एतस्मिन्नन्तरे प्रायाद्भगवांस्तत्र नारदः
Meanwhile, the venerable Narada arrived there.
संप्रेक्ष्य च ततः प्राह कि यूयमिह निस्वनाः
Observing them, he then spoke: 'Why are you all making such noise here?'
वरं च व्रियतां शीघ्रं वियोगो न भवि ष्यति
Choose your boon quickly; separation will not occur.
अस्मिन्हि दुर्भगा तीर्थे स्नात्वा स्त्री पुरुषोऽपि वा
For, by bathing at this unfortunate sacred place, whether woman or man,
आत्मानं तोलयेद्यस्तु तिलैर्वा लवणेन वा
Whoever weighs themselves with sesame seeds or with salt,
गुडेन मधुना वापि देवीमुद्दिस्य पार्वतीम्
Or with jaggery or honey, offering it to the goddess Pārvatī,
द्रव्यवृद्धिः शर्करया गुडेनांगेषु पूर्णता
The increase of offerings is with sugar, and fullness with jaggery upon the limbs.
द्वादशैव तु युग्मानि देव्या देवस्य भोजयेत् 5.1.8.
Twelve pairs must be offered to the goddess and the god as food.
वेत्रजां कंचुकीं चैव वस्त्रे कौसुंभके तथा
A belt made of vetra grass and a bodice, as well as garments of silk,
आषाढे श्रावणे वापि मासि भाद्रपदे तथा
In the month of Āṣāḍha, or Śrāvaṇa, or also in Bhādrapada,
उत्तमा जायते नारी यथा देवी उमा तथा
A woman of highest quality is born, just as the goddess Umā.
धार्यौ नार्या हि तौ देवौ स्वयं तुलावरोहणे
Those two deities must be worn by the woman herself during the weighing ceremony.
तत्र दत्तं हुतं जप्तं सर्वं कोटिगुणं भवेत्
Whatever is given, offered, or recited there becomes a millionfold.
गन्धर्वाप्सरसां लोके मृता याति न संशयः
There is no doubt that, after death, she attains the realm of Gandharvas and Apsarases.
दृष्ट्वा ते परमां सिद्धिं प्राप्नुतो दंपती तदा संपूज्य गंधपुष्पैश्च रुद्रलोकमवाप्नुयात्
Having seen the supreme attainment, the couple then, after worshipping with fragrant flowers, may reach the world of Rudra.
यथा देव्याः स्वरूपेण वियोगो नैव दृश्यते
Just as separation is never seen in the true form of the goddess,
एवं कृत्वाथ तां विप्र सर्वाश्च त्रिदिवं गताः
Thus, having done so, O Brahmin, all those women have gone to heaven.
दक्षिणे पृष्ठदेव्या वै माहिषं कुण्डमुच्यते 5.1.8.
To the south, behind the goddess, is called the Maheṣa pond.
तत्र तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा मातॄः संपूज्य यत्नतः
There, at that sacred place, a man, after bathing and carefully worshipping the Mothers,
रुद्रस्यैव कथं क्षेत्रे महिषो दानवो हतः
How was the demon Maheṣa slain in the field of Rudra?
कपालखंडमादायं महादेवोऽप्यतिप्रभम् । ब्रह्मतेजो मयं दिव्यं ज्वलंतमिव चार्चिषा
Taking up the fragment of the skull, radiant and filled with the brilliance of Brahma's energy, the great Lord shone like a blazing flame.
क्रीडमानो जगन्नाथो मोहयामास वै सुरान्
The Lord of the universe, sporting in play, bewildered the gods.
प्राप्य पुण्यतमं क्षेत्रं यत्रातिष्ठन्महाप्रभुः
Having reached the most sacred field, where the great Lord resided,
स्थापयामास दीप्तार्चिर्गणानामग्रतः प्रभुः
The Lord placed the flaming skull before the hosts of his attendants.
विनदत्समहानादं नादयंत दिशो दश
Uttering a mighty roar, they resounded in all ten directions.
तेन शब्देन घोरेण दानवो देवकंटकः
By that terrible sound, the demon—scourge of the gods—
अमृष्यमाणः क्रोधार्तो दुरात्मा दुर्जयः सुरैः
Unable to endure it, seized by wrath, that wicked one, unconquerable by the gods,
दैत्यैः परिवृतो घोरै कोटिभिश्चोद्यतायुधैः
Surrounded by fierce demons, by the tens of millions, all armed for battle,
समावेक्ष्याह वै देवो गणान्सर्वा न्पिनाकधृक् 5.1.9.
Seeing this, the Lord, bearer of the Pinaka bow, addressed all the hosts:
आयाति त्वरितो यूयं तस्मादेनं विनिघ्नथ
He comes swiftly—therefore, you must slay him.