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नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
विनीय दुःखमबला सा त्वतीवायतेक्षणा। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा लतेवावर्जिता तदा ॥१२-२५०-१॥
Then, having removed her sorrow, that weak woman, with very wide eyes, bent like a creeper, joined her palms and spoke.
त्वया सृष्टा कथं नारी मादृशी वदतां वर। रौद्रकर्माभिजायेत सर्वप्राणिभयङ्करी ॥१२-२५०-२॥
O best of speakers, how could a woman like me, created by you, who performs fierce deeds and causes fear to all beings, be born?
बिभेम्यहमधर्मस्य धर्म्यमादिश कर्म मे। त्वं मां भीतामवेक्षस्व शिवेनेश्वर चक्षुषा ॥१२-२५०-३॥
I am afraid of unrighteousness; instruct me in righteous action; please look upon me, who am fearful, with the auspicious eye of the Lord.
बालान्वृद्धान्वयःस्थांश्च न हरेयमनागसः। प्राणिनः प्राणिनामीश नमस्तेऽभिप्रसीद मे ॥१२-२५०-४॥
O Lord of living beings, I should not take away the lives of children, the aged, or those of mature age who are innocent. O Lord, I bow to you; please be gracious to me.
प्रियान्पुत्रान्वयस्यांश्च भ्रातॄन्मातॄः पितॄनपि। अपध्यास्यन्ति यद्देव मृतांस्तेषां बिभेम्यहम् ॥१२-२५०-५॥
O god, I am afraid that the dear sons, friends, brothers, mothers, and fathers of those who have died will imagine them.
कृपणाश्रुपरिक्लेदो दहेन्मां शाश्वतीः समाः। तेभ्योऽहं बलवद्भीता शरणं त्वामुपागता ॥१२-२५०-६॥
The soaking of miserable tears may burn me for endless years. Out of great fear of them, I have come to you for refuge.
यमस्य भवने देव यात्यन्ते पापकर्मिणः। प्रसादये त्वा वरद प्रसादं कुरु मे प्रभो ॥१२-२५०-७॥
O god, those who perform sinful actions go to the abode of Yama. O bestower of boons, I beseech you; O lord, please bestow your grace upon me.
एतमिच्छाम्यहं कामं त्वत्तो लोकपितामह। इच्छेयं त्वत्प्रसादाच्च तपस्तप्तुं सुरेश्वर ॥१२-२५०-८॥
O grandsire of the world, this is the wish I desire from you. O lord of the gods, by your grace, I wish to perform austerities.
पितामह उवाच॥
The paternal grandfather said.
मृत्यो सङ्कल्पिता मे त्वं प्रजासंहारहेतुना। गच्छ संहर सर्वास्त्वं प्रजा मा च विचारय ॥१२-२५०-९॥
O Death, you have been appointed by me for the destruction of beings. Go and destroy all creatures; do not hesitate or consider further.
एतदेवमवश्यं हि भविता नैतदन्यथा। क्रियतामनवद्याङ्गि यथोक्तं मद्वचोऽनघे ॥१२-२५०-१०॥
This will certainly happen exactly as stated; it cannot be otherwise. O faultless one, let my words be carried out as I have said, O sinless one.
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
एवमुक्ता महाबाहो मृत्युः परपुरञ्जय। न व्याजहार तस्थौ च प्रह्वा भगवदुन्मुखी ॥१२-२५०-११॥
O mighty-armed conqueror of enemy cities, when thus addressed, Death remained silent and stood humbly, facing the Lord.
पुनः पुनरथोक्ता सा गतसत्त्वेव भामिनी। तूष्णीमासीत्ततो देवो देवानामीश्वरेश्वरः ॥१२-२५०-१२॥
Again and again she was addressed, but the lady, as if bereft of life, remained silent; then the god, the lord of lords among the gods, acted.
प्रससाद किल ब्रह्मा स्वयमेवात्मनात्मवान्। स्मयमानश्च लोकेशो लोकान्सर्वानवैक्षत ॥१२-२५०-१३॥
Brahmā, truly pleased and self-possessed, smiled and gazed upon all the worlds as the lord of the worlds.
निवृत्तरोषे तस्मिंस्तु भगवत्यपराजिते। सा कन्यापजगामास्य समीपादिति नः श्रुतम् ॥१२-२५०-१४॥
It is said that when the anger subsided in the venerable unconquered one, the maiden left his presence.
अपसृत्याप्रतिश्रुत्य प्रजासंहरणं तदा। त्वरमाणेव राजेन्द्र मृत्युर्धेनुकमभ्ययात् ॥१२-२५०-१५॥
O King, having withdrawn without making a promise regarding the destruction of the subjects, Death, hastening, then approached Dhenuka.
सा तत्र परमं देवी तपोऽचरत दुश्चरम्। समा ह्येकपदे तस्थौ दश पद्मानि पञ्च च ॥१२-२५०-१६॥
There, the supreme goddess performed extremely difficult austerities. For a whole year, she stood on one foot, upon fifteen lotuses.
तां तथा कुर्वतीं तत्र तपः परमदुश्चरम्। पुनरेव महातेजा ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१२-२५०-१७॥
As she was thus engaged in performing that extremely difficult austerity there, Brahmā, the one of great splendor, again spoke these words.
कुरुष्व मे वचो मृत्यो तदनादृत्य सत्वरा। तथैवैकपदे तात पुनरन्यानि सप्त सा ॥१२-२५०-१८॥
O Death, do as I say, quickly disregarding that. In the same way, O dear, at once, she again (does) the other seven.
तस्थौ पद्मानि षट्चैव पञ्च द्वे चैव मानद। भूयः पद्मायुतं तात मृगैः सह चचार सा ॥१२-२५०-१९॥
She stood by six, five, and two lotuses, O bestower of honor. Then, O dear one, she wandered together with the deer among ten thousand lotuses.
पुनर्गत्वा ततो राजन्मौनमातिष्ठदुत्तमम्। अप्सु वर्षसहस्राणि सप्त चैकं च पार्थिव ॥१२-२५०-२०॥
Then, O king, having returned, he practiced the highest silence in the waters for seven thousand and one years.
ततो जगाम सा कन्या कौशिकीं भरतर्षभ। तत्र वायुजलाहारा चचार नियमं पुनः ॥१२-२५०-२१॥
Then the maiden went to the river Kauśikī, O best of the Bharatas. There, living only on air and water, she again undertook austerities.
ततो ययौ महाभागा गङ्गां मेरुं च केवलम्। तस्थौ दार्विव निश्चेष्टा भूतानां हितकाम्यया ॥१२-२५०-२२॥
Then the highly blessed lady went to Gaṅgā and to Meru alone. She stood still like a piece of wood, wishing for the welfare of all beings.
ततो हिमवतो मूर्ध्नि यत्र देवाः समीजिरे। तत्राङ्गुष्ठेन राजेन्द्र निखर्वमपरं ततः ॥ तस्थौ पितामहं चैव तोषयामास यत्नतः ॥१२-२५०-२३॥
From there, on the summit of the Himalayas where the gods had assembled, O king, with his thumb, to the depth of a span, at another place, then Brahmā stood and earnestly gratified him.
ततस्तामब्रवीत्तत्र लोकानां प्रभवाप्ययः। किमिदं वर्तते पुत्रि क्रियतां तद्वचो मम ॥१२-२५०-२४॥
Then, the origin and dissolution of worlds said to her there: "O daughter, what is this that is happening? Let my word be carried out."
ततोऽब्रवीत्पुनर्मृत्युर्भगवन्तं पितामहम्। न हरेयं प्रजा देव पुनस्त्वाहं प्रसादये ॥१२-२५०-२५॥
Then Death again addressed the venerable grandfather: 'O god, I do not wish to take away the creatures again; I request you.'
तामधर्मभयत्रस्तां पुनरेव च याचतीम्। तदाब्रवीद्देवदेवो निगृह्येदं वचस्ततः ॥१२-२५०-२६॥
Seeing her, afflicted by fear of unrighteousness and again begging, then the god of gods, restraining her, spoke these words.
अधर्मो नास्ति ते मृत्यो संयच्छेमाः प्रजाः शुभे। मया ह्युक्तं मृषा भद्रे भविता नेह किञ्चन ॥१२-२५०-२७॥
There is no unrighteousness in you, O Death; we should restrain these beings, O auspicious one. What I said before was false, O gentle one; nothing of that will happen here.
धर्मः सनातनश्च त्वामिहैवानुप्रवेक्ष्यते। अहं च विबुधाश्चैव त्वद्धिते निरताः सदा ॥१२-२५०-२८॥
Eternal righteousness is established in you here. I and the wise are always devoted to your welfare.
इममन्यं च ते कामं ददामि मनसेप्सितम्। न त्वा दोषेण यास्यन्ति व्याधिसम्पीडिताः प्रजाः ॥१२-२५०-२९॥
I grant you this other wish you desire in your mind. Your subjects, afflicted by disease, will not perish because of any fault of yours.
पुरुषेषु च रूपेण पुरुषस्त्वं भविष्यसि। स्त्रीषु स्त्रीरूपिणी चैव तृतीयेषु नपुंसकम् ॥१२-२५०-३०॥
You will assume the form of a man among men, of a woman among women, and of a neuter among the third gender.
सैवमुक्ता महाराज कृताञ्जलिरुवाच ह। पुनरेव महात्मानं नेति देवेशमव्ययम् ॥१२-२५०-३१॥
Thus addressed, she, with joined palms, spoke again to the great-souled, imperishable lord of the gods, saying 'not this', O great king.
तामब्रवीत्तदा देवो मृत्यो संहर मानवान्। अधर्मस्ते न भविता तथा ध्यास्याम्यहं शुभे ॥१२-२५०-३२॥
Then the god said to her: "O Death, destroy the humans. Unrighteousness will not be yours; thus, O auspicious one, I will contemplate."
यानश्रुबिन्दून्पतितानपश्यं; ये पाणिभ्यां धारितास्ते पुरस्तात्। ते व्याधयो मानवान्घोररूपाः; प्राप्ते काले पीडयिष्यन्ति मृत्यो ॥१२-२५०-३३॥
O Death, I saw the tear-drops fallen from the vehicle, those which were previously held by the hands. Those terrible diseases will torment humans when the time comes.
सर्वेषां त्वं प्राणिनामन्तकाले; कामक्रोधौ सहितौ योजयेथाः। एवं धर्मस्त्वामुपैष्यत्यमेयो; न चाधर्मं लप्स्यसे तुल्यवृत्तिः ॥१२-२५०-३४॥
At the end of all beings' lives, you should unite desire and anger together. In this way, immeasurable righteousness will come to you, and as one who acts equally, you will not incur unrighteousness.
एवं धर्मं पालयिष्यस्यथोक्तं; न चात्मानं मज्जयिष्यस्यधर्मे। तस्मात्कामं रोचयाभ्यागतं त्वं; संयोज्याथो संहरस्वेह जन्तून् ॥१२-२५०-३५॥
Thus, if you protect duty as instructed, you will not immerse yourself in unrighteousness. Therefore, accept the desire that has come to you; unite and then withdraw your creatures here.
सा वै तदा मृत्युसञ्ज्ञापदेशा; च्छापाद्भीता बाढमित्यब्रवीत्तम्। अथो प्राणान्प्राणिनामन्तकाले; कामक्रोधौ प्राप्य निर्मोह्य हन्ति ॥१२-२५०-३६॥
She, then known as 'Death', frightened by the curse, certainly said this to him. Then, at the final moment, desire and anger arise, delude, and destroy the life-breaths of living beings.
मृत्योर्ये ते व्याधयश्चाश्रुपाता; मनुष्याणां रुज्यते यैः शरीरम्। सर्वेषां वै प्राणिनां प्राणनान्ते; तस्माच्छोकं मा कृथा बुध्य बुद्ध्या ॥१२-२५०-३७॥
The diseases of death that bring tears and afflict the bodies of men—these come to all living beings at the end of life. Therefore, do not grieve; understand this with your intellect.
सर्वे देवाः प्राणिनां प्राणनान्ते; गत्वा वृत्ताः संनिवृत्तास्तथैव। एवं सर्वे मानवाः प्राणनान्ते; गत्वावृत्ता देववद्राजसिंह ॥१२-२५०-३८॥
All gods, at the end of the lives of beings, depart and cease to exist, withdrawing just so. In the same way, all humans, at the end of life, depart and cease, like the gods, O king.
वायुर्भीमो भीमनादो महौजाः; सर्वेषां च प्राणिनां प्राणभूतः। नानावृत्तिर्देहिनां देहभेदे; तस्माद्वायुर्देवदेवो विशिष्टः ॥१२-२५०-३९॥
Vāyu, the wind, is terrible, of mighty roar and great energy; he is the very life of all living beings. With varied functions in the bodies of embodied beings, therefore Vāyu, the god of gods, is unique and distinguished.
सर्वे देवा मर्त्यसञ्ज्ञाविशिष्टाः; सर्वे मर्त्या देवसञ्ज्ञाविशिष्टाः। तस्मात्पुत्रं मा शुचो राजसिंह; पुत्रः स्वर्गं प्राप्य ते मोदते ह ॥१२-२५०-४०॥
All gods are called mortals at times, and all mortals are sometimes called gods. Therefore, O king, do not grieve for your son; your son, having reached heaven, is now rejoicing.
एवं मृत्युर्देवसृष्टा प्रजानां; प्राप्ते काले संहरन्ती यथावत्। तस्याश्चैव व्याधयस्तेऽश्रुपाताः; प्राप्ते काले संहरन्तीह जन्तून् ॥१२-२५०-४१॥
Thus, death, created by the gods for living beings, comes at the appointed time and takes them away as is proper. And indeed, her diseases, those bringers of tears, also come at the appointed time and take away creatures here.
