Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

श्रुतपूर्वं हि भगवंस्तव चाटु वचो मया येनैवमतिधीराहमपि प्रागभिवंचिता

O blessed one, I have heard your flattering words before; by them, even I, though very steadfast, was once deceived.

प्राणानप्यप्रिया भर्तुर्नारी या न परित्यजेत् कुलांगना शुभा सद्भिः कुत्सितैव हि गम्यते

A virtuous woman who does not abandon even her life for her husband, though she is noble and good, is regarded with contempt by the wise.

भूयसी च तवाप्रीतिरगौरमिति मे वपुः क्रीडोक्तिरपि कालीति घटते कथमन्यथा

Your displeasure with me is great, and my dark form is the reason; even your playful speech is timely—how could it be otherwise?

सद्भिर्विगर्हितं तस्मात्तव कार्ष्ण्यमसंमतम् अनुत्सृज्य तपोयोगात्स्थातुमेवेह नोत्सहे

Therefore, your dark complexion is not approved by the virtuous and is not accepted; I am unable to remain here, abandoning my ascetic practice.

स यद्येवंविधतापस्ते तपसा किं प्रयोजनम् ममेच्छया स्वेच्छया वा वर्णान्तरवती भव

If your austerity is of this kind, what is the use of such penance? By my wish or your own, take on another color.

नेच्छामि भवतो वर्णं स्वयं वा कर्तुमन्यथा ब्रह्माणं तपसाराध्य क्षिप्रं गौरी भवाम्यहम्

I do not wish to change your color myself or by any other means; by worshipping Brahmā with austerity, I will quickly become Gaurī.

मत्प्रसादात्पुरा ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मत्वं प्राप्तवान्पुरा तमाहूय महादेवि तपसा किं करिष्यसि

By my grace, Brahmā formerly attained the state of Brahmā; so, O great goddess, what will you accomplish by austerity?

त्वत्तो लब्धपदा एव सर्वे ब्रह्मादयः सुराः तथाप्याराध्य तपसा ब्रह्माणं त्वन्नियोगतः

All the gods, beginning with Brahmā, have attained their positions from you; yet, by your command, Brahmā worshipped you with austerity.

पुरा किल सती नाम्ना दक्षस्य दुहिता ऽभवम् जगतां पतिमेवं त्वां पतिं प्राप्तवती तथा

Long ago, I was born as Satī, the daughter of Dakṣa, and in this way I obtained you, the Lord of the world, as my husband.

एवमद्यापि तपसा तोषयित्वा द्विजं विधिम् गौरी भवितुमिच्छामि को दोषः कथ्यतामिह

In the same way, even now, I wish to please the twice-born Brahmā with austerity to become Gaurī; what fault is there in this? Let it be told here.

एवमुक्तो महादेव्या वामदेवः स्मयन्निव न तां निर्बंधयामास देवकार्यचिकीर्षया

Thus addressed by the great goddess, Vamadeva, as if smiling, did not restrain her, desiring to fulfill the purpose of the gods.

ततः प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य पतिमम्बा पतिव्रता नियम्य च वियोगार्तिं जगाम हिमवद्गिरिम्

Then, after circumambulating her husband, the devoted wife, controlling her sorrow at separation, went to Mount Himavat.

तपःकृतवती पूर्वं देशे यस्मिन्सखीजनैः तमेव देशमवृनोत्तपसे प्रणयात्पुनः

She chose again, out of affection, that very place where she had previously performed austerities with her companions, to undertake penance.

ततः स्वपितरं दृष्ट्वा मातरं च तयोर्गृहे प्रणम्य वृत्तं विज्ञाप्य ताभ्यां चानुमता सती

There, seeing her father and mother at their house, she bowed, informed them of what had happened, and, with their consent, Sati—

पुनस्तपोवनं गत्वा भूषणानि विसृज्य च स्नात्वा तपस्विनो वेषं कृत्वा परमपावनम्

—again went to the forest of penance, set aside her ornaments, bathed, and adopted the pure attire of an ascetic.

संकल्प्य च महातीव्रं तपः परमदुश्चरम् सदा मनसि सन्धाय भर्तुश्चरणपंकजम्

Resolving to perform a most severe and extremely difficult penance, she constantly fixed in her mind the lotus feet of her husband.

तमेव क्षणिके लिंगे ध्यात्वा बाह्यविधानतः त्रिसन्ध्यमभ्यर्चयन्ती वन्यैः पुष्पैः फलादिभिः

Meditating on that very transient liṅga according to the external rites, she worshipped it at the three junctions of the day with forest flowers, fruits, and the like.

स एव ब्रह्मणो मूर्तिमास्थाय तपसः फलम् प्रदास्यति ममेत्येवं नित्यं कृत्वा ऽकरोत्तपः

He alone, assuming the form of Brahma, will grant me the fruit of this penance—thus, always holding this thought, she performed her austerity.

तथा तपश्चरन्तीं तां काले बहुतिथे गते दृष्टः कश्चिन्महाव्याघ्रो दुष्टभावादुपागमत्

As she was thus practicing penance, after much time had passed, a certain great tiger, with evil intent, appeared before her.

तथैवोपगतस्यापि तस्यातीवदुरात्मनः गात्रं चित्रार्पितमिव स्तब्धं तस्यास्सकाशतः

Even as that exceedingly wicked one approached, his body became stiff, as if painted with patterns, near her.