प्रपच्छ कार्तिकेयं वै मयूरवरवाहनम्। महिषासुरनारीणां नयनाञ्जनतस्करम् ।। ५४.
He questioned Kartikeya, the one with the peacock as his excellent mount, who steals the collyrium from the eyes of the women of Mahishasura.
महासेनं महात्मानं मेघस्तनितनिःस्वनम्। उमामनःप्रहर्षेण बालकं छझरूपिणम् ।। ५४.
He questioned Mahasena, the great-souled one, whose voice is like the rumble of clouds, who, as a child, delighted Uma's heart, and who has a form with six faces.
क्रौञ्चजीवितहर्त्तारं पार्वतीहृदि नन्दनम्। वसिष्ठः पृच्छते भक्त्या कार्तिकेयं महाबलम् ।। ५४.
The slayer of Krauncha, the delight of Parvati's heart—Vasistha, with devotion, questioned Kartikeya, the mighty one.
नमस्ते हरनन्दाय उमागर्भ नमो ऽस्तु ते। नमस्ते अग्निगर्भाय गङ्गागर्भ नमोऽस्तु ते ।। ५४.
Salutations to the joy of Hara, to the womb of Uma, I bow to you; salutations to the one born of Agni, to the one born of Ganga, I bow to you.
नमस्ते शरगर्भाय नमस्ते कृत्तिकासुत। नमो द्वादशनेत्राय षण्मुखाय नमोऽस्तु ते ।। ५४.
Salutations to the one born of the arrow, salutations to the son of the Krittikas; salutations to the twelve-eyed one, to the six-faced one, I bow to you.
नमस्ते शक्तिहस्ताय दिव्यघण्टापताकिने। एवं स्तुत्वा महासेनं पप्रच्छ शिखिवाहनम् ।। ५४.
Salutations to the one holding the spear, to the one with the divine bell and banner; thus praising Mahasena, he questioned the one who rides the peacock.
यदेतद्दृश्यते वर्णं शुभं शुभ्राञ्जनप्रभम्। तत्किमर्थं समुत्पन्नं कण्ठे कुन्देन्दुसंप्रभे ।। ५४.
That radiant color which is seen, shining like pure white collyrium— for what reason has it arisen on the neck, which is resplendent like jasmine and the moon?
एतदाप्ताय भक्ताय दान्ताय ब्रूहि पृच्छते। कथां मङ्गलसंयुक्तां पवित्रां पापनाशिनीम् । मत्प्रियार्थं महाभाग वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः ।। ५४.
To this worthy, devoted, and self-controlled questioner, speak the auspicious, sacred, and sin-destroying story, for my sake, O greatly fortunate one, you ought to tell it in full.
श्रुत्वा वाक्यं ततस्तस्य वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः। प्रत्युवाच महातेजाः सुरारिबलसूदनः ।। ५४.
Hearing these words of the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, the mighty and radiant destroyer of the host of gods' enemies replied.
श्रृणुष्व वदतां श्रेष्ठ कथ्यमानं वचो मम। उमोत्सङ्गनिविष्टेन मया पूर्वं यथाश्रुतम् ।। ५४.
Listen, best of speakers, to my words as I recount what I formerly heard while seated on Umā’s lap.
पार्वत्या सह संवादः शर्वस्य च महात्मनः। तदहङ्कीर्त्तयिष्यामि त्वत्प्रियार्थं महामुने ।। ५४.
The conversation between Pārvatī and the great-souled Śarva— that I shall now relate for your pleasure, O great sage.
कैलासशिखरे रम्ये नानाधातुविचित्रिते। नानाद्रुमलताकीर्णे चक्रवाकोपशोभिते ।। ५४.
On the delightful summit of Kailāsa, adorned with various minerals, thick with many kinds of trees and vines, and beautified by flocks of cakravāka birds,
षट्पदोद्गीतबहुले धारासम्पातनादिते। मत्तक्रौञ्चमयूराणां नादैरुद्घुष्टकन्दरे ।। ५४.
Abundant with the humming of bees, where streams cascade down, and the caves resound with the calls of intoxicated krauñca and peacock birds,
अप्सरोगणसङ्कीर्णे किन्नरैश्चोपशोभिते । जीवञ्जीवकजातीनां वीरुद्भिरुपशोभिते ।। ५४.
Crowded with groups of apsarases, beautified by kinnara musicians, and adorned with living plants of the jīvañjīvika species,
कोकिलारावमधुरे सिद्ध चारणसेविते। सौरभैयीनिनादाढ्ये अधस्तनितनिःस्वने ।। ५४.
Sweet with the cooing of cuckoos, attended by siddhas and cāraṇas, filled with the cries of Saurabheya birds, and the rumble of thunder below,
विनायकभयोद्विग्ने कुञ्जरैर्युक्तकन्दरे। वीणावादित्रनिर्घोषैः श्रोत्रेन्द्रियमनोरमैः ।। ५४.
Where caves are filled with elephants made anxious by the fear of Vināyaka, and the delightful sounds of vīṇā and drums charm the senses and the mind,
दोलालम्बितसम्पाते वनितासङ्घसेविते। ध्वजैर्लम्बितदोलानां घण्ठानां निनदाकुले ।। ५४.
Where swings are suspended, attended by groups of women, and the banners of the swings are hung with bells, filling the place with their ringing,
मुखमर्दलवादित्रैर्बलिनां स्फोटितैस्तथा। क्रीडारवविचाराणां निर्घोषैः पूर्णमन्दिरे ।। ५४.
With the sounds of hand-drums and other instruments struck by the strong, and the resounding cries of those engaged in play, the palace is filled with noise.
हासैः सन्त्रासजननैर्विकरालमुखैस्तथा। देहगन्धैर्विचित्रैश्च प्रक्रीडितगणेश्चरैः ।। ५४.
With laughter, faces distorted in fear and excitement, and bodies fragrant with various scents, as the attendants of Gaṇeśa sport and play,
वज्रस्फटिकसोपान चित्रपट्टिशिलातलैः। व्याध्रसिंहमुखैशचवान्यैर्गजवाजिमुखैस्तथा ।। ५४.
With stairways of diamond and crystal, floors of inlaid stone, and images of tigers, lions, elephants, and horses,
बिडालवदनैश्चोग्रैः क्रोष्टुकाकारमूर्तिभिः । ह्रस्वैर्दीर्घैः कृशैः स्थूलैर्लम्बोदर महोदरैः ।। ५४.
With fierce faces of cats, forms resembling jackals and monkeys, some short, some tall, some thin, some stout, with large bellies and great stomachs,
ह्रस्वजङ्घैश्च लम्बोष्ठैस्तालजङ्घैस्तथापरैः। गौकर्णैरेककर्णैश्च महाकर्णैरकर्णकैः ।। ५४.
With short-shanked, thick-lipped, palm-trunk-legged, cow-eared, one-eared, large-eared, and earless beings,
बहुपादैर्महापादैरेकपादैरपादकैः। बहुशीर्षैर्महाशीर्षैरेकशीर्षैरशीर्षकैः ।। ५४.
With many-footed, great-footed, one-footed, and footless ones; many-headed, great-headed, one-headed, and headless ones,
बहुनेत्रैर्महानेत्रैरेकनैत्रैरनैत्रकैः । एवंविधैर्महायोगिभूतैर्भूतपतिर्वृतः ।। ५४.
With many-eyed, great-eyed, one-eyed, and eyeless ones— surrounded by such beings, the Lord of spirits abides with the great yogis.
विशुद्धमुक्तामणिरत्नभूषिते शिलातले हेममये मनोरमे। सुखोपविष्टं मदनाङ्गनाशनं प्रोवाच वाक्यं गिरिराजपुत्री ।। ५४.
On a beautiful golden stone slab, adorned with pure pearl and jewel ornaments, the daughter of the mountain, seated comfortably, spoke these words to the destroyer of Kāma.
भगवन् भूतभव्येश गोवृषाङ्कितशासन। तव कण्ठे महादेव भ्राजतेऽम्बुदशन्निभम् ।। ५४.
O Lord, master of past and future, whose banner bears the bull, upon your neck, O great god, shines something like a rain-filled cloud.
नात्युल्बणं नातिशुब्रं नीलाञ्जनचयोपमम्। किमिदं दीप्यते देव कण्ठे कामाङ्ग नाशन ।। ५४.
It is neither too intense nor too pale, resembling a mass of dark collyrium—what is this that glows, O god, on your neck, destroyer of Kāma?
को हेतुः कारणं किञ्च कण्ठे नीलत्वमीश्वरः । एतत्सर्वं यथान्यायं ब्रूहि कौतूहलं हिमे ।। ५४.
What is the reason, what is the cause, O Lord, for the blueness on your neck? Please tell me all this properly, for I am curious, O Hima.
श्रुत्वा वाक्यं ततस्तस्याः पार्वत्याः पार्वतीप्रियः । कथां मङ्गलसंयुक्तां कथयामास शङ्करः ।। ५४.
Hearing these words from Pārvatī, beloved of Pārvatī, Śaṅkara began to tell an auspicious story.
मथ्यमानेऽमृते पूर्वं क्षीरोदे सुरदानवैः। अग्रे समुत्थितं तस्मिन् विषं कालानलप्रभम् ।। ५४.
When the nectar was being churned long ago by the gods and demons in the ocean of milk, at the beginning, there arose a poison blazing like the fire of destruction.