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.
स्वयं गायति देवेशे मिश्रा मंगलकैशिकी । नारदे नृत्यमाने तु गायति स्वरभेदिनि
As the lord of the gods sang, mingling auspicious and delicate notes, Nārada danced and sang with varied melodies.
स्वरं ध्रुवं समादाय सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् । स्वधारामृतसंयुक्तं गानेनैवमथो जयत्
Taking up a steady note, adorned with all qualities and blended with the nectar of his own voice, he triumphed through song.
वासुदेवो मर्दलं च कराभ्यामिदमाहनत् । अवगाहंश्चतुर्वक्त्रस्तुंबुरुर्मुखरो बभौ
Vāsudeva struck the mardala drum with his hands, and Tumbaru, with four faces, shone forth as he played melodiously.
तानका गौतमाद्यास्तु तूष्णीं गातुं च वायुतः । गायके मधुरं गीतं हनूमति कपीश्वरे
The singers, led by Gautama, remained silent, while Hanuman, lord of the monkeys, sang a sweet song.
म्लानमम्लानमभवत्कृशाः पुष्टास्तदाऽभवन् । स्वां स्वां गीतिमतः सर्वे तिरस्कृत्यैव मूर्च्छिताः
Some voices faded, others grew strong; each performer, abandoning their own style, became absorbed in the music.
तूष्णीं सर्वे समभवन्देवर्षिगणदानवाः । एकः स हनुमान्गाता श्रोतारः सर्व एव ते
All the gods, sages, and demons fell silent; only Hanuman sang, and all the others became listeners.
मध्याह्नकालवितते भोजनावसरे सति । दुकूलयुगमाधत्त शृण्वन्गीतिं महेश्वरः
At midday, during the time for a meal, Maheśvara donned a pair of fine cloths, listening to the song.
पीतवस्त्रद्वयं विष्णुरारक्तं चतुराननः । स्वस्वार्हाण्यथ सर्वेऽपि कृत्यं कृत्वापि कालिकम्
Viṣṇu wore two yellow garments, and the four-faced one wore red; each completed their proper duties, then turned to Kālikā.
स्वं स्वं वाहनमारुह्य निर्गताः सर्वदेवताः । गानप्रियो महेशस्तु जगाद प्लवगेश्वरम्
Each deity mounted their own vehicle and departed; Maheśa, fond of music, spoke to Hanuman, lord of monkeys.
प्लवगत्वं मयाज्ञप्तो निःशंकं वृषमारुह । मम चाभिमुखो भूत्वा गायस्वाशेषगायनम्
You have been appointed by me as a monkey; without hesitation, mount the bull, face me, and sing all the songs.