बालोऽपि पूर्णचंद्राभ वदनो मदनोपमः
Even as a child, with a face like the full moon, he was equal to Kāmadeva in beauty.
यदाष्टवर्षदेशीयो हरिकेशोऽभवच्छिशुः
When the boy Harikeśa reached about eight years of age,
पांसुक्रीडनसक्तोपि कुर्याल्लिंगं रजोमयम् 4.1.32.
Even while absorbed in playing with sand, he would fashion a liṅga out of dust.
आकारयति मित्राणि शिवनाम्नाऽखिलानि सः
He would gather his friends and name them all after Śiva.
धूर्जटे खंडपरशो मृडानीश त्रिलोचन
Dhūrjaṭi, Khaṇḍaparaśu, Mṛḍā, Īśa, and Trilocana—
श्रीकंठनीलकंठेश स्मरारे पार्वतीपते
Śrīkaṇṭha, Nīlakaṇṭha, Īśa, Smarāri, and Pārvatīpati—
अजिनांबरदिग्वासः स्वर्धुनी क्लिन्नमौलिज
Clad in a garment of hide, wearing only the directions, with the waters of the celestial river moistening his hair—
सवयस्कानिति मुहुः समाह्वयति लालयन्
He would repeatedly call his peers by these names, delighting in it.
पद्भ्यां न पद्यते चान्यदृते भूतेश्वराजिरात्
He would not step with his feet anywhere except on the ground consecrated to the Lord of beings.
रसयेत्तस्य रसना हरनामाक्षरामृतम्
His tongue would savor the nectar of syllables that are the names of Hari.
करौ तत्कौतुककरौ मनो मनति नापरम्
His hands were engaged in those wondrous acts, and his mind was absorbed, not elsewhere.
भक्ष्यते सर्वभक्ष्याणि त्र्यक्षप्रत्यक्षगान्यपि
He ate all kinds of food, even those that were before the three-eyed one.
गच्छन्गायन्स्वपंस्तिष्ठञ्च्छयानोऽदन्पिबन्नपि 4.1.32.
Whether going, coming, sleeping, standing, lying down, eating, or drinking—
क्षणदासु प्रसुप्तोपि क्व यासीति वदन्मुहुः
Even while sleeping at night, he would repeatedly say, 'Where shall I go?'
स्पष्टां चेष्टां विलोक्येति हरिकेशस्य तत्पिता
Seeing his clear actions, the father of Harikesa said—
एते तुरंगमा वत्स तवैतेऽश्वकिशो रकाः
These are horses, dear child, these are your own horse-colts.
रत्नान्याकरशुद्धानि नानाजातीन्यनेकशः
Jewels, pure as from a mine, of many kinds and in abundance—
अमत्राणि महार्हाणि रौप्य कांस्यमयानि च
Unmeasured treasures of great value, made of silver and bronze as well—
चामराणि विचित्राणि गंधद्रव्याण्यनेकशः
Variegated yak-tail fans, and many kinds of fragrant substances—
एतत्त्वदीयं सकलंवस्तुजातं समंततः
All these various objects are yours, spread all around.
चेष्टास्त्यज दरिद्राणां धूलिधूसरिणाममूः
Abandon the actions of the poor, those covered in dust and dirt.
तां दशां चरमां प्राप्य भक्तियोगं ततश्चर
Having reached that final state, then practice the yoga of devotion.
रुष्टदृष्टिं च जनकं कदाचिदवलोक्य सः 4.1.32.
Sometimes, seeing his father with an angry gaze—
ततश्चिंतामवापोच्चैर्दिग्भ्रांतिमपि चाप्तवान्
Then he fell into deep thought and even became confused about directions.
क्व यामि क्व स्थिते शंभो मम श्रेयो भविष्यति
'Where shall I go, where shall I stay, O Shambhu, so that my welfare may be achieved?'
इति श्रुतं मया पूर्वं पितुरुत्संगवर्तिना
Thus I heard before, while resting in my father's lap—
मात्रा पित्रा परित्यक्ता ये त्यक्ता निजबंधुभिः
Those who are abandoned by mother and father, and forsaken by their own kin—
जरया परिभूता ये ये व्याधिविकलीकृताः
Those who are insulted by old age, and those afflicted by disease—
पदे पदे समाक्रांता ये विपद्भिरहर्निशम्
Those who are beset by misfortunes at every step, day and night,
पापराशिभिराक्रांता ये दारिद्र्य पराजिताः
Those who are overwhelmed by heaps of sin and defeated by poverty,