आदिदेवं जगन्नाथं शरणागतवत्सलम् । ऊचुश्चैनं समुद्विग्ना वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदाः
They addressed the Primal Deity, Lord of the Universe, who is compassionate to those who seek refuge. Distressed, they spoke to Him, skilled in speech.
देवदेव सुरपतिर्ब्रह्महत्याप्रपीडितः । अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां क्वापि तिष्ठति वासवः
O God of gods, the lord of the celestials is afflicted by the sin of killing a Brahmin. Indra is invisible to all beings, residing somewhere unknown.
त्वद्धिया निहते विप्रे ब्रह्महत्या कुतः प्रभो । त्वं गतिस्तस्य भगवन्नस्माकं च तथैव हि
By your will, the Brahmin was slain—how then can there be the sin of Brahmin-killing, O Lord? You are the refuge for him, O Blessed One, and for us as well.
त्राहि नः परमापन्नान्मोक्षं तस्य विनिर्दिश । देवानां वचनं श्रुत्वा कातरं विष्णुरब्रवीत्
Rescue us, who are in great distress, and show him the path to liberation. Hearing the gods' anxious words, Vishnu spoke.
यजतामश्वमेधेन शक्रपापनिवृत्तये । पुण्येन हयमेधेन पावितः पाकशासनः
Let an Ashvamedha sacrifice be performed to remove Indra's sin. By the merit of the horse sacrifice, Indra will be purified.
पुनरेष्यति देवानामिन्द्रत्वमकुतोभयः । हयमेधेन सन्तुष्टा देवी श्रीजगदम्बिका
He will again attain the position of king of the gods, free from all fear. The goddess Jagadambika will be pleased by the Ashvamedha.
ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानि नाशयिष्यत्यसंशयम् । यस्याः स्मरणमात्रेण पापजालं विनश्यति
She will surely destroy sins such as Brahmin-killing, without doubt. By merely remembering her, the web of sin is destroyed.
किं पुनर्वाजिमेधेन तत्प्रीत्यर्थं कृतेन च । इन्द्राणी कुरुतान्नित्यं भगवत्याः प्रपूजनम्
What then, if the Ashvamedha is performed for her pleasure? Indrani, always worship the Blessed Goddess.
आराधनं शिवायास्तु सुखकारि भविष्यति । नहुषोऽपि जगन्मातुर्मायया मोहितः किल
The worship of Shiva will bring happiness. Even Nahusha was deluded by the power of the Mother of the Universe.
विनाशं स्वकृतेनाशु गमिष्यत्येनसा सुराः । पावितश्चाश्वमेधेन तुराषाडपि वैभवम्
He will quickly meet his destruction by his own misdeed, O gods. Turashad will also be purified by the Ashvamedha and attain glory.
प्राप्स्यत्यचिरकालेन स्वमासनमनुत्तमम् । ते तु श्रुत्वा शुभां वाणीं विष्णोरमिततेजसः
He will soon obtain his own excellent seat. Hearing Vishnu's auspicious words, radiant as they were,
जग्मुस्तं देशमनिशं यत्रास्ते पाकशासनः । तमाश्वास्य सुराः शक्रं बृहस्पतिपुरोगमाः
They went day and night to the place where Indra was staying. The gods, led by Brihaspati, comforted Indra.
कारयामासुरखिलं हयमेधं महाक्रतुम् । विभज्य ब्रह्महत्यां तु वृक्षेषु च नदीषु च
They performed the entire Ashvamedha, the great sacrifice. They divided the sin of Brahmin-killing among the trees and rivers.
पर्वतेषु पृथिव्यां च स्त्रीषु चैवाक्षिपद्विभुः । तां विसृज्य च भूतेषु विपापः पाकशासनः
Among the mountains, on the earth, and in women, the Lord cast it. Having released it among the beings, Indra became free from sin.
विज्वरः समभूद्भूयः कालाकाङ्क्षी स्थितो जले । अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां पद्मनाले व्यतिष्ठत
He became free from fever, yet remained in the water, longing for the appointed time; invisible to all beings, he stayed within the stalk of a lotus.
देवास्तु निर्गताः स्थाने कृत्वा कार्यं तदद्भुतम् । पौलोमी तु गुरुं प्राह दुःखिता विरहाकुला
The gods departed after accomplishing that wondrous task; but Paulomi, distressed and overwhelmed by separation, spoke to her teacher.
कृतयज्ञोऽपि मे भर्ता किमदृश्यः पुरन्दरः । कथं द्रक्ष्ये प्रियं स्वामिंस्तमुपायं वदस्व मे
"Though my husband, Purandara, has performed sacrifices, why is he unseen? O lord, tell me the means by which I may see my beloved husband."
बृहस्पतिरुवाच त्वमाराधय पौलोमि देवीं भगवतीं शिवाम् । दर्शयिष्यति ते नाथं देवी विगतकल्मषम्
Bṛhaspati said: "O Paulomi, worship the goddess, the blessed Śivā; the goddess, free from all stain, will reveal your lord to you."
आराधिता जगद्धात्री नहुषं वारयिष्यति । मोहयित्वा नृपं स्थानात्पातयिष्यति चाम्बिका
"When worshipped, the Mother of the Universe will restrain Nahuṣa; Ambikā will delude the king and cast him down from his position."
इत्युक्ता सा तदा तेन पुलोमतनया नृप । जग्राह मन्त्रं विधिवद्गुरोर्देव्याः ससाधनम्
Thus addressed by him, the daughter of Puloma then duly received from her teacher the mantra and the proper means for worshipping the goddess.
विद्यां प्राप्य गुरोर्देवी देवीं श्रीभुवनेश्वरीम् । सम्यगाराधयामास बलिपुष्पार्चनैः शुभै
Having obtained the knowledge from her teacher, she devotedly worshipped the goddess Śrī Bhuvaneśvarī with auspicious offerings of flowers and oblations.
त्यक्तान्यभोगसम्भारा तापसीवेषधारिणी । चकार पूजनं देव्याः प्रियदर्शनलालसा
Renouncing all other enjoyments, adopting the appearance of an ascetic, she performed worship of the goddess, longing for a vision of her beloved.
कालेन कियता तुष्टा प्रत्यक्षं दर्शनं ददौ । सौम्यरूपधरा देवी वरदा हंसवाहिनी
After some time, the pleased goddess granted her a direct vision, appearing before her in a gentle form, bestower of boons, riding a swan.
सूर्यकोटिप्रतीकाशा चन्द्रकोटिसुशीतला । विद्युत्कोटिसमानाभा चतुर्वेदसमन्विता
She shone with the brilliance of ten million suns, was as cool as ten million moons, radiant like ten million flashes of lightning, and was endowed with the four Vedas.
पाशांकुशाभयवरान्दधती निजबाहुभिः । आपादलम्बिनीं स्वच्छां मुक्तामालां च बिभ्रती
Holding a noose, goad, gesture of fearlessness, and boon in her own hands, she wore a pure garland of pearls that reached to her feet.
प्रसन्तस्मेरवदना लोचनत्रयभूषिता । आब्रह्मकीटजननी करुणामृतसागरा
Her face was serene and smiling, adorned with three eyes; mother of all, from Brahmā to the smallest insect, she was an ocean of nectar-like compassion.
अनन्तकोटिब्रह्माण्डनायिका परमेश्वरी । सौम्यानन्तरसैर्युक्तस्तनद्वयविराजिता
She is the supreme ruler, mistress of countless millions of universes, her two breasts resplendent, endowed with endless gentle qualities.
सर्वेश्वरी च सर्वज्ञा कूटस्थाक्षररूपिणी । तामुवाच प्रसन्ना सा शक्रपत्नीं कृतोद्यमाम्
She is the sovereign of all, all-knowing, embodying the immutable and imperishable; she, pleased, spoke to the devoted wife of Śakra who had made her effort.
मेघगम्भीरशब्देन मुदमाददती भृशम् । देव्युवाच वरं वरय सुश्रोणि वाञ्छितं शक्रवल्लभे
With a voice deep as thunderclouds, bringing great joy, the goddess said: "Choose a boon, O fair-hipped one, beloved of Śakra, whatever you desire."
ददाम्यद्य प्रसन्नास्मि पूजिता सुभृशं त्वया । वरदाहं समायाता दर्शनं सहजं न मे
"Today I am pleased and have been thoroughly worshipped by you; I am the granter of boons and have come here. My vision is not easily attained."