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स्थाणुरुवाच॥
Sthāṇu (the immovable one) said.
प्रजासर्गनिमित्तं मे कार्यवत्तामिमां प्रभो। विद्धि सृष्टास्त्वया हीमा मा कुप्यासां पितामह ॥१२-२४९-१॥
O lord, for the purpose of creating offspring, know that this effectiveness is mine. These beings have indeed been created by you. O grandsire, please do not be angry.
तव तेजोग्निना देव प्रजा दह्यन्ति सर्वशः। ता दृष्ट्वा मम कारुण्यं मा कुप्यासां जगत्प्रभो ॥१२-२४९-२॥
O god, all creatures are being burned by the fire of your brilliance. Seeing this, my compassion is stirred; O lord of the world, please do not be angry.
प्रजापतिरुवाच॥
Prajāpati said.
न कुप्ये न च मे कामो न भवेरन्प्रजा इति। लाघवार्थं धरण्यास्तु ततः संहार इष्यते ॥१२-२४९-३॥
I am not angry, nor do I desire it, nor would there be offspring for this reason. The destruction is sought for the sake of the earth's lightness.
इयं हि मां सदा देवी भारार्ता समचोदयत्। संहारार्थं महादेव भारेणाप्सु निमज्जति ॥१२-२४९-४॥
This goddess has always urged me, being distressed by the burden. O Mahadeva, for the sake of destruction, she is sinking in the waters due to the weight.
यदाहं नाधिगच्छामि बुद्ध्या बहु विचारयन्। संहारमासां वृद्धानां ततो मां क्रोध आविशत् ॥१२-२४९-५॥
Whenever I, after much consideration by intellect, could not find a solution regarding the destruction of these elders, then anger seized me.
स्थाणुरुवाच॥
The firm one spoke.
संहारान्तं प्रसीदस्व मा क्रुधस्त्रिदशेश्वर। मा प्रजाः स्थावरं वैच जङ्गमं च विनीनशः ॥१२-२४९-६॥
O lord of the gods, be gracious till the end of destruction; do not be angry. Do not destroy the creatures, both immobile and mobile.
पल्वलानि च सर्वाणि सर्वं चैव तृणोलपम्। स्थावरं जङ्गमं चैव भूतग्रामं चतुर्विधम् ॥१२-२४९-७॥
All marshes, everything including every blade of grass, all immobile and mobile beings, and the aggregate of beings of four kinds.
तदेतद्भस्मसाद्भूतं जगत्सर्वमुपप्लुतम्। प्रसीद भगवन्साधो वर एष वृतो मया ॥१२-२४९-८॥
This entire world has been reduced to ashes and overwhelmed. Be gracious, O Lord, O noble one. This is the boon I have chosen.
नष्टा न पुनरेष्यन्ति प्रजा ह्येताः कथञ्चन। तस्मान्निवर्त्यतामेतत्तेजः स्वेनैव तेजसा ॥१२-२४९-९॥
These creatures, once destroyed, will not return in any way. Therefore, let this energy be withdrawn by your own energy alone.
उपायमन्यं सम्पश्य प्रजानां हितकाम्यया। यथेमे जन्तवः सर्वे निवर्तेरन्परन्तप ॥१२-२४९-१०॥
O scorcher of foes, consider another method for the welfare of the people, so that all these beings may desist.
अभावमभिगच्छेयुरुत्सन्नप्रजनाः प्रजाः। अधिदैवनियुक्तोऽस्मि त्वया लोकेष्विहेश्वर ॥१२-२४९-११॥
O Lord, creatures whose progeny has been destroyed would fall into non-existence; I have been appointed here among the worlds by you through higher powers.
त्वद्भवं हि जगन्नाथ जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम्। प्रसाद्य त्वां महादेव याचाम्यावृत्तिजाः प्रजाः ॥१२-२४९-१२॥
O Lord of the Universe, truly the world, both immobile and mobile, has arisen from you. Having propitiated you, O great god, I request for the beings who are born again through rebirth.
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं देवः स्थाणोर्नियतवाङ्मनाः। तेजस्तत्स्वं निजग्राह पुनरेवान्तरात्मना ॥१२-२४९-१३॥
After hearing the words, the god Sthāṇu (Śiva), whose speech and mind were controlled, again seized his own energy with his inner self.
ततोऽग्निमुपसङ्गृह्य भगवाँल्लोकपूजितः। प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कल्पयामास वै प्रभुः ॥१२-२४९-१४॥
Then the venerable lord, honored by the world, having taken up the fire, established both activity and cessation.
उपसंहरतस्तस्य तमग्निं रोषजं तदा। प्रादुर्बभूव विश्वेभ्यः खेभ्यो नारी महात्मनः ॥१२-२४९-१५॥
As he was withdrawing that fire born of anger, a woman of the great-souled one appeared in the sky before all.
कृष्णा रक्ताम्बरधरा रक्तनेत्रतलान्तरा। दिव्यकुण्डलसम्पन्ना दिव्याभरणभूषिता ॥१२-२४९-१६॥
She is dark-complexioned, dressed in red garments, with the lower part of her eyes tinged red, adorned with divine earrings and decorated with divine ornaments.
सा विनिःसृत्य वै खेभ्यो दक्षिणामाश्रिता दिशम्। ददृशातेऽथ तौ कन्यां देवौ विश्वेश्वरावुभौ ॥१२-२४९-१७॥
She emerged from the skies and took refuge in the southern direction; then, the two gods, the lords of the universe, both saw the maiden.
तामाहूय तदा देवो लोकानामादिरीश्वरः। मृत्यो इति महीपाल जहि चेमाः प्रजा इति ॥१२-२४९-१८॥
Then, having summoned her, the god, the origin and lord of the worlds, said: "O Death, O king, destroy these creatures."
त्वं हि संहारबुद्ध्या मे चिन्तिता रुषितेन च। तस्मात्संहर सर्वास्त्वं प्रजाः सजडपण्डिताः ॥१२-२४९-१९॥
You have been considered by me, in anger, as one with the intention to destroy; therefore, destroy all creatures, both the dull and the wise.
अविशेषेण चैव त्वं प्रजाः संहर भामिनि। मम त्वं हि नियोगेन श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यसि ॥१२-२४९-२०॥
O radiant one, withdraw all beings without distinction. By my command, you will surely attain the highest good.
एवमुक्ता तु सा देवी मृत्युः कमलमालिनी। प्रदध्यौ दुःखिता बाला साश्रुपातमतीव हि ॥१२-२४९-२१॥
Thus addressed, the goddess Mṛtyu, adorned with a garland of lotuses, pondered deeply; the distressed girl shed tears exceedingly.
पाणिभ्यां चैव जग्राह तान्यश्रूणि जनेश्वरः। मानवानां हितार्थाय ययाचे पुनरेव च ॥१२-२४९-२२॥
The lord of men took those tears with his hands; for the welfare of mankind, he again earnestly begged.
