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Having spoken thus, his mind withdrawn, he dismissed the celestial maiden.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.'
समंगमिति विख्यातमेतत्स्थानं भविष्यति
'This place will become renowned as Samaṅgama.'
तस्य योगफलं सम्यग्भविष्यति न संशयः
'The fruit of his yoga here will be complete—of this there is no doubt.'
देवदत्तोऽपि स मुनिः सम्प्राप्य ज्ञानमुत्तमम् 146.
That sage, Devadatta, also attained supreme knowledge.
प्रम्लोचापि मुनेर्गर्भं सम्प्राप्याश्रममन्तिकात्
And Pramlocā, having conceived the sage's child, departed from the vicinity of the hermitage.
पुनर्जातमिवात्मानं मन्यमाना शुचिस्मिता
Śucismitā, thinking herself as if reborn, smiled with purity.
ततः सुनिश्चयं कृत्वा तपसे धृतमानसा
Then, having firmly resolved, she set her mind to austerity.
मासे सा प्रथमे बाला फलाहारपरायणा
In the first month, the girl subsisted solely on fruits.
तृतीये पंचम दिने चतुर्थे सप्तमांतरे
On the fifth day of the third month, and in the interval of the seventh in the fourth month—
मासेन सप्तमे चैव शीर्णपर्णाशनाष्टमे
In the seventh month, and in the eighth, she ate only fallen leaves.
सैवं वर्षशतं स्थित्वा हरावेकाग्रमानसा
Thus, for a hundred years, she remained, her mind fixed solely on Hara.