The Tale of Mount Vindhya

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.10.2.1)

श्रीदेव्युवाच । भूमिपाल महाबाहो सर्वमेतद्भविष्यति । यत्त्वया प्रार्थितं तत्ते ददामि मनुजाधिप ॥

śrīdevyuvāca bhūmipāla mahābāho sarvametadbhaviṣyati yattvayā prārthitaṁ tatte dadāmi manujādhipa

Shri Devi said: O protector of the earth, mighty-armed one, all this shall come to pass. Whatever you have prayed for, that I grant you, O lord of men.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.10.2.2)

अहं प्रसन्ना दैत्येन्द्रनाशनामोघविक्रमा । वाग्भवस्य जपेनैव तपसा ते सुनिश्चितम् ॥

ahaṁ prasannā daityendranāśanāmoghavikramā vāgbhavasya japenaiva tapasā te suniścitam

I am pleased — I, of unfailing prowess, destroyer of the lord of daityas — by your japa of the Vagbhava mantra and by your austerity, this is now assured.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.10.2.3)

राज्यं निष्कण्टकं तेऽस्तु पुत्रा वंशकरा अपि । मयि भक्तिर्दृढा वत्स मोक्षान्ते सत्पदे भवेत् ॥

rājyaṁ niṣkaṇṭakaṁ te'stu putrā vaṁśakarā api mayi bhaktirdṛḍhā vatsa mokṣānte satpade bhavet

May your kingdom be free of thorns, and may you have sons who continue your lineage. May your devotion to me be firm, child, and in the end may you attain the true state of liberation.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.10.2.4)

एवं वरान्महादेवी तस्मै दत्त्वा महात्मने । पश्यतस्तु मनोरेव जगाम विन्ध्यपर्वतम् ॥

evaṁ varānmahādevī tasmai dattvā mahātmane paśyatastu manoreva jagāma vindhyaparvatam

Having thus granted these boons to that great soul, the great Goddess, even as Manu watched, went to Mount Vindhya.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.10.2.5)

योऽसौ विन्ध्याचलो रुद्धः कुम्भोद्भवमहर्षिणा । भानुमार्गावरोधार्थं प्रवृत्तो गगनं स्पृशन् ॥

yo'sau vindhyācalo ruddhaḥ kumbhodbhavamaharṣiṇā bhānumārgāvarodhārthaṁ pravṛtto gaganaṁ spṛśan

That same Mount Vindhya, which had been checked by the great sage born of the kumbha, Agastya, when it had set out to touch the sky in order to block the sun's path —

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.10.2.6)

सा विन्ध्यवासिनी विष्णोरनुजा वरदेश्वरी । बभूव पूज्या लोकानां सर्वेषां मुनिसत्तम ॥

sā vindhyavāsinī viṣṇoranujā varadeśvarī babhūva pūjyā lokānāṁ sarveṣāṁ munisattama

— she, dweller on Vindhya, the younger sister of Vishnu, the boon-granting sovereign, became worshipped by all the worlds, O best of sages.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.10.2.7)

ऋषय ऊचुः । कोऽसौ विन्ध्याचलः सूत किमर्थं गगनं स्पृशन् । भानुमार्गावरोधं च किमर्थं कृतवानसौ ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ ko'sau vindhyācalaḥ sūta kimarthaṁ gaganaṁ spṛśan bhānumārgāvarodhaṁ ca kimarthaṁ kṛtavānasau

The sages said: Who is this Mount Vindhya, O Suta, and why did it seek to touch the sky? And why did it obstruct the sun's path?

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.10.2.8)

कथं च मैत्रावरुणिः पर्वतं तं महोन्नतम् । प्रकृतिस्थं चकारेति सर्वं विस्तरतो वद ॥

kathaṁ ca maitrāvaruṇiḥ parvataṁ taṁ mahonnatam prakṛtisthaṁ cakāreti sarvaṁ vistarato vada

And how did the son of Mitra and Varuna, Agastya, bring that towering mountain back to its natural state? Tell us all this in full.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.10.2.9)

न हि तृप्यामहे साधो त्वदास्यगलितामृतम् । देव्याश्चरित्ररूपाख्यं पीत्वा तृष्णा प्रवर्धते ॥

na hi tṛpyāmahe sādho tvadāsyagalitāmṛtam devyāścaritrarūpākhyaṁ pītvā tṛṣṇā pravardhate

We are never satiated, O good one, by drinking this nectar flowing from your mouth in the form of the Goddess's story — our thirst only grows.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.10.2.10)

सूत उवाच । आसीद्विन्ध्याचलो नाम मान्यः सर्वधराभृताम् । महावनसमूहाढ्यो महापादपसंवृतः ॥

sūta uvāca āsīdvindhyācalo nāma mānyaḥ sarvadharābhṛtām mahāvanasamūhāḍhyo mahāpādapasaṁvṛtaḥ

Suta said: There was a mountain named Vindhyachala, honored among all the earth's mountains, rich in great forests and covered with great trees.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.10.2.11)

सुपुष्पितैरनेकैश्च लतागुल्मैस्तु संवृतः । मृगा वराहा महिषा व्याघ्राः शार्दूलका अपि ॥

supuṣpitairanekaiśca latāgulmaistu saṁvṛtaḥ mṛgā varāhā mahiṣā vyāghrāḥ śārdūlakā api

It was covered with many well-flowering creepers and shrubs; deer, boars, buffaloes, tigers, and leopards —

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.10.2.12)

वानराः शशका ऋक्षाः शृगालाश्च समन्ततः । विचरन्ति सदा हृष्टा पुष्टा एव महोद्यमाः ॥

vānarāḥ śaśakā ṛkṣāḥ śṛgālāśca samantataḥ vicaranti sadā hṛṣṭā puṣṭā eva mahodyamāḥ

— monkeys, hares, bears, and jackals, everywhere roamed about, always joyful, well-fed, and full of great vigor.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.10.2.13)

नदीनदजलाक्रान्तो देवगन्धर्वकिन्नरैः । अप्सरोभिः किम्पुरुषैः सर्वकामफलद्रुमैः ॥

nadīnadajalākrānto devagandharvakinnaraiḥ apsarobhiḥ kimpuruṣaiḥ sarvakāmaphaladrumaiḥ

It was pervaded with the waters of rivers and streams, and frequented by gods, gandharvas, kinnaras, apsaras, kimpurushas, and trees that yielded every desired fruit.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.10.2.14)

एतादृशे विन्ध्यनगे कदाचित्पर्यटन् महीम् । देवर्षिः परमप्रीतो जगाम स्वेच्छया मुनिः ॥

etādṛśe vindhyanage kadācitparyaṭan mahīm devarṣiḥ paramaprīto jagāma svecchayā muniḥ

To such a mountain as this, once, while wandering the earth, the divine sage Narada, greatly pleased, went of his own free will.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.10.2.15)

तं दृष्ट्वा स नगो मङ्क्षु तूर्णमुत्थाय सम्भ्रमात् । पाद्यमर्घ्यं तथा दत्त्वा वरासनमथार्पयत् ॥

taṁ dṛṣṭvā sa nago maṅkṣu tūrṇamutthāya sambhramāt pādyamarghyaṁ tathā dattvā varāsanamathārpayat

Seeing him, that mountain rose up at once in agitation, and, offering water for the feet and the guest-offering, then presented an excellent seat.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.10.2.16)

सुखोपविष्टं देवर्षिं प्रसन्नं नग ऊचिवान् । विन्ध्य उवाच । देवर्षे कथ्यतां जात आगमः कुत उत्तमः ॥

sukhopaviṣṭaṁ devarṣiṁ prasannaṁ naga ūcivān vindhya uvāca devarṣe kathyatāṁ jāta āgamaḥ kuta uttamaḥ

When the divine sage was comfortably seated and pleased, the mountain spoke. Vindhya said: 'O divine sage, tell me — from where has this excellent visit arisen?'

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.10.2.17)

तवागमनतो जातमनर्घ्यं मम मन्दिरम् । तव चङ्क्रमणं देवाभयार्थं हि यथा रवेः ॥

tavāgamanato jātamanarghyaṁ mama mandiram tava caṅkramaṇaṁ devābhayārthaṁ hi yathā raveḥ

By your coming, my abode has become priceless. Your wandering, O divine one, is indeed like the sun's, for the sake of dispelling fear.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.10.2.18)

अपूर्वं यन्मनोवृत्तं तद् ब्रूहि मम नारद । नारद उवाच । ममागमनमिन्द्रारे जातं स्वर्णगिरेरथ ॥

apūrvaṁ yanmanovṛttaṁ tad brūhi mama nārada nārada uvāca mamāgamanamindrāre jātaṁ svarṇagireratha

'Tell me, Narada, whatever unprecedented matter is on your mind.' Narada said: 'O foe of Indra, my coming here has come after visiting the golden mountain, Meru.'

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.10.2.19)

तत्र दृष्टा मया लोकाः शक्राग्नियमपाशिनाम् । सर्वेषां लोकपालानां भवनानि समन्ततः ॥

tatra dṛṣṭā mayā lokāḥ śakrāgniyamapāśinām sarveṣāṁ lokapālānāṁ bhavanāni samantataḥ

There I saw the worlds of Shakra, Agni, Yama, and the noose-bearing Varuna — the abodes of all the guardians of the directions, on every side.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.10.2.20)

मया दृष्टानि विन्ध्याग नानाभोगप्रदानि च । इति चोक्त्वा ब्रह्मयोनिः पुनरुच्छ्वासमाविशत् ॥

mayā dṛṣṭāni vindhyāga nānābhogapradāni ca iti coktvā brahmayoniḥ punarucchvāsamāviśat

'I have seen, O mountain-born one, their many pleasure-giving realms.' Having said this, the mind-born sage again fell into a sigh.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.10.2.21)

उच्छ्वसन्तं मुनिं दृष्ट्वा पुनः पप्रच्छ शैलराट् । उच्छ्वासकारणं किं तद् ब्रूहि देवऋषे मम ॥

ucchvasantaṁ muniṁ dṛṣṭvā punaḥ papraccha śailarāṭ ucchvāsakāraṇaṁ kiṁ tad brūhi devaṛṣe mama

Seeing the sage sighing, the king of mountains asked again: 'What is the reason for that sigh? Tell it to me, O divine sage.'

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.10.2.22)

इत्याकर्ण्य नगस्योक्तं देवर्षिरमितद्युतिः । अब्रवीच्छ्रूयतां वत्स ममोच्छ्वासस्य कारणम् ॥

ityākarṇya nagasyoktaṁ devarṣiramitadyutiḥ abravīcchrūyatāṁ vatsa mamocchvāsasya kāraṇam

Hearing this speech of the mountain, the divine sage of boundless splendor said: 'Listen, child, to the reason for my sigh.'

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.10.2.23)

गौरीगुरुस्तु हिमवाञ्छिवस्य श्वशुरः किल । सम्बन्धित्वात्पशुपतेः पूज्य आसीत्क्षमाभृताम् ॥

gaurīgurustu himavāñchivasya śvaśuraḥ kila sambandhitvātpaśupateḥ pūjya āsītkṣamābhṛtām

Himavan, father of Gauri and father-in-law of Shiva, was, by that relation to Pashupati, honored among the mountains.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.10.2.24)

एवमेव च कैलासः शिवस्यावसथः प्रभुः । पूज्यः पृथ्वीभृतां जातो लोके पापौघदारणः ॥

evameva ca kailāsaḥ śivasyāvasathaḥ prabhuḥ pūjyaḥ pṛthvībhṛtāṁ jāto loke pāpaughadāraṇaḥ

Likewise Kailasa too, lord and dwelling-place of Shiva, became honored among the earth's mountains, renowned in the world as the render of accumulated sin.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.10.2.25)

निषधः पर्वतो नीलो गन्धमादन एव च । पूज्याः स्वस्थानमासाद्य सर्व एव क्षमाभृतः ॥

niṣadhaḥ parvato nīlo gandhamādana eva ca pūjyāḥ svasthānamāsādya sarva eva kṣamābhṛtaḥ

Nishadha, Nila, and Gandhamadana too — all these mountains, having attained their own stations, are honored.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.10.2.26)

यं पर्येति च विश्वात्मा सहस्रकिरणः स्वराट् । सग्रहर्क्षगणोपेतः सोऽयं कनकपर्वतः ॥

yaṁ paryeti ca viśvātmā sahasrakiraṇaḥ svarāṭ sagraharkṣagaṇopetaḥ so'yaṁ kanakaparvataḥ

And the one around which the soul of the universe, the thousand-rayed sovereign sun, circles together with the host of planets and stars, is that golden mountain, Meru.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.10.2.27)

आत्मानं मनुते श्रेष्ठं वरिष्ठं च धराभृताम् । सर्वेषामहमेवाग्र्यो नास्ति लोकेषु मत्समः ॥

ātmānaṁ manute śreṣṭhaṁ variṣṭhaṁ ca dharābhṛtām sarveṣāmahamevāgryo nāsti lokeṣu matsamaḥ

It considers itself the best and most excellent of the earth's mountains: 'I alone am foremost of all; there is none in the worlds equal to me.'

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.10.2.28)

एवम्मानाभिमानं तं स्मृत्वोच्छ्वासो मयोज्झितः । अस्तु नैतावता कृत्यं तपोबलवतां नग । प्रसङ्गतो मयोक्तं ते गमिष्यामि निजं गृहम् ॥

evammānābhimānaṁ taṁ smṛtvocchvāso mayojjhitaḥ astu naitāvatā kṛtyaṁ tapobalavatāṁ naga prasaṅgato mayoktaṁ te gamiṣyāmi nijaṁ gṛham

Recalling Meru's such pride and arrogance, I let out that sigh. But let this be no concern for those strong in austerity, O mountain. I have told you this only in passing — now I shall go to my own home.