तत उत्थाय ते देवाः सर्व एव शिलोच्चयात्
Then all those gods rose up from the great mass of rocks.
स्वर्लोकं ब्रह्मलोकं च नागलोकं च सर्वशः
They searched all the realms: heaven, Brahmā's world, and the world of the nāgas.
खिन्नाः क्लिष्टाश्च सुभृशं न पुनस्तत्पदं विदुः
Exhausted and greatly distressed, they could not find that place again.
सशैलकाननोपेतां मार्गयद्भिर्हि तं सुरम्
Seeking that god, they searched through mountains and forests.
विततेषु निकुञ्जेषु विहारेषु च सर्वतः
In the widespread groves and in all the pleasure gardens,
न प्रवृत्तिः क्वचिदपि शम्भोरासाद्यते सुरैः
Nowhere did the gods find any trace of Śambhu.
न पश्यन्ति शिवं तत्र तदेषां भयमाविशत्
They did not see Śiva there, and fear entered their hearts.
सम्भूयान्योऽन्यममरा मामेव शरणं ययुः
The immortals, gathering together, each sought refuge in me.
उपायमात्रं दृष्टं मे ध्यायंस्तद्वेषभूषणैः 215.
I have seen only one means: to meditate, adorned with the ornaments of enmity.
सर्वं त्रैलोक्यमस्माभिर्विचितं वै निरन्तरम्। श्लेश्मातकवनोद्देशं स्थानं मुक्त्वा महीतले
We have thoroughly searched all the three worlds, except for the region of the śleṣmātaka forest on earth.
आगच्छध्वं गमिष्यामस्तमुद्देशं सुरोत्तमाः
Come, let us go to that place, O best of gods.
तत्क्षणादेव सम्प्राप्ता विमानैः शीघ्रयायिभिः
At that very moment, they arrived in swift-flying aerial chariots.
तस्मिन्सुरमणीयानि विविधानि शुचीनि च
There, they saw many delightful and pure places for the gods.
आश्रमारण्यभागेषु दरीणां विवरेषु च
In the forest regions of the hermitages and in the caves of the mountains.
प्रमुखे वासवं कृत्वा विविशुस्ते सुरास्तदा
Placing Indra at their forefront, the gods then entered.
कन्दरोदरकूटेषु तरूणां गहनेषु च
Into the hollows of the mountains and the thickets of the trees they went.
प्रविशन्तश्च ते देवा वनोद्देशं क्वचिच्छुभे
And as they entered some forest region, the gods appeared radiant.
गिरिनद्यास्तु पुलिने हंसकुन्देंदुसन्निभे 215.
On the sandy banks of the mountain river, shining like swans, jasmine, and the moon.
मुक्ताचूर्णनिकाशाभिर्वालुकाभिस्ततस्तत
With sand here and there, gleaming like powdered pearls.
तत्र ते विबुधा दृष्ट्वा सर्वे मां समचोदयन्
There, having seen me, all the wise gods urged me on.
मुहूर्त्तं ध्यानमास्थाय विज्ञाता सा मया तदा
Having entered meditation for a moment, I then perceived her.
ततस्तदुच्चशिखरमारुह्य विबुधेश्वराः
Then, ascending that lofty peak, the lords of the gods—
मध्ये मृगसमूहस्य गोप्तारमिव संस्थितम्
In the midst of the herd of deer, saw him standing like their protector.
चारुवक्त्राक्षिदशनं पृष्ठतः शुक्लबिन्दुभिः
With a lovely face, eyes, and teeth, and on his back, white spots.
बिम्बोष्ठं ताम्रजिह्वास्यं दंष्ट्रांकुरविराजितम्
With lips like a bimba fruit, a coppery tongue and mouth, adorned with tusk-like sprouts.
तं दृष्ट्वा विबुधाः सर्वे शिखरात्प्रतिधाविताः
Seeing him, all the gods fled from the peak.
शृङ्गाग्रं प्रथमं धृत्वा गृहीत्वा वज्रपाणिना
Seizing first the tip of the horn, grasped by the wielder of the thunderbolt—
जग्राह केशवश्चापि मूलं तस्य महात्मनः 215.
And Keśava too took hold of the base of that great-souled one.
शक्रस्याग्रं स्थितं हस्ते मध्यं हस्ते मम स्थितम्
The tip was held in Śakra’s hand, the middle in mine.
शृङ्गस्यैव गृहीतस्य त्रिधास्माकं मृगाधिपः
Of the horn thus seized, our lord of the deer was divided in three by us.