संस्कृताः स्वायतास्तत्र नरा नार्यो ऽथवा नृपाः
There, men, women, or even kings, purified themselves.
मधुर्पिगमनिर्यासमसांद्रमगुरूद्भवम्
Sweet, thick, resinous, and heavy, it flowed forth.
मस्तके जापकं न्यस्य पञ्चगन्धविलेपनम्
Placing the reciter upon the head, apply the mixture of five fragrances.
एवमेवार्चिता नार्य आप्तकुङ्कुमविग्रहाः
In this way, women adorned with pure saffron are worshipped.
एतादृग्वनिताभिर्वा नरैर्वा दापयेज्जलम्
With such women or with men, one should have water offered.
अथवामकरे न्यस्य करकं प्रेक्ष्य तत्र हि
Alternatively, placing the vessel in the left hand, one should look at it there.
एवं स कारयामास गौतमो भगवान्मुनिः
Thus, the venerable sage Gautama caused it to be done.
प्रक्षालिताङ्घ्रिहस्तेषु गन्धोद्वर्तितपाणिषु
When their feet and hands have been washed, and their hands anointed with fragrance,
अथ नीचसमासीनादेवाः सर्षिगणास्तथा
Then, the gods and the groups of sages sat down in humble seats.
अकोणान्वर्तुलान्स्थूलानसूक्ष्मानकृशानपि
Round, angular, thick, fine, and even slender ones,
चूर्णं च शङ्करायाथ निवेदयति गौतमे
Then, Gautama offers powder to Śaṅkara.
कपे गृहाण तांबूलं प्रयच्छ मम खण्डकान्
O monkey, take the betel and give me the pieces.
अनेकफलभोक्तृआत्वाद्वानरस्तु कथं शुचिः
How can the monkey be pure, being an eater of many fruits?
मद्वाक्यादखिलं शुद्ध्येन्मद्वाक्यादमृतं विषम्
By my word, all is purified; by my word, nectar becomes poison.
मद्वाङ्क्याद्ध्वर्मविज्ञानं मद्वाक्यान्मोक्ष उच्यते
By my word comes knowledge of dharma; by my word, liberation is declared.
अतो गृहाण तांबूलं मम देहि सुखण्डकान्
Therefore, take the betel and give me the good pieces.
तततः पत्राणि संगृह्य तस्मै खण्डान्समर्पयत्
Then, gathering the leaves, he offered the pieces to him.
देवे तु कृततांबूले पार्वती मन्दराचलात्
When the betel was prepared for the god, Pārvatī from Mount Mandara—
देवपादौ ततो नत्वा विनम्रवदनाभवत्
Then, bowing to the feet of the god, she became humble-faced.
त्वदर्थं देवदेवेशि अपराधः कृतो मया
For your sake, O goddess of the gods, I have committed an offense.
यत्त्वां स्वमन्दिरे त्यक्त्वा महदेनो मया कृतम्
That great offense which I committed by leaving you in your own house—
न बभाषे ऽप्येवमुक्ता सारुन्धत्या विनिर्ययौ
She did not speak, even when addressed thus, but departed together with Arundhati.
अथोवाच शिवा तं चगौतम त्वं किमिच्छसि
Then Śivā spoke to him: 'Gautama, what do you desire?'
कृतकृत्यो भवेयं वै भुक्तायां मद्गृहे त्वयि
'I would be fulfilled if you were to eat in my house.'
भोक्ष्यामि त्वद्गृहे विप्र शङ्करानुमतेन वै
'I shall eat in your house, O brāhmaṇa, with Śaṅkara’s approval.'
भोजयामास गिरिजां देवीं चारुन्धतीं तथा
He served food to Girijā, the goddess, and also to Arundhati.
सहानु चरकन्याभिः सहस्राभिर्हरं ययौ
With a thousand daughters of sages, she went to Hara.
संध्योपास्तिमहं कृत्वा ह्यागमिष्ये तवान्तिकम्
'Having performed my twilight worship, I shall come to you.'
संध्यावदनकामास्तु सर्व एव विनिर्गताः
All those desiring to perform the twilight rite went out.
अथोत्तरमुखः शंभुर्न्यास कृत्वा जजाप ह
Then Śambhu, facing north, performed the nyāsa and began to recite.