फणानां द्वितयं केषां त्रितयं च महाप्रभम् ३४.
Some had two hoods, others three, shining greatly.
नवकं दशकं चैव तथैकादशकं त्वथ ३४.
Nine, ten, and likewise eleven hoods, then.
चत्वारिंशत्फणाः केऽपि पंचाशत्कं च षष्टिकम् ३४.
Some had forty hoods, some fifty, and sixty.
तथा शतसहस्राणि ह्ययुतप्रयुतानि च ३४.
Likewise, hundreds of thousands, tens of thousands, and hundreds of thousands.
अनंताश्च फणा येषां ते सर्पाः शिवभूषणाः ३४.
Those whose hoods are endless, those serpents are ornaments of Śiva.
विद्यावंतोऽपि ते सर्वे भोगिनोऽपि सुशोभिताः ३४.
All of them are learned, and the serpents are splendidly adorned.
अर्द्धचंद्रांकितो यस्य कपर्द्दस्त्वतिसुंदरः ३४.
His matted hair, adorned with a crescent moon, is exceedingly beautiful.
पंचवक्त्रो महादेवो बाहुभिर्द्दशभिर्वृतः ३४.
Great Mahadeva, with five faces, is surrounded by ten arms.
उरो यस्य विशालं च तथोरुजघनं परम् ३४.
His chest is broad, and likewise his thighs and hips are most excellent.
तद्दृष्टं चरणारविंदमतुलं तेजोमयं सुंदरं संध्यारागसुमंगलं च परमं तापापनुत्तिंकरम् ३४.
I beheld those lotus-like feet, incomparable, radiant, beautiful, auspicious with the hue of twilight, supreme, and dispelling all afflictions.
तथैव दृष्ट्वा परमं पराणां परा सती रूपवती च सुंदरी ३४.
In the same way, I saw the supreme, supreme among women, Sati, endowed with beauty and grace.
दृष्ट्वा तौ दपती शुद्धौ राजमानौ जगत्त्रये ३४.
Seeing those two pure lords, resplendent throughout the three worlds,
साकारौ च निराकारौ निरातंकौ सुखप्रदौ उत्थायोत्थाय च तदा तुष्टाव जगदीश्वरौ॥ ३४.
With form and formless, without beginning or end, bestowers of happiness—rising again and again, I then praised the Lords of the Universe.
नतोस्म्यहं देववरौ युवाभ्यां परात्पराभ्यां कलया तथापि ३४.
I bow to you, O best of gods, you two who are beyond the beyond, even in your manifested aspect.
पितरौ सर्वललोकस्य ज्ञातौ चाद्यैव तत्त्वतः ३४.
Today, I have truly come to know you as the father and mother of all worlds.
एवं स्तुतौ तदा तेन नारदेन महात्मना ३४.
Thus were they praised at that time by the great-souled Narada.
सुखेन स्थीयते ब्रह्मन्किं कार्यं करवाणि ते ३४.
Dwelling here in happiness, O Brahmin, what task shall I perform for you?
दर्शनं जातमद्यैव तेन तुष्टोऽस्म्यहं विभो ३४.
Because I have seen you today, O Lord, I am satisfied.
क्रीडनार्थमिहायातः कैलासं पर्वतोत्तमम् ३४.
I have come here to Mount Kailasa, the supreme mountain, for the sake of play.
तथापि दर्शनं भाव्यं सततं प्राणिनामिह॥ ३४.
Yet, your vision should always be granted to living beings here.
का क्रीडा हि त्वया भाव्या वद शीघ्रं ममाग्रतः ३४.
What play do you wish to enact? Tell me quickly, before me.
द्यूतक्रीडा महादेव दृश्यते विविधात्र च ३४.
O Mahadeva, the game of dice is seen here in many forms.
इत्येवमुक्त्वो परतं सती भृशमुवाच वाक्यं कुपिता ऋषिं प्रति ३४.
Having spoken thus, Sati, greatly agitated, addressed harsh words to the sage.
त्वं ब्रह्मपुत्रोऽसि मुनिर्मनीषिणां शास्ता हि वाक्यं विविधैः प्रसिद्धैः ३४.
You are the son of Brahma, a sage, the teacher of the wise, renowned for your various words.
एवमुक्तस्तदा देव्या नारदो देवदर्शनः ३४.
Thus addressed by the goddess at that time, Nārada, the seer of the gods—
द्यूतं न जानामि न चाश्रयामि ह्यहं तपस्वी शिवकिंकरश्च कथं च मां पृच्छसि राजकन्यके योगीश्वराणां परमं पवित्रे॥ ३४.
"I do not know gambling, nor do I engage in it; I am an ascetic and a servant of Śiva. So why do you ask me, O princess, about the most sacred of the lords of yogis?"
निशम्य वाक्यं गिरिजा सती तदा ह्युवाच वाक्यं च विहस्य तं प्रति ३४.
Hearing these words, Girijā, the virtuous one, then spoke, smiling, in reply to him.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा गिरिराजकन्यका जग्राह चाक्षान्भुवनैकसुंदरी ३४.
Having spoken thus, the daughter of the mountain, the most beautiful in the world, took up the dice.
तौ दंपती क्रीडया सज्जमानौ दृष्टौ तदा ऋषिणा नारदेन ३४.
At that time, the sage Nārada saw the divine couple preparing to play for sport.
सखीजनेन संवीता तदा द्यूतपरा सती ३४.
Surrounded by her companions, Satī became absorbed in the game of dice.