स्वभक्तं जीवयामास वामकोणनिरीक्षणात् । शंकरो गौतमं प्राह तुष्टोऽहं ते वरं वृणु
By a mere sidelong glance, Shiva revived his devotee; then, pleased, Shankara said to Gautama, 'I am satisfied with you—choose a boon.'
गौतम उवाच- यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश यदि देयो वरो मम । त्वल्लिंगार्चनसामर्थ्यं नित्यमस्तु महेश्वर
Gautama said: 'O Lord of the gods, if you are pleased and a boon is to be granted to me, O Great Lord, may I always have the ability to worship your liṅga.'
वृतमेतन्मया देव शृणुष्वैतत्त्रिलोचन । मम शिष्यो महाभागो हेयाहेयादिवर्जितः
This boon has been granted by me, O three-eyed one; listen to this: my disciple, greatly fortunate, is free from attachment and aversion.
प्रेक्षणीयं ममत्वेन न च पश्यति चक्षुषा । न च घ्राणेन घ्रातव्यं न दातव्यं न चेतरत्
He does not look upon what is to be seen with a sense of ownership, nor does he see with his eyes; he does not smell with his nose, nor should he give or do otherwise.
इति बुद्घ्वा तथा कुर्वन्स हि योगी महायशाः । उन्मत्तविकृताकारः शंकरात्मेति कीर्तितः
Understanding thus, acting in this way, that yogi of great renown, with a mad and distorted appearance, is called 'Shankara's own.'
न कश्चित्तं प्रतिद्विष्यान्न च तं हिंसयेदिति । एतन्मे दीयतां देव एतेषाममृतिस्तथा
No one should bear enmity towards him, nor should anyone harm him; 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 age, and then attain liberation. This dwelling, vast, wonderful, and extraordinary, has been made by you.'
तिष्ठामः क्षणमात्रं तु ततो यास्याम मंदिरम् । गौतम उवाच- अयोग्यं प्रार्थयामीश ह्यर्थी दोषं न पश्यति
'We will remain here but for a moment, then we shall go to our abode.' Gautama said: 'O Lord, the one who asks is unfit, yet the seeker does not see fault.'
ब्रह्माद्यलभ्यं देवेश दीयतां यदि रोचते । अथेशो विष्णुमालोक्य गृहीत्वा तु करं हरेः
'O Lord of gods, if you are pleased, grant that which is unattainable even by Brahma and others, if it pleases you.' Then the Lord, seeing Vishnu, took Hari's hand.
प्रहसन्नंबुजाभाक्षमित्युवाच सदाशिवः । म्लानोदरोसि गोविंद देयं ते भोजनं किमु
With a smile, his eyes like lotus petals, Sadashiva said: 'Govinda, your belly is shrunken—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 abode—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 spoke as was proper to the doorkeeper.
गौतमं समुवाचायमुत्तरं विष्णुभाषणम् । सदाशिव उवाच- संपादयान्नं सर्वेषां भोक्तुकामा वयं मुने
He addressed Gautama, and then spoke to Vishnu: Sadashiva said, 'Prepare food for all; we wish to eat, O sage.'
इत्युक्त्वैकांतमगमद्वासुदेवेन शंकरः । मृदुशय्यां समारुह्य शयितौ देवतोत्तमौ
Having said this, Shankara went aside with Vasudeva; the two foremost of the gods lay down together on a soft bed.
अन्योन्यं भाषणं कृत्त्वा प्रोत्तस्थतुरुभावपि । गत्वा तटाकं गंभीरं स्नास्यंतौ देवसत्तमौ
After conversing with each other, both rose up; the two best of gods went to a deep lake to bathe.
करांबुपानमन्योन्यं पृथक्कृत्वोभयत्र च । मुनयो राक्षसाश्चैव जलक्रीडां प्रचक्रिरे
Drinking water from each other's hands, and separately as well, the sages and the rākṣasas engaged in water play.
अथ विष्णुर्महेशश्च जलपातानि शीघ्रतः । चक्रतुः शंकरः पद्मकिंजल्कांजलिना हरेः
Then Vishnu and Mahesha quickly began to splash water; Shankara, with a handful of lotus filaments, splashed Hari.
अवाकिरन्मुखे तस्य पद्मोत्फुल्लविलोचने । नेत्रे केशरसंपातान्न्यमीलयत केशवः
He scattered them into the face of him whose eyes are like fully blossomed lotuses; Keśava closed his eyes as the filaments fell upon them.
अत्रांतरे हरेः स्कंधमारुरोह महेश्वरः । हर्युत्तमांगं बाहुभ्यां गृहीत्वा संन्यमज्जयत्
Meanwhile, Maheshvara 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 raised him up and submerged him; pressed by Shankara, Hari released him gently.
अथ पादौ गृहीत्वा तु आचकर्ष च भ्रामयत् । अताडयद्धरेर्वक्षः पातयामास चाच्युतम्
Then, seizing his feet, he dragged and spun him; striking Hari's chest, he made Achyuta fall.
अथोत्थितो हरिस्तोयमादायंजलिना ततः । अवाकिरदथो शंभुमथ विष्णुमथो हरः
Afterwards, Hari rose and, taking water in his cupped hands, sprinkled Shambhu, then Vishnu, then Hara.
जलक्रीडैवमभवदथ चर्षिगणांतरे । जलक्रीडासंभ्रमेण विस्रस्तजटबंधनाः
Thus, a water-play arose among the groups of sages; in the excitement of the water-play, their matted locks became loosened.
अथ संभ्रमतस्तेषामन्योन्यजटबंधनम् । इतरेतरबद्धासु जटासु च मुनीश्वराः
In their excitement, their matted hair became entangled with one another; the great sages were bound together by each other's locks.
शक्तिमंतोऽशक्तिमतः आकर्षंति च सव्यथम् । पातयंतोन्यतश्चापि क्रोशतो रुदतस्तथा
The strong pulled the weak with distress; some made others fall, while some cried and wept.
एवं प्रवृत्ते तुमुले संभूते तोयकर्म्मणि । आकाशे नारदो हृष्टो ननर्त च ननाद च
As the tumultuous water-play continued, Narada, delighted, danced and shouted in the sky.
विपंचीं नादयन्वाद्यं ललितां गीतिमुज्जगौ । सुगीत्या ललितायास्तु अगायत विधा दश
He played the vīṇā, producing melodious music, and sang a graceful song; with sweet singing, he performed ten kinds of melodies.
शुश्राव गीतं मधुरं शंकरो लोकभावनः । स्वयं गातुं हि ललितं मंदं मंदं प्रचक्रमे
Shankara, the creator of worlds, heard the sweet song; he himself began to sing gracefully, slowly and gently.
स्वयं गायति देवेशे मिश्रा मंगलकैशिकी । नारदे नृत्यमाने तु गायति स्वरभेदिनि
The lord of the gods himself sang, blending auspicious and kāishikī melodies; as Narada danced, he sang with varied notes.
स्वरं ध्रुवं समादाय सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् । स्वधारामृतसंयुक्तं गानेनैवमथो जयत्
Taking a steady note, adorned with all qualities, and mingled with the nectar of his own voice, he triumphed through song.