उत्तरन्सलिले तत्र यावद्वर्षसहस्रकम् । अन्वेषमाणो धरणीं नावाप तां यदा तदा
Rising in the water, for a thousand years I searched for the earth, but did not find it.
तपस्तपेति चाकाशे वागभूदशरीरिणी । ततो मया तपस्तप्तं पद्मे वर्षसहस्रकम्
Then, in the sky, the bodiless voice said 'Austerity, austerity.' So I performed austerity in the lotus for a thousand years.
सृजेति पुनरुद्भूता वाणी तत्र श्रुता मया । विमूढोऽहं तदाकर्ण्य कं सृजामि करोमि किम्
Then, a voice arose again, which I heard there: 'Create!' Bewildered, I listened—whom should I create, what should I do?
तदा दैत्यावपि प्राप्तौ दारुणौ मधुकैटभौ । ताभ्यां विभीषितश्चाहं युद्धाय मकरालये
At that time, the two fierce demons, Madhu and Kaitabha, also appeared; terrified by them, I fled to the ocean for battle.
ततोऽहं नालमालम्ब्य वारिमध्यमवातरम् । तदा तत्र मया दृष्टः पुरुषः परमाद्भुतः
Unable to withstand them, I entered the midst of the waters; there I beheld a most wondrous Person.
मेघश्यामशरीरस्तु पीतवासाश्चतुर्भुजः । शेषशायी जगन्नाथो वनमालाविभूषितः
His body was dark as a rain-cloud, clothed in yellow garments, four-armed; the Lord of the universe, adorned with a garland of forest flowers, reclining on Śeṣa.
शङ्खचक्रगदापद्माद्यायुधैः सुविराजितः । तमद्राक्षं महाविष्णुं शेषपर्यङ्कशायिनम्
Radiant with conch, discus, mace, and lotus and other weapons, I saw that great Viṣṇu, resting upon the serpent-bed.
योगनिद्रासमाक्रान्तमविस्पन्दिनमच्युतम् । शयानं तं समालोक्य भोगिभोगोपरि स्थितम्
Overcome by yogic sleep, unmoving, the imperishable one lay there; seeing him reclining upon the coils of the serpent.
चिन्ता ममाद्भुता जाता किं करोमीति नारद । मया स्मृता तदा देवी स्तुता निद्रास्वरूपिणी
A wondrous thought arose in me, O Nārada: 'What should I do?' Then I remembered and praised the Goddess, who is the very form of sleep.
देहान्निर्गत्य सा देवी गगने संस्थिता शिवा । अवितर्क्यशरीरा सा दिव्याभरणमण्डिता
That auspicious Goddess emerged from his body and stood in the sky; her form was inconceivable, adorned with divine ornaments.
विष्णोर्देहं विहायाशु विरराज नभःस्थिता । उदतिष्ठदमेयात्मा तया मुक्तो जनार्दनः
Leaving Viṣṇu's body, she shone forth, standing in the heavens; by her, Janārdana was freed, his unconquerable self arose.
पंचवर्षसहस्राणि कृतवान् युद्धमुत्तमम् । तदा विलोकितौ दैत्यौ हरिणा विनिपातितौ
For five thousand years, he waged a supreme battle; then, seeing the demons, Hari struck them down.
उत्सङ्गं विमलं कृत्वा तत्रैव निहतौ च तौ । रुद्रस्तत्रैव सम्प्राप्तो यत्रावां संस्थितावुभौ
Making the place pure, there itself they were slain; Rudra arrived there, where both of us were present.
त्रिभिः संवीक्षितास्मामिः स्वस्था देवी मनोहरा । संस्तुता परमा शक्तिरुवाचास्मानवस्थितान्
We three beheld the charming, tranquil Goddess; praised, the supreme Power spoke to us as we stood there.
कृपावलोकनैः कृत्वा पावनैर्मुदितानथ । देव्युवाच काजेशाः स्वानि कार्याणि कुरुध्वं समतन्द्रिताः
With glances of compassion, she made us joyful and pure, then said— The Goddess said: 'O Lords of creation, perform your respective tasks with diligence.'
सृष्टिस्थितिविशिष्टानि हतावेतौ महासुरौ । कृत्वा स्वानि निकेतानि वसध्वं विगतज्वराः
'The great demons are slain; create, sustain, and establish your own abodes, and dwell there free from distress.'
प्रजाश्चतुर्विधाः सर्वाः सृजध्वं स्वविभूतिभिः । ब्रह्मोवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्याः पेशलं सुखदं मृदु
'Create all four kinds of beings with your own powers.' Brahmā said: Hearing her gentle, pleasing, and sweet words—
अब्रूम तामशक्तिः स्मः कथं कुर्मस्त्विमाः प्रजाः । न मही वितता मातः सर्वत्र विततं जलम्
We said to her, 'How can we create these beings? O Mother, the earth is not spread out; everywhere there is only water.'
न भूतानि गुणाश्चापि तन्मात्राणीन्द्रियाणि च । तदाकर्ण्य वचोऽस्माकं शिवा जाता स्मितानना
'There are no beings, no qualities, no subtle elements, nor senses.' Hearing our words, she smiled, her face radiant.
झटित्येवागतं तत्र विमानं गगनाच्छुभम् । सोवाचास्मिन्सुराः कामं विशध्वं गतसाध्वसाः
Suddenly, a splendid aerial chariot arrived from the sky; she said, 'O gods, enter as you wish, free from fear.'
विमाने ब्रह्मविष्ण्वीशा दर्शयाम्यद्य चाद्भुतम् । तन्निशम्य वचस्तस्या ओमित्युक्त्वा पुनर्वयम्
Today, in this celestial chariot, I shall show Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva a wondrous sight; hearing her words, we replied, 'Om,' and then—
समारुह्योपविष्टाः स्मो विमाने रत्नमण्डिते । मुक्तादामसुसंवीते किङ्किणीजालशब्दिते
We ascended and sat in the celestial chariot, adorned with jewels, draped with strings of pearls, and ringing with the sound of little bells.
सुरसद्मनिभे रम्ये त्रयस्तत्राविशङ्किताः । सोपविष्टांस्ततो दृष्ट्वा देव्यस्मान्विजितेन्द्रियान्
In that delightful chariot, resembling the mansions of the gods, the three of us entered without fear; seeing us seated there, the Goddess, who had mastered her senses, gazed upon us.
स्वशक्त्या तद्विमानं वै नोदयामास चाम्बरे
By her own power, the Goddess caused that chariot to rise up into the sky.
विमानस्थैर्हरादिभिर्देवीदर्शनम् ब्रह्मोवाच विमानं तन्मनोवेगं यत्र स्थानान्तरे गतम् । न जलं तत्र पश्यामो विस्मिताः स्मो वयं तदा
From the chariot, together with Hara and the others, we beheld the Goddess—
वृक्षाः सर्वफला रम्याः कोकिलारावमण्डिताः । मही महीधराः कामं वनान्युपवनानि च
There were beautiful trees bearing all fruits, adorned with the songs of cuckoos; the earth, with its mountains, forests, and groves, was delightful.
नार्यश्च पुरुषाश्चैव पशवश्च सरिद्वराः । वाप्यः कूपास्तडागाश्च पल्वलानि च निर्झराः
There were women and men, animals, sacred rivers, ponds, wells, reservoirs, marshes, and waterfalls.
पुरतो नगरं रम्यं दिव्यप्राकारमण्डितम् । यज्ञशालासमायुक्तं नानाहर्म्यविराजितम्
Before us appeared a splendid city, adorned with divine ramparts, equipped with sacrificial halls, and resplendent with various mansions.
प्रत्यभिज्ञा तदा जाताप्यस्माकं प्रेक्ष्य तत्पुरम् । स्वर्गोऽयमिति केनासौ निर्मितोस्ति तदाद्भुतम्
Upon seeing that city, we recognized it; someone said, 'Is this heaven? Who created this wondrous place?'
राजानं देवसङ्काशं व्रजन्तं मृगयां वने । अस्माभिः संस्थिता दृष्टा विमानोपरि चाम्बिका
We saw a king, radiant as a god, going out to hunt in the forest, while Ambika stood above us in the chariot.