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.
वासुदेवो मर्दलं च कराभ्यामिदमाहनत् । अवगाहंश्चतुर्वक्त्रस्तुंबुरुर्मुखरो बभौ
Vasudeva played the mṛdanga with his hands; the four-faced Tumburu, resounding, shone forth.
तानका गौतमाद्यास्तु तूष्णीं गातुं च वायुतः । गायके मधुरं गीतं हनूमति कपीश्वरे
The Tānakas, Gautama and others, remained silent; Hanuman, lord of monkeys, sang a sweet song among the singers.
म्लानमम्लानमभवत्कृशाः पुष्टास्तदाऽभवन् । स्वां स्वां गीतिमतः सर्वे तिरस्कृत्यैव मूर्च्छिताः
Some became weary, some remained vigorous; all, abandoning their own songs, became overwhelmed.
तूष्णीं सर्वे समभवन्देवर्षिगणदानवाः । एकः स हनुमान्गाता श्रोतारः सर्व एव ते
All the groups of divine sages and demons became silent; only Hanuman sang, and all were listeners.
मध्याह्नकालवितते भोजनावसरे सति । दुकूलयुगमाधत्त शृण्वन्गीतिं महेश्वरः
When midday arrived and it was time for food, Maheshvara donned a pair of fine cloths, listening to the song.
पीतवस्त्रद्वयं विष्णुरारक्तं चतुराननः । स्वस्वार्हाण्यथ सर्वेऽपि कृत्यं कृत्वापि कालिकम्
Vishnu wore two yellow garments, and the four-faced one wore red; each, after performing their proper duties, attended to their own affairs.
स्वं स्वं वाहनमारुह्य निर्गताः सर्वदेवताः । गानप्रियो महेशस्तु जगाद प्लवगेश्वरम्
Each deity mounted their own vehicle and departed; Mahesha, who delights in song, spoke to the lord of the monkeys.
प्लवगत्वं मयाज्ञप्तो निःशंकं वृषमारुह । मम चाभिमुखो भूत्वा गायस्वाशेषगायनम्
By my command you have taken a monkey form; 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 Maheshvara: 'The strength to mount the bull belongs to you alone, not to any other.'
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—let the bird, Shiva's vehicle, do so.'