Kurma Purana

संप्रेक्ष्य जगतो योनिं पार्श्वस्थं च जनार्दनम्

Beholding the source of the world and Janardana standing nearby,

त्यक्तव्या मम भार्येति धर्मज्ञैः शान्तमानसैः

'My wife should be abandoned'—so say those who know dharma and are of tranquil mind.

अस्माभिरेषा सुभगा तादृशी त्यागमर्हति

'This fortunate one among us is such as to deserve abandonment.'

नाहमेनामपि तथा विमुञ्चामि कदाचन

I will never abandon her in such a way.

उक्तं ह्यसत्यं भवता गम्यतां क्षिप्रमेव हि

'What you have said is untrue; depart at once!'

भवतां प्रतिभात्येषेत्युक्त्वासौ विचचार ह

Saying, 'This appears to you,' he then wandered about.

वसिष्ठस्याश्रमं पुण्यं भिक्षार्थो परमेश्वरः

The supreme Lord went to the holy hermitage of Vasiṣṭha, seeking alms.

वसिष्ठस्य प्रिया भार्या प्रत्युद्गम्य ननाम नम्

Vasiṣṭha’s beloved wife approached and bowed in reverence.

संधयामास भैषज्यैर्विष्णा वदना सती

She, virtuous, applied medicines to Viṣṇā’s face.

उवाच तां महादेवः सिद्धानां प्रवरो ऽस्म्यहम्

Mahādeva spoke to her, saying, 'Among the siddhas, I am the foremost.'

एषैव देवता मह्यं धारयामि सदैव तत्

'This very goddess is mine; I always uphold her.'

ताडयाञ्चक्रिरे दण्डैर्लोष्टिभिर्मुष्टिभिद्विजाः

The twice-born struck with staffs, clods, and fists.

प्रोचुरेतद् भवांल्लिङ्गमुत्पाटयतु दुर्मते

'Let this wicked-minded one uproot the liṅga of the Lord.'

युष्माकं मामके लिङ्गे यदि द्वेषो ऽभिजायते

'If hatred arises in you toward my liṅga—'

नापश्यंस्तत्क्षणेनेशं केशवं लिङ्गमेव च

In that moment, I did not see the Lord, Keśava, nor even the liṅga.

निष्प्रभाश्च ग्रहाः सर्वे चुक्षुभे च महोदधिः

All the planets lost their radiance, and the great ocean was agitated.

कथयामास विप्राणां भयादाकुलितेक्षणा

With eyes filled with fear, she spoke to the brāhmaṇas.

भिक्षमाणः शिवो नूनं दृष्टो ऽस्माकं गृहेष्विति

'Surely, Śiva, begging, has been seen in our homes.'

सर्वे जग्मुर्महायोगं ब्रह्माणं विश्वसंभवम्

All went to the great yogi, Brahmā, the origin of the universe.

चतुर्वेदैर्मूर्तिमद्भिः सावित्र्या सहितं प्रभुम्

With the four Vedas embodied, accompanied by Sāvitrī, the Lord.

प्रभासहस्रकलिले ज्ञानैश्वर्यादिसंयुते

In the radiance of a thousand lights, endowed with knowledge, sovereignty, and more.

चतुर्मुखं महाबाहुं छन्दोमयमजं परम्

Four-faced, mighty-armed, composed of meters, unborn, supreme.

शिरोभिर्धरणीं गत्वा तोषयामासुरीश्वरम्

Having touched the earth with their heads, they pleased the Lord.

व्याजहार मुनिश्रेष्ठाः किमागमनकारणम्

The foremost sages spoke, 'What is the reason for your coming?'

ज्ञापयाञ्चक्रिरे सर्वे कृत्वा शिरसि चाञ्जलिम्

All informed him, having placed their hands together upon their heads.

भार्यया चारुसर्वाङ्ग्या प्रविष्टो नग्न एव हि

He entered, entirely naked, together with his wife, whose every limb was beautiful.

कन्यकानां प्रिया चास्य दूषयामास पुत्रकान्

He, who was dear to the maidens, corrupted their sons.

ताडितो ऽस्माभिरत्यर्थं लिङ्गन्तु विनिपातितम्

We struck him excessively, and his organ was cast down.

उत्पाताश्चाभवन् घोराः सर्वभूतभयङ्कराः

Terrible omens arose, frightening to all beings.