13.127
Bhīṣma said.
Then the illustrious sage Nārada, friend of Nārāyaṇa, addressed Śaṅkara and Umā with these words. (13-127-1)
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)
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)
There the god, filled with joy, was surrounded by hundreds of beings in assemblies, displaying varied, strange, and divine, wonderful forms. (13-127-4)
Resembling lions, tigers, and elephants, possessing all kinds of forms, with faces of jackals, panthers, bears, and bulls as well. (13-127-5)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
The yakṣas, nāgas, piśācas, guardians of the worlds, fires, beings—and all others—were gathered there, subdued. (13-127-14)
The seasons showered marvelous flowers, and the shining herbs also illuminated that forest. (13-127-15)
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)
There, the god of great mind sat on the mountain slope adorned with divine minerals, shining like a couch. (13-127-17)
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)
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)
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)
The place of that lord of beings shone, assuming a terrifying form, most unassailable and indeed filled with great serpents. (13-127-21)
O Madhusūdana, in a moment everything became wondrous. That assembly hall of Vṛṣabhāṅka, bearing a terrifying form, shone brightly. (13-127-22)
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)
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)
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)
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)
But when the eyes were closed, that assembly became suddenly dark, unconscious, lacking oblations and Vaṣaṭ calls. (13-127-27)
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)
Then, in an instant, the world became free from darkness, and a great blazing flame came forth from his forehead. (13-127-29)
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)
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)
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)
That hall appeared crowded, as frightened herds of deer swiftly approached the side of Hara (Śiva) and found refuge there. (13-127-33)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Then again, everything became pleasant in its natural state; the forest trees were filled with blossoms, and the birds were cheerful. (13-127-38)
After seeing the mountain set in nature, the pleased goddess and irreproachable wife addressed Maheśvara, the lord of all beings. (13-127-39)
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)
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)
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)
The great lord said.
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)
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)
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)
Umā said.
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)
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)
Why does this Pināka bow always remain in your hand? And for what reason are you always a matted-haired celibate? (13-127-48)
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)
Thus addressed by the daughter of the mountain, the blessed Lord, wielder of Pināka, became pleased with her conduct and intellect. (13-127-50)
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)
