तद्विमानमथारुह्य पीतवासाश्चतुर्भुजः
Then, mounting that celestial chariot, clad in yellow, four-armed—
न तृप्तिमधिगच्छामि श्रुत्वा त्वच्छ्रीमुखेरिताम्
I do not attain satisfaction, hearing the sweetness of your noble speech.
मायापुर्यां मुक्तिपुर्यां शिवशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः
In Māyāpurī, in Muktipurī, Śivaśarmā, the best of twice-born—
पुरोद्दिश्यामुमेवार्थमितिहासो मयाश्रुतः
With reference to that very matter, I have heard this legend.
शृणु कांते विचित्रार्थां कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम्
Listen, dear one, to this tale of wondrous meaning, destroyer of sin.
शिवशर्मोवाच किंचिद्विज्ञप्तुकामोहं प्रवृद्धकरसंपुटः
Śivaśarmā said: I wish to ask something, my hands joined in reverence.
न नाम युवयोर्वेद्मि वेद्म्याकृत्या च किंचन
I do not know your names, nor do I know anything by your forms.
एतदेव हि नौ नाम यदुक्तं श्रीमता त्वया
This alone is our name, as spoken by your honored self.
यदन्यदपि ते चित्ते प्रष्टव्यं तदशंकितम्
Whatever else you wish to ask in your mind, do so without hesitation.
इति श्रुत्वा स वचनं भगवद्गणभाषितम्
Hearing these words spoken by the Lord’s attendants,
क इमे विकृताकारा ब्रूतमेतन्ममाग्रतः ।। 4.1.8.
He said: Who are these beings of strange appearance? Tell me this before me.
गणावूचतुः अयं पिशाचलोकोत्र वसंति पिशिताशनाः
The attendants said: These are flesh-eating piśācas who dwell here in the world of piśācas.
शिवं प्रसंगतोभ्यर्च्य सकृत्त्वशुचिचेतसः
By worshipping Śiva even once with a pure mind, through association with him,
ततो गच्छन्ददर्शाग्रे हृष्टपुष्टजनावृतम्
Then, as he went forward, he saw before him a people filled with joy and strength.
लोकैरप्युषितं लोकं श्यामलांगैश्च लोमशैः
A world inhabited by people, with dark limbs and covered in hair.
गणावूचतुः गुह्यकानामयं लोकस्त्वेते वै गुह्यकाः स्मृताः
The attendants said: This is the world of the Guhyakas; these are indeed known as Guhyakas.
स्वमार्गगाधनाढ्याश्च शूद्रप्रायाः कुटुंबिनः
They are householders, mostly of the śūdra class, wealthy in their own ways and means.
न तिथिं नैव वारं च संक्रात्यादि न पर्व च
They do not know tithis, nor days, nor transitions, nor festivals.
एकमेव हि जानंति कुलपूज्यो हि यो द्विजः
They know only one thing: the twice-born who is revered in the family.
समृद्धिभाजोह्यत्रापि तेन पुण्येन गुह्यकाः
Here too, the Guhyakas partake of prosperity because of that merit.
ततो विलोकयामास लोकं लोचनशर्मदम् 4.1.8.
Then he looked upon a world that brought delight to the eyes.
देवानां गायनाद्येते चारणाः स्तुतिपाठकाः
These are the Cāraṇas, singers and reciters of praise for the gods.
गीतज्ञा अतिगीतेन तोषयंति नराधिपान्
Skilled in song, they please kings with their excellent singing.
राज्ञां प्रसादलब्धानि सुवासांसि धनान्यपि
The fine garments and wealth they receive from kings’ favor,
ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयच्छंति गीतं गायंत्यहर्निशम्
They give to the brāhmaṇas, singing songs day and night.
तेन पुण्येन गांधर्वो लोकस्त्वेषां विशिष्यते
Because of that merit, the world of the Gandharvas is especially theirs.
गीतविद्याप्रभावेन देवर्षिर्नारदो महान्
By the brilliance of the science of song, the great divine sage Nārada shines.
तुंबुरुर्नारदश्चोभौ देवानामतिदुर्लभौ
Both Tumburu and Nārada are exceedingly rare among the gods.
यदि गीतं क्वचिद्गीतं श्रीमद्धरिहरांतिके
If a song is sung anywhere near the glorious Hari and Hara,
गीतज्ञो यदि गीतेन नाप्नोति परमं पदम्
If one skilled in song does not attain the supreme state through singing,