Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

तं दृष्ट्वापि तथा व्याघ्रं दुष्टभावादुपागतम् न पृथग्जनवद्देवी स्वभावेन विविच्यते

Even seeing that tiger, who had come with evil intent, the goddess, by her nature, did not distinguish him as she would an ordinary being.

स तु विष्टब्धसर्वांगो बुभुक्षापरिपीडितः ममामिषं ततो नान्यदिति मत्वा निरन्तरम्

But he, his whole body paralyzed and tormented by hunger, thought, 'For me, there is no other meat but hers,' and remained there constantly.

निरीक्ष्यमाणः सततं देवीमेव तदा ऽनिशम् अतिष्ठदग्रतस्तस्या उपासनमिवाचरत्

Constantly watching the goddess, he stood before her day and night, as if engaged in her worship.

देव्याश्च हृदये नित्यं ममैवायमुपासकः त्राता च दुष्टसत्त्वेभ्य इति प्रववृते कृपा

In the goddess’s heart, compassion arose: 'He is ever my devotee, and I am his protector from evil beings.'

तस्या एव कृपा योगात्सद्योनष्टमलत्रयः बभूव सहसा व्याघ्रो देवीं च बुबुधे तदा

By the power of her compassion, all three impurities were instantly destroyed in him, and the tiger then recognized the goddess.

न्यवर्तत बुभुक्षा च तस्यांगस्तम्भनं तथा दौरात्म्यं जन्मसिद्धं च तृप्तिश्च समजायत

His hunger ceased, his bodily stiffness vanished, his innate wickedness was gone, and satisfaction arose within him.

तदा परमभावेन ज्ञात्वा कार्तार्थ्यमात्मनः सद्योपासक एवैष सिषेवे परमेश्वरीम्

Then, realizing his own fulfillment with supreme feeling, he immediately became a true devotee and served the supreme goddess.

दुष्टानामपि सत्त्वानां तथान्येषान्दुरात्मनाम् स एव द्रावको भूत्वा विचचार तपोवने

He, having become the remover of evil even among other wicked beings, wandered in the forest of penance.

तपश्च ववृधे देव्यास्तीव्रं तीव्रतरात्मकम् देवाश्च दैत्यनिर्बन्धाद्ब्रह्माणं शरणं गताः

The austerity of the Goddess grew intense, even more severe in nature; and because of the Daityas' persistence, the gods sought refuge with Brahmā.

चक्रुर्निवेदनं देवाः स्वदुःखस्यारिपीडनात् यथा च ददतुः शुम्भनिशुम्भौ वरसम्मदात्

Afflicted by their enemies, the gods made known their suffering, and recounted how Śumbha and Niśumbha had received their boons through satisfaction.

सो ऽपि श्रुत्वा विधिर्दुःखं सुराणां कृपयान्वितः आसीद्दैत्यवधायैव स्मृत्वा हेत्वाश्रयां कथाम्

Hearing of the gods' distress, the Creator, filled with compassion, remembered the story whose cause and foundation was the destruction of the Daityas.

सामरः प्रार्थितो ब्रह्मा ययौ देव्यास्तपोवनम् संस्मरन्मनसा देवदुःखमोक्षं स्वयत्नतः

Thus entreated, Brahmā, accompanied by the gods, went to the Goddess's hermitage, recalling in his mind the deliverance of the gods from suffering, to be accomplished by his own effort.

ददर्श च सुरश्रेष्ठः श्रेष्ठे तपसि निष्ठिताम् प्रतिष्ठामिव विश्वस्य भवानीं परमेश्वरीम्

There, the foremost of the gods beheld the supreme Lady Bhavānī, established in the highest austerity, as if she were the very foundation of the universe.

ननाम चास्य जगतो मातरं स्वस्य वै हरेः रुद्रस्य च पितुर्भार्यामार्यामद्रीश्वरात्मजाम्

He bowed to her, the Mother of the world, wife of his own brother Hari and of Rudra, the noble daughter of the Lord of Mountains.

ब्रह्माणमागतं दृष्ट्वा देवी देवगणैः सह अर्घ्यं तदर्हं दत्त्वा ऽस्मै स्वागताद्यैरुपाचरत्

Seeing Brahmā arrive, the Goddess, together with the hosts of gods, offered him the proper arghya and welcomed him with due rites.

तां च प्रत्युपचारोक्तिं पुरस्कृत्याभिनंद्य च पप्रच्छ तपसो हेतुमजानन्निव पद्मजः

Having first responded to her words of hospitality and praised her, the lotus-born one then inquired, as if unaware, about the purpose of her austerity.

तीव्रेण तपसानेन देव्या किमिह साध्यते तपःफलानां सर्वेषां त्वदधीना हि सिद्धयः

With such severe austerity, O Goddess, what is to be accomplished here? For all the fruits of austerity are subject to your will alone.

यश्चैव जगतां भर्ता तमेव परमेश्वरम् भर्तारमात्मना प्राप्य प्राप्तञ्च तपसः फलम्

He who is the Lord of all worlds, that Supreme Lord, having attained him as your husband, you have already obtained the fruit of austerity.

अथवा सर्वमेवैतत्क्रीडाविलसितं तव इदन्तु चित्रं देवस्य विरहं सहसे कथम्

Or perhaps all this is but your sport and play; yet, it is remarkable, O Goddess, how you endure separation from the Lord.

सर्गादौ भवतो देवादुत्पत्तिः श्रूयते यदा तदा प्रजानां प्रथमस्त्वं मे प्रथमजः सुतः

At the beginning of creation, it is said you were born from the Lord; then, among beings, you were my first-born son.