सर्वे देवास्त्वत्पुरतस्तदन्विष्यन्तु सादरम्
Let all the gods, with respect, search for that in your presence.
पार्वतीवचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य जगदीश्वरः
Hearing Pārvatī's words, the Lord of the universe smiled.
श्रीविष्णुरुवाच शिवस्यामोघवीर्य्यं यत्तत्पुरा केन निर्हृतम्
Śrī Viṣṇu said: By whom, in former times, was Śiva's unfailing potency removed?
सभामानयत क्षिप्रं न चेद्दण्डमिहार्हथ
Bring him to the assembly at once, or else you deserve punishment here.
विष्णोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा समालोच्य परस्परम्
Hearing those words of Viṣṇu, they discussed them among themselves.
ब्रह्मोवाच स वञ्चितो भवत्वत्र पुण्याहे पुण्यकर्मणि
Brahmā said: He is deprived here, on this auspicious day, in meritorious acts.
श्रीमहादेव उवाच स वञ्चितो भवत्वत्र सेवने पूजने तव
Śrī Mahādeva said: He is deprived here, in your service and worship.
यम उवाच एकादशीव्रते चैव तद्वीर्य्यं येन निर्हृतम्
Yama said: And in the observance of Ekādaśī, by whom that potency was taken away.
इन्द्र उवाच भवत्वत्र यशो लुप्तं तत्पुण्यं कर्म सन्ततम्
Indra said: Here, his fame is lost, and that merit, that action, is continually so.
वरुण उवाच शूद्रयाजकपत्न्याश्च गर्भे तद्येन निर्हृतम्
Varuṇa said: And in the womb of a Śūdra priest's wife, by whom that potency was taken away.
कुबेर उवाच सत्यघ्नश्च कृतघ्नश्च तद्वीर्यं येन निर्हृतम्
Kubera said: One who kills truth, one who is ungrateful, by whom that potency was taken away.
ईशान उवाच नरघाती गुरुद्रोही तद्वीर्यं येन निर्हृतम्
Īśāna said: A murderer of men, a betrayer of the teacher, by whom that potency was taken away.
रुद्रा ऊचुः गुरुनिन्दारताः शश्वत्तद्वीर्य्यं यैश्च निर्हृतम्
The Rudras said: Those always intent on reviling the teacher, by whom that potency was taken away.
कामदेव उवाच भाजनं तस्य पापस्य स भवेद्येन तद्धृतम्
Kāmadeva said: He becomes the vessel of that sin, by whom it was taken away.
स्वर्वैद्यावूचतुः भवेतां वञ्चितौ तौ च याभ्यां वीर्य्यं च तद्धृतम्
The celestial physicians said: Those two become deprived, by whom that potency was taken away.
सर्वे देवा ऊचुः अपुत्रिणो दरिद्राश्च यैश्च वीर्य्यं हि तद्धृतम्
All the gods said: Childless and poor are those by whom that potency was indeed taken away.
देवपत्न्य ऊचुः सन्तु बुद्धिविहीनाश्च याभिर्वीर्य्यं हि तद्धृतम्
The wives of the gods said: Let them be without understanding, those women by whom that potency was indeed taken away.
देवानां वचनं श्रुत्वा देवीनां च हरिस्स्वयम्
Hearing the words of the gods and goddesses, Hari himself—
पवनं पृथिवीं तोयं सन्ध्ये रात्रिं दिवं मुने
O sage, the wind, the earth, the water, the twilight, the night, and the day—
श्रीविष्णुरुवाच तदमोघं भगवतो महेशस्य जगद्गुरोः
Śrī Viṣṇu said: That is unfailing, belonging to the blessed Maheśa, the teacher of the world.
यूयं च साक्षिणो विश्वे सततं सर्वकर्मणाम्
And you all, O Viśve, are always witnesses of all actions.
ईश्वरस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सभायां कम्पिताश्च ते
Hearing the words of the Lord, they in the assembly were shaken.
श्रीधर्म उवाच मया ज्ञातममोघं तच्छङ्करस्य प्रकोपतः
Śrī Dharma said: I have understood this unfailing matter, which arose from Śaṅkara's wrath.
क्षितिरुवाच अतीव दुर्वहं ब्रह्मन्नबलां क्षन्तुमर्हसि
Kṣiti said: O Brahman, this is extremely difficult to bear; you should forgive the powerless.
अग्निरुवाच दुर्बलस्य जगन्नाथ किं यशः किं च पौरुषम्
Agni said: O Lord of the universe, what fame or manliness belongs to the weak?
वायुरुवाच अतीव सुन्दरो विष्णो स्वर्णरेखानदीतटे
Vāyu said: O Viṣṇu, he is exceedingly handsome, on the bank of the river with golden streaks.
श्रीसूर्य्य उवाच प्रेरितः कालचक्रेण निशि संस्थातुमक्षमः
Śrī Sūrya said: Driven by the wheel of time, he was unable to remain at night.
चन्द्र उवाच जगाम स्वालयं विष्णो गच्छन्बदरिकाश्रमात्
Candra said: Departing from Badarikāśrama, O Viṣṇu, he went to his own abode.
जलमुवाच वर्द्धयामासुरीशस्य तं ताः सूर्य्याधिकप्रभम्
Jalam said: Those goddesses nourished him, who was more radiant than the sun.
सन्ध्ये ऊचतुः तन्नाम चक्रुस्ताः प्रेम्णा कार्त्तिकेय इति स्वयम्
Sandhyā said: Out of love, they themselves named him Kārttikeya.