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.
स पणं च तदा चक्रे छलेन महता वृतः ३४.
Then, with great cunning, he set a wager in the game.
नारदोऽस्याः शिवेनाथ उपहासकरोऽभवत् ३४.
Nārada, together with Śiva, became a source of amusement for her.
नारदस्य दुरुक्तैश्च कुपिता पार्वती भृशम् ३४.
Because of Nārada's harsh words, Pārvatī became greatly angry.
तथा शिरोमणी चैव तरले च मनोहरे दृष्टं हरेण च पुनः पुनर्द्यूतमकारयत्॥ ३४.
Thus, the jewel among women, charming and fickle, was seen by Hari repeatedly engaging in the game of dice.
तथा गिरिजया प्रोक्तः शंकरो लोकशंकरः ३४.
Then Girijā spoke to Śaṅkara, the benefactor of the world.
क्रियते च त्वया शंभो कः पणो हि तदुच्यताम् ३४.
"O Śambhu, what is the wager that you are making? Let it be stated."
मया पणोऽयं क्रियते भवानि त्वदर्थमेतच्च विभूषणं महत् ३४.
"This is the wager I make, Bhavānī, for your sake—this great ornament."
इदमेव त्वया तन्वि मां जित्वा गृह्यतां सुखम् ३४.
"This alone, O slender one, you may take from me as your prize, if you win."
एवं विक्रीडमानौ तावक्षविद्याविशारदौ ३४.
Thus, the two, skilled in the art of dice, played together in sport.
प्रहस्य गौरी प्रोवाच शंकरं त्वतिसुंदरी ३४.
Smiling, Gaurī, the exceedingly beautiful one, spoke to Śaṅkara.