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.
यदा पुनः प्रजावृद्ध्यै ललाटाद्भवतो भवः उत्पन्नो ऽभूत्तदा त्वं मे गुरुः श्वशुरभावतः
Again, when for the increase of beings Bhava was born from your forehead, then you became my teacher, as you became my son-in-law.
यदा भवद्गिरीन्द्रस्ते पुत्रो मम पिता स्वयम् तदा पितामहस्त्वं मे जातो लोकपितामह
When the Lord of Mountains was your father and my own father as well, then you became my grandfather, O ancestor of the worlds.
तदीदृशस्य भवतो लोकयात्राविधायिनः वृत्तवन्तःपुरे भर्ता कथयिष्ये कथं पुनः
Thus, you, who regulate the course of the worlds, have already fulfilled the duties of a husband in the past; how then should I speak again of a husband for you?
किमत्र बहुना देहे यश्चायं मम कालिमा त्यक्त्वा सत्त्वविधानेन गौरी भवितुमुत्सहे
Why say more? If this dark complexion of mine is abandoned, by the arrangement of sattva I am able to become Gaurī.
एतावता किमर्थेन तीव्रं देवि तपः कृतम् स्वेच्छैव किमपर्याप्ता क्रीडेयं हि तवेदृशी
For what purpose, O Goddess, have you performed such severe austerity? Is your own will not sufficient? For such play is indeed yours.
क्रीडा ऽपि च जगन्मातस्तव लोकहिताय वै अतो ममेष्टमनया फलं किमपि साध्यताम्
Even your play, O Mother of the world, is for the welfare of the worlds; therefore, let some desired fruit be accomplished by this of mine.
निशुंभशुंभनामानौ दैत्यौ दत्तवरौ मया दृप्तौ देवान्प्रबाधेते त्वत्तो लब्धस्तयोर्वधः
The two Daityas named Niśumbha and Śumbha, having received boons from me, have become arrogant and oppress the gods; the destruction of both has been ordained through you.
अलं विलंबनेनात्र त्वं क्षणेन स्थिरा भव शक्तिर्विसृज्यमाना ऽद्य तयोर्मृत्युर्भविष्यति
Enough of delay here; become steadfast in a moment, and as your power is released today, death will come to those two.
ब्राह्मणाभ्यर्थिता चैव देवी गिरिवरात्मजा त्वक्कोशं सहसोत्सृज्य गौरी सा समजायत
Requested by the Brāhmaṇas, the goddess, daughter of the mountain, cast off her outer skin with resolve, and thus Gaurī was manifested.
सा त्वक्कोशात्मनोत्सृष्टा कौशिकी नाम नामतः काली कालाम्बुदप्रख्या कन्यका समपद्यत
From that shed skin, Kauśikī by name, also called Kālī, dark as a rain cloud, a maiden, came into being.