त्वामिंदुमौलिशरणं प्रपन्ना प्रियाप्तयेहं सहसा महेशं। प्रयच्छ मे कामयशः समृद्धिं पतिं विना तं भगवन्न जीवे
I have taken refuge in you, O moon-crested Lord, for the sake of my beloved; grant me the fulfillment of my desire and prosperity—without him, O Lord, I cannot live.
प्रियः प्रियायाः पुरुषेश नित्यस्ततो परः को भुवनेष्विहास्ति। प्रभुः प्रभावी प्रभवः प्रियाणां प्रवीणपर्याय परापरं तपः
O Lord of men, who else in the world is more dear to his beloved than you? The master, the powerful, the origin of beloved ones, the most skillful, the supreme ascetic, both highest and lowest.
त्वमेव नाथो भुवनस्य गोप्तां दयालुरुन्मूलितभक्तभीतिः। इत्थं स्तुतः शंकरइंद्रमौलिर्वृषाकपिर्मन्मथकांतया तु
You alone are the protector and guardian of the world, compassionate, removing the fear of devotees; thus praised by Rati, consort of the god with the moon on his head, the bull-bannered one.
तुतोष दोषाकरखंडधारी उवाच चैनां मधुरं निरीक्ष्य। शंकर उवाच। भविष्यति च कामोयं काले कांते चिरादथ
The axe-bearing destroyer of faults was pleased, and, gazing sweetly at her, spoke: Shankara said: In time, O beautiful one, Kama will return.
अनंग इति लोकेषु स विख्यातिं गमिष्यति। इत्युक्ता शिरसा वंद्य गिरीशं कामवल्लभा
He will be known among people as Ananga. Thus addressed, Kama's beloved bowed her head to Girisha.
जगामोपवनं चान्यद्रतिस्तुहिन पर्वते। रुरोद चापि बहुशो दीना रम्ये स्थले स्थले
Rati went to another grove on the snowy mountain; she wept many times, forlorn, in each beautiful place.
मरणव्यवसायापि निवृत्ता च शिवाज्ञया। अथ नारदवाक्येन चोदितो हिमभूधरः
Her resolve for death was restrained by Shiva's command; then, prompted by Narada's words, the lord of the snowy mountain—
कृताभरणसंस्कारां कृतकौतुकमंगलां। स्वर्गपुष्पकृतापीडां शुभ्रचीनांशुकांबराम्
Having adorned her with ornaments, having performed auspicious rites, having placed a heavenly flower crown upon her, and dressed her in pure Chinese silk—
सखीभ्यां संयुतां शैलो गृहीत्वा स्वसुतां ततः। जगाम सुभगे योगे तदा संपूर्णमानसः
The mountain, accompanied by two companions, took his daughter; then, at an auspicious moment, he departed, his mind fulfilled.
सकाननान्युपाक्रम्य वनान्युपवनानि च। ददर्श रुदतीं नारीमप्रतर्क्यां महौजसम्
Approaching groves and forests, and also gardens, he saw a woman weeping, unfathomable, of great splendor.
न रूपेणेदृशी लोके रम्येषु वनसानुषु। कौतुकेन परामृष्टस्तां दृष्ट्वा रुदतीं गिरिः
Nowhere in this world, upon the beautiful slopes of the forests, had the mountain ever been so moved by wonder as when he saw her weeping.
उपसृप्य ततस्तस्या निकटं सोप्यपृच्छत। हिमवानुवाच-। कासि कस्यासि कल्याणि किमर्थं चापि रोदिषि
Approaching her, Himavat asked, 'Who are you, O auspicious one? Whose are you, and for what reason do you weep?'
नैतदल्पमहं मन्ये कारणं लोकसुंदरि। सा तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा उवाच मधुना सह
'I do not think this is a small matter, O beauty of the worlds,' he said. Hearing his words, she replied together with her sorrow.
रुदंती शोकवचनं श्वसंती दैन्यवर्धनं। रतिरुवाच-। कामस्य दयितां भार्यां रतिं मां विद्धि सुव्रत
Weeping, uttering words of grief, sighing in deep distress, Rati spoke: 'Know me, O virtuous one, as Rati, beloved wife of Kāma.'
गिरावस्मिंश्च भगवान्गिरिशस्तपसि स्थितः। तेन प्रत्यूहरुष्टेन क्रोधाद्विस्फार्य लोचनं
'Here on this mountain, the blessed Lord Śiva was engaged in austerity. Angered, he opened his eye in wrath and—'
विमुच्याग्निशिखाज्वालां कामो भस्मावशेषितः। अहं तु शरणं याता तं देवं भयविह्वला
'Releasing a flame from his eye, he reduced Kāma to ashes. Stricken with fear, I sought refuge with that god.'
स्तुतवत्यथ संतुष्टस्ततो मां गिरिशोऽब्रवीत्। तुष्टोहं कामदयिते कामोत्पत्तिर्भविष्यति
'Having praised him, Lord Śiva was satisfied and said to me: "O beloved of Kāma, I am pleased; Kāma will be reborn."'
त्वत्स्तुतिं चाप्यधीयानो नरो भक्त्या मदाश्रयः। लप्स्यते कांक्षितं कामं निवर्तमरणादपि
'And any man who, with devotion, recites your praise and takes refuge in me will obtain the desired object—even release from death.'
प्रतीक्षमाणा तद्वाक्यमाशावेशवशादहं। शरीरं परिरक्षिष्ये किंचित्कालं महाद्युते
'Awaiting the fulfillment of that promise, filled with hope, I will preserve my body for a little while, O illustrious one.'
इत्युक्तस्तु तया रत्या शैलः संभ्रमभीषणः। पाणावादाय तनयां गंतुमैच्छत्स्वकं पुरं
Thus addressed by Rati, the mountain, overwhelmed with agitation, took his daughter by the hand, wishing to return to his own city.
भाविनोऽवश्यभावित्वाद्भवित्री भूतभाविनी। लज्जमाना सखिमुखैरुवाच पितरं गिरिं
Because what is destined must surely come to pass, the bashful maiden, urged by her companions, spoke to her father, the mountain.
शैलपुत्र्युवाच-। दुर्भगेन शरीरेण किं ममानेन कारणं। कथं च तां दशां प्राप्तश्शङ्करो मे पतिर्भवेत्
The daughter of the mountain said: 'What is the use of this unfortunate body of mine? How can Śaṅkara become my husband, having reached such a state?'
तपोभिः प्राप्यतेभीष्टं नासाध्यं तु तपस्यतः। दुर्भगत्वं वृथा लोके विहिते सति साधने
'What is desired is attained through austerity; for one who performs austerity, nothing is unattainable. Misfortune is meaningless in this world when the means are at hand.'
तपसि भ्रष्टसंदेहा ततः स्वार्थजिगीषया। एवं तपः करिष्येहं यामीत्युक्तवतीं सुताम्
'Free from doubt about the efficacy of austerity, and eager for my own purpose, I will undertake austerity here,' she said to her father.
उवाच वाचा शैलेंद्रो गद्गदस्वरवर्णया। हिमवानुवाच-। उमेति चापलं पुत्रि न क्षमं तावकं वपुः
Then the lord of mountains spoke with a voice choked with emotion: 'O daughter, such impetuosity does not befit your tender form.'
सोढुं क्लेशानुरूपस्य तपसः सौम्यदर्शने। भावीन्यपि च कार्याणि पदार्थानि सदैव तु
'O gentle one, your body is not fit to endure the hardships of severe austerity. Moreover, destined events and objects always come to pass.'
भाविनोर्था भवंत्येव बहवोऽनिच्छतोपि हि। तस्मान्न तपसा तेस्ति बाले किंचित्प्रयोजनम्
'What is destined will surely happen, even if one does not wish it. Therefore, child, there is no purpose in austerity.'
भवनं चैव गच्छामि चिंतयिष्यामि तत्र वै। इत्युक्ता तु यदा नैव गृहमन्वेति शैलजा
'I will return home and reflect upon this,' he said. But when addressed thus, the daughter of the mountain did not follow him home.
ततोद्रिश्चिंतयाविष्टः स्वसुतां प्रशशंस च। ततोंतरिक्षे दिव्या च वागभूद्भुवनत्रये
Then, filled with wonder, he praised his own daughter; and then, a divine voice arose in the sky, heard throughout the three worlds.
उमेति चापलं पुत्रि त्वयोक्ता तनया यतः। उमेति नाम तेनास्या भुवनेषु भविष्यति
"Because you, O daughter, have called her 'Umā' out of concern, from now on, in all the worlds, that shall be her name."