सिद्धिर्मूर्तिमती त्वेषा साधयिष्यति चिंतितम्। इति श्रुत्वा तु वचनं स तदाकाशमंडले
"She is the embodiment of accomplishment and will fulfill what has been contemplated." Hearing these words, he then, in the celestial sphere—
अनुज्ञाय सुतां शैलो जगामाशु स्वमंदिरम्। पुलस्त्य उवाच-। शैलजापि ययौ शैलमगम्यमपि दैवतैः
—having given his daughter permission, the mountain-king swiftly returned to his own abode. Pulastya said: The daughter of the mountain also went to a peak that even the gods could not reach.
सखीभ्यामनुयाता तु नियता नगराजजा। शृंगं हिमवतः पुण्यं नानाधातुविभूषितम्
Accompanied by her friends, the disciplined daughter of the mountain king went to a sacred summit of Himavat, adorned with various minerals.
दिव्यपुष्पलताकीर्णं भ्रमरोद्घुष्टपादपम्। दिव्यप्रस्रवणोपेतं मनोरथशतोज्ज्वलम्
It was covered with divine flowering creepers, trees resounding with the hum of bees, endowed with celestial springs, and radiant with hundreds of fulfilled wishes.
नानापक्षिसमायुक्तं चक्रवाकोपशोभितम्। जलजस्थलजैः पुण्यैः प्रफुल्लैरुपशोभितम्
It was filled with many kinds of birds, beautified by chakravaka ducks, and adorned with auspicious blossoming flowers of both water and land.
चित्रकंदरसंगुह्यं दिव्यगेहसमन्वितम्। विहंगसंघसंघुष्टं कल्पपादपसंकटम्
There were wondrous caves and secret places, with celestial dwellings; flocks of birds resounded there, and it was dense with wish-fulfilling trees.
तत्रापश्यन्महाशाखं शाखिनं हरितच्छदम्। सर्वर्तुकुसुमोपेतं चक्रवाकोपशोभितम्
There she saw a great tree with vast branches and green foliage, covered in flowers of every season, beautified by chakravaka ducks.
नानापुष्पशताकीर्णं नानाविधफलान्वितम्। त्यक्तं सूर्यस्य रुचिभिर्भिन्नसंहतपल्लवम्
It was adorned with hundreds of various flowers and many kinds of fruits, its leaves scattered and shining with the rays of the sun.
तत्रांबराणि संत्यज्य भूषणानि च शैलजा। संवीता वल्कलैर्दिव्यैर्दर्भनिर्मितमेखला
There, the mountain-born maiden set aside her garments and ornaments, and, clothed in divine bark garments, with a girdle made of sacred grass—
त्रिःस्नाता पाटलाहारा बभूव शरदां शतम्। शतमेकेन जीर्णेन पर्णेनावर्त्तयत्तदा
Having bathed three times daily and eating only pale food, she lived for a hundred autumns; with a single worn leaf, she passed a hundred years.
निराहारा शतं साभूत्समानां तपसो निधिः। तत उद्वेजिताः सर्वे प्राणिनस्तपसोग्निना
She remained without food for a hundred years, a treasury of equal austerity; then, all living beings were disturbed by the fire of her penance.
ततः सस्मार भगवान्मुनीन्सप्त शतक्रतुः। ते समागम्य मुदिताः सर्वे समुदितास्तथा1.43.
Then the blessed Indra, lord of a hundred sacrifices, remembered the seven sages; they all gathered together, joyful and uplifted.
पूजितास्ते महेंद्रेण पप्रच्छुस्तत्प्रयोजनम्। किमर्थं हि सुरश्रेष्ठ संस्मृतास्तु वयं त्वया
Honored by Indra, they asked him the purpose: "O best of the gods, for what reason have we been remembered by you?"
शक्रः प्रोवाच शृण्वंतु भगवंतः प्रयोजनम्। हिमाचले तपो घोरं तप्यते भूधरात्मजा
Śakra said: "Let the venerable ones hear the purpose: On Mount Himavat, the mountain's daughter is performing fierce austerities."
तस्याभिमतयोगेन भवंतः कर्तुमर्हथ। तपः समापनं देव्या जगदर्थे त्वरान्विताः
"In accordance with her wish, you should bring about the completion of the goddess's penance, quickly, for the sake of the world."
तथेत्युक्त्वा ततः शैलं सिद्धसंघातसेवितम्। ऊचुरागम्य मुनयस्तामथो मधुराक्षरम्
Saying, "So be it," the sages then went to the mountain, attended by hosts of perfected beings, and, arriving, spoke to her in sweet words.
पुत्रि कस्ते व्यवसितः कामः कमललोचने। तानुवाच ततो देवी सादरं गौरवान्मुनीन्
O lotus-eyed one, what is your intention, daughter? Then the goddess respectfully spoke to the sages with reverence.
देव्युवाच-। तपस्यंतो महाभागाः प्रोह्य मौनं भवादृशां। वंदनाय नियुक्ता धीर्याचयत्यविकल्पितम्
The goddess said: 'Great souls, you who practice austerity, having set aside the silence appropriate to those like you, are now engaged in offering salutations with unwavering composure.'
सुप्रसन्नमुखा यूयं गृहीत्वासनमादितः। उपविष्टाः श्रमं मुक्त्वा ततः प्रक्ष्यथ मामनु
With faces bright with delight, you have first accepted seats, sitting down and casting off fatigue; then you will question me in turn.
इत्युक्तास्ते ततश्चक्रुस्तत्रासनपरिग्रहम्। सा च तान्विधिवत्पूर्वं पूजयित्वा विधानतः
Thus addressed, they then took their seats there; and she, having first honored them according to proper rites, performed the prescribed worship.
उवाचादित्यसंकाशान्मुनीन्सप्तॠषीन्शनैः। त्यक्त्वा व्रतात्मकं मौनं नत्वा च विधिवन्मुनीन्
She gently spoke to the sages, shining like the sun, the seven seers, having set aside her vow of silence and bowing to the sages as prescribed.
भगवंतोपि मौनांते तस्याः सप्तर्षयोप्यथ। गौरवाधारतां प्राप्तां पप्रच्छुस्तां पुनस्तथा
Then, at the end of their silence, the revered seven seers, honoring her who had attained the highest respect, questioned her again in the same manner.
सापि गौरवगर्भेण मनसा चारुहासिनी। मुनीन्सर्वांस्तथालोक्य प्रोवाच प्रोह्य वाग्यमम्
She, with a mind filled with reverence and a lovely smile, having looked upon all the sages, spoke after setting aside her vow of silence.
भगवंतो विजानीथ प्राणिनां मनसेप्सितम्। शरीरादिभिरत्यर्थं कदर्थ्यं ते हि देहिनः
O revered ones, you know the desires of living beings' minds; yet embodied beings are greatly tormented by body and other such things.
केचित्तु निपुणास्तत्र घटंते विविधोद्यमैः। उपायैर्दुर्लभान्भावान्प्राप्नुवंति ह्यतंद्रिताः
But some, skilled in various ways, strive with many efforts; by means that are hard to obtain, the diligent attain rare states.
अपरे तु परिच्छिद्य नानाकारानुपक्रमान्। देहांतरार्थं सारंभमाश्रयंति हि तद्व्रतम्
Others, discerning the various forms and approaches, undertake vows with zeal for the sake of another body.
ममत्वाकाशसंभूतकुसुमस्रग्विभूषितम्। विंध्यशृंगं स्प्रष्टुकामो हस्तः प्रसरते मुहुः
The hand, adorned with a garland of flowers born of the sky of possessiveness, repeatedly reaches out, wishing to touch the peak of Vindhya.
अहं किल भवं देवं पतिं प्राप्तुं समुद्यता। प्रकृत्यैव दुराराध्यं तपस्यंतं च संप्रति
Indeed, I am now intent on obtaining you, O god, as my husband—though by nature difficult to propitiate, and presently engaged in austerity.
सुरासुरैरनिर्णीतं परमार्थक्रियाश्रयं। सांप्रतं चापि निर्दग्धो मदनो वीतरागिणा
The supreme reality, the foundation of action, is undecided even among gods and demons; and now even Kāma has been burned up by him, who is free from passion.
कथमाराधयेदीशं मादृशी तादृशं शिवम्। इत्युक्ता मुनयस्ते तु स्थिरतां मनसस्ततः
How can someone like me worship such a lord, such a Śiva? Thus addressed, the sages then steadied their minds.