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.
एवं विमृश्य सुचिरं गिरिजा तदानीं संमोहमाप च सती हि तथा बभाषे २१.
Thus, reflecting for a long time, Girijā then fell into confusion; and Satī spoke thus.
मा विषादं कुरु सखि मदनं जीवयाम्यहम् २१.
Do not grieve, friend; I will revive Madana.
हरं रुद्रं विरुपाक्षं देवदेवं जगद्गुरुम् २१.
Hara, Rudra, Virūpākṣa, god of gods, teacher of the world,
एवम श्वास्य तां साध्वी गिरिजां रतिरंजसा २१.
Thus, comforting that virtuous Girijā, Rati with affection—
मदनो यत्र दग्धश्च रुद्रेण परमात्मना २१.
Where Madana was burned by Rudra, the Supreme Self.
उवाच गत्वा सहसा भामिनीं रतिमंतिके २१.
He went swiftly and spoke to Bhāminī in the presence of Rati.
तरुणी रूपसंपन्ना सौभाग्येन परेण हि उवाच वाक्यं मधुरं किंचिन्निष्ठुरमेव च॥ २१.
The young woman, endowed with beauty and great fortune, spoke words both sweet and somewhat harsh.
नारदोऽसि मया ज्ञातः कुमारस्त्वं न संशयः २१.
You are Nārada, I have recognized you; you are the Kumāra, there is no doubt.
यथागतेन मार्गेण गच्छ त्वं मा विलंबितम् २१.
Go by the same path you came; do not delay.
परस्त्रीकामुकाः क्षुद्रा विटा व्यसनिनश्च ये २१.
Those who desire other men's wives, the petty, the libertines, and the addicted—