चक्रीकृतधनुः सज्जं चक्रे बेद्धुं सदाशिवम् तावद्दृष्टो महेशेन सरोषेण तदा द्विजाः॥ २१.
With his bow readied and drawn, he prepared to strike Sadāśiva; at that very moment, O twice-born, he was seen by Maheśa, filled with anger.
निरीक्षितस्तृतीयेन चक्षुषा परमेण हि हाहाकारो महानासीद्देवानां तत्र पश्यताम्॥ २१.
He was gazed upon by the supreme third eye; then, as the gods watched, a great outcry of distress arose.
देवदेव महादेव देवानां वरदो भव २१.
O God of gods, great Lord, grant a boon to the gods.
वृथा त्वयाथ दग्धोऽसौ मदनो हि महाप्रभः॥ २१.
In vain, then, has that radiant Madana been burned by you.
त्वया हि कार्यं जगदेकबंधो कार्यं सुराणां परमेण वर्चसा २१.
For you alone are the sole support of the world; the work of the gods must be accomplished by your supreme power.
तारकेण महादेव देवाः संपीडिता भृशम् २१.
The gods have been greatly oppressed by Tāraka, O great Lord.
वरयस्व महाभाग देवाकार्ये भव क्षमः २१.
Choose a boon, O greatly fortunate one; be gracious in fulfilling the gods’ purpose.
कालकूटाच्च नूनं हि रक्षिताः स्मो न चान्यथा २१.
Indeed, we have been saved from Kālakūṭa, and not otherwise.
मदनोयं समायातः सुराणां कार्यसिद्धये २१.
This Madana has come for the accomplishment of the gods’ purpose.
विना तेन जगत्सर्वं नाशमेष्यति शंकर २१.
Without him, O Śaṃkara, the entire world will come to ruin.
तदोवाच रुषाविष्टो देवान्प्रति महेश्वरः २१.
Then Maheśvara, filled with anger, spoke to the gods.
यदाःकामं पुरस्कृत्य सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः २१.
Whenever all the gods, along with Indra, act under the sway of desire—
कामो हि नरकायैव सर्वेषां प्राणिनां ध्रुवम् २१.
Desire surely leads all living beings to hell.
तारकोऽपि दुराचारो निष्कामोऽद्य भविष्यति २१.
Tāraka too, though wicked, will now become devoid of desire.
तस्मात्कामो मया दग्धः सर्वेषां शांतिहेतवे २१.
Therefore, I have burned Kāma for the sake of peace for all.
अन्यैः प्राणिभिरेवात्र तपसे धीयतां मनः २१.
Let other living beings here turn their minds to asceticism.
तस्मादेनं पापिनं दुःखमूलं न जीवयिष्यामि सुराः प्रतीक्ष्यताम् २१.
Therefore, I will not let this sinful one, the root of suffering, live; O gods, wait and see.
एवमुक्तास्तदा तेन शंभुना परमेष्ठिना २१.
Thus addressed at that time by Śaṃbhu, the supreme lord,
यदुक्तं भवता शंभो परं श्रेयस्करं हि नः २१.
What you have spoken, O Śaṃbhu, is indeed supremely beneficial for us.
यथा सृष्टमिदं विश्वं कामक्रोधसमन्वितम् २१.
Just as this universe was created, endowed with desire and anger,
धर्मार्थकामामोक्षाश्च चत्वारो ह्येकरूपताम् २१.
The four—righteousness, wealth, pleasure, and liberation—are truly of one essence.
कथं त्वया हि संदग्धः कामो हि दुरतिक्रमः २१.
How, then, have you burned him? For desire is difficult to overcome.
कामेन हीयते विश्वं कामेन पाल्यते २१.
By desire the universe diminishes; by desire it is preserved.
यस्मात्क्रोधो भवत्युग्रो येन त्वं च वशीकृतः २१.
Because anger becomes fierce, and by it you too are subdued.
त्वया संपादितो देव मदनो हि महाबलः २१.
By you, O god, Madana, who is of great strength, was accomplished.
ऋषिभिश्चैवमुक्तोऽपि द्विगुणं रूपमास्थितः २१.
Even though addressed thus by the sages, he assumed a form twice as great.
मुनिभिश्चारणैः सिद्धैर्गणैश्चापि सदाशिवः २१.
By sages, celestial singers, perfected beings, and the hosts, Sadāśiva,
मदनं च तथा दग्ध्वा त्यक्त्वा तं पर्वतं रुषा २१.
Having burned Madana thus, and abandoning that mountain in anger,
तिरोधानगतं देवी वीक्ष्य दग्धं च मन्मथम् २१.
The goddess, seeing Madana burned and herself concealed,
तथैव दग्धं मदनं विलोक्य रत्या विलापं च तदा मनस्विनी २१.
Likewise, seeing Madana burned, Rati then lamented, she who was wise in heart.