उत्तानो वरदः पाणिर् एष देव्याः सदैव तु सुरासुरमुनिव्रातवरदेयं भविष्यति
This open, boon-bestowing hand of the goddess will always grant boons to the hosts of gods, asuras, and sages.
यथा प्रोक्तं तदा पादौ स्वच्छायाव्यभिचारिणौ अस्याः शृणु ममात्रापि वाग्युक्तिं शैलसत्तम
As has been said, her feet are unwavering in their pure reflection; listen, O best of mountains, to my explanation here as well.
चरणौ पद्मसंकाशाव् अस्याः स्वच्छनखोज्ज्वलौ सुरासुराणां नमतां किरीटमणिकान्तिभिः
Her feet, resembling lotuses, with shining, clear nails, are reflected by the radiant jewels in the crowns of gods and asuras who bow to her.
विचित्रवर्णैर्भासन्तौ स्वच्छायाप्रतिबिम्बितौ भार्या जगद्गुरोर्ह्येषा वृषाङ्कस्य महीधर
Glowing with wondrous colors, mirrored in their pure reflection, she is the wife of the Teacher of the World, O mountain, the one marked by the bull.
जननी लोकधर्मस्य सम्भूता भूतभावनी शिवेयं पावनायैव त्वत्क्षेत्रे पावकद्युतिः
She is the mother of the world’s order, the source of all beings; this Śivā, radiant as fire, has appeared in your domain for the world’s purification.
तद्यथा शीघ्रमेवैषां योगं यायात्पिनाकिना तथा विधेयं विधिवत् त्वया शैलेन्द्रसत्तम अत्यन्तं हि महत्कार्यं देवानां हिमभूधर
Therefore, let their union with the wielder of the bow happen swiftly; so, O best of mountains, you must perform the proper rites, for this is a supremely great task for the gods, O Himavat.
एवं श्रुत्वा तु शैलेन्द्रो नारदात्सर्वमेव हि आत्मानं स पुनर्जातं मेने मेनापतिस्तदा
Having heard all this from Nārada, the lord of mountains considered himself as if reborn at that moment.
नमस्कृत्य वृषाङ्काय तदा देवाय धीमते उवाच सो ऽपि संहृष्टो नारदं तु हिमाचलः
Then, bowing to the bull-bannered, wise god, he, Himācala, joyfully spoke to Nārada.
दुस्तरान्नरकाद्घोराद् उद्धृतो ऽस्मि त्वया मुने पातालादहमुद्धृत्य सप्तलोकाधिपः कृतः
O sage, you have rescued me from the dreadful, impassable hell; having lifted me from the netherworld, you have made me lord of the seven realms.
हिमाचलो ऽस्मि विख्यातस् त्वया मुनिवराधुना हिमाचले ऽचलगुणां प्रापितो ऽस्मि समुन्नतिम्
O best of sages, now you have made me renowned as Himācala, and have raised me to the highest excellence among the mountains.
आनन्ददिवसाहारि हृदयं मे ऽधुना मुने नाध्यवस्यति कृत्यानां प्रविभागविचारणम् यदि वाचामधीशः स्यां त्वद्गुणानां विचारणे
O sage, my heart now is filled with days of joy; it no longer dwells on the analysis of duties, if I might become lord of speech in pondering your virtues.
भवद्विधानां नियतम् अमोघं दर्शनं मुने तवास्मान्प्रति चापल्यं व्यक्तं मम महामुने
For those like you, O sage, the sight is always unfailing; and your affection for us, O great sage, is clearly evident.
भवद्भिरेव कृत्यो ऽहं निवासायात्मरूपिणाम् मुनीनां देवतानां च स्वयंकर्तापि कल्मषम्
It is by you alone that I am to be engaged for the residence of those whose nature is the self—sages and deities; even though I am the self-creator, I too am subject to impurity.
तथापि वस्तुन्येकस्मिन्न् आज्ञा मे सम्प्रदीयताम् इत्युक्तवति शैलेन्द्रे स तदा हर्षनिर्भरे
Nevertheless, grant me a command regarding a particular matter—so said the lord of mountains, filled with joy.
तथा च नारदो वाक्यं कृतं सर्वमिति प्रभो सुरकार्ये य एवार्थस् तवापि सुमहत्तरः
Thus, Nārada spoke: 'All has been accomplished, O Lord; in the matter of the gods, whatever purpose you have is indeed even greater.'
इत्युक्त्वा नारदः शीघ्रं जगाम त्रिदिवं प्रति स गत्वा शक्रभवनम् अमरेशं ददर्श ह
Having spoken thus, Nārada quickly departed for heaven; arriving at the abode of Śakra, he beheld the lord of immortals.
ततो ऽभिरूपे स मुनिर् उपविष्टो महासने पृष्टः शक्रेण प्रोवाच हिमजासंश्रयां कथाम्
Then, the sage, handsome and seated upon a great throne, was questioned by Śakra and spoke the tale concerning the daughter of the mountain.
समूह्य यत्तु कर्तव्यं तन्मया कृतमेव हि किं तु पञ्चशरस्यैव समयो ऽयमुपस्थितः
Whatever was to be done collectively, I have indeed accomplished; but now the time of the five-arrowed one has arrived.
इत्युक्तो देवराजस्तु मुनिना कार्यदर्शिना चूताङ्कुरास्त्रं सस्मार भगवान्पाकशासनः
Thus addressed by the sage who understood the task, the lord of the gods, Pākaśāsana, remembered the weapon of the mango sprout.
संस्मृतस्तु तदा क्षिप्रं सहस्राक्षेण धीमता उपतस्थे रतियुतः सविलासो झषध्वजः प्रादुर्भूतं तु तं दृष्ट्वा शक्रः प्रोवाच सादरम्
Then, upon being remembered by the wise thousand-eyed one, he swiftly appeared, accompanied by Rati and displaying playful charm—the fish-bannered god. Seeing him manifest, Śakra spoke to him with respect.
उपदेशेन बहुना किं त्वां प्रति वदे प्रियम् मनोभवो ऽसि तेन त्वं वेत्सि भूतमनोगतम्
What need is there for much instruction to you? I speak kindly to you: you are Manmatha, and thus you know what has happened and what is yet to come.
तद्यथार्थकमेव त्वं कुरु नाकसदां प्रियम् शंकरं योजय क्षिप्रं गिरिपुत्र्या मनोभव संयुतो मधुना चैव ऋतुराजेन दुर्जय
Therefore, do exactly what is appropriate—bring joy to the dwellers of heaven. Quickly unite Śaṃkara with the mountain's daughter, O Manmatha, together with sweetness and the unconquerable lord of seasons.
इत्युक्तो मदनस्तेन शक्रेण स्वार्थसिद्धये प्रोवाच पञ्चबाणो ऽथ वाक्यं भीतः शतक्रतुम्
Thus addressed by Śakra for the fulfillment of his own purpose, the five-arrowed one then spoke, fearful, to Śatakratu.
अनया देवसामग्र्या मुनिदानवभीमया दुःसाध्यः शंकरो देवः किं न वेत्सि जगत्प्रभो
With this assembly of gods, and the formidable presence of sages and demons, Śaṃkara is difficult to subdue, O lord of the world—do you not know this?
तस्य देवस्य वेत्थ त्वं कारणं तु यदव्ययम् प्रायः प्रसादः कोपो ऽपि सर्वो हि महतां महान्
You know the cause of that god's unchanging nature; generally, favor and anger alike are immense in the great.
सर्वोपभोगसारा हि सुन्दर्यः स्वर्गसंभवाः अध्याश्रितं च यत्सौख्यं भवता नष्टचेष्टितम्
All pleasures are embodied in beautiful women born of heaven; and the happiness that was once enjoyed by you has been lost.
प्रमादादथ विभ्रश्येद् ईशं प्रति विचिन्त्यताम् प्रागेव चेह दृश्यन्ते भूतानां कार्यसंभवाः
If, through carelessness, you should fail regarding the Lord, consider this carefully; already, the signs of the beings' purposes are visible here.
विशेषं काङ्क्षतां शक्र सामान्याद्भ्रंशनं फलम् श्रुत्वैतद्वचनं शक्रस् तमुवाचामरैर्युतः
For those who desire distinction, the result of falling from the common is loss. Hearing these words, Śakra, surrounded by immortals, replied.
वयं प्रमाणास्ते ह्यत्र रतिकान्त न संशयः संदेशेन विना शक्तिर् अपकारस्य नेष्यते कस्यचिच् च क्वचिद्दृष्टं सामर्थ्यं न तु सर्वतः
We are your authorities here, O beloved of Rati, without doubt; without a message, the power to harm is not exercised, and ability is seen in some cases, not everywhere.
इत्युक्तः प्रययौ कामः सखायं मधुमाश्रितः रतियुक्तो जगामाशु प्रस्थं तु हिमभूभृतः
Thus addressed, Kāma departed, accompanied by his friend Madhu; together with Rati, he swiftly went to the abode of the mountain.