विप्रलापः प्रियासक्तेः कृतो नोस्मद्वचः कृतम् । अथ कोपपराच्छंभोराननात्परमाद्भुता
'This is the rambling of one attached to his beloved, not in accordance with our words.' Then, from the face of the enraged Śambhu, something most astonishing appeared.
ज्वाला विनिर्गता सापि करालवदनाभवत् । कस्यचित्तु मुनेर्भार्यामाससादाथ सत्वरम्
A flame emerged, and it became a fierce-faced being; it swiftly approached the wife of a certain sage.
पलायनपरा चासीद्रामं दृष्ट्वा च बिभ्यती । रामोऽपि ब्राह्मणीं शुद्धां मोचयामीत्यभाषत
She, intent on fleeing, became afraid upon seeing Rāma; and Rāma said, 'I will free the pure brāhmaṇa woman.'
जगाम पुष्पकेणैव ब्रुवन्मुक्तिं पुनः पुनः । बाणं च धनुषा योक्तुं न च सस्मार राघवः
He went in the Puṣpaka chariot, repeatedly declaring liberation; but though he wished to fit an arrow to his bow, Rāghava did not remember.
शंभुरप्यतिपुण्यानि वनान्यायतनानि च । पुराणि च विचित्राणि दृष्ट्वा रामं न चास्मरत्
Even Śaṃbhu, after seeing exceedingly holy forests, shrines, and ancient, wondrous places, did not remember Rāma.
क्षणेन च तदा प्राप्तो लोकालोकं महागिरिम् । दृष्ट्वाथ राघवः शैलं गृहमार्गसमाकुलम्
Then, in a moment, he reached the great mountain called Lokāloka; and Rāghava, seeing the mountain crowded with paths and dwellings, gazed upon it.
विप्रयोषिन्महाभागा क्व गता वदत द्विजाः । इतो गतेति ते प्रोचुस्तमोभागं गिरेरिति
O most fortunate Brāhmaṇa ladies, where have you gone? Tell me, O twice-born ones. They replied, 'They have gone this way, to the dark region of the mountain.'
रामो विवर्णवदनः कष्टमित्यभिचिंतयन् । अथ शंभुर्महातेजाः प्रकाशमतुलं ददौ
Rāma, his face pale, thinking 'How unfortunate,' then Śaṃbhu, of great brilliance, bestowed incomparable light.
तत्प्रकाशप्रभावेण रामः कृत्यां ययावनु । तमोमयी महाभूमिः सर्वजंतुविवर्जिता
By the power of that radiance, Rāma proceeded to his task; the vast land, made of darkness, was devoid of all living beings.
आब्रह्मांडकटाहांता शतयोजनकोटितः । महारजतभूमिश्च तमोमध्ये व्यवस्थिता
From the edge of the cosmic egg, for hundreds of millions of yojanas, there was a great silver land, situated in the midst of darkness.
तत्र नारायणपुरं सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभम् । स राम मुनिवर्यास्तु तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं ययुः
There was the city of Nārāyaṇa, shining like millions of suns; Rāma and the eminent sages, seeing it, were struck with wonder.
किमेतदिति चाचिंत्य नः प्रवेशः कथं भवेत् । किमेष प्रलयाग्निः स्यान्मायया परमात्मनः
Thinking, 'What is this? How can we enter? Is this the fire of dissolution, created by the Supreme Self's illusion?'
किंवा नो मरणं त्वद्य उत श्रेयो भविष्यति । इति चिंताकुलेष्वेव स रामेषु मुनिष्वथ
'Will death come to us now, or will something better happen?' Thus, while Rāma and the sages were troubled by these thoughts,
शंभुराह शृणुष्वाद्य राघवैतद्वदामि ते । प्रकल्पिता मया माया त्वत्कृते नैतदद्भुतम्
Śaṃbhu said, 'Listen, Rāghava, I will tell you this today. This illusion was created by me for your sake; it is not astonishing.'
नारायणीयमेतत्तु परमं धाम भास्वरम् । उष्णशीताद्यविच्छेद्यं ज्ञानगम्यं न चाक्षुषम्
This is the Nārāyaṇa realm, the supreme, radiant abode; it cannot be pierced by heat or cold, is accessible through knowledge, and not by sight.
तत्तु पूजयतश्चोर्ध्वं पश्य ब्रह्मपुरोगमान् । दिक्षु सर्वासु च मुनीन्पश्य पूजयतोऽमलान्
But as you worship, look above and see the foremost among the Brāhmaṇas; in all directions, see the pure sages as you worship.
चतुरो निगमान्पश्य स्तुवतः परमं पदम् । योगिनः सनकाद्यास्तु योगमास्थाय यत्नतः
See the four Vedas as you praise the supreme abode; the yogis, beginning with Sanaka, having earnestly taken up yoga,
ध्यायंति परमं तेजस्तदिदं पश्य राघव । अमुं च रोमशं पश्य प्रदक्षिणनमस्क्रियाः
Meditate upon the supreme radiance; see this, O Rāghava. And see Romaśa, performing circumambulation and salutations.
कुर्वाणं कोटिकोटीश्च वालखिल्यान्मुनीश्वरान् । लक्ष्म्यादिसर्ववनिता पूज्यमानं परं पदम्
See him, along with countless Vālakhilya sages, and the supreme abode being worshipped by Lakṣmī and all other women.
साकारं च निराकारं ब्रह्म यत्परिकीर्तितम् । अज्ञानिनो न पश्यंति पश्यंति ज्ञानचक्षुषः
The Brahman, described as both with form and without form, is not seen by the ignorant, but is seen by those with the eye of knowledge.
शंभुवाक्यादतः सर्वे पूजयामासुरच्युतम् । गिरिकर्णीं च तुलसीं मल्लिकां मारुतं तथा
Then, at Śaṃbhu's words, all worshipped Acyuta, as well as the mountain ear, tulasī, jasmine, and the wind.
नीलोत्पलैरंबुजैश्च कृष्णास्फुटजलैरपि । पूजयंतो महात्मानो महात्मानं जनार्दनम्
With blue lotuses, water lilies, and even pure dark waters, the great souls worshipped Janārdana, the great soul.
नारदं खेऽथ ददृशुर्जटिलं सविपंचिकम् । नारायणपदाघोषं लंबकूर्चोपवीतिनम्
There in the sky they saw Nārada, matted-haired, holding his vīṇā, uttering the sound of Nārāyaṇa’s feet, with a hanging tuft and sacred thread.
स चापि मनसा दध्यौ क एष इति नारदः । स पपात प्रभोः पादे शंभोरानंदनिर्भरः
And Nārada wondered in his mind, 'Who is this?' Then, filled with joy, he fell at the feet of the Lord Śambhu.
शैवीं पंचाक्षरीं विद्यां जजाप मनसा मुनिः । धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि जन्माद्यसफलं मम
The sage silently recited the five-syllabled Śaiva mantra, thinking, 'Blessed am I, favored am I; my birth and all before it are fulfilled.'
ब्रह्मादिवंद्यं चागम्यं ज्ञातवानस्मि ते पदम् । नारदं तमथ प्राह शंभुर्मैवं वदेति हि
I have come to know your state, which is revered by Brahmā and the gods, and unattainable; then Śambhu said to Nārada, 'Do not speak so.'
यथा च मां न जानंति तथा मे कुरु वर्तनम् । गच्छ शीघ्रं हरिं ब्रूहि ममागमनमल्पतः
'Just as they do not recognize me, so should you act towards me. Go quickly and tell Hari that my arrival will not be long.'
अथ स त्वरया गत्वा सर्वं व्यज्ञापयद्धरिम् । अथ सत्वरया विष्णोरादायार्घोदकं शुभम्
Then, going swiftly, he informed Hari of everything; and at once, Viṣṇu took pure water for offering.
कमलासहितो योगी कोटिकोटिसमावृतः । निर्ययौ नारदं हस्ते गृहीत्वा गरुडध्वजः
Accompanied by Lakṣmī, surrounded by countless yogis, the Garuḍa-bannered Lord came out, taking Nārada by the hand.
नमोनमो नमोस्त्वस्मै शंकरायेत्युदीरयन् । अर्घपाद्यादिना सर्वान्पूजयामास केशवः
Proclaiming, 'Salutations, salutations, salutations to Śaṅkara,' Keśava worshipped them all with offerings of water for the feet and other rites.