ततो विष्णुशरीरात्तु तेजोराशिमिवापरम् । नीलं सत्त्वगुणोपेतं प्रादुरास महाद्युति
Then, from the body of Vishnu, there appeared another mass of radiance, blue in color, endowed with the quality of goodness, and of great brilliance.
ततश्चेन्द्रशरीरात्तु चित्ररूपं दुरासदम् । आविरासीत्सुसंवृत्तं तेजः सर्वगुणात्मकम्
Next, from the body of Indra, a wondrous and formidable radiance manifested, variegated in form, well-composed, and possessing all qualities.
कुबेरयमवह्नीनां शरीरेभ्यः समन्ततः । निश्चक्राम महत्तेजो वरुणस्य तथैव च
From the bodies of Kubera, Yama, Agni, and likewise Varuna, on all sides, a great radiance issued forth.
अन्येषां चैव देवानां शरीरेभ्योऽतिभास्वरम् । निर्गतं तन्महातेजोराशिरासीन्महोज्ज्वलः
And from the bodies of the other gods as well, a most brilliant radiance emerged; that great mass of radiance was supremely luminous.
तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मिताः सर्वे देवा विष्णुपुरोगमाः । तेजोराशिं महादिव्यं हिमाचलमिवापरम्
Seeing that, all the gods, with Vishnu at their head, were amazed at the great, divine mass of radiance, like another Himalaya.
पश्यतां तत्र देवानां तेजःपुञ्जसमुद्भवा । बभूवातिवरा नारी सुन्दरी विस्मयप्रदा
As the gods watched, from that cluster of radiance there arose an exceedingly excellent woman, beautiful and wondrous to behold.
त्रिगुणा सा महालक्ष्मीः सर्वदेवशरीरजा । अष्टादशभुजा रम्या त्रिवर्णा विश्वमोहिनी
She was Mahalakshmi, possessed of the three qualities, born from the bodies of all the gods, lovely with eighteen arms, three colors, and enchanting the universe.
श्वेतानना कृष्णनेत्रा संरक्ताधरपल्लवा । ताम्रपाणितला कान्ता दिव्यभूषणभूषिता
Her face was white, her eyes black, her lips red as young leaves, her palms coppery, lovely, adorned with divine ornaments.
अष्टादशभुजा देवी सहस्रभुजमण्डिता । सम्भूतासुरनाशाय तेजोराशिसमुद्भवा
The goddess, with eighteen arms, was adorned as if with a thousand arms, arisen from the mass of radiance for the destruction of the demons.
जनमेजय उवाच कृष्ण देव महाभाग सर्वज्ञ मुनिसत्तम । विस्तरं ब्रूहि तस्यास्त्वं शरीरस्य समुद्भवम्
Janamejaya said: O Krishna, great and blessed god, all-knowing best of sages, tell me in detail about the origin of her body.
एकीभूतं च सर्वेषां तेजः किं वा पृथक् स्थितम् । अङ्गानि चैव तस्यास्तु सर्वतेजोमयानि वा
Is the radiance of all united as one, or does it remain distinct? And are her limbs composed entirely of this radiance, or only in part?
भिन्नभागविभागेन जातान्यङ्गानि यानि तु । मुखनासाक्षिभेदेन सर्वत्रैकभवानि च
The limbs that arose were formed by division and differentiation, yet everywhere they became unified, as seen in the distinctions of mouth, nose, and eyes.
ब्रूहि तद्विस्तरं व्यास शरीराङ्गसमुद्भवम् । बभूव यस्य देवस्य तेजसोऽङ्गं यदद्भुतम्
Vyāsa, tell in detail the origin of the limbs of that body—whose wondrous limb was born from the radiance of which deity.
आयुधाभरणादीनि दत्तानि यैर्यथा यथा । तत्सर्वं श्रोतुकामोऽस्मि त्वन्मुखाम्बुजनिर्गतम्
By whom, and in what manner, were weapons, ornaments, and other items given? I wish to hear all this, emerging from the lotus of your mouth.
न हि तृप्याम्यहं ब्रह्मन् सुधामयरसं पिबन् । चरितञ्च महालक्ष्यास्त्वन्मुखाम्भोजनिःसृतम्
O Brahman, I am never satisfied, even as I drink the nectar-like essence, hearing the deeds of Mahālakṣmī flowing from your lotus mouth.
सूत उवाच इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा राज्ञः सत्यवतीसुतः । उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं प्रीणयन्निव भूपतिम्
Sūta said: Hearing these words of the king, the son of Satyavatī spoke sweetly, as if delighting the ruler.
व्यास उवाच शृणु राजन्महाभाग विस्तरेण ब्रवीमि ते । यथामति कुरुश्रेष्ठ तस्या देहसमुद्भवम्
Vyāsa said: Listen, O fortunate king, I will tell you in detail, as best as I can, the origin of her body.
न ब्रह्मा न हरिः साक्षान्न रुद्रो न च वासवः । याथातथ्येन तद्रूपं वक्तुमीशः कदाचन
Neither Brahmā, nor Hari, nor Rudra, nor Vāsava is ever able to describe her form exactly as it is.
कथं जानाम्यहं देव्या यद्रूपं यादृशं यतः । वाचारम्भणमात्रं तदुत्पन्नेति ब्रवीमि यत्
How could I know the form of the Goddess, what it is and whence it comes? I say what arises merely from the act of speech.
सा नित्या सर्वदैवास्ते देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये । नानारूपा त्वेकरूपा जायते कार्यगौरवात्
She is eternal, always divine; for the fulfillment of the gods' purposes, she appears in many forms, yet is truly one, manifesting due to the gravity of the task.
यथा नटो रङ्गगतो नानारूपो भवत्यसौ । एकरूपस्वभावोऽपि लोकरञ्जनहेतवे
Just as an actor upon the stage takes on many forms, though his true nature is one, for the sake of entertaining the world,
तथैषा देवकार्यार्थमरूपापि स्वलीलया । करोति बहुरूपाणि निर्गुणा सगुणानि च
So too does she, though for the gods' purposes she is formless, by her own play, assume many forms, both with and without qualities.
कार्यकर्मानुसारेण नामानि प्रभवन्ति हि । धात्वर्थगुणयुक्तानि गौणानि सुबहून्यपि
According to the actions performed, many secondary names arise, endowed with meanings from roots and qualities.
तद्वै बुद्ध्यनुसारेण प्रब्रवीमि नराधिप । यथा तेजःसमुद्भूतं रूपं तस्या मनोहरम्
Therefore, O king, I will describe according to understanding the beautiful form that arose from radiance.
शङ्करस्य च यत्तेजस्तेन तन्मुखपङ्कजम् । श्वेतवर्णं शुभाकारमजायत महत्तरम्
From the radiance of Śaṅkara, her lotus-like face was born, white in color, auspicious in appearance, and exceedingly great.
केशास्तस्यास्तथा स्निग्धा याम्येन तेजसाभवन् । वक्राग्राश्चातिदीर्घा वै मेघवर्णा मनोहराः
Her hair was formed from the radiance of Yama, glossy, with curved tips, exceedingly long, cloud-colored, and enchanting.
नयनत्रितयं तस्या जज्ञे पावकतेजसा । कृष्णं रक्तं तथा श्वेतं वर्णत्रयविभूषितम्
Her three eyes were produced from the radiance of fire: black, red, and white, adorned with three colors.
वक्रे स्निग्धे कृष्णवर्णे सन्ध्ययोस्तेजसा भ्रुवौ । जाते देव्याः सुतेजस्के कामस्य धनुषीव ते
Her eyebrows, glossy and black, were formed from the radiance of twilight, and appeared as the bow of Kāma, radiant and divine.
वायोश्च तेजसा शस्तौ श्रवणौ सम्बभूवतुः । नातिदीर्घो नातिह्रस्वौ दोलाविव मनोभुवः
Her ears were formed by the energy of Vayu, bright and well-shaped; neither too long nor too short, they resembled delicate swings fashioned by the mind.
तिलपुष्पसमाकारा नासिका सुमनोहरा । सञ्जाता स्निग्धवर्णा वै धनदस्य च तेजसा
Her nose, charming and beautiful, took the form of a sesame flower, radiant and smooth, created by the brilliance of Kubera.