उच्चैः सिंहासनेष्वेते पूजिताः शङ्करेण च
They were worshipped by Shankara upon lofty lion-thrones.
दानाध्यक्षः शुनासीरः कुबेरः कोशरक्षकः
Shunasira was the overseer of gifts, Kubera the guardian of the treasury.
दध्नां नद्यः सहस्राणि दुग्धानां च तथैव च
There were thousands of rivers of curds, and likewise of milk.
माध्वीकानां सहस्राणि तैलानां च शतानि च
There were thousands of vessels of honey-wine and hundreds of oil-jars.
पीयूषाणां च कुम्भानि शतलक्षाणि नारद यवगोधूमचूर्णानां घृताक्तानां च नारद
O Narada, there were a hundred thousand pots of nectar, and also flour of barley and wheat, all mixed with ghee, O Narada.
स्वस्तिकानां च पूर्णानां बभूवुर्लक्षराशयः
There were heaps, in the hundreds of thousands, of full auspicious vessels.
शालीनां पृथुकानां च राशीनां दशकोटयः
There were ten crores of heaps of rice and flattened grains.
स्वर्णरौप्यप्रवालानां मणीनां च महामुने
Of gold, silver, coral, and jewels, O great sage,
पायसं पिष्टकं चैव शाल्यन्नं सुमनोहरम्
There was sweet rice pudding, cakes, and most delightful rice dishes.
बुभुजे देवर्षिगणैः शिवो नारायणेन च
Shiva, along with Narayana and the hosts of divine sages, partook of them.
ताम्बूलं च ददौ तेभ्यः कर्पूरादिसुवासितम्
He gave them betel leaves, fragrant with camphor and other scents.
रत्नसिंहासनस्थं च विष्णुं क्षीरोदशायिनम्
Vishnu, reclining on the ocean of milk, was seated upon a jeweled lion-throne.
ऋषिभिः स्तूयमानं च सिद्धैर्देवगणैस्तथा
He was being praised by the sages, by the Siddhas, and by the hosts of gods.
गन्धर्वाणां च संगीतं श्रुतवन्तं मनोहरम्
He heard the enchanting music of the Gandharvas.
ब्रह्मणा प्रेरितो युक्तं व्रतं कर्त्तव्यमीप्सितम्
Prompted by Brahma, one should undertake the desired vow.
श्रीमहादेव उवाच तपस्स्वरूप तपसां कर्मणां च फलप्रद
Śrī Mahādeva said: The essence of austerity is to grant the fruits of actions performed through austerity.
व्रतानां जपयज्ञानां पूजानां सर्वपूजित
Among vows, recitations, sacrifices, and worships, it is honored above all.
सुपुण्यं च व्रतं कर्त्तुं ब्रह्मन्निच्छति पार्वती
O Brahma, Pārvatī desires to perform a supremely virtuous vow.
रतिभंगे कृते देवैर्व्यर्थवीर्य्यशुचार्दिता
When the interruption of pleasure occurred, the gods were afflicted by wasted vigor and impurity.
सत्पुत्रं स्वामिसौभाग्यं सुव्रता याचते व्रते
In the vow, the virtuous woman asks for a noble son and the good fortune of her husband.
पुरा त्यक्त्वा स्वदेहं च पितृयज्ञे च मानिनी
Once, proud, she abandoned her own body during her father's sacrifice.
सर्वं जानासि वृत्तान्तं सर्वज्ञं त्वां वदामि किम्
You know all the events; you are omniscient—what need is there for me to tell you?
दुर्निवार्य्यश्च सर्वेश स्त्रीस्वभावश्च चापलः
O Lord of all, the nature of women is difficult to restrain and is fickle.
जितेन्द्रियैर्जितक्रोधैः स्त्रीरूपं मोहकारणम्
Even those who have conquered their senses and anger find the form of a woman to be a cause of delusion.
ब्रह्मास्त्रं कामदेवस्य दुर्भेद्यं जयकारणम्
The weapon of Brahmā is Kāma's, hard to penetrate and the cause of victory.
मोक्षद्वारकपाटं च हरिभक्तिनिरोधनम्
It is the gate to liberation, yet it obstructs devotion to Hari.
वैराग्यनाशबीजं च शश्वद्रागविवर्द्धनम्
It is the seed of the destruction of detachment, ever increasing attachment.
अप्रत्ययानां क्षेत्रं च स्वयं कपटमूर्तिमत्
It is the field of disbelief, itself the embodiment of deceit.
सर्वैरसाध्यमानं च दुराराध्यं च सर्वदा
It is unattainable by all, and always difficult to propitiate.
सर्वं निवेदितं ब्रह्मन्कर्त्तव्यं वक्तुमर्हसि
O Brahma, all has been declared; you should speak what is to be done.