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.
आध्यात्मिके चाधिभूते अधिदैवे च नित्यशः
In matters spiritual, material, and divine, always.
तत्किमर्थं भयोद्विग्ना मृगाः सिंहार्दिता इव
Then why are you seized by fear, like deer terrified by a lion?
एतत्सर्वं यथान्यायं शीघ्रमाख्या तुमर्हथ
All this, properly, you must quickly tell.
ऊचुस्ते ऋषिभिः सार्द्धं सुरदैत्येन्द्रदानवाः
Together with the sages, the gods, as well as the chiefs of the Daityas and Dānavas, spoke.
भुजङ्गभृङ्गसंकाशं नीलजीमूतसन्निभम्
It was like a serpent or a black bee, resembling a dark raincloud.
कालमृत्युरिवोद्भूतं युगान्तादित्यवर्चसम्
It arose like Death at the end of time, shining with the brilliance of the sun at the end of an age.
विषेणोत्तिष्ठमानेन कालानलसमत्विषा
With poison rising up, blazing with the brilliance of the fire of time,
तं दृष्ट्वा रक्तगौराङ्गं कृतं कृष्णं जनार्द्दनम्
Seeing him, with a body fair and red, Janardana was made dark.
सुराणामसुराणां च श्रुत्वा वाक्यं भयावहम्
Having heard the terrifying words spoken by the gods and the asuras,
शृण्वन्तु देवताः सर्वे ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः
"Let all the deities and the ascetics rich in austerity listen!"