Markandeyapurana 64.5

64.5

kumārabrahmacāryāsīt pāro nāma pitā mama /
brahmarṣiḥ sumahābhāgo vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ //

“A youthful Brahmacārin was my father, by name Pāra, a brahmarṣi, exceedingly illustrious, thoroughly learned in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas. Formerly in a spring-time, which was charming by reason of the songs of the male koils, an Apsaras known as Puñjikāstanā approached near him. Then the noble muni was moved so that he could not but speak of love. By their union I was born of her on this great mountain. My mother abandoned me, a girl, all alone, in this desolate forest on the earth’s surface, which swarms with snakes and wild beasts, and went away. Since then being nourished daily by the moon’s increasing phases, which cause wane to wax again[3], I have grown up, O best of men. Hence Kalāvatī[4] is the name which my high-souled father gave me when he took me. My high-souled father, when solicited by a Gandharva, did not give me who am beautiful of face[5] in marriage to him then, hence he was cursed[6] by Āli[7] the foe of the gods and perished[8]. I was about to destroy myself then from excessive despair. Śambhu’s wife Satī who is true to her promises prevented me, by saying, ‘Grieve not, beauteous-browed maiden; thou shalt have an illustrious husband by name Svarocis, and thy son by him shall be a Manu. And all the Nidhis[9] shall submissively obey thy command, and shall give thee wealth according to thy desire, O beauteous one! Take, my child, the knowledge by the power of which thou shalt succeed; this knowledge is called Padminī, it is greatly worshipped by Mahāpadma.’ So spake to me Dakṣa’s daughter Satī, who is devoted to truth. Thou art Svarocis in sooth—the goddess will not speak amiss. I now offer that knowledge and myself in my true form to thee who hast given me life; do thou receive them with favour beaming from thy face on me.”