Parvati’s Greatness in the Test of the Seven Sages
The seven sages test Parvati’s resolve and try in many ways to shake her determination. She remains steadfast, revealing the depth of her love, wisdom, and greatness.
Bal Kand · Episode 22 / 59
Episode Text
रिषिन्ह गौरि देखी तहँ कैसी। मूरतिमंत तपस्या जैसी॥ बोले मुनि सुनु सैलकुमारी। करहु कवन कारन तपु भारी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
riṣinha gauri dekhī tahaṃ kaisī। mūratimanta tapasyā jaisī॥ bolē muni sunu sailakumārī। karahu kavan kārana tapu bhārī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The sages saw Parvati there and wondered how she looked— as if embodied austerity itself. The sages said, “Listen, O daughter of the mountains! Why are you performing such severe penance?”
केहि अवराधहु का तुम्ह चहहू। हम सन सत्य मरमु किन कहहू॥ कहत बचन मनु अति सकुचाई। हँसिहहु सुनि हमारि जड़ताई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kehi avarādhahu kā tumh cahahu। hama san satya maramu kin kahahu॥ kahat bacana manu ati sakucāī। haṃsihahu suni hamāri jaḍatāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Whom do you worship, and what do you desire? Why do you not tell us your true secret? [Parvati said—] My heart feels very shy in speaking. You will laugh when you hear my foolishness.
मनु हठ परा न सुनइ सिखावा। चहत बारि पर भीति उठावा॥ नारद कहा सत्य सोइ जाना। बिनु पंखन्ह हम चहहिं उड़ाना॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
manu haṭha parā na sunai sikhāvā। cahat bāri para bhīti uṭhāvā॥ nārada kahā satya soi jānā। binu paṃkhanha hama cahahiṃ uḍānā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The mind has stubbornly taken hold; it does not listen to instruction and wants to raise a wall on water. Taking what Narad said to be true, I wish to fly without wings.
सुनत बचन बिहसे रिषय गिरिसंभव तव देह। नारद कर उपदेसु सुनि कहहु बसेउ किसु गेह॥ ७८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunata bacana bihase riṣaya girisaṃbhava tava deha। nārada kara upadesu suni kahahu baseu kisu geha॥ 78 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing Parvati’s words, the sages burst into laughter and said, “Your body has indeed been born of the mountain! Tell us—after hearing Narad’s counsel, whose household has ever prospered?”
दच्छसुतन्ह उपदेसेन्हि जाई। तिन्ह फिरि भवनु न देखा आई॥ चित्रकेतु कर घरु उन घाला। कनककसिपु कर पुनि अस हाला॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dachchasutanhaṃ upadeseṃhi jāī। tinh phiri bhavanu na dekhā āī॥ citraketu kara gharu una ghālā। kanaka kasipu kara puni asa hālā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
He went and instructed the sons of Daksha, and as a result they never returned to see their home again. Narad brought ruin to the house of Chitraketu. The same was true again in the case of Hiranyakashipu.
नारद सिख जे सुनहिं नर नारी। अवसि होहिं तजि भवनु भिखारी॥ मन कपटी तन सज्जन चीन्हा। आपु सरिस सबही चह कीन्हा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nārada sikh je sunahiṃ nara nārī। avasi hohiṃ taji bhavanu bhikhārī॥ mana kapaṭī tana sajjana cīnhā। āpu sarisa sabahī caha kīnhā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Men and women who listen to Narad’s counsel certainly become mendicants, leaving home and family behind. His mind is deceitful, while his body bears the marks of a holy man. He wishes to make everyone like himself.
तेहि कें बचन मानि बिस्वासा। तुम्ह चाहहु पति सहज उदासा॥ निर्गुन निलज कुबेष कपाली। अकुल अगेह दिगंबर ब्याली॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehi keṃ bacana māni bisvāsā। tumh cāhahu pati sahaja udāsā॥ nirguna nilaja kubeṣa kapālī। akula ageha digambara byālī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Trusting their words, you wish for a husband who is naturally detached, without qualities, shameless, badly dressed, wearing a garland of skulls, without lineage, without a home, naked, and coiled with snakes on his body.
कहहु कवन सुखु अस बरु पाएँ। भल भूलिहु ठग के बौराएँ॥ पंच कहें सिवँ सती बिबाही। पुनि अवडेरि मराएन्हि ताही॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahahu kavan sukhu asa baru pāeṃ। bhal bhūlihahu ṭhag ke baurāeṃ॥ pañca kaheṃ sivaṃ satī bibāhī। puni avaḍeri marāeñhi tāhī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Tell me, what happiness will you get by receiving such a husband? You have been badly misled by that trickster (Narad). At the Panchas’ request, Shiva married Sati, but later abandoned her and caused her death.
अब सुख सोवत सोचु नहिं भीख मागि भव खाहिं। सहज एकाकिन्ह के भवन कबहुँ कि नारि खटाहिं॥ ७९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ab sukha sovat socu nahiṃ bhīkha māgi bhava khāhiṃ। sahaja ekākinha ke bhavanu kabahuṃ ki nāri khaṭāhiṃ॥ 79 ॥
Meaning:
Now Shiva has no worry; he begs for food and sleeps in peace. In the homes of those who naturally live alone, how could women ever remain there?
अजहूँ मानहु कहा हमारा। हम तुम्ह कहुँ बरु नीक बिचारा॥ अति सुंदर सुचि सुखद सुसीला। गावहिं बेद जासु जस लीला॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ajahūṃ mānahu kahā hamārā। hama tumha kahuṃ baru nīka bicārā॥ ati sundara suci sukhad susīlā। gāvahiṃ beda jāsu jasa līlā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Even now, listen to what I say. I have considered a worthy groom for you. He is extremely handsome, pure, delightful, and virtuous, and the Vedas sing of his fame and divine play.
दूषन रहित सकल गुन रासी। श्रीपति पुर बैकुंठ निवासी॥ अस बरु तुम्हहि मिलाउब आनी। सुनत बिहसि कह बचन भवानी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dūṣana rahita sakala guna rāsī। śrīpati pura baikuṇṭha nivāsī॥ asa baru tumhahi milāuba ānī। sunata bihasi kaha bacana bhavānī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
He is free from faults, a treasury of all virtues, the Lord of Lakshmi, and a resident of Vaikuntha. I will bring such a groom and introduce him to you. Hearing this, Parvati smiled and said—
सत्य कहेहु गिरिभव तनु एहा। हठ न छूट छूटै बरु देहा॥ कनकउ पुनि पषान तें होई। जारेहुँ सहजु न परिहर सोई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
satya kahehu giribhava tanu ehā। haṭha na chūṭa chūṭai baru dehā॥ kanakau puni paṣāna teṃ hoī। jārehuṃ sahaju na parihara soī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
You have spoken the truth that my body was born of the mountain. So my obstinacy will not leave me, even if the body itself must perish. Gold too is born from stone; even when it is burned, it does not abandon its nature.
नारद बचन न मैं परिहरऊँ। बसउ भवनु उजरउ नहिं डरऊँ॥ गुर कें बचन प्रतीति न जेही। सपनेहुँ सुगम न सुख सिधि तेही॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nārada bacana na maiṃ pariharauṃ। basau bhavanu ujarau nahiṃ ḍarauṃ॥ gura keṃ bacana pratīti na jehī। sapanēhuṃ sugame na sukha sidhi tehī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Therefore I shall not give up Narad’s words; whether the house prospers or is ruined, I do not fear that. One who has no faith in the guru’s words does not attain ease, happiness, or success even in dreams.
महादेव अवगुन भवन बिष्नु सकल गुन धाम। जेहि कर मनु रम जाहि सन तेहि तेही सन काम॥ ८० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mahādeva avaguna bhavana biṣnu sakala guna dhāma। jehi kara manu rama jāhi sana tehi tehī sana kāma॥ 80 ॥
Meaning:
Granted, Mahadev is a dwelling of faults and Vishnu is the abode of all virtues; yet wherever a person’s mind is absorbed, that alone matters to him.
जौं तुम्ह मिलतेहु प्रथम मुनीसा। सुनतिउँ सिख तुम्हारि धरि सीसा॥ अब मैं जन्मु संभु हित हारा। को गुन दूषन करै बिचारा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jauṃ tumh milatehu prathama munīsā। sunatiuṃ sikha tumhāri dhari sīsā॥ aba maiṃ janmu saṃbhu hita hārā। ko guna dūṣana karai bicārā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O great sages, if you had come first, I would have listened to your instruction with reverence. But now I have already staked my life for Shiva’s sake. Who, then, would still think about virtue and fault?
जौं तुम्हरे हठ हृदयँ बिसेषी। रहि न जाइ बिनु किएँ बरेषी॥ तौ कौतुकिअन्ह आलसु नाहीं। बर कन्या अनेक जग माहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jauṃ tumhare haṭha hṛdayaṃ bisesī। rahi na jāi binu kieṃ bareṣī॥ tau kautukianha ālasa nāhīṃ। bara kanyā anek jag māhīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
If your heart is especially stubborn and you cannot remain without arranging the marriage, there are many brides and grooms in the world. Those who seek amusement are not troubled by laziness.
जन्म कोटि लगि रगर हमारी। बरउँ संभु न त रहउँ कुआरी॥ तजउँ न नारद कर उपदेसू। आपु कहहिं सत बार महेसू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
janma koṭi lagi ragaḍa hamārī। barauṃ saṃbhu na ta rahauṃ kuārī॥ tajuṃ na nārada kara upadesū। āpu kahahiṃ sata bāra mahesū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Even for millions of births, my resolve will remain the same: either I shall marry Shiva, or I shall remain unmarried. Even if Shiva himself were to say it a hundred times, I would not abandon Narad’s teaching.
मैं पा परउँ कहइ जगदंबा। तुम्ह गृह गवनहु भयउ बिलंबा॥ देखि प्रेमु बोले मुनि ग्यानी। जय जय जगदंबिके भवानी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
maiṃ pā parauṃ kahai jagadaṃbā। tumh gṛha gavanuhu bhayau bilambā॥ dekhi premu bole muni gyānī। jaya jaya jagadaṃbike bhavānī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Jagadamba Parvati then said, “I fall at your feet. Please return to your home; it has become late.” Seeing Parvati’s such love for Shiva, the wise sage said, “Victory, victory to you, O Jagadambike, O Bhavani!”
तुम्ह माया भगवान सिव सकल जगत पितु मातु। नाइ चरन सिर मुनि चले पुनि पुनि हरषत गातु॥ ८१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tumh māyā bhagavāna siva sakala jagata pitā mātu। nāi carana sira muni cale puni puni harashata gātu॥ 81 ॥
Meaning:
You are Maya, and Shiva is God. You both are the father and mother of the entire universe. [Saying this,] the sage bowed his head at Parvati’s feet and departed. His body was again and again thrilled with joy.
जाइ मुनिन्ह हिमवंतु पठाए। करि बिनती गिरजहिं गृह ल्याए॥ बहुरि सप्तरिषि सिव पहिं जाई। कथा उमा कै सकल सुनाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāi muninha himavaṃtu paṭhāe। kari binatī girajahim gṛha lyāe॥ bahuri saptariṣi siva pahiṃ jāī। kathā umā kai sakala sunāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The sages went and sent Himavan to Parvati, and he brought her home with humble entreaty; then the seven sages went to Shiva and narrated Parvati’s entire story to him.
भए मगन सिव सुनत सनेहा। हरषि सप्तरिषि गवने गेहा॥ मनु थिर करि तब संभु सुजाना। लगे करन रघुनायक ध्याना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhaye magana siva sunata sanehā। harashi saptariṣi gavane gehā॥ manu thira kari taba saṃbhu sujānā। lage karana raghunāyaka dhyānā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing of Parvati’s devotion, Shiva became immersed in joy. The seven sages returned happily to their homes. Then wise Shiva fixed his mind and began meditating on Lord Raghunath.
तारकु असुर भयउ तेहि काला। भुज प्रताप बल तेज बिसाला॥ तेहिं सब लोक लोकपति जीते। भए देव सुख संपति रीते॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāraku asura bhayau tehi kālā। bhuja pratāpa bala teja bisālā॥ tehiṃ saba loka lokapati jīte। bhaye deva sukha saṃpati rīte॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
At that time there arose an asura named Taraka, whose arm-strength, valor, and brilliance were immense. He conquered all the worlds and their rulers, and the gods were left bereft of happiness and wealth.
अजर अमर सो जीति न जाई। हारे सुर करि बिबिध लराई॥ तब बिरंचि सन जाइ पुकारे। देखे बिधि सब देव दुखारे॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ajara amara so jīti na jāī। hāre sura kari bibidha larāī॥ taba birañci sana jāi pukāre। dekhe bidhi saba deva dukhāre॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
He was ageless and immortal, so no one could defeat him. The gods fought him in many ways and were defeated. Then they went to Brahma and cried out in distress. Brahma saw all the gods in sorrow.
सब सन कहा बुझाइ बिधि दनुज निधन तब होइ। संभु सुक्र संभूत सुत एहि जीतइ रन सोइ॥ ८२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saba sana kahā bujhāi bidhi danuja nidhana taba hoi। saṃbhu sukra sambhūta suta ehi jīti rana soi॥ 82 ॥
Meaning:
Brahma explained to everyone and said, “This demon will meet his end when a son is born from Shiva’s seed; in battle, that very son will defeat him.”
मोर कहा सुनि करहु उपाई। होइहि ईस्वर करिहि सहाई॥ सतीं जो तजी दच्छ मख देहा। जनमी जाइ हिमाचल गेहा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mora kahā suni karahu upāī। hoihi īsvara karihi sahāī॥ satīṃ jo tajī daccha makha dehā। janmī jāi himācala gehā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Listen to what I say and find a remedy. God will help, and the task will be accomplished. Sati, who gave up her body at Daksha's sacrifice, has now been born in the house of Himalaya.
तेहिं तपु कीन्ह संभु पति लागी। सिव समाधि बैठे सबु त्यागी॥ जदपि अहइ असमंजस भारी। तदपि बात एक सुनहु हमारी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehiṃ tapu kīnha sambhu pati lāgī। siva samādhi baiṭhe sabu tyāgī॥ jadapi ahai asamaṃjasa bhārī। tadapi bāta eka sunahu hamārī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
She has performed austerities to win Shiva as her husband, while Shiva, having renounced everything, sits absorbed in meditation. Though this is a very difficult dilemma, still listen to one thing I say.
पठवहु कामु जाइ सिव पाहीं। करै छोभु संकर मन माहीं॥ तब हम जाइ सिवहि सिर नाई। करवाउब बिबाहु बरिआई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
paṭhavahu kāmu jāi siva pāhīṃ। karai chobhu saṃkara mana māhīṃ॥ taba hama jāi sivahi sir nāī। karavāuba bivāhu bariāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Send Kamadeva to Shiva. He will stir Shiva's mind and disturb his meditation. Then I will go, bow my head before Shiva, and arrange the marriage by force, if needed.
एहि बिधि भलेहिं देवहित होई। मत अति नीक कहइ सबु कोई॥ अस्तुति सुरन्ह कीन्हि अति हेतू। प्रगटेउ बिषमबान झषकेतू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi bidhi bhalehiṃ devahita hoī। mata ati nīka kahai sabu koī॥ astuti suranha kīnhi ati hetū। pragaṭeu biṣamabāna jhaṣaketū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
In this way, even if it serves the gods' welfare, everyone said, 'This is a very good suggestion.' Then the gods praised him with great affection, and Kamadeva appeared, bearing five arrows and a banner marked with a fish.
सुरन्ह कही निज बिपति सब सुनि मन कीन्ह बिचार। संभु बिरोध न कुसल मोहि बिहसि कहेउ अस मार॥ ८३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suranha kahī nija bipati saba suni mana kīnha bicāra। saṃbhu birodha na kusala mohi bihasi kaheu asa māra॥ 83 ॥
Meaning:
The gods told Kamadeva of all their troubles. Hearing them, Kamadeva reflected in his mind and, smiling, said to the gods, 'If I oppose Shiva, it will not end well for me.'