Varaha Purana

यावदास्ते स्वयं देव्या क्रीडन् देववरः स्वयम् । तावद् ब्रह्मा स्वयं देवैरुपायात् सह सत्वरः ।। ८९.

While the great god was playing with the goddess, at that very moment, Brahmā himself quickly arrived with the gods.

तमागतमथो दृष्ट्वा पूजयित्वा विधानतः । उवाच परमो देवो रुद्रो ब्रह्माणमव्यम् ।। ८९.

Seeing him arrive, and after worshipping him according to the proper rites, the supreme god Rudra spoke to the imperishable Brahmā.

किमागमनकृत्यं ते ब्रह्मन् ब्रूहि ममाचिरम् । किं च देवास्त्वरायुक्ता आगता मम सन्निधौ ।। ८९.

He said: Brahmā, tell me quickly the reason for your coming. Why have the gods, filled with urgency, come into my presence?

ब्रह्मोवाच । अस्त्यन्धको महादैत्यस्तेन सर्वे दिवौकसः । अर्दिता मत्समीपं तु बुद्ध्वा मां शरणैषिणः ।। ८९.

Brahmā said: There is a great demon named Andhaka, by whom all the gods have been tormented; knowing this, they have come to me for refuge.

ततश्चैते मया सर्वे प्रोक्ता देवा भवं प्रति । गच्छाम इति देवेश ततस्त्वेते समागताः ।। ८९.

Therefore, I told all these gods, 'Let us go to you, O Lord of gods,' and so they have all come here.

एवमुक्त्वा स्वयं ब्रह्मा वीक्षां चक्रे पिनाकिनम् । नारायणं च मनसा सस्मार परमेश्वरम् । ततो नारायणो देवो द्वाभ्यां मध्ये व्यवस्थितः ।। ८९.

Having spoken thus, Brahmā himself gazed at Pinākin, and in his mind remembered Nārāyaṇa, the supreme lord; then the god Nārāyaṇa stood between the two.

ततस्त्वेकीगतास्ते तु ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः । परस्परं सूक्ष्मदृष्ट्या वीक्षां चक्रुर्मुदायुताः ।। ८९.

Then, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara, having come together, gazed at one another with subtle vision, filled with joy.

ततस्तेषां त्रिधा दृष्टिर्भूत्वैका समजायत । तस्यां दृष्ट्यां समुत्पन्ना कुमारी दिव्यरूपिणी ।। ८९.

Then, from their gaze, which became threefold, a single vision arose; from that vision, a maiden of divine form was born.

नीलोत्पलदलश्यामा नीलकुञ्चितमूर्द्धजा । सुनासा सुललाटान्ता सुवक्त्रा सुप्रतिष्ठिता ।। ८९.

She was dark as the petal of a blue lotus, with blue, curly hair; her nose was fine, her forehead beautiful, her face lovely, and her form well proportioned.

त्वष्ट्रा यदग्निजिह्वं तु लक्षणं परिभाषितम् । तत्सर्वमेकतः संस्थं कन्यायां संप्रदृश्यते ।। ८९.

All the auspicious marks described by Tvaṣṭṛ as belonging to the tongue of Agni were seen united in that maiden.

अथ तां दृश्य कन्यां तु ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः । ऊचुः काऽसि शुभे ब्रूहि किं वा कार्यं विपश्चितम् ।। ८९.

Then, seeing that maiden, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara said: 'Who are you, O auspicious one? Tell us, what is your purpose, O wise one?'

त्रिवर्णा च कुमारी सा कृष्णशुक्ला च पीतिका । उवाच भवतां दृष्टेर्योगाज्जाताऽस्मि सत्तमाः । किं मां न वेत्थ सुश्रोणीं स्वशक्तिं परमेश्वरीम् ।। ८९.

That maiden was three-colored—black, white, and yellow. She said, 'O best of beings, I have arisen from your combined gaze. Do you not recognize me, the beautiful-hipped, your own supreme power?'

ततो ब्रह्मादयस्ते च तस्यास्तुष्टा वरं ददुः । नाम्नाऽसि त्रिकला देवी पाहि विश्वं च सर्वदा ।। ८९.

Then Brahmā and the others, pleased with her, granted her a boon: 'By name, you shall be the Goddess of the Three Times; always protect the universe.'

अपराण्यपि नामानि भविष्यन्ति तवानघे । गुणोत्थानि महाभागे सर्वसिद्धिकराणि च ।। ८९.

O sinless one, you will also have other names, arising from your qualities, O highly fortunate one, and all will grant success.

अन्यच्च कारणं देवि त्रिवर्णाऽसि वरानने । मूर्तित्रयं त्रिभिर्वर्णैः कुरु देवि स्वकं द्रुतम् ।। ८९.

And, O goddess with a beautiful face, another reason you are three-colored: with your three forms and three colors, quickly manifest your own triple form.

एवमुक्ता तदा देवैरकरोत् त्रिविधां तनुम् । सितां रक्तां तथा कृष्णां त्रिमूर्तित्वं जगाम ह ।। ८९.

Thus addressed by the gods, she then assumed a threefold body—white, red, and black—and became the triple-formed.

या सा ब्राह्मी शुभा मूर्त्तिस्तया सृजति वै प्रजाः । सौम्यरूपेण सुश्रोणी ब्रह्मसृष्ट्या विधानतः ।। ८९.

That auspicious form which is Brāhmī creates beings; gentle in appearance, beautiful-hipped, she brings forth creation according to Brahmā’s ordinance.

या सा रक्तेन वर्णेन सुरूपा तनुमध्यमा । शङ्खचक्रधरा देवी वैष्णवी सा कला स्मृता । सा पाति सकलं विश्वं विष्णुमायेति कीर्त्त्यते ।। ८९.

That form of red color, beautiful and slender-waisted, holding conch and discus, is known as the Vaiṣṇavī aspect of the goddess; she protects the entire universe and is called Viṣṇumāyā.

या सा कृष्णेन वर्णेन रौद्री मूर्त्तिस्त्रिशूलिनी । दंष्ट्राकरालिनी देवी सा संहरति वै जगत् ।। ८९.

That form, black in color, fierce, bearing a trident, with protruding fangs, is the goddess Raudrī; she destroys the world.

या सृष्टिर्ब्रह्मणो देवी श्वेतवर्णा विभावरी । सा कुमारी महाभागा विपुलाब्जदलेक्षणा । सद्यो ब्रह्माणमामन्त्र्य तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ।। ८९.

The white-colored, radiant goddess who is the creation of Brahmā, that blessed maiden with large lotus-like eyes, immediately addressed Brahmā and then vanished there.

साऽन्तर्हिता ययौ देवी वरदा श्वेतपर्वतम् । तपस्तप्तुं महत् तीव्रं सर्वगत्वमभीप्सती ।। ८९.

That goddess, the granter of boons, disappeared and went to the White Mountain to perform intense and great austerity, desiring to become all-pervading.

या वैष्णवी कुमारी तु साप्यनुज्ञाय केशवम् । मन्दराद्रिं ययौ तप्तुं तपः परमदुश्चरम् ।। ८९.

The Vaiṣṇavī maiden, having received Keśava’s permission, went to Mandara Mountain to undertake severe and difficult austerity.

या सा कृष्णा विशालाक्षी रौद्री दंष्ट्राकरालिनी । सा नीलपर्वतवरं तपश्चर्तुं ययौ शुभा ।। ८९.

That black, wide-eyed, fierce goddess with protruding fangs went to the excellent Blue Mountain to perform auspicious austerity.

अथ कालेन महता प्रजाः स्त्रष्टुं प्रजापतिः । आरब्धवान् तदा तस्य ववृधे सृजतो बलम् ।। ८९.

Then, after a long time, the Lord of Creatures began to create beings; as he created, his power increased.

यदा न ववृधे तस्य ब्रह्मणो मानसी प्रजा । तदा दध्यौ किमेतन्मे न तथा वर्द्धते प्रजा ।। ८९.

When Brahmā’s mind-born creation did not increase, he wondered, 'Why is it that my creation does not grow as it should?'

ततो ब्रह्मा हृदा दध्यौ योगाभ्यासेन सुव्रते । चिन्तयन् बुबुधे देवस्तां कन्यां श्वेतपर्वते । तपश्चरन्तीं सुमहत् तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषाम् ।। ८९.

Then, O virtuous one, Brahma contemplated in his heart through yogic practice; thinking, the god discerned that maiden on the White Mountain, performing austerities, her sins burned away by her great penance.

ततो ब्रह्मा ययौ तत्र यत्र सा कमलेक्षणा । तपश्चरति तां दृष्ट्वा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ८९.

Then Brahma went to the place where that lotus-eyed maiden was practicing austerity; seeing her, he spoke these words.

ब्रह्मोवाच । किं तपः क्रियते भद्रे कार्यमावेक्ष्य शोभते । तुष्टोऽस्मि ते विशालाक्षि वरं किं ते ददाम्यहम् ।। ८९.

Brahma said: 'What is this austerity you perform, O gentle one? It is fitting to act with purpose. I am pleased with you, O wide-eyed maiden; what boon shall I grant you?'

सृष्टिरुवाच । भगवन्नेकदेशस्था नोत्सहे स्थातुमञ्जसा । अतोऽर्थं त्वां वरं याचे सर्वगत्वमभीप्सती ।। ८९.

Srishti said: 'O Lord, remaining in one place, I am unable to stay easily; therefore, I ask you for the boon of omnipresence, desiring to be everywhere.'