said: Today my birth is fulfilled—a brāhmaṇa has come as a guest to my house.
अतिथिः पूजितो येन त्रिजगत्तेन पूजितम्
Whoever honors a guest has honored all the three worlds.
तीर्थान्यतिथिपादेषु शश्वत्तिष्ठन्ति निश्चितम्
Certainly, holy places always abide at the feet of a guest.
स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु सर्वयज्ञेषु दीक्षितः
He is as if bathed in all sacred waters and initiated in all sacrifices.
महादानानि सर्वाणि कृतानि तेन भूतले
He has performed all the great gifts upon the earth.
नानाप्रकारपुण्यानि वेदोक्तानि च यानि वै
And whatever various kinds of merits are declared in the Vedas.
अपूजितोऽतिथिर्यस्य भवनाद्विनिवर्त्तते
But if a guest departs from one's house unhonored—
यानि कानि च पापानि ब्रह्महत्यादिकानि च
Whatever sins there are, even those like the killing of a Brahmin—
ब्राह्मण उवाच क्षुत्तृड्भ्यां पीडितो मातर्वचनं च श्रुतौ श्रुतम्
The Brahmin said: Afflicted by hunger and thirst, as the command of the mother is heard in the scriptures—
व्याधियुक्तो निराहारो यदा वाऽनशनव्रती
Afflicted by disease, without food, or when observing a fast—
पार्वत्युवाच दास्यामि भोक्तुं त्वामद्य मज्जन्म सफलं कुरु
Pārvatī said: Today I shall give you food; make my birth fruitful.