देवीमाराधयामास महाभाग्यफलप्रदाम् । मूर्तिं च मृण्मयीं तस्या विधाय पृथिवीपतिः
Worshipped the goddess, who grants the fruits of great fortune; and, having fashioned her clay image, the lord of the earth performed rites.
उपासते स्म तां देवीं वाग्भवं स जपन् रहः । निराहारो जितश्वासो नियमव्रतकर्शितः
He worshipped that goddess, reciting the Vagbhava mantra in secret; fasting, controlling his breath, emaciated by observances and vows.
एकपादेन सन्तिष्ठन् धरायामनिशं स्थिरः । शतवर्षं जितः कामः क्रोधस्तेन महात्मना
Standing on one foot, firm upon the earth day and night; for a hundred years, that great soul conquered desire and anger.
जे स्थावरतां देव्याश्चरणौ चिन्तयन् हृदि । तस्य तत्तपसा देवी प्रादुर्भूता जगन्मयी
He attained steadfastness, meditating on the goddess's feet in his heart; by his austerity, the goddess, embodying the universe, appeared.
उवाच वचनं दिव्यं वरं वरय भूमिप । तत आनन्दजनकं श्रुत्वा वाक्यं महीपतिः
She spoke divine words: 'Choose a boon, O king.' Hearing this speech, which brought joy, the ruler of the earth,
वरयामास तान् हृत्स्थान् वरानमरदुर्लभान् । मनुरुवाच जय देवि विशालाक्षि जय सर्वान्तरस्थिते
Chose those boons residing in his heart, rare even for immortals; Manu said: 'Victory to you, O goddess, wide-eyed, victory to you who dwell within all.'
मान्ये पूज्ये जगद्धात्रि सर्वमङ्गलमङ्गले । त्वत्कटाक्षावलोकेन पद्मभूः सृजते जगत्
O venerable, worshipful, nourisher of the world, most auspicious among the auspicious; by the glance of your eye, the lotus-born creates the universe.
वैकुण्ठः पालयत्येव हरः संहरते क्षणात् । शचीपतिस्त्रिलोक्याश्च शासको भवदाज्ञया
Vaikuntha indeed protects, Hara destroys in an instant; the lord of Śacī rules the three worlds by your command.
प्राणिनः शिक्षयत्येव दण्डेन च परेतराट् । यादसामधिपः पाशी पालनं मादृशामपि
The lord of the departed instructs living beings with punishment; the lord of the aquatic beings, holding the noose, protects even those like me.
कुरुते स कुबेरोऽपि निधीनां पतिरव्ययः । हुतभुङ्नैर्ऋतो वायुरीशानः शेष एव च
Even Kubera, the imperishable lord of treasures, acts; the fire-eater, Nairṛta, Vāyu, Īśāna, and Śeṣa as well.
त्वदंशसम्भवा एव त्वच्छक्तिपरिबृंहिताः । अथापि यदि मे देवि वरो देयोऽस्ति साम्प्रतम्
They are born from your portion, empowered by your energy; yet, O goddess, if a boon is to be granted to me at this time,
तदा प्रह्वाः सर्गकार्ये विघ्ना नश्यन्तु मे शिवे । वाग्भवस्यापि मन्त्रस्य ये केचिदुपसेविनः
Then, O auspicious one, let obstacles in my work of creation be destroyed; and for those who worship the Vagbhava mantra,
तेषां सिद्धिः सत्वरापि कार्याणां जायतामपि । ये संवादमिमं देवि पठन्ति श्रावयन्ति च
Let success in their tasks arise swiftly; and those who recite or cause others to hear this dialogue, O goddess,
तेषां लोके भुक्तिमुक्ती सुलभे भवतां शिवे । जातिस्मरत्वं भवतु वक्तृत्वं सौष्ठवं तथा
For them, O auspicious one, enjoyment and liberation in the world become easily attainable; let them have remembrance of past births, eloquence, and excellence as well.
ज्ञानसिद्धिः कर्ममार्गसंसिद्धिरपि चास्तु हि । पुत्रपौत्रसमृद्धिश्च जायेदित्येव मे वचः
May there be attainment of knowledge, success in the path of action, and abundance of sons and grandsons—let all this come to pass, as I have spoken.
विन्ध्योपाख्यानवर्णनम् श्रीदेव्युवाच भूमिपाल महाबाहो सर्वमेतद्भविष्यति । यत्त्वया प्रार्थितं तत्ते ददामि मनुजाधिप
The Account of Vindhya Begins The Blessed Goddess said: O king, mighty-armed ruler of the earth, all that you have asked for shall indeed come to be; I grant you what you have desired, O lord of men.
अहं प्रसन्ना दैत्येन्द्रनाशनामोघविक्रमा । वाग्भवस्य जपेनैव तपसा ते सुनिश्चितम्
I am pleased, O destroyer of demons, whose power is unfailing; through your recitation of the Vagbhava mantra and your austerity, it is certain.
राज्यं निष्कण्टकं तेऽस्तु पुत्रा वंशकरा अपि । मयि भक्तिर्दृढा वत्स मोक्षान्ते सत्पदे भवेत्
May your kingdom be free from obstacles, may your sons continue your lineage; and, dear one, with firm devotion to me, at the end of life you shall attain the highest state.
एवं वरान्महादेवी तस्मै दत्त्वा महात्मने । पश्यतस्तु मनोरेव जगाम विन्ध्यपर्वतम्
Thus, having granted these boons to that great-souled one, the great Goddess, while Manu looked on, departed for Mount Vindhya.
योऽसौ विन्ध्याचलो रुद्धः कुम्भोद्भवमहर्षिणा । भानुमार्गावरोधार्थं प्रवृत्तो गगनं स्पृशन्
That Vindhya mountain, which was restrained by the sage born from the water-pot, had begun to rise up to touch the sky, intending to block the path of the sun.
सा विन्ध्यवासिनी विष्णोरनुजा वरदेश्वरी । बभूव पूज्या लोकानां सर्वेषां मुनिसत्तम
She who dwells in Vindhya, the boon-bestowing goddess, sister of Vishnu, became worthy of worship by all the worlds, O best of sages.
ऋषय ऊचुः कोऽसौ विन्ध्याचलः सूत किमर्थं गगनं स्पृशन् । भानुमार्गावरोधं च किमर्थं कृतवानसौ
The sages said: Who is this Vindhya mountain, O Suta? For what reason did he rise up to touch the sky? And why did he seek to block the sun's path?
कथं च मैत्रावरुणिः पर्वतं तं महोन्नतम् । प्रकृतिस्थं चकारेति सर्वं विस्तरतो वद
And how did the son of Mitra and Varuna make that lofty mountain remain in its place? Tell us everything in detail.
न हि तृप्यामहे साधो त्वदास्यगलितामृतम् । देव्याश्चरित्ररूपाख्यं पीत्वा तृष्णा प्रवर्धते
For we are never satisfied, O noble one, drinking the nectar that flows from your lips; the thirst for hearing the stories and forms of the Goddess only grows.
सूत उवाच आसीद्विन्ध्याचलो नाम मान्यः सर्वधराभृताम् । महावनसमूहाढ्यो महापादपसंवृतः
Suta said: There was a mountain named Vindhya, honored among all the mountains that bear the earth, rich with great forests and covered with mighty trees.
सुपुष्पितैरनेकैश्च लतागुल्मैस्तु संवृतः । मृगा वराहा महिषा व्याघ्राः शार्दूलका अपि
It was covered with many flowering creepers and bushes, and abounded with deer, wild boar, buffalo, tigers, and leopards.
वानराः शशका ऋक्षाः शृगालाश्च समन्ततः । विचरन्ति सदा हृष्टा पुष्टा एव महोद्यमाः
Monkeys, hares, bears, and jackals roamed everywhere, always joyful, well-nourished, and full of energy.
नदीनदजलाक्रान्तो देवगन्धर्वकिन्नरैः । अप्सरोभिः किम्पुरुषैः सर्वकामफलद्रुमैः
It was filled with rivers and streams, and frequented by gods, gandharvas, kinnaras, apsaras, kimpurushas, and trees that grant every desire.
एतादृशे विन्ध्यनगे कदाचित्पर्यटन् महीम् । देवर्षिः परमप्रीतो जगाम स्वेच्छया मुनिः
Once, as he wandered the earth, the divine sage, greatly delighted, came of his own will to that Vindhya mountain, so splendid.
तं दृष्ट्वा स नगो मङ्क्षु तूर्णमुत्थाय सम्भ्रमात् । पाद्यमर्घ्यं तथा दत्त्वा वरासनमथार्पयत्
Seeing him, the mountain quickly rose up in haste, and with reverence offered water for washing the feet, an arghya, and then a splendid seat.