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.
अथाह कपिशार्दूलो भगवंतं महेश्वरम् । वृषभारोहसामर्थ्यं तव नान्यस्य विद्यते
Then the tiger among monkeys spoke to the blessed Maheśvara: 'The ability to ride the bull belongs to you alone, not to anyone else.'
तव वाहनमारुह्य पातकी स्यामहं विभो । मामेवारुह देवेश विहंगः शिववाहनः
'If I mount your vehicle, O Lord, I would become a sinner; O Lord of gods, mount me instead, for I am the bird, Śiva’s vehicle.'
तव चाभिमुखं गानं करिष्यामि विलोकय । अथेश्वरो हनूमंतमारुरोह वृषं यथा
'Facing you, I will sing; behold.' Then Maheśvara mounted Hanuman as he would the bull.
आरूढे शंकरे देवे हनूमान्कंधराशिरः । छित्त्वा त्वचं परावृत्य मुखं गायति पूर्ववत्
When Śaṃkara had mounted, Hanuman turned his head and neck, peeled back his skin, and sang as before, facing him.
शृण्वन्गीतिसुधां शंभुर्गौतमस्य गृहं गतः । सर्वे चाप्यागतास्तत्र देवर्षिगणदानवाः
Listening to the nectar of song, Śaṃbhu went to Gautama’s house, and all the gods, sages, and demons gathered there.
पूजिता गौतमेनाथ भोजनावसरे सति । यच्छुष्कदारुसंभूतं गृहोपकरणादिकम्
Then, honored by Gautama at the time of the meal, all the utensils made from dry wood were offered.
प्ररूढमभवत्सर्वं गायमाने हनूमति । तस्मिन्गाने समस्तानां चित्रदृष्टिरतिष्ठत
Everything flourished as Hanuman sang; during that song, all witnessed wondrous sights.
द्विबाहुरीशस्य पदाभिवंदनः समस्तगात्राभरणोपपन्नः । प्रसन्नमूर्तिस्तरुणः सुमध्ये विन्यस्तमूर्द्धांजलिभिः सुरैः स्तुतः
With two arms, worshipping the feet of the Lord, adorned with ornaments on every limb, youthful and radiant in the midst, praised by the gods with hands joined upon their heads.
शिरः कराभ्यां परिगृह्य शंकरो हनूमतः पूर्वमुखं चकार । पद्मासनासीन हनूमतांजलौ निधाय पादं त्वपरं मुखे च
Śaṃkara, taking Hanuman’s head with his hands, turned it to face him; seated on a lotus, Hanuman placed one foot in his hands and the other upon his mouth.
पादांगुलीभ्यामथ नासिकां विभुः स्नेहेन जग्राह च मंदमंदम् । स्कंधे मुखे त्वंसतले च कंठे वक्षःस्थले च स्तनमध्यमे हृदि
Then the Lord gently took Hanuman’s nose with his toes, and placed his hands on his shoulder, mouth, palm, neck, chest, and the middle of his breast.
ततश्च कुक्षावथ नाभिमंडले ततो द्वितीयं निदधाति चांजलौ । शिरो गृहीत्वावनमय्य शंकरः पस्पर्श पृष्ठं चिबुकेन सध्वनि
Then, placing the second (foot) at the navel center, and holding his head bowed, Śaṃkara touched Hanuman’s back with his chin, making a resonant sound.
हारं च मुक्तापरिकल्पितं शिवो हनूमतः कंठगतं चकार ह । अथ विष्णुर्महेशानमिदं वचनमुक्तवान्
Śiva then placed a pearl necklace upon Hanuman’s neck, and at that moment, Viṣṇu spoke these words to Maheśāna:
हनूमता समो नास्ति कृत्स्नब्रह्मांडमंडले । श्रुति देवाद्यगम्यं हि पदं तव किलस्थितम्
There is none equal to Hanuman in the entire cosmic sphere; the state that is inaccessible to the gods and the Vedas is indeed established at your feet.
सर्वोपनिषदव्यक्तं त्वत्पदं कपि सर्वयुक् । यमादिसाधनैर्योगैर्न क्षणं ते पदं स्थितम्
O monkey, your feet are the unmanifest essence of all the Upaniṣads, united with everything; even through practices like restraint and yogic disciplines, your state is not attained for even a moment.
महायोगिहृदंभोजे बलं स्वच्छं हनूमति । वर्षकोटिसहस्रेषु तपः कृत्वा तु दुष्करम्
The pure strength that dwells in the lotus of the great yogis’ hearts abides in Hanuman; even after performing arduous austerities for billions of years,
त्वद्रूपं नाभिजानाति कुतः पादं मुनीश्वराः । अहो भाग्यं विचित्रं हि चपलो वा नरो मृगः
the sages do not know your form, let alone your feet. Oh, what marvelous fortune it is if a fickle man or even an animal bears your feet upon their body!
धत्ते पादयुगं चांगे योगिहृद्यपि न क्षमम् । मया वर्षसहस्रं तु सहस्राब्दं तथान्वहम्
Even though your pair of feet rests on the body, it is not possible for the heart of a yogi to contain them. For a thousand years, day after day, I too,
भक्त्या संपूजितोऽपीश पादो नो दर्शितस्त्वया । लोके वादो हि सुमहाञ्छुंभुर्नारायणप्रियः
have worshipped you with devotion, O Lord, yet you have not revealed your foot to me. In the world, there is a great debate, O beloved of Nārāyaṇa.
हरिः प्रियस्तथा शंभोर्न तादृग्भाग्यमस्ति मे । सदाशिव उवाच- न त्वया सदृशो मह्यं प्रियोस्ति भगवन्हरे
Hari is as dear to Śaṃbhu as you are, but I do not possess such fortune. Sadāśiva said: O blessed Hari, there is no one as dear to me as you.
पार्वती वा त्वया तुल्या न चान्यो विद्यते मम । अथ देवाय महते गौतमः प्रणिपत्य च
Not even Pārvatī is your equal, nor is there anyone else for me. Then Gautama, bowing to the great god,