तुलस्युवाच कथं तदा वसिष्ठश्च प्रभो प्रस्थापितोऽधुना
Tulasī said: 'How then was Vasiṣṭha, O Lord, sent away at that time?'
स्वाहोवाच विवाहे व्यवहारोऽस्ति पुरस्त्रीणां प्रगल्भता
Svāhā said: 'In marriage there is custom, and among women of old, boldness.'
रोहिण्युवाच कुरु पारं स्वयं कामी कामिनां कामसागरम्
Rohiṇī said: Cross over the ocean of desire for lovers yourself, O passionate one.
वसुंधरोवाच येन तुष्टिर्भवेच्छंभो तत्कर्तुमुचितं स्त्रिया
Vasundharā said: Whatever brings satisfaction to Śaṃbhu, that is proper for a woman to do.
संज्ञोवाच न च स्वस्वामिनं शंभो सती जानाति संगतम्
Saṃjñā said: But a chaste woman does not know union with any man other than her own husband, O Śaṃbhu.
शतरूपोवाच रत्नप्रदीपं तांबूलं तल्पं निर्माय निर्जने ।। 4.45.
Śatarūpā said: Prepare a jeweled lamp, betel, and a bed in a secluded place.
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच निर्विकारी च भगवान्योगींद्राणां गुरोर्गुरुः
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: The Lord is unchanging, the guru of the yogis’ gurus.
शंकर उवाच जगतां मातरः साध्व्यः पुत्रे चपलता कथम्
Śaṃkara said: How can there be fickleness in the mothers of the worlds, O virtuous ones? And in a son?
शंकरस्य वचः श्रुत्वा लज्जिताः सुरयोषितः
Hearing Śaṃkara’s words, the divine women became ashamed.
भुक्त्वा मिष्टानि भगवानाचम्य च मुदाऽन्वितः
Having eaten delicious foods, the Blessed Lord, having sipped water, was filled with joy.
रत्नसिंहासने शंभुर्मेनादत्ते मनोहरे ४५ रत्नप्रदीपशतकैर्ज्वलद्भि र्ज्वलितं श्रिया
On a jeweled throne, Śaṃbhu sat, most enchanting, illuminated by hundreds of jeweled lamps blazing with splendor.
रत्नदर्पणशोभाढ्यं मंडितं श्वेतचामरैः
Adorned with white yak-tail fans, it shone with jeweled mirrors.
नानाचित्रविचित्राढयं निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा
It was constructed by Viśvakarman, adorned with many wondrous and marvelous designs.
कुत्रचित्सुरनिर्माणवैकुंठसुमनोहरम्
In some places, it was as beautiful as Vaikuṇṭha, created by the gods.
कैलासं च कुत्रचन कुत्रचिदिंद्रमंदिरम् 4.45.
In some places, it resembled Kailāsa; elsewhere, it was like Indra’s palace.
अथ प्रभातकालश्च बभूव प्राणवल्लभे
Then, O beloved of life, the morning time arrived.
सर्वे सुराः समुत्तस्थुः सज्जीभूताः ससंभ्रमाः
All the gods rose up, revived and filled with excitement.
वासगेहं समागत्य धर्मो नारायणाज्ञया
Having gathered at the residence, Dharma, by the command of Nārāyaṇa—
धर्म उवाच पार्वत्या सह माहेंद्रे यात्रां कुरु हरिं स्मरन्
Dharma said: Together with Pārvatī, O great Indra, set out, remembering Hari.
इत्थं धर्मवचः श्रुत्वा पार्वत्या सह शंकरः
Thus, having heard Dharma’s words, Śaṃkara, together with Pārvatī—
यात्रां कुर्वति देवेशे पार्वत्या सह शंकरे
When Lord Shiva, the lord of the gods, set out on a journey together with Parvati,
मेनोवाच सहस्रदोषान्भगवानाशुतोषः क्षमिष्यसि
Menā said: O Lord, though you are quickly pleased, you will forgive thousands of faults.
त्वत्पदांबुजभक्तैषा मद्वत्सा जन्म जन्मनि
This daughter of mine, devoted to your lotus feet, will be like my own child, birth after birth.
त्वद्भक्तिश्रुतिमात्रेण हर्षाश्रुपुलकान्विता
Simply by hearing of devotion to you, she is filled with tears of joy and her hair stands on end.
इत्युक्ता मेनका शीघ्रं तत्रागत्य हिमालयः 4.45.
Thus addressed, Menā quickly went there, and Himālaya also arrived.
क्व यासि वत्सेत्युच्चार्य शून्यं कृत्वा हिमालयम्
Calling out, 'Where are you going, my child?' he left Himālaya empty.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा शैलेन्द्रः समर्प्य च शिवां शिवे
Having spoken thus, the lord of mountains entrusted Śivā to Shiva.
नारायणश्च भगवानध्यात्मविद्यया स्वयम्
And Lord Nārāyaṇa himself, with knowledge of the Self,
ननाम पार्वती भक्त्या मातरं पितरं गुरुम्
Parvati bowed with devotion to her mother, father, and teacher.
पार्वतीरोदनेनैव रुरुदुः सर्वयोषितः
Because of Parvati's weeping, all the women wept as well.