अरे सुरा यज्ञभाजो घृतं भोक्तुं क्षमा भुवि 1.13.
O gods, you who partake of the offerings in sacrifice, are worthy to enjoy the clarified butter on earth.
नारायण जगत्कान्त नाहमेव जगद्बहिः
O Nārāyaṇa, beloved of the world, I am not other than the world itself.
प्रजापते पुत्रशापात्त्वमपूज्यो महीतले
O Lord of creatures, because of the curse of your son, you shall be unworthy of worship on earth.
हे शम्भो ज्ञानलोपं ते करिष्यामि शपेन च
O Śambhu, by my curse I shall cause you to lose your knowledge.
यमाधिकारं दूरे च करिष्यामि न संशयः
I will assign the jurisdiction of Yama far away, without doubt.
शपामि सर्वानत्रैव जरां व्याधिं विनाऽधुना
Here and now, I curse all of them with old age and disease, without delay.
इत्युक्त्वा कौशिकीतीरे चागच्छच्छप्तुमेव तान्
Having said this, she went to the bank of the Kausiki to pronounce the curse upon them.
तां शप्तुमुद्यतां दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मा देवपुरोगमः
Seeing her ready to utter the curse, Brahma, accompanied by the gods, approached.
तत्र स्नात्वा च तुष्टाव परमात्मानमीश्वरम्
There, after bathing, he praised the Supreme Self, the Lord.
ब्रह्मोवाच कान्तहेतोश्च मा देवाञ्छपेत्त्वं रक्ष माधव
Brahma said: O Mādhava, for the sake of a beloved, do not let her curse the gods; protect them.
स्मरन्ति साधवः सन्तो जपन्ति मुनयो मुदा 1.13.
The virtuous remember, the saints recite, and the sages joyfully chant (your name).
शरणागतदीनार्त्तपरित्राणपरायण
You are devoted to rescuing those who are distressed, helpless, and who have sought refuge.
पूजा मे पुत्रशापेन विहता साम्प्रतं प्रभो
O Lord, my worship has now been hindered by the curse upon my son.
सर्वाधिकारो ब्रह्माण्डे त्वया दत्तः पुरा प्रभो
O Lord, all authority in the universe was formerly given by you.
महादेव उवाच शतमन्वन्तरतपःफलेन पुष्करे पुरा
Mahadeva said: Long ago, in Pushkara, through the merit of a hundred Manvantaras of austerity—
ऐश्वर्यं वा धनं वाऽपि विद्या वा विक्रमोऽथवा
—whether it be lordship, or wealth, or knowledge, or even valor—
सर्वाज्ञातं सर्वगुप्तमत्यन्तं दुर्लभं परम्
—all that is unknown, all that is hidden, the highest and most difficult to attain—
अहो पतिव्रतातेजः सर्वेषां तेजसां परम्
Ah, the power of a devoted wife surpasses the brilliance of all others.
धर्म उवाच यास्यत्येवंविधो धर्मस्त्वया दत्तः पुरा प्रभो
Dharma said: Such is the dharma that you formerly established, O Lord.
सप्तमन्वन्तरतपःफलेन परमेश्वर
By the merit of austerity performed for seven Manvantaras, O Supreme Lord—
देवा ऊचुः योषिच्छापेन तत्सर्वमधुना याति माधव ।। 1.13.
The gods said: O Mādhava, now, by the curse of a woman, all that is lost.
इत्युक्त्वा संयताः सर्वे तस्थुस्तत्र भयार्दिताः
Having spoken thus, all of them stood there, restrained, overcome by fear.
यूयं गच्छत तन्मूलं विप्ररूपी जनार्दनः
You all go to that root cause; Janārdana has taken the form of a Brāhmaṇa.
श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं देवाः प्रहृष्टमनसोन्मुखाः
Hearing those words, the gods, their minds delighted and eager, set forth.
तामेव ददृशुर्देवा देवीं मालावतीं सतीम्
There, the gods beheld that very goddess, Mālāvatī, steadfast in virtue.
वह्निशुद्धांशुकाधानां सिन्दूरबिन्दुभूषिताम्
She was adorned in garments purified by fire, embellished with a dot of vermilion.
पतिसेवामहाधर्मचिरसञ्चिततेजसा
Her radiance was long accumulated through the great virtue of devoted service to her husband.
योगासनं कुर्वती च शववक्षःस्थलस्थिताम्
She was performing a yogic posture, seated upon the chest of a corpse.
तर्जन्यङ्गुष्ठकोटिभ्यां शुद्धस्फटिकमालिकाम्
With the tips of her index finger and thumb, she held a pure crystal rosary.
चारुचम्पकवर्णाभां बिम्बोष्ठीं रत्नमालिनीम्
She shone with the lovely hue of champaka flowers, with lips like bimba fruit, adorned with jewels.