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—
तथाप्यहं मुनिश्रेष्ठ न नृत्यं कर्तुमुत्सहे
'Even so, O best of sages, I am not able to perform this dance.'
विरामं कुरु तस्मात्त्वं नृत्यादस्माद्विगर्हितात्
'Therefore, cease from this dance, which is to be avoided.'
अब्रवीत्त्वामहं मन्ये नान्यं देवान्महेश्वरात्
'I consider you to be none other than Maheśvara among the gods.'
स्थानेऽत्र भवता सार्धमहं स्थास्यामि सर्वदा ॥ ६.४०.
'Therefore, I shall always remain here together with you.'
आनन्दितेन भवता प्रार्थितोऽहं यतो मुने एतत्पुरं च मे नाम्ना आनन्दाख्यं भविष्यति
'Because you, rejoicing, have requested me, O sage, this city will bear my name and be called Ānanda.'
एवमुक्त्वा महादेवो गतश्चादर्शनं ततः
Having thus spoken, the great god then became invisible.
अथ ते पन्नगाः प्रोचुः प्रणिपत्य मुनीश्वरम्
Then those serpents, having bowed, spoke to the lord of sages—
तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं नो यथा स्याद्दारुणं विषम्
'Therefore, show us your favor, so that our poison may not be dreadful.'
तस्मादेवंविधाः सर्वे जलसर्पा भविष्यथ
'Therefore, all of you will become water-dwelling serpents.'
सूत उवाच ततःप्रभृति संजाता जलसर्पा महीतले
Sūta said: From that time onward, water-dwelling serpents came into being upon the earth.
अथ तस्मिन्ह्रदे मर्त्याः स्नात्वा सारस्वते शुभे
Then, when mortals bathe in that auspicious Sarasvatī lake,
अथ भीतः सहस्राक्षो गत्वा देवं पितामहम्
Then, frightened, the thousand-eyed one went to the god, the Grandfather.
त्वत्प्रसादात्समुद्वीक्ष्य गच्छंति मनुजा दिवम् सारस्वतं नरास्तत्र स्नात्वा यांति त्रिविष्टपम्
By your grace, people, having seen, go to heaven; there, men who bathe in the Sarasvatā go to the highest realm.
अपि पापसमाचाराः सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृताः ६.४०.
Even those of sinful conduct, excluded from all duties,
शुभाशुभपरिज्ञानं सर्वेषामेव देहिनाम्
The knowledge of good and evil belongs to all embodied beings.
तस्मात्त्यज त्वं मां देव यद्वा तत्तीर्थमुत्तमम्
Therefore, O god, either abandon me or that supreme sacred place.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा यमस्य प्रपितामहः
Hearing those words of Yama, the Grandfather—
ततः शक्रो ह्रदं गत्वा पूरयामास पांसुभिः
Then Śakra went to the lake and filled it with earth.
अद्यापि मनुजः सम्यक्त स्मिन्स्थाने व्यवस्थितः
Even today, a man who is properly established at this place—
सोऽपि मंकणकस्तत्र सार्द्धं देवेन शंभुना
There, Maṅkaṇaka also, together with the god Śambhu,