वर्मशस्त्रादिकं दत्वा रथं सारथिसंयुतम् । दुर्वारणेन सहितः सैन्यं मुक्त्वोदधेः सुतः
Giving armor, weapons, and a chariot with a charioteer, the son of the ocean departed with Durvarana and his army.
अलक्षितस्ततो गत्वा गुहां गुप्तां तु पार्थिव । मानसोत्तरशैलस्य हररूपं दधार सः
Then, unnoticed, he went to a hidden cave, O king, on the northern slope of Mount Manasa, and assumed the form of Hara.
धृत्वा दुर्वारणे रूपं नंदिनः सदृशं तथा । अथारुरुहतुः शैलं छद्मशंकरनंदिनौ
Taking on the form of Durvarana, resembling Nandi, the disguised Shankara and Nandi climbed the mountain.
यत्रास्ति शिखरे गौरी सखिभिः सहिता नृप । तमायांतं शरैर्भिन्नं स्कंधमालम्ब्य नंदिनः
Where, on the summit, Gauri was with her companions, O king, they approached, supporting the wounded shoulder of Nandi.
रक्ताक्तमंबरं दृष्ट्वा भवानी विस्मिताभवत् । सख्यस्तस्या जयाद्यास्ताः जग्मुस्तं संभ्रमान्विताः
Seeing the blood-stained garment, Bhavani was astonished; her companions, beginning with Jaya, hurried to him in alarm.
शंकरस्यांतिकं गत्वा पप्रच्छुस्तं सुदुःखिताः । किं जातं तव देवेश केन त्वं संगरे जितः
Going to Shankara, they questioned him, greatly distressed: 'What has happened to you, Lord of gods? By whom were you defeated in battle?'
सशल्यस्त्वं कथं नाथ संसारीव प्ररोदिषि । इत्युक्तः प्रददौ ताभ्यो भूषणानि पृथक्पृथक्
'Wounded, why do you, O Lord, lament as if you were mortal?' Thus addressed, he gave them ornaments, one by one.
उत्तार्य शनकैरंगात् वासुकिप्रभृतीनि च । गणेशस्कंदशिरसीच्छिन्ने कुक्षौ विलोक्य च
Slowly removing from his body those of Vasuki and others, and seeing the heads of Ganesha and Skanda severed, and the abdomen as well—
हा स्कंद हा गणेशेति हा रुद्रेत्यंबिकारुदत् । तस्याः सख्यस्ततः सर्वा रुरुदुः शोककर्शिताः
'Alas, Skanda! Alas, Ganesha! Alas, Rudra!' Ambika cried; then all her companions wept, consumed by grief.
अत्राब्रवीज्जयां नंदी त्वमेनं परिपालय । मणिभद्रो वीरभद्रः पुष्पदंतश्च वीर्यवान्
Then Jaya said to Nandi: 'You protect him. Manibhadra, Virabhadra, and Pushpadanta are mighty.'
दंभनो धूमतिमिरः कूष्मांडाद्या रणे हताः । चंडी भृंगी किरीटिश्च महाकालश्च शृंखली
Dambhana, Dhumatimira, and the Kusmandas and others were slain in battle. Chandi, Bhringi, Kiriti, Mahakala, and Shrinkhali—
चंडीशो गुप्तनेत्रश्च कालाद्याश्च हता रणे । विनायकस्य स्कंदस्य शिरसी भ्रमता मया
Chandisha, Guptanetra, and Kala and others were killed in battle. With the heads of Vinayaka and Skanda spinning, by me.
दृष्टे महारणे देवि इत्युक्त्वाथ पुरोक्षिपत् । तच्छ्रुत्वा नंदिनो वाक्यं शिरसी गृह्य पुत्रयोः
Having seen the great battlefield, O Goddess, after saying this, he cast himself forward; hearing Nandi's words, she took the heads of her sons.
पार्वती विललापोच्चैः पुत्रपुत्रेति जल्पती । तारकारे कथं युद्धे हतस्त्वं सिंधुसूनुना
Parvati wailed loudly, murmuring 'My son, my son!'; how were you, slayer of Taraka, killed in battle by the son of the ocean?
त्वं हि त्रिवासरो देवैः सेनापत्योऽभिषेचितः । तदा त्वया कथं वीर तारकाख्यो निपातितः
You were indeed anointed as commander of the gods for just three days; then how, O hero, did you strike down the one named Taraka?
नीलकंठेन किं त्यक्तो यतस्त्वं पतितो भुवि । स्नुषामुखं न दृष्टं च मया पुत्रावभाग्यया
Did the blue-throated one abandon you, that you fell to the earth? Unfortunate as I am, I have not seen the face of my daughter-in-law, nor my sons.
न भोगा वत्स ते भुक्ता संसारस्यापि येभवन् । तात हेरंब विघ्नेश लंबोदर गजानन
O child, you have not enjoyed the pleasures that exist even in worldly life; O father, O remover of obstacles, O elephant-faced one, O large-bellied one!
रणांगणे केन पुत्र सिद्धैः पूज्यो निपातितः । वाहनोऽसौ कुतो वत्स मूषकः केन हिंसितः
By whom, O son, were you, who are worshipped even by the Siddhas, struck down on the battlefield? Where is your mount, the mouse, O child, and by whom was it harmed?
एवं विलपती गौरी शिवं प्राह सुदुःखितम् । साक्षाद्रुद्रोऽसि देवेश हरस्त्वं मा भयं कुरु
Thus lamenting, Gauri, greatly distressed, spoke to Shiva: 'You are truly Rudra, O Lord of gods, you are Hara; do not be afraid.'
वृषभः क्व गतो देव हतो जालंधरेण वै । शरजर्जरदेहस्य किं करोमि प्रियं तव
Where has the bull gone, O god, slain by Jalandhara? What can I do for you, whose body is pierced by arrows, my beloved?
ततः श्रुत्वा वचो देव्या निश्वस्योवाच शंकरः । दीर्घं विनिहतौ पुत्रौ वृथा शोचसि किं प्रिये
Then, hearing the goddess's words, Shankara sighed and spoke: 'Now that the sons are slain, why do you grieve in vain, my dear?'
अधुना तेंगसंगेन देवि मां त्रातुमर्हसि । शंकरस्य वचः श्रुत्वाऽसमयोचितमातुरम् । प्रत्युवाचांबिका देवं बभाषे नोचितं वचः
Now, O goddess, you should save me by your union; hearing Shankara's words, which were untimely and anxious, Ambika replied to the god, speaking words that were not fitting.
महाविषादे पतिते भये च कृते समाधौ वमने महाज्वरे । श्राद्धे प्रयाणे गुरुवृद्धसन्निधौ रतिं बुधाः शंकर वर्जयंति
When one is fallen into great despair, seized by fear, in meditation, vomiting, afflicted by severe fever, during funeral rites, at departure, or in the presence of elders and teachers, the wise avoid pleasure, O Shankara.
कथं मां दुःखदुःखार्तां पुत्रशोकेन पीडिताम् । म्लानां बाष्पपरिम्लानां संप्रार्थयसि चातुराम्
How do you ask for intimacy from me, who am afflicted with sorrow upon sorrow, tormented by grief for my sons, faded, and withered by tears?
भवान्या इति वाक्यानि श्रुत्वा मायामहेश्वरः । उवाच स्वार्थमुद्दिश्य गौर्यारूपेण मोहितः
Hearing these words of Bhavani, the great lord of illusion, desiring his own purpose, spoke, deluded in the form of Gauri.
पुरुषस्यार्तियुक्तस्य न यच्छंति रतिं स्त्रियः । तथैव रौरवे घोरे पतिष्यंति न संशयः
Women do not grant pleasure to a man who is afflicted with suffering; likewise, in the dreadful hell called Raurava, they will certainly fall, there is no doubt.
गणशून्यः पुत्रशून्यो धीशून्योऽहं वरानने । सांप्रतं गृह्य शून्योऽहं सर्वशून्योऽस्मि भामिनि
Devoid of attendants, without sons, bereft of intelligence am I, O beautiful-faced one; now, having lost everything, I am empty, wholly empty, O radiant lady.
सुजीवितं विहीनोऽहं त्वां प्रष्टुमिह चागतः । स्वं गृहं तु प्रविश्याशु त्यजामि प्रकृतिं स्वकाम्
I, deprived of a good life, have come here to ask you; but now, entering my own house quickly, I will abandon my own nature.
उत्तिष्ठ नंदिन्संयावस्तीर्थे भव पुरःसरः । त्वं याहि स्वेच्छया कांते प्रकृतिं स्वां परित्यज
Rise up, O Nandi, assemble at the holy place, lead the way; you, O beloved, go as you wish, abandon your own nature.
इति मायामहेशस्य वचः श्रुत्वांबिका ततः । दीर्घं दध्यो महाश्वासं शोकेन च जडीकृता 6.13.
Thus, hearing the words of the great lord of illusion, Ambika then, overwhelmed by grief, drew a long, deep breath.