तारको नाम दैत्येन्द्रः सुरकेतुरनिर्जितः तस्याभावाय भगवाञ् जनयिष्यति चेश्वरः
There is a demon king named Tāraka, the banner of the demons, undefeated; for his destruction, the blessed Lord will beget a son.
सुतं स भविता तस्य तारकस्यान्तकारकः शंकरस्याभवत्पत्नी सती दक्षसुता तु या
That son will become the destroyer of Tāraka; the wife of Śaṅkara was Satī, the daughter of Dakṣa.
सा मृता कुपिता देवी कस्मिंश्चित्कारणान्तरे भविता हिमशैलस्य दुहिता लोकभाविनी
That goddess, angered for some other reason, died; she will be born as the daughter of the snowy mountain, destined to benefit the worlds.
विरहेण हरस्तस्या मत्वा शून्यं जगत्त्रयम् तपस्यन्हिमशैलस्य कन्दरे सिद्धसेविते
Separated from her, Hara will consider the three worlds empty, and, practicing austerities in a cave of the snowy mountain, frequented by accomplished sages—
प्रतीक्षमाणस्तज्जन्म कंचित्कालं निवत्स्यति तयोः सुतप्ततपसोर् भविता यो महाबलः
He will wait for her birth, remaining there for some time; from the intense austerities of both, a mighty one will be born.
स भविष्यति दैत्यस्य तारकस्य विनाशकः जातमात्रा तु सा देवी स्वल्पसंज्ञा च भामिनी
He will become the destroyer of the demon Tāraka. As soon as she is born, that goddess, though radiant, will have little awareness.
विरहोत्कण्ठिता गाढं हरसंगमलालसा तयोः सुतप्ततपसोः संयोगः स्याच्छुभानने
Longing deeply in separation, yearning for union with Hara, the union of those two, after their severe austerities, will take place, O auspicious one.
ततस्ताभ्यां तु जनितः स्वल्पो वाक्कलहो भवेत् ततो ऽपि संशयो भूयस् तारकं प्रति दृश्यते
Then, between them, a slight quarrel of words may arise; from that, further doubt regarding Tāraka is foreseen.
तयोः संयुक्तयोस्तस्मात् सुरतासक्तिकारणे विघ्नस्त्वया विधातव्यो यथा ताभ्यां तथा शृणु
Therefore, when they are united, you must create an obstacle to their enjoyment, so that it happens as I have said—listen.
गर्भस्थाने च तन्मातुः स्वेन रूपेण रञ्जय ततो विहाय शर्वस्तां विश्रान्तो नर्मपूर्वकम्
In the womb of that mother, delight her with your own form; then, leaving her, Śarva will rest, playfully.
भर्त्सयिष्यति तां देवीं ततः सा कुपिता सती प्रयास्यति तपश्चर्तुं तत्तस्मात्तपसे पुनः
He will rebuke that goddess; then Satī, angered, will depart to practice austerity again for that very reason.
जनयिष्यति यं शर्वा दयितद्युतिमण्डितम् स भविष्यति हन्ता वै सुरारीणामसंशयम्
Śarva will beget one adorned with the radiance of his beloved; he will surely be the slayer of the enemies of the gods, without doubt.
त्वयापि दानवा देवि हन्तव्या लोकदुर्जयाः यावच्च न सती देहसंक्रान्तगुणसंचया
You too, O goddess, must slay the demons who are unconquerable in the world, until Satī attains the collection of qualities that transfer with the body.
तत्संगमेन तावत्त्वं दैत्यान्हन्तुं न शक्ष्यसे एवं कृते तपस्तप्त्वा सृष्टिसंहारकारिणी
Until that union, you will not be able to slay the demons; when this is done, having performed austerities, you will become the agent of creation and destruction.
समाप्तनियमा देवी यदा चोमा भविष्यति तदा स्वमेव तद्रूपं शैलजा प्रतिपत्स्यते
When the vows are completed and the goddess becomes Umā, then Śailajā will naturally assume her own form.
तनुस्तवापि सहजा सैकानंशा भविष्यति रूपांशेन तु संयुक्ता त्वमुमायां भविष्यसि
Your own body, too, will be a natural part, a single portion; united by a share of form, you will exist in Umā.
एकानंशेति लोकस्त्वां वरदे पूजयिष्यति भेदैर्बहुविधाकारैः सर्वगा कामसाधिनी
O bestower of boons, the world will worship you as Ekānaṃśā, with many forms and distinctions, you who pervade all and fulfill desires.
ओंकारवक्त्रा गायत्री त्वमिति ब्रह्मवादिभिः आक्रान्तिरूर्जिताकारा राजभिश्च महाभुजैः
The knowers of Brahman will call you Gāyatrī, whose face is Oṃkāra; kings of great might will honor you as the embodiment of power and majesty.
त्वं भूरिति विशां माता शूद्रैः शैवीति पूजिता क्षान्तिर्मुनीनामक्षोभ्या दया नियमिनामिति
You are called Bhū, the mother of peoples, and worshipped as Śaivī by the Śūdras; among sages you are forbearance, unshaken, and among the disciplined, you are compassion.
त्वं महोपायसंदोहा नीतिर्नयविसर्पिणाम् परिच्छित्तिस्त्वमर्थानां त्वमीहा प्राणिहृच्छया
You are the great collection of means, the policy of those skilled in discernment; you are the discernment of wealth, and the striving in the hearts of the living.
त्वं मुक्तिः सर्वभूतानां त्वं गतिः सर्वदेहिनाम् त्वं च कीर्तिमतां कीर्तिस् त्वं मूर्तिः सर्वदेहिनाम्
You are liberation for all beings, the path for all embodied ones; you are fame among the renowned, and the very form of all embodied creatures.
रतिस्त्वं रक्तचित्तानां प्रीतिस्त्वं हृष्टदर्शिनाम् त्वं कान्तिः कृतभूषाणां त्वं शान्तिर्दुःखकर्मणाम्
You are delight for those whose hearts are passionate, joy for those who behold with happiness; you are beauty for the adorned, and peace for those burdened by sorrow.
त्वं भ्रान्तिः सर्वबोधानां त्वं गतिः क्रतुयाजिनाम् जलधीनां महावेला त्वं च लीला विलासिनाम्
You are delusion among all forms of knowledge, the goal for those who perform sacrifices; you are the great shore for the oceans, and playfulness for those who delight in sport.
संभूतिस्त्वं पदार्थानां स्थितिस्त्वं लोकपालिनी त्वं कालरात्रिर्निःशेषभुवनावलिनाशिनी
You are the coming-into-being of things, the sustainer of worlds; you are Kālarātri, destroyer of endless rows of worlds.
प्रियकण्ठग्रहानन्ददायिनी त्वं विभावरी इत्यनेकविधैर्देवि रूपैर्लोके त्वमर्चिता
You are the night that gives the joy of beloved embraces; thus, O goddess, you are worshipped in the world in many and various forms.
ये त्वां स्तोष्यन्ति वरदे पूजयिष्यन्ति वापि ये ते सर्वकामानाप्स्यन्ति नियता नात्र संशयः
Those who praise you, O bestower of boons, or worship you, they will surely obtain all desires—of this there is no doubt.
इत्युक्ता तु निशा देवी तथेत्युक्त्वा कृताञ्जलिः जगाम त्वरिता तूर्णं गृहं हिमगिरेः परम्
Thus addressed, the goddess Night, with joined palms, replied 'so be it,' and swiftly departed to the supreme house of Himavat.
तत्रासीनां महाहर्म्ये रत्नभित्तिसमाश्रयाम् ददर्श मेनामापाण्डुच्छविवक्त्रसरोरुहाम्
There, in a great palace with jeweled walls, she saw Menā, whose face was like a pale lotus.
किंचिच् छ्याममुखोदग्रस्तनभारावनामिताम् महौषधिगणाबद्धमन्त्रराजनिषेविताम्
Slightly dark of face, bending under the weight of her full breasts, adorned with potent herbs and served by the queen of mantras.
उद्वहत्कनकोन्नद्धजीवरक्षामहोरगाम् मणिदीपगणज्योतिर् महालोकप्रकाशिते
She bore a golden, jeweled serpent for protection, illuminated by the light of many gem-lamps, shining like the great worlds.