The Curse of Uma

Shloka 1 (bala.36.1)

उक्तवाक्ये मुनौ तस्मिन्नुभौ राघवलक्ष्मणौ। प्रतिनन्द्य कथां वीरौ ऊचतुर्मुनिपुंगवम् ॥ १-३६-१ ॥

uktavākye munau tasminnubhau rāghavalakṣmaṇau| pratinandya kathāṃ vīrau ūcaturmunipuṃgavam || 1-36-1 ||

When the sage had finished telling that story, the two valiant princes, Rama and Lakshmana, praising the tale in turn, spoke thus to that foremost of sages.

Shloka 2 (bala.36.2)

धर्मयुक्तमिदं ब्रह्मन् कथितं परमं त्वया। दुहितुः शैलराजस्य ज्येष्ठाय वक्तुमर्हसि। विस्तरं विस्तरज्ञोऽसि दिव्यमानुषसंभवम् ॥ १-३६-२ ॥

dharmayuktamidaṃ brahman kathitaṃ paramaṃ tvayā| duhituḥ śailarājasya jyeṣṭhāya vaktumarhasi| vistaraṃ vistarajño'si divyamānuṣasaṃbhavam || 1-36-2 ||

"This discourse you have told, O Brahmin, about the elder daughter of the mountain-king, is full of righteousness and most excellent; it befits you to relate it in full, for you know well how to expound the whole of her divine and earthly origin.

Shloka 3 (bala.36.3)

त्रीन्पथो हेतुना केन पावयेल्लोकपावनी। कथं गङ्गा त्रिपथगा विश्रुता सरिदुत्तमा ॥ १-३६-३ ॥

trīnpatho hetunā kena pāvayellokapāvanī| kathaṃ gaṅgā tripathagā viśrutā sariduttamā || 1-36-3 ||

For what reason does that world-purifying river flow, sanctifying three paths? How, O knower of dharma, has Ganga, coursing in three ways, become renowned as the foremost of rivers?

Shloka 4 (bala.36.4)

त्रिषु लोकेषु धर्मज्ञ कर्मभिः कैः समन्विता। तथा ब्रुवति काकुत्स्थे विश्वामित्रस्तपोधनः ॥ १-३६-४ ॥

triṣu lokeṣu dharmajña karmabhiḥ kaiḥ samanvitā| tathā bruvati kākutsthe viśvāmitrastapodhanaḥ || 1-36-4 ||

"And with what deeds is she joined, to be so renowned in the three worlds?" When Kakutstha had thus spoken, Vishvamitra, rich in austerity...

Shloka 5 (bala.36.5)

निखिलेन कथां सर्वामृषिमध्ये न्यवेदयत्। पुरा रामकृतोद्वाहः शितिकण्ठो महातपाः ॥ १-३६-५ ॥

nikhilena kathāṃ sarvāmṛṣimadhye nyavedayat| purā rāmakṛtodvāhaḥ śitikaṇṭho mahātapāḥ || 1-36-5 ||

...related the entire story fully, there among the assembled sages. Once, O Rama, having wed Uma, the great ascetic, blue-throated Shiva...

Shloka 6 (bala.36.6)

दृष्ट्वा च भगवान् देवीं मैथुनायोपचक्रमे। तस्य संक्रीडमानस्य महादेवस्य धीमतः। शितिकण्ठस्य देवस्य दिव्यं वर्षशतं गतम् ॥ १-३६-६ ॥

dṛṣṭvā ca bhagavān devīṃ maithunāyopacakrame| tasya saṃkrīḍamānasya mahādevasya dhīmataḥ| śitikaṇṭhasya devasya divyaṃ varṣaśataṃ gatam || 1-36-6 ||

...on beholding the goddess, engaged with her in love's play. While that wise, blue-throated Mahadeva sported thus, a hundred divine years passed by.

Shloka 7 (bala.36.7)

न चापि तनयो राम तस्यामासीत्परंतप। सर्वे देवाः समुद्युक्ताः पितामहपुरोगमाः ॥ १-३६-७ ॥

na cāpi tanayo rāma tasyāmāsītparaṃtapa| sarve devāḥ samudyuktāḥ pitāmahapurogamāḥ || 1-36-7 ||

Yet, O scorcher of foes, no son was born of that union. Then, with Grandsire Brahma at their head, all the gods grew troubled and resolved to act.

Shloka 8 (bala.36.8)

यदिहोत्पद्यते भूतं कः तत्प्रतिसहिष्यति। अभिगम्य सुराः सर्वे प्रणिपत्येदमब्रुवन् ॥ १-३६-८ ॥

yadihotpadyate bhūtaṃ kaḥ tatpratisahiṣyati| abhigamya surāḥ sarve praṇipatyedamabruvan || 1-36-8 ||

"Whatever being is born of this," they thought, "who will be able to bear it?" Thinking so, all the gods approached and, bowing down, spoke these words.

Shloka 9 (bala.36.9)

देव देव महादेव लोकस्यास्य हिते रत। सुराणां प्रणिपातेन प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ १-३६-९ ॥

deva deva mahādeva lokasyāsya hite rata| surāṇāṃ praṇipātena prasādaṃ kartumarhasi || 1-36-9 ||

"O God of gods, Mahadeva, ever devoted to the welfare of this world! In consideration of this supplication of the gods, be pleased to grant us your grace."

Shloka 10 (bala.36.10)

न लोका धारयिष्यन्ति तव तेजः सुरोत्तम। ब्राह्मेण तपसा युक्तो देव्या सह तपश्चर ॥ १-३६-१० ॥

na lokā dhārayiṣyanti tava tejaḥ surottama| brāhmeṇa tapasā yukto devyā saha tapaścara || 1-36-10 ||

"O supreme among gods, the worlds are not able to bear your fiery energy. Therefore practise asceticism, joined with the Vedic discipline of yoga, together with the goddess."

Shloka 11 (bala.36.11)

त्रैलोक्यहितकामार्थं तेजस्तेजसि धारय। रक्ष सर्वानिमान् लोकान्नालोकं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ १-३६-११ ॥

trailokyahitakāmārthaṃ tejastejasi dhāraya| rakṣa sarvānimān lokānnālokaṃ kartumarhasi || 1-36-11 ||

"For the welfare of the three worlds, hold your energy within your own fire. Protect all these worlds — it is not fitting for you to render them worldless."

Shloka 12 (bala.36.12)

देवतानां वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वलोकमहेश्वरः। बाढमित्यब्रवीत् सर्वान् पुनश्चेदमुवाच ह ॥ १-३६-१२ ॥

devatānāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā sarvalokamaheśvaraḥ| bāḍhamityabravīt sarvān punaścedamuvāca ha || 1-36-12 ||

Hearing these words of the gods, the great Lord of all the worlds said to them, "So be it," and spoke further.

Shloka 13 (bala.36.13)

धारयिष्याम्यहं तेजस्तेजस्येव सहोमया। त्रिदशाः पृथिवी चैव निर्वाणमधिगच्छतु ॥ १-३६-१३ ॥

dhārayiṣyāmyahaṃ tejastejasyeva sahomayā| tridaśāḥ pṛthivī caiva nirvāṇamadhigacchatu || 1-36-13 ||

"Together with Uma, I shall hold my seed within my own fire; thereby let both the gods and the earth attain peace."

Shloka 14 (bala.36.14)

यदिदं क्षुभितं स्थानान्मम तेजो ह्यनुत्तमम्। धारयिष्यति कस्तन्मे ब्रुवन्तु सुरसत्तमाः ॥ १-३६-१४ ॥

yadidaṃ kṣubhitaṃ sthānānmama tejo hyanuttamam| dhārayiṣyati kastanme bruvantu surasattamāḥ || 1-36-14 ||

"But this unexcelled energy of mine, which has already stirred from its place — who shall bear that? Tell me, O best of gods."

Shloka 15 (bala.36.15)

एवमुक्तास्ततो देवाः प्रत्यूचुर्वृषभध्वजम्। यत्तेजः क्षुभितं ह्यद्य तद्धरा धारयिष्यति ॥ १-३६-१५ ॥

evamuktāstato devāḥ pratyūcurvṛṣabhadhvajam| yattejaḥ kṣubhitaṃ hyadya taddharā dhārayiṣyati || 1-36-15 ||

Thus addressed, the gods replied to the bull-bannered Shiva: "That energy which has now stirred — the earth shall bear it."

Shloka 16 (bala.36.16)

एवमुक्तः सुरपतिः प्रमुमोच महाबलः। तेजसा पृथिवी येन व्याप्ता सगिरिकानना ॥ १-३६-१६ ॥

evamuktaḥ surapatiḥ pramumoca mahābalaḥ| tejasā pṛthivī yena vyāptā sagirikānanā || 1-36-16 ||

Thus told, the mighty lord of gods released it, and with that energy the entire earth, together with its mountains and forests, was pervaded.

Shloka 17 (bala.36.17)

ततो देवाः पुनरिदमूचुश्चापि हुताशनम्। आविश त्वं महातेजो रौद्रं वायुसमन्वितः ॥ १-३६-१७ ॥

tato devāḥ punaridamūcuścāpi hutāśanam| āviśa tvaṃ mahātejo raudraṃ vāyusamanvitaḥ || 1-36-17 ||

Then the gods spoke again, this time to Agni, the Fire-god: "O greatly resplendent one, enter, together with Vayu, this fierce energy of Rudra."

Shloka 18 (bala.36.18)

तदग्निना पुनर्व्याप्तं संजातं श्वेतपर्वतम्। दिव्यं शरवणं चैव पावकादित्यसंनिभम् ॥ १-३६-१८ ॥

tadagninā punarvyāptaṃ saṃjātaṃ śvetaparvatam| divyaṃ śaravaṇaṃ caiva pāvakādityasaṃnibham || 1-36-18 ||

Pervaded again by Agni, that energy became a white mountain, and turned into a divine forest of reeds, the Sharavana, resplendent like fire and the sun.

Shloka 19 (bala.36.19)

यत्र जातो महातेजाः कार्तिकेयोऽग्निसंभवः। अथोमां च शिवं चैव देवाः सर्षिगणास्तदा ॥ १-३६-१९ ॥

yatra jāto mahātejāḥ kārtikeyo'gnisaṃbhavaḥ| athomāṃ ca śivaṃ caiva devāḥ sarṣigaṇāstadā || 1-36-19 ||

wherefrom the greatly resplendent Kartikeya, born of Agni, came into being. Thereafter the gods, together with the assemblies of sages,...

Shloka 20 (bala.36.20)

पूजयामासुरत्यर्थं सुप्रीतमनसस्ततः। अथ शैलसुता राम त्रिदशानिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १-३६-२० ॥

pūjayāmāsuratyarthaṃ suprītamanasastataḥ| atha śailasutā rāma tridaśānidamabravīt || 1-36-20 ||

...worshipped both Uma and Shiva, their hearts filled with joy. Then, O Rama, the mountain's daughter Uma, filled with anger, spoke thus to the gods.

Shloka 21 (bala.36.21)

समन्युरशपत् सर्वान् क्रोधसंरक्तलोचना। यस्मान्निवारिता चाहं संगता पुत्रकाम्यया ॥ १-३६-२१ ॥

samanyuraśapat sarvān krodhasaṃraktalocanā| yasmānnivāritā cāhaṃ saṃgatā putrakāmyayā || 1-36-21 ||

With eyes reddened by fury, and filled with wrath, she cursed them all: "Since I, desiring union for a son, was thus prevented,

Shloka 22 (bala.36.22)

अपत्यं स्वेषु दारेषु नोत्पादयितुमर्हथ। अद्य प्रभृति युष्माकमप्रजाः सन्तु पत्नयः ॥ १-३६-२२ ॥

apatyaṃ sveṣu dāreṣu notpādayitumarhatha| adya prabhṛti yuṣmākamaprajāḥ santu patnayaḥ || 1-36-22 ||

"—you shall be incapable of begetting offspring upon your own wives. From this day let your wives remain childless."

Shloka 23 (bala.36.23)

एवमुक्त्वा सुरान्सर्वान् शशाप पृथिवीमपि। अवने नैकरूपा त्वं बहुभार्या भविष्यसि ॥ १-३६-२३ ॥

evamuktvā surānsarvān śaśāpa pṛthivīmapi| avane naikarūpā tvaṃ bahubhāryā bhaviṣyasi || 1-36-23 ||

Having said this to all the gods, she cursed the Earth as well: "O Earth, you shall take on many forms and become wife to many."

Shloka 24 (bala.36.24)

न च पुत्रकृतां प्रीतिं मत्क्रोधकलुषीकृता। प्राप्स्यसि त्वं सुदुर्मेधे मम पुत्रमनिच्छती ॥ १-३६-२४ ॥

na ca putrakṛtāṃ prītiṃ matkrodhakaluṣīkṛtā| prāpsyasi tvaṃ sudurmedhe mama putramanicchatī || 1-36-24 ||

"Sullied by my anger, and unwilling toward my son, O dull-witted one, you shall never obtain the joy that comes from children."

Shloka 25 (bala.36.25)

तान् सर्वान् पीडितान् दृष्ट्वा सुरान् सुरपतिस्तदा। गमनायोपचक्राम दिशं वरुणपालिताम् ॥ १-३६-२५ ॥

tān sarvān pīḍitān dṛṣṭvā surān surapatistadā| gamanāyopacakrāma diśaṃ varuṇapālitām || 1-36-25 ||

Seeing all the gods thus afflicted, the lord of gods then set out to go toward the western quarter, guarded by Varuna.

Shloka 26 (bala.36.26)

स गत्वा तप आतिष्ठत् पार्श्वे तस्योत्तरे गिरेः। हिमवत्प्रभवे शृंगे सह देव्या महेश्वरः ॥ १-३६-२६ ॥

sa gatvā tapa ātiṣṭhat pārśve tasyottare gireḥ| himavatprabhave śṛṃge saha devyā maheśvaraḥ || 1-36-26 ||

Having gone there, that Great Lord settled into asceticism, together with the goddess, on a peak sprung from the Himalayas, on the northern side of that mountain.

Shloka 27 (bala.36.27)

एष ते विस्तरो राम शैलपुत्र्या निवेदितः। गङ्गायाः प्रभवं चैव शृणु मे सहलक्ष्मणः ॥ १-३६-२७ ॥

eṣa te vistaro rāma śailaputryā niveditaḥ| gaṅgāyāḥ prabhavaṃ caiva śṛṇu me sahalakṣmaṇaḥ || 1-36-27 ||

This, O Rama, is the detailed account of the mountain's daughter that I have related to you. Now, together with Lakshmana, hear from me the origin of the Ganga.