अतोऽश्वत्थे शमीगर्भे संयोगस्तत्र पठ्यते
Therefore, the union within the womb of the śamī tree and the aśvattha is described there.
तस्मात्सुतहितः श्रेष्ठश्चतुर्थ इति कथ्यते
Hence, the son who is beneficial and excellent is called the fourth.
एवं तु ब्रह्मणो वक्त्रं पञ्चमं समपद्यत
Thus, the fifth mouth of Brahmā came into being.
एतद्यो बुध्यते देव तेजःसर्गमनुत्तमम्
Whoever understands this supreme creation of the gods’ radiance—
एतद्योग्निसमुद्भवं पशुपतेर्माहात्म्यसंसूचकं वह्नेः साधुमतिः शृणोति सततं यः श्रद्धया भावितम्। यो व्यास द्विजदेवताप्रमुखतः संश्रावयेद्भक्तितः सोऽत्यर्थं भवभावितः शिवपुरे संपूज्यते दैवतैः ।। 5.1.4.
Whoever always listens with faith to this account of Agni’s origin, which hints at the greatness of Paśupati, and whoever, O Vyāsa, recites it with devotion before the foremost of twice-born and gods, he, deeply absorbed in the world, is greatly honored by the gods in the city of Śiva.
किं कृतं ब्रह्मणा तत्र प्रायश्चित्तं च कर्मणाम्
What was done there by Brahmā, and what expiation was performed for those acts?
जनार्दनेन किं कर्म शंकरेण च यन्मुने
What action was performed by Janārdana and by Śaṅkara, O sage?
शस्तैः कुशसमिद्भिश्च यथोक्तं हरिणा पुरा
With excellent kuśa grass and kindling, as formerly prescribed by Hari—
बदर्याश्रममासाद्य नरनारायणावृषी
Having reached the hermitage at Badarī, the sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa—
कपालपाणिर्देवेशः पर्यटन्वसुधामिमाम्
The Lord of the gods, holding a skull in his hand, wandered this earth.
नानाद्रुमलताकीर्णं नानापुष्पोपशोभितम्
It was covered with various trees and creepers, adorned with many kinds of flowers.
द्रुमपुष्पभरामोदवासितं यत्सुवायुना
The air was fragrant with the scent of trees heavy with blossoms.
नानागंधरसाढ्यैश्च पक्वापक्वफलोद्भवैः
There grew ripe and unripe fruits, endowed with various tastes and qualities.
जीर्णपत्रतृणादीनि शुष्क काष्ठफलानि च
There were withered leaves, grasses, and also dry wood and fruits.
नानापुष्पसमूहानां गन्धमादाय मारुतः 5.1.5.
The wind carried the fragrance of many clusters of flowers.
हरितस्निग्धनिच्छिद्रैः पर्णैरञ्छिद्रकोटरैः
With green, glossy, unbroken leaves and hollows without any blemish—
अरोगिदर्शनीयैश्च सुवृत्तैः क्वचि दुद्धतैः
With healthy, well-formed trees here and there, and some that are wild in growth,
शोभनैर्वायुसंकीर्णैरंकुरैः प्रावृता द्रुमाः
The trees are covered with beautiful sprouts, mingled with the wind.
पवनोद्धूतशिखरैः स्पर्शयंति परस्परम्
Their tops, tossed by the wind, touch one another.
नागवृक्षाः क्वचित्पुष्पैर्भ्रमरालीनकेस रैः
In some places, nāga trees are adorned with flowers, their hair entangled with swarming bees.
पुष्पसन्नद्धशिखराः कर्णिकारद्रुमाः क्वचित्
Elsewhere, karṇikāra trees have their tops thickly set with blossoms.
सुपुष्पविभवाटोपैः सिन्दुवारस्य पंक्तयः
Rows of sinduvāra trees display the splendor of their abundant, magnificent flowers.
क्वचित्क्वचित्कुन्दलताः सुपुष्पाभरणोज्ज्वलाः
Here and there, jasmine creepers shine, adorned with splendid blossoms.
अतिविद्रुमशोभाढ्या कासंत्यो यूथिकालताः
Yūthikā creepers, clustered together, are richly radiant with the beauty of coral-red flowers.
शालार्जुनाः क्वचिद्भांति वनोद्देशेषु पुष्पिताः 5.1.5.
In some forest regions, śāla and arjuna trees bloom in full glory.
अविमुक्तं तु वल्लीभिः पुष्पितास्तु द्रुमास्तथा
The trees, entwined with blossoming vines, are never left uncovered.
चूताश्च तिलकाश्चैव मञ्जरीभिः करैरिव
Mango and tilaka trees, too, are adorned with clusters of blossoms, as if with hands.
परस्परं च संयुक्तैस्तिलकाशोकपल्लवैः
Tilaka and aśoka trees are joined together by their tender shoots.
फलपुष्पनगा नम्राः पेशलेनेव सज्जनाः
Bent low with fruit and flowers, they are gentle, like noble people.
मारुताश्लिष्टसंतुष्टैः पादपाः शालिवारिभिः
The trees are content, embraced by the wind and surrounded by fields of rice.