Sarga 36: The Story of Uma
Uma Vrittanta
Vishvamitra tells how Shiva and Uma's prolonged union alarmed the gods, who persuaded Shiva to restrain his seed, which the earth received and Agni shaped into a reed-forest birthing Kartikeya; enraged at being denied a son, Uma curses the gods' wives and the earth with barrenness, and Shiva withdraws to the Himalayas.
Jump to a shloka · 26 in this sarga
यस्मान्निवारिता चैव सङ्गति: पुत्रकाम्यया। अपत्यं स्वेषु दारेषु तस्मान्नोत्पादयिष्यथ।।1.36.21।।
Meaning
Since you prevented our union out of desire for a son, you shall not beget offspring with your own wives either.
अद्यप्रभृति युष्माकमप्रजास्सन्तु पत्नय:।।1.36.22।। एवमुक्त्वासुरान् सर्वान् शशाप पृथिवीमपि।
Meaning
From today, let your wives be childless. Having said this to all the gods, she cursed the earth as well.
अवने नैकरूपा त्वं बहुभार्या भविष्यसि।।1.36.23।। न च पुत्रकृतां प्रीतिं मत्क्रोधकलुषीकृता। प्राप्स्यसि त्वं सुदुर्मेधे मम पुत्रमनिच्छती।।1.36.24।।
Meaning
Earth, you shall not keep one uniform appearance, and you shall have many husbands; and, sullied by my wrath, ill-minded one, since you were unwilling to bear my son, you shall not know the joy that a son brings.
तान् सर्वान् व्रीडितान् दृष्ट्वा सुरान्सुरपतिस्तदा। गमनायोपचक्राम दिशं वरुणपालिताम्।।1.36.25।।
Meaning
Seeing all the gods thus abashed, the lord of gods then set out toward the direction guarded by Varuna.
स गत्वा तप आतिष्ठत्पार्श्वे तस्योत्तरे गिरौ। हिमवत्प्रभवे शृङ्गे सह देव्या महेश्वर:।।1.36.26।।
Meaning
Going there, the great lord took up austerity on a northern peak beside it, on the summit born of the Himalayas, together with the goddess.
एष ते विस्तरो राम शैलपुत्र्या निवेदित:। गङ्गाया: प्रभवं चैव शृणु मे सहलक्ष्मण:।।1.36.27।।
Meaning
This, Rama, is the full account I have told you of the mountain's daughter; now hear from me, with Lakshmana, of Ganga's origin.