ततस्तुष्टो महादेवो वृषारूढस्त्रिलोचनः । प्रत्यक्षोऽभून्महेशानः पार्वतीसहितः प्रभुः
Then, Mahadeva, mounted on a bull and three-eyed, became pleased; the great Lord appeared directly, accompanied by Parvati.
तत्रैत्य सगणः शम्भुस्तामाह हरिवल्लभाम् । तपस्यन्तीं महाभागामश्विनीरूपधारिणीम्
Arriving there with his attendants, Shambhu spoke to Hari's beloved, who was engaged in austerities and had assumed the form of Ashvini.
किं तपस्यसि कल्याणि जगन्मातर्वदस्व मे । सर्वार्थदः पतिस्तेऽस्ति सर्वलोकविधायकः
Why do you perform austerities, O auspicious one, Mother of the universe? Tell me. Your husband is the giver of all things, the creator of all worlds.
हरिं त्यक्त्वाद्य मां कस्मात्स्तौषि देवि जगत्पतिम् । वासुदेवं जगन्नाथं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्
Why, O goddess, do you abandon Hari today and praise me, the Lord of the universe—Vasudeva, the master of all, who grants enjoyment and liberation?
वेदोक्तं वचनं कार्यं नारीणां देवता पतिः । नान्यस्मिन्सर्वथा भावः कर्तव्यः कर्हिचित्क्वचित्
The Vedas declare that for women, the husband is god; in no way should devotion be directed elsewhere, ever, at any time.
पतिशुश्रूषणं स्त्रीणां धर्म एव सनातनः । यादृशस्तादृशः सेव्यः सर्वथा शुभकाम्यया
Service to the husband is the eternal duty of women; whatever his nature, he must always be served with the desire for auspiciousness.
नारायणस्तु सर्वेषां सेव्यो योग्यः सदैव हि । तं त्यक्त्वा देवदेवेशं किं मां ध्यायसि सिन्धुजे
Narayana is always worthy of service by all; having abandoned the Lord of gods, why do you meditate on me, O daughter of the ocean?
लक्ष्मीरुवाच आशुतोष महेशान शप्ताहं पतिना शिव । मां समुद्धर देवेश शापादस्माद्दयानिधे
Lakshmi said: O Lord Maheshana, I have been cursed by my husband, Shiva; rescue me, O Lord of gods, from this curse, O ocean of compassion.
तदोक्तं हरिणा शम्भो शापानुग्रहकारणम् । विज्ञप्तेन मया कामं दयायुक्तेन विष्णुना
Shambhu, what was spoken by Hari was for the purpose of both curse and grace; I have submitted my request to Vishnu, who is full of mercy.
यदा ते भविता पुत्रस्तदा शापस्य मोक्षणम् । भविष्यति च वैकुण्ठवासस्ते कमलालये
When you have a son, then the curse will be lifted; and you will reside in Vaikuntha, O lotus-dweller.
इत्युक्ताहं तपस्तप्तुमागतास्मि तपोवने । आराधितो मया देव त्वं सर्वार्थप्रदायकः
Thus addressed, I have come to this forest of austerities to perform penance; I have worshipped you, O Lord, who grants all desires.
पतिसङ्गं विना पुत्रं देवदेव लभे कथम् । स तु तिष्ठति वैकुण्ठे त्यक्त्वा वामामनागसम्
How can I obtain a son, O Lord of gods, without union with my husband? He remains in Vaikuntha, having abandoned me, though I am blameless.
वरं मे देहि देवेश यदि तुष्टोऽसि शङ्कर । तव तस्य द्विधा भावो नास्ति नूनं कदाचन
Grant me a boon, O Lord of gods, if you are pleased, O Shankara; surely, there is never any difference between you and him.
मयैतद्गिरिजाकान्त ज्ञातं पत्युः पुरो हर । यस्त्वं योऽसौ पुनर्योऽसौ स त्वं नास्त्यत्र संशयः
I have understood this, O beloved of Girija, before my husband: you and he, whoever he is, you are; there is no doubt in this.
एकत्वं च मया ज्ञात्वा मया ते स्मरणं कृतम् । अन्यथा मम दोषस्त्वामाश्रयन्त्या भवेच्छिव
Knowing this unity, I have remembered you; otherwise, fault would attach to me, O Shiva, for seeking refuge in you.
शिव उवाच कथं ज्ञातस्त्वया देवि मम तस्य च सुन्दरि । ऐक्यभावो हरेर्नूनं सत्यं मे वद सिन्धुजे
Shiva said: How did you know, O goddess, the unity between me and him, O beautiful one? Tell me truly, O daughter of the ocean, about the oneness with Hari.
एकत्वं च न जानन्ति देवाश्च मुनयस्तथा । ज्ञानिनो वेदतत्त्वज्ञाः कुतर्कोपहताः किल
Even the gods and sages do not know oneness; those who are knowledgeable, who know the essence of the Vedas, are indeed obstructed by false reasoning.
मद्भक्ता वासुदेवस्य निन्दका बहवस्तथा । विष्णभक्तास्तु बहवो मम निन्दापरायणाः
There are many who are my devotees and slanderers of Vāsudeva, and likewise, there are many devotees of Viṣṇu who are intent on reviling me.
भवन्ति कालभेदेन कलौ देवि विशेषतः । कथं ज्ञातस्त्वया भद्रे दुर्ज्ञेयो ह्यकृतात्मभिः
Such people arise at different times, especially in the age of Kali, O Goddess; how could you know, O auspicious one, for this is truly difficult to comprehend for those whose minds are unrefined.
सर्वथा त्वैक्यभावस्तु हरेर्मम च दुर्लभः । व्यास उवाच इति सा शम्भुना पुष्टा तुष्टेन हरिवल्लभा
In every way, the state of unity between Hari and myself is rare; Vyāsa said: Thus, she who is dear to Hari was strengthened by Śambhu, who was pleased.
वृत्तान्तं तस्य विज्ञातं प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे । शिवं प्रति रमा तत्र प्रसन्नवदना भृशम्
Having understood that event, Ramā, with a very cheerful face, began to recount it to Śiva.
लक्ष्मीरुवाच एकदा देवदेवेश विष्णुर्ध्यानपरो रहः । दृष्टो मया तपः कुर्वन्पद्मासनगतो यदा
Lakṣmī said: Once, O Lord of the gods, Viṣṇu was absorbed in meditation in solitude; I saw him practicing austerity, seated on a lotus.
तदाहं विस्मिता देवं तमपृच्छं पतिं किल । प्रबुद्धं सुप्रसन्नं च ज्ञात्वा विनयपूर्वकम्
Then, amazed, I approached that Lord and questioned my husband, having observed that he was awakened and very pleased, with proper humility.
देवदेव जगन्नाथ यदाहं निर्गतार्णवात् । मथ्यमानात्सुरैर्दैत्यैः सर्वैर्ब्रह्मादिभिः प्रभो
O Lord of the gods, O Lord of the universe, when I emerged from the ocean, churned by all the gods and demons, including Brahmā and the others,
वीक्षिताश्च मया सर्वे पतिकामनया तदा । वृतस्त्वं सर्वदेवेभ्यः श्रेष्ठोऽसीति विनिश्चयात्
I looked upon all with the desire to choose a husband; you were selected from all the gods as the best, with firm resolve.
त्वं कं ध्यायसि सर्वेश संशयोऽयं महान्मम । प्रियोऽसि कैटभारे मे कथयस्व मनोगतम्
Whom do you meditate upon, O Lord of all? This is my great doubt. You are dear to me, O slayer of Madhu and Kaiṭabha; tell me what is in your heart.
विष्णुरुवाच शृणु कान्ते प्रवक्ष्यामि यं ध्यायामि सुरोत्तमम् । आशुतोषं महेशानं गिरिजावल्लभं हृदि
Viṣṇu said: Listen, beloved, I will tell you whom I meditate upon in my heart—the supreme among the gods, Maheśāna, the easily pleased Lord, beloved of Girijā.
कदाचिद्देवदेवो मां ध्यायत्यमितविक्रमः । ध्यायाम्यहं च देवेशं शङ्करं त्रिपुरान्तकम्
Sometimes, the Lord of gods, of immeasurable prowess, meditates on me; and I, too, meditate on the Lord of gods, Śaṅkara, the destroyer of Tripura.
शिवस्याहं प्रियः प्राणः शङ्करस्तु तथा मम । उभयोरन्तरं नास्ति मिथः संसक्तचेतसोः
I am dear to Śiva, his very life, and Śaṅkara is likewise to me; there is no difference between us, our minds are mutually joined.
नरकं यान्ति ते नूनं ये द्विषन्ति महेश्वरम् । भक्ता मम विशालाक्षि सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम्
Surely, those who hate Maheśvara go to hell; this is the truth I speak, O wide-eyed one, my devotees.