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.
दन्ताः शिखरिणः श्लक्ष्णाः कुन्दाग्रसदृशाः समाः । सञ्जाताः सुप्रभा राजन् प्राजापत्येन तेजसा
Her teeth, smooth as mountain peaks and resembling the tips of jasmine buds, were even and splendid, O King, brought forth by the energy of Prajapati.
अधरश्चातिरक्तोऽस्याः सञ्जातोऽरुणतेजसा । उत्तरोष्ठस्तथा रम्यः कार्तिकेयस्य तेजसा
Her lower lip, exceedingly red, was born from the radiance of Aruna; her upper lip, equally delightful, arose from the brilliance of Kartikeya.
अष्टादशभुजाकारा बाहवो विष्णुतेजसा । वसूनां तेजसाङ्गुल्यो रक्तवर्णास्तथाभवन्
Her arms, shaped with eighteen limbs, were created by the energy of Vishnu; her fingers, glowing red, were formed by the brilliance of the Vasus.
सौम्येन तेजसा जातं स्तनयोर्युग्ममुत्तमम् । ऐन्द्रेणास्यास्तथा मध्यं जातं त्रिवलिसंयुतम्
Her pair of excellent breasts arose from gentle radiance; her waist, adorned with three folds, was formed by the energy of Indra.
जङ्घोरू वरुणस्याथ तेजसा सम्बभूवतुः । नितम्बः स तु सञ्जातो विपुलस्तेजसा भुवः
Her thighs and shanks were produced by the energy of Varuna; her hips, broad and splendid, were created by the brilliance of the earth.
एवं नारी शुभाकारा सुरूपा सुस्वरा भृशम् । समुत्पन्ना तथा राजंस्तेजोराशिसमुद्भवा
Thus, a woman of auspicious form, exquisite beauty, and melodious voice was born, O King, arising from a multitude of radiant energies.
तां दृष्ट्वा सुष्ठुसर्वाङ्गीं सुदतीं चारुलोचनाम् । मुदं प्रापुः सुराः सर्वे महिषेण प्रपीडिताः
Seeing her, flawless in every limb, with beautiful teeth and enchanting eyes, all the gods, oppressed by Mahisha, were filled with joy.
विष्णुस्त्वाह सुरान्सर्वान्भूषणान्यायुधानि च । प्रयच्छन्तु शुभान्यस्यै देवाः सर्वाणि साम्प्रतम्
Vishnu spoke to all the gods: 'Let all the gods now offer her auspicious ornaments and weapons.'
स्वायुधेभ्यः समुत्पाद्य तेजोयुक्तानि सत्वराः । समर्पयन्तु सर्वेऽद्य देव्यै नानायुधानि वै
Let all the gods quickly produce weapons imbued with their own energy and present various arms to the goddess today.
महिषमन्त्रिणा देवीवार्तावर्णनम् व्यास उवाच देवा विष्णुवचः श्रुत्वा सर्वे प्रमुदितास्तदा । ददुश्च भूषणान्याशु वस्त्राणि स्वायुधानि च
Vyasa said: Hearing Vishnu's words, all the gods, delighted, promptly gave her ornaments, garments, and their own weapons.