अंधकांधकहंत्रोर्वै वर्तमाने महाहवे 4.1.16.
While the great battle between Andhaka and the slayer of Andhaka was ongoing,
यथा च विद्यां तां प्राप मृतसंजीवनीं पराम्
In the same way, he obtained that supreme knowledge of reviving the dead.
अंडजस्वेदजोद्भिज्जजरायुज गतिप्रदाम्
Which bestows movement to those born from eggs, sweat, sprouts, and wombs.
संस्थाप्य लिंगं श्रीशंभोः कूपं कृत्वा तदग्रतः
Having established the liṅga of glorious Śambhu and made a well before it,
राजचंपकधत्तूर करवीरकुशेशयैः
With royal campaka, dhattūra, karavīra, and kuśeśaya flowers,
मल्लिकाशतपत्रीभिः सिंदुवारैः सकिंशुकैः
With mallikā, śatapatrī, sinduvāra, and kiṃśuka flowers,
क्षुद्राभिर्माधवीभिश्च पाटला बिल्वचंपकैः
With small mādhavī, pāṭalā, bilva, and campaka flowers,
मंदारैर्बिल्वपत्रैश्च द्रोणैर्मरुबकैर्बकैः
With mandāra, bilva leaves, droṇa, marubaka, and baka flowers,
तुलसी देवगंधारी बृहत्पत्री कुशांकुरैः
With tulasī, devagandhārī, bṛhatpatrī, and kuśa sprouts,
कांचनारैः कुरबकैर्दूर्वांकुर कुरंटकैः
With kāṃcanāra, kurabaka, young shoots of dūrvā grass, and kuraṃṭaka flowers,
पत्रैः शतसहस्रैश्च स समानर्च शंकरम् 4.1.16.
He worshipped Śaṃkara with leaves by the hundreds and thousands.
स्नपयामास देवेशं सुगंधस्नपनैर्बहु
He bathed the Lord of the gods with many fragrant ablutions.
समालिलिंप देवेशं सुगंधोद्वर्तनान्यनु
He anointed the Lord of the gods with fragrant unguents thereafter.
नाम्नां सहस्रैरन्यैश्च स्तोत्रैस्तुष्टाव शंकरम्
He praised Śaṃkara with thousands of names and other hymns.
यदा देवं नालुलोके मनागपि वरोन्मुखम्
When he did not turn his mind at all toward the god, nor showed any desire for a boon,
प्रक्षाल्य चेतसो त्यंतं चांचल्याख्यं महामलम्
Having washed away from his mind that great impurity called restlessness,
निर्मलीकृत्य तच्चेतो रत्नं दत्त्वा पिनाकिने
And having purified that mind, he offered the jewel to Pinākin (Śiva),
प्रससाद तदा देवो भार्गवाय महात्मने
Then the god was pleased with Bhārgava, the great-souled one,
उवाच च विरूपाक्षः साक्षाद्दाक्षायणीपतिः
And Virūpākṣa, the lord of Dākṣāyaṇī, spoke,
निशम्येति वचः शंभोरंभोजनयनो द्विजः
Hearing these words of Śambhu, the twice-born one with lotus eyes,
तुष्टावाष्टतनुं तुष्टः प्रफु ल्ल नयनांचलः 4.1.16.
Being pleased, he praised the eight-bodied one, his eyes blooming with delight.
भार्गव उवाच त्वं भाभिराभिरभिभूय तमः समस्तमस्तं नयस्यभिमतानि निशाचराणाम्
Bhārgava said: You, by your rays, overcome all darkness and bring to an end the desires of the night-wandering beings.
अष्टमूर्त्यष्टकेनेष्टं परिष्टूयेति भार्गवः 4.1.16.
Bhārgava, having worshipped with the eightfold form and eightfold offerings, praised him.
अत्यर्कमत्यग्निं(?) च ते तेजो व्योम्न्यतितारकम् 4.1.16.
Your radiance surpasses the sun, surpasses fire, and in the sky it exceeds the stars.
अगस्त्य उवाच इत्थं सधर्मिणि कथां शुक्रलोकस्य सुव्रते 4.1.16.
Agastya said: Thus, O virtuous one, is the story of Śukraloka told in accordance with its true nature.
यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण प्रीणिते श्रवणे मम
By merely hearing of her, my ears are delighted.
कस्य पुण्यनिधेर्लोकः शोकहृत्त्वेष निर्मलः
Who in the world, the repository of merit, is not purified of sorrow by her?
धयित्वा श्रोत्रपात्राभ्यां वाणीममृतरूपिणीम्
Having drunk, with the vessels of the ears, that speech which is like nectar,
उत्पत्तिं चास्य वक्ष्यावो भूसुतोयं यथाभवत्
We shall now speak of his origin, how he came to be on earth.
पुरा तपस्यतः शंभोर्दाक्षायण्या वियोगतः
Formerly, while Śambhu was engaged in austerities, separated from Dākṣāyaṇī,