अर्थहीना यथा वाणी धर्महीना यथा तनुः ।। 4.2.87.
So too, speech without meaning, or a body without righteousness, is fruitless.
गंगाहीना यथा देशाः पुत्रहीना यथा गृहाः
Just as lands without the Ganges, or homes without sons,
मंत्रिहीनं यथा राज्यं श्रुतिहीना यथा द्विजाः
Just as a kingdom without a minister, or twice-born without the Vedas,
दर्भहीना यथा संध्या तिलहीनं च तर्पणम्
Just as twilight rites without darbha grass, or offerings without sesame,
इत्थं दधीचिनाख्यातं जग्राह वचनं न तत्
Thus, Dadhīci spoke, but he did not accept those words.
प्रोवाच च भृशं क्रुद्धः का चिंता तव मे क्रतोः
And, greatly angered, he said: 'What concern of yours is my sacrifice?'
तानि सिद्ध्यंति नियतं यथार्थकरणादिह
Those acts certainly succeed here when performed properly.
स्वकर्मसिद्धये चाथ सर्व एव हि चेश्वरः
And indeed, for the accomplishment of one's own acts, the Lord is present in all.
तत्तथास्तु परं साक्षी नार्थं दद्याच्च कुत्रचित्
So let it be; the supreme witness should never grant fruit anywhere.
जडानि सर्वकर्माणि न फलंतीश्वरं विना
All actions are inert and bear no fruit without the Lord.
जडान्यपि च बीजानि कालं संप्राप्यवात्मनः 4.2.87.
Even inert seeds, upon attaining the proper time, manifest their own nature.
आदिदेश समीपस्थानालोक्य परितस्त्विति 4.2.87.
He instructed those standing nearby, having looked all around.
ब्रह्मघोषेण तारेण व्योमशब्दगुणं स्फुटम् 4.2.87.
With the sound of Brahman, with that note, the quality of the sound of the sky became clear.
विद्याधरैर्ननंदे च वसुधा ववृधे भृशम् इत्थं प्रवृत्तेऽथ मुनिः कैलासं नारदो ययौ
The earth greatly flourished with joy because of the Vidyādharas; thus, when this had occurred, the sage Nārada went to Kailāsa.
अगस्त्य उवाच शिवलोकं समासाद्य मुनिना ब्रह्मसूनुना
Agastya said: Having reached Śiva's realm by the sage, the son of Brahmā—
स्कंद उवाच शृणु कुंभज वक्ष्यामि नारदेन महात्मना
Skanda said: Hear, O Kumbha-born, I will tell you what was spoken by the great-souled Nārada.
मुनिर्गगनमार्गेण प्राप्य तद्धाम शांभवम्
The sage, traveling by the path of the sky, reached that abode of Śambhu.
तदुद्दिष्टासनं भेजे पश्यंस्तत्क्रीडनं परम्
He took the seat indicated for him, watching that supreme play.
तदौत्सुक्येन स मुनिः प्रेर्यमाण उवाच ह नारद उवाच देवदेव तव क्रीडाखिलं ब्रह्मांडगोलकम्
Then, impelled by eagerness, the sage spoke—Nārada said: O God of gods, your entire play is the cosmic sphere.
कृष्णाः कृष्णेतरा या वै तिथयस्ताश्च सारिकाः
The dark and non-dark lunar days are the birds in that play.
सृष्टिप्रलय संज्ञौ द्वौ ग्लहौ जयपराजयौ
The two called creation and dissolution are the moves, and victory and defeat.
भवतोः खेलसमयो यः सा स्थितिरुदाहृता
The time of play between you two is called existence.
न देवी जेष्यति पतिं नेशः शक्तिं विजेष्यति
The goddess will not defeat her lord, nor will the lord defeat his power.
देवः सर्वज्ञनाथोपि न किंचिदवबुध्यति 4.2.88.
Even the god, lord of all knowledge, does not comprehend anything.
लीलात्मा गुणवानेष विचारादतिनिर्गुणः
This one, whose nature is play and who possesses qualities, is, through discernment, entirely beyond qualities.
मध्यस्थोपि हि सर्वस्य माध्यस्थ्यमवलंबतै
Even though he is impartial to all, he maintains impartiality.
त्वं शक्तिरस्य देवस्य सर्वेषां मान्यभूः परा
You are the power of this god, the supreme one honored by all.
परं त्वं सर्वजगतां जनयित्र्येकिका ध्रुवम्
You alone are certainly the supreme mother of all worlds.
त्वमात्मानं न जानासि त्र्यक्षमायाविमोहिता
You do not know yourself, deluded by the three-eyed one's māyā.
अन्या अपि हि याः सत्यः पातिव्रत्यपरायणाः
Even those others who are true, devoted to fidelity to their husbands—