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.
आद्यन्तरहितं तत्तु न हस्ताद्यङ्गसंयुतम् । न च स्त्रीरूपमथवा न पुंरूपमथोभयम्
It was without beginning or end, not joined with hands or other limbs; neither in the form of a woman, nor a man, nor both.
दीप्त्या पिधानं नेत्राणां तेषामासीन्महीपते । पुनश्च धैर्यमालम्ब्य यावत्ते ददृशुः सुराः
Its brilliance veiled their eyes, O king; but regaining their composure, the gods beheld it.
तावत्तदेव स्त्रीरूपेणाभाद्दिव्यं मनोहरम् । अतीव रमणीयाङ्गीं कुमारीं नवयौवनाम्
Then, that very radiance appeared in the form of a divine, enchanting woman, exceedingly beautiful in every limb, a maiden in the bloom of youth.
उद्यत्पीनकुचद्वन्द्वनिन्दिताम्भोजकुड्मलाम् । रणत्किङ्किणिकाजालसिञ्जन्मञ्जीरमेखलाम्
Her budding breasts shamed lotus buds, her waist was adorned with a jingling girdle of tinkling bells.
कनकाङ्गदकेयूरग्रैवेयकविभूषिताम् । अनर्घ्यमणिसम्भिन्नगलबन्धविराजिताम्
She was adorned with golden armlets, bracelets, and necklaces, her neck radiant with priceless gems.
तनुकेतकसंराजन्नीलभ्रमरकुन्तलाम् । नितम्बबिम्बसुभगां रोमराजिविराजिताम्
Her hair was dark as swarms of bees, crowned with ketaka flowers; her hips were lovely as round mirrors, and a line of fine hair adorned her body.
कर्पूरशकलोन्मिश्रताम्बूलपूरिताननाम् । कनत्कनकताटङ्कविटङ्कवदनाम्बुजाम्
Her face was filled with betel mixed with camphor, her lotus-like face adorned with golden earrings.
अष्टमीचन्द्रबिम्बाभललाटामायतभ्रुवम् । रक्तारविन्दनयनामुन्नसां मधुराधराम्
Her forehead shone like the eighth-day moon, her brows were long, her eyes red lotuses, her nose high, her lips sweet.
कुन्दकुड्मलदन्ताग्रां मुक्ताहारविराजिताम् । रत्नसम्भिन्नमुकुटां चन्द्ररेखावतंसिनीम्
Her teeth were like jasmine buds, she was adorned with a pearl necklace, her crown set with jewels, and she wore a crescent moon as an ornament.
मल्लिकामालतीमालाकेशपाशविराजिताम् । काश्मीरबिन्दुनिटिलां नेत्रत्रयविलासिनीम्
Her hair was adorned with garlands of jasmine and mālatī flowers, her forehead marked with a spot of saffron, and she sported three eyes.