इमानि मुक्तिक्षेत्राणि साक्षात्संविन्मयानि च । सिद्धपीठानि राजेन्द्र संश्रयेन्मतिमान्नरः
These are the liberation-bestowing places, truly composed of consciousness; O King, the wise man should take refuge in these accomplished seats.
पृष्टं यत्तत्त्वया राजन्नुक्तं सर्वं महेशितुः । रहस्यातिरहस्यं च किं भूयः सह्रोतुमिच्छसि
O King, all that you have asked has been told as spoken by the great Lord; this is the most secret of secrets—what more do you wish to hear?
हिमालयगृहे पार्वतीजन्मविषये देवान् प्रति देवीकथनवर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच धराधराधीशमौलावाविरासीत्परं महः । यदुक्तं भवता पूर्वं विस्तरात्तद्वदस्व मे
Janamejaya said: In the house of Himālaya, concerning the birth of Pārvatī, you previously spoke of a supreme radiance appearing on the crest of the lord of mountains; please describe that to me in detail.
को विरज्येत मतिमान् पिबञ्छक्तिकथामृतम् । सुधां तु पिबतां मृत्युः स नैतच्छृण्वतो भवेत्
Who, being wise, would refrain from drinking the nectar of the tales of Śakti? Even death does not come to those who listen to this, though it comes to those who drink ordinary nectar.
व्यास उवाच धन्योऽसि कृतकृत्योऽसि शिक्षितोऽसि महात्मभिः । भाग्यवानसि यद्देव्यां निर्व्याजा भक्तिरस्ति ते
Vyāsa said: You are blessed, your purpose is fulfilled, you have been instructed by great souls; you are fortunate, for you have pure devotion to the Goddess.
शृणु राजन्पुरा वृत्तं सतीदेहेऽग्निभर्जिते । भ्रान्तः शिवस्तु बभ्राम क्वचिद्देशे स्थिरोऽभवत्
Hear, O King, what happened before, when Satī's body was consumed by fire: Śiva, distraught, wandered and at times remained in one place.
प्रपञ्चभानरहितः समाधिगतमानसः । ध्यायन्देवीस्वरूपं तु कालं निन्ये स आत्मवान्
His mind withdrawn from the world, absorbed in meditation, he spent his time contemplating the form of the Goddess.
सौभाग्यरहितं जातं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् । शक्तिहीनं जगत्सर्वं साब्धिद्वीपं सपर्वतम्
All the three worlds, with their moving and unmoving beings, became devoid of good fortune; the entire universe, with its oceans and mountains, was bereft of power.
आनन्दः शुष्कतां यातः सर्वेषां हृदयान्तरे । उदासीनाः सर्वलोकाश्चिन्ताजर्जरचेतसः
Joy dried up within the hearts of all; all beings became indifferent, their minds worn by anxiety.
सदा दुःखोदधौ मग्ना रोगग्रस्तास्तदाभवन् । ग्रहाणां देवतानां च वैपरीत्येन वर्तनम्
All were constantly submerged in an ocean of sorrow, afflicted by disease; the planets and deities began to act contrary to their nature.
अधिभूताधिदैवानां सत्यभावान्नृपाभवन् । अथाऽस्मिन्नेव काले तु तारकाख्यो महसुरः
Because the beings and deities were truly affected, O King, at that time a great asura named Tāraka arose.
ब्रह्मदत्तवरो दैत्योऽभवत्त्रैलोक्यनायकः । शिवौरसस्तु यः पुत्रः स ते हन्ता भविष्यति
That demon, granted a boon by Brahmā, became the lord of the three worlds; it was declared that the son born from Śiva's seed would be his slayer.
इति कल्पितमृत्युः स देवदेवैर्महासुरः । शिवौरससुताभावाज्जगर्ज च ननन्द च
Thus, his death was ordained by the gods; but, since there was no son born from Śiva's seed, the great asura roared and rejoiced.
तेन चोपद्रुताः सर्वे स्वस्थानात्प्रच्युताः सुराः । शिवौरससुताभावाच्चिन्तामापुर्दुरत्ययाम्
Because of him, all the gods were troubled and driven from their own places; due to the absence of Śiva's son, they fell into insurmountable anxiety.
नाङ्गना शङ्करस्यास्ति कथं तत्सुतसम्भवः । अस्माकं भाग्यहीनानां कथं कार्यं भविष्यति
There is no wife for Śaṅkara, so how can a son be born? For us, deprived of fortune, how will our purpose be accomplished?
इति चिन्तातुराः सर्वे जग्मुर्वैकुण्ठमण्डले । शशंसुर्हरिमेकान्ते स चोपायं जगाद ह
Thus, all, tormented by worry, went to the realm of Vaikuṇṭha; they reported everything to Hari in private, and he revealed a means.
कुतश्चिन्तातुराः सर्वे कामकल्पद्रुमा शिवा । जागर्ति भूवनेशानी मणिद्वीपाधिवासिनी
Why are you all so anxious? Śivā, the wish-fulfilling tree, the sovereign of the world, the dweller in Maṇidvīpa, is ever awake.
अस्माकमनया देव तदुपेक्षास्ति नान्यथा । शिक्षैवेयं जगन्मात्रा कृतास्मच्छिक्षणाय च
It is only by her, O gods, that we are neglected; this is nothing else. The Mother of the world has arranged this as a lesson for us.
लालने ताडने मातुर्नाकारुण्यं यथार्भके । तद्वदेव जगन्मातुर्नियन्त्र्या गुणदोषयोः
Just as a mother shows no lack of compassion to her child, whether nurturing or disciplining, so too does the Mother of the world, the controller, regarding merits and faults.
अपराधो भवत्येव तनयस्य पदे पदे । कोऽपरः सहते लोके केवलं मातरं विना
A child inevitably commits offenses at every step; who else in the world endures, except the mother alone?
तस्माद्यूयं पराम्बां तां शरणं यात मा चिरम् । निर्व्याजया चित्तवृत्त्या सा वः कार्यं विधास्यति
Therefore, all of you should quickly take refuge in the Supreme Mother; with sincere intent, she will accomplish your purpose.
इत्यादिश्य सुरान्सर्वान्महाविष्णुः स्वजायया । संयुतो निर्जगामाशु देवैः सह सुराधिपः
Thus instructing all the gods, Mahāviṣṇu, together with his consort, swiftly departed with the gods and the lord of the gods.
आजगाम महाशैलं हिमवन्तं नगाधिपम् । अभवंश्च सुराः सर्वे पुरश्चरणकर्मिणः
They arrived at the great mountain, Himavat, the lord of peaks, and all the gods who performed preliminary rites were present.
अम्बायज्ञविधानज्ञा अम्बायज्ञं च चक्रिरे । तृतीयादिव्रतान्याशु चक्रुः सर्वे सुरा नृप
Those skilled in the procedures of Ambā's sacrifice performed the Ambā sacrifice; all the gods, O king, quickly observed the vows beginning with the third day.
केचित्समाधिनिष्णाताः केचिन्नामपरायणाः । केचित्सूक्तपराः केचिन्नामपारायणोत्सुकाः
Some were immersed in meditation, some devoted to reciting names, some intent on hymns, and others eager for the recitation of names.
मन्त्रपारायणपराः केचित्कृच्छ्रादिकारिणः । अन्तर्यागपराः केचित्केचिन्न्यासपरायणाः
Some were devoted to the recitation of mantras, some performed austerities and similar rites; some were intent on inner worship, and others on the practice of nyāsa.
हृल्लेखया पराशक्तेः पूजां चक्रुरतन्द्रिताः । इत्येवं बहुवर्षाणि कालोऽगाज्जनमेजय
With the syllable hrīṃ, they tirelessly worshipped the supreme power; thus, many years passed, O Janamejaya.
अकस्माच्चैत्रमासीयनवम्यां च भृगोर्दिने । प्रादुर्बभूव पुरतस्तन्महः श्रुतिबोधितम्
Suddenly, on the ninth day of the bright half of the month of Caitra, on a Friday, that radiance described in the Vedas appeared before them.
चतुर्दिक्षु चतुर्वेदैर्मूर्तिमद्भिरभिष्टुतम् । कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं चन्द्रकोटिसुशीतलम्
Praised in all directions by the embodied Vedas, it shone like ten million suns, yet was as cool as ten million moons.
विद्युत्कोटिसमानाभमरुणं तत्परं महः । नैव चोर्ध्वं न तिर्यक्च न मध्ये परिजग्रभत्
That supreme radiance was reddish like ten million flashes of lightning; it was not grasped as above, across, or in the middle.