अहमेवं चिन्तयामि तत्कल्याणं दिवानिशम् । ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम्
I think thus day and night for their welfare; as people approach me, so do I reciprocate with them.
शिवस्वरूपो भगवाञ्छिवाधिष्ठातृदेवता । शिवं भवति तस्माच्च शिवं तेन विदुर्बुधाः
The blessed one is of Shiva's nature, with Shiva as the presiding deity; therefore he becomes Shiva, and thus the wise know him as Shiva.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र जगाम शङ्करः स्थितः । शूलहस्तो वृषारूढो रक्तपङ्कजलोचनः
Meanwhile, Shankara arrived there, standing with trident in hand, mounted on a bull, his eyes red and lotus-like.
अवरुह्य वृषात्तूर्णं भक्तिनम्रात्मकन्धरः । ननाम भक्त्या तं शान्तं लक्ष्मीकान्तं परात्परम्
Quickly dismounting from the bull, with his neck bowed in devotion, he reverently saluted that peaceful, supreme lord Lakshmi's beloved.
रत्नसिंहासनस्थं च रत्नालङ्कारभूषितम् । किरीटिनं कुण्डलिनं चक्रिणं वनमालिनम्
Seated upon a jeweled throne, adorned with ornaments of precious gems, crowned, wearing earrings, holding the discus, and garlanded with forest flowers.
नवीननीरदश्यामं सुन्दरं च चतुर्भुजम् । चतुर्भुजैः सेवितं च श्वेतचामरवायुना
Of fresh rain-cloud complexion, beautiful, four-armed, served by four attendants with white yak-tail fans.
चन्दनोक्षितसर्वाङ्गं भूषितं पीतवाससम् । लक्ष्मीप्रदत्तताम्बूलं भुक्तवन्तं च नारद
His entire body anointed with sandal paste, adorned, clothed in yellow garments, having enjoyed the betel offered by Lakshmi, O Narada.
विद्याधरीनृत्यगीतं पश्यन्तं सस्मितं सदा । ईश्वरं परमात्मानं भक्तानुग्रहविग्रहम्
Beholding the dances and songs of the Vidyadharas, always smiling, the Lord, Supreme Self, embodiment of grace to devotees.
तं ननाम महादेवो ब्रह्मणा नमितश्च सः । ननाम सूर्यो भक्त्या च सन्त्रस्तश्चन्द्रशेखरम्
To him, Mahadeva bowed, and Brahma also bowed; Surya, out of devotion, bowed, and, fearful, bowed to Chandrashekhara.
कश्यपश्च महाभक्त्या तुष्टाव च ननाम च । शिवः संस्तूय सर्वेशं समुवास सुखासने
Kashyapa, with great devotion, praised and bowed; Shiva, having praised the Lord of all, sat upon a comfortable seat.
सुखासने सुखासीनं विश्रान्तं चन्द्रशेखरम् । श्वेतचामरवातेन सेवितं विष्णुपार्षदैः
Seated comfortably on a pleasant seat, at ease, Chandrashekhara was served by Vishnu’s attendants with white yak-tail fans.
पीयूषतुल्यमधुरं वचनं सुमनोहरम् । विष्णुरुवाच आगतोऽसि कथं चात्र वद कोपस्य कारणम्
His speech, as sweet as nectar, most charming, Vishnu spoke: 'How have you come here? Tell me the reason for your anger.'
महादेव उवाच वृषध्वजं च मद्भक्तं मम प्राणाधिकं प्रियम् । सूर्यः शशाप इति मे प्रकोपस्य तु कारणम्
Mahadeva said: 'Vṛṣadhvaja, my devotee, dearer to me than life itself, was cursed by Surya—this is the cause of my anger.'
पुत्रवत्सलशोकेन सूर्यं हन्तुं समुद्यतः । स ब्रह्माणं प्रपन्नश्च सूर्यश्च स विधिस्त्वयि
Afflicted by grief for his beloved like a son, he rose up to destroy Surya; he sought refuge with Brahma, and Surya with you, O Creator.
त्वयि ये शरणापन्ना ध्यानेन वचसापि वा । निरापदो विशङ्कास्ते जरा मृत्युश्च तैर्जितः
Those who take refuge in you, whether through meditation or even by word, are free from danger and fear; old age and death are conquered by them.
प्रत्यक्षं शरणापन्नास्तत्फलं किं वदामि भोः । हरिस्मृतिश्चाभयदा सर्वमङ्गलदा सदा
What need is there to speak of the visible fruits for those who have taken refuge? The remembrance of Hari always bestows fearlessness and all auspiciousness.
किं मे भक्तस्य भविता तन्मे ब्रूहि जगत्प्रभो । श्रीहतस्यास्य मूढस्य सूर्यशापेन हेतुना
What will become of my devotee? Tell me this, Lord of the world—he who has been deprived of prosperity, bewildered, due to Surya’s curse.
विष्णुरुवाच कालोऽतियातो दैवेन युगानामेकविंशतिः । वैकुण्ठं घटिकार्धेन शीघ्रं गच्छ त्वमालयम्
Vishnu said: 'A great period of time has passed by divine ordinance—twenty-one yugas; quickly return to Vaikuntha, to your abode, within half a moment.'
वृषध्वजो मृतः कालाद्दुर्निवार्यात्सुदारुणात् । रथध्वजश्च तत्पुत्रो मृतः सोऽपि श्रिया हतः
Vṛṣadhvaja has died, by the force of time, irresistible and terrible; his son Rathadhvaja also has died, deprived of prosperity.
तत्पुत्रौ च महाभागौ धर्मध्वजकुशध्वजौ । हृतश्रियौ सूर्यशापात्स्मृतौ परमवैष्णवौ
His two illustrious sons, Dharmadhvaja and Kuśadhvaja, deprived of fortune by Surya’s curse, are remembered as supreme devotees of Vishnu.
राज्यभ्रष्टौ श्रिया भ्रष्टौ कमलातपसा रतौ । तयोश्च भार्ययोर्लक्ष्मीः कलया च भविष्यति
Deprived of kingdom, deprived of prosperity, devoted to the austerities of Lakshmi and Kamala; and to their wives, Lakshmi will manifest in part.
सम्पद्युक्तौ तदा तौ च नृपश्रेष्ठौ भविष्यतः । मृतस्ते सेवकः शम्भो गच्छ यूयं च गच्छत
Then, endowed with prosperity, those two best of kings will arise; your servant has died, O Shambhu, go, you all may depart.
इत्युक्त्वा च सलक्ष्मीकः सभातोऽभ्यन्तरंगतः । देवा जग्मुः सम्प्रहृष्टाः स्वाश्रमं परया मुदा । शिवश्च तपसे शीघ्रं परिपूर्णतमो ययौ
Having spoken thus, he, together with Lakshmi and his assembly, entered within; the gods, overjoyed, returned to their own hermitages with supreme delight, and Shiva swiftly departed for his austerities, his mind utterly fulfilled.
महालक्षम्या वेदवतीरूपेण राजगृहे जन्मवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच लक्ष्मीं तौ च समाराध्य चोग्रेण तपसा मुने । वरमिष्टं च प्रत्येकं सम्प्रापतुरभीप्सितम्
Sri Narayana said: O sage, having worshipped Lakshmi with intense austerity, both of them obtained their desired boons, each receiving what they had wished for.
महालक्ष्मीवरेणैव तौ पृथ्वीशौ बभूवतुः । पुण्यवन्तौ पुत्रवन्तौ धर्मध्वजकुशध्वजौ
By the boon of Mahalakshmi, those two lords of the earth became kings, blessed with virtue and sons—Dharmadhvaja and Kushadhvaja.
कुशध्वजस्य पत्नी च देवी मालावती सती । सा सुषाव च कालेन कमलांशां सुतां सतीम्
The wife of Kushadhvaja, the virtuous queen Malavati, in due course gave birth to a daughter, a portion of Kamala, who was chaste and noble.
सा च भूयिष्ठकालेन ज्ञानयुक्ता बभूव ह । कृत्वा वेदध्वनिं स्पष्टमुत्तस्थौ सूतिकागृहात्
In time, she became endowed with knowledge; having uttered the clear sound of the Veda, she arose from the birthing chamber.
वेदध्वनिं सा चकार जातमात्रेण कन्यका । तस्मात्तां च वेदवतीं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः
That girl, at the very moment of birth, produced the sound of the Veda; therefore, the wise call her Vedavati.
जातमात्रेण सुस्नाता जगाम तपसे वनम् । सर्वैर्निषिद्धा यत्नेन नारायणपरायणा
Bathed immediately after her birth, she went to the forest for austerity, devoted solely to Narayana, though all tried earnestly to dissuade her.
एकमन्वन्तरं चैव पुष्करे च तपस्विनी । अत्युग्रां च तपस्यां च लीलया हि चकार सा
For an entire Manvantara, that ascetic performed severe penance at Pushkara, undertaking the most intense austerities with ease.