स जगाम त्वरा कामो धृतचापो समाधवः रत्या च सहितः कामः कर्तुं कर्म सुदुष्करम्
Kāma, eager and with his bow in hand, accompanied by Rati, went to perform that exceedingly difficult task.
गृहीत्वा सशरं चापम् इदं तस्य मनो ऽभवत् मया वेध्यस् त्व् अवेध्यो वै शंभुर् लोकगुरुः प्रभुः
Taking up his bow with arrows, this thought arose in his mind: 'I can pierce all, but Shiva, the lord and teacher of the worlds, cannot be pierced by me.'
त्रैलोक्यजयिनो बाणाः शंभौ मे किं दृढा न वा तेनासौ चाग्निनेत्रेण भस्मशेषस् तदा कृतः
The arrows that conquer the three worlds—are they firm or not against Shiva? By him, with his fiery eye, Kāma was then reduced to ashes.
तद् एव कर्म सुदृढम् ईक्षितुं सुरसत्तमाः आजग्मुस् तत्र यद् वृत्तं शृणु विस्मयकारकम्
Then, O best of gods, to witness that extraordinary act, the gods assembled there; listen to what happened, which brings wonder.
शंभुं दृष्ट्वा सुरगणा यावत् पश्यन्ति मन्मथम् तावच् च भस्मसाद्भूतं कामं दृष्ट्वा भयातुराः तुष्टुवुस् त्रिदशेशानं कृताञ्जलिपुटाः सुराः
As the hosts of gods beheld Shiva, they also saw Kāma turned to ashes, and, struck with fear, they praised the lord of the gods with hands joined in reverence.
तारकाद् भयम् आपन्नं कुरु पत्नीं गिरेः सुताम्
Relieve the fear caused by Tāraka—take the daughter of the mountain as your wife.
विद्धचित्तो हरो ऽप्य् आशु मेने वाक्यं सुरोदितम् अरुन्धतीं वसिष्ठं च मां तु चक्रधरं तथा
Even Hara, whose mind was pierced, quickly accepted the words spoken by the gods, as did Arundhatī, Vasiṣṭha, myself, and also the wielder of the discus.
प्रेषयाम् आसुर् अमरा विवाहाय परस्परम् संबन्धो ऽपि तथाप्य् आसीद् धिमवल्लोकनाथयोः
The immortals sent word to each other for the marriage, and thus the alliance was established between the lords of the Himavat region.
हिमवत्पर्वते श्रेष्ठे नानारत्नविचित्रिते नानावृक्षलताकीर्णे नानाद्विजनिषेविते
On the excellent mountain Himavat, adorned with various jewels, covered with many kinds of trees and creepers, and frequented by many kinds of birds—
नदीनदसरःकूपतडागादिभिर् आवृते देवगन्धर्वयक्षादिसिद्धचारणसेविते
Surrounded by rivers, streams, lakes, wells, ponds, and the like, and attended by gods, gandharvas, yakṣas, siddhas, and cāraṇas—
शुभमारुतसंपन्ने हर्षोत्कर्षैककारणे मेरुमन्दरकैलासमैनाकादिनगैर् वृते
Blessed with auspicious winds, the sole cause of great joy, and encircled by mountains such as Meru, Mandara, Kailāsa, and Maināka—
वसिष्ठागस्त्यपौलस्त्यलोमशादिभिर् आवृते महोत्सवे वर्तमाने विवाहः समजायत
With Vasiṣṭha, Agastya, Pulastya, Lomaśa, and others present, and as a great festival was underway, the marriage took place.
तत्र वेदी रत्नमयी शोभिता स्वर्णभूषिता वज्रमाणिक्यवैदूर्यतन्मयस्तम्भशोभिता
There, the altar was made of jewels, adorned with gold, and beautified by pillars of diamond, ruby, and beryl.
जयालक्ष्मीशुभाक्षान्तिकीर्तिपुष्ट्यादिसंवृता मेरुमन्दरकैलासरैवतैः परिशोभितैः
Surrounded by Jaya, Lakṣmī, Śubhā, Kṣānti, Kīrti, Puṣṭi, and others, and further beautified by Meru, Mandara, Kailāsa, and Raivataka.
पूजितो लोकनाथेन विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना मैनाकः पर्वतश्रेष्ठो रेजे ऽतीव हिरण्मयः
Honored by Viṣṇu, the Lord of the worlds, the mighty Maināka, best of mountains, shone exceedingly, golden in appearance.
ऋषयो लोकपालाश् च आदित्याः समरुद्गणाः विवाहे वेदिकां चक्रुर् देवदेवस्य शूलिनः
The sages, guardians of the worlds, the Ādityas, and the hosts of Maruts prepared the wedding altar for the god of gods, the wielder of the trident.
विश्वकर्मा स्वयं त्वष्टा वेदीं चक्रे सतोरणाम् सुरभी नन्दिनी नन्दा सुनन्दा कामदोहिनी
Viśvakarmā himself, along with Tvaṣṭṛ, made the altar with a gateway; Surabhī, Nandinī, Nandā, Sunandā, and Kāmadohinī were present.
आभिस् तु शोभितेशान्या विवाहः समजायत समुद्राः सरितो नागा ओषध्यो लोकमातरः
Adorned by these, the wedding took place; the oceans, rivers, nāgas, medicinal herbs, and mothers of the worlds all attended.
सवनस्पतिबीजाश् च सर्वे तत्र समाययुः भुवः कर्म इला चक्रे ओषध्यस् त्व् अन्नकर्म च
All the seeds of trees also gathered there; Ilā performed the rites of the earth, and the herbs performed the rites of food.
वरुणः पानकर्माणि दानकर्म धनाधिपः अग्निश् चकार तत्रान्नं यच् चेष्टं लोकनाथयोः
Varuṇa prepared the drinks, the lord of wealth performed the giving rites, and Agni made the food there, as desired by the lords of the worlds.
तत्र तत्र पृथक् पूजां चक्रे विष्णुः सनातनः वेदाश् च सरहस्या वै गायन्ति च हसन्ति च
The eternal Viṣṇu performed worship at various places, and the Vedas, along with their secrets, sang and laughed.
नृत्यन्त्य् अप्सरसः सर्वा जगुर् गन्धर्वकिंनराः लाजाधृक् चापि मैनाको बभूव मुनिसत्तम
All the apsarases danced, the gandharvas and kinnaras sang; Maināka, best among sages, held the grains of rice.
पुण्याहवाचनं वृत्तम् अन्तर्वेश्मनि नारद वेदिकायाम् उपाविष्टौ दंपती सुरसत्तमौ
The auspicious invocation was completed within the inner chamber, O Nārada; the divine couple sat upon the altar.
प्रतिष्ठाप्याग्निं विधिवद् अश्मानं चापि पुत्रक हुत्वा लाजांश् च विधिवत् प्रदक्षिणम् अथाकरोत्
Having properly established the fire and the stone, O son, and having offered the grains according to the rite, they then circumambulated.
अश्मनः स्पर्शहेतोश् च देव्यङ्गुष्ठं करे ऽस्पृशत् विष्णुना प्रेरितः शंभुर् दक्षिणस्य पदस्य च
Because of touching the stone, the goddess's thumb was touched by Śaṃbhu, prompted by Viṣṇu, as well as the right foot.
ताम् अदर्शम् अहं तत्र होमं कुर्वन् हरान्तिके दृष्टे ऽङ्गुष्ठे दुष्टबुद्ध्या वीर्यं सुस्राव मे तदा
There, as I was performing the offering near Hara, I saw her thumb, and, with a disturbed mind, my seed was discharged.
लज्जया कलुषीभूतः स्कन्नं वीर्यम् अचूर्णयम् मद्वीर्याच् चूर्णितात् सूक्ष्माद् वालखिल्यास् तु जज्ञिरे
Ashamed and defiled, I crushed the spilled seed; from my crushed and subtle seed, the Vālakhilya sages were born.
ततो महान् अभूत् तत्र हाहाकारः सुरोदितः लज्जया परिभूतो ऽहं निर्गतस् तु तदासनात्
Then there arose a great outcry there, resounding among the gods; humiliated by shame, I left that seat.
पश्यत्सु देवसंघेषु तूष्णींभूतेषु नारद गच्छन्तं मां महादेवो दृष्ट्वा नन्दिनम् अब्रवीत्
As the assembly of gods watched in silence, O Nārada, Mahādeva saw me departing and spoke to Nandin.
ब्रह्माणम् आह्वयस्वेह गतपापं करोम्य् अहम् कृतापराधे ऽपि जने सन्तः सकृपमानसाः मोहयन्त्य् अपि विद्वांसं विषयाणाम् इयं स्थितिः
Summon Brahmā here; I will make him free from sin. Even when a person has erred, the virtuous, being compassionate, forgive; even the wise are deluded by sense objects—such is the way of the world.