मत्प्रियार्थंमहाभाग वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः
O greatly fortunate one, for my sake, you ought to speak in full.
प्रत्युवाच महातेजा देवारिबलसूदनः
The mighty one, destroyer of the strength of the enemies of the gods, replied.
उमोत्संगोपविष्टेन यथापूर्वं मया श्रुतम्
Seated on Umā’s lap, I shall recount as I heard before.
तमहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि त्वत्प्रियार्थं महामुने
I will now declare that to you, O great sage, for your pleasure.
तरुणादित्यसंकाशे तप्तचामीकरप्रभे
Radiant like the rising sun, shining with the brilliance of molten gold,
जांबूनदमये दिव्ये नानाधातु विचित्रिते
Made of divine Jambū gold, adorned with various precious metals,
हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णे चक्रवाकोपशोभिते
Filled with swans and waterfowl, beautified by chakravāka birds,
मत्तक्रैञ्चमयूराणां नादैर्विक्रुष्टकन्दरे
In caves resounding with the calls of intoxicated cranes and peacocks,
जीवं जीवकजातीनां विरावैरुपकूजिते
Echoing with the cries of living beings and the calls of various birds,
सौरभेयनिनादाढ्यं मेघस्तनितनिस्वने
Resounding with the calls of Saurabheya birds, with the sound of thunderclouds,
वीणावादित्रनिर्घेषैः श्रोत्रेन्द्रियमनोरमैः
With the ringing of vīṇās and drums, delightful to the senses and mind,
ध्वजालंबितदोलानां घण्टानां निनदाकुले
Filled with the clamor of bells on swinging palanquins adorned with banners,
मुखमर्द्दलवादित्रैर्वलितास्फोटितैस्तथा
With the sounds of marddala drums and other instruments, struck and beaten,
हंसैः परावतैश्चैव बकराजैः सुखस्थिते
With swans, pigeons, and kingly cranes dwelling in happiness,
सिंहव्याघ्रमुखैर्घोरवाशितैश्चण्डवेगितैः
With the fierce roars of lions and tigers, terrifying and swift,
बिडालवदनैश्चोग्रैः क्रोष्टुकाकारसूर्त्तिभिः
With the dreadful faces of cats, and forms resembling jackals and crows,
ह्रस्वजङ्घैः प्रलेबोष्ठैस्तालजङ्घैस्तथापरैः
With short-legged ones, those with thick lips, and others with palm-like legs,
बहुपादैर्महापादैरेकपादैरपादकैः
With many-footed, great-footed, one-footed, and footless beings.
एकदंष्ट्रैर्महादंष्ट्रैर्बहुदंष्ट्रैरदंष्ट्रकैः
With single fangs, great fangs, many fangs, and some without fangs,
एवंरूपैर्महायोगैभूतर्भूतपतिर्वृतः
In such forms, with great yogic powers, the Lord of beings was surrounded by beings.
सुखोपविष्टं मदनागनाशनं प्रोवाच वाक्यं गिरिराजपुत्री
Seated comfortably, the destroyer of Kāma, was addressed with these words by the daughter of the mountain king:
तव कण्ठे महादेव भ्राजतेंबुदसन्निभम्
Upon your neck, O Mahādeva, shines something like a mass of clouds.
किमिदं दीप्यते देव कण्ठे कामाङ्गनाशन
What is this that glows, O Lord, on your neck, destroyer of Kāma?
एतत्सर्वं यथान्यायं बूहि कौतूहलं हि मे
Tell me all this properly, for I am truly curious.
कथां मङ्गलसंयुक्तां कथयामास शङ्करः
Śaṅkara then began to tell an auspicious story.
अग्रे समुत्थितं घोरं विषङ्कालानलप्रभम्
At the beginning, a terrible poison arose, blazing like the fire of destruction.
विषण्णवदनाः सर्वे गतास्ते ब्रह्मणो ऽन्तकम्
All became downcast in face, for they had reached the end ordained by Brahmā.
किमर्थं वै महाभागा भीता उद्विग्नचेतनाः
For what reason, O highly fortunate ones, are you afraid, your minds disturbed?
तेन व्यावर्त्तितैश्वर्या यूयं भो सुरसत्तमाः
Because of that, your lordship was taken away, O best of gods.
प्रजासर्गे न सो ऽस्तीह यश्चाज्ञां मे ऽतिवर्तयेत्
In the creation of beings, there is none here who can transgress my command.