तमेते मुनयः पूज्या विनीताः कार्यगौरवात्। ऊचुर्मधुरभाषाभिस्ते वाचं वाग्मिनां वराः
Those venerable sages, humble out of respect for their purpose, addressed him with sweet words, being foremost among eloquent speakers.
द्रष्टुं वयमिहायाताः शंकरं गुणनायकं। त्रिलोचनं विजानीहि सुरकार्यप्रचोदिताः
We have come here to see Shankara, the leader in virtue, the three-eyed one—know that we are sent by the gods for their purpose.
त्वमेव नो गतिस्तत्र यथाकालानतिक्रमः। स्यात्प्रार्थनैषा प्रायेण प्रतीहारमयी प्रभो
You alone are our guide there, so that there is no delay at the proper time; our request is mostly about gaining entry, O lord.
इत्युक्तो मुनिभिः सोथ गौरवात्तानुवाच ह। सवनस्यापरां संध्यां कर्तुं मंदाकिनीं गतः
Thus addressed by the sages, he replied to them respectfully: 'He has gone to the Mandakini to perform the later Sandhya ritual.'
क्षणेन भाविता विप्रास्ततो द्रक्ष्यथ शूलिनम्। इत्युक्ता मुनयस्तस्थुर्यत्नात्कार्यविचक्षणाः
'In a moment, O brahmins, you will see the wielder of the trident.' Thus spoken to, the sages waited attentively, skilled in their task.
गंभीरांबुधरं प्रावृट्तृषिताश्चातका यथा। तथा क्षणेन निष्पन्न समाचारक्रियाविधिम्
Just as thirsty chataka birds await the deep thundercloud in the rainy season, so in a moment the prescribed rites were completed.
वीरासनकृतोद्देशं मृगचर्मनियामितम्। ततो विनीतो जानुभ्यामवलंब्य महीं मुदा
In the place set for the hero's seat, covered with deerskin, the humble one then joyfully knelt on the ground.
उवाच वीरको देवं प्रणयैकसमाश्रयम्। संप्राप्ता मुनयः सप्त द्रष्टुं त्वां दीप्ततेजसं
Viraka spoke to the Lord, the sole refuge of affection: 'The seven sages have come to see you, O radiant one.'
विभो समादिश द्रष्टुं ततो ध्यानमिहार्हसि। इत्युक्तो धूर्जटिस्तेन वीरकेण महात्मना
'O Lord, command that they may see you; then you should enter meditation.' Thus addressed by Viraka, the great-souled one.
भ्रूभंगसंज्ञया तेषां प्रवेशाज्ञां ददौ तदा। मूर्द्धकंपेन तान्सप्त वीरकोपि महामुनीन्
With a movement of his brows, he then gave them permission to enter; Viraka, too, summoned the seven great sages with a nod of his head.
आजुहाव विदूरस्थान्दर्शनाय पिनाकिनः। त्वराबद्धजटास्ते च लंबकृष्णानिजांबराः
He called those who stood at a distance to behold the wielder of the bow; their matted locks were bound in haste, and their black garments hung down.
विविशुर्वेदिकां दिव्यां गिरीशस्य विभोस्ततः। बद्धपाणिपुटा क्षिप्त नाकपुष्पोत्त्करास्ततः
Then they entered the divine platform of the Lord of the Mountain, their hands joined in reverence, scattering heaps of heavenly flowers.
पिनाकिपादयुगलं वंद्य नाकनिवासिनः। ततः स्निग्धेक्षिताः संतो मुनयः शूलपाणिना
The dwellers of heaven worshipped the feet of the wielder of the bow; then the sages, gazed upon with gentle eyes by the trident-bearer, were satisfied.
गिरीशं ते ततो दृष्ट्वा ते समं तुष्टवुर्मुदा
Having seen the Lord of the Mountain, they together praised him with joy.
मुनय ऊचुः-। अहो कृतार्था वयमेव सांप्रतं सुरेश्वरैर्वंदितपादपल्लवम्। विलोकयामो गुणगौरवर्द्धिभिः समादिशेः कार्यमशेषरक्षणम्
The sages said: 'Ah, we are truly fulfilled now, beholding the lotus feet worshipped by the lords of the gods; by your greatness in virtue, you command the protection of all duties.'
ततः प्रहस्य सर्वज्ञ उवाच मुनिसत्तमान्। भवतां यद्धृदिगतं कार्यं तत्कुरुताधुना
Then, smiling, the all-knowing one spoke to the best of sages: 'Whatever purpose is in your hearts, accomplish it now.'
इत्युक्ता मुनयस्तूर्णं ययुर्यत्र च शैलजा। बभाषिरे विभागज्ञा गिरिजां गिरिगह्वरे। रम्यं प्रियमनोहारि मारूपं तपसादह
Thus addressed, the sages quickly went to where the daughter of the mountain was; those who knew the proper divisions spoke to Girijā in the mountain cave, praising her beauty, belovedness, and captivating form, which had been enhanced by her austerities.
प्रीतस्ते शंकरः पाणिमेष प्रतिग्रहीष्यति। वयमर्थितवंतस्ते पितरं पूर्वमागताः
Shiva is pleased with you; he will accept your hand in marriage. We have come before you at your father's request.
पित्रा सह गृहं गच्छ वयं यामः स्वमंदिरं। इत्युक्ता तपसः सत्यं फलमस्तीति चिंत्य सा
Go home with your father; we shall return to our own hermitage. Thus addressed, she reflected that the fruit of her austerities was indeed true.
त्वरमाणा ययौ वेश्म पितुर्दिव्यं सुशोभितं। सा तत्र रजनीं मेने वर्षायुतसमां सती
Hastening, she went to her father's splendid divine mansion; there, Sati felt that the night lasted as long as ten thousand years.
हरदर्शनसंजात समुत्कंठा हिमाद्रिजा। ततो मुहूर्त्ते ब्राह्मे तु तस्याश्चक्रुः सुहृत्क्रियां
Longing for a vision of Hara, the daughter of Himavat was filled with intense yearning; then, at the auspicious Brahma-muhurta, her friends performed the customary rites for her.
नानामंगलसंदोहान्यथावत्क्रमपूर्वकम्। दिव्यमंगलसंयोगान्मंदिरे बहुमंगले 1.43.
Various auspicious ceremonies were performed in proper sequence, with divine and auspicious arrangements, in that most blessed mansion.
उपासत गिरिं मूर्त्ता ॠतवः सर्वकामिकाः। वायवः सुखदाश्चासन्संमार्जनविधौ गिरेः
The seasons, manifest in form and fulfilling all desires, attended the mountain; the gentle winds brought comfort, sweeping and cleansing the mountain.
हर्म्येषु श्रीः स्वयं देवी कृतनाना प्रसाधना। कांतिः सर्वेषु भावेषु ॠद्धिश्च भरणाकुला
In the palaces, the goddess of fortune herself adorned with various ornaments; radiance filled every aspect, and prosperity abounded in all provisions.
चिंतामणिप्रभृतयो रत्नाश्शैलं समंततः। उपतस्थुर्लताश्चापि कल्पकाद्या महाद्रुमाः
Wishing-gem and other jewels surrounded the mountain on all sides; even the creepers and great trees like the Kalpa tree attended there.
ओषध्यो मूर्तिमत्यश्च दिव्यौषधिसमन्विताः। रसाश्च धातवश्चैव सर्वे शैलस्य किंकराः
Medicinal herbs, endowed with divine qualities and manifest in form, as well as all the juices and minerals, became servants of the mountain.
किंकरास्तस्य शैलस्य व्यग्राश्चाश्रमवर्तिनः। नद्यः समुद्रा निखिलाः स्थावरं जंगमं च यत्
All these attendants of the mountain, ever active in the hermitage, included rivers, all the oceans, and every immobile and mobile being.
ते सर्वे हिमशैलस्य महिमानमवर्द्धयन्। अभवन्मुनयो नागा यक्षा गंधर्वकिन्नराः
All of them increased the glory of the snowy mountain; there were sages, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, and kinnaras.
शंकरस्यापि विबुधा गंधमादनपर्वते। सज्जमंडनसंभारास्तस्थुर्निर्मल मूर्त्तयः
Even the gods for Shiva, on Mount Gandhamādana, stood ready with all the necessary ornaments, their forms pure and spotless.
शर्वस्याथ जटाजूटे चंद्रखंडं पितामहः। बबंध प्रणयोदार विस्फारितविलोचनः
Then the grandsire, with eyes wide in affection, bound a crescent moon in the matted locks of Sharva.