The Goddess's Attainment of Fairness

Verse 1 (shiva.vayaviya.25.1)

वायुरुवाच । ततः प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य पतिमम्बा पतिव्रता । नियम्य च वियोगार्तिं जगाम हिमवद्गिरिम्

vāyuruvāca | tataḥ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya patimambā pativratā | niyamya ca viyogārtiṁ jagāma himavadgirim

Vayu said: Then the devoted mother, having circumambulated her husband and having mastered the pain of separation, set out for Mount Himavat.

Verse 2 (shiva.vayaviya.25.2)

तपः कृतवती पूर्वं देशे यस्मिन्सखीजनैः । तमेव देशमवृणोत्तपसे प्रणयात्पुनः

tapaḥ kṛtavatī pūrvaṁ deśe yasminsakhījanaiḥ | tameva deśamavṛṇottapase praṇayātpunaḥ

The very place where she had once performed austerity together with her companions — that same place she again chose for austerity, out of love.

Verse 3 (shiva.vayaviya.25.3)

ततः स्वपितरं दृष्ट्वा मातरं च तयोर्गृहे । प्रणम्य वृत्तं विज्ञाप्य ताभ्यां चानुमता सती

tataḥ svapitaraṁ dṛṣṭvā mātaraṁ ca tayorgṛhe | praṇamya vṛttaṁ vijñāpya tābhyāṁ cānumatā satī

Then, seeing her own father and mother in their home, bowing to them and informing them of her resolve, the chaste one was granted leave by them both.

Verse 4 (shiva.vayaviya.25.4)

पुनस्तपोवनं गत्वा भूषणानि विसृज्य च । स्नात्वा तपस्विनो वेषं कृत्वा परमपावनम्

punastapovanaṁ gatvā bhūṣaṇāni visṛjya ca | snātvā tapasvino veṣaṁ kṛtvā paramapāvanam

Going again to the penance-grove, casting off her ornaments and bathing, she took on the most sacred garb of a female ascetic.

Verse 5 (shiva.vayaviya.25.5)

सङ्कल्प्य च महातीव्रं तपः परमदुश्चरम् । सदा मनसि सन्धाय भर्तुश्चरणपङ्कजम्

saṅkalpya ca mahātīvraṁ tapaḥ paramaduścaram | sadā manasi sandhāya bhartuścaraṇapaṅkajam

Resolving upon a most intense and supremely difficult austerity, ever holding her husband's lotus feet fixed in her mind —

Verse 6 (shiva.vayaviya.25.6)

तमेव क्षणिके लिङ्गे ध्यात्वा बाह्यविधानतः । त्रिसन्ध्यमभ्यर्चयन्ती वन्यैः पुष्पैः फलादिभिः

tameva kṣaṇike liṅge dhyātvā bāhyavidhānataḥ | trisandhyamabhyarcayantī vanyaiḥ puṣpaiḥ phalādibhiḥ

Meditating on that same Shiva in a temporary linga through outward ritual, worshipping it three times each day with forest flowers, fruits, and the like —

Verse 7 (shiva.vayaviya.25.7)

स एव ब्रह्मणो मूर्तिमास्थाय तपसः फलम् । प्रदास्यति ममेत्येवं नित्यं कृत्वाऽकरोत्तपः

sa eva brahmaṇo mūrtimāsthāya tapasaḥ phalam | pradāsyati mametyevaṁ nityaṁ kṛtvā'karottapaḥ

Thinking always, "He himself, taking on the very form of the fruit-giver, will grant me the fruit of this austerity," with this thought fixed daily, she performed the tapas.

Verse 8 (shiva.vayaviya.25.8)

तथा तपश्चरन्तीं तां काले बहुतिथे गते । दृष्टः कश्चिन्महाव्याघ्रो दुष्टभावादुपागमत्

tathā tapaścarantīṁ tāṁ kāle bahutithe gate | dṛṣṭaḥ kaścinmahāvyāghro duṣṭabhāvādupāgamat

As she practised austerity in this way, much time passed, when a certain great tiger, moved by a wicked intent, was seen approaching her.

Verse 9 (shiva.vayaviya.25.9)

तथैवोपगतस्यापि तस्यातीव दुरात्मनः । गात्रं चित्रार्पितमिव स्तब्धं तस्याः सकाशतः

tathaivopagatasyāpi tasyātīva durātmanaḥ | gātraṁ citrārpitamiva stabdhaṁ tasyāḥ sakāśataḥ

But even as that utterly wicked creature approached, its body, as it came near her, grew rigid and still, as if painted in a picture.

Verse 10 (shiva.vayaviya.25.10)

तं दृष्ट्वापि तथा व्याघ्रं दुष्टभावादुपागतम् । न पृथग्जनवद्देवी स्वभावेन विविच्यते

taṁ dṛṣṭvāpi tathā vyāghraṁ duṣṭabhāvādupāgatam | na pṛthagjanavaddevī svabhāvena vivicyate

Even seeing that tiger approach with wicked intent, the Goddess, unlike an ordinary person, did not distinguish it by its evil nature.

Verse 11 (shiva.vayaviya.25.11)

स तु विष्टब्धसर्वाङ्गो बुभुक्षापरिपीडितः । ममामिषं ततो नान्यदिति मत्वा निरन्तरम्

sa tu viṣṭabdhasarvāṅgo bubhukṣāparipīḍitaḥ | mamāmiṣaṁ tato nānyaditi matvā nirantaram

All his limbs held fast, tormented by hunger, and thinking, "There is no other food for me but her," without pause —

Verse 12 (shiva.vayaviya.25.12)

निरीक्ष्यमाणः सततं देवीमेव तदाऽनिशम् । अतिष्ठदग्रतस्तस्या उपासनमिवाचरत्

nirīkṣyamāṇaḥ satataṁ devīmeva tadā'niśam | atiṣṭhadagratastasyā upāsanamivācarat

he stood there constantly gazing, unblinking, only at the Goddess, standing before her as though performing worship.

Verse 13 (shiva.vayaviya.25.13)

देव्याश्च हृदये नित्यं ममैवायमुपासकः । त्राता च दुष्टसत्त्वेभ्य इति प्रववृते कृपा

devyāśca hṛdaye nityaṁ mamaivāyamupāsakaḥ | trātā ca duṣṭasattvebhya iti pravavṛte kṛpā

In the Goddess's heart there arose, ever anew, the thought, "This one is truly my own worshipper, and my protector from wicked creatures" — thus her compassion welled forth.

Verse 14 (shiva.vayaviya.25.14)

तस्या एव कृपायोगात्सद्यो नष्टमलत्रयः । बभूव सहसा व्याघ्रो देवीं च बुबुधे तदा

tasyā eva kṛpāyogātsadyo naṣṭamalatrayaḥ | babhūva sahasā vyāghro devīṁ ca bubudhe tadā

By the very working of her grace, his three impurities were instantly destroyed; the tiger suddenly awoke to awareness and recognised the Goddess.

Verse 15 (shiva.vayaviya.25.15)

न्यवर्तत बुभुक्षा च तस्याङ्गस्तम्भनं तथा । दौरात्म्यं जन्मसिद्धं च तृप्तिश्च समजायत

nyavartata bubhukṣā ca tasyāṅgastambhanaṁ tathā | daurātmyaṁ janmasiddhaṁ ca tṛptiśca samajāyata

His hunger and the rigidity of his limbs both departed; his innate savagery, born with him, vanished too, and contentment arose in him.

Verse 16 (shiva.vayaviya.25.16)

तदा परमभावेन ज्ञात्वा कार्तार्थ्यमात्मनः । सद्योपासक एवैष सिषेवे परमेश्वरीम्

tadā paramabhāvena jñātvā kārtārthyamātmanaḥ | sadyopāsaka evaiṣa siṣeve parameśvarīm

Then, knowing in the highest state his own fulfilment, he became at once her devoted worshipper and served the Supreme Goddess.

Verse 17 (shiva.vayaviya.25.17)

दुष्टानामपि सत्त्वानां तथान्येषां दुरात्मनाम् । स एव द्रावको भूत्वा विचचार तपोवने

duṣṭānāmapi sattvānāṁ tathānyeṣāṁ durātmanām | sa eva drāvako bhūtvā vicacāra tapovane

He himself then became one who subdued other wicked creatures and other evil beings, and wandered thus through the penance-grove.

Verse 18 (shiva.vayaviya.25.18)

तपश्च ववृधे देव्यास्तीव्रं तीव्रतरात्मकम् । देवाश्च दैत्यनिर्बन्धाद् ब्रह्माणं शरणं गताः

tapaśca vavṛdhe devyāstīvraṁ tīvratarātmakam | devāśca daityanirbandhād brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ

The Goddess's austerity grew ever more intense, more fierce still. Meanwhile the gods, oppressed by the tyranny of the daityas, took refuge with Brahma.

Verse 19 (shiva.vayaviya.25.19)

चक्रुर्निवेदनं देवाः स्वदुःखस्यारिपीडनात् । यथा च ददतुः शुम्भनिशुम्भौ वरसम्मदात्

cakrurnivedanaṁ devāḥ svaduḥkhasyāripīḍanāt | yathā ca dadatuḥ śumbhaniśumbhau varasammadāt

The gods reported their own suffering caused by the enemy — how Shumbha and Nishumbha, intoxicated by the boon they had received, inflicted it.

Verse 20 (shiva.vayaviya.25.20)

सोऽपि श्रुत्वा विधिर्दुःखं सुराणां कृपयान्वितः । आसीद्दैत्यवधायैव स्मृत्वा हेत्वाश्रयां कथाम्

so'pi śrutvā vidhirduḥkhaṁ surāṇāṁ kṛpayānvitaḥ | āsīddaityavadhāyaiva smṛtvā hetvāśrayāṁ kathām

Hearing of the gods' sorrow, Vidhi (Brahma) too was filled with compassion, and for the sake of the daityas' destruction he recalled the tale that held its cause.

Verse 21 (shiva.vayaviya.25.21)

सामरः प्रार्थितो ब्रह्मा ययौ देव्यास्तपोवनम् । संस्मरन्मनसा देवदुःखमोक्षं स्वयत्नतः

sāmaraḥ prārthito brahmā yayau devyāstapovanam | saṁsmaranmanasā devaduḥkhamokṣaṁ svayatnataḥ

Entreated by the gods, Brahma went to the Goddess's penance-grove, pondering in his own mind, by his own effort, the deliverance of the gods from their suffering.

Verse 22 (shiva.vayaviya.25.22)

ददर्श च सुरश्रेष्ठः श्रेष्ठे तपसि निष्ठिताम् । प्रतिष्ठामिव विश्वस्य भवानीं परमेश्वरीम्

dadarśa ca suraśreṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhe tapasi niṣṭhitām | pratiṣṭhāmiva viśvasya bhavānīṁ parameśvarīm

That best of gods beheld Bhavani, the Supreme Goddess, established in the loftiest austerity, as though she were the very foundation of the universe.

Verse 23 (shiva.vayaviya.25.23)

ननाम चास्य जगतो मातरं स्वस्य वै हरेः । रुद्रस्य च पितुर्भार्यामार्यामद्रीश्वरात्मजाम्

nanāma cāsya jagato mātaraṁ svasya vai hareḥ | rudrasya ca piturbhāryāmāryāmadrīśvarātmajām

He bowed to her — the mother of this universe, the wife of his own father and of Hari's and Rudra's father (Himavan), the noble one, the daughter of the lord of mountains.

Verse 24 (shiva.vayaviya.25.24)

ब्रह्माणमागतं दृष्ट्वा देवी देवगणैः सहः । अर्घ्यं तदर्हं दत्त्वाऽस्मै स्वागताद्यैरुपाचरत्

brahmāṇamāgataṁ dṛṣṭvā devī devagaṇaiḥ sahaḥ | arghyaṁ tadarhaṁ dattvā'smai svāgatādyairupācarat

Seeing Brahma arrive, the Goddess, together with the host of gods, offered him due arghya and honoured him with welcome and the like.

Verse 25 (shiva.vayaviya.25.25)

तां च प्रत्युपचारोक्तिं पुरस्कृत्याभिनन्द्य च । पप्रच्छ तपसो हेतुमजानन्निव पद्मजः

tāṁ ca pratyupacāroktiṁ puraskṛtyābhinandya ca | papraccha tapaso hetumajānanniva padmajaḥ

Taking up her words of welcome and offering his congratulations, Padmaja (Brahma) then asked, as though he did not already know, the reason for her austerity.

Verse 26 (shiva.vayaviya.25.26)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तीव्रेण तपसानेन देव्या किमिह साध्यते । तपःफलानां सर्वेषां त्वदधीना हि सिद्धयः

brahmovāca | tīvreṇa tapasānena devyā kimiha sādhyate | tapaḥphalānāṁ sarveṣāṁ tvadadhīnā hi siddhayaḥ

Brahma said: O Goddess, what do you seek to accomplish here by this intense austerity? For the fruits and accomplishments of all austerity are subject to you alone.

Verse 27 (shiva.vayaviya.25.27)

यश्चैव जगतां भर्ता तमेव परमेश्वरम् । भर्तारमात्मना प्राप्य प्राप्तं च तपसः फलम्

yaścaiva jagatāṁ bhartā tameva parameśvaram | bhartāramātmanā prāpya prāptaṁ ca tapasaḥ phalam

He who is himself the Lord of all worlds — him you have already obtained as your own husband; and thus you have already obtained the fruit of austerity.

Verse 28 (shiva.vayaviya.25.28)

अथवा सर्वमेवैतत्क्रीडाविलसितं तव । इदं तु चित्रं देवस्य विरहं सहसे कथम्

athavā sarvamevaitatkrīḍāvilasitaṁ tava | idaṁ tu citraṁ devasya virahaṁ sahase katham

Or else this is all merely the play of your own sport. But it is a wonder — how do you endure this separation from the Lord?

Verse 29 (shiva.vayaviya.25.29)

देव्युवाच । सर्गादौ भवतो देवादुत्पत्तिः श्रूयते यदा । तदा प्रजानां प्रथमस्त्वं मे प्रथमजः सुतः

devyuvāca | sargādau bhavato devādutpattiḥ śrūyate yadā | tadā prajānāṁ prathamastvaṁ me prathamajaḥ sutaḥ

The Goddess said: When, at the beginning of creation, your own birth, O god, is heard of — then among created beings you were, as it were, my firstborn son.

Verse 30 (shiva.vayaviya.25.30)

यदा पुनः प्रजावृद्ध्यै ललाटाद्भवतो भवः । उत्पन्नोऽभूत्तदा त्वं मे गुरुः श्वशुरभावतः

yadā punaḥ prajāvṛddhyai lalāṭādbhavato bhavaḥ | utpanno'bhūttadā tvaṁ me guruḥ śvaśurabhāvataḥ

Then again, when Bhava (Rudra) was born from your forehead for the increase of progeny, you became, as father-in-law, my guru.

Verse 31 (shiva.vayaviya.25.31)

यदाभवद्गिरीन्द्रस्ते पुत्रो मम पिता स्वयम् । तदा पितामहस्त्वं मे जातो लोकपितामह

yadābhavadgirīndraste putro mama pitā svayam | tadā pitāmahastvaṁ me jāto lokapitāmaha

And when the lord of mountains, who is himself my own father, became your son, then you, O grandfather of the worlds, became my grandfather too.

Verse 32 (shiva.vayaviya.25.32)

तदीदृशस्य भवतो लोकयात्राविधायिनः । वृत्तमन्तःपुरे भर्त्रा कथयिष्ये कथं पुनः

tadīdṛśasya bhavato lokayātrāvidhāyinaḥ | vṛttamantaḥpure bhartrā kathayiṣye kathaṁ punaḥ

To you, then, who thus order the course of the whole world's life, how could I possibly speak of what passed with my husband in the inner chambers?

Verse 33 (shiva.vayaviya.25.33)

किमत्र बहुना देहे यश्चायं मम कालिमा । त्यक्त्वा सत्त्वविधानेन गौरी भवितुमुत्सहे

kimatra bahunā dehe yaścāyaṁ mama kālimā | tyaktvā sattvavidhānena gaurī bhavitumutsahe

But why say more of this — as for the darkness of my own complexion, I am resolved to shed it by the way of purity, and become fair — Gauri.

Verse 34 (shiva.vayaviya.25.34)

ब्रह्मोवाच । एतावता किमर्थेन तीव्रं देवि तपः कृतम् । स्वेच्छैव किमपर्याप्ता क्रीडेयं हि तवेदृशी

brahmovāca | etāvatā kimarthena tīvraṁ devi tapaḥ kṛtam | svecchaiva kimaparyāptā krīḍeyaṁ hi tavedṛśī

Brahma said: O Goddess, for so small a purpose why undertake such intense austerity? Would not this very sport of yours, by your own will alone, have sufficed?

Verse 35 (shiva.vayaviya.25.35)

क्रीडाऽपि च जगन्मातस्तव लोकहिताय वै । अतो ममेष्टमनया फलं किमपि साध्यताम्

krīḍā'pi ca jaganmātastava lokahitāya vai | ato mameṣṭamanayā phalaṁ kimapi sādhyatām

The Goddess said: O mother of the worlds — even this play is for the good of the world. So let some desired fruit of mine also be accomplished through this austerity.

Verse 36 (shiva.vayaviya.25.36)

निशुम्भशुम्भनामानौ दैत्यौ दत्तवरौ मया । दृप्तौ देवान्प्रबाधेते त्वत्तो लब्धस्तयोर्वधः

niśumbhaśumbhanāmānau daityau dattavarau mayā | dṛptau devānprabādhete tvatto labdhastayorvadhaḥ

It was I myself who once granted boons to the two daityas named Nishumbha and Shumbha. Grown arrogant, they now oppress the gods — and their destruction shall be won through you.

Verse 37 (shiva.vayaviya.25.37)

अलं विलम्बनेनात्र त्वं क्षणेन स्थिरा भव । शक्तिर्विसृज्यमानाद्य तयोर्मृत्युर्भविष्यति

alaṁ vilambanenātra tvaṁ kṣaṇena sthirā bhava | śaktirvisṛjyamānādya tayormṛtyurbhaviṣyati

Delay no longer here; be resolved this instant — for the power that shall be released this day will bring about the death of those two.

Verse 38 (shiva.vayaviya.25.38)

ब्राह्मणाऽभ्यर्थिता चैव देवी गिरिवरात्मजा । त्वक्कोशं सहसोत्सृज्य गौरी सा समजायत

brāhmaṇā'bhyarthitā caiva devī girivarātmajā | tvakkośaṁ sahasotsṛjya gaurī sā samajāyata

Thus entreated by Brahma, the Goddess, the daughter of the lord of mountains, at once cast off the sheath of her dark skin, and became Gauri.

Verse 39 (shiva.vayaviya.25.39)

सा त्वक्कोशात्मनोत्सृष्टा कौशिकी नाम नामतः । काली कालाम्बुदप्रख्या कन्यका समपद्यत

sā tvakkośātmanotsṛṣṭā kauśikī nāma nāmataḥ | kālī kālāmbudaprakhyā kanyakā samapadyata

From that cast-off sheath there arose, of itself, a maiden named Kaushiki, dark as a rain-cloud, who was called Kali.

Verse 40 (shiva.vayaviya.25.40)

सा तु मायात्मिका शक्तिर्योगनिद्रा च वैष्णवी । शङ्खचक्रत्रिशूलादिसायुधाष्टमहाभुजा

sā tu māyātmikā śaktiryoganidrā ca vaiṣṇavī | śaṅkhacakratriśūlādisāyudhāṣṭamahābhujā

She was the power made of maya itself, Yoganidra, Vaishnavi — armed with the conch, discus, trident, and other weapons, possessed of eight mighty arms.

Verse 41 (shiva.vayaviya.25.41)

सौम्या घोरा च मिश्रा च त्रिनेत्रा चन्द्रशेखरा । अजातपुंस्पर्शरतिरधृष्या चातिसुन्दरी

saumyā ghorā ca miśrā ca trinetrā candraśekharā | ajātapuṁsparśaratiradhṛṣyā cātisundarī

She was gentle, and also fierce, and also of mixed nature; three-eyed, moon-crested, untouched by any desire for a man's touch, unassailable, and supremely beautiful.

Verse 42 (shiva.vayaviya.25.42)

दत्ता च ब्रह्मणे देव्या शक्तिरेषा सनातनी । निशुम्भस्य च शुम्भस्य निहन्त्री दैत्यसिंहयोः

dattā ca brahmaṇe devyā śaktireṣā sanātanī | niśumbhasya ca śumbhasya nihantrī daityasiṁhayoḥ

This eternal power the Goddess then gave over to Brahma — she who would slay Nishumbha and Shumbha, those two lion-like daityas.

Verse 43 (shiva.vayaviya.25.43)

ब्रह्मणाऽपि प्रहृष्टेन तस्यै परमशक्तये । प्रबलः केसरी दत्तो वाहनत्वे समागतः

brahmaṇā'pi prahṛṣṭena tasyai paramaśaktaye | prabalaḥ kesarī datto vāhanatve samāgataḥ

Brahma, greatly delighted, in turn gave to that supreme power a mighty lion to serve her as her mount.

Verse 44 (shiva.vayaviya.25.44)

विन्ध्ये च वसतिं तस्याः पूजामासवपूर्वकैः । मांसैर्मत्स्यैरपूपैश्च निर्वर्त्यासौ समादिशत्

vindhye ca vasatiṁ tasyāḥ pūjāmāsavapūrvakaiḥ | māṁsairmatsyairapūpaiśca nirvartyāsau samādiśat

He ordained for her a dwelling on the Vindhya mountain, and appointed for her worship offerings led by liquor, along with meat, fish, and cakes.

Verse 45 (shiva.vayaviya.25.45)

सा चैव सम्मता शक्तिर्ब्रह्मणो विश्वकर्मणः । प्रणम्य मातरं गौरीं ब्रह्माणं चानुपूर्वशः

sā caiva sammatā śaktirbrahmaṇo viśvakarmaṇaḥ | praṇamya mātaraṁ gaurīṁ brahmāṇaṁ cānupūrvaśaḥ

That power, thus honoured by Brahma the world-maker, bowed in turn to her mother Gauri and then to Brahma —

Verse 46 (shiva.vayaviya.25.46)

शक्तिभिश्चापि तुल्याभिः स्वात्मजाभिरनेकशः । परीता प्रययौ विन्ध्यं दैत्येन्द्रौ हन्तुमुद्यता

śaktibhiścāpi tulyābhiḥ svātmajābhiranekaśaḥ | parītā prayayau vindhyaṁ daityendrau hantumudyatā

surrounded by many other powers equal to herself, she set forth for the Vindhya mountain, resolved upon the destruction of the two lords of the daityas.

Verse 47 (shiva.vayaviya.25.47)

निहतौ च तया तत्र समरे दैत्यपुङ्गवौ । तद्बाणैः कामबाणैश्च च्छिन्नभिन्नाङ्गमानसौ

nihatau ca tayā tatra samare daityapuṅgavau | tadbāṇaiḥ kāmabāṇaiśca cchinnabhinnāṅgamānasau

In that battle those two chief daityas were slain by her — pierced by her own arrows and by the arrows of Kama as well, so that their bodies and minds alike were shattered.

Verse 48 (shiva.vayaviya.25.48)

तद्युद्धविस्तरश्चात्र न कृतोऽन्यत्र वर्णनात् । ऊहनीयं परस्माच्च प्रस्तुतं वर्णयामि वः

tadyuddhavistaraścātra na kṛto'nyatra varṇanāt | ūhanīyaṁ parasmācca prastutaṁ varṇayāmi vaḥ

The full extent of that battle has not been told here, for it has already been recounted elsewhere. It is to be inferred from that other account; I shall now describe the matter presently at hand.