निराहारा शतं साभूत् समानां तपसां निधिः तत उद्वेजिताः सर्वे प्राणिनस्तत्तपो ऽग्निना
She remained without food for a hundred years, a repository of equal austerities; then, all living beings were disturbed by the fire of her asceticism.
ततः सस्मार भगवान् मुनीन्सप्त शतक्रतुः ते समागम्य मुनयः सर्वे समुदितास्ततः
Then the blessed Indra, lord of a hundred sacrifices, recalled the seven sages; they all gathered together, the sages, filled with joy.
पूजिताश्च महेन्द्रेण पप्रच्छुस्तं प्रयोजनम् किमर्थं तु सुरश्रेष्ठ संस्मृतास्तु वयं त्वया
Honored by Mahendra, they asked him the purpose: 'For what reason, O best of gods, have we been summoned by you?'
शक्रः प्रोवाच शृण्वन्तु भगवन्तः प्रयोजनम् हिमाचले तपो घोरं तप्यते भूधरात्मजा तस्या ह्यभिमतं कामं भवन्तः कर्तुमर्हथ
Śakra spoke: 'Listen, O revered ones, to the purpose. On the Himalaya, the daughter of the mountain is performing fierce austerity. You should fulfill her desired wish.'
ततः समापतन्देव्या जगदर्थं त्वरान्विताः तथेत्युक्त्वा तु शैलेन्द्रं सिद्धसंघातसेवितम्
Then, for the sake of the world, they approached the goddess swiftly; saying 'So be it,' they went to the lord of mountains, attended by hosts of siddhas.
ऊचुरागत्य मुनयस् तामथो मधुराक्षरम् पुत्रि किं ते व्यवसितः कामः कमललोचने
The sages arrived and spoke sweet words: 'Daughter, what is your resolved wish, O lotus-eyed one?'
तानुवाच ततो देवी सलज्जा गौरवान्मुनीन् तपस्यतो महाभागाः प्राप्य मौने भवादृशान्
Then the goddess, modest and respectful, spoke to the sages: 'O blessed ones, engaged in austerity, having attained silence and the presence of those like you—'
वन्दनाय नियुक्ता धीः पावयत्यविकल्पितम् प्रश्नोन्मुखत्वाद्भवतां युक्तमासनमादितः
My mind, engaged in reverence, purifies without wavering; because of readiness for questioning, your honored seats have been accepted first.
उपविष्टाः श्रमोन्मुक्तास् ततः प्रक्ष्यथ मामतः इत्युक्त्वा सा ततश्चक्रे कृतासनपरिग्रहान्
Seated, freed from fatigue, you will then question me; having said this, she made arrangements for their seats.
सा तु तान्विधिवत्पूज्यान् पूजयित्वा विधानतः उवाचादित्यसंकाशान् मुनीन्सप्त सती शनैः
She, duly honoring those worthy of worship, after worshipping them according to the rite, slowly spoke to the seven sages, radiant as the sun.
त्यक्त्वा व्रतात्मकं मौनं मौनं जग्राह ह्रीमयम् भावं तस्यास्तु मौनान्तं तस्याः सप्तर्षयो यथा
Having abandoned the vow of silence, she adopted a silence filled with modesty; the end of her silence was as the seven sages observed.
गौरवाधीनतां प्राप्ताः पप्रच्छुस्तां पुनस्तथा सापि गौरवगर्भेण मनसा चारुहासिनी
Having attained a state of respectful dependence, they questioned her again; she too, with a mind filled with respect, beautiful and smiling, responded.
मुनीञ्शान्तकथालापान् प्रेक्ष्य प्रोवाच वाग्यमम् भगवन्तो विजानन्ति प्राणिनां मानसं हितम्
Seeing the sages engaged in peaceful conversation, she spoke, restraining her speech: 'You, revered ones, know what is beneficial for living beings' minds.'
मनोगतीभिरत्यर्थं कदर्थन्ते हि देहिनः केचित् तु निपुणास्तत्र घटन्ते विबुधोद्यमैः
With mental movements, some people greatly distort things; but some, skilled, strive with divine effort.
उपायैर्दुर्लभान्भावान् प्राप्नुवन्ति ह्यतन्द्रिताः अपरे तु परिच्छिन्ना नानाकाराभ्युपक्रमाः
By means, the diligent attain rare states; others, limited, undertake various approaches of different forms.
देहान्तरार्थमारम्भम् आश्रयन्ति हितप्रदम् मम त्वाकाशसम्भूतपुष्पदामा विभूषितम्
For the sake of another body, they undertake actions that bring benefit; but I, adorned with a garland of flowers born from the sky—
वन्ध्या सुतं प्राप्तुकामा मनः प्रसरते मुहुः अहं किल भवं देवं पतिं प्राप्तुं समुद्यता
A barren woman wishes to obtain a son, her mind repeatedly yearns; I, indeed, am striving to obtain the blessed god as my husband.
प्रकृत्यैव दुराधर्षं तपस्यन्तं तु संप्रति सुरासुरैरनिर्णीतं परमार्थक्रियाश्रयम्
By nature unconquerable, he is now engaged in austerity; his ultimate actions are undecided by gods and demons alike.
सांप्रतं चापि निर्दग्धमदनं वीतरागिणम् कथमाराधयेदीशं मादृशी तादृशं शिवम्
Now that he is scorched by love and free from passion, how could someone like me win the favor of such a Shiva?
इत्युक्ता मुनयस्ते तु स्थिरतां मनसस्ततः ज्ञातुमस्या वचः प्रोचुः प्रक्रमात्प्रकृतार्थकम्
Addressed thus, those sages, steady in mind, spoke in turn to discern her intent, expressing words true to the matter at hand.
द्विविधं तु सुखं तावत् पुत्रि लोकेषु भाव्यते शरीरस्यास्य संभोगैश् चेतसश्चापि निर्वृतिः
Daughter, in this world, there are two kinds of happiness: one is the enjoyment of the body, and the other is the contentment of the mind.
प्रकृत्या स तु दिग्वासा भीमः पितृवणेशयः कपाली भिक्षुको नग्नो विरूपाक्षः स्थिरक्रियः
By his very nature, he is clothed in the directions, fearsome, lord of the cremation ground, skull-bearer, mendicant, naked, deformed-eyed, and steadfast in his actions.
प्रमत्तोन्मत्तकाकारो बीभत्सकृतसंग्रहः यतिना तेन कस्ते ऽर्थो मूर्तानर्थेन काङ्क्षितः
He appears intoxicated and mad, collects dreadful things, and lives as an ascetic—what purpose would you have with him, who is sought in such a form of misfortune?
यदि ह्यस्य शरीरस्य भोगमिच्छसि सांप्रतम् तत्कथं ते महादेवाद् भयभाजो जुगुप्सितात्
If you now desire enjoyment with this body, then why do you long for the great god, who is fearsome and repulsive?
स्रवद्रक्तवसाभ्यक्तकपालकृतभूषणात् श्वसदुग्रभुजंगेन्द्रकृतभूषणभीषणात्
He is adorned with ornaments smeared with oozing blood and fat, and terrifying with the fierce serpent coiled around his arms.
श्मशानवासिनो रौद्रप्रमथानुगतात् सति सुरेन्द्रमुकुटव्रातनिघृष्टचरणो ऽरिहा
He dwells in cremation grounds, is followed by fierce spirits, and though his feet are rubbed by the crowns of the lords of gods, he is the slayer of enemies.
हरिरस्ति जगद्धाता श्रीकान्तो ऽनन्तमूर्तिमान् नाथो यज्ञभुजामस्ति तथेन्द्रः पाकशासनः
There is Hari, the sustainer of the world, the beloved of Shri, of infinite form; there is the lord of those who partake of sacrifice, and Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt.
देवतानां निधिश्चास्ति ज्वलनः सर्वकामकृत् वायुरस्ति जगद्धाता यः प्राणः सर्वदेहिनाम्
There is also Agni, the treasure of the gods, who fulfills all desires; there is Vayu, the sustainer of the world, the breath of all beings.
तथा वैश्रवणो राजा सर्वार्थमतिमान्विभुः एभ्य एकतमं कस्मान् न त्वं सम्प्राप्तुमिच्छसि
Likewise, there is King Vaishravana, the all-knowing, supreme in every way—why do you not wish to attain any one of these?
उतान्यदेहसंप्राप्त्या सुखं ते मनसेप्सितम् एवमेतत्तवाप्यत्र प्रभवो नाकसंपदाम् अस्मिन्नेव पराः सर्वाः कल्याणप्राप्तयस्तव
Or, by obtaining another body, you could have the happiness your mind desires; in this way, your birth would bring you all the highest blessings of heaven, all auspicious attainments would be yours.