13.127
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tato nārāyaṇasuhṛnnārado bhagavān ṛṣiḥ। śaṅkarasyomayā sārdhaṃ saṃvādaṃ pratyabhāṣata ॥13-127-1॥
Then the illustrious sage Nārada, friend of Nārāyaṇa, addressed Śaṅkara and Umā with these words. (13-127-1)
tapaś cacāra dharmātmā vṛṣabhāṅkaḥ sureśvaraḥ। puṇye girau himavati siddhācāraṇasevite॥13-127-2॥
The virtuous-souled lord of the gods, who bears the bull as his emblem, practised austerity on the holy Himalayan mountain, attended by siddhas and charaṇas. (13-127-2)
nānauṣadhiyute ramye nānāpuṣpasamākule। apsarogaṇasaṅkīrṇe bhūtasaṅghaniṣevite॥13-127-3॥
In the beautiful place filled with various herbs and many kinds of flowers, thronged by groups of apsarases and attended by assemblies of spirits. (13-127-3)
tatra devo mudā yukto bhūtasaṅghaśatair vṛtaḥ। nānārūpair virūpaiś ca divyaiḥ adbhutadarśanaiḥ॥13-127-4॥
There the god, filled with joy, was surrounded by hundreds of beings in assemblies, displaying varied, strange, and divine, wonderful forms. (13-127-4)
siṃha-vyāghra-gaja-prakhyaiḥ sarva-jāti-samanvitaiḥ। kroṣṭuka-dvīpi-vadanaiḥ ṛkṣa-ṛṣabha-mukhaiḥ tathā ॥13-127-5॥
Resembling lions, tigers, and elephants, possessing all kinds of forms, with faces of jackals, panthers, bears, and bulls as well. (13-127-5)
ulūka-vadanaiḥ bhīmaiḥ śyena-bhāsa-mukhaiḥ tathā। nānā-varṇa-mṛga-prakhyaiḥ sarva-jāti-samanvayaiḥ ॥ kiṁnaraiḥ deva-gandharvaiḥ yakṣa-bhūta-gaṇaiḥ tathā ॥13-127-6॥
There were terrible beings with faces of owls, hawks, and vultures; resembling animals of many colors, comprising all species; together with Kiṁnaras, divine Gandharvas, and hosts of Yakṣas and Bhūtas also. (13-127-6)
divya-puṣpa-samākīrṇaṁ divya-mālā-vibhūṣitam। divya-candana-saṁyuktaṁ divya-dhūpena dhūpitam ॥ tat-sadaḥ vṛṣabhāṅkasya divya-vāditra-nāditam ॥13-127-7॥
That hall of the bull-bannered one was filled with divine flowers, adorned with divine garlands, anointed with divine sandalwood, perfumed with divine incense, and resounded with divine music. (13-127-7)
mṛdaṅga-paṇava-udghuṣṭaṃ śaṅkha-bherī-nināditam। nṛtyadbhiḥ bhūta-saṅghaiś ca barhiṇaiś ca samantataḥ ॥13-127-8॥
All around, the place echoed with the sounds of mṛdaṅga and paṇava drums, conch-shells, and bherī drums, as groups of spirits and peacocks danced everywhere. (13-127-8)
pranṛttāpsarasaṃ divyaṃ divyastrīgaṇasevitam। dṛṣṭikāntamanirdeśyaṃ divyamadbhutadarśanam ॥13-127-9॥
It was filled with dancing apsarases, divine, served by groups of celestial women, captivating to the sight, indescribable, divine, and marvelously beautiful in appearance. (13-127-9)
sa giris tapasā tasya bhūteśasya vyarocata। svādhyāya-paramair viprair brahma-ghoṣaiḥ vināditaḥ। ṣaṭpadair upa-gītaiś ca mādhava-apratimaḥ giriḥ ॥13-127-11॥
That mountain, due to the austerity of the lord of beings, shone brilliantly. It resounded with Vedic chants recited by brahmins engaged in Vedic study, and with songs of bees, the mountain—resembling Mādhava—shone forth. (13-127-11)
taṁ mahotsavasaṅkāśaṁ bhīmarūpadharaṁ punaḥ। dṛṣṭvā munigaṇasyāsītparā prītirjanārdana ॥13-127-12॥
O Janārdana, upon seeing him, who was festival-like and assuming a terrifying form again, the group of sages experienced supreme joy. (13-127-12)
munayaś ca mahābhāgāḥ siddhāś caiva ūrdhvaretasaḥ। maruto vasavaḥ sādhyā viśvedevāḥ sanātanāḥ ॥13-127-13॥
The sages, the greatly fortunate, the perfected beings with upward-flowing energy, as well as the Maruts, Vasus, Sādhyas, and the eternal Viśvedevas. (13-127-13)
yakṣā nāgāḥ piśācāś ca lokapālā hutāśanāḥ। bhāvāś ca sarve nyagbhūtās tatraiva āsan samāgatāḥ॥13-127-14॥
The yakṣas, nāgas, piśācas, guardians of the worlds, fires, beings—and all others—were gathered there, subdued. (13-127-14)
ṛtavaḥ sarvapuṣpaiś ca vyakiranta mahādbhutaiḥ। oṣadhyo jvalamānāś ca dyotayanti sma tad vanam ॥13-127-15॥
The seasons showered marvelous flowers, and the shining herbs also illuminated that forest. (13-127-15)
vihagāś ca mudā yuktāḥ prā-nṛtyan vy-anadan ca ha। giri-pṛṣṭheṣu ramyeṣu vy-āharanto janapriyāḥ॥13-127-16॥
The birds, joined with joy, danced and cried out, uttering their delightful sounds on the beautiful mountain slopes, endearing themselves to people. (13-127-16)
tatra devo giri-taṭe divya-dhātu-vibhūṣite। paryaṅka iva vibhrājan-nupaviṣṭo mahā-manāḥ ॥13-127-17॥
There, the god of great mind sat on the mountain slope adorned with divine minerals, shining like a couch. (13-127-17)
vyāghracarmāmbaradharaḥ siṃhacarmottaracchadaḥ। vyālayajñopavītī ca lohitāṅgadabhūṣaṇaḥ ॥13-127-18॥
He is clad in a garment of tiger-skin, has a lion-skin as an upper covering, wears a sacred thread made of serpent, and is adorned with red armlets. (13-127-18)
hariśmaśru-jaṭī bhīmaḥ bhayakartā suradviṣām। abhayaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ bhaktānāṃ vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ॥13-127-19॥
He with tawny beard and matted locks, the terrible one, the generator of fear among the enemies of the gods; the giver of fearlessness to all beings, to devotees—the bull-bannered (Shiva). (13-127-19)
dṛṣṭvā tam ṛṣayaḥ sarve śirobhir avanīṃ gatāḥ. vimuktāḥ sarva-pāpebhyaḥ kṣāntā vigata-kalmaṣāḥ ॥13-127-20॥
Having seen him, all the sages bowed their heads to the earth, being freed from all sins, patient, and free from all impurity. (13-127-20)
tasya bhūtapateḥ sthānaṃ bhīmarūpadharaṃ babhau। apradhṛṣyataraṃ caiva mahoragasamākulam ॥13-127-21॥
The place of that lord of beings shone, assuming a terrifying form, most unassailable and indeed filled with great serpents. (13-127-21)
kṣaṇenaiva abhavat sarvam adbhutaṃ madhusūdana. tat sadaḥ vṛṣabhāṅkasya bhīma-rūpa-dharaṃ babhau ॥13-127-22॥
O Madhusūdana, in a moment everything became wondrous. That assembly hall of Vṛṣabhāṅka, bearing a terrifying form, shone brightly. (13-127-22)
tam abhyayāc chailasutā bhūta-strī-gaṇa-saṁvṛtā. hara-tulyāmbara-dharā samāna-vrata-cāriṇī ॥13-127-23॥
The daughter of the mountain, surrounded by groups of female spirits, approached him, wearing attire like Hara and engaging in the same observances. (13-127-23)
bibhratī kalaśaṁ raukmaṁ sarvatīrthajalaudbhavam। girisravābhiḥ puṇyābhiḥ sarvato'nugatā śubhā ॥13-127-24॥
Carrying a golden pot formed from the water of all sacred places, accompanied on all sides by auspicious mountain-streams, the auspicious one. (13-127-24)
puṣpavṛṣṭyābhivarṣantī gandhair bahuvidhais tathā। sevantī himavatpārśvaṃ harapārśvam upāgamat ॥13-127-25॥
Showering flowers and spreading many kinds of fragrance, thus attending to the side of the Himalaya, she approached the side of Hara. (13-127-25)
tataḥ smayantī pāṇibhyāṃ narmārthaṃ cārudarśanā। hara-netre śubhe devī sahasā sā samāvṛṇot॥13-127-26॥
Then, smiling, the lovely-faced goddess suddenly covered Hara's (Śiva's) auspicious eyes with her two hands as a playful gesture. (13-127-26)
saṃvṛtābhyāṃ tu netrābhyāṃ tamobhūtam acetanam। nirhomaṃ nirvaṣaṭkāraṃ tat sadah sahasā abhavat॥13-127-27॥
But when the eyes were closed, that assembly became suddenly dark, unconscious, lacking oblations and Vaṣaṭ calls. (13-127-27)
janaś ca vimanāḥ sarvo bhayatrāsasamanvitaḥ। nimīlite bhūtapatau naṣṭasūrya ivābhavat॥13-127-28॥
And all the people became downcast and filled with fear and terror; when the lord of beings was closed (departed), they became like those bereft of the sun. (13-127-28)
tato vitimiro lokaḥ kṣaṇena samapadyata। jvālā ca mahatī dīptā lalāṭāt tasya niḥsṛtā ॥13-127-29॥
Then, in an instant, the world became free from darkness, and a great blazing flame came forth from his forehead. (13-127-29)
tṛtīyaṃ cāsya sambhūtaṃ netram ādityasaṃnibham। yugāntasadṛśaṃ dīptaṃ yenāsau mathito giriḥ॥13-127-30॥
And his third eye, which arose and shone like the sun and the end of an age, was the one by which that mountain was consumed. (13-127-30)
tato girisutā dṛṣṭvā dīptāgni-sadṛśekṣaṇam। haraṃ praṇamya śirasā dadarśāyata-locanā ॥13-127-31॥
Then the daughter of the mountain, with her wide eyes, saw Hara—whose eyes shone like blazing fire—and bowed her head before him. (13-127-31)
dahyamāne vane tasmin saśālasa-raladrume | sacandana-vane ramye divyauṣadhi-vidīpite ||13-127-32||
In that forest, as it was burning, filled with śāla and sarala-trees, beautiful with sandalwood groves and lit up by divine herbs. (13-127-32)
mṛgayūthair drutair bhītair harapārśvam upāgataiḥ | śaraṇaṃ cāpy avindadbhiḥ tat-sadaḥ saṅkulaṃ babhau ||13-127-33||
That hall appeared crowded, as frightened herds of deer swiftly approached the side of Hara (Śiva) and found refuge there. (13-127-33)
tato nabhaḥ-spṛśa-jvālo vidyut-lolārcir-ujjvalaḥ। dvādaśāditya-sadṛśo yugānta-agniḥ-iva-aparaḥ ॥13-127-34॥
Then, another person appeared with flames reaching up to the sky, brilliant with lightning-like flashes, resembling twelve suns, like the fire at the end of an age. (13-127-34)
kṣaṇena tena dagdhaḥ sa himavān abhavat nagaḥ। sa-dhātu-śikhara-ābhogaḥ dīna-dagdha-vana-auṣadhiḥ ॥13-127-35॥
In a moment, burnt by him, that Himavat became a mountain—with mineral peaks and spread, with its forest herbs miserably scorched and destroyed. (13-127-35)
taṁ dṛṣṭvā mathitaṁ śailaṁ śailarājasutā tataḥ। bhagavantaṁ prapannā sā sāñjalipragrahā sthitā ॥13-127-36॥
Then, seeing the mountain churned, the daughter of the king of mountains stood with palms joined, having taken refuge in the Lord. (13-127-36)
umāṁ śarvas tadā dṛṣṭvā strī-bhāva-āgata-mārdavām। pitur dainyam anicchantīṁ prītyā apaśyat tato girim ॥13-127-37॥
Then Śarva (Śiva), having seen Umā, gentle by virtue of her womanhood and unwilling for her father’s dejection, affectionately looked upon the mountain. (13-127-37)
tato'bhavat punaḥ sarvaḥ prakṛtisthaḥ sudarśanaḥ। prahṛṣṭavihagaś caiva prapuṣpitavanadrumaḥ ॥13-127-38॥
Then again, everything became pleasant in its natural state; the forest trees were filled with blossoms, and the birds were cheerful. (13-127-38)
prakṛtisthaṃ giriṃ dṛṣṭvā prītā devī maheśvaram। uvāca sarvabhūtānāṃ patiṃ patimaninditā ॥13-127-39॥
After seeing the mountain set in nature, the pleased goddess and irreproachable wife addressed Maheśvara, the lord of all beings. (13-127-39)
bhagavan sarvabhūteśa śūlapāṇe mahāvrata। saṃśayo me mahān jātaḥ taṃ me vyākhyātum arhasi॥13-127-40॥
O revered one, lord of all beings, trident-holder, O great vow-observer, a great doubt has arisen for me. Please explain that to me. (13-127-40)
kimarthaṁ te lalāṭe vai tṛtīyaṁ netram utthitam। kimarthaṁ ca girir dagdhaḥ sa-pakṣigaṇa-kānanaḥ ॥13-127-41॥
For what reason did your third eye arise on your forehead? And for what purpose was the mountain, along with all its bird-filled forests, burned? (13-127-41)
kimarthaṃ ca punar deva prakṛtisthaḥ kṣaṇāt kṛtaḥ। tathaiva druma-sañchannaḥ kṛto'yaṃ te maheśvara ॥13-127-42॥
O great Lord, for what reason, and again, O god, was the one in his original state created in a moment? Likewise, why was this (being) covered by trees also made by you? (13-127-42)
maheśvara uvāca॥
The great lord said.
netre me saṁvṛte devi tvayā bālyād anindite। naṣṭā-lokas tato lokaḥ kṣaṇena samapadyata ॥13-127-43॥
O goddess, when my eyes were covered by you out of childishness, O irreproachable one, then sight was lost and the world disappeared in an instant. (13-127-43)
naṣṭāditye tathā loke tamobhūte nagātmaje। tṛtīyaṃ locanaṃ dīptaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ te rakṣatā prajāḥ ॥13-127-44॥
When the sun was lost and the world was plunged into darkness, O son of the mountain, your shining third eye was created to protect all creatures. (13-127-44)
tasya cākṣṇo mahattejo yenāyaṁ mathito giriḥ। tvatpriyārthaṁ ca me devi prakṛtisthaḥ kṣaṇātkṛtaḥ॥13-127-45॥
It was by the great radiance of his eye, O goddess, that this mountain was churned; and for your sake, I have restored it to its natural state immediately. (13-127-45)
umovāca॥
Umā said.
bhagavan kena te vaktraṃ candravat priyadarśanam। pūrvaṃ tathaiva śrīkāntam uttaraṃ paścimaṃ tathā ॥13-127-46॥
O Lord, how is your face, delightful like the moon, present in the east, just so splendid in the north, and similarly in the west? (13-127-46)
dakṣiṇaṃ ca mukhaṃ raudraṃ kenordhvaṃ kapilā jaṭāḥ। kena kaṇṭhaś ca te nīlo barhibarhanibhaḥ kṛtaḥ ॥13-127-47॥
And who made your fierce southern face? By whom were your tawny matted locks upwards (arranged)? By whom was your neck made blue, resembling the tail feathers? (13-127-47)
haste cai tat pinākaṃ te satataṃ kena tiṣṭhati. jaṭilo brahmacārī ca kimartham asi nityadā ॥13-127-48॥
Why does this Pināka bow always remain in your hand? And for what reason are you always a matted-haired celibate? (13-127-48)
etaṁ me saṁśayaṁ sarvaṁ vada bhūtapate'nagha. sadharmacāriṇī cāhaṁ bhaktā ceti vṛṣadhvaja ॥13-127-49॥
O lord of beings, O sinless one, tell me all this doubt of mine. I am one who follows the same dharma, and I am devoted—thus, O Bull-bannered one. (13-127-49)
evam-uktaḥ sa bhagavāñ-śailaputryā pinākadhṛk। tasyā vṛttyā ca buddhyā ca prītimān abhavat prabhuḥ॥13-127-50॥
Thus addressed by the daughter of the mountain, the blessed Lord, wielder of Pināka, became pleased with her conduct and intellect. (13-127-50)
tatastāmabravīddevaḥ subhage śrūyatāmiti। hetubhir yair mama etāni rūpāṇi rucirānane ॥13-127-51॥
Then the god said to her, "O fortunate one, listen: by what causes these forms of mine (arose), O lovely-faced one." (13-127-51)
