त्राहित्राहि महाविष्णो तप्तान्नः शरणागतान् शेषासने चोपविष्ट उवाच परमेश्वरः॥ २१.
Save us, save us, O great Viṣṇu! We, scorched, have come for refuge. Seated upon the throne of Śeṣa, the supreme lord spoke.
युष्माभिः सहितश्चापि व्रजामि परमेश्वरम् २१.
Together with you, I too shall go to the supreme lord.
पाणिग्रहार्थमधुना देवदेवः पिनाकधृक् २१.
Now, for the purpose of marriage, the god of gods, wielder of Pināka, is ready.
तस्माद्वयं गमिष्यामो यत्र रुद्रो महाप्रभुः २१.
Therefore, we shall go to where Rudra, the great lord, is.
विष्णोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ऊचुः सर्वे सुरासुराः २१.
Hearing those words of Viṣṇu, all the gods and demons spoke.
यदा दग्धः पुरा तेन मदनो दुरतिक्रमः २१.
When, long ago, that Madana, difficult to overcome, was burned by him—
प्रहस्य भगवान्विष्णुरुवाच परमेश्वरः २१.
Smiling, the blessed Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Lord, spoke.
स न धक्ष्यति सर्वेषां देवानां भयनाशनः २१.
He will not burn; he is the remover of fear for all the gods.
शंभुं पुराणं पुरुषं ह्यधीशं वरेण्यरूपं च परं पराणाम् २१.
Śambhu, the ancient one, the primeval person, the supreme lord, of most excellent form, the highest among the high.
एवमुक्तास्तदा देवा विष्णुना परमेष्ठिना २२.
Thus addressed at that time by Viṣṇu, the supreme creator, the gods—
परे पारे परमेण समाधिना २२.
—with supreme concentration, beyond all limits—
यज्ञोपवीतविधिना उरसा बिभ्रतं वृतम् २२.
—saw him, adorned with the sacred thread across his chest, as prescribed—
कर्णद्वये धारयंतं तथा कर्कोटकेन हि २२.
—wearing earrings in both ears, and also with the serpent Karkoṭaka—
सन्नूपुरे शङ्खकपद्मकाभ्यां संधारयंतं च विराजमानम् २२.
—with anklets, bearing the conch and lotus, resplendent—
तदा ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च ऋषयो देवदानवाः २२.
Then Brahmā and Viṣṇu, the seers, gods, and Dānavas—
नमो रुद्राय देवाय मदनांतकराय च २२.
Homage to Rudra, the god, the destroyer of desire—
शिपिविष्टाय भीमाय शेषशायिन्नमोनमः २२.
Homage to Śipiviṣṭa, the terrible one, who reclines on Śeṣa.
त्वं धाता सर्वलोकानां पिता माता त्वमीश्वरः २२.
You are the creator of all worlds; you are father, mother, and lord.
इत्थं स्तुवत्सु देवेषु नन्दी प्रोवाच तान्प्रति २२.
As the gods thus praised him, Nandī spoke to them—
ते प्रोचुर्देवकार्यार्थं विज्ञप्तुं शंभुमागता ध्यानस्थितो महादेवः सुरकार्यार्थसिद्धये॥ २२.
They said: 'For the sake of the gods' purpose, we have come to inform Śambhu; Mahādeva is absorbed in meditation for the accomplishment of the gods' task.'
ब्रह्मादयः सुरगणाः सुरसिद्धसंघास्त्वां द्रष्टुमेव सुरवर्य विशेषयंति २२.
Brahmā and the hosts of gods, along with groups of perfected beings, O best of gods, are waiting to see you.
तस्मात्त्वया हि देवेश त्रातव्याश्चाधुना सुराः २२.
Therefore, O Lord of gods, you must now protect the gods.
शनैःशनैरुपरमच्छंभुः परमकोपनः २२.
Gradually, Śambhu, greatly enraged, became still.
कस्माद्यूयं महाभागा ह्यागता मत्समीपगाः २२.
Why have you, O greatly fortunate ones, come near me?
तदा ब्रह्मा ह्युवाचेदं सुरकार्यं महत्तरम् २२.
Then Brahma spoke these words: this task of the gods is most important.
कष्टात्कष्टतरं देव तद्विज्ञप्तुमिहागताः तारको देवशत्रुश्च नान्यथा मम भाषितम्॥ २२.
O Deva, this is more difficult than difficult; we have come here to inform you. Tāraka is the enemy of the gods, and my words cannot be otherwise.
तस्मात्त्वया गिरिजा देव शंभो गृहीतव्या पाणिना दक्षिणेन २२.
Therefore, O Deva Shambhu, you must take Girijā by the right hand.
ब्रह्मणो हि वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहसन्नब्रवीच्छिवः २२.
Having heard the words of Brahma, Shiva laughed and spoke.
तदा सर्वे सुरेन्द्राश्च ऋषयो मुनयस्तथा २२.
Then all the lords of the gods, as well as the sages and ascetics, were present.
मदनो हि मया दग्धः सर्वेषां कार्यसिद्धये २२.
Madana was burned by me for the accomplishment of everyone's purpose.