स्वकुलायात्प्रहृष्टोऽसौ गृध्रः संमुखमाययौ ९.
The vulture, delighted, came forward from his own nest.
उलूकं गृध्रराजश्च कार्यं पप्रच्छ तं तथा ९.
The king of vultures then asked the owl about the matter.
मुनेरपि तृतीयोऽयं मित्रं चार्थोयमुद्यतः ९.
This is the third companion of the sage, and he has arisen for the sake of friendship.
वह्निं प्रवेक्ष्यते व्यक्तमयं तदनु वै वयम् ९.
Clearly, he will enter the fire, and afterwards, so shall we.
तच्चेज्जानासि तं ब्रूहि चतुर्णां देहि जीवितम् ९.
If you know this, tell it; grant life to the four of us.
षट्पंचाशद्व्यतीता मे कल्पा जातस्य कौशिक ९.
Fifty-six kalpas have passed since my birth, O Kauśika.
तच्छ्रुत्वा विस्मयाविष्ट इंद्रद्युम्नोऽपि दुःखितः ९.
Hearing this, Indradyumna was seized by astonishment and sorrow.
श्रृणु भद्रै पुरा जातो मर्कटोऽहं च चापलः ९.
Hear, O blessed one: formerly, I was born as a monkey, full of restlessness.
तत्राग्रे देवदेवस्य वनमध्ये शिवालये ९.
There, in front of the Lord of gods, in the middle of the forest, at the shrine of Śiva,
चतुर्दशीदिने हस्तनक्षत्रे हर्षणाभिधे ९.
On the fourteenth day, under the Hasta constellation, called Harṣaṇa,
अत्र सौवर्ण्यदोलायां लिंग आरोपिते जनैः ९.
Here, upon a golden swing, the liṅga was placed by the people.
निसर्गाज्जतिचापल्याच्चिरकालं पुनःपुनः ९.
By nature and due to excessive restlessness, again and again for a long time,
दोलाधिरूढमालोक्य लकुटैर्मां व्यताडयन् ९.
Seeing me mounted on the swing, they struck me with sticks.
तेषां प्रहारैः सुदृढैर्बहुभिर्वज्रदुःसहैः ९.
By their many strong blows, difficult to endure as thunderbolts,
काशीश्वरस्य तनयः प्रतीतोऽस्मि कुशध्वजः ९.
I became the son of Kāśīśvara, known as Kuśadhvaja.
कारयामि धरापृष्ठे चैत्रे दमनकोत्सवम् ९.
I conduct the festival of damanaka on the earth in the month of Caitra.
तथा तथाऽशुभं याति पुण्यमायाति भद्रक ९.
Thus, thus, misfortune departs and merit arrives, O Bhadraka.
शिवाचार्यैर्विमुक्तोऽहं पशुपाशैस्तदागमात् ९.
I was freed by the teachers of Śiva from the bonds of beasts at that time.
आराधयामि देवेशं प्रत्यक्चित्तमुमापतिम् ९.
I worship the Lord of gods, the spouse of Umā, with a mind turned inward.
चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधेन वैराग्याभ्यासयोगतः ९.
Through restraint of the mind's activity, and by the practice of detachment and yoga,
ततो मां प्रणिधानेनाभ्यासेन दृढभूमिना ९.
Then, through devotion and steadfast practice, with firm resolve,
कुशध्वजाहं तुष्टोद्य वरं वरय वांछितम् ९.
Kuśadhvaja, I am pleased—choose a boon, whatever you desire.
श्रुत्वेत्युक्तो मया शम्भुर्भूयासं ते गंणो ह्यहम् ९.
Hearing this, I said: 'O Śambhu, may I become one of your attendants.'
ततः कैलासमानीय विमानं मम चादिशत् ९.
Then he summoned my celestial chariot to Kailāsa and instructed me.
विचरामि प्रतीतोऽहं तदारूढो यदृच्छया ९.
Mounted upon it, I traveled freely as I wished, filled with delight.
गवाक्षाधिष्ठितोऽपश्यं वसंते मुनिकन्यकाम् ९.
From the window, I saw in spring a sage’s daughter.
अग्निवेश्यसुतां भद्र विवस्त्रां जलमध्यगाम् ९.
O blessed one, it was Agniveśya’s daughter, unclothed, in the water.
विस्तीर्णजघनाभोगां रंभोरुं संहतस्तनीम् ९.
Her hips were broad, her thighs shapely as plantain stems, her breasts full and close-set.
प्रोन्निद्रपंकजमुखीं वर्णनीयतमाकृतिम् ९.
Her face was like a blooming lotus, her form most worthy of description.
प्रोद्यत्कटाक्षविक्षेपैः शरव्रातैरिव स्मरः ९.
With sidelong glances darting forth, Love seemed to assail me with volleys of arrows.