अलीकमेतद्देवेन्द्र स हि देवस्य पोरतिः २४.
This is not false, O lord of gods, for this is the ancient custom of the god.
वेदान्तेषु च मां विप्रा गर्हसंयति पुनःपुनः २४.
And in the Vedāntas, O brāhmaṇas, I am repeatedly reproached.
आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनां नित्यवैरिणा २४.
This knowledge is covered by that eternal enemy of the wise.
एवं शीलस्य मे कस्मात्प्रतुष्यति महेश्वरः २४.
Why then should Maheshvara be angry with one of such character as I?
मैवं ब्रूहि महाभाग त्वां विनाकः पुमान्भुवि २४.
Do not speak thus, O greatly fortunate one; without you, no man exists on earth.
यत्किंचित्साध्यते लोके मूलं तस्य च कामना २४.
Whatever is accomplished in the world, its root is desire.
सत्यं चापि श्रुतेर्वाक्यं तव रूपं त्रिधागतम् २४.
And truly, the words of the scripture say your form is threefold.
अमुक्तितः कामनया रूपं तत्तामसं तव २४.
Because of unrestrained desire, your form is that of darkness.
केवलं यावदर्थार्थं तद्रूपं सात्त्विकं तव २४.
Only as much as is needed for the purpose, that is your pure form.
त्वं साक्षात्परमः पूज्यः कुरु कार्यमिदं हि नः स्वप्राणैरपि त्रायांति परमेतन्महाफलम्॥ २४.
You are directly the supreme, worthy of worship; do this task for us, for those who protect even with their own lives attain the highest fruit.
इति संचिंत्य कार्यं त्वं सर्वथा कुरु तत्स्फुटम्॥ २४.
Thus reflecting, you must carry out that task completely and clearly in every way.
इत्या कर्ण्य तथेत्युक्त्वा वसंतरतिसंयुतः २४.
Hearing this, he replied, 'So be it,' and, accompanied by the spirit of spring and love, set forth.
तत्रापश्यत शंभोः स पुण्यमाश्रममंडलम् २४.
There he beheld the sacred circle of Śiva’s hermitage.
तत्रापश्यत्त्रिनेत्रस्य वीरकंनाम द्वारपम् २४.
There he saw the doorkeeper named Vīraka of the three-eyed Lord.
ददर्श च महेशानं नासाग्रकृतलोचनम् समाकायं सुखासीनं समाधिस्थं महेश्वरम्॥ २४.
He saw the great Lord, whose eyes were fixed at the tip of his nose, seated comfortably in full posture, absorbed in meditation.
निस्तरंगं विनिर्गृह्य स्थितमिंद्रियगोचरान् २४.
He was utterly still, withdrawn from all sense objects.
तं तथाविधमालोक्य सोंतर्भेदाय यत्नवान् २४.
Seeing him in that state, he strove inwardly to disturb him.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवो विकासितविलोचनः २४.
At that moment, the god opened his blossoming eyes.
निवेदिता वीरकेण विवेश च गिरेः सुता २४.
Announced by Vīraka, the daughter of the mountain entered.
ततस्तस्यां मनः स्वीयमनुरक्तमवेक्ष्य च तावदापूर्णधनुषमपश्यत रतिप्रियम्॥ २४.
Then, seeing her own mind drawn to him, she beheld her beloved, bow fully drawn.
तन्नाशकृपया देवो नानास्थानेषु सोऽगमत् २४.
Out of compassion for her, the god wandered to various places.
स नदीः पर्वताश्चैव आश्रमान्सरसीस्तथा २४.
He went to rivers, mountains, hermitages, and lakes.
जगत्त्रयं परिभ्रम्य पुनरागात्स्वमाश्रमम् २४.
After wandering through the three worlds, he returned again to his own hermitage.
ततस्तृतीयनेत्रोत्थवह्निना नाकवासिनाम् २४.
Then, from the fire born of his third eye, for the dwellers of heaven—
सस तु तं भस्मसात्कृत्वा हरनेत्रोद्भवोऽनलः २४.
That fire, sprung from Hara’s eye, reduced him to ashes.
ततो भवो जगद्धेतोर्व्यभजज्जातवेदसम् २४.
Then Bhava, for the sake of the world, divided that fire.
भृंगेषु कोकिलास्येषु विहारेषु स्मरानलम् २४.
He placed the fire of desire among bees, in the cuckoo’s song, and in places of pleasure.
ज्वालयत्यनिशं सोऽग्निर्दुश्चिकित्स्योऽसुखावहः २४.
That fire burns ceaselessly, hard to cure and bringing suffering.
विललाप रतिर्द्दीना मधुना बंधुना सह २४.
Rati, afflicted, lamented together with her companion Madhu.
रत्याः प्रलापमाकर्ण्य देवदेवो वृषध्वजः २४.
Hearing Rati's lament, the god of gods, the bull-bannered one, listened.