त्वामनिर्वचनीयं च कथं जानन्ति कृत्तिकाः
How could the Krittikas know you, who are indescribable?
भ्रातर्ये यं न जानन्ति ते तं कुर्वन्त्यनादरम्
Those who do not know their own brother treat him with disrespect.
कार्त्तिकेय उवाच ज्ञानी त्वं का प्रशंसा ते यतो मृत्युञ्जयाश्रितः
Kartikeya said: You are wise; what praise is due to you, since you are sheltered by the Conqueror of Death?
कर्मणा जन्म येषां वा यासु यासु च योनिषु
According to their actions and births, and in whatever wombs,
ये यत्र सन्ति सन्तो वा मूढा वा कर्मभोगतः
Wherever people exist, whether they are virtuous or deluded, it is due to the results of their actions.
साम्प्रतं जगतां माता विष्णुमाया सनातनी
At present, the eternal Vishnu's Maya is the mother of the worlds.
शैलेन्द्रपत्नी गर्भे सा चालभज्जन्म भारते
She, the wife of the lord of mountains, took birth in Bharata as an unborn child in the womb.
ब्रह्मादितृणपर्य्यन्तं सर्वं मिथ्यैव कृत्रिमम्
From Brahma down to a blade of grass, all is truly false and artificial.
कल्पे कल्पे जगन्माता माता मे प्रतिजन्मनि
In every age, the mother of the world is my mother in every birth.
प्रकृतेरुद्भवास्सत्यं जगत्यां सर्वयोषितः
Truly, all women in the world are born of Prakriti.
तासामहं पोष्यपुत्रो मदम्बाः पोषणादिमाः
Of them, I am the nourished son; my mothers are those who provide nourishment and more.
न गर्भजोऽहं शैलेन्द्रकन्याया नन्दिकेश्वर
O Nandikeshvara, I am not born from the womb of the daughter of the lord of mountains.
स्तनदात्री गर्भधात्री भक्ष्यदात्री गुरुप्रिया
She who gives milk, who bears in the womb, who gives food, who is dear to the teacher—
सगर्भकन्या भगिनी पुत्रपत्नी प्रियाप्रसूः
The daughter with child, the sister, the son's wife, the beloved who gives birth—
मातुः पितुश्च भगिनी मातुलानी तथैव च
The sister of one's mother and father, and likewise the maternal aunt—
इमाश्च सर्वसिद्धिज्ञाः परमैश्वर्य्यसंयुताः
All these are knowers of all perfections, endowed with supreme power.
विष्णुना प्रेरितस्त्वं च शम्भोः पुत्रसमो महान्
You are inspired by Vishnu and are equal to the son of Shiva, great in stature.
नारायण उवाच उवाच किंचिद्युक्तं च वचनं शङ्करात्मजः
Nārāyaṇa spoke: The son of Śaṅkara uttered a few words.
कार्तिकेय उवाच मातरं बन्धुवर्गांश्चाप्याज्ञां मे दत्त मातरः
Kārtikeya spoke: Mother, grant me your permission, and that of my relatives.
दैवाधीनं जगत्सर्वं जन्म कर्म शुभावहम्
All the world is governed by destiny; birth and action bring auspiciousness.
कृष्णायत्तं च तद्दैवं स च दैवात्परस्ततः
That destiny depends on Krishna, and he is beyond even fate.
दैवं वर्द्धयितुं शक्तः क्षयं कर्त्तुं स्वलीलया
He is able to increase destiny or destroy it by his own play.
तस्माद्भजत गोविन्दं मोहं त्यजत दुःखदम्
Therefore, worship Govinda and abandon delusion, which brings sorrow.
परमानन्दजननं मोहजालनिकृन्तनम्
He generates supreme bliss and cuts through the net of delusion.
कोऽहं भवाब्धौ युष्माकं का वा यूयं ममात्मिकाः
Who am I in this ocean of existence, and who are you, my own kin?
संश्लेषं वा वियोगं वा सर्वमीश्वरचिन्तया
Union or separation, all is to be contemplated as belonging to the Lord.
जलबुद्बुदवत्सर्वमनित्यं च जगत्त्रयम्
All three worlds are impermanent, like bubbles upon water.
सन्तस्तत्र न लिप्यन्ते वायुवत्कृष्णचेतसः
The wise are not tainted there, their minds fixed on Krishna, like the wind.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा ता नत्वा सार्द्धं शङ्करपार्षदैः
Having spoken thus, he bowed with Śaṅkara's attendants.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र ददर्श रथमुत्तमम्
Meanwhile, he saw there a splendid chariot.