Padma Purana

विललाप पतिं दृष्ट्वा विकीर्णावयवं रणे । प्रभावत्यश्रुपूर्णाक्षी मुक्तकेशी घनस्तनी

Seeing her husband with his limbs scattered on the battlefield, Prabhāvatī, her eyes full of tears, her hair loose, her breasts heavy, lamented.

हा नाथ बलविक्रांत कांतदेह जगत्प्रिय । मां त्वं विहाय किं चात्र कैवल्यं गतवानसि

'Alas, lord, mighty and valiant, beloved body, dear to the world! Why have you abandoned me and attained this isolation?'

जराकुष्ठादिभिर्व्याप्तं बुद्ध्वा देहं त्यजंति न । देहिनोऽन्ये परं कांतं त्वया देहो वृथोज्झितः

'Others, even knowing the body is afflicted by old age, leprosy, and such, do not give it up; but you, beloved, have cast off your body in vain.'

तव देहेन दिव्येन हारकं भूष्यते प्रिय । रणोत्सुकेन भवता या वेणी ग्रथिता मम

'With your divine body, my dear, the necklace is adorned; and the braid that you tied for me, eager for battle—'

तामुद्ग्रथय वैधव्यदुःखार्त्तायाः स्वयं प्रिय । एवं विलपतीं वीक्ष्य बलराज्ञीं समुद्रजः । दुःखितः शुक्रमित्याह बलं जीवय भार्गव

'Untie it yourself, beloved, for me who am stricken with the sorrow of widowhood.' Seeing the queen of Bala lamenting thus, the ocean-born, distressed, said to Śukra: 'Revive Bala, O Bhārgava.'

शुक्र उवाच-। इच्छयामरणं प्राप्तं तं कथं जीवयाम्यहम् । तथापि मंत्रसामर्थ्याद्वाचमुच्चारयिष्यति

Śukra said: He has attained death by his own will—how can I bring him back to life? Still, by the power of my mantra, he will utter speech.

जालंधर उवाच-। बलस्य रूप वचनं श्रोतुमिच्छामि भार्गव । जालंधरेणैवमुक्तः क्षणं ध्यानपरोऽभवत्

Jālandhara said: Bhārgava, I wish to hear the form, strength, and words. Thus addressed by Jālandhara, he became absorbed in meditation for a moment.

अथोदतिष्ठद्वदनात्स्वनः श्रोत्रमनोरमः । प्रभावतीं प्रति व्यक्तं वाद्यभांडा दिवोत्थितः

Then, from his mouth arose a melodious sound, delightful to the ear, and in the presence of Prabhāvatī, musical instruments resounded clearly, as if from the heavens.

प्रभावति स्वदेहं त्वं ममांगेषु लयं नय । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा नदी जाता प्रभावती

"Prabhāvatī, merge your own body into my limbs." Hearing these words, Prabhāvatī became a river.

बलाङ्गेष्वेव लीना सा सुमेरोः पूर्ववाहिनी । यस्यास्तोयेन संजाता रत्नानां कांतिरुत्तमा

She, merged into his limbs, flowed eastward from Mount Sumeru; from her waters arose the supreme brilliance of jewels.

नारद उवाच- अत्रोत्तरे मया गत्वा कथितं सिंधुसूनवे । त्वां हंतु सर्ववीरेश प्रतिज्ञा शंभुना कृता । श्रुत्वेत्थं मद्वचो राजंस्ततः पप्रच्छ सोऽसुरः

Nārada said: Then, going there, I told the son of the ocean, 'Śaṃbhu has vowed to slay you, O lord of all heroes.' Hearing my words thus, O king, that asura questioned me.

जालंधर उवाच-। किमस्ति शूलिनो गेहे रत्नजातं महामुने । तन्ममाचक्ष्व सकलं नास्ति युद्धं निरामिषम्

Jālandhara said: O great sage, is there any treasure of jewels in the house of the trident-bearer? Tell me everything—there is no battle without a prize.

नारद उवाच-। भूतिर्गात्रे वृषो जीर्णः फणिनोंऽगे गले विषम् । भिक्षापात्रं करे पुत्रौ गजानन षडाननौ

Nārada said: His wealth is ashes on his body, an old bull, serpents on his neck, poison at his throat, a begging bowl in his hand, and his sons are the elephant-faced and six-faced ones.

इत्यादि विभवस्तस्य यदन्यत्तन्निबोध मे । तनया गिरिराजस्य विशाला ह्युन्नतस्तनी

Such is his prosperity; listen to what else there is. His wife is the daughter of the mountain king, broad-hipped and high-breasted.

दग्धस्मरोऽपि भगवान्यस्यारूपेण मोहितः । महेशो यद्विनोदाय कुरुते नित्य कौतुकम्

Though the god of love was burned by him, even he was deluded by her form. Maheśa, for his own amusement, always creates wonders.

नृत्यन्गायंश्च ताञ्छंभुः स्वयं भवति हासकः । सा पार्वतीति विख्याता सौंदर्यावधि दैवतम्

Śaṃbhu himself becomes a dancer and singer for her, making her laugh. She is renowned as Pārvatī, the very limit of beauty among goddesses.

वृंदा वरांगना राजन्निमाश्चाप्सरसः शुभाः । न चाप्नुवंति पार्वत्याः षोडशीमपि तां कलाम्

O king, Vṛndā is a most excellent woman, and these celestial nymphs are beautiful, but not even one-sixteenth of Pārvatī's beauty do they attain.

इत्युक्त्वाहं महीपाल जालंधरममर्षणम् । पश्यतां सर्वदैत्यानामंतर्धानं गतः क्षणात्

Having spoken thus, O king, I, Nārada, vanished in an instant before all the daityas, leaving Jālandhara, who was unyielding.

अथ स प्रेषयद्दूतं सिंधुजः सिंहिकासुतम् । क्षणेनासाद्य कैलासं देवावासमपश्यत

Then the son of the ocean sent a messenger, the son of Siṃhikā. In a moment, he reached Kailāsa and beheld the abode of the gods.

अत्रांतरे हरिर्भीममापृच्छ्य तु तदा हरम् । जगामालक्षितस्तूर्णं क्षीराब्धिं भेदशंकया

Meanwhile, Hari, after taking leave of Bhīma, approached Hara and, unnoticed, quickly went to the milk ocean, suspecting a breach.

ददर्श राहुर्भवनं शंकरस्यातिदीप्तिमत् । आत्मानमात्मना वीक्ष्य किमित्याह सुविस्मितः

Rāhu beheld the exceedingly radiant mansion of Śaṃkara. Seeing himself reflected, he asked in great astonishment, 'What is this?'

प्रवेष्टुकामो बलिभिर्द्वारि द्वास्थैर्निरोधितः । यत्नवान्स निषिद्धोऽपि तदा ते प्रोद्यतायुधाः

Desiring to enter, he was stopped at the door by the doorkeepers, who were strong and armed. Though he tried, they forbade him and raised their weapons.

तान्निवार्य गणान्नंदी व्याजहार विधुंतुदम् । कस्त्वं कस्मादिहायातः किं कार्यं तव बर्बर । ब्रूहि कार्यं गणा यावत्त्वां न हन्युर्भयावहाः

Nandī, restraining the attendants, addressed the moon-biter: 'Who are you? Why have you come here? What is your business, O shaggy one? Speak your purpose before the attendants, who are fearsome, slay you.'

राहुरुवाच-। दूतो जालंधरस्याहं त्वं मां शर्वांतिके नय । न वाच्यमंतरे द्वास्थ महाराजप्रयोजनम्

Rahu said: I am the messenger of Jalandhara; take me before Shiva. Do not speak anything else, doorkeeper—the great king's business is at hand.

नंदी दूतोक्तमाकर्ण्य नीललोहितमाययौ । दंडवत्प्रणिपत्याग्रे स्थित्वा शंकरमब्रवीत्

Hearing the words of the messenger, Nandi, blue and red in hue, approached; bowing down in salutation, he stood before Shankara and spoke.

सैंहिकेयो महाराज द्वारे तिष्ठति कार्यतः । स प्रयात्वथवायातु भवानाज्ञप्तुमर्हति

O great king, the son of Simhika stands at the door on business; let him go or let him come in—as you command, so it should be.

नंदिनोक्तमथाकर्ण्य त्वरन्निव महेश्वरः । सुप्तामंतःपुराद्देवीं प्रस्थाप्य च सखीवृताम्

Hearing Nandi's words, Lord Maheshvara, as if in haste, sent the goddess, who was sleeping in the inner chambers, away with her companions.

पश्चाद्वास्थं जगादाथ नंदिन्दूतं प्रवेशय । ततो हस्ते प्रगृह्यामुं दूतं नंदी महाबलः

Then he told the doorkeeper: 'Nandi, bring the messenger in.' Thereupon, mighty Nandi took the messenger by the hand.

आनयामास देवानां मध्ये शंभुमदर्शयत् । तं ददर्श तदा राहुर्जटिलं नीलमात्मनि

He brought him into the midst of the gods and showed him Shambhu. Then Rahu saw him—matted-haired, dark in complexion.