संपरिष्वज्य स मुनिर्मूर्ध्न्याघ्राय सुतं ततः
Then the sage embraced his son, smelled his head.
ततस्तूर्णं धनुर्न्यस्य बाणांश्च शकुनिर्बली
Then Shakuni, strong-armed, quickly set down his bow and arrows.
न च शक्नोति संच्छन्नं दृढं कपिवरेम हि
And the best of monkeys truly could not conceal it firmly.
तदावतीर्णः शकुनिः सहितः परमर्षिणा
Then the bird descended together with the supreme sage.
लाघवादर्द्धचन्द्रैस्तां शाखां चिच्छेद स त्रिधा
With swiftness, he cut that branch into three pieces with crescent-shaped arrows.
शरसोपानमार्गेण अवतीर्णो ऽथ पादपात्
Then, by the path made of arrows, he descended from the tree.
जाबालिना भारवहेन संयुतः समाजगामाथ नदीं स सूर्यजाम्
Accompanied by Jābāli, the bearer of burdens, he then approached the river born of the Sun.
समागते हरं द्रष्टुं श्रीकण्ठं योगिनां वरम्
When they had gathered to see Hara, Śrīkaṇṭha, the foremost among yogis,
बहुनिरमालल्यसंयुक्तं गते तस्मिन् ऋतध्वजे
When Ṛtadhvaja had departed, there was much pure and unblemished association.
स्नापयेतां विधानेन पूजयेतामहर्निशम्
They should bathe him according to the rite and worship him day and night.
द्रष्टुं श्रिकण्ठमव्यक्तं गालवो नाम नामतः
To see Śrīkaṇṭha, the unmanifest, there was one named Gālava.
प्रविवेश शुचिः स्नात्वा कालिन्द्या विमले जले
Having bathed in the pure waters of the Kālindī, the pure one entered.
गायेते सुस्वरं गीतं यक्षासुरसुते ततः
Then the daughters of Yakṣas and Asuras sang a song in sweet tones.
गन्धर्वकन्येक चैते संदेहो नात्र विद्यते
And these were Gandharva maidens; there is no doubt about this.
कृतजप्यः समध्यास्ते कन्याभ्यामबिवादितः
Having completed his recitation, he sat in meditation, honored by the two maidens.
कुलालङ्कारणे भक्तियुक्ते भवस्य हि
With devotion, he adorned the family of Bhava indeed.
जातो विदितवृत्तान्तो गालवस्तपतां वरः
Gālava, best among ascetics, having learned the circumstances, was born.
प्रातरुत्थाय गौरीसं संपूज्य च विधानतः
Rising in the morning, he duly worshipped Gaurī's Lord.
आमन्त्रयामि वां कन्ये समनुज्ञातुमर्हथः
I invite you, O maidens; you should grant your permission.
किमर्थं पुष्करारण्यं भवान् यास्यत्यथादरात्
For what purpose does the reverend one wish to go to Puṣkara forest with respect?
कार्तिकी पुण्यदा भाविमासान्ते पुष्करेषु हि
The month of Kārtik bestows merit, especially at the end of the month, at the sacred lakes.
न त्वया स्म विना ब्रह्मन्निह चस्थातुं हि शक्नुवः
But, O Brahmin, without you, we are truly unable to remain here.
गते ते ऋषिणा सार्द्धू पुष्करारण्यमादरात्
When you had departed together with the sage, you entered the forest of Puṣkara with reverence.
पार्थिवा जानपद्याश्च मुक्त्वैकं तमृतध्वजम्
The kings and the people of the land, leaving behind only that one, the righteous-bannered one,
राजानश्च महाभागा नाभागेक्ष्वाकुसंयुताः
And the great and noble kings, associated with Nābhāga and Ikṣvāku,
स्नातुं स पुष्करे तीर्थे मध्यमे धनुषाकृतौ
Went to bathe at the sacred ford of Puṣkara, in the middle, shaped like a bow.
बह्वीभिर्मत्स्यकन्याभिः प्रीयमाणं पुनः पुनः
Delighted again and again by many daughters of the fish, he—
जनापवादं घोरं हि न शक्तः सोढुमुल्बणम्
Was unable to endure the fierce and terrible slander of the people.
तापसं कन्यकाभ्यां वै विचरन्तं यथेच्छया
The ascetic, wandering as he pleased with the maidens,
जनापवादात् तत्किं त्वं बिभेषु जलमध्यगः
Why do you, who are in the midst of the water, fear public reproach?