भक्ति निर्मथनं भक्तो मोक्षं नो वाञ्छति प्रभोः
A devotee does not desire liberation, O Lord, but only the churning of devotion.
वाक्सिद्धिं चैव धातृत्वं भक्तानां नहि वाञ्छितम्
Speech-perfection and the status of creator are not desired by devotees.
अहं ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च धर्मोऽनन्तश्च कश्यपः
I, Brahma, Vishnu, Dharma, Ananta, and Kashyapa,
कपिलश्च कुमारश्च नरनारायणावृषी
Kapila, Kumara, and the sages Nara and Narayana,
भृगुः शुक्रश्च दुर्वासा वसिष्ठः क्रतुरंगिराः
Bhrigu, Shukra, Durvasa, Vasishta, Kratu, and Angiras,
वायुः सूर्यश्च गरुडो दक्षो गणपतिः स्वयम्
Vayu, Surya, Garuda, Daksha, and Ganapati himself,
ये च तस्य कलाः श्रेष्ठास्ते तद्भक्तिपरायणाः
And those who are his foremost manifestations are devoted to his bhakti.
लक्ष्मीमायाकामबीजं ङेन्तं कृष्णपदं मुने ।। 2.60.
O sage, the seed of Lakshmi, Maya, and desire leads to Krishna's feet.
तत्पुरश्चरणं ध्यानं शुद्धे मन्दाकिनीतटे
Its ritual practice and meditation are to be performed on the pure bank of the Mandakini.
विषण्णो हि भवाब्धौ च बभूव तमुवाच ह
He became despondent in the ocean of worldly existence, and spoke to him.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच तारा तिष्ठतु तत्रैव न तया मे प्रयोजनम्
Bṛhaspati said: Let Tārā remain there; I have no use for her.
पश्यामि विषतुल्यं च सर्वं नश्वरमीश्वर
I see everything as equal to poison, O Lord; all is perishable.
श्रीमहादेव उवाच सम्भावितस्य दुश्चर्च्चा मरणादतिरिच्यते
Śrī Mahādeva said: For one who is honored, disgrace is worse than death.
पुरो गच्छ महाभाग तमेतं नर्मदातटम्
Go ahead, O fortunate one, to that bank of the Narmadā river.
शिवस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा ययौ सुरगुरुः स्वयम्
Hearing Śiva's words, the guru of the gods himself departed.
सगणं शङ्करं दृष्ट्वा प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणम्
Seeing Śaṅkara with his attendants, his face radiant and gracious,
ननाम शम्भुः शिरसा विष्णुं च कमलोद्भवम्
Śambhu bowed his head to Viṣṇu and to the lotus-born one.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र चागमच्च बृहस्पतिः 2.60.
Meanwhile, Bṛhaspati also arrived there.
सूर्य्यं धर्ममनन्तं च नरं मां च मुनीश्वरान्
He contemplated Sūrya, Dharma, Ananta, Nara, myself, and the great sages.
सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा युक्तिमूचे तत्र च संसदि
Thinking carefully in his mind, he spoke in that assembly.
विष्णुरुवाच शुक्रं कञ्चिच्च मध्यस्थं प्रस्थापयितुमर्हथ
Viṣṇu said: You should send Śukra or someone neutral.
विग्रहेणैव विषमं भविष्यति न संशयः
Through conflict alone, it will become difficult—there is no doubt.
सुरैः स्तुतश्च सन्तुष्टः शुक्राचार्य्यो भविष्यति
Praised by the gods and satisfied, Śukrācārya will become favorable.
युवाभ्यां प्रार्थ्यमानोऽहं युवयोः स्तवनेन च
Requested by you both and by your hymns, I am pleased.
इत्युक्त्वा जगतां नाथस्तत्रैवान्तर धीयत
Having spoken thus, the Lord of the worlds withdrew there.
गते च जगतां नाथे श्वेतद्वीपं च नारद
When the Lord of the worlds departed, Nārada, to Śvetadvīpa,
मुनीन्देवांश्च संबोध्य ब्रह्मा वै तत्र संसदि 2.60.
Brahmā, addressing the sages and gods, spoke in that assembly.
ब्रह्मोवाच अस्माकं च समः स्नेहो दैत्ये देवे च पुत्रकाः
Brahmā said: Our affection is equal for both demons and gods, O children.
दैत्यानां च गुरुं शुक्रं प्रपन्नश्च निशाकरः
And the moon approached Śukra, the guru of the Daityas.
ताराहेतोरहं यामि शुक्रस्य भवनं सुराः
O gods, for the sake of Tārā, I am going to the house of Śukra.