संध्याबद्धांजलिपुटा मुनयोभिमुखा रविम्। यावदद्यासते शीघ्रं निवार्योष्णाभिभाविताम्
The sages, with hands joined in evening prayer, face the sun as long as they can, until, swiftly, he must be restrained from overpowering heat.
व्यजृंभताथ लोकेस्मिन्क्रमाद्वैभावरं तमः। कुटिलस्येव हृदये कालुष्यं दूषयन्मनः
Then, gradually, night’s darkness spread in the world, tainting the mind like the impurity of a crooked heart.
ज्वलत्फणिफणारत्नदीपोद्योतित भित्तिके। शयने शशसंघात रत्नवस्त्रोत्तरच्छदे
On a bed whose walls were lit by the shining jewels on the hoods of blazing serpents, covered above with a canopy of moon-gems and precious cloths, he lay.
नानारत्नद्युतिलसच्छक्रचापविडंबके। रत्नैः किंकिणिजालेन लसन्मुक्ताकलापके
With the brilliance of various jewels, imitating Indra’s rainbow, and adorned with strings of tinkling gems and shining garlands of pearls.
कमनीयचलल्लीला वितानाच्छादितांबरे। मंदरे मंन्दसंचारं गते गिरिसुतायुतः
The charming, gently swaying canopy of playful sport covered the sky, as Mandara moved slowly, accompanied by the daughter of the mountain.
तस्थौ गिरिसुता बाहुलता मिलितकंधरः। शशिमौलिः सितज्योत्स्नास्फारपूरितगोचरः
There stood the mountain’s daughter, her arms entwined around his neck, while the moon-crested one, his vision filled with the abundant white radiance, remained.
गिरिजाप्यसितापांगी नीलोत्पलदलच्छविः। विभावर्या च संपृक्ता बभूवातीव गोमयी
Girijā, with dark eyes and the hue of blue lotus petals, mingled with the night, appeared exceedingly radiant.
तामुवाच ततो देवः क्रीडाकेलिकलायुताम्
Then the god spoke to her, endowed with the arts of playful sport.
शर्व उवाच। शरीरे मम तन्वंगि सिते भास्यसितद्युतिः। भुजंगी वा सिता शुभ्रे संश्लिष्टा चंदनेतरौ
Śarva said: O slender one, on my body, white radiance shines forth; is it a white serpent, pure and bright, entwined with my sandal-anointed arms?
चंद्रातपेन संपृक्ता रुधिराम्बरसंवृता। रजनी वा सिते पक्षे दृष्टिदोषं ददासि मे
Bathed in moonlight, covered in blood-red garments, or is it the night in the bright fortnight that gives me this defect of vision?
इत्युक्ता गिरिजा तेन मुक्तकंठा पिनाकिनम्। उवाच कोपरक्ताक्षी भ्रुकुटी विकृतानना
Thus addressed by him, Girijā, with open voice, her eyes reddened in anger, her brows furrowed, spoke to Pinākin.
देव्युवाच-। स्वकृतेन जनः सर्वो जाड्येन परिभूयते। अवश्यमर्थी प्राप्नोति खंडनं शशिमंडन
The goddess said: By his own doing, every person is overcome by dullness; inevitably, the seeker receives reproach, O moon-crested one.
तपोभिर्दीर्घचरितैर्या त्वां प्रार्थितवत्यहं। तस्या मेनि यतस्त्वेष ह्यवमानः पदे पदे
With long-practiced austerities I sought you, yet at every step I have received only disrespect from you.
नैवास्मि कुटिला शर्व विषमा न च धूर्जटे। सविषस्त्वं जगत्ख्यातो व्यक्तदोषाकराश्रयः
I am not crooked, O Śarva, nor deceitful, O bearer of the matted locks; it is you who are known in the world as venomous, a refuge of manifest faults.
त्वं हि मुष्णासि दशनान्नेत्रहंता भगस्य च। आदित्यस्त्वां विजानाति भगवान्द्वादशात्मकः
You indeed stole the teeth and eyes of Bhaga; the twelve-formed Aditya knows you as the one who did this.
मूर्ध्नि शूलं जनयसि स्वैर्दोषैर्मामधिक्षिपन्। यस्त्वं मामात्थकृष्णेति महाकालोसि विश्रुतः
You create the trident on your head, reproaching me with your own faults; you call me 'dark one,' yet you are renowned as the great Time.
यास्याम्यहं परित्यक्तुमात्मानं तपसा गिरिम्। जीवंत्या न मया कृत्यं धूर्तेन परिभूतया
I will go and abandon myself to austerity on the mountain; there is nothing for me to do, living, after being insulted by a deceiver.
कापालिकेन क्षुद्रेण श्मशाने नित्यवासिना। भूत्या विलिप्त स्वांगेन मातृमध्यस्थ चारिणा
By a lowly skull-bearer, ever dwelling in the cremation ground, smeared with ashes on his body, wandering among the Mothers.
निशम्य तस्या वचनं कोपतीक्ष्णाक्षरं हरः। उवाचानिष्टसंभ्रांतः प्रचलेनेंदुमौलिना
Hearing her words, sharp with the edge of anger, Hara, disturbed by misfortune, spoke with his crescent moon trembling.
शर्व उवाच। अगात्मजासि गिरिजे नाहं निंदापरस्तव। चाटूक्तिबुध्या तु मया कृत उन्मादसंश्रयः
Śarva said: 'Daughter of the mountain, I am not one who reviles you; it was only in jest that I acted as if possessed by madness.'
विकल्पः स्वस्थचित्ते तु गिरिजे न मम क्रमात्। यद्येवं कुपिता भीरु तत्तवाहं न वै पुनः
'Such wavering is not in my nature, O daughter of the mountain, but if you are so angry, timid one, then I will not do so again.'
नर्मवादी भविष्यामि जहि कोपं शुचिस्मिते। शिरसा प्रणतेनैष रचितस्ते मयांजलि
'I will be one who speaks in jest; abandon your anger, O fair-smiling one. With bowed head, I have made this gesture of respect to you.'
नि हीनो ह्यपमानेन निंदिते नैति विक्रियाम्। असतां तु सतां न स्यान्मर्मस्पृष्टो नरः किल
'One who is noble is not diminished by insult, nor does a reviled person lose composure; but for the wicked, not for the good, does a man feel wounded at the core.'
अनेकैश्चाटुभिर्देवी देवेन प्रतिबोधिता। कोपं तीव्रं न तत्याज सती मर्मणि घट्टिता
Though addressed by the god with many gentle words, the goddess Satī did not abandon her intense anger, having been struck at her core.
अवष्टब्धमथाच्छिद्य वासः शंकरपाणिना। विपर्यस्तालकावेगाद्गन्तुमैच्छच्च शैलजा
Then, tearing away her garment from Śaṅkara's hand, her hair disheveled in agitation, the daughter of the mountain wished to depart.
तस्या व्रजंत्याः कोपेन पुनराह पुरांतकः। सत्यं सर्वैरवयवैस्तनोषि सदृशां पितुः
As she was leaving in anger, the destroyer of cities spoke again: 'Truly, in every feature you resemble your father.'
हिमाचलस्य शृंगस्थमेव जालाकुलं मनः। तथा दुरवगाह्येभ्यो गहनो हि तवाशयः
'Your mind, like the peak of Himāchala, is tangled; likewise, your heart is as impenetrable as the most difficult depths.'
काठिन्यमश्मसारेभ्यो वनेभ्यो बहुलां गता। कुटिलत्वं निम्नगाभ्यो दुःसेव्यत्वं हिमादपि
'You have gained hardness greater than rocks and forests, crookedness more than rivers, and are harder to please than even the Himalaya.'
संक्रांतं सर्वमेवैतत्तन्वंगि हिमभूधरात्। इत्युक्ता सा पुनः प्राह गिरिशं शैलकन्यका
'All this has passed into you, slender-limbed one, from the mountain of snow.' Thus addressed, the mountain maiden spoke again to Giriśa.
कोपकंपितमूर्द्धा सा प्रस्फुरद्दशनच्छदा। उमोवाच-। स्यात्सर्वं दोषदानेन निंदायां गुणिनो बलात्
Her head trembling with anger, her teeth bared, Umā said: 'It may be that, by the strength of the fault-finder, even the virtues of the virtuous are turned to blame.'