अथागान्मन्दरं शंभुर्निजमावसथं शुचिः
Then pure Shambhu went to Mandara, his own abode.
शून्ये ऽभ्यगाद् दृष्टमतिर्हि देव्या संयोधितो येन हि कारणेन
In solitude, he entered, his mind intent, united with the goddess for that very reason.
शङ्करो मन्दरस्थो ऽपि यच्चाकार तदुच्यताम्
Though Shankara dwelt on Mandara, let his form be described.
संत्पतविग्रहः सर्वान् दानवानिदमब्रवीत्
Assuming a fierce form, he addressed all the Danavas thus:
यस्तामद्रिसुतां शीघ्नं ममान्ति कमुपानयेत्
Whoever brings that daughter of Madri swiftly to me, I shall grant his desire.
मेघगम्भीरनिर्घोषं प्रहलादो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
With a voice deep as thunder, Prahlada spoke these words:
पिता त्रिनयनो देवः श्रूयतामत्र कारणम्
My father is the three-eyed god; let the reason for this be heard here.
आराधितो महादेवः पुत्रार्थाय पुरा किल
Long ago, Mahadeva was worshipped by me for the sake of a son.
पुत्रकः पुत्रकामास्य प्रोक्त्वेत्यं वचनं विभो
The son, desiring a son, spoke these words to the Lord.
पिहितं योगसंस्थस्य ततो ऽन्धमभवत्तमः
Then, for the one established in yoga, everything became covered, and there was utter darkness.
तदितं गृह्यतां दैत्य तवोपयिकमात्मजम्
This, O Daitya, is to be taken—your own son, suitable for you.
त्रैलोक्यजननीं चापि अभीवाञ्छिष्यते ऽधमः
That wicked one will also desire the Mother of the Three Worlds.
तदास्य स्वयमेवाहं करिष्ये कायशोधनम्
Then I myself will purify his body.
त्वत्पितापि समभ्यागात् त्वामादाय रसातलम्
Your father also came, taking you to the netherworld.
सर्वस्यापीह जगतो गुरुः शंभुः पिता ध्रुवम्
Indeed, Śambhu, the Guru of all the world, is certainly the father here.
नेदृशे पापसंकल्पे मतिं कुर्याद् भवद्विधः
One such as you should not set his mind on such sinful intent.
अजेयस्तस्य भार्येयं न त्वमर्हे ऽमरार्दन
This wife of his is unconquerable; you, O destroyer of gods, are not worthy.
अजित्वा सगणं रुद्रं स च कामो ऽद्य दुर्लभः
Without conquering Rudra and his hosts, that desire is today unattainable.
मेरुमुत्पाटयेद् वापि स जयेच्छूलपाणिनम्
He might uproot Mount Meru, but he cannot defeat the trident-bearing Lord.
न च शक्यो हरो जेतुं सत्यं सत्यं मयोदितम्
And Hara cannot be conquered—this is the truth, the truth I have spoken.
परस्त्रीकामवान् मूढः सराष्ट्रो नाशमाप्तवान्
A fool, lusting after another’s wife, along with his realm, met destruction.
स च वव्रे महातेजाः पौरोहित्याय भार्गवम्
That mighty one then chose Bhārgava for the office of priest.
सुक्रस्यासीच्च दुहिता अरजा नाम नामतः
Sukra had a daughter named Arajā, so called by name.
तेनार्चितश्चिरं तत्र तस्थौ भार्गवसत्त्मः
Honored by him for a long time, the best of Bhārgavas remained there.
अतिष्ठत सुचार्वङ्गी ततो ऽब्यागान्नराधिपः
The king then arrived, while she of beautiful limbs stood there.
गतः स भगवान् शुक्रो याजनाय दनोः सुतम्
The venerable Śukra went to perform the sacrifice for the son of Danu.
तास्तमूचुर्गुरोः पुत्री संतिष्ठत्यरजा नृप
They said to him, 'O king, the guru's daughter remains unmarried.'
प्रविवेश महाबाहुर्ददर्शारजसं ततः
Then the mighty-armed one entered and saw her, still unwed.
संजातो ऽन्धक दण्डस्तु कृतान्तबलचोदितः
There arose Andhaka, the staff, impelled by the force of Death.
शुक्रशिष्यानपि बली एकाकी नृप आव्रजत्
O king, though alone, he approached even the disciples of Shukra, being powerful.