भृगुर् वरवने तस्मिन् समाधाव् एव संस्थितः । सर्वकालं समुत्कीर्णो वनोपलतलाद् इव
Bhrigu remained absorbed in samādhi in that excellent forest, unmoving at all times, like a stone resting on the forest floor.
शुक्रः कुसुमशय्यासु कलधौताब्जिनीषु च । मन्दारतरुदोलासु बालो ऽरमत लीलया
Śukra, as a boy, played at ease on beds of flowers, on shining white lotuses, and on swings hung from coral trees.
विद्याविद्यादृशोर् मध्ये शुक्रो ऽप्राप्तमहापदः । त्रिशङ्कुर् इव रोदोऽन्तर् अवर्तत तदा किल
Śukra, not yet having attained the highest state, moved between knowledge and ignorance, like Triśaṅku suspended in mid-air.
निर्विकल्पसमाधिस्थे स कदाचित् पितर्य् अथ । अव्यग्रो ऽभवद् एकान्ते जितारिर् इव भूमिपः
Once, while his father was absorbed in nirvikalpa samādhi, he found himself alone and undisturbed, like a king who has conquered his enemies.
ददर्शाप्सरसं तत्र गच्छन्तीं नभसः पथा । क्षीरोदमध्यलुलितां लक्ष्मीम् इव जनार्दनः
There he saw an apsaras passing by through the sky, as Janārdana might behold Lakṣmī, stirred from the midst of the milk ocean.
मन्दारमाल्यवलितां मन्दानिलचलालकाम् । हारिझाङ्कारिगमनां सुगन्धितनभोऽनिलाम्
She was adorned with a garland of mandāra flowers, her hair gently stirred by a soft breeze, her movement accompanied by the tinkling of anklets, and the air around her was fragrant.
लावण्यपादपलतां मदघूर्णितलोचनाम् । अमृतीकृततद्देशां देहेन्दूदयकान्तिभिः
She was like a creeper at the foot of the tree of beauty, her eyes rolling with intoxication, and that place was made nectar-like by the radiance of her moon-like body.
कान्ताम् आलोक्य तस्याभूद् उल्लासतरलं मनः । दृष्टे निर्मलपूर्णेन्दौ वपुर् अम्बुनिधेर् इव
Seeing that lovely woman, his mind became lively and restless, as when one beholds the clear, full moon reflected in the waters of the ocean.
मनसिजेषुशताहतम् आशये स परिरुध्य मनस् तदनूशनाः । विगलितेतरवृत्तितयात्मना सुरवधूमय एव बभूव सः
Struck in his heart by a hundred arrows of love, he restrained his mind and thoughts, and with all other activities dissolved, he became as if made entirely of the celestial maiden.
एषा हि ललना व्योम्नि सहस्रनयनालये । सम्प्राप्तो ऽयम् अहं स्वर्गम् आलोलसुरसुन्दरम्
This woman, indeed, is in the sky, in the abode of the thousand-eyed one; I have now reached heaven, adorned with delightful celestial maidens.
इमे ते मृदुमन्दारकुसुमोत्तंससुन्दराः । द्रवत्कनकनिष्ष्यन्दविलासिवपुषस् सुराः
These are your gods, beautiful with soft mandāra flowers in their hair, their bodies shining with the play of flowing molten gold.
इमास् ता लोचनोल्लाससृष्टनीलाब्जवृष्टयः । मुग्धा हासविलासिन्यः कान्ता हरिणदृष्टयः
These are the charming women, whose glances create showers of blue lotuses, innocent and radiant with smiles, lovely, with eyes like those of a deer.
इमे ते कौस्तुभोद्द्योता अन्योऽन्यप्रतिबिम्बिताः । विश्वरूपोपमाकारा मरुतो मत्तकाशिनः
These are your winds, shining with the brilliance of the Kaustubha gem, reflecting one another, their forms resembling the cosmic form, dazzling and intoxicated.
ऐरावणकटामोदविरक्तमधुपश्रुताः । इमास् ताः काकलीगीता गीर्वाणगणगीतयः
These songs, heard by bees indifferent to the fragrance of Airāvata’s trunk, are the melodies sung by the hosts of celestial beings.
इयं सा कनकाम्भोजचरद्वैरिञ्चसारसा । मन्दाकिनीतटोद्यानविश्रान्तसुरनायिका
This is that divine maiden, resting in the gardens along the banks of the Mandākinī, who wanders among golden lotuses and the swans of Brahmā.
एते ते यमचन्द्रेन्द्रसूर्यानिलजलानलाः । लोकपालास् तनूद्द्योतकीर्णदीप्तोज्ज्वलार्चिषः
These are the guardians of the worlds—Yama, the moon, Indra, the sun, wind, water, and fire—whose bodies shine with radiant, blazing flames.
अयं स सुरविक्रान्तहेतिकण्डूयिताननः । ऐरावणो रणद्दन्तप्रोतदैत्येन्द्रमण्डलः
This is Airāvata, whose face is scratched by the weapons of mighty gods, and whose roaring tusks have pierced the circle of demon kings.
इमे ते भूतलस्थाना व्योमतारकतां गताः । वैमानिकाश् चलच्चारुहारचामरकुण्डलाः
These are those who once dwelled on earth, now transformed into stars in the sky—celestial beings adorned with moving, beautiful garlands, fans, and earrings.
इमास् ता विविधोद्यानमणिमन्दिरमण्डिताः । विमानपङ्क्तयश् चारुचामीकरमयातपाः
These are the rows of aerial palaces, adorned with various gardens and jeweled temples, shining with lovely golden canopies.
मेरूपलतलास्फालशीकराकीर्णदेवताः । एतास् ताः कीर्णमन्दारा गङ्गासलिलवीचयः
These are the gods scattered by the spray from the slopes of Mount Meru, and those waves of the Ganges water filled with mandāra flowers.
एताः प्रसृतमन्दारमञ्जरीपुञ्जपिञ्जराः । दोलालोलाप्सरश्श्रेण्यश् शक्रोपवनवीथयः
These are the avenues in Indra’s gardens, swaying with apsaras groups, colored by clusters of mandāra flower buds.
इमे ते कुन्दमन्दारमकरन्दसुगन्धयः । चन्द्रांशुनिकराकाराः पारिजातसमीरणाः
Here are the breezes, fragrant with the nectar of kunda and coral tree blossoms, resembling the rays of the moon.
पुष्पकेसरनीहारपटवासेरणोत्सुकैः । लताङ्गनागणैर् व्याप्तम् इदं तन् नन्दनं वनम्
This Nandana grove is filled with clusters of flowering creepers, eager with the mist of pollen and filaments.
कान्तगीतरवानन्दप्रनर्तितसुराङ्गनौ । इमौ तौ वल्लकीस्निग्धस्वरौ नारदतुम्बुरू
Here are Nārada and Tumburu, their lutes resonant with sweet notes, delighting the celestial maidens who dance in joy at the sound of beloved songs.
इमे ते पुण्यकर्तारो भूरिभूषणभूषिताः । व्योमन्य् उड्डयमानेषु विमानेषु सुखं स्थिताः
Here are the doers of merit, adorned with many ornaments, happily residing in aerial chariots soaring through the sky.
मदमन्मथमत्ताङ्ग्य इमास् तास् सुरयोषितः । देवेश्वरं निषेवन्ते वनं वनलता इव
These are the celestial women, intoxicated with pride and passion, attending the lord of the gods like forest vines clinging to the trees.
चन्द्रांशुजालकुसुमाश् चिन्तामणिगुलुच्छकाः । कल्पवृक्ष इमे पक्वरत्नस्तबकदन्तुराः
These wish-fulfilling trees bear flowers woven with moonbeams, clusters of wish-fulfilling gems, and branches heavy with ripe jewels.
इह तावद् इमं शक्रम् अहम् आसनसंस्थितम् । द्वितीयम् इव देवेशं पूजयैवाभिवादये
Now, here I shall respectfully greet this Indra, seated on his throne, as one would honor a second lord of the gods.
इति सञ्चिन्त्य शुक्रेण मनसैव शचीपतिः । तेनाभिवादितस् तत्र द्वितीय इव वै भृगुः
Thinking thus in his mind, Śukra greeted the lord of Śacī, and there, like a second Bhṛgu, was respectfully received.
अथ सादरम् उत्थाय शुक्रश् शक्रेण पूजितः । गृहीतहस्तम् आनीय समीप उपवेशितः
Then, rising respectfully, Śukra was honored by Indra, who took him by the hand, brought him near, and seated him close by.