Parvati's Service to Lord Arunachaleshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.1.132.1)

नंदिकेश्वर उवाच । गार्हस्थ्यं बिभ्रती भर्तुरेकाम्रतलवासिनः । पक्वान्नपानैस्सा तत्र पर्य्यतर्पयत प्रजाः

naṁdikeśvara uvāca gārhasthyaṁ bibhratī bharturekāmratalavāsinaḥ pakvānnapānaissā tatra paryyatarpayata prajāḥ

Nandikeshvara said: Upholding the household duties of her husband who dwelt beneath the mango tree, she there satisfied the people with cooked food and drink.

Verse 2 (skanda.1.132.2)

जातु संध्यानुसंधानमुकुलीकृतलोचनम् । बद्धांजलिपुटं देवमद्राक्षीदद्रिनंदिनी

jātu saṁdhyānusaṁdhānamukulīkṛtalocanam baddhāṁjalipuṭaṁ devamadrākṣīdadrinaṁdinī

Once the mountain's daughter saw the god absorbed in his evening devotions, his eyes half-closed like buds, his palms joined together.

Verse 3 (skanda.1.132.3)

ध्यायते नूनमधुना कापि सौभाग्यशालिनी । क्रियते यन्मयि प्रेम तन्मन्ये वचनं महत्

dhyāyate nūnamadhunā kāpi saubhāgyaśālinī kriyate yanmayi prema tanmanye vacanaṁ mahat

She thought: "Surely he is meditating now on some fortunate woman; the love he professes for me, I think, is nothing but fine words."

Verse 4 (skanda.1.132.4)

कथं विज्ञायते पुंसां कुटिला मानसी स्थितिः । मिथ्योपचाराद्दक्षेण वंचितास्म्यमुना भृशम्

kathaṁ vijñāyate puṁsāṁ kuṭilā mānasī sthitiḥ mithyopacārāddakṣeṇa vaṁcitāsmyamunā bhṛśam

How indeed can one ever fathom the crooked heart of a man? By this clever one's false courtesy, I have been thoroughly deceived.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.132.5)

मयि दाक्षिण्यमेवास्य मन्ये मनसि चेद्रहः । जनः सौभाग्यवान्यस्माद्भवति स्नेहभाजनम्

mayi dākṣiṇyamevāsya manye manasi cedrahaḥ janaḥ saubhāgyavānyasmādbhavati snehabhājanam

I think this is mere courtesy shown to me, if there is some secret in his heart — for it is only the truly fortunate one who becomes the object of real affection.

Verse 6 (skanda.1.132.6)

अद्यप्रभृति ते दासस्तपोभिः क्रीत इत्यपि । मुग्धेंदुशेखरेणास्मि विप्रलब्धा स्मरारिणा

adyaprabhṛti te dāsastapobhiḥ krīta ityapi mugdheṁduśekhareṇāsmi vipralabdhā smarāriṇā

"From this day I am your slave, bought by your penances" — with such words too the seemingly guileless Moon-crested one, the enemy of Kama, has beguiled me.

Verse 7 (skanda.1.132.7)

असमानानुरागेषु नारीणां मूढचेतसाम् । सौभाग्यगर्वो लोकेषु परिहासाय केवलम्

asamānānurāgeṣu nārīṇāṁ mūḍhacetasām saubhāgyagarvo lokeṣu parihāsāya kevalam

When love is unequal between two, the pride that foolish-minded women take in their good fortune becomes, in the eyes of the world, mere cause for mockery.

Verse 8 (skanda.1.132.8)

इति प्रणयरोषेण देव्याः कलुषचेतसः । हव्यवाहातपालीढमिवाननमलक्ष्यत

iti praṇayaroṣeṇa devyāḥ kaluṣacetasaḥ havyavāhātapālīḍhamivānanamalakṣyata

Thus, in the anger born of love, the Goddess's mind grew troubled, and her face appeared as though scorched by the heat of fire.

Verse 9 (skanda.1.132.9)

वाष्पवारिप्लवे तस्या आताम्रे च विलोचने । नीलोत्पले जलापूर्णे इव भूम्ना विरेजतुः

vāṣpavāriplave tasyā ātāmre ca vilocane nīlotpale jalāpūrṇe iva bhūmnā virejatuḥ

Her eyes, welling with tears and tinged red, shone forth like two blue lotuses brimming over with water.

Verse 10 (skanda.1.132.10)

यत्तस्याधीनतिलकं भ्रुवोर्युगमभज्यत । द्वेधाकृतमिवादर्शि मन्मथस्य शरासनम्

yattasyādhīnatilakaṁ bhruvoryugamabhajyata dvedhākṛtamivādarśi manmathasya śarāsanam

Her pair of eyebrows, over which her tilaka rested, arched so sharply that they seemed like Kama's very bow, snapped into two.

Verse 11 (skanda.1.132.11)

अंतर्मन्युभरेणास्याः कंपते स्माधरच्छदः । मुहुः प्रवालस्थायीव रक्ताशोकस्य पल्लवः

aṁtarmanyubhareṇāsyāḥ kaṁpate smādharacchadaḥ muhuḥ pravālasthāyīva raktāśokasya pallavaḥ

Weighed down by inner anger, her lower lip quivered again and again, like the tender crimson shoot of an ashoka tree trembling on its coral branch.

Verse 12 (skanda.1.132.12)

अतीव रज्यमाने तत्पार्वत्या गंडमंडलम् । शाणावघर्षमाणिक्यदर्पणप्रतिमं बभौ

atīva rajyamāne tatpārvatyā gaṁḍamaṁḍalam śāṇāvagharṣamāṇikyadarpaṇapratimaṁ babhau

Deeply flushed with color, Parvati's rounded cheek gleamed like a ruby mirror being polished upon a whetstone.

Verse 13 (skanda.1.132.13)

अंतर्वेपधुतौ तस्याश्चकंपाते पयोधरौ । पद्मकोशाविवांतःस्थ चंचरीकप्रचालितौ

aṁtarvepadhutau tasyāścakaṁpāte payodharau padmakośāvivāṁtaḥstha caṁcarīkapracālitau

Trembling with inward agitation, her two breasts quivered like a pair of lotus-buds shaken by bees stirring inside them.

Verse 14 (skanda.1.132.14)

अचिंतयच्च संभूय सौभाग्याभावतो ननु । ममायमन्यस्त्रीचिंतां कुरुते चंद्रभूषणः

aciṁtayacca saṁbhūya saubhāgyābhāvato nanu mamāyamanyastrīciṁtāṁ kurute caṁdrabhūṣaṇaḥ

Gathering her thoughts, she reflected: "Surely, for lack of good fortune on my part, this Moon-crowned lord is thinking of some other woman."

Verse 15 (skanda.1.132.15)

तदैषा क्वापि यास्यामि किमत्रास्त्येकया मम । तपस्यते च सौभाग्यमर्जनीयं मयाधुना

tadaiṣā kvāpi yāsyāmi kimatrāstyekayā mama tapasyate ca saubhāgyamarjanīyaṁ mayādhunā

"Then I shall go elsewhere; what use is there in staying here alone? Now I must win my good fortune through penance."

Verse 16 (skanda.1.132.16)

निमीलिताक्षिण्येवास्य गंतव्यं निभृतं मया । न चेन्मां वारयत्येष कंठादुपरि भाषितैः

nimīlitākṣiṇyevāsya gaṁtavyaṁ nibhṛtaṁ mayā na cenmāṁ vārayatyeṣa kaṁṭhādupari bhāṣitaiḥ

"I must slip away quietly while his eyes remain closed; if he does not even call out to stop me..."

Verse 17 (skanda.1.132.17)

वत्सौ तु वर्धयत्येव गंगेयमतिवत्सला । देवस्तु न स्मरत्येव मामन्यस्त्रीपरायणः

vatsau tu vardhayatyeva gaṁgeyamativatsalā devastu na smaratyeva māmanyastrīparāyaṇaḥ

"This most tender Ganga does indeed nurture the two boys; but this god, devoted now to another woman, does not even remember me at all."

Verse 18 (skanda.1.132.18)

इति निश्चित्य देवस्य पार्श्वादाशु निवृत्त्य सा । अनिर्दिश्य दिशं कांचिद्यातुं व्यग्रा प्रचक्रमे

iti niścitya devasya pārśvādāśu nivṛttya sā anirdiśya diśaṁ kāṁcidyātuṁ vyagrā pracakrame

Having resolved thus, she quickly turned away from the god's side and, without naming any particular direction, set out eagerly to depart.

Verse 19 (skanda.1.132.19)

चलावती माल्यवती मालिनी विजया जया । वारिता अपि संरंभात्स्वामिनीमन्वयुः स्वयम्

calāvatī mālyavatī mālinī vijayā jayā vāritā api saṁraṁbhātsvāminīmanvayuḥ svayam

Chalavati, Malyavati, Malini, Vijaya, and Jaya, though told not to, followed their mistress of their own accord, urged on by their concern.

Verse 20 (skanda.1.132.20)

तत्र सापि गिरीन्पुण्यान्वनानि नगराणि च । सरांसि सरितश्चैषा विचचार समंततः

tatra sāpi girīnpuṇyānvanāni nagarāṇi ca sarāṁsi saritaścaiṣā vicacāra samaṁtataḥ

There she too wandered everywhere — through holy mountains, forests, cities, lakes, and rivers.

Verse 21 (skanda.1.132.21)

भ्रमंती सह्यपादेषु द्राविडाख्ये सुनीवृति । तीर्त्वा शक्त्यापगां देवी विजयां समभाषत

bhramaṁtī sahyapādeṣu drāviḍākhye sunīvṛti tīrtvā śaktyāpagāṁ devī vijayāṁ samabhāṣata

Wandering along the foothills of the Sahya mountains in the well-governed land called Dravida, and having crossed the river Shakti, the Goddess spoke to Vijaya.

Verse 22 (skanda.1.132.22)

दृश्योऽयं नातिदूरेण पुरस्तात्सकलारुणः । शृंगैस्संलक्ष्यतेऽष्टाभिर्नूनं माहात्म्यवान्गिरिः

dṛśyo'yaṁ nātidūreṇa purastātsakalāruṇaḥ śṛṁgaissaṁlakṣyate'ṣṭābhirnūnaṁ māhātmyavāngiriḥ

"This mountain, wholly red in hue, can be seen not far ahead; surely, marked by its eight peaks, it is a mountain of great glory."

Verse 23 (skanda.1.132.23)

उपत्यकासु चैतस्य दृश्यंते तापसाश्रमाः । अतीव पावनाः शांताः पुण्यारण्यमनोहराः

upatyakāsu caitasya dṛśyaṁte tāpasāśramāḥ atīva pāvanāḥ śāṁtāḥ puṇyāraṇyamanoharāḥ

And in its lower slopes are seen the hermitages of ascetics — deeply purifying, serene, and delightful with their sacred forest.

Verse 24 (skanda.1.132.24)

गत्वा निरूपयामस्तानिमान्पुण्याश्रमान्वयम् । प्रसीदतितरां चेत एषां संदर्शनेन मे

gatvā nirūpayāmastānimānpuṇyāśramānvayam prasīdatitarāṁ ceta eṣāṁ saṁdarśanena me

"Let us go and look upon these sacred hermitages; my mind grows all the more serene at the very sight of them."

Verse 25 (skanda.1.132.25)

एवमाह्रादयत्यालि क्रमेण गिरिनंदिनी । तस्याद्रेर्जग्मुषी पार्श्वमपश्यत्कंचिदाश्रमम्

evamāhrādayatyāli krameṇa girinaṁdinī tasyādrerjagmuṣī pārśvamapaśyatkaṁcidāśramam

Thus delighting her friend, the mountain's daughter gradually made her way toward that mountain and caught sight of a certain hermitage.

Verse 26 (skanda.1.132.26)

लूतास्तंतून्नयंत्यत्र कुम्भीराः शैवलान्यपि । शिशून्पुष्णंति नीवारैः सफरान्भूरिमायवः

lūtāstaṁtūnnayaṁtyatra kumbhīrāḥ śaivalānyapi śiśūnpuṣṇaṁti nīvāraiḥ sapharānbhūrimāyavaḥ

There spiders spun their webs, crocodiles gathered moss, and the ever-clever fish nourished their young with grains of wild rice.

Verse 27 (skanda.1.132.27)

हरंत्यवकरान्वालैश्चमराः स्फीतरोमभिः । समीकुर्वंति चोद्भूतैर्विषाणैर्यत्र सैरिभाः

haraṁtyavakarānvālaiścamarāḥ sphītaromabhiḥ samīkurvaṁti codbhūtairviṣāṇairyatra sairibhāḥ

There yaks with their bushy tails swept away the litter, and elephants leveled the ground with their upraised tusks.

Verse 28 (skanda.1.132.28)

वानराः फलपुष्पाणि मधुपत्राणि भल्लुकाः । क्रोडाः स्नानीयमृत्स्नां च यत्रर्षिभ्यो नयंत्यहो

vānarāḥ phalapuṣpāṇi madhupatrāṇi bhallukāḥ kroḍāḥ snānīyamṛtsnāṁ ca yatrarṣibhyo nayaṁtyaho

There, wondrously, monkeys brought fruits and flowers, bears brought honey-laden leaves, and wild boars brought bathing clay for the sages.

Verse 29 (skanda.1.132.29)

काकोलूकैः शुकश्येनैर्मृगव्याघ्रैर्हरिद्विपैः । कलापिसर्पैर्यत्रासुमार्जारैः सौहृदं श्रितम्

kākolūkaiḥ śukaśyenairmṛgavyāghrairharidvipaiḥ kalāpisarpairyatrāsumārjāraiḥ sauhṛdaṁ śritam

There crows and owls, parrots and hawks, deer and tigers, lions and elephants, peacocks and snakes, mongooses and cats had all taken refuge in mutual friendship.

Verse 30 (skanda.1.132.30)

हूयमानपुराडाशद्रव्यसौरभ्यहारिणी । यत्र द्रुमांतरालेभ्यो धूम्या निर्याति पावनी

hūyamānapurāḍāśadravyasaurabhyahāriṇī yatra drumāṁtarālebhyo dhūmyā niryāti pāvanī

There, from among the trees, purifying smoke rose up, carrying the fragrance of the sacrificial cakes being offered into the fire.

Verse 31 (skanda.1.132.31)

पठंति शतरुद्रीयं यत्र वायसवैरिणः । गृणंति काकाः स्तोत्राणि साम गायंति सारिकाः

paṭhaṁti śatarudrīyaṁ yatra vāyasavairiṇaḥ gṛṇaṁti kākāḥ stotrāṇi sāma gāyaṁti sārikāḥ

There the owls, foes of the crows, recited the Shatarudriya hymn, the crows intoned hymns of praise, and the mynah birds sang the Sama chants.

Verse 32 (skanda.1.132.32)

शाकशालिषु शार्दूलाश्चरंति च तथैव गाः । सिंचंति पुष्करांभोभिः कुंभिनी यत्र पादपान्

śākaśāliṣu śārdūlāścaraṁti ca tathaiva gāḥ siṁcaṁti puṣkarāṁbhobhiḥ kuṁbhinī yatra pādapān

There tigers grazed alongside the cows in the fields of vegetables and rice, and female elephants watered the trees with lotus-pond water.

Verse 33 (skanda.1.132.33)

क्वचिच्च शोभने देशे पुण्ये पुण्यमनोहरे । ददर्श सा तपस्यन्तं यं कंचिद्दृषिसत्तमम्

kvacicca śobhane deśe puṇye puṇyamanohare dadarśa sā tapasyantaṁ yaṁ kaṁciddṛṣisattamam

And in a certain beautiful, sacred, and holy, delightful spot, she beheld a most excellent sage engaged in penance.

Verse 34 (skanda.1.132.34)

अधस्तात्सप्तपर्णस्य चित्रव्याघ्रत्वगासने । बद्धवीरासनं सम्यक्पावने कुशविष्टरे

adhastātsaptaparṇasya citravyāghratvagāsane baddhavīrāsanaṁ samyakpāvane kuśaviṣṭare

Beneath a saptaparna tree, seated firmly in the virasana posture upon a striped tiger-skin, on a pure mat of kusha grass.

Verse 35 (skanda.1.132.35)

शालिशूकारुणाभाभिर्जटाभिर्भस्मपांडुरम् । अचंचलाभिर्विद्युद्भिरिव शारदवारिदम्

śāliśūkāruṇābhābhirjaṭābhirbhasmapāṁḍuram acaṁcalābhirvidyudbhiriva śāradavāridam

With matted hair the reddish hue of paddy-husks, his body pale with sacred ash, he seemed like an autumn cloud lit by unwavering lightning.

Verse 36 (skanda.1.132.36)

नासाग्रनिश्चलदृशं समप्रस्फुरिताधरम् । आवर्त्तयन्तं रुद्राक्षमालिकामग्रपाणिना

nāsāgraniścaladṛśaṁ samaprasphuritādharam āvarttayantaṁ rudrākṣamālikāmagrapāṇinā

His gaze fixed steadily on the tip of his nose, his lips trembling faintly, he turned a rosary of rudraksha beads with his fingertips.

Verse 37 (skanda.1.132.37)

प्रत्यग्रनिर्णेजनतो ह्यंत्यश्यानदशांचले । वसानं वल्कलयुगे संध्याभ्रे भूभृतां यथा

pratyagranirṇejanato hyaṁtyaśyānadaśāṁcale vasānaṁ valkalayuge saṁdhyābhre bhūbhṛtāṁ yathā

He wore two freshly-washed bark garments with worn, frayed edges, resembling an evening cloud settled upon the mountains.

Verse 38 (skanda.1.132.38)

षड्वर्गहिंस्रबंधाय स्थापितां वागुरामिव । उपवीतत्रयीमारादुरोगर्तस्य बिभ्रतम् । कृतोचितोपचारा सा तमप्राक्षीत्तपोधनम्

ṣaḍvargahiṁsrabaṁdhāya sthāpitāṁ vāgurāmiva upavītatrayīmārādurogartasya bibhratam kṛtocitopacārā sā tamaprākṣīttapodhanam

He bore a triple sacred thread across his chest, as if it were a snare laid to trap and slay the six inner enemies; having paid him fitting courtesy, she questioned that sage rich in austerity.

Verse 39 (skanda.1.132.39)

पार्वत्युवाच । कस्त्वं कोऽयं गिरिवरो यत्र त्वं कुरुषे तपः

pārvatyuvāca kastvaṁ ko'yaṁ girivaro yatra tvaṁ kuruṣe tapaḥ

Parvati said: "Who are you, and what is this great mountain on which you practice your penance?"

Verse 40 (skanda.1.132.40)

स चाहारुणशैलोऽयं पुण्यक्षेत्रेषु पूजितः । गौतमोऽहं मुनिर्मुक्त्यै तपसाराधये शिवम्

sa cāhāruṇaśailo'yaṁ puṇyakṣetreṣu pūjitaḥ gautamo'haṁ munirmuktyai tapasārādhaye śivam

He said: "This is Aruna, the red mountain, revered among sacred places; I am the sage Gautama, and I worship Shiva through penance in pursuit of liberation."

Verse 41 (skanda.1.132.41)

इत्युक्त्वा विजयादीनां मुखेनैनामुमां विदन् । प्रणम्य भक्त्या बहुशो नीतवानुटजं निजम्

ityuktvā vijayādīnāṁ mukhenaināmumāṁ vidan praṇamya bhaktyā bahuśo nītavānuṭajaṁ nijam

Having said this, and learning from what Vijaya and the others called her that she was Uma herself, he bowed to her again and again with devotion and led her to his own hermitage.

Verse 42 (skanda.1.132.42)

कन्दमूलफलाद्यैश्च कृतातिथ्यामिमां मुनिः । जगन्मंगलमूलाय तपसे चान्वमन्यत

kandamūlaphalādyaiśca kṛtātithyāmimāṁ muniḥ jaganmaṁgalamūlāya tapase cānvamanyata

The sage, having welcomed her as a guest with roots, bulbs, and fruits, gave his consent that she should perform penance there for the welfare of the whole world.

Verse 43 (skanda.1.132.43)

ज्योतिःस्तम्भस्य संभूतिमारभ्यानुक्रमेण सः । जगाद चास्यै शोणाद्रेर्महिमानमशेषतः

jyotiḥstambhasya saṁbhūtimārabhyānukrameṇa saḥ jagāda cāsyai śoṇādrermahimānamaśeṣataḥ

Then he related to her, in due order beginning from the origin of the Pillar of Light, the entire greatness of the Red Mountain.

Verse 44 (skanda.1.132.44)

शोणाद्रेः पूर्वदिग्भागे स्थलीश्वरमिति स्थलम् । यत्र संनिहितः शंभुर्ज्योतिर्लिंगात्मतां गतः

śoṇādreḥ pūrvadigbhāge sthalīśvaramiti sthalam yatra saṁnihitaḥ śaṁbhurjyotirliṁgātmatāṁ gataḥ

"To the east of the Red Mountain lies a place called Sthalishvara, where Shambhu himself resides, having taken the form of the linga of light."

Verse 45 (skanda.1.132.45)

वैकुण्ठपरमेष्ठ्यादि गीर्वाण निबिडीकृते । न तत्र मे तपः कर्तुमव्याक्षेपेण शक्यते

vaikuṇṭhaparameṣṭhyādi gīrvāṇa nibiḍīkṛte na tatra me tapaḥ kartumavyākṣepeṇa śakyate

"That place is crowded with Vishnu, Brahma, and the other gods; hence I am unable to perform my penance there without disturbance."

Verse 46 (skanda.1.132.46)

अयं शोणगिरेः पादः प्रवालाचलनामवान् । पुण्यारण्योपरुद्धत्वाद्रहस्यत्वं विगाहते

ayaṁ śoṇagireḥ pādaḥ pravālācalanāmavān puṇyāraṇyoparuddhatvādrahasyatvaṁ vigāhate

"This foothill of the Red Mountain, called Pravalachala, being enclosed within the sacred forest, possesses the quality of seclusion."

Verse 47 (skanda.1.132.47)

तत एवाहमत्रैव प्रतिष्ठाप्य त्रिलोचनम् । आराधये यथाशक्ति तपोभिः कल्पितात्मभिः

tata evāhamatraiva pratiṣṭhāpya trilocanam ārādhaye yathāśakti tapobhiḥ kalpitātmabhiḥ

"Therefore it is here alone that I have installed the three-eyed Lord, and I worship him to the best of my ability through austerities of my own devising."

Verse 48 (skanda.1.132.48)

ममाश्रमसमीपेऽस्मिन्पुण्यक्षेत्रमिदं महत् । क्रियतामाश्रमो देव्या कर्त्तव्यं हि तपश्चिरम्

mamāśramasamīpe'sminpuṇyakṣetramidaṁ mahat kriyatāmāśramo devyā karttavyaṁ hi tapaściram

"Near my own hermitage lies this great sacred place; let the Goddess establish her hermitage here, for she must indeed practice penance for a long time."

Verse 49 (skanda.1.132.49)

मुनेरेवमनुज्ञानात्कृताश्रमपरिग्रहा । उदयुंक्त तपः कर्त्तुं सुमहत्पर्वतात्मजा

munerevamanujñānātkṛtāśramaparigrahā udayuṁkta tapaḥ karttuṁ sumahatparvatātmajā

With the sage's permission thus given, the great daughter of the mountain established her own hermitage and set herself to the practice of penance.

Verse 50 (skanda.1.132.50)

आश्रमं रक्षितुं सत्यवतीं काननवासिनीम् । शुभगां धुंधुमारिं च प्रागाद्याशास्वतिष्ठिपत्

āśramaṁ rakṣituṁ satyavatīṁ kānanavāsinīm śubhagāṁ dhuṁdhumāriṁ ca prāgādyāśāsvatiṣṭhipat

To guard her hermitage, she stationed the forest-dwelling Satyavati, the lovely Dhundhumari, and others at the eastern quarter and the rest.

Verse 51 (skanda.1.132.51)

तपोवनस्य सर्वस्य रक्षार्थं सा समादिशत् । दुर्गामनर्गलस्फूर्तिमाज्ञानिर्वाहणक्षमाम्

tapovanasya sarvasya rakṣārthaṁ sā samādiśat durgāmanargalasphūrtimājñānirvāhaṇakṣamām

For the protection of the whole penance-grove, she appointed Durga, of unchecked power, able to carry out her every command.

Verse 52 (skanda.1.132.52)

अनंतरं सा धम्मिल्लं मंदारप्रसवोचितम् । जटाभरत्वं तपसे गमयामास पार्वती

anaṁtaraṁ sā dhammillaṁ maṁdāraprasavocitam jaṭābharatvaṁ tapase gamayāmāsa pārvatī

Thereafter, Parvati transformed her braided hair, once adorned with mandara blossoms, into matted locks befitting her austerities.

Verse 53 (skanda.1.132.53)

हंसचिह्नदशं हित्वा दुकूलं मिहकालघु । परुषं सुकुमारांगी परिधत्तेस्म वल्कलम्

haṁsacihnadaśaṁ hitvā dukūlaṁ mihakālaghu paruṣaṁ sukumārāṁgī paridhattesma valkalam

Setting aside her fine silk robe, bordered with hamsa figures and light as mist, that delicate-limbed Goddess put on rough garments of bark.

Verse 54 (skanda.1.132.54)

अपि प्रसूनावचयनिस्सहांगुलिपल्लवा । अलावीदतितीक्ष्णाग्राण्यविकारं कुशानि सा

api prasūnāvacayanissahāṁgulipallavā alāvīdatitīkṣṇāgrāṇyavikāraṁ kuśāni sā

Though her bud-soft fingers could scarcely bear even the plucking of blossoms, she, without wincing, cut the razor-sharp blades of kusha grass.

Verse 55 (skanda.1.132.55)

वज्रसूचिनिर्भरांगैरवच्छिन्नानि कंटकैः । शिरीषमृद्वी शांडिल्यपल्लवान्युच्चिकाय या

vajrasūcinirbharāṁgairavacchinnāni kaṁṭakaiḥ śirīṣamṛdvī śāṁḍilyapallavānyuccikāya yā

Delicate as a shirisha blossom, she gathered the shandilya leaves that had been cut by thorns as hard and sharp as diamond needles.

Verse 56 (skanda.1.132.56)

पावन्यां कमलानद्यां प्रातर्विहितमज्जना । अर्चयामास रक्ताब्जैर्यथाविधि विभाकरम्

pāvanyāṁ kamalānadyāṁ prātarvihitamajjanā arcayāmāsa raktābjairyathāvidhi vibhākaram

Having bathed each dawn in the sacred river Kamala, she duly worshipped the Sun with red lotuses.

Verse 57 (skanda.1.132.57)

दर्भाक्षततिलोन्मिश्रैर्गौरी श्रीनदिवारिभिः । देवी निर्वर्तयामास देवर्षिपितृतर्पणम्

darbhākṣatatilonmiśrairgaurī śrīnadivāribhiḥ devī nirvartayāmāsa devarṣipitṛtarpaṇam

The Goddess Gauri offered tarpana to the gods, the sages, and the ancestors with the sacred river's waters mingled with darbha grass, unbroken rice, and sesame.

Verse 58 (skanda.1.132.58)

वालुकामंडले सूर्यमावाह्याभ्यर्च्य पंकजैः । कृतप्रदक्षिणा गौरी प्रणनाम सहस्रशः

vālukāmaṁḍale sūryamāvāhyābhyarcya paṁkajaiḥ kṛtapradakṣiṇā gaurī praṇanāma sahasraśaḥ

Having invoked the Sun upon a circle drawn in sand and worshipped him with lotuses, Gauri circumambulated him and prostrated a thousand times.

Verse 59 (skanda.1.132.59)

स्वयमेव प्रतिष्ठाप्य लिंगं किमपि शंकरम् । आगमोक्तेन विधिना पूजयामास पार्वती

svayameva pratiṣṭhāpya liṁgaṁ kimapi śaṁkaram āgamoktena vidhinā pūjayāmāsa pārvatī

Having herself installed a certain linga of Shankara, Parvati worshipped it according to the rites laid down in the Agamas.

Verse 60 (skanda.1.132.60)

आसनेन च मूर्त्या च मूलेनांगैश्च सा रविम् । दंडिपिंगलमुख्यांश्च शक्तीर्दीप्तादिका अपि

āsanena ca mūrtyā ca mūlenāṁgaiśca sā ravim daṁḍipiṁgalamukhyāṁśca śaktīrdīptādikā api

With the seat-mantra, form-mantra, root-mantra, and limb-mantras she worshipped the Sun, along with Dandi, Pingala, and the chief attendants, as well as the shaktis headed by Dipta.

Verse 61 (skanda.1.132.61)

तत्तद्दिक्षु च सोमादीन्ग्रहान्धेन्वादिमुद्रया । तेजश्चंडे चार्चयित्वा निर्माल्यं च न्यवेदयत्

tattaddikṣu ca somādīngrahāndhenvādimudrayā tejaścaṁḍe cārcayitvā nirmālyaṁ ca nyavedayat

In their respective directions she worshipped the Moon and the other planets with the Dhenu and other ritual gestures, offered the sun's radiance into Chanda, and presented the remnant flowers.

Verse 62 (skanda.1.132.62)

अर्घेणातीव शुद्धेन संप्रोक्ष्य च समंततः । द्वारवास्तु समभ्यर्च्य न्यासानपि चकार सा

argheṇātīva śuddhena saṁprokṣya ca samaṁtataḥ dvāravāstu samabhyarcya nyāsānapi cakāra sā

Having sprinkled the entire area with the most pure arghya water, and having duly worshipped the door and the vastu deities, she performed the ritual placements as well.

Verse 63 (skanda.1.132.63)

भूतशुद्धिं विधायान्वगंतर्यागं चकार सा । हृदि पद्मासने चार्च्य ज्ञानधर्मादिकान्क्रमात्

bhūtaśuddhiṁ vidhāyānvagaṁtaryāgaṁ cakāra sā hṛdi padmāsane cārcya jñānadharmādikānkramāt

After performing the purification of the elements, she carried out the inner worship, venerating in her heart, upon the lotus-seat, knowledge, righteousness, and the rest, in due order.

Verse 64 (skanda.1.132.64)

शक्तीर्दलेषु वामादीर्दलाग्रे सूर्यवेधसौ । केसराग्रे सोमविष्णू कर्णिकाग्रेऽग्निधूर्जटी

śaktīrdaleṣu vāmādīrdalāgre sūryavedhasau kesarāgre somaviṣṇū karṇikāgre'gnidhūrjaṭī

On the petals she worshipped the shaktis beginning with Vama, at the petal-tips the Sun and Brahma, at the filament-tips the Moon and Vishnu, and at the tip of the pericarp Agni and Shiva.

Verse 65 (skanda.1.132.65)

तदूर्ध्वे शक्तिचक्रं च विन्यस्तब्रह्मपंचका । अंगैर्दत्त्वा च पाद्यादीनुपचर्याभिषिच्य सा

tadūrdhve śakticakraṁ ca vinyastabrahmapaṁcakā aṁgairdattvā ca pādyādīnupacaryābhiṣicya sā

Above that, she worshipped the circle of shaktis in which the five Brahmas were set, offering the limb-mantras and, along with the ritual services, the foot-water and the rest, after performing the ablution.

Verse 66 (skanda.1.132.66)

प्रादाच्चंदनपुष्पादि धूपदीपप्रदायिनी । भूयोपि पंचब्रह्माणि षडंगान्यप्यपूजयत्

prādāccaṁdanapuṣpādi dhūpadīpapradāyinī bhūyopi paṁcabrahmāṇi ṣaḍaṁgānyapyapūjayat

She offered sandal-paste, flowers, and the rest, presenting incense and lamps as well, and once more worshipped the five Brahmas and the six limbs.

Verse 67 (skanda.1.132.67)

तत्तद्दिक्षु च शक्रादीन्वज्रादींश्च विधानतः । कृत्वा सर्वोपचारांश्च वितताराष्टपुष्पिकाम्

tattaddikṣu ca śakrādīnvajrādīṁśca vidhānataḥ kṛtvā sarvopacārāṁśca vitatārāṣṭapuṣpikām

In their respective directions she duly worshipped Indra and the other guardians, along with the vajra and their weapons, and having offered every rite of service, she performed the eight-flower offering.

Verse 68 (skanda.1.132.68)

पंचवक्त्राणि चाभ्यर्च्य कृतचंडेश्वरार्चना । प्रदक्षिणा प्रणामाद्यैर्नित्यं शिवमपूजयत्

paṁcavaktrāṇi cābhyarcya kṛtacaṁḍeśvarārcanā pradakṣiṇā praṇāmādyairnityaṁ śivamapūjayat

Having worshipped Shiva's five faces and paid homage to Chandeshvara, she daily worshipped Shiva with circumambulation, prostration, and the rest.

Verse 69 (skanda.1.132.69)

शिवागमोक्तविधिना द्रव्यैः सौभाग्यदायिभिः । सा जुहाव च पूजांते प्रणीते जातवेदसि

śivāgamoktavidhinā dravyaiḥ saubhāgyadāyibhiḥ sā juhāva ca pūjāṁte praṇīte jātavedasi

According to the rites prescribed in the Shiva Agamas, with substances that confer good fortune, she offered oblations at the close of worship into the duly kindled fire.

Verse 70 (skanda.1.132.70)

परिकल्पितोपचारा च कंदमूलफलादिकैः । स्वयं कृतोपचारेयमतिथीनभ्यपूजयत्

parikalpitopacārā ca kaṁdamūlaphalādikaiḥ svayaṁ kṛtopacāreyamatithīnabhyapūjayat

With hospitality of her own devising, offering roots, bulbs, fruits, and the like, she herself honored her guests.

Verse 71 (skanda.1.132.71)

अंगुष्ठाग्रेण तिष्ठंती ग्रीष्ये पंचाग्निमध्यतः । ह्रदे च शिशिरे चंद्रपीयूषाप्यायिताऽभवत्

aṁguṣṭhāgreṇa tiṣṭhaṁtī grīṣye paṁcāgnimadhyataḥ hrade ca śiśire caṁdrapīyūṣāpyāyitā'bhavat

In summer she stood on tiptoe amid the five fires; in winter she remained in cold water, sustained only by the nectar of the moon.

Verse 72 (skanda.1.132.72)

वर्षरात्रीषु धाराभिः सह वारिधरा पुनः । सौदामिनीव ददृशे तमसि स्तिमिता कृतिः

varṣarātrīṣu dhārābhiḥ saha vāridharā punaḥ saudāminīva dadṛśe tamasi stimitā kṛtiḥ

Through the rainy nights, drenched together with the streaming clouds, that unmoving form appeared in the darkness like a flash of lightning.

Verse 73 (skanda.1.132.73)

पाणिपादेन पद्मानि मुखेन च कलानिधिम् । प्रदर्शयत्यनायासान्निन्ये सा हैमनीर्निशाः

pāṇipādena padmāni mukhena ca kalānidhim pradarśayatyanāyāsānninye sā haimanīrniśāḥ

Effortlessly displaying lotuses in her hands and feet, and the moon itself in her face, she passed through the nights of the cold season.

Verse 74 (skanda.1.132.74)

नीवारबीजदानेन सा मृगानप्यपोषयत् । अज्ञातहिंसाभिभवानाश्रमोपांतवर्तिनः

nīvārabījadānena sā mṛgānapyapoṣayat ajñātahiṁsābhibhavānāśramopāṁtavartinaḥ

By feeding them grains of wild rice, she also nourished the deer dwelling near her hermitage, who thus knew nothing of violence or harm.

Verse 75 (skanda.1.132.75)

कृतालवालसलिलैः सुवालाकलशाहृतैः । वात्सल्याद्वर्द्धयामास पूर्णानाश्रमपादपान्

kṛtālavālasalilaiḥ suvālākalaśāhṛtaiḥ vātsalyādvarddhayāmāsa pūrṇānāśramapādapān

With water fetched in small pitchers by young girls and poured into the basins she had made, she tenderly nurtured the full-grown trees of the hermitage.

Verse 76 (skanda.1.132.76)

प्रदक्षिणां कृतवती शोणशैलं गिरींद्रजा । सा मनोरथसंसिद्ध्यै नित्यं सह सखीजनैः

pradakṣiṇāṁ kṛtavatī śoṇaśailaṁ girīṁdrajā sā manorathasaṁsiddhyai nityaṁ saha sakhījanaiḥ

The daughter of the mountain-king performed circumambulation of the Red Mountain each day, together with her companions, for the fulfillment of her heart's desire.

Verse 77 (skanda.1.132.77)

पंचाक्षरी जजापैषा शिवस्तोत्राण्युदैरयत् । दध्यौ च देवं मनसा शोणपर्वतरूपिणम्

paṁcākṣarī jajāpaiṣā śivastotrāṇyudairayat dadhyau ca devaṁ manasā śoṇaparvatarūpiṇam

She recited the five-syllable mantra, uttered hymns in praise of Shiva, and meditated in her mind upon the god in the very form of the Red Mountain.

Verse 78 (skanda.1.132.78)

अनुदिनमरुणाचलेश्वरं सा प्रणतवती विहितप्रदक्षिणाद्यैः । शिवनिगमविधानवेदिनी सा व्यरचयदद्रिसुता चिरं तपस्याम्

anudinamaruṇācaleśvaraṁ sā praṇatavatī vihitapradakṣiṇādyaiḥ śivanigamavidhānavedinī sā vyaracayadadrisutā ciraṁ tapasyām

Every single day, with due circumambulation and the other prescribed rites, she bowed before Lord Arunachaleshvara; the mountain's daughter, well versed in the ordinances of the Shiva scriptures, thus carried on her penance for a very long time.