Attempts to Dissuade Parvati

Brahma said

Lord among sages, so Parvati did austerities to win Shiva. A long time passed but Hara did not show himself. Parvati had resolved to persevere. Himalaya came there with his wife, sons and ministers and spoke to Parameshvari.

Himalaya said

Fortunate Parvati, enough of austerities; do not make yourself suffer any longer. Child, Rudra is not to be seen; he is indifferent, without doubt. You are slender, delicate in limb. These austerities will surely confound you; I speak the truth. Fair-complexioned one, so get up from here and go to your house. What have you to do with Rudra? He burned Smara in the past. Since he is indifferent, Hara will not come here to accept you. Deveshi, since he will not come, why do you hanker after him? The moon in the sky cannot be grasped. In the same way, unblemished one, Shambhu is out of reach; you should know that.

Brahma said

With the mountain, virtuous Mena said the same thing. So did other mountains, Meru, Mandara, Mainaka, Krouncha and others. Many arguments were put forward to dissuade Girija, who was beyond suffering. The slender one at her austerities was addressed in this way. Smiling pleasantly, she answered Himalaya.

Parvati said

Father, mother, relatives, have you forgotten what I said earlier? Listen. I still hold the same pledge. Mahadeva is indifferent, and in his rage he burned Smara. But Shankara is kind to his devotees, and I will satisfy him with my austerities. All of you go cheerfully back to your homes. He will be propitiated; there is no need to reflect further. He burned Madana. He burned the forest on this mountain. But by my austerities alone I will bring him here. Sadashiva can always be properly served through the great strength of austerity. Fortunate ones, know this is the truth; I tell you truly.

Brahma said

Girija Shivaa, the mountain king's young daughter, excellent in speech, said this quickly to her father Himachala, Menaka, Mainaka and her relatives, Mandara and others, and fell silent. The golden lord of mountains and the other mountains, addressed so by Shivaa, were discerning and listened to what she said. Greatly surprised, they praised her again and again and went back to where they had come from.

When they had gone, intent on her supreme goal and surrounded by her friends, she tormented herself in even greater austerities. Best of sages, when she did so, everything in the three worlds, moving and still, gods, asuras and humans, yakshas, kinnaras, charanas, siddhas, sadhyas, sages, vidyadharas, giant uragas, guhyakas and the Prajapatis, was scorched. They suffered more and more but did not know why. All of them, Shakra and the others, were agitated. They consulted their gurus and gathered on Sumeru. Their limbs scorched by the austerities, they took refuge in me, Vidhatri. They had lost their radiance and were agitated. All bowed quickly and praised me with one voice.

The devas said

You created everything in the universe, moving and still. Lord, we are being scorched and do not know why. Brahma, lord, you must tell us the reason. All the gods are being scorched. We have no protector but you.

Brahma said

Hearing them, I remembered Shiva in my heart. Reflecting, I understood that all this was the result of Girija's austerities, which were scorching everything in the universe. Taking them lovingly with me, I quickly went to the ocean of milk to tell Hari. There I saw Hari, radiant on his comfortable couch. With the gods I bowed, joined my hands, praised him and said: "Great Vishnu, protect us, save us. Those who are being scorched have taken refuge with you. By Parvati's fierce austerities all of us are being scorched badly." Rama's lord, reclining on his couch of Shesha, heard the words I spoke on behalf of the residents of heaven and replied.

Vishnu said

I know all this is caused by Parvati's austerities. With you I will now go to Parameshvara. We will beg the divinity to accept Girija. Immortals, for the welfare of the worlds he should take her hand in marriage. The lord of the gods, wielder of Pinaka, should grant Shivaa this boon. We must now act so that he does so. So we must go to where the great lord Rudra is. He gives everything supremely auspicious, and in the face of these fierce austerities we must go to him.

Brahma said

Hearing Vishnu, all the gods were terrified of the one who brings dissolution. In his rage he had burned down rash Kama.

The devas said

He is supremely terrifying. When enraged he blazes like the fire of destruction. None of us can approach the immensely radiant Virupaksha. Invincible in valour, he burned Madana earlier. Full of rage, he will surely burn us down in the same way.

Brahma said

Rama's lord heard Shakra and the others. Sage, Hari comforted all the gods and spoke.

Hari said

Gods, listen cheerfully and attentively. He will not burn you. He is the lord who destroys the fears the gods suffer. All of you are discerning. In my view you should take refuge, with me, in the immensely radiant Shambhu, who ensures everything auspicious. Shiva is the ancient Purusha, the lord whose form is to be worshipped, supreme and ancient. He is the paramatman, whose form is worshipped through austerity, greater than the greatest. We must take refuge in him.

Brahma said

So the greatly powerful Vishnu addressed the gods, and with Vishnu they set out, wishing to see the wielder of Pinaka. But first, wishing to see her austerities, they went to the hermitage of the mountain's daughter, curious, since it lay on the way. They saw Parvati's excellent austerities; everything was pervaded by her energy. They bowed to the mother of the universe. Her form, as she practised austerity, was full of energy. Having witnessed her austerities, success personified, the gods praised her. Then they went to where Vrishadhvaja was. Sage, when they reached the place, the gods sent you ahead. They watched from a distance Hara, who had reduced Kama to ashes. Narada, fearless, went up to Shiva's place. Being in particular Shiva's devotee, he was glad to see the lord. Sage, he came back and carefully brought the gods, Vishnu and the rest, into Shankara's presence. Vishnu and all the others went and saw the lord Shiva, kind to his devotees, comfortably seated with a pleasant appearance. Surrounded by ganas, Shambhu sat in a yoga posture. Though his form is that of Parameshvara, he sat in the shape of austerity. Vishnu and the other gods, the siddhas and the lords among sages bowed, and praised him with hymns from the Vedas and Upanishads.