सस्मितं परमात्मानं ज्वलन्तं ब्रह्मतेजसा । संत्रस्तः सहसोत्थाय प्रणनाम पदाम्बुजे
He saw the Supreme Self, smiling, blazing with the radiance of Brahman; terrified, he rose at once and bowed at his lotus feet.
ददौ शुभाशिषं तस्मै सुप्रसन्नः परात्परः । रत्नसिंहासने तं च वासयामास सादरम्
The supremely gracious and transcendent Lord gave him auspicious blessings and respectfully seated him on a jeweled throne.
अथ तत्रान्तरे विप्रं पुरतस्तं ददर्श सः । शान्तं स्वयं विधातारं रत्नस्यन्दनमुन्दरम्
Then, in that moment, he saw before him a sage, tranquil, the very creator himself, seated in a splendid jeweled chariot.
वह्निशुद्धांशुकाधानं रत्नमालाविभूषितम् । प्रसन्नं सुस्मितं शुद्धं जगतामीश्वरं परम्
He was adorned with garments purified by fire, decorated with a garland of jewels, serene, smiling, pure, the supreme Lord of the worlds.
कर्मणां फलदातारं तपोरूपं तपश्विनाम् । वेदानां जनकं वेदप्रसूं कान्तं मनोहरम्
He was the giver of the fruits of actions, the embodiment of asceticism for ascetics, the progenitor of the Vedas, the source of the Vedas, beloved and captivating.
पुटाञ्जलिस्तदा त्रस्तः प्रणनाम सुरेश्वरम् । रत्नसिंहासने रम्ये वासयामास भक्तितः
Frightened, with folded hands, he bowed to the Lord of the gods; and with devotion, he was seated on a beautiful jeweled throne.
पूजां चकार भक्त्या च तयोश्चरणपङ्कजे । नोचितं कुशलप्रश्नं तयोः कल्याणमेव च
With devotion, he worshipped the lotus feet of both of them, and did not ask the customary questions of well-being, but only offered blessings.
विधाता जगतां नन्द शकाचार्यं पुरस्थितम् । सुनीतिं कथयामास यत्नतः शंमुसंमतः
O Nanda, the Creator of the worlds, seeing Śukrācārya before him, carefully spoke to him words of good conduct, as approved by the virtuous.
श्रृणु शुक्र प्रवक्ष्यामि तुर्नीतिं शशिनः सुत । लज्जाकारं त्रिजगतां कर्म वेदबहिष्कृतम्
Listen, Śukra, I will tell you the wicked deed of the son of the moon, an act that brings shame to the three worlds and is condemned by the Vedas.
स्नात्वा गृहोन्मुखीं तारां गुरुपत्नीं पतिव्रताम् । गृहीत्वा शरणापन्नस्त्वयि पापश्च संप्रतम्
After bathing, Tārā, the devoted wife of the guru, turned toward her home; but now, having taken her, the sinner has sought refuge in you.
प्रस्तुतं देवसैन्यं च पश्य वत्स रणोद्यतम् । अहं शंभुस्त्वत्समीपं तदर्थं च समागतौ
Behold, child, the assembled army of the gods, ready for battle; I and Śaṃbhu have come here for that very purpose, to be near you.
शंभुरुवाच चन्द्रमानय हे विप्र यद्यात्मशिवमिच्छसि । संहरिष्ये सिरस्तस्य त्रिशूरेन च पापिनः
Śaṃbhu said: O brāhmaṇa, bring the moon here if you desire your own welfare; I will strike off the head of that sinner with my trident.
अन्यथा संहरिष्यामि सर्वदैत्यान्क्षणेन च । मयि रुष्टे रक्षिता को दैत्यानां च भवेद्द्विज
Otherwise, I will destroy all the demons in an instant; O brāhmaṇa, if I am angered, who could possibly protect the demons?
सद्यः पाशुपतेनैव वाय्वस्त्रेण च र्सांप्रतम् । सुराणां रिपुवर्गं च हरिष्यामि च लीलया
Immediately, with the Pāśupata weapon or by the wind-missile, I will effortlessly destroy the host of enemies of the gods.
दुर्वाससो मदंशस्य गुरुस्तस्याङ्गिरा सुनिः । परस्पराच्च संबन्धाद्गुरुपुत्रो गुरुर्मम
Durvāsas is the guru of Madaṃśa, and his teacher is Aṅgirā; by their mutual relationship, the guru's son is also my guru.
बृहस्पतिश्च तेजस्वी तं भस्मीकर्तुमीश्वरः । न चकार कृपालुश्चेत्प्रियशिष्येण हेतुना
Br̥haspati, radiant in power, was to be reduced to ashes by the Lord, but out of affection for his dear disciple, he did not do so.
उतथ्यपत्नीं दृष्ट्वा स पुरा रेमे स्वकामतः । तत्पतेः शापतोऽस्यैव परग्रस्ता प्रिया सती
Long ago, seeing Utathya's wife, he enjoyed her as he wished; by her husband's curse, his beloved was taken by another.
पत्नीं मद्गुरुपुत्रस्य देहि तार्रां मनोहराम् । मद्वैरिणं च चन्द्रं च भ्रादृभार्यापहारिणम्
Give back the enchanting Tārā, wife of my guru's son, and also the moon, my enemy, who has taken his brother's wife.
शरणागतदीनार्तं न हि रक्षेद्यदीश्वरः । पच्यते निरये तावद्यावदिन्दाश्चतुदर्श
If the Lord does not protect one who is wretched, distressed, and has sought refuge, he will be tormented in hell as long as Indra sees the four directions.
अत्र नास्ति विचारो मे पापिष्ठे शरणागते । पापी यं शरणं याति स पापी च न संशयः
In this matter, I have no deliberation, O most sinful, regarding one who has sought refuge; the sinner who seeks shelter is indeed a sinner—there is no doubt.
देहि तं विप्रशार्दूल पापिनं मातृगामिनम् । बहिष्कृत्य स्वाश्रमाच्च तारासाध्वीसमन्वितम्
O best of brāhmaṇas, hand over that sinner, violator of another's wife, expelling him from your āśrama, along with Tārā, the virtuous lady.
शुक्र उवाच सुराणामसुराणां च सर्वेषां जगतामपि । त्वमेव शास्ता भगवान्को वा शास्ति सुरेऽसुरे
Śukra said: You alone, O Lord, are the ruler of the gods, the demons, and indeed of all the worlds; who else rules over gods or demons?
कृत्वा सुराणां साहाय्यं कथं दैत्यान्हनिष्यसि । संहर्तुः सर्वजगतां दैत्यौधे किं च पौरुषम्
Having aided the gods, how will you then slay the demons? What valor is there in destroying the demons, O destroyer of all worlds?
त्वं जयोतिः परमं ब्रह्म सगुणो निर्गुणः स्वयम् । गुणभेदान्मूर्तिभेदो ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मकः
You are the supreme light, the highest Brahman, with qualities and without qualities, your very self; by difference of qualities and forms, you are Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva.
बलिद्वारे गदापाणिः स्वयमेव भवान्प्रभो । स्वयं प्रदत्ता शक्राय तस्मै श्रीरपि लीलया
At Bali’s gate, O Lord, You Yourself, bearing the mace, appeared; and by Your own will, You gave prosperity to Indra, even as a sport.
क्षमस्व भगञ्छंभो हर क्रोधं च संहर । किं पौरुषं च भवतो ब्रह्मणस्यापि हिंसया
Forgive, O Auspicious One, O Śambhu, remove your anger and restrain your wrath; what is the worth of your heroism if it brings harm even to Brahmā?
अहं जीवञ्छरीरेण न दास्यामि निशाकरम् । शरणागतदीनार्तं लज्जिर्वं पापसंयुतम्
While alive in this body, I will not give the moon; he has sought refuge, is afflicted, ashamed, and bound with sin.
अहं च त्वत्पदाम्भोजे शरणं यामि शंकर । यथोचितं कुरु विभो जगत्सर्वं तथैव च
And I take refuge at your lotus feet, O Śaṃkara; O Lord, do as is proper, for the whole world likewise depends on you.
शुक्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रसन्नो भगवाञ्छिवः । इत्युवाच निशानाथं समानय शुभं भवेत्
Hearing Śukra’s words, the blessed Śiva was pleased and spoke thus to the lord of night: 'Bring him here, and let there be auspiciousness.'
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे ब्रह्मा बोधयित्वा कविं विभुः । समानीय निशानाथं तारकासहितं व्रज
Meanwhile, Brahmā, having instructed the sage, brought the lord of night along with the stars.