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."
नहुषो नाम राजर्षिः स्थापितो भवदासने । त्रिदशैर्मुनिभिश्चैव स मां बाधति नित्यशः
"A royal sage named Nahusha has been placed on your throne by the gods and sages; he torments me constantly."
पतिं मां कुरु चार्वङ्गि: तुरासाहं सुराधिपम् । एवं वदति मां पाप्मा किं करोमि बलार्दन
"Make me your wife, O beautiful one; I have rejected the king of the gods. Thus, the wicked one speaks to me—what am I to do, O destroyer of foes?"
इन्द्र उवाच कालाकाङ्क्षी वरारोहे संस्थितोऽस्मि यदृच्छया । तथा त्वमपि कल्याणि सुस्थिरं स्वमनः कुरु
Indra said: "O lovely one, I remain here, awaiting the right time, by fate; you too, O blessed one, keep your mind steady and firm."
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्ता तेन सा देवी पतिनातिप्रशंसिना । निःश्वसन्त्याह तं शक्रं वेपमानातिदुःखिता
Vyasa said: Thus addressed by her greatly praiseworthy husband, the goddess, sighing and trembling in deep sorrow, spoke to Indra:
कथं तिष्ठे महाभाग पापात्मा मां वशानुगाम् । करिष्यति मदोन्मत्तो वरदानेन गर्वितः
"How can I remain, O greatly fortunate one, when that sinful soul, maddened by pride and intoxicated by his boon, will force me to his will?"
देवाश्च मुनयः सर्वे मामूचुस्तद्भयाकुलाः । तं भजस्व वरारोहे देवराजं स्मरातुरम्
"All the gods and sages, stricken with fear, have said to me: 'O beautiful one, serve the king of the gods, who is tormented by love.'"
बृहस्पतिस्तु शत्रुघ्न वाडवो बलवर्जितः । कथं मां रक्षितुं शक्तो भवेद्देवानुगः सदा
"Brihaspati, the enemy-slayer, is powerless, like a burnt-out fire; how can he, always devoted to the gods, protect me?"
तस्माच्चिन्तास्ति महती नार्यहं वशवर्तिनी । अनाथा किं करिष्यामि विपरीते विधौ विभो
"Therefore, I am filled with great anxiety, for I am a woman under another's control; abandoned, what am I to do, O Lord, when fate is adverse?"
नार्यस्म्यहं न कुलटा त्वच्चित्तातिपतिव्रता । नास्ति मे शरणं तत्र यो मां रक्षति दुःखिताम्
"I am a woman, not unchaste; my heart is wholly devoted to you. I have no refuge there—no one to protect me in my sorrow."
इन्द्र उवाच उपायं प्रब्रवीम्यद्य तं कुरुष्व वरानने । शीलं ते दुःखिते काले परित्रातं भविष्यति
Indra said: "I will tell you a means today, O beautiful one; do this. Your virtue, in this time of distress, will become your protection."