तद् उत्तिष्ठाशु गच्छामस् सर्व एव पितामहम् । तद्वरार्थम् अनर्थाय विद्धि तद्दुस्सहं तपः
So, let us all quickly go to the grandsire; know that her severe austerity is for the sake of a boon, which may bring misfortune.
इति वातेरितश् शक्रस् सह देवगणेन सः । जगाम ब्रह्मणो लोकं प्रार्थयाम् आस तं प्रभुम्
Thus urged by the wind, Indra, along with the assembly of gods, went to the world of Brahmā and sought out that lord.
सूच्या अहं वरं दातुं गच्छामि हिमवच्छिरः । ब्रह्मणेति प्रतिज्ञाते शक्रस् स्वर्गम् उपाययौ
Sūcī said, 'I am going to the summit of Himavat to receive a boon from Brahmā.' When Brahmā agreed, Indra returned to heaven.
एतावताथ कालेन सा बभूव च पावनी । सूची निजतपस्तापतापितामरमन्दिरा
In due course, she became purified, the needle, scorched by her own ascetic heat, dwelling in the abode of immortals.
मुखरन्ध्रस्थितार्कांशुदृशा स्वच्छाययैव सा । विस्मयिन्या विवर्तिन्या आदिनान्तम् उपेक्षिता
With eyes like sunbeams shining from the eye of the needle, she, with her own clear shadow, observed with wonder the ever-changing, from beginning to end.
कौशेयसूच्या तृणवन् मेरुस् स्थैर्येण निर्जितः । मज्जनित्र्येति वृद्ध्येव युक्तयाद्यन्तयोर् दिने
With a silken needle, she surpassed Mount Meru in steadiness, and, like an old woman, she was skilled in immersing herself at the beginning and end of the day.
मध्याह्ने तापभीत्येव विशन्त्या मातुर् अन्तरम् । अन्यदा गौरवाद् दृष्ट्या दूरतः प्रेक्ष्यमाणया
At midday, out of fear of the heat, she would enter her mother's interior; at other times, out of respect, she would watch from a distance with a reverent gaze.
सा ताम् अवेक्षिते ऽक्ष्णारात् तापाद् अङ्गे निमज्जति । सङ्कटे विस्मरत्य् एव जनो गौरवसत्क्रियाम्
When watched by that eye, she would plunge her body into the heat; in distress, people forget the proper respect due to dignity.
छायासूचिस् तापसूचिस् तयेत्य् आत्मतृतीयया । त्रिकोणं तपसा पूतं वाराणस्यास् समं कृतम्
With the shadow-needle, the ascetic-needle, and herself as the third, the triangle was sanctified by asceticism, made equal to Varanasi.
गतास् तेन त्रिकोणेन त्रिवर्णपरिखावता । वायवः पांसवो ये ऽपि ते परां मुक्तिम् आगताः
By that triangle, bordered by three-colored moats, even the winds and dust attained supreme liberation.
विदितपरमकारणाथ जाता स्वयम् अनु चेतनसंविदं विचार्य । स्वमननकलनानुसार एकस् त्व् इह हि गुरुः परमो न राघवान्यः
Having realized the ultimate cause, one is born through self-awareness and reflection; according to one's own contemplation and reasoning, here truly the supreme teacher is the Self—there is no other, O Raghava.
अथ वर्षसहस्रेण तां पितामह आययौ । वरं पुत्रि गृहाणेति व्याजहार नभस्तलात्
Then, after a thousand years, her grandfather arrived and spoke from the sky: 'Take a boon, daughter.'
सूची कर्मेन्द्रियाभावाज् जीवमात्रकलावती । न किञ्चिद् व्याजहारास्मै चिन्तयाम् आस केवलम्
Sūcī, possessing only the subtle faculty of life and lacking the organs of action, said nothing to him, but simply reflected inwardly.
पूर्णास्मि गतसन्देहा किं वरेण करोम्य् अहम् । शाम्यामि परिनिर्वामि सुखम् आसे च केवलम्
I am fulfilled and free from doubt; what would I do with a boon? I will rest, I will attain final peace, and simply sit in happiness.
ज्ञातं ज्ञातव्यम् अखिलं शान्तास् सन्देहजालिकाः । स्वविवेको विकसितः किम् अन्येन प्रयोजनम्
All that is to be known has been known; the net of doubts is quieted; my own discernment has blossomed—what need is there for anything else?
यथा स्थितेयम् अस्मीह सन्तिष्ठेयं तथैव हि । सत्यासत्यकलाम् एव त्यक्त्वा किम् इतरेण मे
Just as I am established here, so I shall remain; having abandoned the subtlety of truth and untruth, what use have I for anything else?
एतावन्तम् अहं कालम् अविवेकेन बाधिता । स्वसङ्कल्पसमुत्थेन वेतालेनेव बालिका
For all this time, I was troubled by lack of discernment, like a young girl bound by her own imagination.
इदानीम् उपशान्तो ऽसौ स्वविचारणया स्वयम् । ईप्सितानीप्सितैर् अर्थः को भवेत् कल्पितैर् मम
Now, I am at peace through my own contemplation; what purpose would imagined desirable or undesirable things serve for me?
इति निश्चययुक्तां तां सूचीं कर्मेन्द्रियोज्झिताम् । तूष्णीं स्थितां स नियतेस् सम्पश्यन् भगवान् स्थितिम्
Thus, seeing Sūcī, endowed with resolve and devoid of the organs of action, standing silent, the blessed one observed her state.
ब्रह्मा पुनर् उवाचेमां वीतरागां प्रसन्नधीः । वरं पुत्रि गृहाण त्वं कञ्चित् कालं च भूतले
Brahmā, with a mind free from passion and clear, spoke again: 'Daughter, choose a boon for yourself and remain on earth for some time.'
भोगान् भुक्त्वा ततः पश्चाद् गमिष्यसि परं पदम् । अव्यावृत्तिस्वरूपाया नियतेर् एष निश्चयः
After enjoying pleasures, you will then attain the supreme state; this is the firm decree of destiny, whose nature is unbroken continuity.
तपसानेन सङ्कल्पस् सफलो ऽस्तु तवोत्तमे । पीना भव पुनस् सैव हिमकाननराक्षसी
By this austerity, may your noble resolve bear fruit; become again that same strong demoness of the snowy forest.
यया पूर्वं वियुक्तासि तन्वा जलदरूपया । बीजान्तर्वृक्षता पुत्रि बृहद्वृक्षतया यथा
From whom you were previously separated, in the form of a watery body—just as a seed becomes a great tree, O daughter.
योगम् एष्यसि भूयस् त्वं तन्वा तद्बीजरूपिणी । तयैव रमसे पुत्रि लतयेवाङ्कुरस्थितिः
You will again unite with that body, which is in the form of a seed; with it, O daughter, you will delight, like a creeper delights in the state of a sprout.
बाधां विदितवेद्यत्वान् न च लोके करिष्यसि । अन्तश्शुद्धा शान्तवाता शरदीवाभ्रमण्डली
Because you are known to be free from affliction, you will not cause harm in the world; inwardly pure, with peaceful airs, like an autumnal cluster of clouds.
अन्तरध्यानविरता कदाचिल् लीलया यदि । भविष्यसि बहीरूढा सर्वात्मध्यानरूपिणी
Absorbed in inner meditation, if ever by play you become outwardly manifest, you will be the very form of meditation on the Self in all.
व्यवहारात्मकध्यानधारणाधाररूपिणी । वातस्वभाववद्देहपरिस्पन्दविलासिनी
You will be the support of concentration rooted in practical activity, and, like the nature of wind, you will sport as the subtle movement of the body.
तदा विरोधिनी पुत्रि स्वकर्मस्पन्दरोधिनी । न्यायेन क्षुन्निवृत्त्यर्थं भूतबाधां करिष्यसि
Then, daughter, you will become an opponent, restraining the impulses of your own actions; by rightful means, you will inflict suffering upon beings for the sake of curbing their misconduct.
भविष्यसि न्यायवृत्तिर् लोके त्वं न्यायबाधिका । जीवन्मुक्ततया देहे स्वविवेकैकपालिका
You will act in accordance with justice in the world, yet you will also obstruct justice; as a jīvanmukta in the body, you will be guarded solely by your own discernment.
इत्य् उक्त्वा गगनतलाज् जगाम देवस् सूची सा भवतु ममेति किं विरागः । रागो वाब्जजवचनार्थधारणे ऽस्मिन्न् इत्य् अन्तर् मननमयी मनाग् बभूव
Having spoken thus from the sky, the deity departed; Sūcī thought, 'Let this be mine.' What is dispassion or passion in the grasping of the meaning of the lotus-born's words? Thus, within, a subtle mental reflection arose.