The Goddess's Questions in the Dialogue of Devi and Deva

Verse 1 (shiva.kailasa.2.1)

व्यास उवाच । साधु पृष्टमिदं विप्रा भवद्भिर्भाग्यवत्तमैः । दुर्लभं हि शिवज्ञानं प्रणवार्थप्रकाशकम्

vyāsa uvāca sādhu pṛṣṭamidaṁ viprā bhavadbhirbhāgyavattamaiḥ durlabhaṁ hi śivajñānaṁ praṇavārthaprakāśakam

Vyasa said: This is well asked, O brahmins, by you who are most fortunate; for the knowledge of Shiva, which illumines the meaning of the Pranava, is indeed rare to attain.

Verse 2 (shiva.kailasa.2.2)

येषां प्रसन्नो भगवान्साक्षाच्छूलवरायुधः । तेषामेव शिवज्ञानं प्रणवार्थप्रकाशकम

yeṣāṁ prasanno bhagavānsākṣācchūlavarāyudhaḥ teṣāmeva śivajñānaṁ praṇavārthaprakāśakama

Only for those with whom the blessed Lord, bearing the excellent trident, is truly pleased, does this knowledge of Shiva, revealing the meaning of the Pranava, arise.

Verse 3 (shiva.kailasa.2.3)

जायते न हि सन्देहो नेतरेषामिति श्रुतिः । शिवभक्तिविहीनानामिति तत्त्वार्थनिश्चयः

jāyate na hi sandeho netareṣāmiti śrutiḥ śivabhaktivihīnānāmiti tattvārthaniścayaḥ

There is truly no doubt in this — so declares the Shruti — that it does not come to others; this is the settled truth concerning those devoid of devotion to Shiva.

Verse 4 (shiva.kailasa.2.4)

दीर्घसत्रेण युष्माभिर्भगवानम्बिकापतिः । उपासित इतीदं मे दृष्टमद्य विनिश्चितम्

dīrghasatreṇa yuṣmābhirbhagavānambikāpatiḥ upāsita itīdaṁ me dṛṣṭamadya viniścitam

That the blessed Lord, spouse of Ambika, has been worshipped by you through this long sacrificial session — this I have today clearly seen and ascertained.

Verse 5 (shiva.kailasa.2.5)

तस्माद्वक्ष्यामि युष्माकमितिहासम्पुरातनम् । उमामहेशसम्वादरूपमद्भुतमास्तिकाः

tasmādvakṣyāmi yuṣmākamitihāsampurātanam umāmaheśasamvādarūpamadbhutamāstikāḥ

Therefore, O faithful ones, I shall relate to you an ancient legend, wondrous in form, in the shape of a dialogue between Uma and Mahesha.

Verse 6 (shiva.kailasa.2.6)

पुराखिलजगन्माता सती दाक्षायणी तनुम् । शिवनिन्दाप्रसङ्गेन त्यक्त्वा च जनकाध्वरे

purākhilajaganmātā satī dākṣāyaṇī tanum śivanindāprasaṅgena tyaktvā ca janakādhvare

Long ago, Sati, mother of the whole universe, daughter of Daksha, gave up her body at her father's sacrifice on the occasion of an insult offered to Shiva,

Verse 7 (shiva.kailasa.2.7)

ततः प्रभावात्सा देवी सुताऽभूद्धिमवद्गिरेः । शिवार्थमतपत्सा वै नारदस्योपदेशतः

tataḥ prabhāvātsā devī sutā ’bhūddhimavadgireḥ śivārthamatapatsā vai nāradasyopadeśataḥ

and then, through her own power, that goddess was born as the daughter of the mountain Himavat; and, at Narada's instruction, she performed austerity for the sake of attaining Shiva.

Verse 8 (shiva.kailasa.2.8)

तस्मिन्भूधरवर्य्ये तु स्वयंवरविधानतः । देवेशे च कृतोद्वाहे पार्वती सुखमाप सा

tasminbhūdharavaryye tu svayaṁvaravidhānataḥ deveśe ca kṛtodvāhe pārvatī sukhamāpa sā

On that finest of mountains, through the rite of self-choice, when her marriage to the Lord of gods was accomplished, Parvati attained happiness.

Verse 9 (shiva.kailasa.2.9)

तथैकस्मिन्महादेवी समये पतिना सह । सूपविष्टा महाशैले गौरी देवमभाषत

tathaikasminmahādevī samaye patinā saha sūpaviṣṭā mahāśaile gaurī devamabhāṣata

Then, on a certain occasion, the great goddess Gauri, seated comfortably with her husband on that great mountain, spoke to the god.

Verse 10 (shiva.kailasa.2.10)

महादेव्युवाच । भगवन्परमेशान पञ्चकृत्यविधायक । सर्वज्ञ भक्तिसुलभ परमामृतविग्रह

mahādevyuvāca bhagavanparameśāna pañcakṛtyavidhāyaka sarvajña bhaktisulabha paramāmṛtavigraha

The great goddess said: O blessed Supreme Lord, ordainer of the five cosmic acts! O all-knowing one, easily won by devotion, whose very form is the supreme nectar!

Verse 11 (shiva.kailasa.2.11)

दाक्षायणीन्तनुं त्यक्त्वा तव निन्दाप्रसंगतः । आसमद्य महेशान पुत्री हिमवतो गिरेः

dākṣāyaṇīntanuṁ tyaktvā tava nindāprasaṁgataḥ āsamadya maheśāna putrī himavato gireḥ

Having given up my body as Dakshayani, on the occasion of an insult offered to you, I have now, O Mahesha, become the daughter of the mountain Himavat.

Verse 12 (shiva.kailasa.2.12)

कृपया परमेशान मंत्रदीक्षाविधानतः । मां विशुद्धात्मतत्त्वस्थां कुरु नित्यं महेश्वर

kṛpayā parameśāna maṁtradīkṣāvidhānataḥ māṁ viśuddhātmatattvasthāṁ kuru nityaṁ maheśvara

O Supreme Lord, out of your grace, through the rite of mantra-initiation, make me, O Maheshvara, ever established in the pure truth of the Self.

Verse 13 (shiva.kailasa.2.13)

इति सम्प्रार्थितो देव्या देवः शीतांशु भूषणः । प्रत्युवाच ततो देवीं प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना

iti samprārthito devyā devaḥ śītāṁśu bhūṣaṇaḥ pratyuvāca tato devīṁ prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā

Thus entreated by the goddess, the god adorned with the cool-rayed moon then answered the goddess, his inner heart filled with joy.

Verse 14 (shiva.kailasa.2.14)

महादेव उवाच । धन्या त्वं देवदेवशि यदि जातेदृशी मतिः । कैलास शिखरं गत्वा करिष्ये त्वां च तादृशीम्

mahādeva uvāca dhanyā tvaṁ devadevaśi yadi jātedṛśī matiḥ kailāsa śikharaṁ gatvā kariṣye tvāṁ ca tādṛśīm

Mahadeva said: Blessed are you, O goddess among the gods, since such a resolve has arisen within you. Going to the peak of Kailasa, I shall make you accomplished just as you wish.

Verse 15 (shiva.kailasa.2.15)

ततो हिमवतो गत्वा कैलासम्भूधरेश्वरम् । जगौ दीक्षाविधानेन प्रणवादीन्मनून् क्रमात्

tato himavato gatvā kailāsambhūdhareśvaram jagau dīkṣāvidhānena praṇavādīnmanūn kramāt

Then, going from the Himalaya to Kailasa, lord of mountains, he intoned, through the rite of initiation, the mantras beginning with the Pranava, one after another.

Verse 16 (shiva.kailasa.2.16)

उक्त्वा मंत्रांश्च तान्देवीं कृत्वा शुद्धात्मनि स्थिताम् । सार्द्धं देव्या महादेवो देवोद्यानं गतोऽभवत्

uktvā maṁtrāṁśca tāndevīṁ kṛtvā śuddhātmani sthitām sārddhaṁ devyā mahādevo devodyānaṁ gato ’bhavat

Having recited those mantras, and having established the goddess in the pure Self, Mahadeva went together with her to the garden of the gods.

Verse 17 (shiva.kailasa.2.17)

ततः सुमालिनीमुख्यैर्दैव्याः प्रियसखीजनैः । समाहृतैः प्रफुल्लैस्तैः पुष्पैः कल्पतरूद्भवैः

tataḥ sumālinīmukhyairdaivyāḥ priyasakhījanaiḥ samāhṛtaiḥ praphullaistaiḥ puṣpaiḥ kalpatarūdbhavaiḥ

Then, with fully blossomed flowers born of the wish-fulfilling trees, gathered by the goddess's dear companions led by Sumalini,

Verse 18 (shiva.kailasa.2.18)

अलंकृत्य महादेवीं स्वांकमारोप्य शंकरः । प्रहृष्टवदनस्तस्थौ विलोक्य च तदाननम्

alaṁkṛtya mahādevīṁ svāṁkamāropya śaṁkaraḥ prahṛṣṭavadanastasthau vilokya ca tadānanam

having adorned the great goddess and lifted her onto his own lap, Shankara sat with a joyful face, gazing upon her countenance.

Verse 19 (shiva.kailasa.2.19)

ततः प्रियकथा जाताः पार्वतीपरमेशयोः । हिताय सर्वलोकानां साक्षाच्छ्रुत्यर्थं सम्मिता

tataḥ priyakathā jātāḥ pārvatīparameśayoḥ hitāya sarvalokānāṁ sākṣācchrutyarthaṁ sammitā

Then, between Parvati and the Supreme Lord, loving conversation arose, in perfect accord with the very meaning of the Shruti, for the welfare of all the worlds.

Verse 20 (shiva.kailasa.2.20)

तदा सर्वजगन्माता भर्तुरंकं समाश्रिता । विलोक्य वदनं भर्तुरिदमाहः तपोधनाः

tadā sarvajaganmātā bharturaṁkaṁ samāśritā vilokya vadanaṁ bharturidamāhaḥ tapodhanāḥ

Then, O sages rich in austerity, the mother of all the worlds, resting upon her husband's lap and gazing upon his face, spoke as follows.

Verse 21 (shiva.kailasa.2.21)

श्रीदेव्युवाच । उपदिष्टास्त्वया देव मंत्रास्सप्रणवा मताः । तत्रादौ श्रोतुमिच्छामि प्रणवार्थं विनिश्चितम्

śrīdevyuvāca upadiṣṭāstvayā deva maṁtrāssapraṇavā matāḥ tatrādau śrotumicchāmi praṇavārthaṁ viniścitam

The blessed Goddess said: O god, you have taught me the mantras together with the Pranava, which I have accepted; regarding them, I wish first to hear the precise meaning of the Pranava.

Verse 22 (shiva.kailasa.2.22)

कथम्प्रणव उत्पन्नः कथं प्रणव उच्यते । मात्राः कति समाख्याताः कथं वेदादिरुच्यते

kathampraṇava utpannaḥ kathaṁ praṇava ucyate mātrāḥ kati samākhyātāḥ kathaṁ vedādirucyate

How did the Pranava arise, and how is it pronounced? How many matras are said to make it up, and why is it called the source of the Veda?

Verse 23 (shiva.kailasa.2.23)

देवताः कति च प्रोक्ताः कथं वेदादिभावना । क्रियाः कतिविधाः प्रोक्ता व्याप्यव्यापकता कथम्

devatāḥ kati ca proktāḥ kathaṁ vedādibhāvanā kriyāḥ katividhāḥ proktā vyāpyavyāpakatā katham

How many deities are said to preside over it, and what is the meaning of its being the source of the Veda? Of how many kinds are the rites said to be, and how does the relation of the pervaded and the pervader hold?

Verse 24 (shiva.kailasa.2.24)

ब्रह्माणि पंच मंत्रेऽस्मिन्कथं तिष्ठंत्यनुक्रमात् । कलाः कति समाख्याताः प्रपंचात्मकता कथम्

brahmāṇi paṁca maṁtre ’sminkathaṁ tiṣṭhaṁtyanukramāt kalāḥ kati samākhyātāḥ prapaṁcātmakatā katham

How do the five Brahmas reside within this mantra, in due order? How many kalas are declared of it, and in what way does it possess the nature of the manifest world?

Verse 25 (shiva.kailasa.2.25)

वाच्यवाचकसम्बन्धस्थानानि च कथं शिव । कोऽत्राधिकारी विज्ञेयो विषयः क उदाहृतः

vācyavācakasambandhasthānāni ca kathaṁ śiva ko ’trādhikārī vijñeyo viṣayaḥ ka udāhṛtaḥ

O Shiva, what are the relations between the signified and the signifier, and their locations? Who is to be known as the one qualified here, and what is declared to be its object?

Verse 26 (shiva.kailasa.2.26)

सम्बन्धः कोत्र विज्ञेयः किंप्रयोजनमुच्यते । उपासकस्तु किंरूपः किं वा स्थानमुपासनम्

sambandhaḥ kotra vijñeyaḥ kiṁprayojanamucyate upāsakastu kiṁrūpaḥ kiṁ vā sthānamupāsanam

What relation is to be known here, and what purpose is spoken of? What is the form of the worshipper, and what is the seat of the worship?

Verse 27 (shiva.kailasa.2.27)

उपास्यं वस्तु किंरूपं किं वा फलमुपासितुः । अनुष्ठान विधिः कोवा पूजास्थानं च किं प्रभो

upāsyaṁ vastu kiṁrūpaṁ kiṁ vā phalamupāsituḥ anuṣṭhāna vidhiḥ kovā pūjāsthānaṁ ca kiṁ prabho

What is the form of the object of worship, and what is the fruit for the one who worships? What is the procedure of the rite, and, O Lord, what is the place of worship?

Verse 28 (shiva.kailasa.2.28)

पूजायां मण्डलं किं वा किं वा ऋष्यादिकं हर । न्यासजातविधिः को वा को वा पूजाविधिक्रमः

pūjāyāṁ maṇḍalaṁ kiṁ vā kiṁ vā ṛṣyādikaṁ hara nyāsajātavidhiḥ ko vā ko vā pūjāvidhikramaḥ

O Hara, what is the mandala used in worship, and what are the rishi and the other elements of the mantra? What is the procedure for the various acts of nyasa, and what is the sequence of the rite of worship?

Verse 29 (shiva.kailasa.2.29)

एतत्सर्वं महेशान समाचक्ष्व विशेषतः । श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वेन यद्यस्ति मयि ते कृपा

etatsarvaṁ maheśāna samācakṣva viśeṣataḥ śrotumicchāmi tattvena yadyasti mayi te kṛpā

O Mahesha, explain all this to me in full detail; I wish to hear it exactly as it truly is, if you have grace upon me.

Verse 30 (shiva.kailasa.2.30)

इति देव्या समापृष्टो भगवानिन्दुभूषणः । सम्प्रशस्य महेशानीं वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे

iti devyā samāpṛṣṭo bhagavānindubhūṣaṇaḥ sampraśasya maheśānīṁ vaktuṁ samupacakrame

Thus questioned by the goddess, the blessed Lord adorned with the moon, having duly praised Maheshani, began to speak.