ह्रियंते बालका रात्रौ छिद्रं प्राप्य सहस्रशः
Children are taken away at night, finding an opening, by the thousands.
प्रसादः क्रियतां तस्माद्ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम्
Therefore, let favor be shown to those great-souled brāhmaṇas.
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ततोंऽबा कृपयान्विता
Hearing their words, then Ambā, filled with compassion—
इमे मत्पादुके दिव्ये गुहामध्यगते सदा ६.८९.
These, my divine sandals, always remain within the cave.
या काचिल्लौल्यमास्थाय निष्क्रमिष्यति मोहतः
Whoever, out of any greed, seeks to go out in delusion—
पूजां को वात्र चाहारस्तस्माद्ब्रूहि सुरेश्वरि
What worship or offering should be made here, O Queen of the gods? Tell us.
पूजां सम्यक्करिष्यंति सर्वासां भक्तिसंयुताः
All of them, endowed with devotion, will perform the worship properly.
पादुके मे प्रपूज्यादौ मांस मद्यादिभिः क्रमात्
First worship my sandals, then offer meat, liquor, and so on, in order.
ततस्तथेति ताः प्रोच्य गुहामध्ये व्यवस्थिताः
Then, having said 'So be it,' they remained within the cave.
ततस्तत्र समागत्य पुरुषा अपि दूरतः प्रयांति च परां सिद्धिं जन्म मृत्युविवर्जिताम्
Afterwards, men also gathered there from afar and attained the supreme accomplishment, free from birth and death.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे नष्टा अग्निष्टोमादिकाः क्रियाः ॥ तीर्थयात्राव्रतान्येव संयमा नियमाश्च ये
Meanwhile, the rites such as Agniṣṭoma were lost; only pilgrimages, vows, restraints, and disciplines remained.
ये चापि ब्राह्मणाः शांताः सदा मद्यस्य दूषणम्
And those peaceful Brāhmaṇas always shunned the corruption of wine.
तर्पयंति तथा मांसैस्त्यक्ताशेषमखक्रियाः
They offered libations with meat, having abandoned all sacrificial rites.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे भीताः सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः ६.८९.
Meanwhile, all the gods, along with Indra, became fearful.
प्रोचुर्महेश्वरं गत्वा विनयावनताः स्थिताः
They went to Maheśvara, stood humbly, and spoke.
देवा ऊचुः हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे पादुके तत्र संस्थिते
The gods said: In the field of Haṭakeśvara, where the sandals are established,
ब्राह्मणा अपिदेवेश मद्यमांसेन भक्तितः
Even the Brāhmaṇas, O Lord of gods, worship with wine and meat.
नष्टा धर्मक्रिया सर्वा मर्त्यलोकेत्र सांप्रतम्
All righteous rites are now lost in the world of mortals.
तस्मात्त्वं कुरु देवेश यथा स्यात्पादुकाक्षयः
Therefore, O Lord of gods, do as is necessary so that the sandals may not perish.
जगन्माताऽक्षया साक्षान्ममा पि जननी च सा
The Mother of the world is eternal, and she is also truly my mother.
तत्कथं संक्षयस्तस्याः कर्तुं केनापि शक्यते
How can anyone bring about her destruction?
परं तत्र करिष्यामि सुखोपायं सुरेश्वराः
O Lords of gods, I will provide a means that brings happiness there.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो ध्यानं चक्रे देवो महेश्वरः
Having spoken thus, the god Maheśvara entered into meditation.
तस्यांतर्गतमासीनमंगुष्ठाग्रमितं शुभम् ६.८९.
Within her, the tip of the thumb, auspicious, was present.
तस्यैवं ध्यायमानस्य तृतीयनयनात्ततः
As he meditated thus, from his third eye,
अथ सा प्राह तं देवं प्रणिपत्य महेश्वरम्
Then she approached the god, Maheśvara, and bowed before him.
श्रीमातुर्जगतां मुख्ये ताभ्यां पूजां त्वमाचर
You should perform worship of those two, the foremost Mother of the world.
कन्यकां संपरित्यज्य तवान्वयविवर्द्धिताम्
Having completely abandoned the maiden, who was increased by your lineage,
कौमारब्रह्मचर्य्येण त्वयापि च सुभक्तितः
With youthful celibacy and with your own deep devotion,
तव पूजा करिष्यन्ति ये नरा भक्तितत्पराः
Those men who are intent on devotion will also worship you.