वर्धकिं विश्वकर्माणं सुराणां शिल्पकोविदम्
they summoned Viśvakarman, the master craftsman of the gods, skilled in all arts.
आहूय कृतसत्कारानूचिरे ललिताज्ञया
Having honored him, they spoke to him by the command of Lalitā.
भवन्तौ सर्वशास्त्रज्ञौ घटनामार्गकोविदौ
You two are learned in all sciences and skilled in the methods of construction.
युवाभ्यां ललितादेव्या नित्यज्ञानमहोदधेः
By you both, from the ocean of eternal knowledge of Goddess Lalitā,
कर्तव्या श्रीनगर्यो हि नानारत्नैरलङ्कृताः
the glorious cities must be built, adorned with various jewels.
विश्वत्राणाय सततं निवासं रचयिष्यति
She will always create a dwelling for the protection of the universe.
सर्वलोकप्रियं चैतत्तन्नाम्नैव विरच्यताम्
Let each of these, beloved of all worlds, be fashioned bearing its own name.
विश्वकर्ममयौ नत्वा व्यभाषेतां तथास्त्विति
Having bowed, Viśvakarman said, 'So be it.'
केषु क्षेत्रेषु कर्तव्याः श्रीनगर्यो महोदयाः
In which regions should the glorious, great cities be built?
क्षेत्राणां प्रविभागं तु कल्पयन्तौ यथोचितम्
They arranged the division of the regions as appropriate.
हेमकूटे हिमगिरौ पञ्चमे गन्धमादने
On Hemakūṭa, on Himagiri, and on the fifth, Gandhamādana,
क्षेत्राणि हि नवैतानि भौमानि विदितान्यथ
These nine regions on earth are thus known.
लवणो ऽब्धीक्षुसाराब्धिः सुराब्धिर्घृतसागरः
The salt ocean, the ocean of sugarcane juice, the ocean of nectar, and the ocean of clarified butter,
पूर्वोक्ता नव शैलेन्द्राः पश्चात्सप्त च सिन्धवः
The nine mountain lords previously mentioned, and then the seven rivers.
सृजतं दिव्यघटनापण्डितौ शिल्पिनौ युवाम्
Create, you two, who are skilled in the divine art of construction.
नामानि नित्यानाम्नैव प्रथितानि न संशयः
The names are well-known as eternal, without doubt.
सर्वं कलयते देवी कलनाङ्कतया जगत्
The Goddess, by her power of measurement, fashions the entire universe.
अतस्तदीयनाम्ना तु सनामा प्रथिता पुरा
Therefore, in ancient times, they became renowned by her own names.
नित्यक्लिन्नापुरीत्यादिनामानि प्रथितान्यलम्
Names such as Nityaklinnāpurī and others became widely known.
महाशिल्पप्रकारेण पुरीं रचयतां शुभाम्
By the method of great craftsmanship, construct the auspicious city.
प्रोक्तौ तौ श्रीपुरीस्थेषु तेषु क्षेत्रेषु चक्रतुः
Those two, instructed, established them in the fields of Śrīpurī.
कथयाम्यहमाधार्य लोपामुद्रापते शृणु
Now I shall recount, O lord of Lopāmudrā, listen attentively.
चतुर्दशजगच्चक्रसंप्रोतनिजविग्रहः
Her form pervades the fourteen worlds, spreading like a wheel.
मध्यस्थलेषु जातानि प्रोच्छ्रायस्तेषु कथ्यते
In the central regions, those that have arisen and grown tall are described.
शतयोजनविस्तारं तेषु लोकास्त्रयो मताः
Among them, three worlds are considered to be a hundred yojanas wide.
एतेषां गृहविन्यासान्वक्ष्याम्यवसरान्तरे
I shall describe the arrangement of their dwellings at another time.
चतुःशतं योजनानामुच्छ्रितं विस्तृतं तथा
It is four hundred yojanas high and equally wide.
चतुःशतं योजनानां विस्तृत कुम्भसंभव
O one born from the pot, it is four hundred yojanas wide.
प्राकारः प्रथमः प्रोक्तः कालायसविनिर्मितः
The first enclosure is said to be made of black iron.
चतुर्दिक्षु द्वार्युतश्च चतुर्योजनमुच्छ्रितः
On all four sides are a hundred gates, each rising four yojanas high.