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."
अनेककोटिजन्मोत्थपुण्यपुञ्जैर्हि लभ्यते । इत्युक्ता सा तदा देवी तामाह प्रणता पुरः
"It is gained only through the accumulated merit of countless millions of births." Thus addressed, the goddess then spoke to her as she bowed before her.
शक्रपत्नी भगवतीं प्रसन्नां परमेश्वरीम् । वाञ्छामि दर्शनं मातः पत्युः परमदुर्लभम्
The wife of Śakra, bowing before the gracious and supreme goddess, said: "Mother, I desire the vision of my husband, which is exceedingly difficult to obtain."
नहुषाद्भयनाशं च स्वपदप्रापणं तथा । देव्युवाच गच्छ त्वमनया दूत्या सार्धं श्रीमानसं सरः
The removal of fear from Nahusha and the regaining of your own place as well—
यत्र मे मूर्तिरचला विश्वकामाभिधा मता । तत्र पश्यसि शक्रं त्वं दुःखितं भयविह्वलम्
The Goddess said: Go now, together with this messenger, to the sacred lake Manasa, where my immovable form, known as Vishvakama, abides; there you will see Indra, distressed and overcome by fear.
मोहयिष्यामि राजानं कालेन कियता पुनः । स्वस्था भव विशालाक्षि करोमि तव चेप्सितम्
In a short time, I will delude the king; be at ease, O wide-eyed one, I will accomplish what you desire.
भ्रंशयिष्यामि भूपालं मोहितं त्रिदशासनात् । व्यास उवाच देवीदूती तां गृहीत्वा शक्रपत्नीं त्वरान्विता
I will cause the deluded king to fall from the throne of the gods;—
प्रापयामास सान्निध्यं स्वपत्युः परमेश्वरीम् । सा दृष्ट्वा तं पतिं बाला सुरेशं गुप्तसंस्थितम् । मुदिताभूद्वरं वीक्ष्य बहुकालाभिवाञ्छितम्
Vyasa said: The goddess's messenger, taking Indra's wife with her in haste, brought her into the presence of her husband, the Supreme Lord. Seeing her husband, the lord of the gods, concealed and in hiding, she rejoiced greatly, beholding the beloved she had longed for over many ages.
नहुषस्वर्गच्युतिवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच तां वीक्ष्य विपुलापाङ्गीं रहः शोकसमन्विताम् । आखण्डलः प्रियां भार्यां विस्मितश्चाब्रवीत्तदा
The account of Nahusha's fall from heaven. Vyasa said: Seeing her, with broad eyes, alone and filled with sorrow, Akhandala, astonished, spoke to his beloved wife:
कथमत्रागता कान्ते कथं ज्ञातस्त्वया ह्यहम् । दुर्ज्ञेयः सर्वभूतानां संस्थितोऽस्मि शुभानने
"How have you come here, dear one? How did you find me? I am hidden, unknowable to all beings, O auspicious one."
शच्युवाच देव देव्याः प्रसादेन ज्ञातोऽस्यद्य भवानिह । पुनस्तस्याः प्रसादेन प्राप्तास्मि त्वां दिवस्पते
Shachi said: "O lord, by the grace of the Goddess, I have found you here today; again, by her grace, I have reached you, O lord of heaven."