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.
ज्ञातुमस्या वचः प्रोचुः प्रक्रमात्प्रकृतार्थकम्। मुनय ऊचुः-। द्विविधन्तु सुखं तावत्पुत्रि लोके विभाव्यते
Desiring to know her words, they spoke in due order, relevant to the matter at hand. The sages said: 'Daughter, in this world, happiness is perceived as twofold.'
शरीरस्यास्य संयोगश्चेतसश्चापि निर्वृतिः। प्रकृत्या तु स दिग्वासा भीमो भस्मास्थिभूषणः
It is the union of this body and the satisfaction of the mind; but by nature, he is one who wears the directions as his garment, is fearsome, adorned with ashes and bones.
कपाली भिक्षुको नग्नो विरूपाक्षोऽस्थिरक्रियः। प्रमत्तोन्मत्तकाकारो बीभत्सो कृतसंग्रहः
He is a skull-bearer, a beggar, naked, with deformed eyes, unstable in action, appearing mad and intoxicated, dreadful, and has gathered all things.
पत्या न तेन चास्त्यर्थो मूर्तानर्थेन कांक्षितः। यदि स्वस्य शरीरस्य सुखमिच्छसि शाश्वतम्
There is no purpose with such a husband, desired in embodied form; but if you desire lasting happiness for your own body—
तत्कथं ते महादेवाद्भूतभाजो जुगुप्सितात्। स्रवन्नरवसासास्थिकपालकृतभूषणात्
How then, O great gods, can you disdain the Lord, who adorns himself with dreadful things—oozing flesh, bones, and skulls?
श्वसदुग्रभुजंगेन्द्रकृतभूषणभूषितात्। श्मशानवासिनो रौद्रप्रमथानुगतादपि
He is adorned with the fierce serpent as an ornament, dwells in the cremation ground, and is followed by terrifying spirits.
सुरेन्द्रमकुटव्रातनिघृष्टचरणोऽरिहा। हरिरस्ति जगद्धाता श्रीकान्तोऽनन्तमूर्तिमान्
The destroyer of enemies, whose feet are rubbed by the crowns of the lords of the gods, is Hari, the creator of the world, the beloved of Shri, and of infinite forms.
जप्यो यज्ञभुजामस्ति तथेन्द्रः पाकशासनः। देवतानां निधिश्चास्ति ज्वलनस्सर्वकामधुक्
He is the one to whom sacrifices are offered, the enjoyer of yajñas; likewise, Indra, the slayer of Paka, exists; among the gods, Fire exists, the fulfiller of all desires.
वायुरस्ति जगद्धाता यः प्राणस्सर्वदेहिनाम्। तथा वैश्रवणो राजा सर्वार्थमहिमा प्रभुः
Vāyu exists, the sustainer of the world, who is the life-breath of all beings; likewise, Vaiśravaṇa, the king, the lord of all wealth and greatness, exists.
एभ्य एकतमं कस्मान्न त्वं संप्राप्तुमिच्छसि। उतान्यस्मादिह प्राप्यं सुखं ते मनसे हितम्
Why do you not wish to attain one among these? Or do you desire some other happiness here, which you think is good for your mind?