तपसा दुष्करेणाप्तः पतित्वे शंकरो मया स मां श्यामलवर्णेति बहुशः प्रोक्तवान्भवः
Through arduous austerity, I obtained Śaṃkara as my husband; yet he often called me 'dark-complexioned.'
स्यामहं काञ्चनाकारा वाल्लभ्येन च संयुता भर्तुर्भूतपतेरङ्गम् एकतो निर्विशे ऽङ्गवत्
May I be golden in form, united with my beloved, and equal in every limb to the Lord of beings, my husband.
तस्यास्तद्भाषितं श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच कमलासनः एवं भव त्वं भूयश्च भर्तृदेहार्धधारिणी
Hearing her words, the lotus-seated one said: 'So be it; and furthermore, you shall bear half your husband's body.'
ततस्तत्याज भृङ्गाङ्गं फुल्लनीलोत्पलत्वचम्
Then she cast off her bee-dark form, the hue of a blooming blue lotus.
त्वचा सा चाभवद्दीप्ता घण्टाहस्ता त्रिलोचना नानाभरणपूर्णाङ्गी पीतकौशेयधारिणी
With radiant skin, holding a bell in her hand, three-eyed, her limbs adorned with various ornaments, she wore yellow silk.
तामब्रवीत्ततो ब्रह्मा देवीं नीलाम्बुजत्विषम् निशे भूधरजादेहसम्पर्कात् त्वं ममाज्ञया
Then Brahmā spoke to the goddess, whose radiance was like a blue lotus: 'By my command, you have come into being at night from contact with the mountain's dust.'
सम्प्राप्ता कृतकृत्यत्वम् एकानंशा पुरा ह्यसि य एष सिंहः प्रोद्भूतो देव्याः क्रोधाद्वरानने
'Having accomplished your purpose, you are now a unique portion; long ago, this lion arose from the goddess's wrath, O beautiful-faced one.'
स ते ऽस्तु वाहनं देवि केतौ चास्तु महाबलः गच्छ विन्ध्याचलं तत्र सुरकार्यं करिष्यसि
'Let him be your mount, O goddess, and let him be mighty in battle. Go to Mount Vindhya; there you will perform the work of the gods.'
पञ्चालो नाम यक्षो ऽयं यक्षलक्षपदानुगः दत्तस्ते किंकरो देवि मया मायाशतैर्युतः
'This Yakṣa named Pañcāla, follower of the Yakṣa king, is given to you as an attendant by me, endowed with hundreds of magical powers.'
इत्युक्ता कौशिकी देवी विन्ध्यशैलं जगाम ह उमापि प्राप्तसंकल्पा जगाम गिरिशान्तिकम्
Thus addressed, the goddess Kauśikī went to Mount Vindhya; and Umā, her wish fulfilled, went to the Lord of the Mountain.
प्रविशन्तीं तु तां द्वाराद् अपकृष्य समाहितः रुरोध वीरको देवीं हेमवेत्रलताधरः
As she was entering through the door, Vīraka, intent and holding a golden cane, pulled her aside and blocked the goddess.
तामुवाच स कोपेन रूपात्तु व्यभिचारिणीम् प्रयोजनं न ते ऽस्तीह गच्छ यावन्न भेत्स्यसे
He spoke to her angrily: 'Because of your appearance, you are unchaste. You have no business here; go before you are frightened away.'
देव्या रूपधरो दैत्यो देवं वञ्चयितुं त्विह प्रविष्टो न च दृष्टो ऽसौ स वै देवेन घातितः
'A demon, taking the goddess's form, entered here to deceive the god, but he was seen and slain by the god.'
घातिते चाहमाज्ञप्तो नीलकण्ठेन कोपिना द्वारेषु नावधानं ते यस्मात्पश्यामि वै ततः
'After he was slain, I was ordered by the wrathful blue-throated one: "Be vigilant at the doors," and thus I am always watchful.'
भविष्यसि न मद्द्वाःस्थो वर्षपूगान्यनेकशः अतस्ते ऽत्र न दास्यामि प्रवेशं गम्यतां द्रुतम्
'You shall not stand at my door for countless years; therefore, I will not grant you entry here—depart at once!'
एवमुक्त्वा गिरिसुता माता मे स्नेहवत्सला प्रवेशं लभते नान्या नारी कमललोचने
Having spoken thus, the mountain's daughter—my mother, full of affection—alone gains entry; no other woman with lotus eyes may enter.
इत्युक्ता तु तदा देवी चिन्तयामास चेतसा न सा नारीति दैत्यो ऽसौ वायुर्मे यामभाषत
Thus addressed, the goddess pondered in her mind: 'She is not a woman; that was a demon, as the wind told me.'
वृथैव वीरकः शप्तो मया क्रोधपरीतया अकार्यं क्रियते मूढैः प्रायः क्रोधसमीरितैः
'In vain did I curse Vīraka, overcome by anger; fools, driven by wrath, often act wrongly.'
क्रोधेन नश्यते कीर्तिः क्रोधो हन्ति स्थिरां श्रियम् अपरिच्छिन्नतत्त्वार्था पुत्रं शापितवत्यहम् विपरीतार्थबुद्धीनां सुलभो विपदोदयः
Anger destroys reputation; anger ruins lasting prosperity. Without full understanding of truth, I have cursed my own son. For those whose minds are confused in meaning, calamity easily arises.
संचिन्त्यैवमुवाचेदं वीरकं प्रति शैलजा लज्जासज्जविकारेण वदनेनाम्बुजत्विषा
Thinking thus, the daughter of the mountain spoke to Vīraka, her face adorned with a blush and lotus-like radiance.
अहं वीरक ते माता मा ते ऽस्तु मनसो भ्रमः शंकरस्यास्मि दयिता सुता तुहिनभूभृतः
I am your mother, Vīraka; let there be no confusion in your mind. I am the beloved of Śaṅkara, and the daughter of the snowy mountain.
मम गात्रच्छविभ्रान्त्या मा शङ्कां पुत्र भावय तुष्टेन गौरता दत्ता ममेयं पद्मजन्मना
Do not harbor suspicion, my son, because of the change in my body's complexion. This fair hue was graciously given to me by the lotus-born one.
मया शप्तो ऽस्यविदिते वृत्तान्ते दैत्यनिर्मिते ज्ञात्वा नारीप्रवेशं तु शंकरे रहसि स्थिते
Unaware of the circumstances created by the demon, I cursed him, having learned that Śaṅkara was alone in secret in the form of a woman.
न निवर्तयितुं शक्यः शापः किं तु ब्रवीमि ते शीघ्रमेष्यसि मानुष्यात् स त्वं कामसमन्वितः
The curse cannot be undone; but I tell you, soon you will return from humanity, and you will be endowed with desire.
शिरसा तु ततो वन्द्य मातरं पूर्णमानसः उवाचोदितपूर्णेन्दुद्युतिं च हिमशैलजाम्
Then, with a full heart, he bowed his head to his mother and spoke to the daughter of the snowy mountain, whose radiance was like the full moon.
नतसुरासुरमौलिमिलन्मणिप्रचयकान्तिकरालनखाङ्किते नगसुते शरणागतवत्सले तव नतो ऽस्मि नतार्तिविनाशिनि
O daughter of the mountain, whose hands are adorned with marks from the gems of bowed gods and demons, who cherishes those who seek refuge, who destroys the suffering of the bowed— I bow to you.
तपनमण्डलमण्डितकंधरे पृथुसुवर्णसुवर्णनगद्युते विषभुजंगनिषङ्गविभूषिते गिरिसुते भवतीमहमाश्रये
O daughter of the mountain, whose neck is encircled by the brilliance of the sun's orb, whose body shines like pure gold, whose arms are adorned with snake ornaments— I take refuge in you.
जगति कः प्रणताभिमतं ददौ झटिति सिद्धनुते भवती यथा जगति कां च न वाञ्छति शंकरो भुवनधृत्तनये भवतीं यथा
Who in the world quickly grants the wishes of the devoted as you do, O praised one? What does Śaṅkara not desire in you, daughter of the world-supporting mountain?
विमलयोगविनिर्मितदुर्जयस्वतनुतुल्यमहेश्वरमण्डले विदलितान्धकबान्धवसंहतिः सुरवरैः प्रथमं त्वमभिष्टुता
In the circle of the great lord, equal to your own unconquerable form created by pure yoga, you were first praised by the best of gods after destroying the host of Andhaka's kin.
सितसटापटलोद्धतकंधराभरमहामृगराजरथस्थिता विमलशक्तिमुखानलपिङ्गलायतभुजौघविपिष्टमहासुरा
Seated on the chariot of the great lion, with a neck adorned by a mass of white locks, your pure, fiery arms, tawny and long, have crushed the great demons.