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.'
पार्वत्युवाच- भार्या पतीसमावेव विषमौ तु विगर्हितौ । तव चासदृशी चेयं सदृशीं प्रददाम्यहम्
Pārvatī said: 'A wife is equal to her husband; but the unsuitable are to be rejected. This one is not suitable for you; I shall give you a suitable one.'
न च मन्मंदिरे प्राप्तां त्यक्ष्ये देहविवर्ज्जिताम् । शोण उवाच- यदि नो दीयते चेयं भार्य्यामन्यां मम प्रियाम्
Nor will I abandon her, who has come to my abode, bereft of her body. Śoṇa said: 'If this dear wife is not given to me, but another—'
राज्यं महेश्वरे भक्तिं प्रयच्छ वरमुत्तमम् । भविष्यत्येव मे वैतदित्युक्त्वा चाब्रवीन्मुनीन्
Grant me devotion to Mahādeva as the highest boon, or sovereignty; this will indeed be for me.' Having said this, he spoke to the sages.
भोक्तव्यमिह युष्माभिर्ममास्मिन्दिवसत्रयम् । प्रतींदुवारे देवस्य महेशस्यैव तुष्टये
'For three days you must partake of food here with me, for the satisfaction of the Lord Maheśa at the Pratīndu vrata.'
भोजनीयाः सदा कालमष्टौ विप्रा मुनीश्वराः । इच्छया यत्र कुत्रापि व्रतमेतदुपक्रमेत्
'Eight Brāhmaṇa sages must always be fed at the proper time; wherever one wishes, this vow may be undertaken.'
वत्सरे परिपूर्णे तु महाराज तमीश्वरम् । चतुर्निष्कप्रमाणेन तदर्द्धेनैव कारयेत्
'When the year is complete, O great king, for that Lord, one should perform it with four niṣkas as measure, or with half that.'
श्वेतवस्त्रयुगं सूक्ष्मं चामरे व्यजने तथा । पादुकोपानहं च्छत्रं सर्वं विप्रे नियोजयेत्
'A pair of fine white garments, a yak-tail fan, and a fan likewise, footwear, sandals, and an umbrella—all these should be assigned to a Brāhmaṇa.'
स्वशक्त्या दक्षिणां दत्वा ब्राह्मणांश्च विसर्जयेत् । एतदुद्यापने कुर्यादादौ मध्ये तथा सुधीः
'Giving a gift according to one's ability, one should dismiss the Brāhmaṇas; in this observance, the wise should act at the beginning, in the middle, and likewise at the end.'
दिनेदिने तथा पूजा सोमस्य परमात्मनः
Day by day, thus is the worship of Soma, the Supreme Soul.
तत्पुरुषस्य विद्महे महादेवस्य धीमहि । तन्नो रुद्र प्रःचोदयात्
We contemplate that Purusha, we meditate on the great god; may that Rudra inspire us.