निपत्य पादौ प्रतिवन्द्य हृष्टो निवेदयामास हरप्रसादम्
Falling at his feet, joyfully offering homage, he reported the favor received from Hara.
क्रौञ्चस्य मृत्युः शरणागतार्थं पापापहं पुण्यविवर्धनं च
The death of Krauñca was for the sake of one who sought refuge, destroying sin and increasing merit.
स केन वद निर्भिन्नः शरेण दितिजेश्वरः
Tell me, by whom was the lord of the Daityas pierced with an arrow?
सूरो ऽसैन्यदमनो बलवान् सुहृत्सु विप्रान्धदीनकृपणेषु समानभावः
He was a hero, unconquered in battle, powerful, impartial among friends, Brahmins, the poor, and the wretched.
पातालकेतुं निजघान पृष्ठे बाणेन चन्द्रार्धनिभेन वेगात्
Pātālaketu was struck on the back by an arrow, swift as the crescent moon.
येनासौ पत्रिणा दैत्यं निजघान नृपात्मजः
By whom did the prince slay that Daitya with a feathered shaft?
पपातालकेतुस्तपसो ऽस्य विघ्नं करोति मौढ्यात् स समाधिभङ्गम्
Pātālaketu, out of folly, obstructed his penance and disturbed his meditation.
आकाशमीक्ष्याथ स दीर्घमुष्णं मुमोच निःश्वासमनुत्तमं हि
Then, gazing at the sky, he released a long, hot, and deep sigh.
असौ तुरङ्गो बलवान् क्रमेत अह्ना सहस्राणि तु योजनानाम्
That powerful horse could cover thousands of yojanas in a single day.
स्थितस्तपस्येव ततो महर्षिर्दैत्यं समेत्य विशिखैर्नृपजो बिभेद
Then, standing as if in penance, the great sage met the Daitya, and the prince pierced him with arrows.
वाक् कस्यादेहिनी जाता परं कौतूहलं मम
From whom was this speech born, O bodiless one? My curiosity is great.
निसृष्टवान् भूवलये तुरङ्गं ऋतध्वजस्यैव सुतार्थमाशु
He quickly released the horse into the world for the sake of Ṛtadhvaja’s daughter.
राज्ञः कुवलयाश्वस्य कोर्ऽथो नृपसुतस्य च
What is the purpose of King Kuvalayāśva and the prince?
लावण्यराशिः शशिकान्तितुल्या मदालसा नाम मदालसैव
She is a treasure of beauty, equal to moonlight in radiance, named Madālasā—indeed, Madālasā herself.
पातालकेतुस्तु जहार तन्वीं तस्यार्थतः सो ऽश्ववरः प्रदत्तः
But Pātālaketu carried off the slender maiden; for her sake, that excellent horse was given.
दृष्टो यथा देवपतिर्महेन्द्रः शच्या तथा राजसुतो मृगाक्ष्या
Just as Śacī beheld the lord of the gods, Mahendra, so did the king’s son behold the doe-eyed maiden.
हिरण्याक्षसुतो धीमान् किमचेष्टत वै पुनः
What did the wise son of Hiraṇyākṣa do next?
क्रोधं चक्रे सुदुर्बुद्धिर्देवानां देवसैन्यहा
That extremely wicked-minded slayer of the gods’ army became enraged.
निर्जगामाथ पातालाद् विचचार च मेदिनीम
Then he emerged from the underworld and roamed the earth.
दृष्टा गौरी च गिरिजा सखीमध्ये स्थिताशुभा
He saw Gaurī, the daughter of the mountain, standing among her companions, auspicious in form.
तां दृष्ट्वा चारुसर्वाङ्गीं गिरिराजसुतां वने
Seeing her, beautiful in every limb, the mountain king’s daughter, in the forest—
कस्येयं चारुसर्वाङ्गी वने चरति सुन्दरी
‘Whose is this beautiful woman, lovely in every limb, who wanders in the forest?’
तन्मदीयेन जीवेन क्रियते निष्फलेन किम्
‘What use is my life if it is fruitless for me?’
अतो धिङ् मम रूपेण किं स्थिरेण प्रयोजनम्
‘Therefore, shame on my beauty—what is the use of it if it remains unfulfilled?’
यो मामसितकेशां तां योजयेन् मृगलोचनाम्
‘Whoever unites me with that black-haired, doe-eyed woman—’
पिधाय कर्णो हस्ताभ्यां शिरःकम्पं वचो ऽब्रवीत्
Covering his ears with his hands, shaking his head, he spoke these words:
लोकनाथस्य भार्योयं शङ्करस्य त्रिशूलिनः
‘She is the wife of the lord of the worlds, Śaṅkara, the wielder of the trident.’
भवतः परदारोयं मा निमज्ज रसातले
‘She is another’s wife, O lord—do not sink into the underworld!’
शत्रवस्ते प्रकुर्वन्तु परदारावगाहनम्
‘Let your enemies commit the sin of approaching another’s wife.’
दृष्ट्वा सैन्यं विप्रधेनुप्रसक्तं तथ्यं पथ्यं सर्वलोके हितं च
Seeing the army devoted to the cow of the Brāhmaṇas, true, wholesome, and beneficial to all the world—