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,
मनसा ये स्मरिष्यति प्रतीहारेश्वरं शिवम्
Whoever remembers in their mind the lord of the doorkeepers, Śiva,
ईश्वर उवाच यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण तिर्यग्योनिर्न लभ्यते
The Lord said: By merely seeing him, one does not attain a birth among animals.
कौशिकोनाम राजाभूत्कुक्कुटो जायते सदा
There was a king named Kauśika; he is always born as a rooster.
व्याप्ता च पृथिवी तेन सशैलवनकानना
By him, the earth was pervaded, along with its mountains, forests, and groves.
विशालानाम विख्याता भार्या तस्य महीपतेः
His wife, renowned by the name Viśālā, belonged to that king.
तया चकार सहितः स राज्यं राजसत्तमः
Together with her, that foremost of kings ruled the kingdom.
तया सार्द्धं कदाचिच्च सुरतं नास्ति पार्वति
Yet, O Pārvatī, there was never any intimacy with her.
एवं गच्छति काले तु सह राज्ञा स्मरातुरा ददर्श कीटमिथुनमनंगकलहातुरम्
As time passed in this way, tormented by desire, the queen, together with the king, saw a pair of insects agitated by the quarrel of love.
प्रसादयंस्तथा कीटः स्वां प्रियां च मुहुर्मुहुः
That insect, again and again, sought to please his beloved.
भजस्व मां यथाकाममनंगशरपीडितम्
"Embrace me as you wish, for I am afflicted by the arrows of love."
न त्वया सदृशी लोके कामिनी विद्यते क्वचित् 5.2.21.
"Nowhere in the world is there a passionate woman equal to you."
कुतो वा मयि दीने त्वं क्रुद्धेव प्रियवादिनि
"Why, when I am wretched, do you, who speak kindly, seem angry with me?"
सा तमाह प्रकोपाच्च किमालपसि मां वृथा प्रदत्तं कामलुब्धेन अन्यस्य कीटकाधम
She, provoked, said to him: "Why do you speak to me in vain? Given over to another by your lust, you wretched insect!"
नाहमेवं करिष्यामि कीटः प्राह पुनःपुनः
"I will not act so," she said, but the insect pleaded again and again.
इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सा प्रसन्नाभवत्तदा
Hearing those words, she then became appeased.
दृष्ट्वा तन्महदाश्चर्यं सा राज्ञी विललाप ह न कामिताहं कांतेन मरिष्यामि न संशयः
Seeing that great wonder, the queen lamented: "I am not desired by my beloved; I will die, there is no doubt."
एवं विलप्य बहुधा विनिःश्वस्य पुनःपुनः
Thus lamenting in many ways, sighing again and again,
दृष्ट्वा तमृषिमासीनं तपोयोनिं दृढव्रतम्
She saw that sage, seated, born of austerity, firm in his vows.
एकोऽयं संशयो ब्रह्मन्हृदये परिवर्त्तते न जाने कारणं किं तु संगमो नोपजायते
"O Brāhmaṇa, this one doubt turns in my heart: I do not know the reason, but union does not arise."
यो गत्वा प्रमदाराज्यं जित्वा सर्वाः पुरा रणे नैव कामयते तासु किमेतदिति सुव्रत
"He who, having conquered the realm of women, defeated all in battle before, now does not desire them—O virtuous one, what is this?"