महाबलो महासत्त्वो बभूव जगदीश्वरः । षष्ठश्च विष्णुसावर्णिश्चतुर्दशमनुः कृती
Possessed of great strength and might, he became lord of the world; the sixth is Viṣṇu Sāvarṇi, the fourteenth Manu, accomplished in deeds.
बभूव देवीवरतो जगतां प्रथितः प्रभुः । चतुर्दशैते मनवो महातेजोबलैर्युताः
He became renowned among the worlds as a lord, by the boon of the Goddess; these fourteen Manus are endowed with great brilliance and strength.
देव्याराधनतः पूज्या वन्द्या लोकेषु नित्यशः । महाप्रतापिनः सर्वे भ्रामर्यास्तु प्रसादतः
By worship of the Goddess, they are ever honored and praised in the worlds; all are exceedingly glorious, by the grace of Bhrāmarī.
नारद उवाच केयं सा भ्रामरी देवी कथं जाता किमात्मिका । तदाख्यानं वद प्राज्ञ विचित्रं शोकनाशकम्
Nārada said: Who is this Goddess Bhrāmarī? How was she born, and what is her nature? Tell me that wondrous story, O wise one, which destroys sorrow.
न तृप्तिमधिगच्छामि पिबन्देवीकथामृतम् । अमृतं पिबतां मृत्युर्नास्य श्रवणतो यतः
I do not attain satisfaction, drinking the nectar of the Goddess’s stories; for to those who drink this nectar, death does not come by hearing it.
श्रीनारायण उवाच शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि जगन्मातुर्विचेष्टितम् । अचिन्त्याव्यक्तरूपाया विचित्रं मोक्षदायकम्
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: Listen, Nārada, I will tell you the deeds of the Mother of the Universe, whose form is inconceivable and unmanifest, wondrous and bestowing liberation.
यद्यच्चरित्रं श्रीदेव्यास्तत्सर्वं लोकहेतवे । निर्व्याजया करुणया पुत्रे मातुर्यथा तथा
Whatever deeds belong to the blessed Goddess, all are for the sake of the worlds; with unfeigned compassion, just as a mother for her child.
पूर्वं दैत्यो महानासीदरुणाख्यो महाबलः । पाताले दैत्यसंस्थाने देवद्वेषी महाखलः
Formerly, there was a great demon named Aruṇa, of immense strength, dwelling in Pātāla among the Daityas, a great enemy of the gods and exceedingly wicked.
स देवाञ्जेतुकामश्च चकार परमं तपः । पद्मसम्भवमुद्दिश्य स नस्त्राता भविष्यति
Desiring to conquer the gods, he performed intense austerity, directed toward the Lotus-born; for he thought, 'He will become our protector.'
गत्वा हिमवतः पार्श्वे गङ्गाजलसुशीतले । पक्वपर्णाशनो योगी सन्निरुध्य मरुद्गणम्
Going to the slopes of Himavat, where the water of the Gaṅgā is very cool, the yogi, eating only fallen leaves, restrained the flow of his breath.
गायत्रीजपसंसक्तः सकामस्तमसा युतः । दशवर्षसहस्राणि ततो वारिकणाशनः
Absorbed in reciting the Gāyatrī, filled with desire and enveloped in darkness, for ten thousand years he subsisted on water droplets.
दशवर्षसहस्राणि ततः पवनभोजनः । दशवर्षसहस्राणि निराहारोऽभवत्ततः
For another ten thousand years, he lived on air alone; then, for ten thousand years more, he remained without any food at all.
एवं तपस्यतस्तस्य शरीरादुत्थितोऽनलः । ददाह जगतीं सर्वां तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
As he performed such austerities, fire arose from his body and burned the entire world; this appeared as something wondrous.
किमिदं किमिदं चेति देवाः सर्वे चकम्पिरे । सन्त्रस्ताः सकला लोका ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययुः
"What is this? What is this?" all the gods trembled; terrified, all the worlds sought refuge with Brahmā.
विज्ञापितं देववरैः श्रुत्वा तत्र चतुर्मुखः । गायत्रीसहितो हंससमारूढो ययौ मुदा
Hearing the plea of the best of the gods, the four-faced one, accompanied by Gāyatrī and mounted on a swan, joyfully set out.
प्राणमात्रावशिष्टं तं धमनीशतसङ्कुलम् । शुष्कोदरं क्षामगात्रं ध्यानमीलितलोचनम्
He saw him reduced to just breath, veins crowded together, his belly shriveled, limbs emaciated, and eyes closed in meditation.
ददर्श तेजसा दीप्तं द्वितीयमिव पावकम् । वरं वरय भद्रं ते वत्स यन्मनसि स्थितम्
He beheld him shining with brilliance, like a second fire; he said, "Choose a boon, good one, whatever is in your heart."
श्रुतिमात्रेण सन्तोषकारकं वाक्यमूचिवान् । श्रुत्वा ब्रह्ममुखाद्वाणीं सुधाधारामिवारुणः
Hearing these words, which brought satisfaction at their mere sound, Aruṇa, as if receiving a stream of nectar from Brahmā's mouth, was pleased.
उन्मीलिताक्षः पुरतो ददर्श जलजोद्भवम् । गायत्रीसहितं देवं चतुर्वेदसमन्वितम्
Opening his eyes, he saw before him the lotus-born god, accompanied by Gāyatrī and endowed with the four Vedas.
अक्षस्रक्कुण्डिकाहस्तं जपन्तं ब्रह्म शाश्वतम् । दृष्ट्वोत्थाय ननामाथ स्तुत्वा च विविधैः स्तवैः
He saw the eternal Brahmā, holding a rosary and water pot, reciting japa; rising up, he bowed and praised him with various hymns.
वरं वव्रे स्वबुद्धिस्थं मा भवेन्मृत्युरित्यपि । श्रुत्वारुणवचो ब्रह्मा बोधयामास सादरम्
He chose the boon that was fixed in his mind: 'Let there not be death for me.' Hearing Aruṇa's words, Brahmā began to instruct him respectfully.
ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशाद्या मृत्युना कवलीकृताः । तदान्येषां तु का वार्ता मरणे दानवोत्तम
"Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśa and others have been swallowed by death; so what can be said of others regarding death, O best of Dānavas?
वरं योग्यं ततो ब्रूहि दातुं यः शक्यते मया । नात्राग्रहं प्रकुर्वन्ति बुद्धिमन्तो जनाः क्वचित्
Therefore, ask for a suitable boon, one that I am able to grant; wise people never insist on the impossible.
इति ब्रह्मवचः श्रुत्वा पुनः प्रोवाच सादरम् । न युद्धे न च शस्त्रास्त्रान्न पुंभ्यो नापि योषितः
Hearing Brahmā's words, he again spoke respectfully: 'Let my death not come in battle, nor by weapons or missiles, nor from men or women.'
द्विपाद्भ्यो वा चतुष्पाद्भ्यो नोभयाकारतस्तथा । भवेन्मे मृत्युरित्येवं देव देहि वरं प्रभो
'Nor from two-footed or four-footed beings, nor from those of both forms; O Lord, grant me such a boon regarding death.'
बलं च विपुलं देहि येन देवजयो भवेत् । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा तथास्त्विति वचोऽब्रवीत्
'And grant me great strength by which I may conquer the gods.' Hearing his words, Brahmā replied, 'So be it.'
दत्त्वा वरं जगामाशु पद्मजः स्वं निकेतनम् । ततोऽरुणाख्यो दैत्यस्तु पातालात्स्वाश्रयस्थितान्
Having granted the boon, the lotus-born swiftly returned to his own abode; then the demon named Aruṇa, filled with pride from Brahmā's boon, summoned the Daityas who dwelt in the netherworld.
दैत्यानाकारयामास ब्रह्मणो वरदर्पितः । आगत्य तेऽसुराः सर्वे दैत्येशं तं प्रचक्रिरे
The Daityas, coming at his command, all approached and acknowledged him, the lord of the Daityas.
दूतं च प्रेषयामासुर्युद्धार्थममरावतीम् । दूतवाक्यं तदा श्रुत्वा देवराड् भयकम्पितः
A messenger was sent to Amaravati for the purpose of war; upon hearing the messenger’s words, the king of the gods trembled with fear.
देवैः सार्धं जगामाशु ब्रह्मणः सदनं प्रति । ब्रह्मविष्णू पुरस्कृत्य जग्मुस्ते शङ्करालयम्
Together with the gods, he quickly went to the abode of Brahma; with Brahma and Vishnu at the forefront, they proceeded to the dwelling of Shankara.