अज्ञातरसविज्ञानं कुमारं कुलसम्भवम् । दुनोति मदनः पापः किं करोमि क्व यामि च
'The prince, of noble birth, whose taste and knowledge are unknown to me—wicked Love torments me for him. What shall I do? Where shall I go?'
स्वप्नेषु वा मया दृष्टः पञ्चबाण इवापरः । तपते मे मनोऽत्यर्थं विरहाकुलितं मृदु
'Whether seen by me in dreams or not, he is like another god of love; my mind, soft and distressed by separation, burns intensely.'
चन्दनं देहलग्नं मे विषवद्भाति भामिनि । स्रगियं सर्पवच्चैव चन्द्रपादाश्च वह्निवत्
'O beautiful one, sandal smeared on my body feels like poison; garlands seem like snakes, and moonbeams like fire.'
न च हर्म्ये वने शं मे दीर्घिकायां न पर्वते । न दिवा न निशायां वा न सुखं सुखसाधनैः
'Neither in the palace nor in the forest, nor by the pool, nor on the mountain, neither by day nor by night, do I find peace, nor with any means of comfort.'
न शय्या न च ताम्बूलं न गीतं न च वादनम् । प्रीणयन्ति मनो मेऽद्य न तृप्ते मम लोचने
'Neither the bed, nor betel, nor song, nor music pleases my mind today; my eyes are not satisfied.'
प्रयाम्यद्य वने तत्र यत्रासौ वर्तते शठः । भीतास्मि कुललज्जायाः परतन्त्रा पितुस्तथा
'Today I will go to the forest where that deceitful one dwells; I am afraid of family shame and also subject to my father.'
स्वयंवरं पिता मेऽद्य न करोति करोमि किम् । दास्यामि राजपुत्राय कामं सुदर्शनाय वै
'If my father does not arrange a svayaṃvara today, what shall I do? I will give myself to the prince Sudarśana, as I desire.'
सन्त्यन्ये पृथिवीपालाः शतशः सम्भृतर्द्धयः । रमणीया न मे तेऽद्य राज्यहीनोऽप्यसौ मतः
'There are other kings on earth, hundreds, possessing great wealth; yet they do not please me today—he alone, though without a kingdom, is esteemed by me.'
व्यास उवाच एकाकी निर्धनश्चैव बलहीनः सुदर्शनः । वनवासी फलाहारस्तस्याश्चित्ते सुसंस्थिता
Vyasa said: Sudarshana, alone, poor, and weak, living in the forest and subsisting on fruits, held her firmly in his heart.
वाग्बीजस्य जपात्सिद्धिस्तस्या एषाप्युपस्थिता । सोपि ध्यानपरोऽत्यन्तं जजाप मन्त्रमुत्तमम्
By reciting the seed-mantra of speech, he attained success; this too came to him. He devoted himself completely to meditation and chanted the supreme mantra.
स्वप्ने पश्यत्यसौ देवीं विष्णुमायामखण्डिताम् । विश्वमातरमव्यक्तां सर्वसम्पत्कराम्बिकाम्
In a dream, he beheld the Goddess—Vishnumaya, undivided, the Mother of the Universe, unmanifest, Ambika who bestows all prosperity.
शृङ्गवेरपुराध्यक्षो निषादः समुपेत्य तम् । ददौ रथवरं तस्मै सर्वोपस्करसंयुतम्
Then, the chief of the Nishadas from the city of Sringavera approached him and gave him a splendid chariot equipped with all accessories.
चतुर्भिस्तुरगैर्युक्तं पताकावरमण्डितम् । जैत्रं राजसुतं ज्ञात्वा ददौ चोपायनं तदा
The chariot was yoked with four horses and adorned with excellent banners; recognizing him as the prince, he presented this as a gift of honor.
सोऽपि जग्राह तं प्रीत्या मित्रत्वेन सुसंस्थितम् । वन्यैर्मूलफलैः सम्यगर्चयामास शम्बरम्
He too accepted it gladly, regarding him as a true friend, and properly honored Shambara with wild roots and fruits.
कृतातिथ्ये गते तस्मिन्निषादाधिपतौ तदा । मुनयः प्रीतियुक्तास्ते तमूचुस्तापसा मिथः
When the Nishada chief, having been received as a guest, departed, the ascetics, filled with affection, spoke to him among themselves.
राजपुत्र ध्रुवं राज्यं प्राप्स्यसि त्वं च सर्वथा । स्वल्पैरहोभिरव्यग्रः प्रतापान्नात्र संशयः
"Prince, you will certainly obtain the kingdom very soon; be free from anxiety and confident in your prowess—there is no doubt about this."
प्रसन्ना तेऽम्बिका देवी वरदा विश्वमोहिनी । सहायस्तु सुसम्पन्नो न चिन्तां कुरु सुव्रत
"Ambika, the Goddess, is pleased with you, O steadfast one, and grants boons, enchanting the world. Your ally is well-endowed; do not worry."
मनोरमां तथोचुस्ते मुनयः संशितव्रताः । पुत्रस्तेऽद्य धराधीशो भविष्यति शुचिस्मिते
The ascetics, firm in their vows, also said to Manorama: "Today your son, O bright-smiling one, will become lord of the earth."
सा तानुवाच तन्वङ्गी वचनं वोऽस्तु सत्फलम् । दासोऽयं भवतां विप्राः किं चित्रं सदुपासनात्
The slender-limbed lady replied to them: "May your words bear good fruit. I am your servant, O Brahmins—what wonder comes from true devotion?"
न सैन्यं सचिवाः कोशो न सहायश्च कश्चन । केन योगेन पुत्रो मे राज्यं प्राप्तुमिहार्हति
"There is no army, no ministers, no treasury, nor any ally—by what means can my son be worthy to obtain the kingdom here?"
आशीर्वादैश्च वो नूनं पुत्रोऽयं मे महीपतिः । भविष्यति न सन्देहो भवन्तो मन्त्रवित्तमाः
"Surely, by your blessings, my son will become king—there is no doubt. You are all most learned in mantras."
व्यास उवाच रथारूढः स मेधावी यत्र याति सुदर्शनः । अक्षौहिणीसमावृत्त इवाभाति स तेजसा
Vyasa said: Mounted on the chariot, that wise Sudarshana shone with splendor wherever he went, like one surrounded by an entire army division.
प्रतापो मन्त्रबीजस्य नान्यः कश्चन भूपते । एवं वै जपतस्तस्य प्रीतियुक्तस्य सर्वथा
O King, there is no power like that of the mantra-seed; thus, as he chanted with complete devotion, it was so.
सम्प्राप्य सद्गुरोर्बीजं कामराजाख्यमद्भुतम् । जपेद्यस्तु शुचिः शान्तः सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्
Having obtained the wondrous Kamaraja seed from the true teacher, whoever is pure and peaceful and recites it attains all desires.
न तदस्ति पृथिव्यां वा दिवि वापि सुदुर्लभम् । प्रसन्नायाः शिवायाश्च यदप्राप्यं नृपोत्तम
There is nothing on earth or in heaven that is truly unattainable for one who has the favor of Shiva and the Goddess, O best of kings.
ते मन्दास्तेऽतिदुर्भाग्या रोगैस्ते समभिद्रुताः । येषां चित्ते न विश्वासो भवेदम्बार्चनादिषु
Those who lack faith in the worship of the Mother are dull, extremely unfortunate, and afflicted by disease.
या माता सर्वदेवानां युगादौ परिकीर्तिता । आदिमातेति विख्याता नाम्ना तेन कुरूद्वह
She who, at the beginning of the ages, is proclaimed as the Mother of all the gods, is renowned as the Primal Mother by name, O best of the Kurus.
बुद्धिः कीर्तिर्धृतिर्लक्ष्मीः शक्तिः श्रद्धा मतिः स्मृतिः । सर्वेषां प्राणिनां सा वै प्रत्यक्षं वै विभासते
Intelligence, fame, fortitude, prosperity, power, faith, discernment, and memory—she alone shines forth manifestly in all living beings as these.
न जानन्ति नरा ये वै मोहिता मायया किल । न भजन्ति कुतर्कज्ञा देवीं विश्वेश्वरीं शिवाम्
Those men who are deluded by her Māyā truly do not know her, and, being attached to false reasoning, do not worship the Divine Lady, the Ruler of the Universe, the Auspicious One.
ब्रह्मा विष्णुस्तथा शम्भुर्वासवो वरुणो यमः । वायुरग्निः कुबेरश्च त्वष्टा पूषाश्विनौ भगः
Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śambhu, the Vasus, Varuṇa, Yama, Vāyu, Agni, Kubera, Tvaṣṭṛ, Pūṣan, the Aśvins, and Bhaga—