यं पर्येति च विश्वात्मा सहस्रकिरणः स्वराट् । सग्रहर्क्षगणोपेतः सोऽयं कनकपर्वतः
This golden mountain, which the Sun, the soul of the universe, encircles along with the hosts of planets and stars, is the same.
आत्मानं मनुते श्रेष्ठं वरिष्ठं च धराभृताम् । सर्वेषामहमेवाग्र्यो नास्ति लोकेषु मत्समः
He considers himself the best and foremost among the mountains, thinking, 'Among all, I alone am supreme; there is none in the worlds equal to me.'
एवंमानाभिमानं तं स्मृत्वोच्छ्वासो मयोज्झितः । अस्तु नैतावता कृत्यं तपोबलवतां नग । प्रसङ्गतो मयोक्तं ते गमिष्यामि निजं गृहम्
Remembering that pride and arrogance, I sighed. But, O mountain, for those strong in austerity, this is not a matter of concern. I have told you this incidentally; now I shall go to my own abode.
देवीमाहात्म्ये विन्ध्योपाख्यानवर्णनम् सूतउवाच एवं समुपदिश्यायं देवर्षिः परमः स्वराट् । जगाम ब्रह्मणो लोकं स्वैरचारी महामुनिः
Description of the Vindhya episode in the greatness of the Goddess. Sūta said: Thus instructed, the supreme divine sage, free to move as he wished, went to the world of Brahmā.
गते मुनिवरे विन्ध्यश्चिन्तां लेभेऽनपायिनीम् । नैव शान्तिं स लेभे च सदान्तःकृतशोचनः
When the best of sages had departed, Vindhya was seized by unceasing anxiety; he found no peace and was always sorrowful within.
कथं किं त्वत्र मे कार्यं कथं मेरुं जयाम्यहम् । नैव शान्तिं लभे नापि स्वास्थ्यं मे मानसे भवेत्
What should I do here? How shall I surpass Meru? I find no peace, nor does my mind attain calmness.
(धिगुत्साहं च मानं च धिङ्मे कीर्तिं च धिक्कुलम्) धिग्बलं मे पौरुषं धिक् स्मृतं पूर्वैर्महात्मभिः । एवं चिन्तयमानस्य विन्ध्यस्य मनसि स्फुटम्
(Fie upon my enthusiasm and pride, fie upon my fame and lineage,) fie upon my strength and manliness, fie upon what the great ones of old have said; thus, clear thoughts arose in the mind of Vindhya.
प्रादुर्भूता मतिः कार्ये कर्तव्ये दोषकारिणी । मेरुप्रदक्षिणां कुर्वन्नित्यमेव दिवाकरः
A resolve appeared in his mind, intent on action but leading to fault: The Sun always circles Meru.
सग्रहर्क्षगणोपेतः सदा दृप्यत्ययं नगः । तस्य मार्गस्य संरोधं करिष्यामि निजैः करैः
That mountain, accompanied by the hosts of planets and stars, always exults; I will block his path with my own might.
तदा निरुद्धो द्युमणिः परिक्रामेत्कथं नगम् । एवं मार्गे निरुद्धे तु मया दिनकरस्य च
Then, if the Sun is obstructed, how will he go around the mountain? Thus, if I block the path of the Sun and the day, what will happen?
भग्नदर्पो दिव्यनगो भविष्यति विनिश्चयम् । एवं निश्चित्य विन्ध्याद्रिः खं स्पृशन् ववृधे भुजैः
Vindhya, having resolved thus, thought, 'The proud celestial serpent will surely be humbled.' With this determination, Vindhya grew, stretching his arms to touch the sky.
महोन्नतैः शृङ्गवरैः सर्वं व्याप्य व्यवस्थितः । कदोदेष्यति भास्वांस्तं रोधयिष्याम्यहं कदा
With his lofty, towering peaks, he spread everywhere and stood firm, thinking, 'When will the Sun rise? When will I obstruct him?'
एवं सञ्चिन्तयानस्य सा व्यतीयाय शर्वरी । प्रभातं विमलं जज्ञे दिशो वितिमिराः करैः
While he was pondering in this way, the night passed; a pure morning arose, and the directions were cleared of darkness by the Sun's rays.
कुर्वन्स निर्गतो भानुरुदयायोदये गिरौ । प्रकाशते स्म विमलं नभो भानुकरैः शुभैः
The Sun, rising from the mountain for his ascent, began to shine brilliantly, illuminating the sky with his auspicious rays.
विकासं नलिनी भेजे मीलनं च कुमुद्वती । स्वानि कार्याणि सर्वे च लोकाः समुपतस्थिरे
The lotus blossomed, the water-lily closed, and all beings set about their respective tasks.
हव्यं कव्यं भूतबलिं देवानां च प्रवर्धयन् । प्राह्णापराह्णमध्याह्नविभागेन त्विषां पतिः
The lord of rays, by his divisions of morning, afternoon, and midday, increased the offerings to gods and ancestors, the oblations to spirits, and the prosperity of the gods.
एवं प्राचीं तथाग्नेयीं समाश्वास्य वियोगिनीम् । ज्वलन्तीं चिरकालीनविरहादिव कामिनीम्
Thus, comforting the eastern and southeastern directions, which were separated and burning like a beloved long parted, he moved on.
भास्करोऽथ कृशानोश्च दिशं नूनं विहाय च । याम्यां गन्तुं ततस्तूर्णं प्रतस्थे कमलाकरः
Then the Sun, leaving the direction of Fire, swiftly set out to go toward the southern quarter.
न शशाकाग्रतो गन्तुं ततोऽनूरुर्व्यजिज्ञपत् । अनूरुरुवाच भानो मानोन्नतो विन्ध्यो निरुध्य गगनं स्थितः
He was unable to proceed further; then Anuru reported: 'O Sun, Vindhya, grown proud, stands blocking the sky.'
स्पर्धते मेरुणा प्रेप्सुस्त्वद्दत्तां च प्रदक्षिणाम् । सूत उवाच अनूरुवाक्यमाकर्ण्य सविता ह्यास चिन्तयन्
'He competes with Meru, desiring the circumambulation you granted.' The narrator said: Hearing Anuru's words, the Sun began to reflect.
अहो गगनमार्गोऽपि रुध्यते चातिविस्मयः । प्रायः शूरो न किं कुर्यादुत्पथे वर्त्मनि स्थितः
'Ah, even the path of the sky is obstructed—how astonishing! Truly, what would a hero not do when he stands on a forbidden path?'
निरुद्धो नो वाजिमार्गो दैवं हि बलवत्तरम् । राहुबाहुग्रहव्यग्रो यः क्षणं नावतिष्ठते
'My path for the horses is blocked; fate is indeed stronger. Even Rahu, eager to seize, does not remain for a moment.'
स चिरं रुद्धमार्गोऽपि किं करोति विधिर्बली । एवं च मार्गे संरुद्धे लोकाः सर्वे च सेश्वराः
'Even if the path is blocked for a long time, what can a powerful destiny not do?' Thus, with the path obstructed, all the worlds along with their lords—'
नान्वविन्दन्त शरणं कर्तव्यं नान्वपद्यत । चित्रगुप्तादयः सर्वे कालं जानन्ति सूर्यतः
—'could not find any refuge or course of action. All, including Citragupta, know time by the Sun.'
संरुद्धो विन्ध्यगिरिणा अहो दैवविपर्ययः । यदा निरुद्धः सविता गिरिणा स्पर्धया तदा
'Obstructed by Vindhya mountain—what a reversal of fate! When the Sun was blocked by the mountain out of rivalry—'
नष्टः स्वाहास्वधाकारो नष्टप्रायमभूज्जगत् । एवं च पाश्चिमा लोका दाक्षिणात्यास्तथैव च
'The utterance of svāhā and svadhā was lost, and the world nearly perished. Thus, the western and southern regions—'
निद्रामीलितचक्षुष्का निशामेव प्रपेदिरे । प्राञ्चस्तथोत्तराहाश्च तीक्ष्णतापप्रतापिताः
—'with eyes closed in sleep, entered into night; while the eastern and northern regions were scorched by intense heat.'
मृता नष्टाश्च भग्नाश्च विनाशमभजन् प्रजाः । हाहाभूतं जगत्सर्वं स्वधाकव्यविवर्जितम् । देवाः सेन्द्राः समुद्विग्नाः किं कुर्म इतिवादिनः
'Creatures died, were lost, destroyed, and perished. The whole world became filled with lamentation, deprived of offerings to ancestors and gods. The gods, with Indra, were greatly disturbed, saying, "What shall we do?"'
रुद्रप्रार्थनम् सूत उवाच ततः सर्वे सुरगणा महेन्द्रप्रमुखास्तदा । पद्मयोनिं पुरस्कृत्य रुद्रं शरणमन्वयुः
Sūta said: Then all the hosts of gods, led by Mahendra, approached Rudra for refuge, with the Lotus-born one at their head.
उपतस्थुः प्रणतिभिः स्तोत्रैश्चारुविभूतिभिः । देवदेवं गिरिशयं शशिलोलितशेखरम्
They worshipped the Lord of gods, the Dweller on the Mountain, adorned with the crescent moon, with reverent bows, hymns, and splendid praises.