Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

ग्रसन्निव जगत्सर्वं पिबन्निव पयोनिधिम् वमन्निव तमोन्तस्थं माद्यन्निव खमम्बुदैः

As if devouring the whole world, drinking the ocean, vomiting the darkness within, and exulting with the clouds in the sky.

निवास भूमयस्तास्ता दर्पणप्रतिमोदराः तिरस्कृतातपास्स्निग्धाश्रमच्छायामहीरुहाः

Its dwelling places, with bellies like mirrors, are shaded by lush trees that block the sun, their coolness enhanced by the presence of hermitages.

सरित्सरस्तडागादिसंपर्कशिशिरानिलाः तत्र तत्र निषण्णाभ्यां शिवाभ्यां सफलीकृताः

The breezes cooled by rivers, lakes, and ponds there are made fruitful wherever Shiva and Parvati are seated.

तमिमं सर्वतः श्रेष्ठं स्मृत्वा साम्बस्त्रियम्बकः रैभ्याश्रमसमीपस्थश्चान्तर्धानं गतो ययौ

Remembering him as the greatest in every way, Sambhu, the three-eyed one, who was near Raibhya’s hermitage, vanished and departed.

तत्रोद्यानमनुप्राप्य देव्या सह महेश्वरः रराम रमणीयासु देव्यान्तःपुरभूमिषु

Then, having reached the garden, Maheshvara enjoyed himself with the goddess in the delightful grounds of her inner palace.

तथा गतेषु कालेषु प्रवृद्धासु प्रजासु च दैत्यौ शुंभनिशुंभाख्यौ भ्रातरौ संबभूवतुः

As time passed and the population increased, two demons named Shumbha and Nishumbha, brothers, were born.

ताभ्यां तपो बलाद्दत्तं ब्रह्मणा परमेष्टिना अवध्यत्वं जगत्यस्मिन्पुरुषैरखिलैरपि

By the power of their austerity, Brahma the supreme lord granted them invulnerability against all men in the world.

अयोनिजा तु या कन्या ह्यंबिकांशसमुद्भवा अजातपुंस्पर्शरतिरविलंघ्यपराक्रमा

The maiden who was not born from a womb, arising from a portion of Ambika, untouched by any man, with unconquerable valor—

तया तु नौ वधः संख्ये तस्यां कामाभिभूतयोः इति चाभ्यर्थितो ब्रह्मा ताभ्याम्प्राह तथास्त्विति

By her alone, our death in battle shall occur when we are overcome by desire for her—so they requested Brahma, and he replied, 'So be it.'

ततः प्रभृति शक्रादीन्विजित्य समरे सुरान् निःस्वाध्यायवषट्कारं जगच्चक्रतुरक्रमात्

From then on, conquering Indra and the other gods in battle, they seized the world, suppressing recitation and sacrificial offerings by force.

तयोर्वधाय देवेशं ब्रह्माभ्यर्थितवान्पुनः विनिंद्यापि रहस्यं वां क्रोधयित्वा यथा तथा

For their destruction, Brahma again petitioned the lord of the gods, even censuring and provoking you in secret, as needed.

तद्वर्णकोशजां शक्तिमकामां कन्यकात्मिकाम् निशुम्भशुंभयोर्हंत्रीं सुरेभ्यो दातुमर्हसि

You should give to the gods the power born from the treasury of colors, the desireless maiden, who will slay Shumbha and Nishumbha.

एवमभ्यर्थितो धात्रा भगवान्नीललोहितः कालीत्याह रहस्यं वां निन्दयन्निव सस्मितः

Thus petitioned by the creator, the blessed blue-red one, smiling, spoke as Kali, as if reproaching you in secret.

ततः क्रुद्धा तदा देवी सुवर्णा वर्णकारणात् स्मयन्ती चाह भर्तारमसमाधेयया गिरा

Then, angered, the goddess, golden in color because of her origin, smiling, addressed her husband with words not easily appeased.

ईदृशो मम वर्णेस्मिन्न रतिर्भवतो ऽस्ति चेत् एवावन्तं चिरं कालं कथमेषा नियम्यते

If you have such fondness for my color, how can it be restrained for so long a time?

अरत्या वर्तमानो ऽपि कथं च रमसे मया न ह्यशक्यं जगत्यस्मिन्नीश्वरस्य जगत्प्रभोः

Even if you are indifferent, how do you enjoy with me? For nothing is impossible in this world for the lord, master of the universe.

स्वात्मारामस्य भवतो रतिर्न सुखसाधनम् इति हेतोः स्मरो यस्मात्प्रसभं भस्मसात्कृतः

For one who delights in his own self, pleasure is not the means to happiness; for this reason, Kama was forcibly reduced to ashes.

या च नाभिमता भर्तुरपि सर्वांगसुन्दरी सा वृथैव हि जायेत सर्वैरपि गुणान्तरैः

Even a woman, beautiful in every limb, who is not desired by her husband, is born in vain, despite all her other qualities.

भर्तुर्भोगैकशेषो हि सर्ग एवैष योषिताम् तथासत्यन्यथाभूता नारी कुत्रोपयुज्यते

For the enjoyment of the husband alone is the purpose of women’s creation; if this is not so, what use is a woman who is otherwise?

तस्माद्वर्णमिमं त्यक्त्वा त्वया रहसि निन्दितम् वर्णान्तरं भजिष्ये वा न भजिष्यामि वा स्वयम्

Therefore, abandoning this color which you have reproached in secret, I will choose another color—or I may not choose any at all, as I wish.

इत्युक्त्वोत्थाय शयनाद्देवी साचष्ट गद्गदम् ययाचे ऽनुमतिं भर्तुस्तपसे कृतनिश्चया

Having said this, rising from her couch, the goddess spoke falteringly, and requested her husband’s permission, resolved on austerity.

तथा प्रणयभंगेन भीतो भूतपतिः स्वयम् पादयोः प्रणमन्नेव भवानीं प्रत्यभाषत

Then, frightened by the breaking of affection, the Lord of beings himself bowed at Bhavānī’s feet and spoke to her.

अजानती च क्रीडोक्तिं प्रिये किं कुपितासि मे रतिः कुतो वा जायेत त्वत्तश्चेदरतिर्मम

Unaware that it was playful speech, he said, 'Dear one, why are you angry? How could I lose delight in you, or how could my pleasure arise from anyone else?'

माता त्वमस्य जगतः पिताहमधिपस्तथा कथं तदुत्पपद्येत त्वत्तो नाभिरतिर्मम

You are the mother of this world, and I am its father and lord; so how could it be that I would not find joy in you?

आवयोरभिकामो ऽपि किमसौ कामकारितः यतः कामसमुत्पत्तिः प्रागेव जगदुद्भवः

Even if there is desire between us, is it caused by Kāma? The origin of Kāma was before the creation of the world.

पृथग्जनानां रतये कामात्मा कल्पितो मया ततः कथमुपालब्धः कामदाहादहं त्वया

For the pleasure of ordinary people, I created Kāma as the embodiment of desire; so why do you reproach me for burning Kāma?

मां वै त्रिदशसामान्यं मन्यमानो मनोभवः मनाक्परिभवं कुर्वन्मया वै भस्मसात्कृतः

Thinking me to be like any other god, Manobhava showed me some slight disrespect, and so I reduced him to ashes.

विहारोप्यावयोरस्य जगतस्त्राणकारणात् ततस्तदर्थं त्वय्यद्य क्रीडोक्तिं कृतवाहनम्

For the protection of the world, I set aside desire between us; therefore, for that reason, you made a playful remark to me today.

स चायमचिरादर्थस्तवैवाविष्करिष्यते क्रोधस्य जनकं वाक्यं हृदि कृत्वेदमब्रवीत्

And soon this purpose of yours will be revealed; having taken these words, which gave rise to anger, to heart, he spoke.