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,
व्यज्ञापयदमेयात्मन्देवैहि करुणानिधे । मध्याह्नोऽयं व्यतिक्रांतो भुक्तिवेलाऽखिलस्य च
humbly requested the immeasurable Lord, the ocean of compassion: 'It is now past midday, and it is the time for everyone to eat.'
अथाचम्य महादेवो विष्णुना सहितो विभुः । प्रविश्य गौतमगृहं भोजनायोपचक्रमे
Then, having performed ācamana, the great Lord, together with Viṣṇu, entered Gautama’s house and began the meal.
रत्नांगुलीयैरथ नूपुराभ्यां दुकूलबंधेन तडित्सु कांच्या । हारैरनेकैरथ कंठनिष्क यज्ञोपवीतोत्तरवाससी च
Then, with jeweled rings, anklets, a silken waistband shining like lightning, many necklaces, a neck-ornament, sacred thread, and upper garment,
विलंबिचंचन्मणिकुंडलेन सुपुष्पिधम्मिल्लवरेण देवः । पंचांगगंधस्य विलेपनेन बाह्वंगदैः कंकणकांगुलीयकैः
with swinging gem-studded earrings, a splendidly adorned floral hair-knot, anointment with five kinds of fragrant ointments, armlets, bracelets, and rings,
इत्थं विभूषितः शिवो निविष्टउत्तमासने स्वसंमुखं हरिं तथा न्यवेशयद्वरासने । अन्योन्यसंमुखौ स्थितौ हरीशौ देवसत्तमौ सुवर्णभाजनान्यथो ददौ स चापि गौतमः
Thus adorned, Śiva sat upon the highest seat, and seated Hari as well upon a distinguished seat facing him. The two lords, facing each other, the best among the gods, then Gautama gave them golden vessels.
त्रिंशत्प्रभेदभक्ष्यकं सुपायसं चतुर्विधं सुपक्वपाकजातकं शतद्वयं प्रकल्पितम् । अपक्वपक्वमिश्रकं शतत्रयं प्रकल्पितं शतंशतं तथा सुकंदशाककं तथा मुनिः
He served thirty varieties of delicacies, four kinds of well-cooked sweet rice, two hundred dishes prepared to perfection, and three hundred mixed dishes, as well as hundreds of soft, sweet cakes.
शाकादि सर्पिषान्वितं ददौ च पंचविंशतिं सुशर्करादिकं तथा सुचूनदाडिमादिकम् । मोचाफलं तु गोस्तनीं सुखर्जुनागरंगकं जंबूफलं प्रियालुकं विकंकतं फलं तथा
He gave twenty-five kinds of vegetables with ghee, fine sugar confections, tender pomegranate and cucumber, banana fruit, milk-fruit, delicious dates, rose-apples, priyāla, vikaṅkata, and other fruits.
एवमादीनि चान्यानि द्रव्याण्यर्प्य यथाविधि । दत्वा चापोशनं विप्रो भुंजध्वमिति चाब्रवीत्
And many other such items, offered according to tradition; after giving water for rinsing, the sage said, 'Please eat.'
भुंजानेषु च सर्वेषु व्यजनं सूक्ष्मवस्त्रजम् । गौतमः स्वयमादाय शिवविष्णू अवीजयत्
While all were eating, Gautama himself took up a fan made of fine cloth and fanned Śiva and Viṣṇu.
परिहासमथोकर्तुमियेष परमेश्वरः । पश्य विष्णो हनूमंतं कथं भुंक्ते स वानरः
Then the Supreme Lord, wishing to make a joke, said: 'O Viṣṇu, look at Hanumān—how that monkey is eating!'