विन्यस्तस्तंभकोटिस्तु निर्मलादर्शशोभिता। अप्सरोनृत्यविन्यास विलासोल्लासलासिता
Its many pillars were set in place, shining like spotless mirrors, and it was enlivened by the graceful dances of the Apsarases.
बह्वातोद्यसमुत्पन्नसमूहस्वननादिता। लयतालयुतानेक गीतवादित्र शोभिता
It echoed with the sounds of many musical ensembles, and was adorned with various songs and instruments, both rhythmic and melodic.
सभा कांतिमती नाम देवानां शर्मदायिका। ऋषिसंघसमायुक्ता मुनिवृंदनिषेविता
There was a splendid assembly hall called Kāntimatī, bestower of happiness to the gods, attended by groups of seers and served by assemblies of sages.
द्विजातिसामशब्देन नादिताऽऽनंददायिनी। तस्यां निविष्टो देवेशस्संध्यासक्तः पितामहः
It resounded with the joyful chanting of twice-born sages, and in that hall, the Lord of the gods, Brahmā, absorbed in meditation, was seated.
ध्यायति स्म परं देवं येनेदं निर्मितं जगत्। ध्यायतो बुद्धिरुत्पन्ना कथं यज्ञं करोम्यहम्
He meditated upon the Supreme God, by whom this world was created; as he meditated, a thought arose: 'How shall I perform the sacrifice?'
कस्मिन्स्थाने मया यज्ञः कार्यः कुत्र धरातले। काशीप्रयागस्तुंगा च नैमिषं शृंखलं तथा
'In which place should I perform the sacrifice, and where upon the earth? Is it at Kāśī, Prayāga, Tuṅgā, Naimiṣa, or Śṛṅkhala?'
कांची भद्रा देविका च कुरुक्षेत्रं सरस्वती। प्रभासादीनि तीर्थानि पृथिव्यामिह मध्यतः
'Is it at Kāñcī, Bhadrā, Devikā, Kurukṣetra, Sarasvatī, or at the holy places like Prabhāsa and others, which are in the midst of the earth?'
क्षेत्राणि पुण्यतीर्थानि संति यानीह सर्वशः। मदादेशाच्च रुद्रेण कृतान्यन्यानि भूतले
'There are sacred fields and holy places everywhere here; and, by my command, Rudra has made other places upon the earth.'
यथाहं सर्वदेवेषु आदिदेवो व्यवस्थितः। तथा चैकं परं तीर्थमादिभूतं करोम्यहम्
'Just as I am established as the primeval god among all the gods, so too will I make one supreme, original holy place.'
अहं यत्र समुत्पन्नः पद्मं तद्विष्णुनाभिजम्। पुष्करं प्रोच्यते तीर्थमृषिभिर्वेदपाठकैः
'Where I was born, the lotus sprung from Viṣṇu's navel—that holy place is called Puṣkara by the sages who recite the Vedas.'
एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य ब्रह्मणस्तु प्रजापतेः। मतिरेषा समुत्पन्ना व्रजाम्येष धरातले
As Brahmā, the Lord of Creatures, was thus reflecting, this thought arose in his mind: 'I shall go to the earth.'
प्राक्स्थानं स समासाद्य प्रविष्टस्तद्वनोत्तमम्। नानाद्रुमलताकीर्णं नानापुष्पोपशोभितम्
Having reached the eastern path, he entered that excellent forest, adorned with various trees and creepers, and beautified by many kinds of flowers.
नानापक्षिरवाकीर्णं नानामृगगणाकुलम्। द्रुमपुष्पभरामोदैर्वासयद्यत्सुरासुरान्
Filled with the sounds of many birds and crowded with various groups of animals, its fragrance from the abundance of blossoming trees delighted gods and demons alike.
बुद्धिपूर्वमिव न्यस्तैः पुष्पैर्भूषितभूतलम्। नानागंधरसैः पक्वापक्वैश्च षडृतूद्भवैः
The ground was adorned as if thoughtfully arranged, with flowers of many kinds, with ripe and unripe fruits of the six seasons, each with its own fragrance and taste.
फलैः सुवर्णरूपाढ्यैर्घ्राणदृष्टिमनोहरैः। जीर्णं पत्रं तृणं यत्र शुष्ककाष्ठफलानि च
There were fruits, golden in form, delightful to smell and see; there, fallen leaves, grass, dry wood, and fruits lay scattered.
बहिः क्षिपति जातानि मारुतोनुग्रहादिव। नानापुष्पसमूहानां गंधमादाय मारुतः
The wind, as if by its favor, cast away what had fallen outside; carrying the fragrance of clusters of various flowers, the breeze moved about.
शीतलो वाति खं भूमिं दिशो यत्राभिवासयन्। हरितस्निग्ध निश्छिद्रैरकीटकवनोत्कटैः
A cool wind blew, refreshing sky, earth, and directions, among lush, green, unblemished, and insect-free groves.
वृक्षैरनेकसंज्ञैर्यद्भूषितं शिखरान्वितैः। अरोगैर्दर्शनीयैश्च सुवृत्तैः कैश्चिदुज्ज्वलैः
It was adorned with many kinds of trees, each with its own name, crowned with lofty branches, healthy, pleasing to behold, well-shaped, and some shining brightly.
कुटुंबमिव विप्राणामृत्विग्भिर्भाति सर्वतः। शोभंते धातुसंकाशैरंकुरैः प्रावृता द्रुमाः
It shone everywhere like the household of brahmins filled with priests; the trees were covered with shoots resembling minerals, enhancing their beauty.
कुलीनैरिव निश्छिद्रैः स्वगुणैः प्रावृता नराः। पवनाविद्धशिखरैः स्पृशंतीव परस्परम्
Men, noble and flawless, adorned with their own virtues, were like the trees, whose tops, swayed by the wind, seemed to touch one another.
आजिघ्रंती वचाऽन्योन्यं पुष्पशाखावतंसकाः। नागवृक्षाः क्वचित्पुष्पैर्द्रुमवानीरकेसरैः
The nāga trees, adorned with flower-laden branches, seemed to inhale each other's fragrance, while elsewhere, trees bore flowers and the yellow filaments of the vānīra.
नयनैरिव शोभंते चंचलैः कृष्णतारकैः। पुष्पसंपन्नशिखराः कर्णिकारद्रुमाः क्वचित्
The karṇikāra trees, with their abundant blossoms, shone in places, their swaying dark buds like eyes with moving black pupils.
युग्मयुग्माद्विधा चेह शोभन्त इव दंपती। सुपुष्पप्रभवाटोपैस्सिंदुवार द्रुपंक्तयः
In pairs and groups, as if couples, the rows of trees at the river's gate shine, adorned with splendid blossoms.
मूर्तिमत्य इवाभांति पूजिता वनदेवताः। क्वचित्क्वचित्कुंदलताः सपुष्पाभरणोज्वलाः
The venerated forest deities appear as if embodied; here and there, vines gleam, adorned with floral ornaments.
दिक्षु वृक्षेषु शोभंते बालचंद्रा इवोच्छ्रिताः। सर्जार्जुनाः क्वचिद्भान्ति वनोद्देशेषु पुष्पिताः
In the directions, the trees stand tall like young moons; in some places, blossoming sarja and arjuna trees brighten the forest regions.
धौतकौशेयवासोभिः प्रावृताः पुरुषा इव। अतिमुक्तकवल्लीभिः पुष्पिताभिस्तथा द्रुमाः
Clothed in washed silk garments, as if men, so too the trees are covered with blooming atimukta creepers.
उपगूढा विराजंते स्वनारीभिरिव प्रियाः। अपरस्परसंसक्तैः सालाशोकाश्च पल्लवैः
Embraced, they shine like beloveds with their own women; the sal and asoka trees, with their leaves, are entwined but not with each other.
हस्तैर्हस्तान्स्पृशंतीव सुहृदश्चिरसंगताः। फलपुष्पभरानम्राः पनसाः सरलार्जुनाः
With their branches, touching each other as if old friends reunited, the jackfruit, sal, and arjuna trees bend under the weight of fruit and flowers.
अन्योन्यमर्चयंतीव पुष्पैश्चैव फलैस्तथा। मारुतावेगसंश्लिष्टैः पादपास्सालबाहुभिः
As if honoring one another with flowers and fruits, the trees, their branches intertwined by the wind's force, stand together.
अभ्याशमागतं लोकं प्रतिभावैरिवोत्थिताः। पुष्पाणामवरोधेन सुशोभार्थं निवेशिताः
As if rising to greet those who approach, they are arranged for beauty, enclosed by a profusion of flowers.