भर्तुस् सिंहासनस्यास्य पार्श्वे तिष्ठाम्य् अहं यदि । पश्यन्ती सभ्यसङ्घातं तत् प्रजीवामि नान्यथा
If I stand beside my husband's throne, seeing the assembly of courtiers, then I will survive; otherwise, I will not.
स राजपरिवारो ऽथ तयेत्य् उक्तो यथाक्रमम् । आसीद् अनिद्रस् सुव्यग्रस् सर्वस् सर्वस्वकर्मसु
Then, as she said this, the royal attendants, each according to their role, became sleepless, highly alert, and engaged in all their duties.
पौरान् सभ्यान् समानेतुं ययुर् याष्टीकपङ्क्तयः । व्यवहारं कलयितुम् उर्वीम् अर्ककरा इव
The lines of gatekeepers went forth to summon the citizens and courtiers, to arrange the proceedings, like rays of the sun spreading over the earth.
आस्थानभूमिं भृत्याश् च मार्जयाम् आसुर् आदृताः । प्रावृट्पयोदमलिनं खं शरद्वासरा इव
The devoted servants began to clean the audience hall, like autumn days clearing the sky stained by the clouds of the rainy season.
अङ्गनं प्रति दीपौघास् तस्थुः पीततमोऽम्भसः । आश्चार्यदर्शनायेव प्राप्ता नक्षत्रपङ्क्तयः
Rows of lamps, shining with water cleared of darkness, stood around the hall, as if the lines of stars had come down for a wondrous display.
जनताः पूरयाम् आसुः पूरैर् अजिरभूमिकाः । अब्धीन् प्रलयसंशुष्कान् पुरासर्गे इवाम्भसा
Crowds of people filled the courtyards with their throngs, just as water fills the ocean beds that had dried up in the cosmic dissolution, now at the dawn of creation.
आजग्मुर् मन्त्रिसामन्तास् स्वं स्वं स्थानम् अनिन्दिताः । त्रैलोक्ये पुनर् उत्पन्ने लोकपाला यथा दिशः
The ministers and nobles, blameless, returned each to their own place, like the guardians of the worlds resuming their quarters when the three worlds are restored.
ववुर् आकीर्णकर्पूरसान्द्रा मलयशीतलाः । उत्फुल्लकुसुमोद्वान्तमांसलामोदिनो ऽनिलाः
Cool breezes from Malaya, thick with the scent of scattered camphor, blew, carrying the fragrance of blossoming flowers, their air heavy with sweetness.
पर्यन्तेषु प्रतीहारास् तस्थुर् धवलवाससः । वृष्टमूकार्कतापान्तमेघमाला इवाद्रिषु
At the entrances stood the doorkeepers, clad in white garments, like rows of clouds at the mountain peaks, ending the heat of the sun and the roar of rain.
प्रभापीततमःपुञ्जाः पेतुः पुष्पोत्करा भुवि । मेघमारुतविध्वस्तास् तारकानिकरा इव
Clusters of flowers, their darkness dispelled by the radiance, fell to the ground, like groups of stars scattered by the wind and clouds.
आस्थानं पूरयाम् आसुर् महीपालानुयायिनः । उत्फुल्लकमलाकीर्णं हंसा इव सरोवरम्
The followers of the kings filled the audience hall, like swans filling a lake covered with blooming lotuses.
सिंहासनसमीपस्थे हैमवेत्रासने शुभे । उपाविशद् असौ लीला लीलेव स्मरचेतसि
She, Lila, sat near the splendid golden staff by the throne, just as playfulness itself would sit in the mind of love.
ददर्श तान् नृपान् भृत्यान् सर्वान् एव यथास्थितान् । गुरून् आर्यान् सखीन् भृत्यान् सुहृत्सम्बन्धिबान्धवान्
She saw all the kings and attendants just as they were, as well as elders, noble ones, friends, servants, well-wishers, relatives, and kin.
सकलम् एव हि पूर्ववद् एव सा समवलोक्य मुदं परमां ययौ । नृपतिराष्ट्रजनः खलु जीवतीत्य् उदितया च बभौ शशिवच् छ्रिया
Beholding everything exactly as before, she was filled with supreme joy; and, as it was said that the king and the people of the kingdom were indeed alive, she shone with beauty like the moon.
इत्थं विनोदयामीदं दुःखितं चित्तम् इत्य् अलम् । बोधयित्वेङ्गितैर् भूपान् आस्थानाद् उत्थिताथ सा
Thus, thinking, 'Let me cheer this sorrowful mind,' and having instructed the kings with gestures, she then rose from the assembly.
प्रविश्यान्तःपुरं भर्तुः पार्श्वे ऽन्तःपुरमण्डपे । विवेश पुष्पगुप्तस्य चिन्तयाम् आस चेति सा
Entering the inner palace, she went to her husband's side in the inner pavilion, and there she entered the chamber of Puṣpagupta and began to reflect.
अहो विचित्रा मायेयम् एते ऽस्मत्पुरमानवाः । बहिर् अन्तश् चिदादर्शे तत्र चेह च संस्थिताः
Ah, how wondrous is this illusion! These people of our city appear both outside and within the mirror of consciousness, existing there and here alike.
तालीतमालहिन्तालमालिता गिरयो ऽप्य् अमी । यथा तत्र तथेहापि बत मायेयम् आतता
These mountains—palmyra, tamāla, and hintāla—are adorned here just as they are there; truly, this illusion is spread out in both places.
आदर्शे बहिर् अन्तश् च यथा शैलो ऽनुभूयते । बहिर् अन्तश् चिदादर्शे तथा सर्गो ऽनुभूयते
Just as a mountain is experienced both outside and within a mirror, so too is creation experienced both outside and within the mirror of consciousness.
अत्र भ्रान्तिमयस् सर्गः कस् स्यात् कः पारमार्थिकः । इति पृच्छामि वागीशीम् अभ्यर्च्योत्तमसंशयम्
Here, which creation is illusory and which is real? Thus I ask the goddess of speech, having worshipped her, about this supreme doubt.
इति निश्चित्य तां देवीं पूजयाम् आस सा तदा । ददर्श च पुरः प्राप्तां कुमारीरूपधारिणीम्
Having thus resolved, she worshipped that goddess at that time, and saw her appear before her in the form of a maiden.
भद्रासनगतां देवीम् उपविश्य पुरोगता । परमार्थमहाशक्तिं लीलापृच्छद् भुवि स्थिता
Seated in the auspicious posture before the goddess, Lila, established on earth, questioned the supreme power of ultimate reality.
अनुकम्प्यस्य नो देवि भजन्त्य् उद्वेगम् उत्तमाः । त्वयैव किल सर्गादौ स्थापितेति पुरास्थितिः
O goddess, the noble do not become agitated for the sake of one who is to be shown compassion; it is said that in the beginning of creation, you alone established this ancient order.
तद् इयं यत् पुरा प्रह्वा पृच्छामि परमेश्वरि । त्वं ब्रूहि त्वत्कृतो नूनं सफलो मे ऽस्त्य् अनुग्रहः
Therefore, O supreme goddess, I humbly ask you about this matter from before; please tell me—surely, by your grace, my request will bear fruit.
अस्त्य् आदर्शो जगन्नाम्नः खाद् अप्य् अधिकनिर्मलः । यस्य योजनकोटीनां कोटयो ऽवयवो मनाक्
There exists a mirror of the world’s name, even purer than the sky, whose parts are countless crores of yojanas in extent.
निस्सन्धिबन्धो ऽभिघनो मृदुर् मसृणशीतलः । अचेत्यचिद् इति ख्यातो नाम्ना निर्भित्तिर् अग्रहः
It is seamless, solid, soft, smooth, and cool; known by the name 'insentient-conscious', it is unbroken and without grasping.
दिक्कालकलनाकाशप्रकाशनियतिक्रमाः । यत्रेमे प्रतिबिम्बन्ति परां परिमितिं गताः
In it are reflected all those who have transcended the limits of direction, time, calculation, space, illumination, and destiny.
त्रिजगत्प्रतिबिम्बश्रीर् बहिर् अन्तश् च संस्थिता । तत्राम्ब कृत्रिमा का स्यात् कासौ वा स्याद् अकृत्रिमा
O mother, the glory of the reflection of the three worlds exists both outside and within there; what could be artificial in that, and what could be natural?
अकृत्रिमत्वं सर्गस्य कीदृशं वद सुन्दरि । कीदृशं कृत्रिमत्वं स्याद् यथावत् कथयेति मे
O beautiful one, tell me truly: what is the nature of the uncontrived creation, and what is the nature of the contrived? Explain this to me as it truly is.
यथाहम् इह तिष्ठामि त्वं च देवि स्थिताम्बिके । असाव् अकृत्रिमस् सर्ग इति देवेशि वेद्म्य् अहम्
Just as I stand here, and you, O goddess Ambika, are present, so too is that uncontrived creation, O queen of the gods—this I know.