शालाभिर्बहुभिर्युक्तं सभा भिरुषशोभितम्
Equipped with many halls, and splendid with assembly chambers,
मध्ये सिंहासनं दिव्यं चिन्तामणिवीनिर्मितम्
In the center was a divine lion-throne, fashioned from wish-fulfilling jewels.
विलोक्य चिन्तयामास ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः
Seeing this, Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, began to ponder.
पुरस्यास्य प्रभावेण सर्वलोकाधिको भवेत्
By the power of this city, he would surpass all the worlds.
अनुकूलाङ्गनायुक्तमभिषिञ्चेदिति श्रुतिः
The Veda declares: 'He should be anointed with a favorable consort.'
वरो ऽस्यास्त्रिषु लोकेषु न चान्यः शङ्करादृते
Among the three worlds, no one but Shankara is worthy of her.
कल्माषी भस्मदिग्धाङ्गः श्मशानास्थिविभूषणः
He is dark, his limbs smeared with ash, adorned with bones from the cremation ground.
इति चिन्तयमानस्य ब्रह्मणो ऽग्रे महेश्वरः
As Brahma was thus reflecting, Maheshvara appeared before him.
दिव्यांबरधरः स्रग्वी दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनः
He wore divine garments, garlands, and was anointed with celestial fragrance.
प्रादुर्बभूव पुरतो जगन्मोहन रुपधृक्
He manifested before them, assuming a form that enchanted the universe.
चक्रे कामेश्वरं नाम्ना कमनीयवपुर्धरम्
He made him Kāmeshvara by name, possessing a most attractive form.
इति निश्चित्य तेनैव सहितास्तामथाययुः
Having thus resolved, they all proceeded together with him.
अभवन्मन्मथाविष्टो विस्मृत्य सकलाः क्रियाः
He became possessed by the god of love, forgetting all other duties.
अन्योन्यालोकनासक्तौ तावृभौ मदनातुरौ
Absorbed in gazing at each other, the two became afflicted by love.
परैरज्ञातचारित्रौ मुहूर्तास्वस्थचेतनौ
Their conduct was unknown to others, and for a moment their minds were unsettled.
त्वामीशां द्रष्टुमिच्छन्ति सप्रियां परमाहवे
The gods wish to see you, O Lord, together with your beloved, in the great assembly.
लोकसंरक्षणार्थाय भजस्व पुरुषं परम्
For the protection of the worlds, accept the supreme person.
अभिषिक्तां महाभागैर्देवार्षे भिरकल्मषैः
She was anointed by the great, sinless gods and sages.
सप्रियामासनगतां द्रष्टुमिच्छामहे वयम्
We wish to see her, seated with her beloved.
उवाच स ततो वाक्यं ब्रह्मविष्णुमुखान्सुरान्
Then he spoke these words to the gods, headed by Brahma and Vishnu.
ममानुरूपचरितो भविता तु मम प्रियः
He who acts according to my nature will indeed be dear to me.
उवाच च महादेवीं धर्मार्थसहितं वचः
And he spoke to the great goddess words joined with righteousness and purpose.
नारीपुरुषयोरेवमुद्वाहस्तु चतुर्विधः
The marriage of woman and man is of four kinds in this way.
गन्धर्वोद्वाहिता युक्ता भार्या स्यात्पितृदत्तका
A wife is properly wedded by the Gandharva rite or given by the father.
यदद्वैतं परं ब्रह्म सदसद्भाववर्जितम्
That non-dual supreme Brahman, devoid of being and non-being—
त्वमेवासीच्च तद्ब्रह्म प्रकृतिः सा त्वमेव हि
You alone were that Brahman, and you indeed are that Prakriti.
त्वामेव हि विचिन्वन्ति योगिनः सनकादयः
Indeed, the yogis beginning with Sanaka seek only you.
त्वामेव हि प्रशंसंति पञ्चब्रह्मस्वरूपिणीम्
Indeed, they praise you alone, who are of the nature of the fivefold Brahman.
भजस्व पुरुषं कञ्चिल्लोकानुग्रहकाम्यया
Worship some man for the sake of showing favor to the worlds.
स्रजमुद्यम्य हस्तेन चक्षेप गगनान्तरे
She raised a garland with her hand and cast it into the sky.