Parvati and the Aged Ascetic

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.89.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । गतेषु तेषु मुनिषु स्वं लोकं शङ्करः स्वयम् । परीक्षितुं तपो देव्या ऐच्छत्सूतिकरः प्रभुः

brahmovāca gateṣu teṣu muniṣu svaṁ lokaṁ śaṅkaraḥ svayam parīkṣituṁ tapo devyā aicchatsūtikaraḥ prabhuḥ

Brahma said: "When those sages had gone to their own realms, Shankara himself -- that Lord who is the source of all creation -- wished, of his own accord, to test the goddess's penance."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.89.2)

परीक्षाछद्मना शम्भुर्द्रष्टुं तां तुष्टमानसः । जटिलं रूपमास्थाय स ययौ पार्वतीवनम्

parīkṣāchadmanā śambhurdraṣṭuṁ tāṁ tuṣṭamānasaḥ jaṭilaṁ rūpamāsthāya sa yayau pārvatīvanam

"Shambhu, his mind delighted, wishing to see her under the pretext of a test, assumed the form of a matted-haired ascetic and went to Parvati's forest."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.89.3)

अतीव स्थविरो विप्रदेहधारी स्वतेजसा । प्रज्वलन्मनसा हृष्टो दण्डी छत्री बभूव सः

atīva sthaviro vipradehadhārī svatejasā prajvalanmanasā hṛṣṭo daṇḍī chatrī babhūva saḥ

"He became an extremely aged one, wearing a brahmin's body, blazing with his own splendor, joyful in mind, carrying a staff and an umbrella."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.89.4)

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितां देवीं सखीभिः परिवारिताम् । वेदिकोपरि शुद्धां तां शिवामिव विधोः कलाम्

tatrāpaśyatsthitāṁ devīṁ sakhībhiḥ parivāritām vedikopari śuddhāṁ tāṁ śivāmiva vidhoḥ kalām

"There he saw the goddess seated, surrounded by her companions, pure, upon a raised altar, like a digit of the moon -- as if Shiva herself."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.89.5)

शम्भुर्निरीक्ष्य तां देवीं ब्रह्मचारिस्वरूपवान् । उपकण्ठं ययौ प्रीत्या तदासौ भक्तवत्सलः

śambhurnirīkṣya tāṁ devīṁ brahmacārisvarūpavān upakaṇṭhaṁ yayau prītyā tadāsau bhaktavatsalaḥ

"Beholding that goddess, Shambhu, in the form of a celibate student, being ever fond of his devotees, approached her with love."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.89.6)

आगतं तं तदा दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणं तेजसाद्भुतम् । अपूजयच्छिवा देवी सर्वपूजोपहारकैः

āgataṁ taṁ tadā dṛṣṭvā brāhmaṇaṁ tejasādbhutam apūjayacchivā devī sarvapūjopahārakaiḥ

"Seeing that brahmin of wondrous splendor who had thus come, the goddess Shiva worshipped him with every article of worship."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.89.7)

सुसत्कृतं संविधाभिः पूजितं परया मुदा । पार्वती कुशलं प्रीत्या पप्रच्छ द्विजमादरात्

susatkṛtaṁ saṁvidhābhiḥ pūjitaṁ parayā mudā pārvatī kuśalaṁ prītyā papraccha dvijamādarāt

"Having duly honored and worshipped him with great joy through her own arrangements, Parvati, with love and respect, asked the twice-born of his welfare."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.89.8)

पार्वत्युवाच । ब्रह्मचारिस्वरूपेण कस्त्वं हि कुत आगतः । इदं वनं भासयसे वद वेदविदां वर

pārvatyuvāca brahmacārisvarūpeṇa kastvaṁ hi kuta āgataḥ idaṁ vanaṁ bhāsayase vada vedavidāṁ vara

Parvati said: "Who are you, in the form of a celibate student, and from where have you come? You illumine this forest -- tell me, O best of the knowers of the Veda."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.89.9)

विप्र उवाच । अहमिच्छाभिगामी च वृद्धो विप्रतनुः सुधीः । तपस्वी सुखदोऽन्येषामुपकारी न संशयः

vipra uvāca ahamicchābhigāmī ca vṛddho vipratanuḥ sudhīḥ tapasvī sukhado'nyeṣāmupakārī na saṁśayaḥ

The brahmin said: "I am one who wanders wherever he wishes, an aged brahmin in body, wise; an ascetic who brings happiness and help to others -- of this there is no doubt."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.89.10)

का त्वं कस्यासि तनया किमर्थं विजने वने । तपश्चरसि दुर्धर्षं मुनिभिः प्रपदैरपि

kā tvaṁ kasyāsi tanayā kimarthaṁ vijane vane tapaścarasi durdharṣaṁ munibhiḥ prapadairapi

"Who are you, whose daughter are you, and why, in this lonely forest, do you perform such severe penance -- one hard to bear even for sages?"

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.89.11)

न बाला न च वृद्धासि तरुणी भासि शोभना । कथं पतिं विना तीक्ष्णं तपश्चरसि वै वने

na bālā na ca vṛddhāsi taruṇī bhāsi śobhanā kathaṁ patiṁ vinā tīkṣṇaṁ tapaścarasi vai vane

"You are neither a child nor an old woman -- you appear young and lovely; how is it that, without a husband, you perform such intense penance in this forest?"

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.89.12)

किं त्वं तपस्विनी भद्रे कस्यचित्सहचारिणी । तपस्वी स न पुष्णाति देवि त्वां च गतोऽन्यतः

kiṁ tvaṁ tapasvinī bhadre kasyacitsahacāriṇī tapasvī sa na puṣṇāti devi tvāṁ ca gato'nyataḥ

"Are you, O gentle one, an ascetic in your own right, or the companion of some ascetic? An ascetic, O goddess, moves ever onward -- he sustains no one."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.89.13)

वद कस्य कुले जाता कः पिता तव काभिधा । महासौभाग्यरूपा त्वं वृथा तव तपोरतिः

vada kasya kule jātā kaḥ pitā tava kābhidhā mahāsaubhāgyarūpā tvaṁ vṛthā tava taporatiḥ

"Tell me, in what family were you born, who is your father, what is your name? You are of great fortune and beauty -- your devotion to penance seems in vain."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.89.14)

किं त्वं वेदप्रसूर्लक्ष्मीः किं सुरूपा सरस्वती । एतासु मध्ये का वा त्वं नाहं तर्कितुमुत्सहे

kiṁ tvaṁ vedaprasūrlakṣmīḥ kiṁ surūpā sarasvatī etāsu madhye kā vā tvaṁ nāhaṁ tarkitumutsahe

"Are you Lakshmi, born of the Vedas, or lovely Sarasvati? Among these, which are you? I cannot venture to guess."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.89.15)

पार्वत्युवाच । नाहं वेदप्रसूर्विप्र न लक्ष्मीश्च सरस्वती । अहं हिमाचलसुता साम्प्रतं नाम पार्वती

pārvatyuvāca nāhaṁ vedaprasūrvipra na lakṣmīśca sarasvatī ahaṁ himācalasutā sāmprataṁ nāma pārvatī

Parvati said: "I am not the daughter of the Vedas, O brahmin, nor Lakshmi, nor Sarasvati; I am the daughter of the Himalaya, at present named Parvati."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.89.16)

पुरा दक्षसुता जाता सती नामान्यजन्मनि । योगेन त्यक्तदेहाहं यत्पित्रा निन्दितः पतिः

purā dakṣasutā jātā satī nāmānyajanmani yogena tyaktadehāhaṁ yatpitrā ninditaḥ patiḥ

"In a former birth I was born as the daughter of Daksha, named Sati; I gave up that body through the power of yoga, when my father insulted my husband."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.89.17)

अत्र जन्मनि सम्प्राप्तः शिवोऽपि विधिवैभवात् । मां त्यक्त्वा भस्मसात्कृत्य मन्मथं स जगाम ह

atra janmani samprāptaḥ śivo'pi vidhivaibhavāt māṁ tyaktvā bhasmasātkṛtya manmathaṁ sa jagāma ha

"In this birth too, by fate's own working, Shiva was again found near me; but having left me, and having reduced Manmatha to ashes, he departed."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.89.18)

प्रयाते शङ्करे तापोद्विजिताहं पितुर्गृहात् । आगता तपसे विप्र सुदृढा स्वर्णदीतटे

prayāte śaṅkare tāpodvijitāhaṁ piturgṛhāt āgatā tapase vipra sudṛḍhā svarṇadītaṭe

"When Shankara had departed, wearied with grief, I left my father's house and came, O brahmin, most resolute, to the bank of the celestial river, for penance."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.89.19)

कृत्वा तपः कठोरं च सुचिरं प्राणवल्लभम् । न प्राप्याग्नौ विविक्षन्ती त्वां दृष्ट्वा संस्थिता क्षणम्

kṛtvā tapaḥ kaṭhoraṁ ca suciraṁ prāṇavallabham na prāpyāgnau vivikṣantī tvāṁ dṛṣṭvā saṁsthitā kṣaṇam

"Having performed harsh and long penance for my beloved life, and not attaining him, I was about to enter the fire; seeing you, I paused a moment."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.89.20)

गच्छ त्वं प्रविशाम्यग्नौ शिवेनाङ्गीकृता न हि । यत्र यत्र जनुर्लप्स्ये वरिष्यामि शिवं वरम्

gaccha tvaṁ praviśāmyagnau śivenāṅgīkṛtā na hi yatra yatra janurlapsye variṣyāmi śivaṁ varam

"Go now; I shall enter the fire, since Shiva has not accepted me. In whatever birth I take hereafter, I shall choose Shiva as my husband."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.89.21)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा पार्वती वह्नौ तत्पुरः प्रविवेश सा । निषिध्यमाना पुरतो ब्राह्मणेन पुनः पुनः

brahmovāca ityuktvā pārvatī vahnau tatpuraḥ praviveśa sā niṣidhyamānā purato brāhmaṇena punaḥ punaḥ

Brahma said: "Having said this, Parvati stepped before that fire and entered it, though the brahmin, standing before her, forbade her again and again."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.89.22)

वह्निप्रवेशं कुर्वत्याः पार्वत्यास्तत्प्रभावतः । बभूव तत्क्षणं सद्यो वह्निश्चन्दनपङ्कवत्

vahnipraveśaṁ kurvatyāḥ pārvatyāstatprabhāvataḥ babhūva tatkṣaṇaṁ sadyo vahniścandanapaṅkavat

"As Parvati entered the fire, by her own power that very fire instantly became, in that moment, as cool as a paste of sandalwood."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.89.23)

क्षणं तदन्तरे स्थित्वा ह्युत्पतन्तीं दिवं द्विजः । पुनः पप्रच्छ सहसा विहसन्सुतनुं शिवः

kṣaṇaṁ tadantare sthitvā hyutpatantīṁ divaṁ dvijaḥ punaḥ papraccha sahasā vihasansutanuṁ śivaḥ

"Having stood within it a moment, as the lovely one was about to rise up toward heaven, the twice-born again suddenly asked her, smiling."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.89.24)

द्विज उवाच । अहो तपस्ते किं भद्रे न बुद्धं किञ्चिदेव हि । न दग्धो वह्निना देहो न च प्राप्तं मनीषितम्

dvija uvāca aho tapaste kiṁ bhadre na buddhaṁ kiñcideva hi na dagdho vahninā deho na ca prāptaṁ manīṣitam

The brahmin said: "Ah, O gentle one, has your penance achieved nothing at all? Your body was not burnt by the fire, nor was your heart's desire fulfilled."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.89.25)

अतः सत्यं निकामं वै वद देवि मनोरथम् । ममाग्रे विप्रवर्यस्य सर्वानन्दप्रदस्य हि

ataḥ satyaṁ nikāmaṁ vai vada devi manoratham mamāgre vipravaryasya sarvānandapradasya hi

"Therefore, O goddess, tell me truly and fully your heart's desire, before me, the best of brahmins, the giver of every joy."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.89.26)

यथाविधि त्वया देवि कीर्त्यतां सर्वथात्मना । तस्मान्मैत्री च सञ्जाता कार्यं गोप्यं त्वया न हि

yathāvidhi tvayā devi kīrtyatāṁ sarvathātmanā tasmānmaitrī ca sañjātā kāryaṁ gopyaṁ tvayā na hi

"As is proper, O goddess, declare everything fully and openly; since friendship has now arisen between us, this matter should not be hidden from me."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.89.27)

किमिच्छसि वरं देवि प्रष्टुमिच्छाम्यतः परम् । त्वय्येव तदसौ देवि फलं सर्वं प्रदृश्यते

kimicchasi varaṁ devi praṣṭumicchāmyataḥ param tvayyeva tadasau devi phalaṁ sarvaṁ pradṛśyate

"What boon do you desire, O goddess? This I wish to ask further; in you alone, O goddess, will its whole fruit be seen."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.89.28)

परार्थे च तपश्चेद्वै तिष्ठेत्तु तप एव तत् । रत्नं हस्ते समादाय हित्वा काचस्तु सञ्चितः

parārthe ca tapaścedvai tiṣṭhettu tapa eva tat ratnaṁ haste samādāya hitvā kācastu sañcitaḥ

"If penance is performed for another's sake, it remains penance still; but this is like taking a jewel in hand, then discarding it for mere glass."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.89.29)

ईदृशं तव सौन्दर्यं कथं व्यर्थीकृतं त्वया । हित्वा वस्त्राण्यनेकानि चर्मादि च धृतं त्वया

īdṛśaṁ tava saundaryaṁ kathaṁ vyarthīkṛtaṁ tvayā hitvā vastrāṇyanekāni carmādi ca dhṛtaṁ tvayā

"Such beauty as yours -- how have you rendered it useless? Having discarded many fine garments, you have taken up bark and hide instead."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.89.30)

तत्सर्वं कारणं ब्रूहि तपसस्त्वस्य सत्यतः । तच्छ्रुत्वा विप्रवर्योऽहं यथा हर्षमवाप्नुयाम्

tatsarvaṁ kāraṇaṁ brūhi tapasastvasya satyataḥ tacchrutvā vipravaryo'haṁ yathā harṣamavāpnuyām

"Tell me the true reason for all of this penance; hearing it, may I, the best of brahmins, obtain the joy that is due."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.89.31)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति पृष्टा तदा तेन सखीं प्रैरयताम्बिका । तन्मुखेनैव तत्सर्वं कथयामास सुव्रता

brahmovāca iti pṛṣṭā tadā tena sakhīṁ prairayatāmbikā tanmukhenaiva tatsarvaṁ kathayāmāsa suvratā

Brahma said: "Thus questioned by him, Ambika sent her companion forward, and asked that virtuous friend to tell him everything with her own mouth."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.89.32)

तया च प्रेरिता तत्र पार्वत्या विजयाभिधा । प्राणप्रिया सुव्रतज्ञा सखी जटिलमब्रवीत्

tayā ca preritā tatra pārvatyā vijayābhidhā prāṇapriyā suvratajñā sakhī jaṭilamabravīt

"Sent thus by her, Parvati's dear-as-life, virtuous, knowing friend named Vijaya spoke there to the matted-haired ascetic."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.89.33)

सख्युवाच । शृणु साधो प्रवक्ष्यामि पार्वतीचरितं परम् । हेतुं च तपसस्सर्वं यदि त्वं श्रोतुमिच्छसि

sakhyuvāca śṛṇu sādho pravakṣyāmi pārvatīcaritaṁ param hetuṁ ca tapasassarvaṁ yadi tvaṁ śrotumicchasi

The friend said: "Listen, O good one; I shall relate Parvati's supreme story, and the entire reason for her penance, if you wish to hear it."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.89.34)

सखी मे गिरिराजस्य सुतेयं हिमभूभृतः । ख्याता वै पार्वती नाम्ना तस्या मातास्ति मेनका

sakhī me girirājasya suteyaṁ himabhūbhṛtaḥ khyātā vai pārvatī nāmnā tasyā mātāsti menakā

"This friend of mine is the daughter of the mountain-king Himavan, renowned by the name Parvati; her mother is Menaka."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.89.35)

ऊढेयं न च केनापि न वाञ्छति शिवात्परम् । त्रीणि वर्षसहस्राणि तपश्चरणसाधिनी

ūḍheyaṁ na ca kenāpi na vāñchati śivātparam trīṇi varṣasahasrāṇi tapaścaraṇasādhinī

"She has been wed to no one, and desires none but Shiva; for three thousand years she has been accomplishing the practice of penance."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.89.36)

तदर्थं मेऽनया सख्या प्रारब्धं तप ईदृशम् । तदत्र कारणं वक्ष्ये शृणु साधो द्विजोत्तम

tadarthaṁ me'nayā sakhyā prārabdhaṁ tapa īdṛśam tadatra kāraṇaṁ vakṣye śṛṇu sādho dvijottama

"It is for that very purpose that my friend has undertaken such penance; I shall now tell you its cause -- listen, O good one, O best of the twice-born."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.89.37)

हित्वेन्द्रप्रमुखान्देवान् हरिं ब्रह्माणमेव च । पतिं पिनाकपाणिं वै प्राप्तुमिच्छति पार्वती

hitvendrapramukhāndevān hariṁ brahmāṇameva ca patiṁ pinākapāṇiṁ vai prāptumicchati pārvatī

"Having set aside Indra and the other chief gods, and even Hari and Brahma, Parvati desires to attain the trident-bearer as her husband."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.89.38)

इयं सखी मदीया वै वृक्षानारोपयत्पुरा । तेषु सर्वेषु सञ्जातं फलपुष्पादिकं द्विज

iyaṁ sakhī madīyā vai vṛkṣānāropayatpurā teṣu sarveṣu sañjātaṁ phalapuṣpādikaṁ dvija

"This friend of mine, in an earlier time, planted trees; on every one of them, O brahmin, fruit and flowers and the like came forth."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.89.39)

रूपसार्थाय जनककुलालङ्करणाय च । समुद्दिश्य महेशानं कामस्यानुग्रहाय च

rūpasārthāya janakakulālaṅkaraṇāya ca samuddiśya maheśānaṁ kāmasyānugrahāya ca

"For the sake of beauty, for the honor of her father's lineage, with Mahesha as her aim, and for the sake of grace toward Kama --"

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.89.40)

मत्सखी नारददेशात्तपस्तपति दारुणम् । मनोरथं कुतस्तस्या न फलिष्यति तापस

matsakhī nāradadeśāttapastapati dāruṇam manorathaṁ kutastasyā na phaliṣyati tāpasa

"my friend performs this harsh penance by Narada's instruction; why, O ascetic, should her heart's desire fail to bear fruit?"

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.89.41)

यत्ते पृष्टं द्विजश्रेष्ठ मत्सख्या मनसीप्सितम् । मया ख्यातं च तत्प्रीत्या किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि

yatte pṛṣṭaṁ dvijaśreṣṭha matsakhyā manasīpsitam mayā khyātaṁ ca tatprītyā kimanyacchrotumicchasi

"What you asked, O best of brahmins -- the desire in my friend's heart -- I have told you with love; what else do you wish to hear?"

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.89.42)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा विजयाया यथार्थतः । मुने स जटिलो रुद्रो विहसन्वाक्यमब्रवीत्

brahmovāca ityevaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā vijayāyā yathārthataḥ mune sa jaṭilo rudro vihasanvākyamabravīt

Brahma said: "Having heard these truthful words of Vijaya, O sage, that matted-haired Rudra spoke, smiling."

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.89.43)

जटिल उवाच । सख्येदं कथितं तत्र परिहासोऽनुमीयते । यथार्थं चेत्तदा देवी स्वमुखेनाभिभाषताम्

jaṭila uvāca sakhyedaṁ kathitaṁ tatra parihāso'numīyate yathārthaṁ cettadā devī svamukhenābhibhāṣatām

Jatila said: "What the friend has told here seems mere jest; if it is true, then let the goddess herself say it with her own mouth."

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.89.44)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्ते च तदा तेन जटिलेन द्विजन्मना । उवाच पार्वती देवी स्वमुखेनैव तं द्विजम्

brahmovāca ityukte ca tadā tena jaṭilena dvijanmanā uvāca pārvatī devī svamukhenaiva taṁ dvijam

Brahma said: "Thus addressed by that matted-haired brahmin, the goddess Parvati then spoke to that brahmin with her very own mouth."