श्रुत्वा तु तौ महाभागौ वैकुंठकमलोद्भवौ ६.
Hearing this, those two illustrious ones, the Lotus-born and the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha,
स्वर्गं गतस्तदा ब्रह्मा अवलोकनतत्परः ६.
At that time, Brahmā went to heaven, intent on observing.
तथा गतेन मार्गेण प्रत्यावृत्त्याब्जसंभवः ६.
Then, having gone by that path, the Lotus-born returned the same way.
स्थिता या केतकीच्छायामुवाच मधुरं वचः उवाच प्रहसन्वाक्यं छलोक्त्या सुरभिं प्रति॥ ६.
Standing in the shade of the ketakī tree, he spoke sweet words, and, smiling, addressed Surabhi with a deceptive statement.
लिंगं महाद्भुतं दृष्टं येनव्याप्तं जगत्त्रयम् ६.
I saw the wondrous liṅga by which the three worlds are pervaded.
न दृष्टं मस्तकं तस्य व्यापकस्य महात्मनः ६.
But I did not see the head of that all-pervading, great-souled one.
लिंगस्य मस्तकं दृष्टं देवानां च मृषा वदेः ६.
If you say to the gods that you have seen the head of the liṅga, it is false.
ते संति साक्षिमो देवा अस्मिन्नर्थे वदत्वरम् ६.
Let those gods who are witnesses in this matter speak quickly.
तद्वचः शिरसा गृह्य ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः ६.
Accepting those words with his head, of Brahmā, the supreme lord,
एवं समागतो ब्रह्म देवाग्रे समुवाच ह॥ ६.
Thus, having come together, Brahmā spoke before the assembly of gods.
लिंगस्य मस्तकं देवा दृष्टवानहमद्भुतम् ६.
O gods, I have seen the wondrous head of the liṅga.
विशालं विमलं श्लक्ष्णं प्रसन्नतरमद्भुतम् ६.
It was vast, spotless, smooth, and exceedingly marvelous.
एतादृशं मया दृष्टं न दृष्टं तद्विनाक्वचित् ६.
Such a thing I have seen; apart from that, I have seen nothing like it anywhere.
एवं विस्मयपूर्णास्ते इंद्राद्या देवतागणाः ६.
Thus, filled with astonishment, those hosts of gods led by Indra,
पातालादागतः सद्यः सर्वेषामवदत्त्वरम् ६.
Suddenly, one who had come from the netherworld spoke before them all.
विस्मयो मे महाञ्जातः पातालात्परतश्चरन् ६.
Great wonder arose in me as I wandered beyond the netherworld.
तथा गतस्तलं चैव पातालं च तथातलम् ६.
Thus, I went to the earth, to the netherworld, and to the lower regions as well.
शून्यादपि च शून्यं च तत्सर्वं सुनिरीक्षितम् ६.
Even the void beyond the void—all that was thoroughly observed by me.
लिंगरूपी महादेवो येनेदं धार्यते जगत् ६.
Mahadeva, in the form of the linga, by whom this universe is sustained.
श्रुत्वा सुराश्च ऋषयस्तस्य वाक्यमपूजयन् ६.
Hearing his words, the gods and sages honored him.
दृष्टं हि चेत्त्वया ब्रह्मन्मस्तकं परमार्थतः ६.
If you have truly seen the top, O Brahman, in reality—
आकर्ण्य वचनं विष्णोर्ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः ६.
Hearing Vishnu's words, Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds—
ते देवा मम साक्षित्वे जानीहि परमार्थतः ६.
Let the gods, as my witnesses, know this in truth.
आह्वानं चक्रिरे तस्याः सुरभ्याश्च तया सह ६.
They summoned Surabhi, together with her.
इंद्राद्यैश्च तदा देवैरुक्ता च सुरभी ततः ६.
Then Surabhi was addressed by Indra and the other gods.
लिंगस्य मस्तको देवाः केतकीदलपूजितः ६.
The gods worshipped the top of the linga with ketaki petals.
सुरभ्या चैव यत्प्रोक्तं केतक्या च तथा सुराः ६.
What was spoken by Surabhi and likewise by Ketaki to the gods—
तदा सर्वेऽथ विबुधाः सेंद्रा वै विष्णुना सह ६.
Then all the gods, along with Indra and Vishnu—
मुखेनोक्तं त्वयाद्यैवमनृतं च तथा शुभे ६.
Today, you have spoken falsehood with your own mouth, O auspicious one.
सुगंधकेतकी चापि अयोग्या त्वं शिवार्चने ६.
And you, fragrant ketaki, are unfit for the worship of Shiva.