नारायण उवाच शंखचूडस्य रूपेण रेमे तद्रामया सह
Narayana said: In the form of Shankhacuda, he enjoyed together with his beloved.
शंखचूडस्य कवचं गृहीत्वा मायया हरिः
Hari, by his maya, took the armor of Shankhacuda.
दुन्दुभिं वादयामास तुलसीद्वारसन्निधौ
He began to play the drum near the entrance of Tulasi's dwelling.
तच्छ्रुत्वा सा च साध्वी च परमानन्दसंयुता
Hearing that, the virtuous lady, filled with supreme joy,
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं दत्त्वा कारयामास मङ्गलम्
Gave wealth to the brahmins and arranged for auspicious rites.
अवरुह्य रथाद्देवो देव्याश्च भवनं ययौ
The god descended from the chariot and went to the goddess's residence.
दृष्ट्वा च पुरतः कान्तं शान्तं कान्ता मुदाऽन्विता
Seeing her beloved, peaceful and charming, before her, the beloved was filled with joy.
रत्नसिंहा सने रम्ये वासयामास कामुकी
On a beautiful jeweled lion-throne, the passionate one made her dwell.
अद्य मे सफलं जन्म ह्यद्य मे सफलाः क्रियाः 2.21.
Today my birth is fulfilled; today my actions are fruitful.
सस्मिता सकटाक्षं च सकामा पुलकाञ्चिता
Smiling, with sidelong glances, desiring, her body thrilled with joy.
तुलस्युवाच कथं बभूव विजयस्तन्मे ब्रूहि कृपानिधे
Tulasī said: O ocean of compassion, tell me how the victory came about.
तुलसीवचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य कमलापतिः
Hearing Tulasī's words, the Lord of Lakṣmī smiled.
श्रीहरिरुवाच नाशो बभूव सर्वेषां दानवानां च कामिनि
Śrī Hari said: O beautiful one, all the Dānavas were destroyed.
प्रीतिं च कारयामास ब्रह्मा च स्वयमावयोः
And Brahmā himself caused affection to arise between us.
मयाऽऽगतं स्वभवनं शिवलोकं शिवो गतः
I returned to my own abode, and Śiva went to Śivaloka.
रेमे रमापतिस्तत्र रामया सह नारद सर्वं वितर्कयामास कस्त्वमेवेत्युवाच ह
There, the Lord of Lakṣmī enjoyed with Rāma; Nārada pondered everything and asked, 'Who are you, truly?'
तुलस्युवाच
Tulasī said:
दूरीकृतं मत्सतीत्वमथवा त्वां शपामहे
Either my chastity has been taken away, or I must curse you.
दधार लीलया ब्रह्मन्स्वां मूर्तिं सुमनोहराम् नवीननीरद श्यामं शरत्पङ्कजलोचनम् ।। 2.21.
Effortlessly, O Brahman, he assumed his own most enchanting form: dark as a fresh raincloud, with eyes like autumn lotuses.
कोटिकन्दर्पलीलाभं रत्नभूषणभूषितम्
He possessed the beauty of ten million Cupids, adorned with jeweled ornaments.
तं दृष्ट्वा कामिनी कामान्मूर्छां संप्राप लीलया
Seeing him, the passionate woman, overcome by desire, fainted playfully.
हे नाथ ते दया नास्ति पाषाण सदृशस्य च
O Lord, you have no compassion, your heart is like stone.
पाषाणसदृशस्त्वं च दयाहीनो यतः प्रभो
Because you are like stone, O Lord, you are devoid of mercy.
ये वदन्ति दयासिन्धुं त्वां ते भ्रान्ता न संशयः
Those who call you an ocean of compassion are certainly deluded, without doubt.
दुर्वृत्तस्त्वं च सर्वज्ञो न जानासि परव्यथाम्
You are wicked and all-knowing, yet you do not understand the suffering of others.
इत्युक्त्वा च महासाध्वी निपत्य चरणे हरेः
Having spoken thus, the great and virtuous lady fell at the feet of Hari.
तस्याश्च करुणां दृष्ट्वा करुणामयसागरः
Seeing her compassion, the ocean of mercy was moved.
श्रीभगवानुवाच त्वदर्थे शङ्खचूडश्च चकार सुचिरं तपः
Śrī Bhagavān said: For your sake, Śaṅkhacūḍa performed severe austerities for a long time.
कृत्वा त्वां कामिनीं कामी विजहार च तत्फलात् 2.21.
Having made you a woman, the passionate one enjoyed pleasure with you, and from that act came its result.
इदं शरीरं त्यक्त्वा च दिव्यं देहं विधाय च
Then, abandoning this body, and assuming a divine form,