सत्कल्पपादपभुजस् सुशिखाशृङ्गकन्धरः । रत्नविद्योतनयनो वनावलितनूरुहः
With arms like the branches of the wish-fulfilling tree, a splendid crest and neck, eyes shining like jewels, and thighs entwined with forest vines.
काचकन्दरकेशश्रीस् स्ववनावलनांशुकः । पवनोद्धूतकिञ्जल्कजालारुणतलाम्बरः
With hair lustrous as crystal, adorned with his own forest-woven garment, and a lower garment reddened by pollen blown by the wind.
तत्रास्ते भगवान् देवो हरश् चन्द्रकलाधरः । शूलपाणिस् त्रिनयनो गणौघपरिवारितः
There abides the blessed god Hara, bearer of the crescent moon, holding a trident, three-eyed, surrounded by hosts of attendants.
भवानीहृतदेहार्धस् सर्वलोकैककारणम् । कन्दर्पदर्पदलनः कलाकरकलाधरः
He whose half-body is Bhavani, the sole cause of all worlds, destroyer of Cupid's pride, bearer of the crescent and the crescent's radiance.
षण्मुखानुगतच्छायः प्रमत्तवृषवाहनः । मत्तेभकृत्तिवसनश् श्मशानरमणालयः
Shadowed by Skanda, riding a frenzied bull, clothed in the hide of a maddened elephant, and dwelling in the cremation ground.
तं पूजयन् महादेवं तस्मिन्न् एव गिरौ पुरा । कदाचिद् अवसं गङ्गातटे ऽहं रचिताश्रमः
Worshipping that great god on that very mountain long ago, I once dwelt on the bank of the Ganga, having established an ashram.
तपोऽर्थं तापसाचारे चिराय रचितस्थितिः । यथाक्रमसदाचारः पुण्यसानुसमाश्रयः
For the sake of austerity, living long in the manner of an ascetic, observing proper conduct in due order, and residing on a sacred mountain slope.
निवासार्थं कृतस्नानः कृतनीलदलोटजः । बालवृक्षकबद्धास्थस् संरोपितलतावृतिः
For dwelling, having bathed, wearing garments of blue leaves and bark, seated at the foot of a young tree, surrounded by planted creepers.
सञ्चिताग्र्यवनप्राणिर् उपार्जितकमण्डलुः । पुष्पार्थं स्यूतपुटकस् सूम्भितस्वाक्षमालिकः
Having gathered the foremost forest creatures, having acquired a water-pot, carrying a pouch for flowers, and stringing together his own rosary of seeds,
शिष्यसङ्घातवलितः कृतशास्त्रार्थसङ्ग्रहः । आनीतपुस्तकव्यूहः परिपालितसन्मृगः
Surrounded by a group of disciples, having compiled the essence of the scriptures, bringing together a collection of books, and caring for noble animals,
एवंगुणविशिष्टस्य कैलासवनकुञ्जके । तपः प्रचरतो राम मम कालो ऽत्यवर्तत
O Rama, thus endowed with such qualities, while practicing austerities in a grove of the Kailasa forest, my time passed by.
अथैकदा कदाचित् तु बहुलस्याष्टमे दिने । गते श्रावणपक्षस्य रात्र्यर्धे क्षयम् आगते
Then, once, on the eighth day of the dark fortnight, when half the night of the month of Shravana had passed away,
दिक्षु संशान्तरूपासु काष्ठमौनस्थितास्व् इव । खड्गच्छेद्यान्धकारेषु कुञ्जेषु गहनेषु च
When the directions appeared tranquil, as if established in deep silence, and in the thickets and dense groves where darkness could be cut by a sword,
अवश्यायलसन्मुक्ताहासे सरति मारुते । आलवालोपधानेषु मृगेष्व् आश्रमशायिषु
As the wind moved, adorned with the gentle smile of dew, among the grass-beds and among the animals lying in the hermitage,
अमृतांशुकरस्यन्दम् आत्मनः परिवृद्धये । लिहत्सु शशिरश्मिभ्यः पल्लवेष्व् अमृतद्रवम्
As the nectarous rays of the moon, for the growth of themselves, were licked up from the leaves as the immortal essence by the moonbeams,
कुमुद्वतीष्व् ओषधीषु चकोरीषु लतासु च । पिबन्तीष्व् अमृतस्यन्दं करैर् आकीर्णम् ऐन्दवम्
As the nectar flow, scattered with lunar beams, was drunk by the lotuses, the herbs, the chakora birds, and the creepers,
शैलविश्रान्तनीलाभ्रपल्लवस्य विसारिणः । कृत्तिकागुच्छके व्योमतापिञ्छस्य त्रिभागगे
Like the spreading tuft of blue clouds resting upon a mountain, or a cluster of Krittika stars, or a plume of the sky divided into three parts—
तारौघप्रतिबिम्बेन गिरौ स्फटिकभूमिषु । विकासिपुष्पप्रकरे द्विगुणत्वम् उपागते
By the reflection of the multitude of stars on the crystal slopes of the mountain, the blossoming array of flowers appears doubled in its radiance.
मयि पल्लवपल्यङ्कगते मुक्तेहया धिया । चिन्तयत्य् अमलाभासम् आत्मतत्त्वम् अविप्लुतम्
As I recline upon a couch of tender leaves, with a mind freed from desire, I contemplate the pure, undisturbed essence of the Self.
द्वितीयमद्देहवति व्योम्नि सप्तर्षिमण्डले । मदर्थम् इव ताम् एव दिशम् आपततीव च
In the sky, within the constellation of the Seven Sages, there seems to be a second body, as if hastening toward that very direction for my sake.
तारकात्रितये व्योम्नो गृहमूर्धनि मध्यगे । मृगत्रये किरातात्ते सदा भ्रमम् इवागते
Among the three stars in the middle of the sky, above the mountain’s summit, the three stars of Orion appear to wander perpetually, as if hunted by a forester.
उत्फुल्लकुमुदामोदद्विगुणोद्दाममन्मथे । चक्रवाकगणे शैलसरसीष्व् अन्यतां गते
When the fragrance of blooming lotuses, intensified by the night, stirs the passion of wild geese, their flocks move to other mountain lakes.
शिलाशिखोपविष्टासु शैलोत्कीर्णास्व् इवाभितः । पिबन्तीषु चकोरीषु शीतं शशिकरामृतम्
Seated upon rocky peaks, as if carved from the mountain itself, the chakorī birds all around drink the cool nectar of the moon’s rays.
वहति मधुरमारुते वने ऽन्तश् शशिकरशीकरवर्षणैकशीते । दलचयचलनोत्थशब्दगीते कुमुदवधूप्रथमाभिसारिणीव
In the forest, where the gentle wind carries the sweet sound of rustling leaves, and the moon showers its cool dewdrops, the lotus maidens set out for their first secret tryst, as if drawn by the music of the night.
एतस्मिन् समये तत्र यामार्धे प्रथमे गते । समाधिं तनुतां नीत्वा स्थितो ऽहं बाह्यलग्नदृक्
At that time, when the first half of the night had passed, I remained there, having brought my mind into samadhi, my gaze fixed outward.
अपश्यं कानने तेजो झगित्य् एव समुत्थितम् । मन्दराहननोद्धूतक्षुब्धक्षीरोदभासुरम्
I saw in the forest a radiance suddenly arise, shining like the churning of the ocean of milk by the Mandara mountain.
शुभ्राभ्रशतसङ्काशं नृत्यदिन्दुगणोपमम् । चण्डानिलबलोद्धूतं हिमराशिम् इवाचलम्
It resembled a hundred masses of bright clouds, like a host of dancing moons, tossed up by a fierce wind, like a mountain of snow.
युगान्ततापगलितं सुस्फाटिकम् इवाचलम् । नावनीतम् इवाम्भोदं केतकौघम् इवोत्थितम्
It was like a mountain of pure crystal, melted by the heat of the end of an age; like a cloud of clarified butter, or a cluster of ketaka flowers suddenly arisen.
शङ्खशौक्ल्यम् इवोड्डीनं शुभ्राभ्रम् इव सम्भृतम् । क्षीरफेनम् इवोत्फालं मुक्तासारम् इवोद्धतम्
It was as white as an upraised conch, gathered like a bright cloud, foaming like churned milk, and shining like a string of pearls tossed up.
गङ्गातरङ्गभरवत् प्रविष्टं कन्दरान्तरम् । पिण्डहार्यं सुदधिवच् छार्वं हासम् इवाततम्
It entered the cave like the waves of the Ganges, solid as a lump of curd, beautiful as the ocean, and spread out like a smile.