आनंदमेवजनयेदपि पापजुषामिह
It would bring joy even to one who here indulges in sin.
जीवन्मुक्तइवासं हि क्षेत्रतत्त्वश्रुतेरहम् यान्युक्तानि समाचक्ष्व तत्प्रभावमशेषतः
I have indeed become liberated while living, by hearing the truth of the sacred field; recount all those which have been mentioned, and their full greatness.
यो दक्षो गर्हयामास मध्ये देवसभं विभुम्
He who was Dakṣa reproached the Lord in the midst of the assembly of gods.
इति श्रुत्वा शिखिरथः कुंभयोनेरुदीरितम्
Thus, having heard what was spoken by Kumāra, born from the pot.
आकर्णय मुने वच्मि कथां कल्मषहारिणीम्
Listen, O sage, I shall tell a story that removes sin.
छागवक्त्रो विरूपास्यो दधीचि परिधिक्कृतः
Dadhīci, whose face was that of a goat and whose appearance was deformed, was surrounded.
एकदा देवदेवस्य सेवार्थं शशिमौलिनः
Once, for the service of the Lord of gods, the one with the moon on his head.
इंद्रादयो लोकपाला विश्वेदेवा मरुद्गणाः 4.2.87.
Indra and others, the guardians of the worlds, the Viśvedevas, and the hosts of Maruts.
ऋषयोऽप्सरसोयक्षा गंधर्वाः सिद्धचारणाः
The sages, apsarases, yakṣas, gandharvas, siddhas, and cāraṇas.
स्तुतश्च नाना स्तुतिभिः शंभुनापि कृतादराः
He was praised with various hymns, and even Śambhu honored them.
अथ तेषूपविष्टेषु शंभुना विष्टरश्रवाः
Then, when they had taken their seats, Śaṃbhu, famed for his eloquence,
श्रीवत्सलांछन हरे दैत्यवंशदवानल
addressed Hari, marked by the Śrīvatsa, the fire that consumes the race of the Daityas,
दितिजान्दनुजान्दुष्टान्कच्चिच्छासि रणांगणे
Saying: 'O destroyer of Diti's and Danu's wicked sons, do you stand firm on the battlefield?'
बाधया रहिता गावः कच्चित्संति महीतले
'Are the cows on earth free from distress and safe?'
विधियज्ञाः प्रवर्तंते पृथिव्यां बहुदक्षिणाः
'Are the prescribed sacrifices, with abundant gifts, being performed on earth?'
निष्प्रत्यूहं पठंत्येव सांगान्वेदान्द्विजोत्तमाः
'Do the foremost twice-born recite the Vedas with all their limbs, without hindrance?'
स्वेषु स्वेषु च धर्मेषु कच्चिद्वर्णाश्रमास्तथा
'Are the classes and stages of life established in their own respective duties?'
धूर्जटिः परिपृछ्येति हृष्टं वैकुंठनायकम्। ब्रह्माणं चापि पप्रच्छ ब्राह्मं तेजः समेधते ।। 4.2.87.
Thus Dhūrjaṭi joyfully questioned the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha, and also asked Brahmā, whose Brāhmanic splendor was manifest.
सत्यमस्खलितं कच्चिदस्ति त्रैलोक्यमंडपे
'Is truth and integrity upheld in the assembly of the three worlds?'
इंद्रादयः सुराः कच्चित्स्वेषु स्वेषु पुरेष्वहो
'Are Indra and the other gods secure in their own cities?'
प्रत्येकं परिपृच्छयेशः सर्वानित्थं कृतादरान्
The Lord, with due respect, questioned each one in this way about everything.
विससर्जाथ तान्सर्वान्देवः सौधं समाविशत्
Then the god dismissed them all and entered his palace.
मध्ये मार्गं स चिंतोभूद्दक्षः सत्याः पिता तदा
On the way, Dakṣa, the truthful father, became lost in thought.
अतीव क्षुब्धचित्तोभून्मंदराघाततोऽब्धिवत्
His mind was greatly agitated, like the ocean churned by the blow of Mandara.
अतीवगर्वितो जातः सती मे प्राप्य कन्यकाम्
He became exceedingly proud, having obtained my daughter Satī as a maiden.
किं वंश्यस्त्वेष किं गोत्रः किं देशीयः किमात्मकः
'What is his lineage, what is his family, what is his country, what is his nature?'
न प्रायशस्तपस्व्येष क्व तपः क्वास्त्रधारणम्
'He is hardly an ascetic—where is his austerity, where is his weapon-bearing?'
असौ न ब्रह्मचारी स्यात्कृतपाणिग्रह स्थितिः 4.2.87.
'He is not a celibate; he has already taken a wife.'
न ब्राह्मणोभवत्येष यतो वेदो न वेत्त्यमुम्
He is not a Brāhmaṇa, for he does not know the Veda.
क्षतात्संत्राणनात्क्षत्रं तत्क्वास्मिन्प्रलयप्रिये
Kṣatra is so called from protecting the wounded; where is that here, O beloved at the time of dissolution?