स तु तत्राकरोच्चिन्तां कार्यस्योपायपूर्विकाम् महार्था ये हि निष्कम्पा मनस्तेषां सुदुर्जयम्
Thereupon, he considered a plan for action, preceded by careful means; for those whose minds are unwavering in great undertakings are truly hard to overcome.
तदादावेव संक्षोभ्य नियतं सुजयो भवेत् संसिद्धिं प्राप्नुयुश्चैव पूर्वं संशोध्य मानसम्
By first agitating the mind, one surely attains victory; and having purified the mind beforehand, one indeed achieves success.
कथं च विविधैर्भावैर् द्वेषानुगमनं विना क्रोधः क्रूरतरासङ्गाद् भीषणेर्ष्यां महासखीम्
And how, by various dispositions, without following after hatred, does anger—arising from cruel association—bring forth that dreadful companion, envy?
चापल्यमूर्ध्नि विध्वस्तधैर्याधारां महाबलाम् तामस्य विनियोक्ष्यामि मनसो विकृतिं पराम्
I shall direct the supreme distortion of the mind, born of darkness, against her whose foundation of courage is shattered at the height of recklessness, though she is mighty.
पिधाय धैर्यद्वाराणि संतोषमपकृष्य च अवगन्तुं हि मां तत्र न कश्चिदतिपण्डितः
Having closed the doors of fortitude and removed contentment, no one, however learned, would be able to perceive me there.
विकल्पमात्रावस्थाने वैरूप्यं मनसो भवेत् पश्चान्मूलक्रियारम्भगम्भीरावर्तदुस्तरः
When the mind is fixed only in uncertainty, it becomes deformed; and afterwards, when the root of action is begun, it is swept into a deep and impassable whirlpool.
हरिष्यामि हरस्याहं तपस्तस्य स्थिरात्मनः इन्द्रियग्राममावृत्य रम्यसाधनसंविधिः
I shall steal away the austerity of Hara, whose self is steadfast, by enveloping his senses with delightful means and arrangements.
चिन्तयित्वेति मदनो भूतभर्तुस्तदाश्रमम् जगाम जगतीसारं सरलद्रुमवेदिकम्
Thus resolved, Madana set out for the hermitage of the Lord of beings, that essence of the world, with its grove of straight trees.
शान्तसत्त्वसमाकीर्णम् अचलप्राणिसंकुलम् नानापुष्पलताजालं गगनस्थगणेश्वरम्
It was filled with tranquil beings, crowded with immovable creatures, adorned with various garlands of flowers and creepers, and lorded over by the hosts of heaven.
निर्व्यग्रवृषभाध्युष्टनीलशाद्वलसानुकम् तत्रापश्यत्त्रिनेत्रस्य रम्यं कंचिद्द्वितीयकम्
On a blue, lush slope, grazed by undisturbed bulls, he saw there a certain delightful second abode of the three-eyed one.
वीरकं लोकवीरेशम् ईशानसदृशद्युतिम् यक्षकुङ्कुमकिञ्जल्कपुञ्जपिङ्गजटासटम्
A heroic figure, lord of the heroes of the world, radiant like Īśāna, with tawny matted locks dusted with the pollen of yakṣa saffron.
वेत्रपाणिनम् अव्यग्रम् उग्रभोगीन्द्रभूषणम् ततो निमीलितोन्निद्रपद्मपत्राभलोचनम्
Holding a staff in hand, undisturbed, adorned with the ornaments of a fierce serpent king, his eyes closed like lotus petals in sleep.
प्रेक्षमाणमृजुस्थानं नासिकाग्रं सुलोचनैः श्रवस्तरससिंहेन्द्रचर्मलम्बोत्तरीयकम्
Gazing steadily at the tip of his nose with beautiful eyes, draped in an upper garment of lion and elephant skin from the forests of Śrāvastī.
श्रवणाहिफलन्मुक्तनिःश्वासानलपिङ्गलम् प्रेङ्खत्कपालपर्यन्ततुम्बिलम्बिजटाचयम्
With ears adorned by the hoods of serpents, his breath glowing like fire, his matted locks swinging, hung with skulls at their ends.
कृतवासुकिपर्यङ्कनाभिमूलनिवेशितम् ब्रह्माञ्जलिस्थपुच्छाग्रनिबद्धोरगभूषणम्
Reclining with Vāsuki as his couch, his navel as the center, adorned with a serpent whose tail-tip was held in Brahmā's joined palms.
ददर्श शंकरं कामः क्रमप्राप्तान्तिकं शनैः ततो भ्रमरझङ्कारमालम्बिद्रुमसानुकम्
Kāma beheld Śaṅkara, having gradually drawn near; then, amidst the humming of bees, he approached the wooded slope.
प्रविष्टः कर्णरन्ध्रेण भवस्य मदनो मनः शंकरस्तमथाकर्ण्य मधुरं मदनाश्रयम्
Madana entered the mind of Bhava through the opening of his ear; and Śaṅkara, hearing that sweet, love-laden sound—
सस्मार दक्षदुहितारं दयितां रक्तमानसः ततः सा तस्य शनकैस् तिरोभूयातिनिर्मला
Remembered Dakṣa's daughter, his beloved, his heart inflamed with passion; then she, pure and radiant, gradually disappeared from his sight.
समाधिभावना तस्थौ लक्ष्यप्रत्यक्षरूपिणी ततस्तन्मयतां यातः प्रत्यूहापिहिताशयः
She remained absorbed in meditation, appearing as the very object of concentration; then, her mind, obstructed by hindrances, became wholly identified with that focus.
वशित्वेन बुबोधेशो विकृतिं मदनात्मिकाम् ईषत्कोपसमाविष्टो धैर्यमालम्ब्य धूर्जटिः
By mastery, the Lord perceived the distortion born of desire; slightly filled with anger, the steadfast Dhūrjaṭi composed himself.
निरासे मदनस्थित्या योगमायासमाव्रतः स तया माययाविष्टो जज्वाल मदनस्ततः
In the absence of hope, with desire persisting, enveloped by yogic illusion, he was seized by that very illusion, and thus the fire of desire blazed forth.
इच्छाशरीरो दुर्जेयो रोषदोषमहाश्रयः हृदयान्निर्गतः सो ऽथ वासनाव्यसनात्मकः
Desire, embodied by will, hard to subdue, the great seat of anger and fault, then emerged from the heart, consisting of the affliction of longing.
बहिःस्थलं समालम्ब्य ह्य् उपतस्थौ झषध्वजः अनुयातो ऽथ हृद्येन मित्रेण मधुना सह
Taking up a place outside, the Fish-bannered One approached, accompanied by his friend residing in the heart, together with Madhu.
सहकारतरौ दृष्ट्वा मृदुमारुतनिर्धुतम् स्तबकं मदनो रम्यं हरवक्षसि सत्वरम्
Seeing a cluster of mango blossoms gently shaken by the soft wind, Madana swiftly delighted in the beauty upon Hara's chest.
मुमोच मोहनं नाम मार्गणं मकरध्वजः शिवस्य हृदये शुद्धे नाशशाली महाशरः
The Makara-bannered One released the bewildering arrow named Mohana, the mighty, destructive flower-shaft, into the pure heart of Śiva.
पपात परुषप्रांशुः पुष्पबाणो विमोहनः ततः करणसंदेहो विद्धस्तु हृदये भवः
That harsh, tall, bewildering flower-arrow fell; then, struck in the heart, Bhava experienced confusion of the senses.
बभूव भूधरौपम्यधैर्यो ऽपि मदनोन्मुखः ततः प्रभुत्वाद्भावानां नावेशं समपद्यत
Though his steadfastness was like a mountain, he became inclined toward desire; then, through the power of those feelings, he fell under their sway.
बाह्यं बहु समासाद्य प्रत्यूहप्रसवात्मकम् ततः कोपानलोद्भूतघोरहुङ्कारभीषणे
Having encountered much external disturbance, arising from the proliferation of obstacles, then, from the fire of anger, a terrible, fearsome roar arose.
बभूव वदने नेत्रं तृतीयमनलाकुलम् रुद्रस्य रौद्रवपुषो जगत्संहारभैरवम्
On his face appeared a third, blazing eye, filled with fire—the fierce, world-destroying eye of Rudra in his terrible form.
तदन्तिकस्थे मदने व्यस्फारयत धूर्जटिः तन्नेत्रविस्फुलिङ्गेन क्रोशतां नाकवासिनाम्
As Madana stood nearby, Dhūrjaṭi opened that eye; from its spark, the denizens of heaven cried out.