तपस्विषु धुरीणौ तौ पुराणौ मुनिसत्तमौ । गृणन्तौ तत्परं ब्रह्म गङ्गाया विपुले तटे
Those two foremost ascetics, ancient and eminent among sages, praised the supreme Brahman on the broad bank of the Ganges.
हरेरंशौ स्थितौ तत्र नरनारायणावृषी । पूर्णं वर्षसहस्रं तु चक्राते तप उत्तमम्
There, the sages Nara and Narayana, portions of Hari, remained and performed supreme austerity for a full thousand years.
तापितं च जगत्सर्वं तपसा सचराचरम् । नरनारायणाभ्यां च शक्रः क्षोभं तदा ययौ
By the austerity of Nara and Narayana, the entire world, both moving and unmoving, was afflicted; at that time, Indra became disturbed.
चिन्ताविष्टः सहस्राक्षो मनसा समकल्पयत् । किं कर्तव्यं धर्मपुत्रौ तापसौ ध्यानसंयुतौ
The thousand-eyed one, filled with anxiety, contemplated in his mind: What should be done about these sons of Dharma, these ascetics absorbed in meditation?
सिद्धार्थां सुभृशं श्रेष्ठमासनं मे ग्रहीष्यतः । विघ्नः कथं प्रकर्तव्यस्तपो येन भवेन्न हि
They have attained the highest seat, most excellent and auspicious; how can an obstacle be created, so that their austerity does not succeed?
उत्पाद्य कामं क्रोधञ्च लोभं वाप्यतिदारुणम् । इत्युद्दिश्य सहस्राक्षः समारुह्य गजोत्तमम्
By producing desire, anger, or even exceedingly harsh greed—so thinking, the thousand-eyed one mounted his excellent elephant.
विघ्नकामस्तु तरसा जगाम गन्धमादनम् । गत्वा तत्राश्रमे पुण्ये तावपश्यच्छतक्रतुः
Desiring to create an obstacle, he swiftly went to Gandhamadana; having arrived at that sacred hermitage, Shakra beheld the two.
तपसा दीप्तदेहौ तु भास्कराविव चोदितौ । ब्रह्मविष्णू किमेतौ वै प्रकटौ वा विभावसू
Their bodies were radiant from austerity, shining like the sun; are these Brahma and Vishnu, or perhaps manifest forms of Agni?
धर्मपुत्रावृषी एतौ तपसा किं करिष्यतः । इति सञ्चिन्त्य तौ दृष्ट्वा तदोवाच शचीपतिः
These are the sage sons of Dharma—what will they accomplish through austerity? Thus reflecting, having seen them, the lord of Shachi spoke.
किं वा कार्यं महाभागौ ब्रूतं धर्मसुतौ किल । ददामि वां वरं श्रेष्ठं दातुं यातोऽस्म्यहमृषी
What is your purpose, O illustrious ones? Tell me, sons of Dharma. I have come to grant you the highest boon.
अदेयमपि दास्यामि तुष्टोऽस्मि तपसा किल । व्यास उवाच एवं पुनः पुनः शक्रस्तावुवाच पुरः स्थितः
Even what cannot be given, I will grant; I am pleased by your austerity. Vyasa said: Thus again and again Shakra addressed them, standing before them.
नोचतुस्तावृषी ध्यानसंस्थितौ दृढचेतसौ । ततो वै मोहिनीं मायां चकार भयदां वृषः
But the two sages, steadfast in meditation, did not speak; then, indeed, Indra created a bewildering and fearsome illusion.
वृकान्सिंहांश्च व्याघ्रांश्च समुत्पाद्याबिभीषयत् । वर्षं वातं तथा वह्निं समुत्पाद्य पुनः पुनः
He produced wolves, lions, and tigers to terrify them, and again and again brought forth rain, wind, and fire.
भीषयामास तौ शक्रो मायां कृत्वा विमोहिनीम् । भयतोऽपि वशं नीतौ न तौ धर्मसुतौ मुनी
Indra frightened the two by creating a delusive illusion, but even through fear, he could not bring the sons of Dharma under his control.
नरनारायणौ दृष्ट्वा शक्रः स्वभवनं गतः । वरदाने प्रलुब्धौ न न भीतौ वह्निवायुतः
Seeing Nara and Narayana unmoved, Shakra returned to his own abode; neither tempted by boons nor frightened by fire or wind.
व्याघ्रसिंहादिभिः कान्तौ चलितौ नाश्रमात्स्वकात् । न तयोर्ध्यानभङ्गं वै कर्तुं कोऽपि क्षमोऽभवत्
Though surrounded by tigers and lions, they did not leave their own hermitage; no one was able to break their meditation.
इन्द्रोऽपि सदनं गत्वा चिन्तयामास दुःखितः । चलितौ भयलोभाभ्यां नेमौ मुनिवरोत्तमौ
Even Indra, having returned to his palace, pondered in distress: These eminent sages are not shaken by fear or greed.
चिन्तयन्तौ महाविद्यामादिशक्तिं सनातनीम् । ईश्वरीं सर्वलोकानां परां प्रकृतिमद्भुताम्
They contemplated the great knowledge, the primordial, eternal power—the supreme, wondrous Prakriti, the sovereign of all worlds.
ध्यायतां कः क्षमो लोके बहुमायाविदप्युत । यन्मूलाः सकला माया देवासुरकृताः किल
Who in this world is able to comprehend those who meditate, even if they possess great powers of illusion? Indeed, all illusions created by gods and demons have their root in that meditation.
ते कथं बाधितुं शक्ता ध्यायन्ति गतकल्मषाः । वाग्बीजं कामबीजञ्च मायाबीजं तथैव च
How could those who are pure, free from all stain, and absorbed in meditation, ever be disturbed? The seed of speech, the seed of desire, and likewise the seed of illusion—
चित्ते यस्य भवेत्तं तु बाधितुं कोऽपि न क्षमः । मायया मोहितः शक्रो भूयस्तस्य प्रतिक्रियाम्
Whoever has these seeds established in his mind cannot be disturbed by anyone. Even Indra, deluded by illusion, repeatedly seeks a way to counteract them.
कर्तुं कामवसन्तौ तु समाहूयाब्रवीद्वचः । मनोभव वसन्तेन रत्या युक्तो व्रजाधुना
Then, summoning Kāma and Vasanta, he spoke these words: 'O Kāma, joined with Vasanta and Rati, go now—'
अप्सरोभिः समायुक्तस्तरसा गन्धमादनम् । नरनारायणौ तत्र पुराणावृषिसत्तमौ
'Accompanied by the Apsarases, swiftly proceed to Gandhamādana, where Nara and Nārāyaṇa, the ancient, supreme sages—'
कुरुतस्तप एकान्ते स्थितौ बदरिकाश्रमे । गत्वा तत्र समीपे तु तयोर्मन्मथ मार्गणैः
'Are performing austerities in solitude, residing in the hermitage at Badarikā. Go near them and, with your arrows of love—'
चित्तं कामातुरं कार्यं कुरु कार्यं ममाधुना । मोहयित्वोच्चाटयित्वा विशिखैस्ताडयाशु च
'Make their minds overwhelmed with desire; do my bidding at once. Bewilder them, drive them away, and swiftly strike them with your arrows.'
वशीकुरु महाभाग मुनी धर्मसुतावपि । को ह्यस्मिन् सर्वसंसारे देवो दैत्योऽथ मानवः
'O greatly fortunate one, subdue even those sages, the sons of Dharma. For in this entire world, who—god, demon, or human—'
यस्ते बाणवशं प्राप्तो न याति भृशताडितः । ब्रह्माहं गिरिजानाथश्चन्द्रो वह्निर्विमोहितः
'Having come under the sway of your arrows, does not become bewildered, even when struck intensely? Brahmā, I, Śiva, the Moon, and Agni have all been deluded.'
गणना कानयोः काम त्वद्बाणानां पराक्रमे । वाराङ्गनागणोऽयं ते सहायार्थं मयेरितः
'Who can count the power of your arrows, O Kāma? This host of celestial women has been sent by me to assist you.'
आगमिष्यति तत्रैव रम्भादीनां मनोरमः । एका तिलोत्तमा रम्भा कार्यं साधयितुं क्षमा
'There, the delightful Tilottamā and Rambhā among others will come. Rambhā alone is capable of accomplishing the task.'
त्वमेवैकः क्षमः कामं मिलितैः कस्तु संशयः । कुरु कार्यं महाभाग ददामि तव वाच्छितम्
'You alone, Kāma, are capable, especially when joined by these others—there is no doubt. O greatly fortunate one, accomplish this task; I will grant you whatever you desire.'