Narada Speaks the Names Uma, Ambika, Bhavani
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 67
Doha 67 · Movement 1 of 2
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Narada smiles and speaks words both gentle and profound. The mountain's daughter is a treasury of every virtue, naturally beautiful, gracious, and wise. Her names are Uma, Ambika, and Bhavani, each already larger than the room in which the prophecy is heard.
She will remain beloved of her husband, unwavering in her sacred fidelity, and the source of her parents' fame. The whole world will worship her. For those who serve her, nothing worthy will remain inaccessible. Women remembering her name will find strength upon the most demanding path of devotion.
Then the sage turns the jewel and reveals what sounds like its shadow. Her husband will be without attributes, honour, parents, or worldly attachment, untouched by doubt and indifferent to ordinary concerns. The family hears defects. The deeper prophecy is describing the freedom of Shiva.
The words appear dark to the household, but within every strange quality the form of Shiva is emerging.
Read the passage from the Manas
कह मुनि बिहसि गूढ़ मृदु बानी। सुता तुम्हारि सकल गुन खानी।। सुंदर सहज सुसील सयानी। नाम उमा अंबिका भवानी।। सब लच्छन संपन्न कुमारी। होइहि संतत पियहि पिआरी।। सदा अचल एहि कर अहिवाता। एहि तें जसु पैहहिं पितु माता।। होइहि पूज्य सकल जग माहीं। एहि सेवत कछु दुर्लभ नाहीं।। एहि कर नामु सुमिरि संसारा। त्रिय चढ़हहिं पतिब्रत असिधारा।। सैल सुलच्छन सुता तुम्हारी। सुनहु जे अब अवगुन दुइ चारी।। अगुन अमान मातु पितु हीना। उदासीन सब संसय छीना।।
The sage smiled and spoke in gentle, profound words: "Your daughter is a mine of all virtues. She is naturally beautiful, gracious in nature, and wise. Her names are Uma, Ambika, Bhavani."