घटैः कमलिनीपत्रपुटैश्च कलशैः शिवैः कमण्डलुभिरन्यैश्च तादृशैः करकादिभिः
With water pots, with pitchers made from lotus leaves, with auspicious vessels, with other such containers and ladles in their hands.
आत्मार्थं च परार्थं च देवतार्थं विशेषतः आनीयमानसलिलमात्तपुष्पं च नित्यशः
For their own sake, for others, and especially for the gods, they constantly brought water and fresh flowers.
अंतर्जलशिलारूढैर्नीचानां स्पर्शशंकया आचारवद्भिर्मुनिभिः कृतभस्मांगधूसरैः
Some, standing on submerged stones in the water, careful not to touch those of lower status, observed proper conduct, their bodies dusted with sacred ash.
इतस्ततो ऽप्सु मज्जद्भिरिष्टशिष्टैः शिलागतैः तिलैश्च साक्षतैः पुष्पैस्त्यक्तदर्भपवित्रकैः
Elsewhere, some immersed or emerging in the water, some sitting on stones, offered sesame seeds with husks, flowers, and discarded blades of sacred grass.
देवाद्यमृषिमध्यं च निर्वर्त्य पितृतर्पणम् निवेदयेदभिज्ञेभ्यो नित्यस्नानगतान् द्विजान्
Having performed offerings to gods, sages, and ancestors, they would present the water to the learned twice-born who came daily for bathing.
स्थानेस्थाने कृतानेकबलिपुष्पसमीरणैः सौरार्घ्यपूर्वं कुर्वद्भिःस्थंडलेभ्यर्चनादिकम्
At each place, performing various offerings of food and flowers, and fanning, they would worship with solar water and other rites at the altars.
क्वचिन्निमज्जदुन्मज्जत्प्रस्रस्तगजयूथपम् क्वचिच्च तृषयायातमृगीमृगतुरंगमम्
Somewhere, elephants from scattered herds would submerge and emerge; elsewhere, deer, antelope, and horses would come driven by thirst.
क्वचित्पीतजनोत्तीर्णमयूरवरवारणम् क्वचित्कृततटाघातवृषप्रतिवृषोज्ज्वलम्
Elsewhere, peacocks and noble elephants, having drunk, would come out; in another place, bulls, striking the banks, shone as they faced each other.
क्वचित्कारंडवरवैः क्वचित्सारसकूजितैः क्वचिच्च कोकनिनदैः क्वचिद्भ्रमरगीतिभिः
In some places, with the calls of noble ducks, in others, with the cries of cranes, elsewhere with the cooing of cuckoos, and in some places with the humming of bees.
स्नानपानादिकरणैः स्वसंपद्द्रुमजीविभिः प्रणयात्प्राणिभिस्तैस्तैर्भाषमाणमिवासकृत्
With birds living on the trees, engaged in bathing and drinking, affectionately and constantly making sounds, as if speaking among themselves.
कूलशाखिशिखालीनकोकिलाकुलकूजितैः आतपोपहतान्सर्वान्नामंत्रयदिवानिशम्
With the branches along the banks filled with cuckoos calling, all day and night, they would recite their names, exhausted by the heat.
उत्तरे तस्य सरसस्तीरे कल्पतरोरधः वेद्यां वज्रशिलामय्यां मृदुले मृगचर्मणि
On the northern shore of that lake, beneath a wish-fulfilling tree, on a platform of diamond stone, upon a soft deerskin—
सनत्कुमारमासीनं शश्वद्बालवपुर्धरम् तत्कालमात्रोपरतं समाधेरचलात्मनः
Sanatkumara was seated, always appearing as a youth, just then having risen from meditation, his mind unwavering.
उपास्यमानं मुनिभिर्योगींद्रैरपि पूजितम् ददृशुर्नैमिषेयास्ते प्रणताश्चोपतस्थिरे
Worshipped by sages and honored even by the greatest yogis, the sages of Naimisha saw him and, bowing, approached.
यावत्पृष्टवते तस्मै प्रोचुः स्वागतकारणम् तुमुलः शुश्रुवे तावद्दिवि दुंदुभिनिस्वनः
While they were asking him the reason for his arrival, a tumultuous sound of celestial drums was heard in the sky.
ददृशे तत्क्षणे तस्मिन्विमानं भानुसन्निभम् गणेश्वरैरसंख्येयैः संवृतं च समंततः
At that very moment, a radiant aerial chariot appeared, shining like the sun, surrounded on all sides by countless leaders of Shiva's attendants.
अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णं रुद्रकन्याभिरावृतम् मृदंगमुरजोद्घुष्टं वेणुवीणारवान्वितम्
It was crowded with hosts of celestial nymphs, encircled by the daughters of Rudra, resounding with the beats of drums and murajas, accompanied by the melodies of flutes and lutes.
चित्ररत्नवितानाढ्यं मुक्तादामविराजितम् मुनिभिस्सिद्धगंधर्वैर्यक्षचारणकिन्नरैः
Richly adorned with canopies of various jewels, splendid with strings of pearls, it was attended by sages, perfected beings, celestial musicians, yakshas, charanas, and kinnaras.
नृत्यद्भिश्चैव गायद्भिर्वादयद्भिश्च संवृतम् वीरगोवृषचिह्नेन विद्रमद्रुमयष्टिना
It was surrounded by those who danced, sang, and played instruments, marked with the emblem of the heroic bull, and with a staff made of vidrama wood.
कृतगोपुरसत्कारं केतुना मान्यहेतुना तस्य मध्ये विमानस्य चामरद्वितयांतरे
It was honored with a grand gateway and a banner, worthy of reverence, and in the center of that aerial chariot, between two fly-whisks,
छत्त्रस्य मणिदंडस्य चंद्रस्येव शुचेरधः दिव्यसिंहासनारूढं देव्या सुयशया सह
Beneath a jeweled staff and a pure white parasol, like the moon, seated upon a divine lion-throne with his illustrious consort,
श्रिया च वपुषा चैव त्रिभिश्चापि विलोचनैः प्राकारैरभिकृत्यानां प्रत्यभिज्ञापकं प्रभोः
Resplendent in glory and form, with three eyes, surrounded by ramparts signifying the Lord's recognition.
अविलंघ्य जगत्कर्तुराज्ञापनमिवागतम् सर्वानुग्रहणं शंभोः साक्षादिव पुरःस्थितम्
It appeared as if the unbreakable command of the Creator of the universe had arrived, as if Shiva's universal grace stood manifest before their eyes.
शिलादतनयं साक्षाच्छ्रीमच्छूलवरायुधम् विश्वेश्वरगणाध्यक्षं विश्वेश्वरमिवापरम्
There was the son of Shilada himself, bearing the blessed trident and boar-weapon, chief of Shiva's hosts, like another Lord of the universe.
विश्वस्यापि विधात्ःणां निग्रहानुग्रहक्षमम् चतुर्बाहुमुदारांगं चन्द्ररेखाविभूषितम्
Capable of both restraint and favor even towards the creators of the world, four-armed, noble-bodied, adorned with the crescent moon.
कंठे नागेन मौलौ च शशांकेनाप्यलंकृतम् सविग्रहमिवैश्वर्यं सामर्थ्यमिव सक्रियम्
With a serpent on his neck and the moon on his head as ornaments, possessing sovereignty as if embodied, and power as if active.
समाप्तमिव निर्वाणं सर्वज्ञमिव संगतम् दृष्ट्वा प्रहृष्टवदनो ब्रह्मपुत्रः सहर्षिभिः
As if liberation itself was complete, as if omniscience had taken form—seeing him, the son of Brahma, with the sages, became joyful in countenance.
तस्थौ प्राञ्जलिरुत्थाय तस्यात्मानमिवार्पयन् अथ तत्रांतरे तस्मिन्विमाने चावनिं गते
He stood up with joined palms, offering himself as if to his very self. Then, as the chariot descended to the earth,
प्रणम्य दण्डवद्देवं स्तुत्वा व्यज्ञापयन्मुनीम् षट्कुलीया इमे दीर्घं नैमिषे सत्रमास्थिताः आगता ब्रह्मणादिष्टाः पूर्वमेवाभिकांक्षया
Bowing down like a staff to the god, praising him, he addressed the sages: 'These six families have long been engaged in the Naimisha sacrifice, having come here by Brahma's command, desiring this from the beginning.'
श्रुत्वा वाक्यं ब्रह्मपुत्रस्य नंदीछित्त्वा पाशान्दृष्टिपातेन सद्यः शैवं धर्मं चैश्वरं ज्ञानयोगं दत्त्वा भूयो देवपार्श्वं जगाम
Hearing the words of the son of Brahma, Nandi, by a mere glance, instantly cut their bonds, granting them Shaiva law, divine knowledge, and yoga, and then returned to the side of the gods.