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.
तदा महेशः प्रहसन्सत्यं वाक्यमुवाच ह ३४.
Then Maheśa, smiling, spoke these truthful words.
अजेयोऽहं प्राणिनां सर्वथैव तस्मान्न वाच्यं तु वोच हि साध्वि ३४.
"I am unconquerable by all beings in every way; therefore, O virtuous one, you should not speak otherwise."
तदाम्बिकाह स्वपतिं महेशं मया जितोऽस्यद्य न विस्मयोऽत्र जितोऽसि त्वं न संदेहस्त्वं न जानासि शंकर॥ ३४.
Then Ambika said to her husband Mahesha: 'Today I have conquered you; this is no wonder. You are defeated, there is no doubt; you do not understand, O Shankara.'
एवं प्रहस्य रुचिरं गिरिजा तु शंभुं सा प्रेक्ष्या नर्मवचसा स तयाभिभूतः ३४.
Thus, Girija laughed charmingly and, looking at Shambhu, spoke playful words, by which she overcame him.
अजेयोऽहं विशालाक्षि तव नास्त्यत्र संशयः ३४.
I am unconquerable, O wide-eyed one; of this there is no doubt.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच च विहस्य सा ३४.
Hearing these words of his, she laughed and replied.
मयैकया जितोऽसि त्वं द्यूतेन विमलेन हि ॥ ३४.
You have been defeated by me alone, indeed, through pure play.
एवं विवदमानौ तौ दंपती परमेश्वरौ ३४.
Thus, those two supreme deities, husband and wife, continued to dispute.
आकर्णयाऽऽकर्णविशालनेत्रे वाक्यं तदेकं जगदेकमंगलम् ३४.
O wide-eyed one, listen with attention to that single statement, auspicious for the whole world.
अजितो हि महादेवो देवानां परमो गुरुः ३४.
Mahadeva is indeed unconquered, the supreme teacher of the gods.