तत्रोवास तमाबोध्य चावरुह्य वृषाच्छिवः
There, having been awakened, Śiva descended from the bull and remained.
मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो भयेभ्यश्च भवार्णवे
One is freed from all sins and from fears in the ocean of becoming.
भार्याहीनो लभेद्भार्यां सुशीलां सुमनोहराम्
A man without a wife obtains a virtuous and charming wife.
राज्यभ्रष्टो लभेद्राज्यं शंकरस्य प्रसादतः
One deprived of a kingdom regains a kingdom by the grace of Śaṃkara.
गभीरेऽतिजलाकीर्णे भग्नपोते विषादने
In deep waters, overwhelmed by great waves, with a broken boat, in despair—
सर्वतो मुच्यते स्तुत्वा शंकरस्य प्रसादतः
From all such situations one is freed by praising, through the grace of Śaṃkara.
इति स्तुत्वा हिमगिरिर्वसतः शङ्करस्य च
Having thus praised Himavat, who dwelt with Śaṅkara,
मधुपर्कादिकं तस्मै प्रददौ भक्तिपूर्वकम्
He offered to him madhuparka and other gifts with devoted reverence.
तदा तत्र समागत्य मेनका स्त्रीगणैः सह
Then Menakā arrived there, accompanied by groups of women.
ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्यं वसन्तं व्याघ्रचर्मणि
She saw him, his face radiant with a gentle smile, seated upon the tiger skin.
यथाऽऽकाशे तारकाणां द्विजराजं विराजितम्
Just as the king of twice-born shines among the stars in the sky,
विहाय वार्द्धकावस्थां दधतं नवयौवनम्
He had cast aside old age and assumed fresh youth.
कामं कामातुराणां च सतीनां च सुतं यथा
He was as desirable to those longing for love as a son is to virtuous wives.
शक्तिस्वरूपं शाक्तानां सौराणां सूर्यरूपिणम्
To the Śāktas, he appeared as the embodiment of Śakti; to the Sauras, as the form of the Sun.
कालकालसमं मृत्योर्मृत्युमृत्यु भयानकम्
He was like Time to time itself, death to death, terrifying even to fear.
सर्पाः सुंदरमाल्यानि कस्तूरी या विषप्रभा 4.39.
Serpents adorned him with beautiful garlands, musk, and the radiance of poison.
सुचार्वी मालतीमाला गंगाधारा मनोहरा
He was charming, wearing a garland of jasmine, and the delightful stream of Gaṅgā.
एकीभूतं पंचवक्त्रं नेत्रयुग्माब्जशोभितम्
He was unified, five-faced, his pairs of eyes shining like lotuses.
बंधुजीवविनिंद्यैकमोष्ठाधरमनोहरम्
His lower lip was enchanting, surpassing even the bandhu-jīva flower.
सद्यो व्यतिक्रमं सर्वं महेशस्य महेश्वरि
O Maheśvarī, at that moment all boundaries were transcended by Maheśa.
काश्चिन्निमेषरहिताः कामेन पुलकांचिताः
Some, without even blinking, were thrilled by desire, their bodies bristling with joy.
काश्चिद्विनिंद्य कांतांश्च प्रशशंसुर्महेश्वरम्
Some praised Maheśvara, disparaging their own beloveds.
काचिन्मानसिकं कामात्कुर्वन्ती चुम्बनं मुदा
Some, out of mental longing, joyfully imagined kissing him.
अस्माकमेव भर्ता चेत्परत्रैव यशो भवेत्
If only he were our husband, then our fame would endure in the next world.
सस्मिता वक्रनयनाः पश्यंत्येव पुनःपुनः 4.39.
With smiling, sidelong glances, they gazed again and again.
शरत्सुधांशुवदनं द्रक्ष्यामोऽहर्निशं मुदा
We shall joyfully behold his face, radiant as the autumn moon, day and night.
भविता नः शिवः स्वामीत्येवं जल्पंति काश्चन
Some say, 'Shiva will be our husband.'
यस्या अयं शिवः स्वामीत्येवं जल्पंति काश्चन
Some say, 'For whom is this Shiva the husband?'
शिवं संपूज्य शैलेंद्रः प्रणम्य स्वगृहं ययौ
Having worshipped Shiva, the lord of the mountains bowed and returned to his own house.
दुर्गां प्रस्थापयामास शिवाय शिवसन्निधिम्
He sent Durga to Shiva, into Shiva's presence.