ततः संचिंतयामास स्वसुतां च सरस्वतीम्
Then he considered his own daughter, Sarasvatī.
अथ भूमितलं भित्त्वा प्रादुर्भूता महानदी
Then, piercing the earth, the great river appeared.
संध्यात्रयेऽपि त्वत्तोयैर्येन कृत्यं करोम्यहम्
Even in the three sandhyās, with your waters, I shall perform the rites.
तथा ये मानवाः स्नानं करिष्यंति जले तव
Likewise, those men who will bathe in your waters—
जनस्पर्शभयाद्भीता नागच्छामि महीतले ॥ ६.४०.
Frightened by the fear of contact with people, I do not come to the earth.
तवादेशोऽन्यथा नैव मया कार्यः कथंचन
By your command alone, and in no other way, should anything ever be done by me.
अगम्यं सर्वमर्त्यानां तत्र त्वं स्थातुमर्हसि
That place is inaccessible to all mortals; there, you are worthy to remain.
एवमुक्त्वा स देवेशश्चखान च महाह्रदम्
Having spoken thus, the lord of the gods dug out a great lake.
ततो दृष्टिविषान्सर्पानादिदेश पितामहः
Then the Grandsire commanded the serpents endowed with poisonous sight.
यथा सरस्वतीं मर्त्या न स्पृशंति कथंचन
So that mortals may never touch the Sarasvatī in any way.
तां च चित्रशिलां मध्ये ब्रह्मलोकं जगाम ह
And in the midst of that variegated stone, she went to the world of Brahmā.
अथ मंकणकोनाम महर्षिः संशितव्रतः
Then, a great sage named Maṅkaṇa, firm in his vows,
सक्रमाद्भ्रममाणस्तु तस्मिन्सर्पाभिरक्षिते
While wandering there, protected by the serpents,
सोऽपि विद्याबलात्सर्पान्निर्विषांस्तांश्चकारह निष्क्रांतः सलिलात्तस्मात्कृतकृत्यो मुदान्वितः
By the power of his knowledge, he rendered the serpents harmless; he emerged from the water, his task accomplished, filled with joy.
ततश्चक्रे मुनिर्यावत्सम्यक्कुशपरिग्रहम् ६.४०.
Then the sage properly performed the taking up of the sacred grass.
अथ तस्मात्क्षताज्जातस्तस्य शाकरसो महान्
From that wound, a great essence of the lotus arose.
सिद्धोऽहमिति विज्ञाय नृत्यं चक्रे ततः परम्
Knowing himself to be accomplished, he then began to dance exceedingly.
अथैवं नृत्यमानस्य मुनेस्तस्य महात्मनः
As that great-souled sage was thus dancing,
चमत्कारपुरं कृत्स्नं भग्नं नष्टा द्विजोत्तमाः
The entire city of Camatkāra was shattered and destroyed, O best of twice-born.
]ततो देवगणाः सर्वे तद्दृष्ट्वा तस्य चेष्टितम्
Then, all the hosts of gods, seeing his action,
अनेन नृत्यमानेन जगत्स्थावरजंगमम्
By this dancing, the whole world, both moving and unmoving,
नान्यः शक्तः सुरश्रेष्ठ मुनिमेनं कथंचन
No one else, O best of gods, is ever able to match this sage.
अथ तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा भगवान्वृषभध्वजः
Then, having heard their words, the blessed Lord who bears the bull as his emblem—
अब्रवीच्च मुने कस्मात्त्वयैतन्नृत्यतेऽधुना
—spoke, saying, 'O sage, for what reason are you dancing now?'
एवमुक्तः स विप्रेंद्रः शंकरेण द्विजोत्तमाः ६.४०.
Thus addressed by Śaṅkara, the foremost among twice-born, O best of Brāhmins—
किं नपश्यसि मे ब्रह्मन्कराच्छाकरसो महान्
'Do you not see, O Brāhmin, the great stream of nectar flowing from my hand?'
एतस्मात्कारणाद्विप्र नृत्यमेतत्करोम्यहम्
'For this reason, O Brāhmin, I am performing this dance.'
एवं तु वदतस्तस्य भगवान्वृषभध्वजः
As he was thus speaking, the blessed Lord who bears the bull as his emblem—
निश्चक्राम ततो भस्म हिमस्फटिकसंनिभम्
—from there, ashes emerged, shining like crystal ice.
ततः प्रोवाच तं विप्रं स देवो द्विजसत्तमाः
Then that god spoke to the Brāhmin, O best of twice-born—