गजाः स्वलंकृता ह्यासन्कृत्रिमा ह्यकृतोपमाः २४.
There were elephants, richly adorned, artificial yet appearing as if real.
रथा रथियुता ह्यासन्कृत्रिमा ह्यकृतोपमाः २४.
There were chariots, together with charioteers, artificial yet appearing as if real.
महाद्वारि स्थितो नंदी कृतस्तेन हि मंडपे २४.
At the great gate stood Nandi, made by him in that pavilion.
तस्योपरि महद्दिव्यं पुष्पकं रत्नभूषितम् २४.
Above him was a great, divine Puṣpaka chariot, adorned with jewels.
वामपार्श्वे गजौ द्वौ च शुद्धकाश्मीरसन्निभौ २४.
On the left side were two elephants, shining like pure Kashmir cloth.
तथैव दक्षिणे पार्श्वे द्वावश्वौ दंशितौ कृतौ २४.
Likewise, on the right side, two horses were made, splendidly decorated.
षोडशप्रकृतीस्तेन याथातथ्येन धीमता २४.
The sixteen classes of officials were made there, each in their true form, by the wise one.
तथैव ऋषयः सर्वे भृग्वाद्यश्च तपोधनाः २४.
In the same way, all the sages, beginning with Bhṛgu, ascetics rich in penance, were made.
कृताः सर्वे महात्मानो याथातथ्येन धीमता २४.
All those great souls were made, each in their true form, by the wise one.
अनेकाश्चर्यसंभूतो दिव्यो दिव्यविमोहनः २४.
It was filled with countless wondrous things, divine and enchanting even to the gods.
ब्रह्मणा नोदितस्तत्र हिमालयगृहं प्रति २४.
There, Brahmā did not urge him toward the house of Himālaya.
भ्रांतो हि नारदस्तेन कृत्रिमेण महायशाः २४.
Thus, the illustrious Nārada, bewildered by that illusion, wandered.
प्रविष्टो मंडपं तस्य हिमाद्रे रत्नचित्रितम् २४.
He entered that pavilion of Himālaya, adorned with jewels.
सहस्रस्तम्भसंयुक्तं ततोऽद्रिः स्वगणैर्वृतः २४.
That mountain, surrounded by its own retinue, was furnished with a thousand pillars.
आगतास्ते महात्मानो देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः महादेवो वृषारूढो ह्यागतोद्वहनं प्रति॥ २४.
Those great-souled gods arrived, led by Indra; and Mahādeva, mounted on the bull, came for the wedding.
ततस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा हिमवान्गिरिसत्तमः २४.
Then, upon hearing those words, Himavān, the best of mountains,
पूजयित्वा यथान्यायं गच्छ त्वं शंकरं प्रति॥ २४.
Having duly honored him, said, 'Go now to Śaṅkara.'
ततस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मुनिर्हिमवतो गिरेः मेनाकेन च सह्येन मेरुणा गिरिणा सह॥ २४.
Then, after hearing those words of Himavān, the sage, together with Menā, Sahya, and Meru,
एभिः समेतो ह्यधुनामहामते यतस्व शीघ्रं शिवमत्र चानय २४.
Now, O wise one, being joined with these, strive quickly and bring Śiva here.
तथेति मत्वा स जगाम तूर्णां सहै व तैः पर्वतराजभिश्च २४.
Thinking 'So be it,' he went swiftly, together with those lords of mountains.
तावद्दृष्टो महादेवो देवैश्च परिवारितः २४.
Meanwhile, Mahādeva was seen, surrounded by the gods.
पप्रचछुर्नारदं सर्वे येऽन्ये रुद्रचरा भृशम् २४.
All those others who were followers of Rudra earnestly questioned Nārada.
एकैकस्यात्मजाः स्वाः स्वाः सह्यमैनाकमेरवः २४.
Each one had brought his own sons—Sahya, Maināka, and Meru.
ततोऽवोचन्महातेजा नारदश्चर्षिसत्तमः २४.
Then the highly radiant Nārada, best among sages, spoke.
एकांतमाश्रित्य तदा सुरेन्द्रं स नारदो वाक्यमिदं बभाषे २४.
Then, taking Indra aside, Nārada spoke these words.
पुरा कृतं तस्य महात्मनस्त्वया किं विस्मृतं तत्सकलं शचीपते २४.
O lord of Śacī, have you forgotten all that you did before to that great soul?
अहो विमोहितस्तेन प्रतिरूपेण भास्वता २४.
Ah, you were deluded by that radiant counterfeit.
ब्रह्मा चैव तथाभूतस्तं चैव कृतवानसौ॥ २४.
And Brahmā, too, was in that state, and he did the same.
मायामयो वृषभस्तेन वेषात्कृतो हि नागोश्वतरस्तथैव २४.
By illusion, the bull was made to appear in that form; likewise, the serpent and the mule were created in the same way.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य देवेंद्रो वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ २४.
Hearing those words, the lord of the gods spoke.