प्रत्येकम् अण्डगोलस्य स्थितः कड्ढकरत्नवत् । भूताकृष्टिकरो भागः पार्थिवस् स स्वभावतः
In each cosmic egg, there is a portion of earth, by its very nature, that acts like a magnet, drawing the elements together, just as a jewel attracts iron.
यस् सर्गविभवो ऽस्माकं धियाम् अविषयस् ततः । तज्जगत्कथने शक्तिर् न ममास्ति महामते
That origin of creation is beyond the reach of our minds; therefore, O wise one, I do not have the power to describe that world.
भीमान्धकारगहने सुमहत्य् अरण्ये नृत्यन्त्य् अदर्शितपरस्परम् एव मत्ताः । यक्षा यथा प्रवितते परमाम्बरे ऽन्तर् एवं स्फुरन्ति सुबहूनि महाजगन्ति
Just as intoxicated yakshas dance unseen by each other in the vast, dense darkness of a great forest, so too, within the supreme sky, countless great worlds arise and shimmer.
एवम् आकलयन्त्यौ ते निर्गत्य जगतो निजम् । अन्तःपुरं ददृशतुर् झगितीव विनिद्रिते
Thus reflecting, the two of them left the world and saw their own palace, as if it were a city lying silent in deep sleep.
स्थितपुष्पभरापूर्णमहाराजमहाशवम् । शवपार्श्वोपविष्टान्तश्चित्तलीलाशरीरकम्
They saw the great royal corpse, heavy with garlands of flowers, and beside the corpse, the subtle body of the mind's play seated nearby.
घनरात्रितयाल्पाल्पमहानिद्रजनाकुलम् । धूपचन्दनकर्पूरकुङ्कुमामोदमन्थरम्
The place was filled with people overcome by the deep sleep of three dark nights, and the air was thick with the fragrance of incense, sandalwood, camphor, and saffron.
तम् आलोक्य पुनर् भर्तुस् संसारं गन्तुम् आदृता । पपात लीला सङ्कल्पदेहेनात्रैव तन्नभः
Seeing him, then, eager to enter her husband's world-cycle again, Lila fell here itself, with her body formed of mere thought, into that very sky.
विवेश भर्तृसङ्कल्पसंसारं कञ्चिद् आततम् । संसारावरणं भित्त्वा भित्त्वा ब्रह्माण्डकर्परम्
She entered a certain expanse, the world-cycle created by her husband's thought, breaking through the covering of the world, and the shell of the cosmic egg.
प्राप सार्धं तया देव्या पुनर् आवरणान्वितम् । ब्रह्माण्डमण्डपं स्फारं तं प्रविश्य तथा जवात्
Together with that goddess, she reached once more the vast pavilion of the cosmic egg, now covered again, and swiftly entered it in the same way.
ददर्श भर्तृसङ्कल्पजगज् जम्बालपल्वलम् । सा हंसी शैलकमलं तमोजलदपङ्किलम्
She beheld the world, born of her husband's thought, as a muddy marsh of existence—a swan seeing a mountain-lotus sullied by the dark waters of ignorance.
देव्यौ विविशतुस् तत् ते व्योम व्योमात्मके जगत् । ब्रह्माण्डे ऽन्तर् यथा पक्वमृदुबिल्वं पिपीलिके
The two goddesses entered that sky, and the world made of sky, within the cosmic egg, just as an ant enters a ripe wood-apple through a hole.
तत्र लोकान्तराण्य् अद्रीन् अन्तरिक्षम् अतीत्य ते । प्रापतुर् भूतलं शैलमण्डलाम्भोधिसङ्कुलम्
There, passing through other worlds, mountains, and the mid-space, they reached the earth, crowded with mountain ranges and oceans.
मेरुणालङ्कृतं जम्बुद्वीपं नवदलोदरम् । तत्राथ भारते वर्षे लीलानाथस्य मण्डलम्
They saw Jambudvipa, adorned by Mount Meru, with its nine-petaled interior; there, in the land of Bharata, was the realm of Lila's husband.
एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे तस्मिन् मण्डले मण्डितावनौ । चक्रे ऽवस्कन्दनं कश्चित् सीमान्तोद्रिक्तभूमिपः
Meanwhile, in that realm, on that adorned earth, a certain king, whose domain extended to the borders, performed an act of conquest.
तेन सङ्ग्रामसंरम्भप्रेक्षार्थं समुपागतैः । त्रैलोक्यभूतैस् तद् व्योम बभूवात्यन्तसङ्कटम्
Because all the beings of the three worlds had gathered there to witness the excitement of the battle, the sky became extremely crowded.
अशङ्कितागते ते तु देव्यौ ददृशतुर् नभः । नभश्चरगणाक्रान्तम् अम्बुदैर् इव मालितम्
The two queens, arriving without fear, saw the sky filled with hosts of celestial beings, adorned as if by clouds.
सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वगणविद्याधरान्वितम् । शूरग्रहणसंरब्धस्वर्गलोकाप्सरोवृतम्
It was populated by Siddhas, Charanas, Gandharvas, and Vidyadharas, surrounded by heavenly nymphs eager to capture the heroes.
रक्तमांसमुखोन्नृत्यद्भूतरक्षःपिशाचकम् । वृष्टिपुष्पभरापूर्णहस्तविद्याधराङ्गनम्
There were spirits, demons, and ghouls dancing with blood and flesh in their mouths, and Vidyadhara women whose hands overflowed with showers of flowers.
वेतालयक्षकुम्भाण्डैर् द्वन्द्वालोकनसादरैः । आयुधापातरक्षार्थगृहीताद्रितटैर् वृतम्
It was encircled by Vetalas, Yakshas, and Kumbhandas, respectfully observing the duels, and by mountain peaks seized for defense against falling weapons.
अस्त्रमार्गनभोभागविद्रवद्भूतमण्डलम् । स्वर्गार्हशूरानयनव्यग्रेन्द्रभटभासुरम्
The region of the sky was filled with flying weapons and fleeing hosts of spirits, illuminated by the eager warriors and the radiant soldiers of Indra.
शूरार्थालङ्कृतोत्तुङ्गलोकपालाग्र्यवारणम् । आगच्छच्छूरसङ्घातगन्धर्वोन्मुखचारणम्
The foremost elephants of the guardians of the worlds, adorned for the sake of the heroes, approached, while groups of heroes gathered and Gandharvas and Charanas looked on expectantly.
शूरोत्सुकामरस्त्रैणकटाक्षेक्षितसद्भटम् । आहोपुरुषिकाक्षुब्धप्रेक्षकामोटनोद्भटम्
The noble warriors were watched by eager glances of passionate women, and the crowd of spectators was agitated by the excitement of the heroic contest.
आसन्नभीमसङ्ग्रामकिंवदन्तीपरम्परम् । लीलाहासविलासोत्कसुन्दरीधूतचामरम्
With the tumult of fierce battles close at hand, and the talk of warriors passing from one to another, where beautiful women, skilled in playful laughter and graceful gestures, wave yak-tail fans.
धर्म्यपक्षप्रयुक्ताग्र्यमुनिस्वस्त्ययनस्तवम् । सम्पन्नानेकलोकेशवनितानवसंस्तवम्
Where the highest sages chant auspicious hymns for the righteous side, and the wives of many lords of the worlds sing fresh songs of praise.
वीरदोर्मण्डलाश्लेषलम्पटस्त्रीगणाकरम् । शुक्लेन शूरयशसा चन्द्रीकृतदिवाकरम्
Where hosts of women, eager for the embrace of heroic arms, gather, and the glory of the brave, pure as white, makes the sun itself appear like the moon.
भगवञ् शूरशब्देन कीदृशः प्रोच्यते भटः । स्वर्गे ऽलङ्करणं कस् स्यात् को वा डिम्बाहतो भवेत्
O venerable one, what kind of warrior is called 'heroic' by that name? Who in heaven is adorned, and who is said to be slain by the ḍimbāha?
शास्त्रोक्ताचारयुक्तस्य प्रभोर् अर्थेन यो रणे । मृतो ऽथवा जयी वा स्यात् स शूरश् शूरलोकभाक्
He who, following the conduct prescribed by scripture and for the sake of his lord, dies or is victorious in battle—he is called a hero and attains the world of heroes.
अन्यथा तु निकृत्ताङ्गो रणे यो मृतिम् आप्नुयात् । डिम्बाहवहतः प्रोक्तस् स नरो नरकास्पदम्
But otherwise, if a man is slain in battle with his limbs severed, he is said to be killed by the ḍimbāha and becomes fit for hell.
अयथाशास्त्रसञ्चारवृत्तेनार्थेन युध्यते । यो नरस् तस्य सङ्ग्रामे मृतस्य निरयो ऽक्षयः
If a man fights for wealth with conduct contrary to the scriptures, for him, death in battle brings unending hell.
यथासम्भवशास्त्रार्थलोकाचारानुवृत्तिमान् । युध्यते तादृशस्यैव भक्त्या शूरस् स उच्यते
He who acts according to the possible meanings of scripture and the customs of the world, and fights in that manner—such a one, through devotion, is truly called a hero.