तपः समाश्रिता भीरु संशयः प्रतिभाति मे
O timid one, you have taken up austerity, but I sense some doubt within you.
सुभोगा भोगिताः काले व्रजन्ति स्थिरयौवने
Pleasures, once enjoyed in their time, depart even when youth remains steady.
रूपाभिजनमैश्वर्यं तच्च ते विद्यते बहु
Beauty, noble birth, and wealth—all these you possess in abundance.
चीनांशुकं परित्यज्य किं त्वं वल्कलधारिणी
Having cast aside your silk garments, why do you wear bark-cloth?
भिक्षवे कथयामास यथावत् सा हि नारद
To the mendicant, O Narada, she spoke as it truly was.
तं शृणुष्व त्वियं काली हरं भर्तारमिच्छति
Listen: this Kāli desires Hara as her husband.
विहस्य च महाहासं भिक्षुराह वचस्त्विदम्
Laughing with great mirth, the mendicant then spoke these words:
कथं करः पल्लवकोमलस्ते समेष्यते शार्वकरं ससर्पम्
How will your hand, soft as a tender shoot, unite with Shiva's hand, which bears a serpent?
त्वं चन्दनाक्ता स भस्मभूषितो न युक्तरूपं प्रतिभाति मे त्विदम्
You are anointed with sandalwood, he is adorned with ashes—this union does not seem fitting to me.
मा मैवं वद बिक्षो त्वं हरः सर्वगुणाधिकः
Do not speak so, mendicant; Hara surpasses all in virtues.
अलङ्कृतो वा देवेशस्तथा वाप्यनलङ्कृतः
Whether adorned or unadorned, the Lord of gods is the same.
न तथा निन्दकः पापी यथा शृण्वन् शशिप्रभे
One who hears, O moon-bright one, is not as sinful as one who slanders.
ततो ऽत्यजद् भिक्षुरूपं स्वरूपस्थो ऽभवच्छिवः
Then the mendicant abandoned his form and Shiva stood in his own true form.
तवार्थाय प्रहेष्यामि महर्षिन् हिमवद्गृहे
For your sake, I will send the great sages to the house of Himavat.
असौ भद्रेश्वरेत्येवं ख्यातो लोके भविष्यति
He will be known in the world as Bhadreśvara.
पूजयिष्यन्ति सततं मानवाश्च शुभेप्सवः
People who desire auspiciousness will always worship him.
जगामाम्बरमाविश्य स्वमेव भवनं पितुः
Having entered the sky, he went to his own father's abode.
पृथूदकं जगामाथ स्नानं चक्रे विधानतः
Then Pṛthu went to the water and performed his bath according to the rite.
कृत्वा सनन्दिः सगणः सवाहनो महागिरिं मन्दरमाजगाम
Having done so, joyful, with his attendants and vehicle, he came to the great mountain Mandara.
चक्रे दिव्यफलैर्जलेन शुचिना मूलैश्च कन्दादिभिः पूजां सर्वगणेश्वरैः सह विभोरद्रिस्त्रिनेत्रस्य तु
Together with all the lords of the gaṇas, he worshipped the mighty three-eyed mountain-lord with divine fruits, pure water, roots, and tubers.
सस्मार च महर्षिस्तु अरुन्धत्या समं ततः
Then the great sage remembered, along with Arundhatī.
समाजग्मुर्महाशैलं मन्दरं चारुकन्दरम्
They arrived at the great mountain Mandara, with its lovely caves.
अभ्युत्थायाभिपूज्यैतानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Rising up and honoring them, he spoke these words.
धूतपापस्तथा जातो भवतां पादपङ्कजैः
By the dust of your lotus feet, I have become purified of sin.
शिलासु पद्मवार्णासु श्लक्ष्णासु च मृदुष्वपि
Even on the rocks, which are lotus-colored, smooth, and soft.
सममेव त्वरुन्धत्या विविशुः शैलसानुनि
Together with Arundhatī, they entered the mountain slope.
अर्घ्यादिना समभ्यर्च्य स्थितः प्रयतमानसः
Having worshipped with arghya and other offerings, he stood with a concentrated mind.
आत्मनो यशसो वृद्ध्यै सप्तर्षीन् विनयान्वितान्
For the increase of his own fame, he honored the seven sages, who were endowed with humility.
भरद्वाज शृणुष्व त्वमङ्गिरस्त्वं शृणुष्व च
Bharadvāja, listen; and you, Aṅgiras, listen as well.
उत्ससर्ज सती प्राणान् योगदृष्ट्य पुरा किलः
Long ago, Sati gave up her life by the vision of yoga.