नास्ति वै बलवान्कश्चिन्नमूढो न च पंडितः। पांडित्यं च बलं चैव जायते पूर्वकर्मणः
There is truly no one who is strong, no one who is foolish, and no one who is wise; wisdom and strength both arise from previous actions.
एते देवा दिवं प्राप्ताः शोभमानाः स्थिताश्चिरम्। पुण्येन तपसा चैव क्षेत्रेषुविविधेषुच
These gods have attained heaven and remain there, shining for a long time, through merit and asceticism in various sacred places.
यदेभिरार्जितं पुण्यं तस्यैते फलभागिनः। एवमुक्ता ततः सा तु सती भीष्मरुषान्विता
Whatever merit was acquired by them, they are the enjoyers of its fruits. Thus addressed, then, Sati, filled with anger toward Bhishma—
विनिंदमाना पितरं क्रोधेनारुणितेक्षणा। एवमेतद्यथा तात त्वया चोक्तं ममाग्रतः
Blaming her father, her eyes red with anger, she said: 'So it is, father, just as you have spoken before me.'
सर्वो जनः पुण्यभागी पुण्येन लभते श्रियं। पुण्येन लभते जन्म पुण्ये भोगाः प्रतिष्ठिताः
Every person who possesses merit attains prosperity through merit; through merit one obtains birth, and enjoyments are established in merit.
तदयं जगतामीशः सर्वेषामुत्तमोत्तमः। स्थानान्येतानि सर्वेषां दत्तान्येतेन धीमता
Therefore, this Lord of the worlds, the highest of all, has assigned these stations to all beings, being wise.
ये गुणास्तस्य देवस्य वक्तुं जिह्वापि वेधसः। न शक्ता ख्यापने तस्य देवस्य परमेष्ठिनः
Even the tongue of Brahma is not able to declare the virtues of that god, the supreme lord, nor can it proclaim his glory.
भस्मास्थि च कपालानि श्मशाने वसतिस्तथा। गोनसाद्याश्च ये सर्पाः सर्वे ते भूषणीकृताः
Ashes, bones, and skulls, dwelling in the cremation ground, and serpents like the king cobra—all these he has made his ornaments.
भूतप्रेतगणास्तस्य पिशाचा गुह्यकास्तथा। एष धाता विधाता च एष पालयिता दिशः
Hosts of spirits and ghosts, piśācas and guhyakas as well—he is the creator, the arranger, and the protector of the directions.
प्रसादेन च रुद्रस्य प्राप्तस्वर्गः पुरंदरः। यदि रुद्रेस्ति देवत्वं यदि सर्वगतः शिवः
By the grace of Rudra, Indra attained heaven; if Rudra is a god, if Śiva is all-pervading—
सत्येन तेन ते यज्ञं विध्वंसयतु शंकरः। यद्यस्ति मे तपः किंचित्कश्चिद्धर्मोथवा कृतः
By the truth of this, may Śaṃkara destroy your sacrifice—if I possess any austerity at all, or have performed any act of righteousness.
फलेन तस्य धर्मस्य यज्ञस्ते नाशमर्हति। प्रियाहं यदि देवस्य यदि मां तारयिष्यति
By the fruit of that righteousness, your sacrifice does not deserve destruction—if I am dear to the Lord, if He will save me.
तेन सत्येन ते गर्वः समाप्तिमभिगच्छतु। इत्युक्त्वा योगमास्थाय स्वदेहस्थेन तेजसा
By that truth, may your pride come to an end. Having spoken thus, she entered into yogic concentration, blazing with the energy within her own body.
निर्ददाह तदात्मानं सदेवासुरपन्नगैः। किंकिमेतदिति प्रोक्ते गंधर्वगणगुह्यकैः
Then she burned herself up, along with the gods, asuras, and serpents. When the hosts of Gandharvas and Guhyakas asked, 'What is this?'
गंगाकूले तदा मुक्तो देहो वै क्रुद्धया तया। सौनकं नाम तत्तीर्थं गंगायाः पश्चिमे तटे
Her body, released in anger, fell on the bank of the Gaṅgā; that sacred place on the western shore of the Gaṅgā is called Saunaka.
श्रुत्वा रुद्रस्तु तद्वार्त्तां पत्न्यानाश सुदुःखितः। हंतुं यज्ञं धीरभवत्देवानामिह पश्यताम्
When Rudra heard this news of his wife's destruction, he was deeply grieved. In the presence of the gods, he became resolute to destroy the sacrifice.
गणकोटिः समादिष्टा ग्रहा वैनायकास्तथा। भूतप्रेतपिशाचाश्च दक्षयज्ञ विनाशने
A host of countless Gaṇas was commanded, as well as the Grahas and Vināyakas, along with spirits, ghosts, and Piśācas, to destroy Dakṣa's sacrifice.
तैर्गत्वा विबुधास्सर्वे यज्ञे निर्जित्य नाशिताः। हते यज्ञे तदा दक्षो निरुत्साहो निरुद्यमः
Having gone there, all the divine beings were defeated and destroyed at the sacrifice. With the sacrifice ruined, Dakṣa was left dispirited and inactive.
उपगम्याब्रवीत्त्रस्तो देवदेवं पिनाकिनम्। न ज्ञातोसि मया देव देवानां प्रभुरीश्वरः
Approaching, trembling, he addressed the god of gods, Pinākin: 'I did not know you, O Lord, the sovereign of the gods.'
त्वमस्य जगतोधीशः सुरास्सर्वे त्वया जिताः। कृपां कुरु महेशान गणान्सर्वान्निवर्त्तय
You are the supreme Lord of this world; all the gods have been conquered by you. Have mercy, O great Lord, and call off all your hosts.
गणैर्नानाविधैर्घोरैर्नानाभूषणभूषितैः। नानावदनदंतौष्ठैर्नाना प्रहरणोद्यतैः
With hosts of various fierce forms, adorned with diverse ornaments, with many mouths and teeth, and each brandishing different weapons,
नाना नागेंद्रसंदष्ट जटाभारोपशोभितैः। सुदृढोद्धत दर्पाढ्यैर्घोरैर्घोरनिघातिभिः
With matted locks adorned by the bites of many king serpents, strong, arrogant, and terrible, dreadful in their destructive power,
कामरूपैरकांतैश्च सर्वकामसमन्वितैः। अनिवार्यबलैश्चोग्रैर्योगिभिर्योगगामिभिः
With forms assuming any shape at will, some unattractive, all endowed with every desire, irresistible in might, fierce, yogis and masters of yoga,
व्यालोलकेसरजटैर्दंष्ट्रोत्कटहसन्मुखैः। करींद्रकरटाटोप पाटवैः सिंहदेहिभिः
With manes and matted hair tossing wildly, faces fierce with protruding fangs, displaying the strength and agility of elephants and lions,
केचित्परमदाघ्राण घूर्णद्दीपसमप्रभैः। विचित्रचित्रवसनैर्द्धीरधीरवारदिभिः
Some, intoxicated by strong drink, shining like flickering lamps, dressed in strange and varied garments, both calm and wild as elephants,
मृगव्याघ्रसिंहरुतैस्तरक्ष्वजिनधारिभिः। भुजंगहारवलयकृतयज्ञोपवीतकैः
Roaring like deer, tigers, and lions, clad in tiger and bear skins, wearing serpents as garlands and bracelets, with sacred threads made of snakes,
शूलासिपट्टिशधरैः परशुप्रासहस्तकैः। वज्रक्रकचकोदंडकालदंडास्त्रपाणिभिः
Armed with tridents, swords, spears, axes, and javelins, holding thunderbolts, clubs, maces, rods of Time, and other weapons,
गणेश्वरैः सुदुर्द्धर्षैर्वृतः सूर्यो ग्रहैरिव। देवदेवमहादेव नष्टो यज्ञो दिवं गतः
Surrounded by indomitable chiefs of the Gaṇas, like the sun by planets, O god of gods, great god, the sacrifice was destroyed and ascended to heaven.
मृगरूपधरो भूत्वा भयभीतस्तु शंकर। नमः शङ्खाभदेवाय सगणाय सनंदिने
Having assumed the form of a deer, terrified, O Śaṃkara, salutations to the god adorned with a conch, together with his attendants and with Sanandana.
वृषासनाय सोमाय क्रतुकालांतकाय च। नमो दिक्चर्मवस्त्राय नमस्ते तीव्रतेजसे
Salutations to the one seated upon the bull, to Soma, and to the one who ends the time of sacrifices; salutations to the one clothed in the hide of directions, salutations to the one of intense brilliance.