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—
एवं निर्भर्त्सितो रत्या नारदो मुनिसत्तमः २१.
Thus rebuked by Rati, Nārada, the foremost sage, was—
शशंस दैत्यराजाय दग्धं मदनमेव च २१.
He reported to the king of the Daityas that Madana had been burned.
तामानय महाभाग भार्यां कुरु महाबल तासां मध्ये रूपवती रतिः सा मदनप्रिया॥ २१.
Bring her, O greatly fortunate one; make her your wife, O mighty one. Among them, Rati, beautiful and beloved of Madana, is the most lovely.
एवमाकर्ण्य वचनं देवर्षेर्भावितात्मनः २१.
Hearing these words of the divine sage, whose mind was pure—
तां दृष्ट्वा सु विशालाक्षीं रतिं मदनमोहिनीम् २१.
Seeing Rati, wide-eyed and enchanting even Madana—
एहि तन्वि मया सार्द्धं राज्यं भोगान्यथेष्टतः २१.
Come, slender one, enjoy the kingdom and pleasures with me as you wish.
एवमुक्ता तदा तेन शंबरेण महात्मना २१.
Thus addressed by Śambara, the great-souled one, at that time—
विधवाहं महाबाहो नैवं भाषितुमर्हसि २१.
I am a widow, mighty-armed one; you should not speak thus.
एतत्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शंबरः काममोहितः २१.
Hearing these words, Śambara, overcome by desire—
विमृश्य मनसा सर्वमजेयत्वं च तस्य वै २१.
Reflecting on everything in his mind, and on her invincibility—