ब्रह्मोवाच-। किं पुनः प्राप्तुकामासि किमलभ्यं ददामि ते। विरम्यतामतिक्लेशात्तपसोस्मान्मदाज्ञया
Brahma said: What do you wish to obtain again? What is unattainable that I may give you? Cease this severe austerity by my command.
तच्छ्रुत्वोवाचगिरिजा गुरोर्गौरवयंत्रितं। वाक्यं वाचाहरोद्गीर्णवर्णनिर्गमवांछितं
Hearing this, Girija spoke, restrained by the reverence for her teacher; she uttered words expressing her desired meaning.
देव्युवाच-। तपसा दुष्करेणाप्तः पतिर्वै शंकरो मया। समां श्यामलवर्णेति बहुशः प्रोक्तवान्रहः
The goddess said: By difficult austerity, I have obtained a husband, Shankara; he has often called me 'dark-complexioned' in secret.
तस्मादहं कांचनाभवर्णा तन्नामसंयुता। भर्तुर्भूतपतेरंगमेकतो निर्विषं भवेत्
Therefore, I wish to have a golden complexion, bearing that name; let me be free from poison in the body of my husband, the lord of beings.
तस्यास्तद्भाषितं श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच जगदीश्वरः। एवं भव त्वं भूयश्च भर्तुर्देहार्द्धचारिणी
Hearing her words, the lord of the world said: So be it; and again, you shall be the companion of your husband's body, sharing half.
ततस्तत्याजतां कृष्णां फुल्लनीलोत्पलत्वचं। त्वक्च साप्यभवद्भीमा घंटाहस्तात्रिलोचना
Then she abandoned her dark skin, like the hue of a blooming blue lotus; that skin became Bhima, with a bell in hand and three eyes.
नानाभरणसंपूर्णा पीतकौशेयधारिणी। तामब्रवीत्ततो ब्रह्मा देवीं नीलांबुजत्विषं
She was adorned with various ornaments, wearing yellow silk; then Brahma spoke to the goddess with the radiance of a blue lotus.
निशे भूधरजा देह संपर्का त्वं मदाज्ञया। संप्राप्ता कृतकृत्यत्वमेकानंशा पुरो ह्यसि
At night, by my command, you have attained the touch of the mountain's dust upon your body; you have accomplished your purpose and now stand as a distinct portion.
य एष सिंहः प्रोद्भूतो देव्याः क्रोधाद्वरानने। स तेस्तु वाहनं देवि केतौ चास्तु महाबलः
This lion, born from the goddess's wrath, O beautiful-faced one, shall be your vehicle, O goddess, and remain powerful at your banner.
गच्छ विंध्याचलं तत्र सुरकार्यं करिष्यसि। पंचालो नाम यक्षोयं यक्षलक्षपदानुगः
Go to the Vindhya mountain; there you will perform the work of the gods. This Yaksha named Panchala follows the steps of the Yaksha king.
दत्तस्ते किंकरो देवि मया मायाशतैर्युतः। इत्युक्त्वा कौशिकी देवी विंध्यशैलं जगाम ह
I have given you this servant, O goddess, endowed with hundreds of magical powers; having said this, Kaushiki, the goddess, went to the Vindhya mountain.
उमापि प्राप्तसंकल्पा जगाम गिरिशांतिकं। प्रविशंतीं तु तां द्वारादपहृत्य समाहितः
Uma, having fulfilled her resolve, went to the presence of the mountain lord; as she was entering through the door, he respectfully received her.
रुरोध वीरको देवीं हेमवेत्रलताधरः। तामुवाच च कोपेन रूपे तु व्यभिचारिणीं
The doorkeeper Vīraka, holding a golden staff entwined with creepers, blocked the goddess and, angered, addressed her as one whose beauty was deceptive.
प्रयोजनं न तेत्रास्ति गच्छ यावन्न भक्ष्यसे। देव्यारूपधरो दैत्यो देवं वंचितुमागतः
There is no purpose for you here; leave before you are devoured. This demon, taking the goddess's form, came to deceive the god.
प्रविष्टो न च दृष्टोसौ स च देवेन घातितः। घातिते चाहमाज्ञप्तो नीलकंठेन कोपिना
He entered but was not seen, and he was slain by the god. When he was slain, I was commanded by the wrathful Nīlakaṇṭha.
द्वारे त्वनवधानं ते यस्मात्पश्यामि वै ततः। भविष्यसि न मे द्वास्थो वर्षपूगाननेकशः
Because I see your inattention at the door, you shall not be my doorkeeper for countless years.
अतस्ते नात्र दास्यामि प्रवेशं गम्यतां द्रुतम्। एकां मुक्त्वा गिरिसुतां मातरं स्नेहवत्सलाम्
Therefore, I will not grant you entry here; depart quickly, except for the daughter of the mountain, the mother who is full of affection.
प्रवेशं लभते नान्या नारी कमललोचने। इत्युक्त्वा तु तदा देवी चिंतयामास चेतसा1.44.
No other woman with lotus eyes, except for her, may gain entry. Having said this, the goddess then reflected in her mind.
नारी नैव स दैतेयो वायुर्मे यामभाषत। वृथैव वीरकश्शप्तो मया क्रोधपरीतया
That was neither a woman nor a demon, as the wind told me; Vīraka was cursed by me in vain, overcome by anger.
अकार्यं क्रियते मूढैः प्रायः क्रोधसमन्वितैः। क्रोधेन नश्यते कीर्तिः क्रोधो हंति स्थितां श्रियम्
Foolish acts are often done by those filled with anger; by anger, fame is destroyed, and anger ruins established prosperity.
अपरिच्छिन्नतत्वार्था पुत्रं शापितवत्यहं। विपरीतार्थबुद्धीनां सुलभो विपदागमः
Unaware of the true nature of things, I cursed my son; for those with mistaken understanding, misfortune easily arises.
संचिंत्यैवमुवाचेदं वीरकं प्रति शैलजा। सज्जलज्जाविकारेण वदनेनाम्बुजत्विषा
Thinking thus, the daughter of the mountain spoke to Vīraka, her lotus-like face showing a mixture of modesty and embarrassment.
देव्युवाच-। अहं वीरक ते माता न तेस्तु मनसो भ्रमः। शंकरस्यास्मि दयिता सुता तुहिनभूभृतः
The goddess said: I am your mother, Vīraka; let there be no confusion in your mind. I am the beloved of Śaṅkara, the daughter of the snowy mountain.
मम गात्रच्छविभ्रांत्या मा शंकां पुत्र धारय। तुष्टेन गौरता दत्ता ममेयं पद्मजन्मना
Do not harbor doubt, my son, because of the illusion of my body's complexion; this fair hue was given to me by the lotus-born when he was pleased.
मया शप्तोस्यविदिते वृत्तांते दैत्यनिर्मिते। ज्ञात्वा नारीप्रवेशं तु शंकरे रहसि स्थिते
I cursed you without knowing the true event, thinking a demon was involved; having learned of a woman's entry while Śaṅkara was in seclusion.
ननिवर्तयितुं शक्यः शापः किंतु ब्रवीमि ते। शीघ्रमेष्यसि मानुष्यात्सर्वकामसमन्वितः
The curse cannot be withdrawn, yet I tell you this: you will soon be born as a human, endowed with all desires fulfilled.
शिरसा तु ततो वंद्य मातरं पूर्णमानसः। उवाच साध्वीं पूर्णेन्दु द्युतिं तुहिनशैलजां
Then, bowing his head with a pure heart, he honored his mother, the virtuous daughter of the snowy mountain, radiant as the full moon.
वीरक उवाच-। नतसुरासुरमौलिलसन्मणिप्रवरकांतिकरालिनखाङ्घ्रिके। नगसुते शरणागतवत्सले नवनमोवनतार्त्तिविनाशिनि
Vīraka said: O daughter of the mountain, whose feet and nails shine with the radiance of precious gems adorning the crowns of gods and demons who bow to you, who is affectionate to those who seek refuge, who destroys the distress of the bowed and the new, I take refuge in you.
तपनमंडलमंडितकंधरे पृथुसुवर्णनगद्युतिहारिके। विषमभंगविषंगमभीषितो गिरिसुते भवतीमहमाश्रये
O daughter of the mountain, whose neck is adorned with the brilliance of the sun's orb, who wears a garland of great golden jewels, who is feared by those hostile and poisonous, I seek shelter in you.
जगतिकाप्रणताभिमता ददौ झटिति सिद्धिमृते भवतीं यथा। जगतिकां प्रणमेच्छशिशेखरो भुवनभृन्मुनयो भवतीं यथा
As you quickly grant success to those devoted to you, O goddess, so may the lord of the world, the moon-crested one, and the sages who uphold the world, bow to you.