अचष्ट कृपया तुष्टा ध्यायन्तं निश्चलं शिवम्
Pleased by his devotion, she compassionately revealed herself to Śiva, who was absorbed in meditation.
अङ्गीकुरुष्व कन्दर्पं भूयो मच्छासने स्थितम्
Accept Kāmadeva once more, who remains at my command.
गौरीमनुगृहाण त्वं कंपानीरनिवासिनीम्
Gaurī, grant your favor to her who dwells in Kāñcī.
इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे तस्य हृदये परमा रमा
Having spoken thus, the supreme goddess vanished into his heart.
तस्या अनुग्रहं लब्ध्वा सर्वदेवनिषेवितः
Having received her grace, he was honored by all the gods.
यद्विलासात्समुत्पन्नं लयं याति च यत्र वै
From whose play all arises, and into whom all indeed dissolves.
भूषयन्तीं शिवां कम्पामनुकंपार्द्रमानसाम्
Adorned with compassion, she shone, her heart softened with sympathy for Kampā.
आदाय वृषमारुह्य कैलासशिखरं ययौ
Mounting the bull, she went to the peak of Kailāsa.
आदिलक्ष्म्याः प्रभावं तु कथयामि तवानघ
Now, O sinless one, I shall tell you of the power of the primordial Lakṣmī.
दिक्पालाश्च सुराः सर्वे सनकाद्याश्च योगिनः
All the guardians of the directions, the gods, and the yogis beginning with Sanaka,
द्वयोः पञ्चमुखत्वेन भेदं न विविदुस्तदा
At that time, they did not perceive any difference between the two, both having five faces.
तेषां संवदतां मध्ये क्षिप्रमन्तर्हितः शिवः
While they conversed among themselves, Śiva suddenly disappeared.
उभयोरपि संवादस्त्वहं ब्रह्मेत्यजायत
In the dialogue between the two, the thought arose: 'I am Brahmā.'
त्वं च रुद्रश्च मे पुत्रौ सृष्टिकर्तुरुभौ युवाम्
You and Rudra are both my sons, creators of the world.
प्रादुरासीन्महाज्योतिस्तंभरूपो महेश्वरः
Then there appeared a great light, in the form of a pillar—Maheshvara himself.
ब्रह्मणः शिरसामूर्ध्वं ज्योतिश्चक्रमभूत्पुरः
Above Brahma’s heads, there arose a wheel of light before him.
ऊर्ध्वमैक्षथ भूयस्तमवमत्य वचो ऽब्रवीत्
He looked upward again and again, and, bowing down, spoke these words.
विष्णुमेवं तदालोक्य क्रोधेनैव विकारतः
Seeing Vishnu in that way, he was transformed by anger.
हाहेति तत्र सर्वे ऽपि क्रन्दन्तश्च पलायिताः
There, all of them cried out 'Alas!' and fled away.
भूयोभूयो धुनोति स्म तथापि न मुमोच तम्
Again and again he shook himself, yet still he could not release it.
पुण्यक्षेत्राणि सर्वाणि गङ्गाद्याश्च महानदीः
He visited all the sacred places and the great rivers beginning with the Ganga.
चिरेण प्राप्तवान्काञ्चीं ब्रह्मणा पूर्वमोषिताम्
After a long time, he reached Kanchi, which had formerly been inhabited by Brahma.
पञ्चतीर्थे प्रतिदिनं स्नात्वा भूलक्षणाङ्किते
He bathed daily at the five sacred fords, marked by the signs of the earth.
काञ्चीक्षेत्रनिवासेन क्रमेण प्रयताशयः
By dwelling in the holy land of Kanchi, his mind gradually became pure.
उत्तरे सेवितुं लक्ष्म्या वासुदेवेन दक्षिणे
He served Lakshmi in the north, and Vasudeva in the south.
आदिलक्ष्मीपदध्यानमाततान यतात्मवान्
He, self-controlled, spread forth meditation on the feet of Adi-Lakshmi.
तथान्तर्वायुरोधेन न चचाला चलेश्वरः
Thus, by restraining his breath within, the Lord of the moving did not move.
न ब्रह्मा नैव विष्णुर्वा न सिद्धः कपिलो ऽपि वा
Neither Brahma, nor Vishnu, nor even the perfected sage Kapila was able.
तया समाधिनिष्ठायां न समर्थाः कथञ्चन
While she was established in that samadhi, none were capable in any way.
अर्धरात्रे पुरः स्थित्वा वाचं प्रोवाच वाङ्मयी
At midnight, standing before him, the Lady of Speech spoke these words.