उवाच शंकरं देवं भवत्तेजो दुरासदम् २७.
He said to the god Śaṃkara, "Your energy is difficult to approach."
ततः प्रोवाच भगवानग्निं प्रति महेश्वरः २७.
Then the blessed great Lord spoke to Agni.
तथेति मत्वा वचनं महाप्रभः स जातवेदाः परमेण वर्चसा २७.
Having accepted that command, the radiant Jātavedas, full of supreme brilliance, agreed.
तदा प्रातः समुत्थाय प्रातः स्नानपराः स्त्रियः २७.
Then, rising early in the morning, the women engaged in their morning bath.
दृष्ट्वा प्रज्वलितं तत्र सर्वास्ताः शीतकर्षिताः २७.
Seeing that blazing fire there, all those women, afflicted by cold,
तया निवारिताश्चापि तास्तेपुः कृत्तिकाः स्वयम् विविशू रोमकूपेषु तासां तत्रैव सत्वरम्॥ २७.
were prevented by her, yet the Kṛttikās themselves drank it and quickly entered it into the pores of their own bodies.
नीरेतोग्निस्तदा जातो विश्रांतः स्वयमेव हि॥ २७.
Then, from that fire, the seed was born and came to rest by itself.
ततस्ता ऋषिभार्या हि ययुः स्वभवनं प्रति २७.
After that, the wives of the sages returned to their own homes.
तदानीमेव ताः सर्वा व्यभिचारेण दुःखिताः २७.
At that very moment, all those women became distressed because of their transgression.
एकपद्येन तद्रेतस्तप्तचामीकरप्रभम् २७.
In a single stream, that seed shone with the luster of molten gold.
षण्मुखं बालकं ज्ञात्वा सर्वे देवा मुदान्विताः २७.
Recognizing the child Ṣaṇmukha, all the gods were filled with joy.
शंभोः पुत्रः प्रसादेन सर्वो भवति शाश्वतः २७.
By the grace of Śaṃbhu’s son, everything becomes eternal.
उपविष्टोथ गांगेयो ह्यहोरात्रोषितस्तदा २७.
Then Gāṃgeya sat, having spent day and night there.
जातो यदाथ गंगायां षण्मुखः शंकरात्मजः २७.
When Ṣaṇmukha, son of Śaṃkara, was born in the Ganges,
शिवं निरीक्ष्य सा प्राह हे शंभो प्रस्नवो महान् सर्वज्ञोऽपि महादेवो ह्यब्रवीत्तामथाज्ञवत्॥ २७.
Seeing Śiva, she spoke: 'O Śaṃbhu, this is a great question.' Even though Mahādeva is all-knowing, he replied to her as if instructed.
नारदस्तत्र चागत्य प्रोक्तवाञ्जन्म तस्य तत् २७.
There Nārada arrived and spoke of his birth.
तदाकर्ण्य वचो विप्रा हर्षनिर्भरमानसाः २७.
Hearing those words, the sages’ minds were filled with delight.
अनेकाभिः पताकाभिश्चैलपल्लवतोरणैः पर्वतः पुत्रजननाच्छंकरस्य महात्मनः॥ २७.
With many flags, cloths, leaves, and arches, the mountain celebrated the birth of Śaṃkara’s noble son.
तदा सर्वे सुरगणा ऋषयः सिद्धचारणाः रक्षोगंधर्वयक्षाश्च अप्सरोगणसेविताः॥ २७.
Then all the hosts of gods, sages, siddhas, and cāraṇas, along with the rākṣasas, gandharvas, yakṣas, and groups of apsarases, attended.
एकपद्येन ते सर्वे सहिताः शंकरेण तु २७.
All of them, together with Śaṃkara, proceeded in single file.
ततो वृषभमारुह्य ययौ गिरिजया सह २७.
Then, mounting the bull, he departed with Girijā.
तदा शंखाश्च भेर्यश्च नेदुस्तूर्यीण्यनेकशः॥ २७.
At that moment, conches and drums resounded, and many trumpets were played.
तदानीमेव सर्वेशं वीरभद्रादयो गणाः वादयन्तश्च वाद्यानि ततानि विततानि च॥ २७.
Just then, Vīrabhadra and the other hosts played various instruments, both stringed and percussion.
केचिन्नृत्यपरास्तत्र गायकाश्च तथा परे २७.
Some were absorbed in dancing there, while others were singing.
एवंविधास्ते सुरसिद्धयक्षा गंधर्वविद्याधरपन्नगा ह्यमी २७.
In this way, those gods, siddhas, yakṣas, gandharvas, vidyādharas, and serpents gathered.
यावत्समीक्षयामासुर्गांगेयं शंकरोपमम् २७.
They gazed upon Gāṃgeya, who resembled Śaṃkara.
तत्तोजसावृतं बालं तप्तचामीकरप्रभम् २७.
That child, enveloped in brilliance, shone like molten gold.
चारुप्रसन्न वदनं तथा सर्वागसुंदरम् २७.
His face was beautiful and serene, and his entire form was lovely.
ववंदिरे तदा बालं कुमारं सूर्यवर्चसम् २७.
Then they worshipped the boy, the child radiant like the sun.
परिवार्योपतस्थुस्ते वामदक्षिणभागतः २७.
They approached him, surrounding him on both left and right sides.