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.
प्रकटीकृतदिक् तेजस् तद् आलोक्य मया स्मयात् । अन्तःप्रकाशशालिन्या बुद्धिदृष्ट्यावलोकितम्
Seeing that manifest radiance filling the directions, I observed it with the inner vision of my illumined intellect, smiling within.
यावत् पश्यामि तं सानुं लीलयैव यदृच्छया । विहरन् स्वगिरौ हृद्ये तावच् चन्द्रकलाधरः
As long as I watched that peak, wandering there at will, I saw the moon-crested one delighting on his own beloved mountain.
पाश्चात्यगुल्मान्तरितगणजालोपमालितः । गौरीकरार्पितकरो नन्दिप्रोत्सारिताग्रगः
He was adorned like a cluster of people hidden among western bushes, his hand placed in Gauri's, with Nandi urging him forward.
पश्चात्परिक्रान्तवृषस् सर्वरात्रिचरावृतः । कल्हारदामवलितो मन्दारकृतशेखरः
Behind him circled the bull, surrounded by all the night-roaming beings, garlanded with kalhara flowers, and crowned with a mandara blossom.
जटामौलीन्दुकलिको भोगीन्द्रकृतकुण्डलः । चलत्तुषारशैलाभस् सर्वसङ्कल्पितार्थदः
His matted hair was adorned with the crescent moon, his earrings formed by the king of serpents, his form like a moving snowy mountain, granting all that is imagined.
मनोदृष्टस् स भगवान् मनसैव ततो मया । दत्तमन्दारपुष्पेण प्रणतेनाभिवन्दितः
That Lord, seen by the mind, was then worshipped by me in thought, with a mandara flower offered and with my head bowed.
इति कृत्वा मया देहः पर्यङ्कशयनाद् अयम् । क्षणाद् उत्थापितस् तस्माद् भूतेनेव महाशवः
Having done this, my body was at once raised from the couch where it lay, as if by some spirit, like a great corpse.
शिष्यान् उद्बोध्य तत्रस्थान् गृहीत्वार्घं सुसंयतः । अगमं लोकनाथस्य दृष्टिपूतम् अहं पुरः
Awakening the disciples present there, and having taken the arghya with full composure, I went before the Lord of the world, purified by his gaze.
तत्र पुष्पाञ्जलिं दत्त्वा दूराद् एव त्रिलोचनः । दत्तार्घेण मया देवस् स प्रणम्याभिवन्दितः
There, from a distance, I offered a handful of flowers; to the three-eyed God, I presented the arghya and bowed in reverence.
ततश् चन्द्रप्रभामृद्व्या ऋज्व्या शीतलया तया । दृशा सर्वार्तिहारिण्या सरण्या शाश्वते पदे
Then, with her gentle, straight, and cool gaze, radiant as moonlight, which removes all suffering, she led me to the eternal abode.
अहम् आलोक्य देवेन चन्द्रार्धकृतमौलिना । पुष्पसानूपविष्टेन प्रोक्तस् स्मितसिताक्षरम्
I beheld the god, whose crown was adorned with the crescent moon, seated upon a flowery mound, who spoke with a gentle, smiling voice.
आनयार्घ्यं तथा पाद्यं ब्रह्मन् स्वागतम् अस्तु ते । आश्रमातिथयः प्राप्ता वयम् अद्य तवानघ
Bring the arghya and the water for the feet; O Brahman, may you be welcome. Today, O sinless one, we have arrived as guests at your hermitage.
घनाभिरामशालिन्या सततं शमशान्तया । मुदितोदारया ब्रह्मंस् तपोलक्ष्म्या विराजसे
O Brahman, you shine with the wealth of austerity, ever graced by tranquil serenity, abundant joy, and noble grandeur.
आगच्छोपविशास्मिंस् त्वम् अकृत्रिमदलासने । मृदौ सानुसमुद्भूते पुण्यसञ्चयपावने
Come, sit here upon this seat, unfeigned and free from pride, soft and raised upon the mound, purified by the accumulation of merit.
इति प्रोक्तवते तस्मै निशेशार्धार्धधारिणे । अर्घं पुष्पं तथा पाद्यं समुपेत्यार्पितं मया
Thus, having spoken to him who bears the crescent moon, I approached and offered arghya, flowers, and water for the feet.
पादयोर् हस्तयोश् चैव तन्वां चास्य स्वयम्भुवः । मन्दारपुष्पावलयो विकीर्णा बहवः पुरः
Upon the feet, hands, and body of the self-born one, many garlands of mandara flowers were scattered before him.
ततो भगवती गौरी तादृश्यैव सपर्यया । सम्पूजिता सखीयुक्ता गणमण्डलिका तथा
Then the blessed Gauri, accompanied by her companions and the circle of attendants, was worshipped in the same manner.
गृहीतवन्तौ तौ तां मे सपर्याम् आदरात् प्रभू । भक्तिप्रणयिनो राम पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ
Those two, Parvati and the supreme Lord, graciously accepted my worship with devotion and affection, O Rama.
पूजान्ते पूर्णशीतांशुरश्मिशीतलया गिरा । तत्रोपविष्टं प्रोवाच माम् अथेन्दुकलाधरः
At the end of the worship, with words cool as the full moon's rays, he who bears the crescent moon upon his brow, seated there, spoke to me.
ब्रह्मन् प्रशमशालिन्यः प्राप्तविश्रान्तयः परे । कच्चित् कल्याणकारिण्यस् संविदस् ते स्थिताः पदे
O Brahmin, are those peaceful and tranquil states, which bring supreme rest, established in you, the doer of auspicious deeds?