वृंदोवाच। नाथ युद्धं न कर्तव्यं राजेंद्र कुत्सयोगिना । मनो निवर्त्यतां पश्य प्रवृत्तं पार्वतीं प्रति
Vṛndā said: Lord, you must not wage war with the king, who is a contemptible ascetic. Turn your mind away; see how Parvatī is already involved.
गौरीं त्वं वांछसि कस्मात्पार्वती किं ममाधिका । तपस्विनी निरालंबा संसक्ता स्थाणवे सदा
Why do you desire Gaurī? What is Parvatī's superiority over me? She is an ascetic, without support, always attached to Sthāṇu.
सुतानुरागिणी वंध्या ततः कृत्रिमपुत्रिका । वृथास्तुता नारदेन तां त्यजस्व भजस्व माम्
She is childless, though devoted to her son, and thus has an artificial daughter. Praised in vain by Nārada, abandon her and take me instead.
इति वृंदावचः श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाचार्णवात्मजः । अदृष्ट्वा पार्वतीरूपं मच्चेतो न निवर्तते
Hearing Vṛndā's words, the son of Arṇava replied: Unless I see Parvatī's form, my mind will not turn away.
वृंदे त्वया जनपदो राजधानी प्रपाल्यताम् । स्मर्तव्योऽहं सदा चंडि यदि मां हंति शंकरः
Vṛndā, you must protect the kingdom and the capital. Always remember me, O Caṇḍī, if Śaṅkara should slay me.
इति भर्तृवचः श्रुत्वा वृंदा हाससमन्विता । जगाम शिबिकारूढा पीठं जालंधरं तदा
Hearing her husband's words, Vṛndā, with a smile, mounted her palanquin and then went to Jālandhara's seat.
नारद उवाच-। अथ प्रतस्थे कैलासं सिंधुसूनुर्महाबलः । महापद्मसहस्राणां षष्ट्या सैन्येन संवृतः
Nārada said: Then the mighty son of the ocean set out for Kailāsa, surrounded by an army of sixty thousand great lotus-bearing warriors.
अत्रांतरे परित्यज्य कैलांसं शंकरो गतः । गणपुत्रप्रियायुक्तः कैलासं मानसोत्तरम्
Meanwhile, abandoning Kailāsa, Śaṅkara departed, accompanied by his beloved son and wife, to the higher region of Mount Kailāsa.
जालंधरस्ततः प्राप्तः कैलासं प्रथमेऽहनि । सेनाः संस्थाप्य कैलास आलोकनकुतूहली
Then Jālandhara arrived at Kailāsa on the first day, stationed his armies, and gazed upon Kailāsa with curiosity.
दिव्यकेसरमंदाररजःपुंज परिश्रिताः । शीतांबुशीकरासारैः प्रभुग्ना वांति वायवः
There, the winds are filled with the dust of divine kesara and mandāra flowers, and they blow cool sprays of water.
यत्र सिद्धांगना पीनस्तनोत्तुंगतरंगिणः । मंदारमकरंदाढ्याः सुंदरा वांति वायवः
There, the winds, rich with the pollen of mandāra flowers, blow where the accomplished women, with full breasts and rising curves, dwell in beauty.
यत्राशोकरुचिस्निग्धपादन्यासं च योषिताम् । विलोक्य दानवेंद्रोभून्मनोरथसमाकुलः
There, seeing the women with feet soft as the tender shoots of the aśoka tree, the lord of the demons became overwhelmed with desire.
प्राप्नुवंति सुराः प्रीतिं स्वबिंबालोकहर्षिताः । यत्र किन्नरकांतानां सुरतव्यंजितप्रभाः
There, the gods find joy, delighted by the sight of their own reflections, where the radiant beauty of the Kinnaras' beloveds outshines even lovemaking.
विभांति सर्वतस्तत्र मंदाराः शीर्णपल्लवाः । यत्र शंभुगणाक्रांता नानावेलाकुलद्रुमाः
Everywhere there, the mandāra trees, with fallen leaves, shine forth; and the trees, crowded with various birds, are overrun by Śambhu's hosts.
भांति मन्मथभूपाल यशसा सुधृता इव । यत्र चंदनकस्तूरी गंधोन्मत्तालिसंचयाः । विभांति दग्धकंदर्प्प निर्वाणांगारसन्निभाः
There, they shine, as if firmly established by the fame of the lord of love; and where the swarms of bees, intoxicated by the scent of sandalwood and musk, appear like the embers of burnt pride.
यत्रांगनानां सकलं विलोक्य सौरभ्यमत्युत्तमकांतिमित्रम् । मन्ये परिष्वक्तमनोविनोदा कस्तूरिका गाहति कालिमानम्
There, seeing the supreme fragrance, the delightful companion of all the women, I think the mind, embraced by pleasure, does not allow the musk to darken it.
क्वचित्प्रवरगैरिकासमसमुल्लसत् पंकजं लवंगदलसन्निभासनचलच्चकोरं क्वचित् । क्वचिद्गिरिसरित्तटीतरणिवत्स्फुरत्कुंडलं चलन्निचुलमंजरीविनयनम्रभृंगं क्वचित्
In some places, lotuses bloom brilliantly amidst the finest red ochre, with their petals resembling clove buds and shimmering like moving chakora birds; elsewhere, earrings sparkle like riverbanks of mountain streams, and bees bow humbly before swaying clusters of flowers.
क्वचिद्दलितकोकिलाकुलितनूत्नचूतांकुरं कुरंगकुलसेवितं प्रबलशालिमूलं क्वचित् । क्वचित्प्रवरसुंदरैः सुरवधूपदैः पावनं वनं नयति विक्रियामिह मनो मुनीनामपि
In some places, tender mango shoots are disturbed by chattering cuckoos, and strong roots of rice are frequented by herds of deer; elsewhere, the forest is sanctified by the beautiful footsteps of celestial maidens, and even the minds of sages are captivated by its wonders.
एवंगुणसमायुक्तं विलोक्य हरमंदिरम् । विचित्रं चापि कैलासं सर्वरत्नसमाश्रयम्
Seeing the temple of Hara endowed with such qualities, and the marvelous Kailāsa, abode of all gems,
अत्यंतविस्मितो दैत्यः प्रोवाच भृगुनंदनम् । कस्मात्तं तापसं तात प्रवदंति भवादृशाः
The demon, utterly astonished, spoke to the son of Bhṛgu: 'Why do people like you call him an ascetic?'
तादृशी यस्य सा भार्या गृहमीदृङ्मनोहरम् । तत्रादृष्ट्वावदच्छंभुं हरः कुत्र गतः कवे
He whose wife is so exceptional, whose home is so enchanting—without seeing Śambhu there, he asked: 'O sage, where has Hara gone?'
कथं मम भयाच्चेति पृष्टः प्रोवाच भार्गवः । देवशंभुर्महाशैलमगम्यं मानसोत्तरम्
Asked, 'How did he leave because of me?' Bhārgava replied: 'Lord Śambhu has gone to the great mountain north of Lake Mānas.'
ययौ तत्र महादेवो गंतुं चान्यैर्न शक्यते । इति काव्यवचः श्रुत्वा प्राह दैत्यो महाबलः
Mahādeva went there, and others cannot reach it; hearing the poet's words, the mighty demon spoke.
जालंधर उवाच-। अहं यास्यामि देवेशं त्वं पुरा गच्छ भार्गव । इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ तत्र यत्रास्ते शंकरः स्वयम्
Jālandhara said: 'I will go to the Lord of gods; you go ahead, Bhārgava.' Saying this, he departed to where Śaṃkara himself resides.
अपश्यत्तं गिरिवरं सिंधुजो मानसोत्तरम् । तस्य षष्टिसहस्राणि योजनानां समुच्छ्रयः
The ocean-born one saw that great mountain, Mānasottara, whose height was sixty thousand yojanas.
स शैलो मानसो राजन्दैत्यसैन्यैः समावृतः । बहवो दैत्यराजानः शैलमारुरुहुर्द्रुतम्
King, that mountain Mānas was surrounded by demon armies; many demon kings swiftly ascended the mountain.
छत्रांधकारं पर्यासीत्वाद्यनादेन वेपथुः । सैन्यकोलाहलस्तेषां पूरयामास रोदसी
After passing through darkness caused by their umbrellas, they trembled with fear at the uproar; the tumult of their armies filled the heavens and earth.
नारद उवाच-। अथैवमागतं दृष्ट्वा दैत्यसैन्यं महत्तदा । अत्युच्चे स गिरेः शृंगे स्थाप्य गौरीं सखीवृताम् 6.11.
Nārada said: 'Then, seeing that great demon army arrive, he placed Gaurī, surrounded by her companions, atop the highest peak of the mountain.'
भगवांश्च गणैः सर्वैः सन्नद्धैर्युद्धदुर्मदैः । त्रिंशन्महाब्जसाहस्रैः प्रमथानां वृतः शिवः
The blessed one, Śiva, surrounded by all his attendants, armed and fierce in battle, was accompanied by thirty thousand mighty Pramathas.
उवाच नंदिनं शंभुर्गणानामधिपं त्वया । प्रहर्तव्यो महादैत्यो वीरो जालंधरो रणे
Śaṃbhu spoke to Nandin, chief of the attendants: 'You must strike the great demon, the hero Jālandhara, in battle.'