देवाङ्गनासमा दाराः शोभन्ते भूषणादिभिः । मुनयो देवसदृशा वस्त्रचन्दनभूषणैः
Wives, equal to the celestial nymphs, shone adorned with ornaments and the like; and the sages, resembling the gods, with garments, sandalwood paste, and ornaments.
नित्योत्सवः प्रववृते मुनेराश्रममण्डले । न रोगादिभयं किञ्चिन्न च दैत्यभयं क्वचित्
A perpetual festival commenced in the sage’s hermitage; there was no fear of disease or the like, nor was there any fear of demons anywhere.
स मुनेराश्रमो जातः समन्ताच्छतयोजनः । अन्ये च प्राणिनो येऽपि तेऽपि तत्र समागताः
That hermitage of the sage extended for a hundred yojanas all around; and other living beings, too, gathered there.
तांश्च सर्वान्पुपोषायं दत्त्वाभयमथात्मवान् । नानाविधैर्महायज्ञैर्विधिवत्कल्पितैः सुराः
He, the self-controlled one, nourished them all, granting them safety; and the gods, with various great sacrifices properly arranged,
सन्तोषं परमं प्रापुर्मुनेश्चैव जगुर्यशः । सभायां वृत्रहा भूयो जगौ श्लोकं महायशाः
Attained supreme satisfaction, and the fame of the sage spread; in the assembly, the illustrious slayer of Vṛtra again sang a verse.
अहो अयं नः किल कल्पपादपो मनोरथान्पूरयति प्रतिष्ठितः । नोचेदकाण्डे क्व हविर्वपा वा सुदुर्लभा यत्र तु जीवनाशा
Ah, truly this wish-fulfilling tree of ours stands established, fulfilling desires; otherwise, in this age of decline, where would there be offerings or even the means of subsistence, where destruction of life is so prevalent?
इत्थं द्वादशवर्षाणि पुपोष मुनिपुङ्गवान् । पुत्रवन्मुनिराड् गर्वगन्धेन परिवर्जितः
Thus, for twelve years, he nourished the foremost of sages; the king of sages, like a father to sons, was free from the pride of arrogance.
गायत्र्याः परमं स्थानं चकार मुनिसत्तमः । यत्र सर्वैर्मुनिवरैः पूज्यते जगदम्बिका
The best of sages established the supreme seat of Gāyatrī, where the Mother of the Universe is worshipped by all the chief sages.
त्रिकालं परया भक्त्या पुरश्चरणकर्मभिः । अद्यापि यत्र देवी सा प्रातर्बाला तु दृश्यते
There, with supreme devotion, thrice daily, through rites of worship, even today the Goddess is seen in the morning as a young girl.
मध्याह्ने युवती वृद्धा सायंकाले तु दृश्यते । तत्रैकदा समायातो नारदो मुनिसत्तमः
At midday, she is seen as a young woman; in the evening, as an old woman; there, once, the eminent sage Nārada arrived.
रणयन्महतीं गायन्गायत्र्याः परमान्गुणान् । निषसाद सभामध्ये मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्
Resounding with great music, singing the supreme virtues of Gāyatrī, he sat in the midst of the assembly of sages whose minds were absorbed in contemplation.
गौतमादिभिरत्युच्चैः पूजितः शान्तमानसः । कथाश्चकार विविधा यशसो गौतमस्य च
Honored with great reverence by Gautama and the others, his mind at peace, he recounted various stories, including the fame of Gautama.
ब्रह्मर्षे देवसदसि देवराट् तव यद्यशः । जगौ बहुविधं स्वच्छं मुनिपोषणजं परम्
O Brahmarṣi, in the assembly of the gods, the king of the gods sang in many clear ways the supreme fame arising from the nourishment of the sages.
श्रुत्वा शचीपतेर्वाणीं त्वां द्रष्टुमहमागतः । धन्योऽसि त्वं मुनिश्रेष्ठ जगदम्बाप्रसादतः
Hearing the words of the lord of Śacī, I have come to see you; blessed are you, best of sages, by the grace of the Mother of the Universe.
इत्युक्त्वा मुनिवर्यं तं गायत्रीसदनं ययौ । ददर्श जगदम्बां तां प्रेमोत्फुल्लविलोचनः
Having thus spoken to that eminent sage, he went to the abode of Gāyatrī; with eyes blossoming with love, he beheld the Mother of the Universe.
तुष्टाव विधिवद्देवीं जगाम त्रिदिवं पुनः । अथ तत्र स्थिता ये ते ब्राह्मणा मुनिपोषिताः
He praised the Goddess according to the prescribed rites and then returned again to heaven; and those brāhmaṇas who were nourished by the sage remained there.
उत्कर्षं तु मुनेः श्रुत्वासूयया खेदमागताः । यथास्य न यशो भूयात्कर्तव्यं सर्वथैव हि
Hearing of the sage’s excellence, they became distressed with envy, and resolved in every way that his fame should not increase further.
काले समागते पश्चादिति सर्वैस्तु निश्चितम् । ततः कालेन कियताप्यभूद्वृष्टिर्धरातले
When the appointed time arrived, all were in agreement; then, after some time, there was a rainfall upon the earth.
सुभिक्षमभवत्सर्वदेशेषु नृपसत्तम । श्रुत्वा वार्तां सुभिक्षस्य मिलिताः सर्ववाडवाः
O best of kings, prosperity prevailed in all regions; hearing news of abundance, all the villagers gathered together.
गौतमं शप्तुमुद्योगं हा हा राजन् प्रचक्रिरे । धन्यौ तेषां च पितरौ ययोरुत्पत्तिरीदृशी
Alas, O king, they made preparations to curse Gautama; blessed are the parents whose offspring is such as he.
कालस्य महिमा राजन् वक्तुं केन हि शक्यते । गौर्निर्मिता माययैका मुमूर्षुर्जरती नृप
O king, who indeed is able to speak of the greatness of Time? The cow, created by Maya, being aged, desired to die.
जगाम सा च शालायां होमकाले मुनेस्तदा । हुंहुंशब्दैर्वारिता सा प्राणांस्तत्याज तत्क्षणे
She went to the hall at the time of the sacrifice, O king; repelled by shouts of 'hum hum', she gave up her life at that very moment.
गौर्हतानेन दुष्टेनेत्येवं ते चुक्रुशुर्द्विजाः । होमं समाप्य मुनिराङ् विस्मयं परमं गतः
The twice-born cried out, 'The cow has been killed by this wicked one!' Having completed the sacrifice, the sage was struck with utmost astonishment.
समाधिमीलिताक्षः संश्चिन्तयामास कारणम् । कृतं सर्वं द्विजैरेतदिति ज्ञात्वा तदैव सः
With eyes closed in meditation, he began to ponder the cause; realizing that all this was done by the twice-born, he understood at that very moment.
दधार कोपं परमं प्रलये रुद्रकोपवत् । शशाप च ऋषीन्सर्वान्कोपसंरक्तलोचनः
He bore supreme anger, like Rudra at dissolution; his eyes reddened with wrath, he cursed all the sages.
वेदमातरि गायत्र्यां तद्ध्याने तन्मनोर्जपे । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वथा ब्राह्मणाधमाः
In the mother of the Vedas, in Gayatri, in its meditation, in its mental recitation, you will always be averse, O lowest of Brahmins.
वेदे वेदोक्तयज्ञेषु तद्वार्तासु तथैव च । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः
In the Vedas, in Vedic sacrifices, and likewise in their discussions, you will always be averse, O lowest of Brahmins.
शिवे शिवस्य मन्त्रे च शिवशास्त्रे तथैव च । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः
In Shiva, in Shiva's mantra, and likewise in Shiva's scriptures, you will always be averse, O lowest of Brahmins.
मूलप्रकृत्याः श्रीदेव्यास्तद्ध्याने तत्कथासु च । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः
In the primal nature of Shri Devi, in its meditation, and in its stories, you will always be averse, O lowest of Brahmins.
देवीमन्त्रे तथा देव्याः स्थानेऽनुष्ठानकर्मणि । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः
In the mantra of Devi, and likewise in the rites performed at Devi's abode, you will always be averse, O lowest of Brahmins.