इंद्रादिसर्वदेवाश्च स्वस्ववाहनसंयुताः । अथ ते निर्ययुः सर्वे नानावाद्यानुमोदिताः
All the gods, including Indra and the others, each with their own vehicles, then set out together, accompanied by various musical instruments.
कोटिकोटिगणाकीर्णा गौतमस्याश्रमं गताः । ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशाना दृष्ट्वा तत्परमाद्भुतम्
Surrounded by countless millions, they reached Gautama’s hermitage, and upon seeing Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara, they beheld that most wondrous sight.
स्वभक्तं जीवयामास वामकोणनिरीक्षणात् । शंकरो गौतमं प्राह तुष्टोऽहं ते वरं वृणु
By merely glancing from the left side, Shiva revived his devotee; pleased, Shankara said to Gautama, 'I am satisfied—choose your boon.'
गौतम उवाच- यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश यदि देयो वरो मम । त्वल्लिंगार्चनसामर्थ्यं नित्यमस्तु महेश्वर
Gautama said: 'If you are pleased, Lord of the gods, and if a boon is to be granted to me, may I always have the ability to worship your liṅga, O Maheshvara.'
वृतमेतन्मया देव शृणुष्वैतत्त्रिलोचन । मम शिष्यो महाभागो हेयाहेयादिवर्जितः
'This boon I have chosen, O three-eyed Lord; listen further: my disciple, greatly fortunate, is free from all that is to be accepted or rejected.'
प्रेक्षणीयं ममत्वेन न च पश्यति चक्षुषा । न च घ्राणेन घ्रातव्यं न दातव्यं न चेतरत्
'He does not see what is to be seen as his own, nor does he look with the eye; nor should he smell with the nose, nor give, nor do anything else.'
इति बुद्घ्वा तथा कुर्वन्स हि योगी महायशाः । उन्मत्तविकृताकारः शंकरात्मेति कीर्तितः
Understanding this, acting accordingly, that yogi of great fame, with a mad and distorted appearance, is known as one who comes from Shankara.
न कश्चित्तं प्रतिद्विष्यान्न च तं हिंसयेदिति । एतन्मे दीयतां देव एतेषाममृतिस्तथा
'Let no one bear enmity toward him, nor harm him in any way; O Lord, grant me this, and also immortality for these ones.'
श्रीभगवानुवाच-। आकल्पमेते जीवंतु ततो मुक्तिं भजंतु च । त्वया कृतमिदं वेश्म विस्तृतं विकृतं शुभम्
The Blessed Lord said: 'Let these live until the end of the kalpa, and then attain liberation. This dwelling you have made is vast, extraordinary, and auspicious.'
तिष्ठामः क्षणमात्रं तु ततो यास्याम मंदिरम् । गौतम उवाच- अयोग्यं प्रार्थयामीश ह्यर्थी दोषं न पश्यति
'We shall remain only for a moment, then we will go to the temple.' Gautama said: 'O Lord, I ask for what is unfit, for a supplicant does not see fault.'
ब्रह्माद्यलभ्यं देवेश दीयतां यदि रोचते । अथेशो विष्णुमालोक्य गृहीत्वा तु करं हरेः
'O Lord of the gods, if it pleases you, grant what even Brahma and others cannot obtain.' Then the Lord, looking at Vishnu, took Hari’s hand.
प्रहसन्नंबुजाभाक्षमित्युवाच सदाशिवः । म्लानोदरोसि गोविंद देयं ते भोजनं किमु
With a smile, Sadashiva spoke to Govinda, whose eyes resembled lotus petals: 'Your belly is sunken, Govinda; what food should be given to you?'
स्वयं प्रविश्य यदि वा स्वयं भुंक्ष्व स्वगेहवत् । गच्छ वा पार्वतीगेहं या कुक्षिं पूरयिष्यति
'Either enter yourself and eat as if in your own house, or go to Parvati’s home—she will fill your belly.'
इत्युक्त्वा तत्करालंबी एकांतमगमद्विभुः । आदिश्य नंदिनं देवो द्वाराध्यक्षं यथोक्तवत्
Having said this, the Lord, holding his hand, went aside; instructing Nandi, the god told the doorkeeper as was appropriate.
गौतमं समुवाचायमुत्तरं विष्णुभाषणम् । सदाशिव उवाच- संपादयान्नं सर्वेषां भोक्तुकामा वयं मुने
Sadāśiva spoke to Gautama, conveying the reply of Viṣṇu: 'Prepare food for everyone, for we wish to partake, O sage.'
इत्युक्त्वैकांतमगमद्वासुदेवेन शंकरः । मृदुशय्यां समारुह्य शयितौ देवतोत्तमौ
Having said this, Śaṃkara went aside with Vāsudeva; the two foremost deities ascended a soft bed and lay down.
अन्योन्यं भाषणं कृत्त्वा प्रोत्तस्थतुरुभावपि । गत्वा तटाकं गंभीरं स्नास्यंतौ देवसत्तमौ
After conversing with each other, both rose; the two eminent gods went to a deep lake, intending to bathe.
करांबुपानमन्योन्यं पृथक्कृत्वोभयत्र च । मुनयो राक्षसाश्चैव जलक्रीडां प्रचक्रिरे
Separately, each took water in their hands; meanwhile, sages and rākṣasas engaged in water games.
अथ विष्णुर्महेशश्च जलपातानि शीघ्रतः । चक्रतुः शंकरः पद्मकिंजल्कांजलिना हरेः
Then Viṣṇu and Maheśa swiftly splashed water; Śaṃkara, with a handful of lotus filaments, showered them upon Hari.
अवाकिरन्मुखे तस्य पद्मोत्फुल्लविलोचने । नेत्रे केशरसंपातान्न्यमीलयत केशवः
He scattered them into the face of the lotus-eyed one; Keśava closed his eyes as the filaments fell upon them.
अत्रांतरे हरेः स्कंधमारुरोह महेश्वरः । हर्युत्तमांगं बाहुभ्यां गृहीत्वा संन्यमज्जयत्
Meanwhile, Maheśvara climbed onto Hari's shoulder; grasping Hari's head with both arms, he submerged him.
उन्मज्जयित्वा च पुनः पुनश्चापि पुनः पुनः । पीडितः स हरिः सूक्ष्मं पातयामास शंकरम्
Again and again, he lifted and submerged him; pressed by Śaṃkara, Hari gently caused Śaṃkara to fall.
अथ पादौ गृहीत्वा तु आचकर्ष च भ्रामयत् । अताडयद्धरेर्वक्षः पातयामास चाच्युतम्
Then, seizing Hari's feet, he dragged and spun him; he struck Hari's chest and made Acyuta fall.
अथोत्थितो हरिस्तोयमादायंजलिना ततः । अवाकिरदथो शंभुमथ विष्णुमथो हरः
Rising, Hari took water in his hands; then he sprinkled Śaṃbhu, and Hara sprinkled Viṣṇu.
जलक्रीडैवमभवदथ चर्षिगणांतरे । जलक्रीडासंभ्रमेण विस्रस्तजटबंधनाः
Thus the water play unfolded among the groups of sages; in the excitement of the games, their matted locks became loosened.
अथ संभ्रमतस्तेषामन्योन्यजटबंधनम् । इतरेतरबद्धासु जटासु च मुनीश्वराः
In their excitement, their matted hair became entangled with one another; the eminent sages were bound together by each other's locks.
शक्तिमंतोऽशक्तिमतः आकर्षंति च सव्यथम् । पातयंतोन्यतश्चापि क्रोशतो रुदतस्तथा
The strong pulled the weak with distress; some were thrown down, others cried out and wept.
एवं प्रवृत्ते तुमुले संभूते तोयकर्म्मणि । आकाशे नारदो हृष्टो ननर्त च ननाद च
As the tumultuous water play continued, Nārada, delighted, danced and shouted in the sky.
विपंचीं नादयन्वाद्यं ललितां गीतिमुज्जगौ । सुगीत्या ललितायास्तु अगायत विधा दश
He played the vipaṃcī instrument, singing a graceful song; he sang ten verses in a melodious and charming manner.
शुश्राव गीतं मधुरं शंकरो लोकभावनः । स्वयं गातुं हि ललितं मंदं मंदं प्रचक्रमे
Śaṃkara, the creator of the worlds, heard the sweet song; he himself began to sing gently and gracefully.