अथेशो विष्णुमालोक्य गृहीत्वा तत्करं करे
Then the Lord, seeing Vishnu, took his hand in his own.
क्षामोदरो ऽसि गोविन्द देयं ते भोजनं किमु
You are thin-bellied, Govinda; what food can be given to you?
गच्छ वा पार्वतीगेहं या कुक्षिं पूरयिष्यति
Go instead to Parvati’s house; she will fill your stomach.
आदिश्य नन्दिनं देवो द्वाराध्यक्षं यथोक्तवत्
The god instructed Nandi, the gatekeeper, as he had been told.
संपादयान्नं देवेशा भोक्तुकामा वयं मुने
Prepare food, O Lord of gods; we wish to eat, O sage.
मृदुशय्यां समारुह्य शयितौ देवतोत्तमौ
Having climbed onto a soft bed, the two supreme deities lay down.
गत्वा तडागं गंभीरं स्रास्यन्तौ देवसत्तमौ
Going to a deep pond, the two best of gods began to bathe.
मुनयो राक्षसाश्चैव जलक्रीडां प्रचक्रिरे
The sages and the rakshasas engaged in water games.
चक्रतुः शङ्करऋ पद्मकिञ्जल्काञ्जलिना हरेः
They showered Shankara and Hari with handfuls of lotus pollen.
नेत्रे केशरसंपातात्प्रमीलयत केशवः
From the stream of pollen, Kesava closed his eyes.
हर्युत्तमाङ्गं बाहुभ्यां गृहीत्वा संन्यमज्जयत्
Taking Hari’s head with both arms, he submerged him.
पीडितः स हरिः सूक्ष्मं पातयामास शङ्करम्
Pressed down, Hari gently pushed Shankara under.
अताडयद्ध्वरेर्वक्षः पातयामास चाच्युतम्
He struck the chest of the enemy and pushed Acyuta down.
शीर्षे चैवाकिरच्छंभुमथ शंभुरथो हरिः
He scattered Shambhu on the head, then Shambhu did the same to Hari.
जलक्रीडासंभ्रमेण विस्रस्तजटबन्धनाः
In the excitement of the water games, their matted locks came undone.
इतरे तरबद्ध्वासु जटासु च मुनीश्वराः
The other great sages tied their hair together.
पातयन्तो ऽन्यतश्चापि क्त्रोशन्तो रुदतस्तथा
Some pushed each other, others shouted and wept.
आकाशे वानरेशस्तु ननर्त च ननाद च
In the sky, the lord of monkeys danced and roared.
सुगीत्या ललिता यास्तु आगायत विधा दश
Those who sang sweetly, with charming melody, performed ten types of songs.
स्वयं गातुं हि ललितं मन्दंमन्दं प्रचक्रमे
She herself began to sing the Lalita song, slowly and gently.
स्वरं ध्रुवं समादाय सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम्
She adopted the fixed note, endowed with all the proper characteristics.
वासुदेवो मर्दलं च कराभ्यामप्यवादयत्
Vasudeva played the mardala drum with his hands as well.
तानका गौतमाद्यास्तु गयको वायुजो ऽभवत्
Tānakā, Gautama, and others were present; the singer was the son of Vāyu.
म्लानमल्मानमभवत्कृशाः पुष्टास्तदाभवन्
Those who were weak became strong, and those who were feeble regained vigor.
तूष्णीभूतं समभवद्देवर्षिगणदानवम्
The hosts of gods, sages, and Dānavas all became silent.
स्वस्ववाह नमारुह्य निर्गताः सर्वदेवताः
Each deity mounted their own vehicle and departed.
प्लवग त्वं मयाज्ञप्तो निःशङ्को वृषमारुह
O monkey, at my command, ascend the bull without fear.
अथाह कपिशार्दूलो भगवन्तं महेश्वरम्
Then the tiger among monkeys spoke to the blessed great Lord.
तव वाहनमारुह्य पातकी स्यामहं विभो
O Lord, if I mount your vehicle, I would become a sinner.
तव चाभिमुखं गानं करिष्यामि विलोकय
But I will sing facing you—behold this.