आराध्या परमा शक्तिः सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः । नातः परतरं किञ्चिदधिकं भुवनत्रये
The supreme power is to be worshipped by all gods and demons; there is nothing higher or greater in the three worlds.
सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यं वेदशास्त्रार्थनिर्णयः । पूजनीया परा शक्तिर्निर्गुणा सगुणाथवा
Truth, truth, again truth: this is the determination of the meaning of the Vedas and scriptures; the supreme power, whether without qualities or with qualities, is to be worshipped.
शिववरदानवर्णनम् ऋषय ऊचुः सूत पूर्वं त्वया प्रोक्तं व्यासेनामिततेजसा । कृत्वा पुराणमखिलं शुकायाध्यापितं शुभम्
Description of Shiva's boon to the demons. The sages said: Sūta, you previously told us that Vyāsa, of immeasurable brilliance, composed the entire Purāṇa and taught it to Śuka, the auspicious one.
व्यासेन तु तपस्तप्त्वा कथमुत्पादितः शुकः । विस्तरं ब्रूहि सकलं यच्छ्रुतं कृष्णतस्त्वया
But how did Vyāsa, after performing austerities, produce Śuka? Tell us in detail everything you heard from Kṛṣṇa.
सूत उवाच प्रवक्ष्यामि शुकोत्पत्तिं व्यासात्सत्यवतीसुतात् । यथोत्पन्नः शुकः साक्षाद्योगिनां प्रवरो मुनिः
Sūta said: I shall relate the origin of Śuka, born from Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, and how Śuka arose as the foremost sage among yogis.
मेरुशृङ्गे महारम्ये व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः । तपश्चचार सोऽत्युग्रं पुत्रार्थं कृतनिश्चयः
On the beautiful summit of Meru, Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, performed severe austerities, firmly resolved to obtain a son.
जपन्नेकाक्षरं मन्त्रं वाग्बीजं नारदाच्छ्रुतम् । ध्यायन्परां महामायां पुत्रकामस्तपोनिधिः
Reciting the one-syllabled mantra, the seed of speech, learned from Nārada, he meditated upon the supreme great illusion, desiring a son, a treasury of austerity.
अग्नेर्भूमेस्तथा वायोरन्तरिक्षस्य चाप्ययम् । वीर्येण सम्मितः पुत्रो मम भूयादिति स्म ह
May my son be equal in strength to fire, earth, wind, and the sky—so he prayed.
अतिष्ठत्स गताहारः शतसंवत्सरं प्रभुः । आराधयन्महादेवं तथैव च सदाशिवाम्
He remained without food for a hundred years, worshipping Mahādeva and likewise Sadāśiva.
शक्तिः सर्वत्र पूज्येति विचार्य च पुनः पुनः । अशक्तो निन्द्यते लोके शक्तस्तु परिपूज्यते
Considering again and again that power is to be worshipped everywhere, he saw that the powerless are despised in the world, but the powerful are greatly honored.
यत्र पर्वतशृङ्गे वै कर्णिकारवनाद्भुते । क्रीडन्ति देवताः सर्वे मुनयश्च तपोऽधिकाः
There, on the wondrous mountain peak adorned with groves of karṇikāra trees, all the gods and the great ascetics devoted to austerity sport and play.
आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा मरुतश्चाश्विनौ तथा । वसन्ति मुनयो यत्र ये चान्ये ब्रह्मवित्तमाः
The Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, Maruts, the two Aśvins, and the sages—those who are foremost knowers of Brahman—reside there.
तत्र हेमगिरेः शृङ्गे संगीतध्वनिनादिते । तपश्चचार धर्मात्मा व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः
On that summit of the golden mountain, resounding with the music of song, the righteous Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, performed austerities.
ततोऽस्य तेजसा व्याप्तं विश्वं सर्वं चराचरम् । अग्निवर्णा जटा जाता पाराशर्यस्य धीमतः
Then, by his radiance, the entire universe—moving and unmoving—became filled; the wise son of Parāśara's matted locks turned the color of fire.
ततोऽस्य तेज आलक्ष्य भयमाप शचीपतिः । तुरासाहं तदा दृष्ट्वा भयत्रस्तं श्रमातुरम्
Seeing his brilliance, the lord of Śacī was seized by fear; beholding Turāsāha in that state—trembling with fear and exhausted—
उवाच भगवान् रुद्रो मघवन्तं तथास्थितम् । शङ्कर उवाच कथमिन्द्राद्य भीतोऽसि किं दुःखं ते सुरेश्वर
The blessed Rudra spoke to Maghavan, who stood thus: 'O Indra, why are you afraid now? What troubles you, lord of the gods?'
अमर्षो नैव कर्तव्यस्तापसेषु कदाचन । तपश्चरन्ति मुनयो ज्ञात्वा मां शक्तिसंयुतम्
One should never harbor resentment toward ascetics; the sages perform austerities knowing me, endowed with power.
न त्वेतेऽहितमिच्छन्ति तापसाः सर्वथैव हि । इत्युक्तवचनः शक्रस्तमुवाच वृषध्वजम्
These ascetics never wish harm in any way; thus addressed, Śakra spoke to the bull-bannered one.
कस्मात्तपस्यति व्यासः कोऽर्थस्तस्य मनोगतः । शिव उवाच पाराशर्यस्तु पुत्रार्थी तपश्चरति दुश्चरम्
'Why is Vyāsa performing austerities? What desire occupies his mind?' Śiva said: 'The son of Parāśara seeks a son and undertakes severe penance.'
पूर्णवर्षशतं जातं ददाम्यद्य सुतं शुभम् । सूत उवाच इत्युक्त्या वासवं रुद्रो दयया मुदिताननः
'Though a full hundred years have passed, today I shall grant him an auspicious son.' Sūta said: Thus, with these words, Rudra, his face beaming with compassion, spoke to Vāsava.
गत्वा ऋषिसमीपं तु तमुवाच जगद्गुरुः । उत्तिष्ठ वासवीपुत्र पुत्रस्ते भविता शुभः
Going to the sage, the Lord of the Universe said: 'Arise, son of Vāsavī; an auspicious son will be born to you.'
सर्वतेजोमयो ज्ञानी कीर्तिकर्ता तवानघ । अखिलस्य जनस्यात्र वल्लभस्ते सुतः सदा
'He will be filled with all brilliance, wise, and a maker of fame for you, O sinless one; your son will always be beloved by all people here.'
भविष्यति गुणैः पूर्णः सात्त्विकैः सत्यविक्रमः । सूत उवाच तदाकर्ण्य वचः श्लक्ष्णं कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा
'He will be endowed with all virtues, pure in nature, and truly valiant.' Sūta said: Hearing these gentle words, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana then—
शूलपाणिं नमस्कृत्य जगामाश्रममात्मनः । स गत्वाश्रममेवाशु बहुवर्षश्रमातुरः
Having bowed to the trident-bearing Lord, he went to his own hermitage; reaching his hermitage swiftly, weary from many years of austerity—
अरणीसहितं गुह्यं ममन्थाग्निं चिकीर्षया । मन्थनं कुर्वतस्तस्य चित्ते चिन्ताभरस्तदा
With the secret fire-sticks, he churned to produce fire; as he churned, his mind was filled with anxious thoughts.
प्रादुर्बभूव सहसा सुतोत्पत्तौ महात्मनः । मन्थानारणिसंयोगान्मन्थनाच्च समुद्भवः
Suddenly, as the great soul was intent on producing a son, an apparition appeared; from the union of the churning sticks and the act of churning, there arose—
पावकस्य यथा तद्वत्कथं मे स्यात्सुतोद्भवः । पुत्रारणिस्तु या ख्याता सा ममाद्य न विद्यते
'Just as fire arises thus, how will a son be born to me? The putrāraṇi, the stick for producing a son, is said to exist, but today I do not possess it.'
तरुणी रूपसम्पन्ना कुलोत्पन्ता पतिव्रता । कथं करोमि कान्तां च पादयोः शृङ्खलासमाम्
'A young woman, endowed with beauty, born of a noble family, devoted to her husband—how can I make such a beloved, adorned with anklets at her feet?'
पुत्रोत्पादनदक्षां च पातिव्रत्ये सदा स्थिताम् । पतिव्रतापि दक्षापि रूपवत्यपि कामिनी
She who is skilled in bearing children, always steadfast in fidelity to her husband—whether devoted, skilled, beautiful, or passionate—
सदा बन्धनरूपा च स्वेच्छासुखविधायिनी । शिवोऽपि वर्तते नित्यं कामिनीपाशसंयुतः
is ever a source of bondage, yet grants pleasure at will; even Shiva himself is always bound by the snare of a passionate woman.