तद्वृद्धिं स्तम्भय मुने निजया तपसः श्रिया । भवतस्तेजसागस्त्य नूनं नम्रो भविष्यति । एतदेवास्मदीयं च कार्यं कर्तव्यमस्ति हि
O sage, restrain the growth of that mountain by your own ascetic power and glory; surely, by your radiance, Agastya, it will become humble. This indeed is our task to be accomplished.
विन्ध्यवृद्ध्यवरोधवर्णनम् सूत उवाच इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य विबुधानां द्विजोत्तमः । करिष्ये कार्यमेतद्वः प्रत्युवाच ततो मुनिः
Description of the obstruction to Vindhya's growth.
अङ्गीकृते तदा कार्ये मुनिना कुम्भजन्मना । देवाः प्रमुदिताः सर्वे बभूबुर्द्विजसत्तमाः
When the sage born from the pot accepted the task, all the gods became exceedingly joyful, O best of the twice-born.
ते देवाः स्वानि धिष्ण्यानि भेजिरे मुनिवाक्यतः । पत्नीं मुनिवरः श्रीमानुवाच नृपकन्यकाम्
Those gods, following the sage's words, returned to their own abodes; the illustrious sage addressed his wife, the royal maiden.
अये नृपसुते प्राप्तो विघ्नोऽनर्थस्य कारकः । भानुमार्गनिरोधेन कृतो विन्ध्यमहीभृता
O princess, an obstacle has arisen, causing misfortune; by blocking the path of the sun, the Vindhya mountain has created this impediment.
आज्ञातं कारणं तच्च स्मृतं वाक्यं पुरातनम् । काशीमुद्दिश्य यद्गीतं मुनिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः
The reason for this has been understood, and the ancient saying remembered, which was spoken by the seers who know the truth, regarding Kāśī.
अविमुक्तं न मोक्तव्यं सर्वथैव मुमुक्षुभिः । किन्तु विघ्ना भविष्यन्ति काश्यां निवसतां सताम्
'Avimukta' should never be abandoned by those who seek liberation; yet, obstacles will arise for the virtuous who dwell in Kāśī.
सोऽन्तरायो मया प्राप्तः काश्यां निवसता प्रिये । इत्येवमुक्त्वा भार्यां तां मुनिः परमतापनः
Beloved, such an obstacle has come to me while residing in Kāśī; thus, having spoken to his wife, the great ascetic sage—
मणिकर्ण्यां समाप्लुत्य दृष्ट्वा विश्वेश्वरं विभुम् । दण्डपाणिं समभ्यर्च्य कालराजं समागतः
Having bathed at Maṇikarṇikā and seen the Lord of the Universe, the mighty Daṇḍapāṇi, he worshipped him and then approached King Kāla.
कालराज महाबाहो भक्तानां भयहारक । कथं दूरयसे पुर्याः काशीपुर्यास्त्वमीश्वरः
O King Kāla, mighty-armed, remover of fear for devotees, how is it that you, the Lord, distance yourself from the city of Kāśī?
त्वं काशीवासविघ्नानां नाशको भक्तरक्षकः । मां किं दूरयसे स्वामिन् भक्तार्तिविनिवारक
You are the destroyer of obstacles for those dwelling in Kāśī, the protector of devotees; O Lord, remover of devotees' suffering, why do you distance me?
परापवादो नोक्तो मे न पैशुन्यं न चानृतम् । केन कर्मविपाकेन काश्या दूरं करोषि माम्
I have not spoken ill of others, nor slandered, nor lied; by what karma's result do you distance me from Kāśī?
एवं प्रार्थ्य च तं कालनाथं कुम्भोद्भवो मुनिः । जगाम साक्षिविघ्नेशं सर्वविघ्ननिवारणम्
Thus praying to Kālanātha, the sage born from the pot went to Sākṣivighneśa, the Lord who removes all obstacles.
तं दृष्ट्वाभ्यर्च्य सम्प्रार्थ्य ततः पुर्या विनिर्गतः । लोपामुद्रापतिः श्रीमानगस्त्यो दक्षिणां दिशम्
Having seen, worshipped, and prayed to him, the illustrious Agastya, husband of Lopāmudrā, departed from the city toward the southern direction.
काशीविरहसन्तप्तो महाभाग्यनिधिर्मुनिः । संस्मृत्यानुक्षणं काशीं जगाम सह भार्यया
Afflicted by separation from Kāśī, that sage, a great repository of fortune, constantly remembered Kāśī as he journeyed with his wife.
तपोयानमिवारुह्य निमिषार्धेन वै मुनिः । अग्रे ददर्श तं विन्ध्यं रुद्धाम्बरमथोन्नतम्
Mounting the vehicle of his ascetic power, the sage, in but half a moment, saw before him the Vindhya, towering and blocking the sky.
चकम्पे चाचलस्तूर्णं दृष्ट्वैवाग्रे स्थितं मुनिम् । गिरिः खर्वतरो भूत्वा विवक्षुरवनीमिव
The mountain trembled swiftly, seeing the sage standing before it; the mountain became lower, as if wishing to touch the earth.
दण्डवत्पतितो भूमौ साष्टाङ्गं भक्तिभावितः । तं दृष्ट्वा नम्रशिखरं विन्ध्यं नाम महागिरिम्
Falling to the ground in full prostration, with devotion, the Vindhya mountain, that great lord of peaks, bowed low before him.
प्रसन्नवदनोऽगस्त्यो मुनिर्विन्ध्यमथाब्रवीत् । वत्सैवं तिष्ठ तावत्त्वं यावदागम्यते मया
With a cheerful face, the sage Agastya then said to Vindhya: 'Child, remain here just as you are until I return.'
अशक्तोऽहं गण्डशैलारोहणे तव पुत्रक । एवमुक्त्वा मुनिर्याम्यदिशं प्रति गमोत्सुकः
'I am unable to climb your lofty mountain, dear one.' Having said this, the sage, eager to go, set out toward the southern direction.
आरुह्य तस्य शिखराण्यवारुहदनुक्रमात् । गतो याम्यदिशं चापि श्रीशैलं प्रेक्ष्य वर्त्मनि
Ascending the peaks of that mountain and then descending them one by one, he proceeded southward, beholding Śrīśaila along the way.
मलयाचलमासाद्य तत्राश्रमपरोऽभवत् । सापि देवी तत्र विन्ध्यमागता मनुपूजिता
Reaching Mount Malaya, he devoted himself to ascetic practice there; and the Goddess, worshipped by Manu, came to Vindhya at that time.
लोकेषु प्रथिता विन्ध्यवासिनीति च शौनक । सूत उवाच एतच्चरित्रं परमं शत्रुनाशनमुत्तमम्
In the worlds, O Śaunaka, she became renowned as Vindhyavāsinī, the Dweller in Vindhya. Sūta said: This is the supreme and excellent story, destroyer of enemies.
अगस्त्यविन्ध्यनगयोराख्यानं पापनाशनम् । राज्ञां विजयदं तच्च द्विजानां ज्ञानवर्धनम्
The tale of Agastya and Vindhya mountain destroys sin, grants victory to kings, and increases knowledge for the twice-born.
वैश्यानां धान्यधनदं शूद्राणां सुखदं तथा । धर्मार्थी धर्ममाप्नोति धनार्थी धनमाप्नुयात्
It bestows grain and wealth upon merchants, happiness upon servants, and one who seeks righteousness attains righteousness, one who seeks wealth attains wealth.
कामानवाप्नुयात्कामी भक्त्या चास्य सकृच्छ्रवात् । एवं स्वायम्भुवमनुर्देवीमाराध्य भक्तितः
One who desires pleasures attains them, and by hearing this with devotion even once, all this is obtained. Thus, Svāyambhuva Manu worshipped the Goddess with devotion.
लेभे राज्यं धरायाश्च निजमन्वन्तराश्रयम् । इत्येतद्वर्णितं सौम्य मया मन्वन्तराश्रितम् । आद्यं चरित्रं श्रीदेव्याः किं पुनः कथयामि ते
He obtained the sovereignty of the earth and his own epoch as Manu. Thus, gentle one, I have described to you the story of Manu's era and the first legend of the blessed Goddess. What more shall I tell you?
मनूत्पत्तिवर्णनम् शौनक उवाच आद्यो मन्वन्तरः प्रोक्तो भवता चायमुत्तमः । अन्येषामुद्भवं ब्रूहि मनूनां दिव्यतेजसाम्
The Origin of the Manus. Śaunaka said: You have described the first and most excellent epoch of Manu. Now tell me of the origin of the other radiant Manus.
सूत उवाच एवमाद्यस्य चोत्पत्तिं श्रुत्वा स्वायम्भुवस्य हि । अन्येषां क्रमशस्तेषां सम्भूतिं परिपृच्छति
Sūta said: Thus, having heard of the origin of the first Manu, Svāyambhuva, he asks about the birth of the others, one after another.
नारदः परमो ज्ञानी देवीतत्त्वार्थकोविदः । नारद उवाच मनूनां मे समाख्याहि सूत्पत्तिं च सनातन
Nārada, the supreme knower, expert in the truth of the Goddess, said: 'O eternal one, tell me of the origin of the Manus.'