मुक्त्वैकां योषितं देवि तस्मात्त्वं विनिपातय
Except for a woman, O Goddess, therefore you must bring him down.
अहं तं सूदयिष्यामि समये पर्युपस्थिते 7.3.36.
I will slay him when the appointed time arrives.
देवी तत्रैव संहृष्टा स्थिता पर्वतरोधसि
The goddess, delighted, remained there on the mountain slope.
तत्र देवीं च संदृष्ट्वा तीर्थयात्रापरायणः
There, seeing the goddess, devoted to pilgrimage,
तत्र दृष्ट्वा मुनिं प्राप्तं प्रणम्य महिषासुरः
There, seeing the sage arrive, Mahiṣāsura bowed to him.
ततस्तं पूजयामास मधुपर्कार्घविष्टरैः
Then he worshipped him with offerings of madhuparka and arghya, as prescribed.
कुतो भवानितः प्राप्तः किमर्थं मुनिसत्तम
From where have you come, and for what purpose, O eminent sage?
अहं भृत्यसमायुक्तः किमनेन द्विजोत्तम
I am accompanied by servants; what use is this to you, O best of twice-born?
अभिनंदामि ते सर्वमेतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते । निःस्पृहा हि वयं नित्यं मुनिधर्मं समाश्रिताः
I welcome all that you say; it is fitting for you. For we are always free from desire, established in the discipline of sages.
कौतूहलादिह प्राप्तश्चिरात्ते दर्शनं गतः
I have come here out of curiosity; it has been a long time since I saw you.
दैवं वा मानुषं वापि दानवा लंभिता विभो
Whether by fate or by human effort, O lord, the demons have been seized.
यत्र दृष्टं क्वचित्पूर्वं त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे ॥ 7.3.36.
Wherever it has been seen before, in the three worlds, among moving and unmoving beings.
अस्त्यर्बुद इति ख्यातः पर्वतो धरणीतले
There is a mountain known as Arbuda on the surface of the earth.
बकुलैश्चंपकैश्चाम्रैरशोकैः कर्णिकारकैः
It is adorned with bakula, champaka, mango, ashoka, and karnikara trees.
सरलैः पनसैर्वृक्षैस्तिंदुकैः करवीरकैः
With sal, jackfruit, tinduka, and karavira trees as well.
पुष्पजातिविशेषैश्च सुगंधैरप्यनेककैः
And with many kinds of fragrant flowers of special varieties.
न स वृक्षो न सा वल्ली नौषधी सा धरातले
There is no tree, no creeper, nor any herb on that land.
पक्षिणो मधुरारावाश्चकोरशिखिचातकाः
Birds with sweet voices, such as chakora, peacock, and chataka, are found there.
येषां शब्दं समाकर्ण्य मुनयोऽपि समाहिताः
Hearing their sounds, even the sages become absorbed.
निर्झराणि सुरम्याणि नद्यश्च विमलोदकाः
There are delightful waterfalls and rivers with pure water.
पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षा मध्यक्षामाः शुचिस्मिताः
Women with wide lotus-leaf eyes, slender waists, and pure smiles dwell there.
किं चात्र बहुनोक्तेन यत्किंचित्तत्र पर्वते सर्वलोकोत्तरास्तत्र दृश्यंते पर्वतोत्तमे ॥ 7.3.36.
Why speak at length? Whatever is on that mountain, all things surpass the worlds; they are seen on that supreme mountain.
दशयोजनविस्तारो द्वाभ्यां संहितपर्वतः
It is ten yojanas wide, joined by two mountains.
तत्राऽहं कौतुकाविष्ट इतश्चेतश्च वीक्षयन्
There, filled with curiosity, I looked around from here and there.
न देवी नापि गंधर्वी नासुरी न च मानुषी
She is neither a goddess, nor a Gandharva woman, nor an Asura woman, nor a human woman.
रतिः प्रीतिरुमा लक्ष्मीः सावित्री च सरस्वती
She is not Rati, nor Prīti, nor Umā, nor Lakṣmī, nor Sāvitrī, nor Sarasvatī.
अहं दृष्ट्वा तथा रूपां नारीं कामेन पीडितः
Having seen such a woman of that form, I was tormented by desire.
ततो धैर्यमवष्टभ्य मया मनसि चिंतितम्
Then, steadying my resolve, I reflected in my mind.
यस्या दर्शनमात्रेण कामो मे हृदि वर्द्धितः
By merely seeing her, desire in my heart increased.
चिरकालं तपस्तप्तं ब्रह्मचर्येण वै मया तस्माद्गच्छामि चान्यत्र यावन्न विकृतिर्भवेत्
For a long time I have practiced austerity with celibacy; therefore, I will go elsewhere before any disturbance arises.