अथ ध्यानेन तं चोरं निश्चित्य च पतिव्रता । भीतातिनम्रवदना अश्रुपूर्णमुखी तदा
Then, by meditation, the faithful wife discerned that he was a thief; frightened, with a bowed face and tears filling her eyes,
कष्टमापतितं पापमित्युक्त्वा निपापत च । रुदतीं तामथो दृष्ट्वा राक्षसः पापनिश्चयः
she said, 'A terrible sin has come upon me,' and fell to the ground. Seeing her weeping, the Rākṣasa, intent on evil, then—
धर्षितुं तामथारेभे न चैतद्धर्षणं प्रति । बलात्कारमथो कर्तुं यतमाने तु राक्षसे
He attempted to violate her, and when she resisted, the demon tried to force himself upon her.
आजानुनाभिपर्यंतं शैलस्थानमकल्पयत् । शिला समभवद्वस्त्रं राक्षसो वीक्ष्य तामथ
She created a mountain barrier reaching from her knees to her navel; the stone became her garment, and the demon saw her thus.
इत्येवं तां हनिष्यामि खादयिष्याम्यतः परम् । इत्युक्त्वा भ्रामयित्वासिं शिरश्छेत्तुं प्रचक्रमे
He said, 'I will kill her and then eat her,' and, having spoken thus, he brandished his sword and began to cut off her head.
कलाहं मत्पतिर्ज्ञात्वा शापं दास्यति मा हर । इत्युक्तमात्रे वचसि शिरश्चिच्छेद राक्षसः
She said, 'If you kill me, my husband will know and curse you; do not take my life.' But as soon as she spoke, the demon severed her head.
प्राप्ता यां दुर्मृतिं तस्यामथ शैवाः समागताः । दूता विचित्राभरणाः सर्वायुधधराः शुभाः
As she met her tragic end, Shaiva messengers arrived—splendid, adorned with various ornaments, and bearing all weapons.
एतां विमानमारोप्य शिवालोकमुपागमन् । तामागतां गिरिसुता हर्षेण प्रतिपूज्य च
They placed her in a celestial vehicle and brought her to Shiva's realm; the daughter of the mountain was received with joy and honor.
स्वपादप्रणतां शुद्धामुमा वाक्यमभाषत । पातिव्रत्येन ते तुष्टा अभीष्टं प्रददामि ते
Uma spoke to her, pure and bowed at her feet: 'I am pleased by your fidelity; I grant you whatever you desire.'
कलोवाच- दासीभावं प्रयच्छ त्वं त्वत्पादाब्जं मम प्रियम् । प्रार्थ्यैःकिमन्यैर्बहुभिस्तथास्त्विति शिवाब्रवीत्
Kala said: 'Grant me the status of your servant; your lotus feet are dear to me. What need have I for other wishes?' Shiva replied, 'So be it.'
इंद्रादिवनिताभिः सा पूजिताथ कलानिधिः । एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तः शोणो मुनिरथो गृहम्
Honored by Indra and other divine women, Kala, the repository of arts, was worshipped; meanwhile, the sage Shona returned home.
न तत्र दृष्ट्वा तां भार्यां ध्यानयोगपरोभवत् । रक्षोहृतां मृतां प्राप्तां शिवालोकमुमां प्रति
Not finding his wife there, he became absorbed in meditation and yoga, realizing she had been taken by the demon, slain, and attained Shiva's realm.
उमादत्तवरां चापि दृष्टवाञ्ज्ञानचक्षुषा । किंचिद्दुःखश्चिरं ध्यात्वा परावृत्य मुनिस्तदा
With the eye of wisdom, he saw the boon Uma had granted; after meditating in sorrow for some time, the sage turned away.
श्वशुरं गतवान्सोऽथ देवरातं मुनीश्वरः । निवेद्य सर्वं सहितो विश्वामित्रमगान्मुनिम्
He went to his father-in-law, Devarata, and, together, reported everything to the sage Vishvamitra.
निवेद्य तद्वसिष्ठस्य वसिष्ठोऽप्याह तान्मुनीन् । गत्वा कैलासमादौ तु दृष्ट्वा देवं महेश्वरम्
After informing Vasistha, Vasistha told the assembled sages: 'Go to Kailasa, see the great god Maheshvara.'
अनुज्ञां शिवतो लब्ध्वा पार्वतीमंदिरे गताः । देव्यै विज्ञाप्य तत्सर्वं यथार्थं प्रवदामतत्
Having received Shiva's permission, they went to Parvati's abode; they reported everything to the goddess, truthfully and in detail.
तथेत्युक्त्वा मुनिवराः कैलासं शंकरालयम् । गत्वा प्रणम्य देवेशं वीरभद्रेण पूजिताः
The eminent sages said, 'So be it,' and went to Kailasa, the abode of Shankara; after bowing to the lord of gods, they were honored by Virabhadra.
विज्ञापयामासुरिदं शोणभार्य्याहृतेति च । शिवः प्राह मुनींद्रास्तांञ्ज्ञातमेव मया त्विदम्
They announced, 'Shona's wife has been taken,' and Shiva replied to the chief sages, 'I already know this.'
अकालमरणं त्वस्या आयुर्वर्षशतं स्थितम् । अकालमृत्युयुक्तानां पुनर्ज्जीवनमस्ति च
'Her death was untimely; her lifespan was set for a hundred years. For those who die untimely, there is restoration of life.'
दशपुत्रप्रसूर्वीरा रूपसौभाग्यवत्यपि । भवद्भिरिति निश्चित्य समागतमिह द्विजाः
'She will bear ten sons, be heroic, and possess beauty and good fortune. Having decided thus, you Brahmins have assembled here.'
यमलोकगतानां तु सर्वमेतद्विनिश्चितम् । ममलोकगतानां च गतिरन्या न विद्यते
All this is certain for those who have gone to Yama's world; for those who have come to my world, there is no other destiny.
अनया कीर्तितं नाम प्राणनिर्गमने पुरा । तया यमलिपिर्मृष्टा कथमायुष्यनिर्णयः
This name that was spoken at the departure of life before—by that, the record of Yama was erased; how then is the determination of lifespan?
अथवा गिरिजायै च निवेदयत कृत्स्नशः । अथ ते पार्वतीपाददर्शनाय गता द्विजाः
Or else, report everything completely to Girijā; then those twice-born went to see the feet of Pārvatī.
प्रणम्य मातरं सर्वे विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीदिदम् । दीनानाथाकृशा भार्या प्रणष्टपितृकाञ्छिशून्
Having bowed to the Mother, all, Viśvāmitra spoke this: 'Her wife is poor, helpless, emaciated, her parents lost, and she is childless.'
रक्षयित्वा पुरा मातरिष्टदा त्वं सदा ह्यभूः । कला पौत्री ममैवेयं त्वामाराध्य पतिं त्वमुम्
Formerly, O Mother, you always protected those in danger; this girl is my own granddaughter, having worshipped you, let her obtain this husband.
शोणं लब्धवती मातस्त्वत्पूजायाः फलं त्विदम् । तपसा लभ्यते पर्णे दानेन यदि वापि च
O Mother, having obtained Śoṇa, this is the fruit of your worship; this is attained by austerity, or perhaps by giving a leaf as charity.
व्रतोपवासैरथवा कला सा लभ्यते मया । एतया परिविष्टान्नं भोक्तुमिच्छामि तत्कथम्
Or by vows and fasts, that portion is attained by me; I wish to eat food served by her—how is that possible?
पार्वत्युवाच- यादृशी चेष्यते भार्य्या तादृशी दीयते मया । नैनां त्यक्तुमहं शक्ता किं वा त्वं मन्यसे मुने
Pārvatī said: 'Such a wife as is desired, such I give; I am not able to abandon her—what do you think, O sage?'
विश्वामित्र उवाच- माता त्वमित्येव मया अविशंकितमीरितम् । शोणो मुनिरयं मातस्तव विज्ञापयिष्यति
Viśvāmitra said: 'I have spoken without doubt that you are the Mother; this sage Śoṇa, O Mother, will inform you.'
शोण उवाच- तामेव भार्य्यां प्रतिमे प्रीतिरत्युक्तत्कटाति । सैव मे दीयतां भार्य्या चान्यथा मरणं भवेत्
Śoṇa said: 'My affection for that very wife is exceedingly great; let that wife alone be given to me, otherwise death would occur.'