प्रशशाम सभास्थाने जनकोलाहलश् शनैः । प्रशान्तप्रावृषो व्योम्नस् साम्भोदम् इव गर्जितम्
Gradually, the commotion of people in the assembly subsided, like the thunder of clouds in the sky quiets after the rains have ceased.
सन्देहसागरोन्मग्ना जग्मुश् चिन्तां सुमन्त्रिणः । विषीदति गदापाणाव् असुराजाव् इवामराः
The wise ministers, plunged into the ocean of doubt, fell into anxious thought, like the gods when the demon king with the mace is despondent.
विततविस्मयजिह्मतया तया जनतया भवमोहनिषण्णया । स्तिमितचक्षुषि भूमिपतौ स्थिते मुकुलिताब्जवनस्य धृता द्युतिः
With the people bent by wonder and twisted by the delusion of worldly existence, while the king sat with unmoving gaze, the radiance of the lotus grove seemed subdued.
मुहूर्तद्वितयेनाथ बोधम् आप महीपतिः । प्रावृषेण्याम्बुनिर्मुक्तम् अम्भोरुहम् इवोत्तमम्
After two moments, the king regained consciousness, like a splendid lotus freed from the waters of the rainy season.
आसनात् साङ्गदोत्तंसः प्रबुद्धो ऽसाव् अकम्पत । सवनाभोगशृङ्गाग्रो भूकम्प इव पर्वतः
Awakening, adorned with armlets and crest-jewel, he trembled as he rose from his seat, like a mountain peak with forested slopes quivering in an earthquake.
बभाव् अर्धप्रबुद्धो ऽसाव् आसने परिकम्पितः । विक्षुब्ध इव पातालावरणे मन्दराचलः
Half-awake, he sat on his seat, trembling, like Mount Mandara shaken when the underworld is disturbed.
पतन्तं धारयाम् आसुस् तं पुरोगा नृपं भुजैः । मेरुं प्रलयविक्षुब्धं कुलशैलास् तटैर् इव
His attendants supported the falling king with their arms, as the ridges of neighboring mountains support Mount Meru shaken by the tumult of dissolution.
पुरोगैर् धार्यमाणो ऽसौ पर्याकुलमतिर् नृपः । वीचिविक्षोभितस्येन्दोर् बभार वदने श्रियम्
Supported by his attendants, that king, his mind greatly disturbed, bore on his face a luster like the moon agitated by waves.
को ऽयं प्रदेशः कस्येयं सभेति स नृपश् शनैः । दध्वान मज्जदम्भोजकोशस्थ इव षट्पदः
‘What is this place? Whose assembly is this?’—the king slowly wondered, like a bee lingering in the calyx of a lotus, uncertain where to settle.
अथोवाच सभा देव किम् एतद् इति सादरम् । रणन्मधुकरी भानुं दृष्टराहुम् इवाब्जिनी
Then the assembly respectfully asked the king, ‘O lord, what is this?’—like a humming bee questioning the sun, or a lotus gazing at the sun after the eclipse has passed.
अथैनं परिपप्रच्छुः पुरोगा मन्त्रिणस् तथा । प्रलयोल्लाससन्त्रस्तं मार्काण्डेयम् इवामराः
Then his chief ministers questioned him as well, just as the gods questioned Markandeya, who was terrified by the tumult of dissolution.
त्वयीत्थं संस्थिते देव वयम् अत्यन्तम् आकुलाः । अभेद्यम् अपि भिन्दन्ति निर्निमित्तभ्रमा मनः
O lord, seeing you in such a state, we are utterly distressed; even minds that are steadfast are unsettled by causeless confusion.
आपातरमणीयेषु पर्यन्तविरसेषु च । भोगेष्व् इव विकल्पेषु केषु ते लुठितं मनः
Among pleasures that are delightful at first but tasteless at the end, and in the midst of conflicting enjoyments, where has your mind been tossed?
सततोदारवृत्तासु कथासु परिशीलितम् । मनस् ते निर्मलं कस्मात् सम्भ्रमेषु निमज्जति
Your mind, refined by always engaging in noble stories, is pure—so why does it now sink into confusion?
तुच्छालम्बनम् आलूनविशीर्णं लोकवृत्तिषु । मनो मोहम् उपादत्ते न महत्त्वविजृम्भितम्
The mind, relying on trivial and broken supports in worldly affairs, falls into delusion; it does not expand in greatness.
सातत्येन हि यैवास्य मनसो वृत्तिर् उत्थिता । शरीरमदमत्तासु ताम् एवानुविधावति
For whatever tendency of mind arises in him continuously, the body, intoxicated with pride, follows that very tendency.
अतुच्छालम्बनं शुद्धं प्रबुद्धं गुणहारि च । तवापि हि मनश् चित्रम् आलूनम् इव लक्ष्यते
Your mind, too, appears remarkable—unblemished, pure, awakened, and captivating in its qualities, resting on nothing trivial.
अनभ्यस्तविवेकं हि देशकालवशानुगम् । मन्त्रौषधवशं याति मनो नोदारवृत्तिमत्
A mind lacking practiced discernment, subject to the influence of place and time, comes under the sway of mantras and medicines, but not one possessed of noble tendencies.
नित्यम् आत्तविवेकस्य कथम् आलूनशीर्णता । दुनोति विततं चेतो वात्येव विबुधाचलम्
How can there be any blemish or defect in one who always possesses discernment? The expanded mind is not disturbed, just as a mountain is not shaken by the wind.
इति जातासु गीर्ष्व् अस्य भूपतेः कान्तिर् आननम् । भूषयाम् आस शीतांशुं मासान्त इव पूर्णता
Thus, as these words arose, the king’s face shone with radiance, adorning the moon at the end of the month with fullness.
रराज राजा साश्चर्यम् उन्मीलितविलोचनः । गते हिमर्तौ प्रोल्लासिपुष्पौघ इव माधवः
The king shone with wonder, his eyes wide open, like the god of spring when the frost has departed and the multitude of flowers bursts forth.
अथातिसम्भ्रमाश्चर्यखिन्नस्मितमुखो बभौ । आसन्नमृत्युम् आलोक्य राहुम् इन्दुर् इवाम्बरे
Then, with a face weary from amazement and smiling with agitation, he appeared like the moon in the sky beholding Rahu, death approaching nearby.
ऐन्द्रजालिकम् आलोक्य प्रोवाचाथ हसन्न् इव । बभ्रुं हिंसात्मकं दृष्ट्वा सर्परूपीव तक्षकः
Beholding the illusionist’s display, he then spoke, as if smiling, just as a serpent, seeing the destructive brown snake, would address it.
जाल्म जालं जटालेन किम् एतद् भवता कृतम् । मीनस्पन्दाप्रसन्नो ऽब्धिः क्षणाद् एति प्रसन्नताम्
O wretch, what is this net you have woven with your matted hair? The ocean, troubled by the thrashing of fish, becomes calm again in a moment.
चित्रं चित्रा हि देवस्य पदार्थशतशक्तयः । सुशक्तम् अपि मे चित्तम् आभिर् मोहे निवेशितम्
How wondrous and varied are the powers of the Lord’s manifold objects! Even my mind, though strong, has been cast into delusion by them.
क्व वयं लोकपर्यायवृत्तान्तपरिदेविनः । क्व मनोमोहदायिन्यो वितताः प्राकृतापदः
Where are we, lamenting the endless turns of worldly affairs, and where are these widespread, natural calamities that bring confusion to the mind?
अप्य् अभ्यस्तमहाज्ञानं मनस् तिष्ठति देहके । कदाचिन् मोहम् आदत्ते क्षणं मतिमताम् अपि
Even a mind well-trained in supreme knowledge, while dwelling in the body, sometimes succumbs to delusion for a moment, even among the wise.
इदम् आश्चर्यम् आख्यानं शृणुताथ सभासदः । मम शाम्बरिकेणेह यन् मुहूर्तं प्रदर्शितम्
Now, O assembly, listen to this astonishing tale—what was shown to me here for a moment by the magic of Shambara.
दृष्टवान् अहम् एतस्मिन् बह्वीः कार्यदशाश् चलाः । मुहूर्ते प्रोत्थितध्वस्तशक्रास् सृष्टीर् इवाब्जजः
In that brief moment, I saw many shifting states of affairs—like the creator Brahma, who brings forth and dissolves worlds in an instant, after Indra’s power is overthrown.
इत्य् उक्त्वोन्मुखनेत्रेषु सभ्येषु स हसन्न् इव । राजा वर्णयितुं चित्रं वृत्तान्तम् उपचक्रमे
Having spoken thus, with the assembly’s eyes turned toward him, the king, as if smiling, began to describe the marvelous story.