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.
ब्राह्मण उवाच नानाविधं मिष्टमिष्टं भोक्तुं श्रुत्वा समागतः
The Brahmin said: Hearing that there are many kinds of delicious and desired foods, I have come.
सुव्रते तव पुत्रोऽहमग्रे मां पूजयिष्यसि
O virtuous one, I am your son; in the future you will honor me.
ताताः पञ्चविधाः प्रोक्ता मातरो विविधाः स्मृताः
Fathers are said to be of five kinds; mothers are remembered as of various sorts.
विद्यादाताऽन्नदाता च भयत्राता च जन्मदः
The giver of knowledge, the giver of food, the protector from fear, and the giver of birth—
गुरुपत्नी गर्भधात्री स्तनदात्री पितुः स्वसा
The teacher’s wife, the one who bears in the womb, the one who gives milk, and the father’s sister—
भृत्यः शिष्यश्च पोष्यश्च वीर्य्यजः शरणागतः
A servant, a student, one who is maintained, one born of strength, and one who has sought refuge—
क्षुत्तृड्भ्यां पीडितो मातर्वृद्धोऽहं शरणागतः
Afflicted by hunger and thirst, O mother, I am old and have come for refuge.
पिष्टकं परमान्नं च सुपक्वानि फलानि च
Flour cakes, the best rice pudding, and well-cooked fruits—
पक्वान्नं स्वस्तिकं क्षीरमिक्षुमिक्षुविकारजम्
Cooked rice, svastika cakes, milk, and products made from sugarcane,
लड्डुकानि तिलानां च मिष्टान्नैः सगुडानि च
Laddus made from sesame seeds, and sweet foods prepared with jaggery,