वसंतमहमासाद्य पुरुषान्स्पर्द्धयंति हि। पुष्पशोभाभरनतैः शिखरैर्वायुकंपितैः
Having reached the spring, they rival men with their peaks adorned and swaying in the wind, heavy with the splendor of flowers.
नृत्यंतीव नराः प्रीताः स्रगलंकृतशेखराः। शृंगाग्रपवनक्षिप्ताः पुष्पावलियुता द्रुमाः
The trees, crowned with garlands and tossed by the breeze at their summits, seem to dance joyfully like men adorned with wreaths.
सवल्लीकाः प्रनृत्यंति मानवा इव सप्रियाः। स्वपुष्पनतवल्लीभिः पादपाः क्वचिदावृताः
With vines, they dance like men with their beloveds; in some places, the trees are covered by their own flowering creepers.
भांति तारागणैश्चित्रैः शरदीव नभस्तलम्। द्रुमाणामथवाग्रेषु पुष्पिता मालती लताः
They shine with clusters of stars, as the autumn sky; at the tops of the trees, the blossoming jasmine vines glow.
शेखराइव शोभंते रचिता बुद्धिपूर्वकम्। हरिताः कांचनच्छायाः फलिताः पुष्पिता द्रुमाः
Arranged thoughtfully, they shine like crowns; the green trees, golden-hued, bear fruit and flowers.
सौहृदं दर्शयंतीव नराः साधुसमागमे। पुष्पकिंजल्ककपिला गताः सर्वदिशासु च
As if displaying friendship in the company of the virtuous, the golden pollen of flowers spreads in all directions.
कदंबपुष्पस्य जयं घोषयंतीव षट्पदाः। क्वचित्पुष्पासवक्षीबाः संपतंति ततस्ततः
As if proclaiming the victory of the kadamba flower, the bees, intoxicated by nectar, fly here and there.
पुंस्कोकिलगणावृक्ष गहनेष्विव सप्रियाः। शिरीषपुष्पसंकाशाः शुका मिथुनशः क्वचित्
In the groves, the male cuckoos are with their mates; in some places, pairs of parrots, resembling the sirisha flower, are seen.
कीर्तयंति गिरश्चित्राः पूजिता ब्राह्मणा यथा। सहचारिसुसंयुक्ता मयूराश्चित्रबर्हिणः
United with their companions, the peacocks with splendid tails sing varied songs, as honored brahmins recite praises.
वनांतेष्वपि नृत्यंति शोभंत इव नर्त्तकाः। कूजंतःपक्षिसंघाता नानारुतविराविणः५० 1.15.
Even at the forest's edge, the flocks of birds, resounding with diverse calls, dance and shine as if they were dancers.
कुर्वंति रमणीयं वै रमणीयतरं वनम्। नानामृगगणाकीर्णं नित्यं प्रमुदितांडजम्
They make the beautiful forest even more delightful, always filled with various groups of animals and perpetually joyful birds.
तद्वनं नंदनसमं मनोदृष्टिविवर्द्धनम्। पद्मयोनिस्तु भगवांस्तथा रूपं वनोत्तमम्
That forest, equal to Nandana, increases the delight of the mind; the blessed Lotus-born thus beheld that supreme forest form.
ददर्शादर्शवद्दृष्ट्या सौम्ययापा पयन्निव। ता वृक्षपंक्तयः सर्वा दृष्ट्वा देवं तथागतम्
He saw, as if in a mirror, with gentle gaze, as if drinking it in; all those rows of trees, seeing the divine one thus arrived.
निवेद्य ब्रह्मणे भक्त्या मुमुचुः पुष्पसंपदः। पुष्पप्रतिग्रहं कृत्वा पादपानां पितामहः
Having devotedly announced to Brahma, they released their abundance of flowers; the Grandfather accepted the offering of flowers from the trees.
वरं वृणीध्वं भद्रं वः पादपानित्युवाच सः। एवमुक्ता भगवता तरवो निरवग्रहाः
He said, 'Choose a boon, may you be blessed, O trees.' Thus addressed by the Blessed One, the trees, without hesitation,
ऊचुः प्रांजलयः सर्वे नमस्कृत्वा विरिंचनम्। वरं ददासि चेद्देव प्रपन्नजनवत्सल
All spoke with joined palms, having bowed to Virinchin: 'If you grant a boon, O Lord, lover of those who seek refuge—'
इहैव भगवन्नित्यं वने संनिहितो भव। एष नः परमः कामः पितामह नमोस्तु ते
'May you always dwell here, O Blessed One, in this forest; this is our highest wish. Grandfather, we bow to you.'
त्वं चेद्वससि देवेश वनेस्मिन्विश्वभावन। सर्वात्मना प्रपन्नानां वांछतामुत्तमं वरम्
'If you reside here, O Lord of gods, creator of the universe, grant the highest boon to all those who seek refuge, according to their wishes.'
वरकोटिभिरन्याभिरलं नो दीयतां वरम्। सन्निधानेन तीर्थेभ्य इदं स्यात्प्रवरं महत्
'Let no other boon, even among millions, be given to us; by your presence, may this place become the greatest of holy sites.'
ब्रह्मोवाच। उत्तमं सर्वक्षेत्राणां पुण्यमेतद्भविष्यति। नित्यं पुष्पफलोपेता नित्यसुस्थिरयौवनाः
Brahma said: 'This will be the supreme and most sacred of all places; always endowed with flowers and fruits, ever firm in youthful vigor.'
कामगाः कामरूपाश्च कामरूपफलप्रदाः। कामसंदर्शनाः पुंसां तपःसिद्ध्युज्वला नृणाम्
'Able to move at will, with forms as desired, granting fruits of desired forms; fulfilling wishes of men, radiant with the success of austerities.'
श्रिया परमया युक्ता मत्प्रसादाद्भविष्यथ। एवं स वरदो ब्रह्मा अनुजग्राह पादपान्
'Endowed with supreme prosperity, by my grace you shall become so.' Thus, the boon-giving Brahma favored the trees.
स्थित्वा वर्ष सहस्रं तु पुष्करं प्रक्षिपद्भुवि। क्षितिर्निपतिता तेन व्यकंपत रसातलम्
Having remained for a thousand years, he cast the lotus upon the earth; by its fall, the ground trembled down to the netherworld.
विवशास्तत्यजुर्वेलां सागराः क्षुभितोर्मयः। शक्राशनि हतानीव व्याघ्र व्याला वृतानि च
The oceans, their waves agitated, abandoned their shores in distress; like those struck by Indra's thunderbolt, tigers and wild beasts were scattered.
शिखराण्यप्यशीर्यंत पर्वतानां सहस्रशः। देवसिद्धविमानानि गंधर्वनगराणि च
Thousands of mountain peaks were shattered; the aerial palaces of gods and siddhas, and the cities of gandharvas as well.
प्रचेलुर्बभ्रमुः पेतुर्विविशुश्च धरातलम्। कपोतमेघाः खात्पेतुः पुटसंघातदर्शिनः
They moved, wandered, fell, and entered the earth; pigeon-clouds fell from the sky, seen as clusters of wings.
ज्योतिर्गणांश्छादयंतो बभूवुस्तीव्र भास्कराः। महता तस्य शब्देन मूकांधबधिरीकृतम्
The hosts of luminaries were obscured, the suns became fierce; by that great sound, all were made mute, blind, and deaf.
बभूव व्याकुलं सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्। सुरासुराणां सर्वेषां शरीराणि मनांसि च
All three worlds, with their moving and unmoving beings, became agitated; the bodies and minds of all gods and demons as well.
अवसेदुश्च किमिति किमित्येतन्न जज्ञिरे। धैर्यमालंब्य सर्वेऽथ ब्रह्माणं चाप्यलोकयन्
They wondered, 'What is this? What is this?'—but could not understand; then, gathering their courage, they all looked toward Brahmā.
न च ते तमपश्यंत कुत्र ब्रह्मागतो ह्यभूत्। किमर्थं कंपिता भूमिर्निमित्तोत्पातदर्शनम्
Yet they did not see him there—where had Brahmā gone? Why was the earth trembling, and why did these ominous signs appear?