आह्लादं निर्वृतिं स्वास्थ्यमारोग्यं चारुरूपताम्
—they obtain delight, contentment, well-being, health, and beautiful form.
प्राप्नोत्यभिमतान्कामान्देवानामपि दुर्लभान्
They attain the desired pleasures, even those difficult for the gods to obtain.
एष ते कथितो देवि प्रभावः पापनाशनः
O goddess, thus I have told you this power which destroys sin.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण धनवानिह जायते
By merely seeing him, one becomes wealthy in this world.
दक्षकोपात्त्वं च देवि पुरा प्राणैर्विसर्जितैः
O goddess, formerly, because of Dakṣa’s wrath, you abandoned your life.
प्रारब्धा च मया देवि त्वया सार्द्धं रतिस्तदा अनुरागवशाच्चैव मन्मथेन प्रपीडिता
O goddess, at that time, I began union with you, overcome by love and afflicted by Kāma.
महारतिं समीक्ष्याथ देवाः संक्षुब्धमानसाः
Seeing this great passion, the gods became agitated in mind.
दिव्यं वर्षशतं रुद्रो गौर्या सह सदा रतिम्
Rudra, together with Gaurī, continually enjoyed union for a divine hundred years.
अनयोर्बीजसंपत्योः पुत्रो यो हि भवेत्तदा
Of these two, when the seed would be united, the son who would be born—
तस्य तेजोपि नो वोढुं समर्था निश्चितं वयम्
—certainly, we are not capable of bearing his energy.
उपायं दृष्टवांस्तत्र देवानां गुरुरग्रणीः
Thereupon, the foremost guru of the gods perceived a means.
गच्छंतु त्रिदशाः सर्वे शिवस्य तु समीपतः
Let all the gods go near to Śiva.
इति निश्चित्य ते देवि जग्मुः शीघ्रं सुरास्तदा 5.2.20.
Having thus resolved, O goddess, the gods quickly went at that time.
गणानामधिपो नंदी द्वारि तिष्ठति यत्नतः
Nandī, lord of the gaṇas, stands vigilantly at the door.
अथ प्रवेशो देवानां दुष्करो मम पार्श्वतः
Therefore, entry for the gods to my side is difficult.
अग्निना तद्धितं वाक्यमुक्तं तेषां पुरः शुभम्
Then Agni spoke auspicious words on their behalf before them.
वंचयित्वा प्रतीहारं कृतं तेन तथैव च
Having deceived the doorkeeper, he acted in just that way.
इन्द्राद्या अमरा देवा द्वारि तिष्ठंति संयताः
The immortal gods, led by Indra, stood restrained at the door.
ततश्च तै- कुतो मह्यं प्रणामश्च यथाक्रमम्
Then, from them, I received the proper salutations in due order.
तैरुक्तं त्यज्यतां चैव संभोगस्तु सुदारुणः
They said, 'Abandon this exceedingly dreadful enjoyment.'
ततः शप्तो मया नंदी भूलोकं गच्छ सत्वरम्
Then I cursed Nandi, 'Go swiftly to the earthly realm!'
सोच्छ्वासहृदयो दीनो दुःखव्याकुललोचनः
His heart heavy with sighs, dejected, his eyes overwhelmed with sorrow,
वंचितश्चाग्निना बाढं वासवेन विशेषतः 5.2.20.
He was greatly deceived by Agni, and especially by Vāsava.
स दृष्टो लोकपालैस्तु तामवस्थां गतो गणः
That attendant, having reached such a state, was seen by the guardians of the world.
सर्वं निवेदितं तेन तेषामग्रे च नंदिना
He reported everything before them, Nandin among them.
ततश्च वचनं श्रुत्वा नंदी रोमांचकंचुकः पूजयामास विधिवद्धृत्वा कपालिकीं तनुम्
Then, hearing those words, Nandi, his hair standing on end, worshipped in due form, taking on the form of a Kapālika.
अशरीरसमुत्पन्ना वाणी लिंगात्तदा प्रिये पूजितोऽसौ महाभक्त्या प्रतीहारेण नंदिना
Then, beloved, a bodiless voice arose from the liṅga; he was worshipped with great devotion by the doorkeeper Nandin.
तदाप्रभृति लोकेस्मिन्प्रतीहारेश्वरेश्वरः प्रभावः सर्वलोकानामत्यभीष्टफलप्रदः
From that time in this world, the lord of the doorkeepers became the lord of lords, his power granting the most desired fruits to all worlds.
पूजयिष्यंति ये भक्त्या प्रतीहारेश्वरं शिवम्
Those who worship with devotion the lord of the doorkeepers, Śiva,
सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्वल्पं वा यदि वा बहु
The sin accumulated over seven births, whether little or much,