भागीरथ्याः प्रवाहस्तु तस्मात्स्थानाद्विनिर्गतः । कैलासशिखरं प्राप्य रत्नाख्यं चारुकंदरम्
The stream of the Bhagirathi, departing from that place, reaches the peak of Kailasa and the charming cave called Ratna.
वर्तते तोयपूर्णस्तु योजनद्वयविस्तृतः । हंसवृंदसमाकीर्णो जलपक्षि समाकुलः
There flows a lake, full of water, two yojanas wide, crowded with flocks of swans and teeming with water birds.
नानावर्णविशेषाणि संति पद्मानि तत्र च । प्रवाहे निर्मले तात मुनिवृंदनिषेविते
There, variously colored and remarkable lotuses are found, O dear one, in the pure stream, frequented by groups of sages.
अश्रुभ्यो यानि जातानि प्रभाते कमलानि तु । गंगोदकप्लुतान्येव सौरभाणि महांति च
The lotuses that arose from her tears in the morning are fragrant and great, having been washed by the waters of the Ganga.
प्रतरंति प्रवाहे तु निर्मले जलपूरिते । मध्ये मध्ये सुहंसैश्च जलपक्षिनिनादिते
They float in the pure, water-filled stream, and here and there are accompanied by sweet-sounding swans and water birds.
सूत उवाच- रत्नाख्ये तु गिरौ तस्मिन्रत्नेश्वरमहेश्वरः । देवदैत्यसुपूज्योपि तिष्ठते तात सर्वदा
Suta said: On that mountain called Ratna, Ratneshvara Maheshvara, worshipped by gods and demons, always resides, O dear one.
तत्र दृष्टो मया तात कश्चित्पुण्यमयो मुनिः । जटाभारसमाक्रांतो निर्वासा दंडधारकः
There I saw, O dear one, a certain sage full of merit, burdened with matted hair, wearing only a loincloth, and holding a staff.
निराधारो निराहारस्तपसातीव दुर्बलः । कृशांगोऽप्यस्थिसंघातस्त्वचामात्रेण वेष्टितः
Without support, without food, exceedingly weak from austerity, his body thin, a mere assemblage of bones wrapped only in skin.
भस्मोद्धूलितमात्राणि सर्वांगानि महात्मनः । शुष्कपत्राणि भक्षेत शीर्णानि पतितानि च
His limbs were covered only with ashes, O great-souled one; he ate dry leaves, withered and fallen.
शिवभक्तिसमासीनो दुराधारो महातपाः । अश्रुभ्यो यानि जातानि पद्मानि सुरभीणि च
Seated in devotion to Shiva, difficult to sustain, possessed of great austerity, the fragrant lotuses that arose from her tears.
गंगातोयात्समानीय देवदेवं प्रपूजयेत् । रत्नेश्वरं महाभागो गीतनृत्यविशारदः
With water brought from the Ganga, one should worship the god of gods, Ratneshvara, with great devotion, being skilled in song and dance.
गायते नृत्यते तस्य द्वारस्थस्त्रिपुरद्विषः । मठमागत्य धर्मात्मा रोदते सुस्वरैरपि
At the doorway of Tripura's enemy, he sings and dances; coming to the monastery, that righteous soul weeps, even with melodious tones.
एतद्दृष्टं मया तात अपूर्वं वदतांवर । कथयस्व प्रसादान्मे यदि त्वं वेत्सि कारणम्
This, O dear one, I have seen—something unprecedented, O best of speakers; please tell me the reason for this, if you know it, out of your grace.
सा का नारी महाभागा कस्मात्तात प्ररोदिति । कस्मात्स देवपुरुषो देवमर्चेन्महेश्वरम्
Who is that noble woman, O dear one, and why does she weep? And why does that divine being worship the great god Maheshvara?
तन्मे त्वं विस्तराद्ब्रूहि सर्वसंदेहकारणम् । एवमुक्तो महाप्राज्ञः कुंजलोपि सुतेन हि
Therefore, tell me in detail the cause of all these doubts; thus addressed by his son, the wise Kunjala spoke.
कपिंजलेन प्रोवाच विस्तराच्छृण्वतो मुनेः
Kapiñjala then spoke in detail as the sage listened.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने गुरुतीर्थमाहात्म्ये च्यवनचरित्रे एकाधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred and first chapter in the story of Cyavana, concerning the greatness of the Guru Tirtha, in the Vena narrative of the Bhumi Khanda of the glorious Padma Purana.
कुञ्जल उवाच- सर्वं वत्स प्रवक्ष्यामि यत्त्वयोक्तं ममाधुना। उभयोर्देवनं यत्तु यस्माज्जातं द्विजोत्तम
Kunjala said: I will tell you everything, dear one, just as you have now asked me, and also the reason for the worship of both deities, O best of twice-born.
एकदा तु महादेवी पार्वती प्रमदोत्तमा। क्रीडमाना महात्मानमीश्वरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Once, the great goddess Parvati, foremost among women, while playing, spoke these words to the great-souled Lord.
ममोरसि महादेव जातं महत्सु दोहदम्। दर्शयस्व ममाग्रे त्वं काननं काननोत्तमम्
"O great god, a longing has arisen in me; show me, before me, a forest, the best among forests."
श्रीमहादेवउवाच-★ एवमस्तु महादेवि नन्दनं देवसङ्कुलम् । दर्शयिष्यामि ते पुण्यं द्विजसिद्धनिषेवितम्
Shri Mahadeva said: So be it, O great goddess! I will show you the blessed Nandana forest, crowded with gods and frequented by twice-born sages.
एवमाभाष्य तां देवीं तया सह गणैस्ततः । स गन्तुमुत्सुको देवो नन्दनं वनमेव तु
Having thus spoken to the goddess, the god, together with her and the attendants, was eager to go to the Nandana forest.
सर्वगं सुन्दरं दिव्यपृष्ठमाभरणैर्युतम्। घंटामालाभिसंयुक्तं किङ्किणीजालमालिनम्
All-pervading, beautiful, with a divine back adorned with ornaments, decked with garlands of bells and strings of tinkling ornaments,
चामरैः पट्टसूत्रैश्च मुक्तामालासुशोभितम्। हंसचंद्रप्रतीकाशं वृषभं चारुलक्षणम्
Adorned with yak-tail fans and silk cords, shining with pearl necklaces, resembling a swan and the moon, the bull had auspicious marks.
समारूढो महादेवो गणकोटिसमावृतः। नन्दिभृङ्गिमहाकालस्कन्दचण्डमनोहराः
Mounted upon it, the great god, surrounded by hosts of attendants—Nandi, Bhringi, Mahakala, Skanda, Chanda, and Manohara—
वीरभद्रो गणेशश्च पुष्पदन्तो मणीश्वरः । अतिबलःसुबलो नाम मेघनादो घटावहः
Virabhadra, Ganesha, Pushpadanta, Manishvara, Atibala, Subala by name, Meghanada, Ghatavaha,
घण्टाकर्णश्च कालिन्दः पुलिन्दो वीरबाहुकः। केशरी किंकरो नाम चण्डहासः प्रजापतिः
Ghantakarna, Kalinda, Pulinda, Virabahuka, Keshari, Kinkara by name, Chandahasa, Prajapati—
एते चान्ये च बहवः सनकाद्यास्तपोबलाः। गणैश्च कोटिसंख्यातैः सशिवः परिवारितः
These and many others, beginning with Sanaka, powerful through their austerities, together with hosts numbering in the crores, surrounded Shiva.
नन्दनं वनमेवापि सेवितं देवकिन्नरैः। प्रविवेश महादेवो गणैर्देव्यासमन्वितः
The Nandana grove, attended by gods and kinnaras, was entered by the great Lord, accompanied by his hosts and the goddess.
दर्शयामास देवेशो गिरिजायै सुशोभनम् । नानापादपसम्पन्नं बहुपुष्पसमाकुलम्
The Lord of the gods showed to Girijā the splendid grove, abundant with various trees and crowded with many flowers.