विचकर्ष धनुः पौष्पं सायकान् समयूयुजत्
She drew the flowery bow and fitted the arrows.
श्रुत्वा तन्मधुरं गीतं पञ्चमालापसुन्दरम्
Hearing that sweet song, charming with its fivefold melody,
चकर्ष च धनुः कामः पुनःपुनरतन्द्रितः 146.
Kāma repeatedly drew his bow, tireless.
विचचाराश्रमपदं पश्यन्सन्तुष्टमानसः
He wandered through the hermitage, his mind satisfied as he looked around.
दृष्ट्वैव तां तु चार्वंगीं विद्धः कामेन पत्रिणा
Seeing her, whose limbs were lovely, he was pierced by the arrow of desire.
सापि दृष्ट्वा देवदत्तं सज्जन्ती हरिणेक्षणा
She too, with eyes like a doe, gazed at Devadatta and became attached.
करेण कन्दुकं घ्नन्ती चञ्चलाक्षी सुपेशला
Striking the ball with her hand, her restless eyes charming, she was exceedingly beautiful.
मनो हरन्ती तस्यर्षेः ललितैर्विभ्रमोद्भवैः
With her graceful, playful gestures, she captivated the mind of that sage.
वासः सूक्ष्मंगलन्नीवि कांचीदामगुणान्वितम्
She wore a fine garment as a lower cloth, adorned with a girdle of gold.
सम्मोहितः स तु मुनिर्गत्वान्तिकमथाब्रवीत्
Enchanted, the sage approached her and spoke.
मादृशान्किं मृगयसे बाहुपाशेन वा मृगान्
"Why do you seek beings like me—do you hunt deer with the noose of your arms?"
सर्वथाऽस्मांस्तवाधीनान् यद्यद्वा कारयिष्यति
"In every way, we are under your control; whatever you wish, let it be done."
अथ तां हसमानां च गृहीत्वा दक्षिणे करे 146.
Then, taking her laughing by the right hand—
' रममाणस्तया सार्द्धं भुञ्जन्भोगान् मनोरमान्
He enjoyed delightful pleasures together with her.
बहूनहर्गणानेवं रममाणो यदृच्छया
Thus, for many days, he enjoyed with her as chance allowed.
निर्वेदं प्राप्तवान्सद्यस्तदोवाच भृशातुरः
Suddenly, he became weary and, greatly afflicted, spoke thus:
जानन्नपि तपोभ्रंशं प्राप्तो दैवबलात्कृतः
Though knowing, he had fallen from his austerity, overpowered by fate.
इति प्रवादो मूर्खाणां विचारान्महदन्तरम्
Such is the talk of fools; there is a great difference when one reflects.
पुमांस्त्रीदर्शनादेव द्रवते यद्विमोहितः
A man, merely by seeing a woman, melts away, bewildered.
इत्युक्त्वाऽसौ निवृत्तात्मा विससर्ज सुराङ्गनाम्
Having spoken thus, his mind withdrawn, he dismissed the celestial maiden.
उपसर्गो महानत्र तपसो भ्रंशकारकः
Here, a great obstacle arose, causing the loss of austerity.
तपस्तीव्रं समास्थाय शोषयिष्ये कलेवरम्
"I will undertake severe austerity and dry up this body."
गण्डकीसंगमे स्नात्वा सन्तर्प्य पितृदेवताः 146.
Having bathed at the confluence of the Gaṇḍakī, and having satisfied the ancestors and the gods,
पश्यन्भृग्वाश्रमं रम्यमुत्तरं गतवान् शनैः
He slowly proceeded northward, beholding the beautiful hermitage of Bhṛgu.
दृष्ट्वा तीरेषु विश्रांतस्तपोभूमिमचिंतयत्
Having seen it, he rested on the banks and contemplated the place of austerity.
अतप्यत तपो घोरं शिवदर्शनलालसः
He performed severe austerity, longing for a vision of Śiva.
लिंगरूपधरः साक्षादुपर्यपि तथा ह्यधः
Śiva, assuming the form of a liṅga, appeared there—above, and likewise below.
उवाच च प्रसन्नात्मा मुने पश्य च मां शिवम्
And with a gracious heart, he spoke: 'O sage, behold me—Śiva.'
पूर्वमन्तरभावेन दृष्टवानसि यन्मम
'That which you have previously seen of me in a subtle form—'
आवामेकेन भावेन पश्यंस्त्वं सिद्धिमाप्स्यसि
'Now, seeing us as one, you shall attain perfection.'