घंटोनाम गणश्रेष्ठो बभूव मम वल्लभः प्रस्थितो ब्रह्मसदनं द्रष्टुं ब्रह्माणमव्ययम्
Ghaṃṭa, chief among the gaṇas and my beloved, set out for Brahmā's abode to see the imperishable Brahmā.
अथायान्तं समालोक्य गन्धर्वं गीतकोविदम्
Then, seeing him approach, a Gandharva skilled in song—
मया तत्रैव गन्तव्यं सदने परमेष्ठिनः।. गीतैराराधयिष्यामि ब्रह्माणं जगतां पतिम्
I too must go there, to the abode of the Supreme Lord; with songs I shall worship Brahmā, the master of the worlds.
चित्रसेनोऽथ तं देवि प्रत्युक्तो घंटमब्रवीत्
Then Citrasena, O goddess, replied and spoke to Ghaṃṭa.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा गणो घंटस्तस्थौ विस्मितमानसः
Hearing this, the gaṇa Ghaṃṭa stood, his mind astonished.
हित्वा स्वामिनमीशानं द्रष्टुं ब्रह्माणमागतः
Leaving his master Īśāna, he had come to see Brahmā.
एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य साग्रः संवत्सरो गतः
While he pondered thus, a full year passed.
निर्गच्छतमथालोक्य वीणाहस्तं समुत्सुकम्
Then, seeing one departing, eager and holding a vīṇā—
प्रोक्तो घंटेन सहसा मां निवेदय नारद 5.2.57.
Announce me at once together with Ghaṇṭa, O Nārada.
दर्शनार्थं समायातो ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः नारदः प्रत्युवाचेदं समाश्वास्य सकैतवम्
Having come for an audience with Brahmā, the supreme lord, Nārada replied these words, reassuring him with a hint of guile.
अहं बृहस्पतेः पार्श्वे प्रेषितोऽस्मि गणाधिप आयास्यामि क्षणेनैव तावत्कालं प्रतीक्ष्यताम्
I have been sent by Bṛhaspati, O lord of the gaṇas; I shall come in just a moment—please wait for that time.
इत्युक्त्वा नारदो देवि मम पार्श्वमुपागतः
Having spoken thus, O goddess, Nārada came to my side.
ईदृशो दुर्ल्लभो भृत्यो घंटेन सदृशः प्रभो स्थितः संवत्सरं साग्रं प्रवेशं न च लब्धवान्।।१४ तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य नारदस्य मुनेस्तदा
Such a servant as Ghaṇṭa is rare indeed, O lord; he remained for a year and more, yet did not obtain entry.
मां त्यक्त्वा हि गतोन्यत्र सेवार्थं परवेश्मनि
Having abandoned me, he went elsewhere to serve in another’s house.
पतितो भूतले घंटो देवदारुवनांतिके
Ghaṇṭa fell to the earth near the Devadāru forest.
प्रोक्तं शोकोत्तरेणैव वचनं गद्गदाक्षरम्
He spoke words choked with grief, his voice faltering.
स याति नरकं घोरमपकीर्तिं च विंदति यस्मात्स्वामी न मे ब्रह्मा न च देवो महेश्वरः
He goes to a dreadful hell and attains disgrace, because neither Brahmā nor the god Maheśvara is my master.
एवं विलपतस्तस्य नारदो मुनिसत्तमः 5.2.57.
As he lamented in this way, the eminent sage Nārada—
देवदारुवने देवि दर्शनार्थं तपस्विनाम्
O goddess, in the Devadāru forest, for the sake of seeing the ascetics—
अवस्थामीदृशीं कृत्वा किमन्यन्मे करिष्यति
Having brought about such a condition, what else will he do to me?
गणाध्यक्ष न ते कार्यो मन्युः पुण्यविनाशनः
O lord of the gaṇas, do not harbor anger, which destroys merit.
प्रायश्चित्तविशुद्धात्मा प्रभुं प्राप्स्यसि शंकरम्
With a mind purified by atonement, you will attain the lord Śaṃkara.
रेवंतेश्वर पूर्वे तु विद्यते लिंगमुत्तमम्
Formerly, at Reva’s end, there exists a most excellent liṅga.
इत्युक्तो नारदेनैव जैगीषव्यः समागतः
Thus addressed by Nārada, Jaigīṣavya arrived.
नारदेन गणाध्यक्ष कीर्त्तिस्ते भविताऽक्षया
O lord of the gaṇas, by Nārada your fame will become imperishable.
अत्रिणा भृगुणा देवि लोमशेन सुरर्षिणा
By Atri, by Bhṛgu, O goddess, and by Lomaśa, the sage among the gods—
यत्र घंटानिनादेन युध्यतो मम संयुगे दृष्टं तत्र गणेनैव लिंगं तेजोमयं शुभम्
There, in battle, where the sound of the bell resounded as I fought, the assembly saw a linga, radiant with light and auspicious.
दर्शनात्तस्य लिंगस्य भूयो घंटो गणोऽभवत् 5.2.57.
By beholding that linga, Ghaṇṭa once again became a gaṇa.
घण्टोभिनंदितोऽत्यर्थं विमानैः सार्वकामिकैः
Ghaṇṭa was greatly honored with celestial chariots that fulfill all desires.
ये पश्यन्ति विशालाक्षि देवं घण्डेश्वरं शिवम्
Those who see the god Ghaṇṭeśvara Śiva, O wide-eyed one,