Chapter 20 - The dialouge of Mahadeva and Narada

CHAPTER XX Narada said Residing happily in thehouse of Himalaya how did the best among the goddesses accept Sambhu who is steady in his yogic practiess, as her husband. (1) Why did the great ascetic Lord Siva who was indignant of worldly bondages desire for marrage ? (2) O the great god, please relate me in detail how Lord, the enemy of Smara (cupid) accepted Her as his betterhalf. (3) Sri Mahadeva said - O sage who is able to under-sband Her illusion who deludes the whole world by her supreme Maya. (4) She who is the Maya of the whole world and the cause of creat presevation and destruction of the same spent her childhood in the house of Himalaya. (5) She grew up day by day as the river in rainy season and obtained lustre like the moon in autuman. (6) Out of pleasure she always play with her friends and use to satisfy her parents. (7) Gazing at her face the king of the mountain and Mena Could not withdraw their eyes even for a moment. (8) O tiger (among) the sages; (Sardula) there is nothing which can not be conquered by penance. by penance remains fruitless. (9) But that which is not attained

144 The great Goddess, was rarely attainable even by the Gods like Brahma etc but her parents, Himalaya and Mena availed the opportunity of placing her in their laps with pleasure and were delighted to have her company. remembers her in such form. (10 & 11) She is kind to those who { O the best among the Gods, though dificult to attain Ambika is also accessible. Thus staying in the house of the king of the mountain, Bhagavati offered pleasure to her mother as well as to her father. Once the king of the mountain sitting delightfully with the great Goddess in his lap. At that time Narada the best among the sages arrived from the sky to see the great Goddess. Mahesvari and saw Gauri sitting with the king of the mountain. The king of the mountain. Beholding the sage coming to his house bright like the moon beams followed by the moon in automnal night paid obeisance. Causeing delight to the king of the mountain, the sage said. (12-17) O the king of the mountain. If remember aright you know which was previously told by me that the primordial sould as daughter would be born to you. That is why your daughter who is the supreme nature is born and would be the wife of Simblu and would occupy part of his body. Also He will not marry any other girl leaving your daughter. O the king of the moontain due to his union with your daughter Hara will be "Ardhanarisvara" so offer your daughter to Mahesa as she was His previous wife while she was born in the house of Daksa (18-21)

145 O the magnanimous such Love A them conjugal between was not found in the past or at present or in future. She will perform many celestial deeds and she will be blessed with a valorous son. There would be none to vice with him in valour in the past or in future. So you should not think of giving her marriage to anybody else. (22-24) Thus hearing from sage, the king of mountains said to him It is heard that the great God, the great ascetic being seperated from his friend observing severe penance which is unknow even to Gods but the supreme soul only visualises his the end of it. As his mind is to pure Brahma is not attending to any worldly situation, then who else is able to disturb his calm and quiet mind and how can he accept this girl as his wife. Narada said O the best among the mountains you need not think any thing regarding this. (25-28) Here how penance would break. Taraka the king of demons' being empowered with Brahmas bomconquering over Gods and their friends, occuping the kingdom of the king of the Gods and force fully seezing authority of other Gods became the sole ruler of the three worlds. Regarding the death of that wicked by the valorous son born out of Siva's semerhas been prescribed by Brahma. So, on the advice of Brahma all the gods headed by Indra have assembled for perplexing Maladeva the great God. O the best

146 among the mountains with-in a moment he will break his penance Like a mortal. Actually Hara will be perplexed by this girl who is the great illusion and confusing of the whole world. laksmi who perplexed Visnu, she is Siva who would perplex Siva She is eternal Mahakali and knower of her own internal soul. She is (29-35) The great asectic in the state of "Samadhi" searches Mahakali and for her, performs meditation in a calm and undisturbed mind and Sankara getting back her as wife gives up meditation immidiatly. Knowing that she the eternal one has been born in your house, definitly he will also come to your house for meditation. (36-38) Sri Mahadeva said Having informed thus to the king of the mountains the sage who resembles midday sun in lustre, quickly went out in the sky towards his own abode. (39) Here ends the Twenyth Chapter called the dialouge of Mahadeva Narada of Sri Mahabhagavata Upapurana.