यस्याः प्राप्तं त्वयैश्वर्यं परा तां तोषयाम्यहम्
She by whom you have attained supreme sovereignty—I will strive to please her.
तथापि वधयोग्यां मां मन्यसे विक्षिपायुधम्
Yet you consider me, who wields weapons, fit for death.
तच्छुत्वा कुरु यच्छ्रेयो विचिन्त्य मनसा ततः मां निषूदयितुं शक्ताः पार्वत्यां शरणं गताम्
Hearing this, reflect in your mind on what is best, and do what you must; you are not able to destroy me, who has taken refuge in Parvati.
तस्माद्द्रुतं दिवं गच्छ मा त्वं कोपं वृथा कुरु
Therefore, quickly return to heaven; do not let your anger be wasted in vain.
चिन्तयामास तदिदं मरणे कृतनिश्चया
Resolving upon death, she pondered this matter.
न प्रसीदति मे देवी यस्मात्पर्वतनंदिनी
Since the goddess, daughter of the mountain, does not show me favor—
तन्नूनं ज्वलनं दीप्तं सेवयिष्यामि सत्वरम्
I will surely approach the blazing fire at once.
दुग्धकुंदेन्दुसंकाशं संजातं सहसा वृषम्
Suddenly, a bull appeared, shining like milk, jasmine, and the moon.
चतुर्भुजां प्रसन्नास्यां दिव्यरूपसमन्विताम्
She beheld a four-armed figure, with a serene face and adorned with a divine form.
ततः सम्यक्समालोक्य ज्ञात्वा तां पर्वतात्मजाम् ६.६२.
Then, observing her well, he recognized her as the daughter of the mountain.
नमस्ते देवदेवेशि नमस्ते सर्ववासिनि
Salutations to you, O goddess of gods, salutations to you who dwell in all things.
शक्रादयोऽपि देवास्ते परमार्थेन नो विदुः
Even the gods, beginning with Indra, do not truly know you.
यस्याः सर्वं महीव्योमजलाग्निपवनात्मकम्
She whose essence is all—earth, sky, water, fire, and wind.
न तस्या जन्मनि ब्रह्मा न नाशाय महेश्वरः
Neither Brahma at her birth, nor Shiva at her dissolution, can comprehend her.
तथाष्टगुणमैश्वर्यं यस्याः स्वाभाविकं परम्
She whose supreme and natural sovereignty possesses eightfold powers—
यस्या रूपाण्यनेकानि सम्यग्ध्यानपरायणाः
She whose forms are many, to whom those devoted to true meditation turn—
हृदि संकल्प्य यद्रूपं ध्यानेनार्चंति योगिनः
The form which, conceived in the heart, yogis worship through meditation—
तां देवीं मानुषी भूत्वा कथं स्तौमि महेश्वरीम्
How can I, being human, praise that great goddess, the supreme Lady?
असंदिग्धं प्रदास्यामि यत्ते हृदि सदा स्थितम्
I will give you, without any doubt, that which always abides in your heart.
तत्किं तेन करिष्यामि सांप्रतं जरयावृता ॥ ६.६२.
But what shall I do with it now, as I am covered by old age?
तस्मादत्राऽऽश्रमे साकं त्वया स्थेयं सदैव तु
Therefore, you must always remain here in this hermitage together with me.
श्रीदेव्युवाच अद्यप्रभृत्यहं भद्रे श्रेष्ठेऽस्मिन्नाश्रमे शुभे
Śrī Devī said: From today onward, O blessed one, I shall remain in this most excellent and auspicious hermitage.
माघशुक्लतृतीयायां या ऽत्र स्नानं करिष्यति
Whoever bathes here on the third day of the bright half of Māgha—
अपि कृत्वा महापापं नारी वा पुरुषोऽथवा
Even if a woman or a man has committed a great sin—
अत्र ये फलदानं च प्रकरिष्यंति मानवाः
And those people who offer the gift of fruit here—
अपि हत्वा स्त्रियं मर्त्यो योऽत्र स्नानं करिष्यति
Even a mortal who has killed a woman, if he bathes here—
या तत्र कन्यका भद्रे स्नानं भक्त्या करि ष्यति
And any maiden, O blessed one, who bathes here with devotion—
ततश्च तत्क्षणाज्जाता दिव्यरूपवपुर्द्धरा
Then, at that very moment, she is born with a divine and beautiful form.
वृद्धत्वेन परित्यक्ता दिव्यमाल्यानुलेपना
Her old age cast aside, adorned with divine garlands and ointments—
ततस्तां सा समादाय विधाय निजकिंकरीम् ६.६२.
Then, taking her, she makes her her own attendant.