Parvati's Going Forth to Practice Tapas

Verse 1 (skanda.1.63.1)

॥नारद उवाच॥ व्रजंती गिरिजाऽपश्यत्सखीं मातुर्महाप्रभाम्॥ कुसुमामोदिनींनाम तस्य शैलस्य देवताम्

nārada uvāca vrajaṁtī girijā'paśyatsakhīṁ māturmahāprabhām kusumāmodinīṁnāma tasya śailasya devatām

Narada said: As she journeyed on, Girija saw a friend of her mother's, of great splendor — the deity of that mountain, named Kusumamodini.

Verse 2 (skanda.1.63.2)

सापि दृष्ट्वा गिरिसुतां स्नेहविक्लवमानसा॥ क्वपुनर्गच्छसीत्युच्चैरालिंग्योवाच देवता

sāpi dṛṣṭvā girisutāṁ snehaviklavamānasā kvapunargacchasītyuccairāliṁgyovāca devatā

She too, seeing the mountain's daughter, her heart overwhelmed with affection, embraced her and cried aloud, "Where are you going now?" — so spoke that goddess.

Verse 3 (skanda.1.63.3)

सा चास्यै सर्वमाचख्यौ शंकरात्कोपकारणम्॥ पुनश्चोवाच गिरिजा देवतां मातृसंमताम्

sā cāsyai sarvamācakhyau śaṁkarātkopakāraṇam punaścovāca girijā devatāṁ mātṛsaṁmatām

Girija told her everything — the cause of her anger at Shankara. Then she spoke once more to the goddess, who was held dear by her mother.

Verse 4 (skanda.1.63.4)

नित्यं शैलाधिराजस्य देवता त्वमनिंदिते॥ सर्वं च सन्निधानं च मयि चातीव वत्सला

nityaṁ śailādhirājasya devatā tvamaniṁdite sarvaṁ ca sannidhānaṁ ca mayi cātīva vatsalā

"You are ever the deity of the lord of mountains, O blameless one; you have access everywhere, and you are exceedingly affectionate toward me.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.63.5)

तदहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि यद्विधेयं तवाधुना॥ अथान्य स्त्रीप्रवेशे तु समीपे तु पिनाकिनः

tadahaṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi yadvidheyaṁ tavādhunā athānya strīpraveśe tu samīpe tu pinākinaḥ

So I shall now tell you what is to be done by you. Now, should another woman come near the wielder of the Pinaka —

Verse 6 (skanda.1.63.6)

त्वयाख्येयं मम शुबे युक्तं पश्चात्करोम्यहम्॥ तथेत्युक्ते तया देव्या ययौ देवी गिरिं प्रति

tvayākhyeyaṁ mama śube yuktaṁ paścātkaromyaham tathetyukte tayā devyā yayau devī giriṁ prati

"— it must be told to me, O gracious one; afterward I shall do what is fitting." When the goddess agreed, saying "so be it," the Devi set out toward the mountain.

Verse 7 (skanda.1.63.7)

रम्ये तत्र महाशृंगे नानाश्चर्योपशोभिते॥ विभूषणादि सन्यस्य वृक्षवल्कलधारिणी

ramye tatra mahāśṛṁge nānāścaryopaśobhite vibhūṣaṇādi sanyasya vṛkṣavalkaladhāriṇī

There, on a great and delightful peak adorned with many wonders, having set aside her ornaments and all else, clad in the bark of trees,

Verse 8 (skanda.1.63.8)

तपस्तेपे गिरिसुता पुत्रेण परिपालिता॥ ग्रीष्मे पंचाग्निसंतप्ता वर्षासु च जलोषिता

tapastepe girisutā putreṇa paripālitā grīṣme paṁcāgnisaṁtaptā varṣāsu ca jaloṣitā

the mountain's daughter performed austerities, guarded by her son — in summer scorched by the five fires, in the rainy season drenched by water,

Verse 9 (skanda.1.63.9)

यथा न काचित्प्रविशेद्योषिदत्र हरांतिके॥ दृष्ट्वा परां स्त्रियं चात्र वदेथा मम पुत्रक

yathā na kācitpraviśedyoṣidatra harāṁtike dṛṣṭvā parāṁ striyaṁ cātra vadethā mama putraka

"— so that no woman whatsoever may enter here, near Hara. If you see any other woman here, my son, tell me at once."

Verse 10 (skanda.1.63.10)

शीघ्रमेव करिष्यामि ततो युक्तमनंतरम्॥ एवमस्त्विति तां देवीं वीरकः प्राह सांप्रतम्

śīghrameva kariṣyāmi tato yuktamanaṁtaram evamastviti tāṁ devīṁ vīrakaḥ prāha sāṁpratam

"I shall act at once and fittingly, without delay." "So be it," Viraka then said to the goddess.

Verse 11 (skanda.1.63.11)

मातुराज्ञा सुतो ह्लाद प्लावितांगो गतज्वरः॥ जगाम त्र्यक्षं संद्रष्टुं प्रणिपत्य च मातरम्

māturājñā suto hlāda plāvitāṁgo gatajvaraḥ jagāma tryakṣaṁ saṁdraṣṭuṁ praṇipatya ca mātaram

At his mother's command, the son — his limbs flooded with joy, his anguish gone — went to see the Three-Eyed One, having first bowed to his mother.

Verse 12 (skanda.1.63.12)

गजवक्त्रं ततः प्राह प्रणम्य समवस्थितम्॥ साश्रुकंठं प्रयाचंतं नय मामपि पार्वति

gajavaktraṁ tataḥ prāha praṇamya samavasthitam sāśrukaṁṭhaṁ prayācaṁtaṁ naya māmapi pārvati

Then, bowing, he addressed Elephant-Face, who stood there pleading with a voice choked by tears: "Take me too, O Parvati!"

Verse 13 (skanda.1.63.13)

गजवक्त्रं हि त्वां बाल मामिवोपहसिष्यति॥ तदागच्छ मया सार्धं या गतिर्मे तवापि सा

gajavaktraṁ hi tvāṁ bāla māmivopahasiṣyati tadāgaccha mayā sārdhaṁ yā gatirme tavāpi sā

"Elephant-Face will surely mock you too, child, just as he mocks me. So come along with me — whatever fate is mine shall be yours as well.

Verse 14 (skanda.1.63.14)

पराभवाद्धि धूर्तानां मरणं साधु पुत्रक॥ एवमुक्त्वा समादाय हिमाद्रिं प्रति सा ययौ

parābhavāddhi dhūrtānāṁ maraṇaṁ sādhu putraka evamuktvā samādāya himādriṁ prati sā yayau

"For the ruin of rogues through their own downfall is a good thing, my son." Having said this, she took him along and set out toward the Himalayan mountain.