Soundarya Lahari

शिवः शक्त्या युक्तो यदि भवति शक्तः प्रभवितुं

Śivaḥ śaktyā yukto yadi bhavati śaktaḥ prabhavituṃ

Only when Shiva is joined with Shakti does He gain the power to create;

न चेदेवं देवो न खलु कुशलः स्पन्दितुमपि ।

Na cedevaṃ devo na khalu kuśalaḥ spanditumapi |

without that, this God could not so much as stir.

अतस्त्वामाराध्यां हरिहरविरिञ्चादिभिरपि

Atastvāmārādhyāṃ hariharaviriñcādibhirapi

You, then, are worshipped by Hari, Hara, Virinchi and the rest;

प्रणन्तुं स्तोतुं वा कथमकृतपुण्यः प्रभवति

Praṇantuṃ stotuṃ vā kathamakṛtapuṇyaḥ prabhavati

how then could one who has earned no merit dare to bow to You, or to praise You?

तनीयांसं पांसुं तव चरणपङ्केरुहभवं

Tanīyāṃsaṃ pāṃsuṃ tava caraṇapaṅkeruhabhavaṃ

Gathering the finest speck of dust born of Your lotus feet,

विरिञ्चिस्सञ्चिन्वन् विरचयति लोकानविकलम् ।

Viriñcissañcinvan viracayati lokānavikalam |

Virinchi fashions the worlds entire and without flaw.

वहत्येनं शौरिः कथमपि सहस्रेण शिरसां

Vahatyenaṃ śauriḥ kathamapi sahasreṇa śirasāṃ

Shauri bears that same speck, and only with great effort, upon His thousand heads;

हरस्संक्षुद्यैनं भजति भसितोद्धूलनविधिम्

Harassaṃkṣudyainaṃ bhajati bhasitoddhūlanavidhim

and Hara grinds it fine and uses it for the rite of smearing Himself with ash.

अविद्यानामन्त\-स्तिमिर\-मिहिरद्वीपनगरी

Avidyānāmanta\-stimira\-mihiradvīpanagarī

For the ignorant it is an island-city of sunlight against the darkness within;

जडानां चैतन्य\-स्तबक\-मकरन्द\-स्रुतिझरी ।

Jaḍānāṃ caitanya\-stabaka\-makaranda\-srutijharī |

for the dull-witted, a cascade of nectar dripping from the flower-cluster of consciousness;

दरिद्राणां चिन्तामणिगुणनिका जन्मजलधौ

Daridrāṇāṃ cintāmaṇiguṇanikā janmajaladhau

for the destitute, a string of wish-fulfilling gems; and for those sunk in the ocean of birth,

निमग्नानां दंष्ट्रा मुररिपु\-वराहस्य भवति

Nimagnānāṃ daṃṣṭrā muraripu\-varāhasya bhavati

it becomes the tusk of Vishnu in His boar form, lifting them clear.

त्वदन्यः पाणिभ्यामभयवरदो दैवतगणः

Tvadanyaḥ pāṇibhyāmabhayavarado daivatagaṇaḥ

Every other god shows the gestures of fearlessness and boon-giving with their hands;

त्वमेका नैवासि प्रकटितवराभीत्यभिनया ।

Tvamekā naivāsi prakaṭitavarābhītyabhinayā |

You alone make no such display of granting boons and dispelling fear.

भयात् त्रातुं दातुं फलमपि च वाञ्छासमधिकं

Bhayāt trātuṃ dātuṃ phalamapi ca vāñchāsamadhikaṃ

For to save from fear, and to grant a reward greater even than what was wished for,

शरण्ये लोकानां तव हि चरणावेव निपुणौ

Śaraṇye lokānāṃ tava hi caraṇāveva nipuṇau

O refuge of the worlds, Your feet alone are wholly sufficient.

हरिस्त्वामाराध्य प्रणतजनसौभाग्यजननीं

Haristvāmārādhya praṇatajanasaubhāgyajananīṃ

Hari worshipped You, the mother of all good fortune for those who bow before You,

पुरा नारी भूत्वा पुररिपुमपि क्षोभमनयत् ।

Purā nārī bhūtvā puraripumapi kṣobhamanayat |

and long ago, taking the form of a woman, stirred even the Destroyer of the three cities.

स्मरोऽपि त्वां नत्वा रतिनयनलेह्येन वपुषा

Smaro'pi tvāṃ natvā ratinayanalehyena vapuṣā

Smara too, bowing to You, with a body drunk in by the eyes of Rati,

मुनीनामप्यन्तः प्रभवति हि मोहाय महताम्

Munīnāmapyantaḥ prabhavati hi mohāya mahatām

gains the power to stir longing even within the hearts of the great sages.

धनुः पौष्पं मौर्वी मधुकरमयी पञ्च विशिखाः

Dhanuḥ pauṣpaṃ maurvī madhukaramayī pañca viśikhāḥ

His bow is of flowers, its string a row of bees, his arrows only five;

वसन्तः सामन्तो मलयमरुदायोधनरथः ।

Vasantaḥ sāmanto malayamarudāyodhanarathaḥ |

spring is his vassal, and the Malaya breeze his chariot of war.

तथाप्येकः सर्वं हिमगिरिसुते कामपि कृपाम्

Tathāpyekaḥ sarvaṃ himagirisute kāmapi kṛpām

And yet, O daughter of the snow mountain, having won some measure of grace

अपाङ्गात्ते लब्ध्वा जगदिद\-मनङ्गो विजयते

Apāṅgātte labdhvā jagadida\-manaṅgo vijayate

from the corner of Your eye, Ananga alone conquers this whole world.

क्वणत्काञ्चीदामा करिकलभकुम्भस्तननता

Kvaṇatkāñcīdāmā karikalabhakumbhastananatā

Her girdle of small bells softly chiming, bowed by breasts like a young elephant's temples,

परिक्षीणा मध्ये परिणतशरच्चन्द्रवदना ।

Parikṣīṇā madhye pariṇataśaraccandravadanā |

slender at the waist, Her face the full moon of autumn,

धनुर्बाणान् पाशं सृणिमपि दधाना करतलैः

Dhanurbāṇān pāśaṃ sṛṇimapi dadhānā karatalaiḥ

bearing bow and arrows, noose and goad in Her hands,

पुरस्तादास्तां नः पुरमथितुराहोपुरुषिका

Purastādāstāṃ naḥ puramathiturāhopuruṣikā

may She stand before us, She who is the very pride of the Destroyer of the cities.

सुधासिन्धोर्मध्ये सुरविटपिवाटीपरिवृते

Sudhāsindhormadhye suraviṭapivāṭīparivṛte

In the midst of the ocean of nectar, ringed about by groves of celestial trees,

मणिद्वीपे नीपोपवनवति चिन्तामणिगृहे ।

Maṇidvīpe nīpopavanavati cintāmaṇigṛhe |

on the Island of Gems, in a grove of kadamba, within a house of wish-fulfilling stones,

शिवाकारे मञ्चे परमशिवपर्यङ्कनिलयां

Śivākāre mañce paramaśivaparyaṅkanilayāṃ

on a couch shaped as Shiva Himself, resting upon the seat that is Parama Shiva,

भजन्ति त्वां धन्याः कतिचन चिदानन्दलहरीम्

Bhajanti tvāṃ dhanyāḥ katicana cidānandalaharīm

a blessed few worship You, who are the very wave of consciousness and bliss.

महीं मूलाधारे कमपि मणिपूरे हुतवहं

Mahīṃ mūlādhāre kamapi maṇipūre hutavahaṃ

Earth in the muladhara, water in the manipura, fire

स्थितं स्वाधिष्ठाने हृदि मरुतमाकाशमुपरि ।

Sthitaṃ svādhiṣṭhāne hṛdi marutamākāśamupari |

set in the svadhishthana, air in the heart and ether above it,

मनोऽपि भ्रूमध्ये सकलमपि भित्वा कुलपथं

Mano'pi bhrūmadhye sakalamapi bhitvā kulapathaṃ

and mind between the brows: piercing all of these, and the whole kula path,

सहस्रारे पद्मे सह रहसि पत्या विहरसे

Sahasrāre padme saha rahasi patyā viharase

in the thousand-petalled lotus You dwell in secret delight with Your Lord.

सुधाधारासारैश्चरणयुगलान्तर्विगलितैः

Sudhādhārāsāraiścaraṇayugalāntarvigalitaiḥ

With streams of nectar pouring down from between Your two feet,

प्रपञ्चं सिञ्चन्ती पुनरपि रसाम्नायमहसः ।

Prapañcaṃ siñcantī punarapi rasāmnāyamahasaḥ |

You drench the whole universe; then, from the radiance of the nectar-scripture,

अवाप्य स्वां भूमिं भुजगनिभमध्युष्टवलयं

Avāpya svāṃ bhūmiṃ bhujaganibhamadhyuṣṭavalayaṃ

You return to Your own place, coiling into rings like a serpent,

स्वमात्मानं कृत्वा स्वपिषि कुलकुण्डे कुहरिणि

Svamātmānaṃ kṛtvā svapiṣi kulakuṇḍe kuhariṇi

and making Yourself Your own resting place, You sleep in the hollow of the kula-kunda.

चतुर्भिः श्रीकण्ठैः शिवयुवतिभिः पञ्चभिरपि

Caturbhiḥ śrīkaṇṭhaiḥ śivayuvatibhiḥ pañcabhirapi

By four Shrikanthas, the upward triangles of Shiva, and by five youthful Shaktis as well,

प्रभिन्नाभिः शम्भोर्नवभिरपि मूलप्रकृतिभिः ।

Prabhinnābhiḥ śambhornavabhirapi mūlaprakṛtibhiḥ |

distinct from Shambhu, nine root-natures in all,

चतुश्चत्वारिंशद्वसुदलकलाश्रत्रिवलय

Catuścatvāriṃśadvasudalakalāśratrivalaya

along with the forty-four angles, the eight-petalled lotus, the sixteen kalas, the three encircling rings

त्रिरेखाभिः सार्धं तव शरणकोणाः परिणताः

Trirekhābhiḥ sārdhaṃ tava śaraṇakoṇāḥ pariṇatāḥ

and the three lines, the corners of Your sacred abode have taken their form.

त्वदीयं सौन्दर्यं तुहिनगिरिकन्ये तुलयितुं

Tvadīyaṃ saundaryaṃ tuhinagirikanye tulayituṃ

O daughter of the snow mountain, to find any measure for Your beauty,

कवीन्द्राः कल्पन्ते कथमपि विरिञ्चिप्रभृतयः ।

Kavīndrāḥ kalpante kathamapi viriñciprabhṛtayaḥ |

even the foremost of poets, Virinchi and the rest, can scarcely succeed;

यदालोकौत्सुक्यादमरललना यान्ति मनसा

Yadālokautsukyādamaralalanā yānti manasā

for in their longing to behold it, the women of the gods attain in thought

तपोभिर्दुष्प्रापामपि गिरिशसायुज्यपदवीम्

Tapobhirduṣprāpāmapi giriśasāyujyapadavīm

that union with Girisha which even austerities can hardly reach.

नरं वर्षीयांसं नयनविरसं नर्मसु जडं

Naraṃ varṣīyāṃsaṃ nayanavirasaṃ narmasu jaḍaṃ

A man far gone in years, unpleasing to the eye, dull in the play of love,

तवापाङ्गालोके पतितमनुधावन्ति शतशः ।

Tavāpāṅgāloke patitamanudhāvanti śataśaḥ |

if he but falls within the glance from the corner of Your eye, is pursued by hundreds

गलद्वेणीबन्धाः कुचकलशविस्रस्तसिचया

Galadveṇībandhāḥ kucakalaśavisrastasicayā

their braids coming loose, their garments slipping from their breasts,

हठात् त्रुट्यत्काञ्च्यो विगलितदुकूला युवतयः

Haṭhāt truṭyatkāñcyo vigalitadukūlā yuvatayaḥ

their girdles snapping of themselves and their silks falling away.

क्षितौ षट्पञ्चाशद् द्विसमधिकपञ्चाशदुदके

Kṣitau ṣaṭpañcāśad dvisamadhikapañcāśadudake

Fifty-six rays in the sphere of earth, fifty-two in that of water,

हुताशे द्वाषष्टिश्चतुरधिकपञ्चाशदनिले ।

Hutāśe dvāṣaṣṭiścaturadhikapañcāśadanile |

sixty-two in fire, fifty-four in air,

दिवि द्विष्षट्त्रिंशन्मनसि च चतुष्षष्टिरिति ये

Divi dviṣṣaṭtriṃśanmanasi ca catuṣṣaṣṭiriti ye

seventy-two in ether and sixty-four in mind:

मयूखास्तेषामप्युपरि तव पादाम्बुजयुगम्

Mayūkhāsteṣāmapyupari tava pādāmbujayugam

above even all these rays stand Your two lotus feet.

शरज्ज्योत्स्नाशुद्धां शशियुतजटाजूटमकुटां

Śarajjyotsnāśuddhāṃ śaśiyutajaṭājūṭamakuṭāṃ

Pure as autumn moonlight, crowned with matted locks that hold the moon,

वरत्रासत्राणस्फटिकघटिकापुस्तककराम् ।

Varatrāsatrāṇasphaṭikaghaṭikāpustakakarām |

Your hands holding the boon, the sign of safety, a crystal rosary and a book,

सकृन्न त्वा नत्वा कथमिव सतां संन्निदधते

Sakṛnna tvā natvā kathamiva satāṃ saṃnnidadhate

unless one has bowed to You even once, how could there ever come to the good

मधुक्षीरद्राक्षामधुरिमधुरीणाः भणितयः

Madhukṣīradrākṣāmadhurimadhurīṇāḥ bhaṇitayaḥ

utterances that carry the sweetness of honey, of milk, of grapes?

कवीन्द्राणां चेतःकमलवनबालातपरुचिं

Kavīndrāṇāṃ cetaḥkamalavanabālātaparuciṃ

You are the glow of young sunlight upon the lotus-grove that is the heart of great poets;

भजन्ते ये सन्तः कतिचिदरुणामेव भवतीम् ।

Bhajante ye santaḥ katicidaruṇāmeva bhavatīm |

those few good souls who worship You as Aruna, the crimson one,

विरिञ्चिप्रेयस्यास्तरुणतरशृङ्गारलहरी

Viriñcipreyasyāstaruṇataraśṛṅgāralaharī

with words made deep by the surging fresh delight of the beloved of Virinchi,

गभीराभिर्वाग्भिर्विदधति सतां रञ्जनममी

Gabhīrābhirvāgbhirvidadhati satāṃ rañjanamamī

bring delight to the hearts of the good.

सवित्रीभिर्वाचां शशिमणिशिलाभङ्गरुचिभिः

Savitrībhirvācāṃ śaśimaṇiśilābhaṅgarucibhiḥ

With the mothers of speech, radiant as slivers of moonstone,

वशिन्याद्याभिस्त्वां सह जननि संचिन्तयति यः ।

Vaśinyādyābhistvāṃ saha janani saṃcintayati yaḥ |

with Vashini and the others, O Mother, whoever contemplates You,

स कर्ता काव्यानां भवति महतां भङ्गिरुचिभिः

Sa kartā kāvyānāṃ bhavati mahatāṃ bhaṅgirucibhiḥ

he becomes a maker of great poems, in words of graceful turn,

वचोभिर्वाग्देवीवदनकमलामोदमधुरैः

Vacobhirvāgdevīvadanakamalāmodamadhuraiḥ

words sweet with the fragrance of the lotus-faces of the goddesses of speech.

तनुच्छायाभिस्ते तरुणतरणिश्रीसरणिभिः

Tanucchāyābhiste taruṇataraṇiśrīsaraṇibhiḥ

Whoever calls to mind the radiance of Your form, which follows the splendour of the young sun,

दिवं सर्वामुर्वीमरुणिमनि मग्नां स्मरति यः ।

Divaṃ sarvāmurvīmaruṇimani magnāṃ smarati yaḥ |

and sees all heaven and earth steeped in that crimson,

भवन्त्यस्य त्रस्यद्वनहरिणशालीननयनाः

Bhavantyasya trasyadvanahariṇaśālīnanayanāḥ

for him, with eyes as shy as those of a startled forest doe,

सहोर्वश्या वश्याः कति कति न गीर्वाणगणिकाः

Sahorvaśyā vaśyāḥ kati kati na gīrvāṇagaṇikāḥ

how many of the courtesans of the gods, Urvashi among them, do not become his own?

मुखं बिन्दुं कृत्वा कुचयुगमधस्तस्य तदधो

Mukhaṃ binduṃ kṛtvā kucayugamadhastasya tadadho

Taking Your face as the bindu, Your two breasts below it, and below that

हरार्धं ध्यायेद्यो हरमहिषि ते मन्मथकलाम् ।

Harārdhaṃ dhyāyedyo haramahiṣi te manmathakalām |

the half of Hara: O queen of Hara, whoever meditates thus on Your kama-kala,

स सद्यः संक्षोभं नयति वनिता इत्यतिलघु

Sa sadyaḥ saṃkṣobhaṃ nayati vanitā ityatilaghu

stirs women at once, though to say only that is far too small a thing;

त्रिलोकीमप्याशु भ्रमयति रवीन्दुस्तनयुगाम्

Trilokīmapyāśu bhramayati ravīndustanayugām

he swiftly sets whirling the three worlds themselves, whose two breasts are the sun and the moon.

किरन्तीमङ्गेभ्यः किरणनिकुरम्बामृतरसं

Kirantīmaṅgebhyaḥ kiraṇanikurambāmṛtarasaṃ

You who pour from Your limbs a flood of rays that is the very essence of nectar,

हृदि त्वामाधत्ते हिमकरशिलामूर्तिमिव यः ।

Hṛdi tvāmādhatte himakaraśilāmūrtimiva yaḥ |

whoever holds You in the heart as a figure carved of moonstone,

स सर्पाणां दर्पं शमयति शकुन्ताधिप इव

Sa sarpāṇāṃ darpaṃ śamayati śakuntādhipa iva

he quells the pride of serpents as the king of birds does,

ज्वरप्लुष्टान् दृष्ट्या सुखयति सुधाधारसिरया

Jvarapluṣṭān dṛṣṭyā sukhayati sudhādhārasirayā

and with a glance, through that stream of nectar, brings ease to those burnt by fever.

तटिल्लेखातन्वीं तपनशशिवैश्वानरमयीं

Taṭillekhātanvīṃ tapanaśaśivaiśvānaramayīṃ

Slender as a streak of lightning, made of sun, moon and fire,

निषण्णां षण्णामप्युपरि कमलानां तव कलाम् ।

Niṣaṇṇāṃ ṣaṇṇāmapyupari kamalānāṃ tava kalām |

Your kala, seated above all six lotuses,

महापद्माटव्यां मृदितमलमायेन मनसा

Mahāpadmāṭavyāṃ mṛditamalamāyena manasā

the great ones behold in the forest of the great lotus, with minds whose stain of maya has been crushed,

महान्तः पश्यन्तो दधति परमाह्लादलहरीम्

Mahāntaḥ paśyanto dadhati paramāhlādalaharīm

and so hold within them a surging wave of supreme bliss.

भवानि त्वं दासे मयि वितर दृष्टिं सकरुणा

Bhavāni tvaṃ dāse mayi vitara dṛṣṭiṃ sakaruṇā

"O Bhavani, cast upon me, Your servant, a glance filled with compassion":

मिति स्तोतुं वाञ्छन् कथयति भवानि त्वमिति यः ।

Miti stotuṃ vāñchan kathayati bhavāni tvamiti yaḥ |

whoever, wishing to praise You so, utters only the words "Bhavani tvam",

तदैव त्वं तस्मै दिशसि निजसायुज्यपदवीं

Tadaiva tvaṃ tasmai diśasi nijasāyujyapadavīṃ

at that very instant You grant him the state of union with Yourself,

मुकुन्दब्रह्मेन्द्रस्फुटमकुटनीराजितपदाम्

Mukundabrahmendrasphuṭamakuṭanīrājitapadām

that state whose feet are worshipped by the gleaming crowns of Mukunda, Brahma and Indra.

त्वया हृत्वा वामं वपुरपरितृप्तेन मनसा

Tvayā hṛtvā vāmaṃ vapuraparitṛptena manasā

Having taken the left half of Shambhu's body, Your mind still unsatisfied,

शरीरार्धं शम्भोरपरमपि शङ्के हृतमभूत् ।

Śarīrārdhaṃ śambhoraparamapi śaṅke hṛtamabhūt |

so I suspect that You took the other half of His body as well;

यदेतत्त्वद्रूपं सकलमरुणाभं त्रिनयनं

Yadetattvadrūpaṃ sakalamaruṇābhaṃ trinayanaṃ

for this form of Yours is entirely crimson, and three-eyed,

कुचाभ्यामानम्रं कुटिलशशिचूडालमकुटम्

Kucābhyāmānamraṃ kuṭilaśaśicūḍālamakuṭam

bowed under the weight of two breasts, and crowned with the curved crescent moon.

जगत्सूते धाता हरिरवति रुद्रः क्षपयते

Jagatsūte dhātā hariravati rudraḥ kṣapayate

Brahma brings forth the world, Hari preserves it, Rudra destroys it,

तिरस्कुर्वन्नेतत्स्वमपि वपुरीशस्तिरयति ।

Tiraskurvannetatsvamapi vapurīśastirayati |

Ishana makes all this vanish and then conceals His own form as well,

सदापूर्वः सर्वं तदिदमनुगृह्णाति च शिव

Sadāpūrvaḥ sarvaṃ tadidamanugṛhṇāti ca śiva

and Sadashiva, who is ever prior to all, then blesses this whole creation anew:

स्तवाज्ञामालम्ब्य क्षणचलितयोर्भ्रूलतिकयोः

Stavājñāmālambya kṣaṇacalitayorbhrūlatikayoḥ

all of them acting on Your command, given by a momentary movement of Your creeper-like brows.

त्रयाणां देवानां त्रिगुणजनितानां तव शिवे

Trayāṇāṃ devānāṃ triguṇajanitānāṃ tava śive

O consort of Shiva, the worship that is offered at Your two feet

भवेत् पूजा पूजा तव चरणयोर्या विरचिता ।

Bhavet pūjā pūjā tava caraṇayoryā viracitā |

becomes the worship of all three gods born of the three gunas;

तथा हि त्वत्पादोद्वहनमणिपीठस्य निकटे

Tathā hi tvatpādodvahanamaṇipīṭhasya nikaṭe

for they stand forever beside the jewelled footstool that bears Your feet,

स्थिता ह्येते शश्वन्मुकुलितकरोत्तंसमकुटाः

Sthitā hyete śaśvanmukulitakarottaṃsamakuṭāḥ

with hands folded in salutation and raised to their crowns.

विरिञ्चिः पञ्चत्वं व्रजति हरिराप्नोति विरतिं

Viriñciḥ pañcatvaṃ vrajati harirāpnoti viratiṃ

Virinchi dissolves into the elements, Hari comes to his end,

विनाशं कीनाशो भजति धनदो याति निधनम् ।

Vināśaṃ kīnāśo bhajati dhanado yāti nidhanam |

Yama meets destruction, Kubera the giver of wealth passes away,

वितन्द्री माहेन्द्री विततिरपि संमीलितदृशा

Vitandrī māhendrī vitatirapi saṃmīlitadṛśā

and even the tireless host of Indra closes its eyes:

महासंहारेऽस्मिन् विहरति सति त्वत्पतिरसौ

Mahāsaṃhāre'smin viharati sati tvatpatirasau

yet in this great dissolution Your husband sports on, while You abide.

जपो जल्पः शिल्पं सकलमपि मुद्राविरचना

Japo jalpaḥ śilpaṃ sakalamapi mudrāviracanā

Let my idle talk be recitation, my every act of craft the forming of sacred gestures,

गतिः प्रादक्षिण्यक्रमणमशनाद्याहुतिविधिः ।

Gatiḥ prādakṣiṇyakramaṇamaśanādyāhutividhiḥ |

my walking a circumambulation, my eating and the rest an offering into the fire,

प्रणामस्संवेशस्सुखमखिलमात्मार्पणदृशा

Praṇāmassaṃveśassukhamakhilamātmārpaṇadṛśā

my lying down a prostration, and every pleasure an offering of myself:

सपर्यापर्यायस्तव भवतु यन्मे विलसितम्

Saparyāparyāyastava bhavatu yanme vilasitam

let everything I do become another name for Your worship.

सुधामप्यास्वाद्य प्रतिभयजरामृत्युहरिणीं

Sudhāmapyāsvādya pratibhayajarāmṛtyuhariṇīṃ

Even after tasting the nectar that takes away dreadful old age and death,

विपद्यन्ते विश्वे विधिशतमखाद्या दिविषदः ।

Vipadyante viśve vidhiśatamakhādyā diviṣadaḥ |

all the dwellers in heaven, Brahma, the hundred-sacrifice Indra and the rest, perish;

करालं यत्क्ष्वेलं कबलितवतः कालकलना

Karālaṃ yatkṣvelaṃ kabalitavataḥ kālakalanā

yet for Shambhu, who swallowed the terrible poison, Time keeps no reckoning:

न शम्भोस्तन्मूलं तव जननि ताटङ्कमहिमा

Na śambhostanmūlaṃ tava janani tāṭaṅkamahimā

and the root of that, O Mother, is the greatness of Your ear-ornaments.

किरीटं वैरिञ्चं परिहर पुरः कैटभभिदः

Kirīṭaṃ vairiñcaṃ parihara puraḥ kaiṭabhabhidaḥ

"Avoid Brahma's crown! Before you stands the slayer of Kaitabha,

कठोरे कोटीरे स्खलसि जहि जम्भारिमुकुटम् ।

Kaṭhore koṭīre skhalasi jahi jambhārimukuṭam |

you will stumble on his hard diadem! Mind Indra's crown!"

प्रणम्रेष्वेतेषु प्रसभमुपयातस्य भवनं

Praṇamreṣveteṣu prasabhamupayātasya bhavanaṃ

As these gods lie bowed before You, when Bhava suddenly enters Your house

भवस्याभ्युत्थाने तव परिजनोक्तिर्विजयते

Bhavasyābhyutthāne tava parijanoktirvijayate

and You rise to greet Him, the words of Your attendants ring out in triumph.

स्वदेहोद्भूताभिर्घृणिभिरणिमाद्याभिरभितो

Svadehodbhūtābhirghṛṇibhiraṇimādyābhirabhito

O eternal One, served on every side by the rays born of Your own body, the powers of anima and the rest,

निषेव्ये नित्ये त्वामहमिति सदा भावयति यः ।

Niṣevye nitye tvāmahamiti sadā bhāvayati yaḥ |

whoever contemplates always, "I am You",

किमाश्चर्यं तस्य त्रिनयनसमृद्धिं तृणयतो

Kimāścaryaṃ tasya trinayanasamṛddhiṃ tṛṇayato

what wonder is it that, holding the wealth of the three-eyed god as a blade of grass,

महासंवर्ताग्निर्विरचयति नीराजनविधिम्

Mahāsaṃvartāgnirviracayati nīrājanavidhim

the great fire of dissolution performs the rite of waving lamps before him?

चतुष्षष्ट्या तन्त्रैः सकलमतिसंधाय भुवनं

Catuṣṣaṣṭyā tantraiḥ sakalamatisaṃdhāya bhuvanaṃ

Having bound the whole world with the sixty-four tantras,

स्थितस्तत्तत्सिद्धिप्रसवपरतन्त्रैः पशुपतिः ।

Sthitastattatsiddhiprasavaparatantraiḥ paśupatiḥ |

each devoted to producing only its own particular powers, Pashupati rested;

पुनस्त्वन्निर्बन्धादखिलपुरुषार्थैकघटना

Punastvannirbandhādakhilapuruṣārthaikaghaṭanā

then, at Your insistence, He brought down to this earth

स्वतन्त्रं ते तन्त्रं क्षितितलमवातीतरदिदम्

Svatantraṃ te tantraṃ kṣititalamavātītaradidam

Your own independent tantra, which alone accomplishes every aim of human life.

शिवः शक्तिः कामः क्षितिरथ रविः शीतकिरणः

Śivaḥ śaktiḥ kāmaḥ kṣitiratha raviḥ śītakiraṇaḥ

Shiva, Shakti, Kama, Kshiti; then Ravi, the cool-rayed moon,

स्मरो हंसः शक्रस्तदनु च परामारहरयः ।

Smaro haṃsaḥ śakrastadanu ca parāmāraharayaḥ |

Smara, Hamsa, Shakra; and after them Para, Mara and Hari:

अमी हृल्लेखाभिस्तिसृभिरवसानेषु घटिता

Amī hṛllekhābhistisṛbhiravasāneṣu ghaṭitā

these syllables, joined at the close of each group with the three hrllekhas,

भजन्ते वर्णास्ते तव जननि नामावयवताम्

Bhajante varṇāste tava janani nāmāvayavatām

come to form the very limbs of Your name, O Mother.

स्मरं योनिं लक्ष्मीं त्रितयमिदमादौ तव मनो

Smaraṃ yoniṃ lakṣmīṃ tritayamidamādau tava mano

Placing at the head the three, Smara, Yoni and Lakshmi, in their minds,

र्निधायैके नित्ये निरवधिमहाभोगरसिकाः ।

Rnidhāyaike nitye niravadhimahābhogarasikāḥ |

some, O eternal One, who savour boundless and great enjoyment,

भजन्ति त्वां चिन्तामणिगुननिबद्धाक्षवलयाः

Bhajanti tvāṃ cintāmaṇigunanibaddhākṣavalayāḥ

worship You, their rosaries strung upon chintamani threads,

शिवाग्नौ जुह्वन्तः सुरभिघृतधाराहुतिशतैः

Śivāgnau juhvantaḥ surabhighṛtadhārāhutiśataiḥ

offering into the fire of Shiva hundreds of oblations of streams of fragrant ghee.

शरीरं त्वं शम्भोः शशिमिहिरवक्षोरुहयुगं

Śarīraṃ tvaṃ śambhoḥ śaśimihiravakṣoruhayugaṃ

You are the body of Shambhu, with the sun and the moon as its two breasts;

तवात्मानं मन्ये भगवति नवात्मानमनघम् ।

Tavātmānaṃ manye bhagavati navātmānamanagham |

and Your own Self, O Bhagavati, I hold to be the flawless nine-fold One.

अतश्शेषश्शेषीत्ययमुभयसाधारणतया

Ataśśeṣaśśeṣītyayamubhayasādhāraṇatayā

So the relation of "the dependent" and "the one depended upon" between You two

स्थितः संबन्धो वां समरसपरानन्दपरयोः

Sthitaḥ saṃbandho vāṃ samarasaparānandaparayoḥ

stands common to both alike, for You are one in essence, intent upon supreme bliss.

मनस्त्वं व्योम त्वं मरुदसि मरुत्सारथिरसि

Manastvaṃ vyoma tvaṃ marudasi marutsārathirasi

You are mind, You are ether, You are air, You are the wind's charioteer, fire,

त्वमापस्त्वं भूमिस्त्वयि परिणतायां न हि परम् ।

Tvamāpastvaṃ bhūmistvayi pariṇatāyāṃ na hi param |

You are the waters, You are earth; when You have become all this, nothing lies beyond;

त्वमेव स्वात्मानं परिणमयितुं विश्ववपुषा

Tvameva svātmānaṃ pariṇamayituṃ viśvavapuṣā

it is You alone who, to transform Your own Self into the body of the universe,

चिदानन्दाकारं शिवयुवति भावेन बिभृषे

Cidānandākāraṃ śivayuvati bhāvena bibhṛṣe

O youthful consort of Shiva, bear the form of consciousness and bliss as this very state of being.

तवाज्ञाचक्रस्थं तपनशशिकोटिद्युतिधरं

Tavājñācakrasthaṃ tapanaśaśikoṭidyutidharaṃ

In Your ajna chakra I bow to the supreme Shambhu, who bears the light of ten million suns and moons,

परं शम्भुं वन्दे परिमिलितपार्श्वं परचिता ।

Paraṃ śambhuṃ vande parimilitapārśvaṃ paracitā |

His side closely joined by the supreme Consciousness;

यमाराध्यन् भक्त्या रविशशिशुचीनामविषये

Yamārādhyan bhaktyā raviśaśiśucīnāmaviṣaye

worshipping whom with devotion, one comes to dwell beyond the reach of sun, moon and fire,

निरालोकेऽलोके निवसति हि भालोकभुवने

Nirāloke'loke nivasati hi bhālokabhuvane

in a realm without ordinary light, beyond all worlds, yet luminous with its own radiance.

विशुद्धौ ते शुद्धस्फटिकविशदं व्योमजनकं

Viśuddhau te śuddhasphaṭikaviśadaṃ vyomajanakaṃ

In Your vishuddha chakra I serve Shiva, clear as pure crystal, the begetter of ether,

शिवं सेवे देवीमपि शिवसमानव्यवसिताम् ।

Śivaṃ seve devīmapi śivasamānavyavasitām |

and the Devi too, who is one with Him in purpose;

ययोः कान्त्या यान्त्याः शशिकिरणसारूप्यसरणे

Yayoḥ kāntyā yāntyāḥ śaśikiraṇasārūpyasaraṇe

by whose radiance, travelling along the very path of the moon's rays,

विधूतान्तर्ध्वान्ता विलसति चकोरीव जगती

Vidhūtāntardhvāntā vilasati cakorīva jagatī

the world, its inner darkness shaken off, shines like the chakori bird.

समुन्मीलत् संवित् कमलमकरन्दैकरसिकं

Samunmīlat saṃvit kamalamakarandaikarasikaṃ

I worship that indescribable pair of swans, delighting only in the nectar of the opening lotus of awareness,

भजे हंसद्वन्द्वं किमपि महतां मानसचरम् ।

Bhaje haṃsadvandvaṃ kimapi mahatāṃ mānasacaram |

moving upon the Manasa lake of the great ones;

यदालापादष्टादशगुणितविद्यापरिणति

Yadālāpādaṣṭādaśaguṇitavidyāpariṇati

from whose speech unfolds the whole of the eighteen branches of learning,

र्यदादत्ते दोषाद् गुणमखिलमद्भ्यः पय इव

Ryadādatte doṣād guṇamakhilamadbhyaḥ paya iva

and who take all that is good out of the bad, as milk is drawn from water.

तव स्वाधिष्ठाने हुतवहमधिष्ठाय निरतं

Tava svādhiṣṭhāne hutavahamadhiṣṭhāya nirataṃ

In Your svadhishthana I praise Samvarta, the fire of dissolution, ever presiding over the flame,

तमीडे संवर्तं जननि महतीं तां च समयाम् ।

Tamīḍe saṃvartaṃ janani mahatīṃ tāṃ ca samayām |

and, O Mother, that great Samaya who abides with Him;

यदालोके लोकान् दहति महति क्रोधकलिते

Yadāloke lokān dahati mahati krodhakalite

for when His mighty gaze, kindled with wrath, burns the worlds,

दयार्द्रा या दृष्टिः शिशिरमुपचारं रचयति

Dayārdrā yā dṛṣṭiḥ śiśiramupacāraṃ racayati

Her glance, moist with compassion, works upon them like a cooling remedy.

तटित्त्वन्तं शक्त्या तिमिरपरिपन्थिस्फुरणया

Taṭittvantaṃ śaktyā timiraparipanthisphuraṇayā

With Shakti as the lightning whose flash is the enemy of darkness,

स्फुरन्नानारत्नाभरणपरिणद्धेन्द्रधनुषम् ।

Sphurannānāratnābharaṇapariṇaddhendradhanuṣam |

and a rainbow woven of the many gleaming jewelled ornaments,

तव श्यामं मेघं कमपि मणिपूरैकशरणं

Tava śyāmaṃ meghaṃ kamapi maṇipūraikaśaraṇaṃ

I serve that indescribable dark cloud of Yours, whose one abode is the manipura,

निषेवे वर्षन्तं हरमिहिरतप्तं त्रिभुवनम्

Niṣeve varṣantaṃ haramihirataptaṃ tribhuvanam

raining upon the three worlds that are scorched by the sun which is Hara.

तवाधारे मूले सह समयया लास्यपरया

Tavādhāre mūle saha samayayā lāsyaparayā

In Your muladhara, together with Samaya who is intent upon the lasya dance,

नवात्मानं मन्ये नवरसमहाताण्डवनटम् ।

Navātmānaṃ manye navarasamahātāṇḍavanaṭam |

I contemplate the nine-fold One, the dancer of the great tandava of the nine rasas;

उभाभ्यामेताभ्यामुदयविधिमुद्दिश्य दयया

Ubhābhyāmetābhyāmudayavidhimuddiśya dayayā

and by these two, joined together and moved by compassion to bring creation about,

सनाथाभ्यां जज्ञे जनकजननीमज्जगदिदम्

Sanāthābhyāṃ jajñe janakajananīmajjagadidam

this world was born, and so it has both a father and a mother.

गतैर्माणिक्यत्वं गगनमणिभिः सान्द्रघटितं

Gatairmāṇikyatvaṃ gaganamaṇibhiḥ sāndraghaṭitaṃ

O daughter of the snow mountain, whoever sings the praise of Your golden crown,

किरीटं ते हैमं हिमगिरिसुते कीर्तयति यः ।

Kirīṭaṃ te haimaṃ himagirisute kīrtayati yaḥ |

densely set with the suns of the sky that have turned into rubies,

स नीडेयच्छायाच्छुरणशबलं चन्द्रशकलं

Sa nīḍeyacchāyācchuraṇaśabalaṃ candraśakalaṃ

would he not take the crescent moon upon it, dappled by the play of their reflected glow,

धनुः शौनासीरं किमिति न निबध्नाति धिषणाम्

Dhanuḥ śaunāsīraṃ kimiti na nibadhnāti dhiṣaṇām

for the rainbow of Indra?

धुनोतु ध्वान्तं नस्तुलितदलितेन्दीवरवनं

Dhunotu dhvāntaṃ nastulitadalitendīvaravanaṃ

May Your mass of hair dispel our darkness, O consort of Shiva,

घनस्निग्धश्लक्ष्णं चिकुरनिकुरुम्बं तव शिवे ।

Ghanasnigdhaślakṣṇaṃ cikuranikurumbaṃ tava śive |

thick, glossy and smooth, rivalling a grove of opened blue lotuses;

यदीयं सौरभ्यं सहजमुपलब्धुं सुमनसो

Yadīyaṃ saurabhyaṃ sahajamupalabdhuṃ sumanaso

and I think the blossoms of the trees in Indra's garden dwell in it

वसन्त्यस्मिन् मन्ये वलमथनवाटीविटपिनाम्

Vasantyasmin manye valamathanavāṭīviṭapinām

only to acquire the fragrance that is native to it.

तनोतु क्षेमं नस्तव वदनसौन्दर्यलहरी

Tanotu kṣemaṃ nastava vadanasaundaryalaharī

May the parting of Your hair bring us well-being,

परीवाहस्रोतःसरणिरिव सीमन्तसरणिः ।

Parīvāhasrotaḥsaraṇiriva sīmantasaraṇiḥ |

like a channel carrying off the overflowing flood of Your face's beauty;

वहन्ती सिन्दूरं प्रबलकबरीभारतिमिर

Vahantī sindūraṃ prabalakabarībhāratimira

it bears vermilion, as though a ray of the young sun had been taken captive

द्विषां वृन्दैर्बन्दीकृतमिव नवीनार्ककिरणम्

Dviṣāṃ vṛndairbandīkṛtamiva navīnārkakiraṇam

by the massed enemies of light, the darkness of Your heavy braid.

अरालैः स्वाभाव्यादलिकलभसश्रीभिरलकैः

Arālaiḥ svābhāvyādalikalabhasaśrībhiralakaiḥ

Encircled by curls that wave of their own nature, lovely as young bees,

परीतं ते वक्त्रं परिहसति पङ्केरुहरुचिम् ।

Parītaṃ te vaktraṃ parihasati paṅkeruharucim |

Your face makes light of the beauty of the lotus;

दरस्मेरे यस्मिन् दशनरुचिकिञ्जल्करुचिरे

Darasmere yasmin daśanarucikiñjalkarucire

and on it, faintly smiling, radiant with the filament-gleam of Your teeth,

सुगन्धौ माद्यन्ति स्मरदहनचक्षुर्मधुलिहः

Sugandhau mādyanti smaradahanacakṣurmadhulihaḥ

and fragrant, the bee-like eyes of Him who burned Kama grow drunk.

ललाटं लावण्यद्युतिविमलमाभाति तव य

Lalāṭaṃ lāvaṇyadyutivimalamābhāti tava ya

Your forehead shines, spotless with the light of loveliness;

द्द्वितीयं तन्मन्ये मकुटघटितं चन्द्रशकलम् ।

Ddvitīyaṃ tanmanye makuṭaghaṭitaṃ candraśakalam |

I take it for a second crescent moon, set within Your crown.

विपर्यासन्यासादुभयमपि संभूय च मिथः

Viparyāsanyāsādubhayamapi saṃbhūya ca mithaḥ

When the two are set the other way about and joined to each other,

सुधालेपस्यूतिः परिणमति राकाहिमकरः

Sudhālepasyūtiḥ pariṇamati rākāhimakaraḥ

seamed with a smear of nectar, they become the full moon.

भ्रुवौ भुग्ने किंचिद्भुवनभयभङ्गव्यसनिनि

Bhruvau bhugne kiṃcidbhuvanabhayabhaṅgavyasanini

O You who delight in breaking the fear of the worlds, Your brows, slightly arched,

त्वदीये नेत्राभ्यां मधुकररुचिभ्यां धृतगुणम् ।

Tvadīye netrābhyāṃ madhukararucibhyāṃ dhṛtaguṇam |

strung with a bowstring by Your two eyes bright as bees,

धनुर्मन्ये सव्येतरकरगृहीतं रतिपतेः

Dhanurmanye savyetarakaragṛhītaṃ ratipateḥ

I take for the bow of the lord of Rati, held in his left hand:

प्रकोष्ठे मुष्टौ च स्थगयति निगूढान्तरमुमे

Prakoṣṭhe muṣṭau ca sthagayati nigūḍhāntaramume

O Uma, his forearm and fist conceal the hidden middle of it.

अहः सूते सव्यं तव नयनमर्कात्मकतया

Ahaḥ sūte savyaṃ tava nayanamarkātmakatayā

Your right eye, being of the nature of the sun, brings forth the day;

त्रियामां वामं ते सृजति रजनीनायकतया ।

Triyāmāṃ vāmaṃ te sṛjati rajanīnāyakatayā |

Your left, as lord of the night, creates the three watches of darkness;

तृतीया ते दृष्टिर्दरदलितहेमाम्बुजरुचिः

Tṛtīyā te dṛṣṭirdaradalitahemāmbujaruciḥ

and Your third eye, glowing like a half-opened golden lotus,

समाधत्ते संध्यां दिवसनिशयोरन्तरचरीम्

Samādhatte saṃdhyāṃ divasaniśayorantaracarīm

establishes the twilight that moves between day and night.

विशाला कल्याणी स्फुटरुचिरयोध्या कुवलयैः

Viśālā kalyāṇī sphuṭarucirayodhyā kuvalayaiḥ

Wide, auspicious, of manifest beauty, unassailable even by blue lotuses,

कृपाधाराधारा किमपि मधुराभोगवतिका ।

Kṛpādhārādhārā kimapi madhurābhogavatikā |

a stream that holds the very flow of compassion, indescribably sweet and ample,

अवन्ती दृष्टिस्ते बहुनगरविस्तारविजया

Avantī dṛṣṭiste bahunagaravistāravijayā

and protecting: Your glance surpasses the expanse of many great cities,

ध्रुवं तत्तन्नामव्यवहरणयोग्या विजयते

Dhruvaṃ tattannāmavyavaharaṇayogyā vijayate

and is surely fit to bear each of those names in turn.

कवीनां संदर्भस्तबकमकरन्दैकरसिकं

Kavīnāṃ saṃdarbhastabakamakarandaikarasikaṃ

Delighting only in the nectar of the flower-cluster that is the poets' verses,

कटाक्षव्याक्षेपभ्रमरकलभौ कर्णयुगलम् ।

Kaṭākṣavyākṣepabhramarakalabhau karṇayugalam |

the two young bees that are Your sidelong glances

अमुञ्चन्तौ दृष्ट्वा तव नवरसास्वादतरला

Amuñcantau dṛṣṭvā tava navarasāsvādataralā

will not leave Your ears; seeing this, trembling with the taste of the nine rasas,

वसूयासंसर्गादलिकनयनं किंचिदरुणम्

Vasūyāsaṃsargādalikanayanaṃ kiṃcidaruṇam

Your forehead eye has grown a little red, touched by jealousy.

शिवे शृङ्गारार्द्रा तदितरजने कुत्सनपरा

Śive śṛṅgārārdrā taditarajane kutsanaparā

Moist with love towards Shiva, scornful towards all others,

सरोषा गङ्गायां गिरिशचरिते विस्मयवती ।

Saroṣā gaṅgāyāṃ giriśacarite vismayavatī |

angry towards Ganga, filled with wonder at the deeds of Girisha,

हराहिभ्यो भीता सरसिरुहसौभाग्यजननी

Harāhibhyo bhītā sarasiruhasaubhāgyajananī

afraid of Hara's serpents, bestowing loveliness upon the lotus,

सखीषु स्मेरा ते मयि जननी दृष्टिः सकरुणा

Sakhīṣu smerā te mayi jananī dṛṣṭiḥ sakaruṇā

smiling towards Your friends: such is Your glance, O Mother, and towards me it is full of compassion.

गते कर्णाभ्यर्णं गरुत इव पक्ष्माणि दधती

Gate karṇābhyarṇaṃ garuta iva pakṣmāṇi dadhatī

Reaching close to Your ears, bearing lashes like feathers,

पुरां भेत्तुश्चित्तप्रशमरसविद्रावणफले ।

Purāṃ bhettuścittapraśamarasavidrāvaṇaphale |

and bearing the fruit of melting the calm in the heart of the destroyer of the three cities:

इमे नेत्रे गोत्राधरपतिकुलोत्तंसकलिके

Ime netre gotrādharapatikulottaṃsakalike

O bud that crowns the family of the lord of mountains,

तवाकर्णाकृष्टस्मरशरविलासं कलयतः

Tavākarṇākṛṣṭasmaraśaravilāsaṃ kalayataḥ

these two eyes of Yours take on the very beauty of Kama's arrow drawn back to the ear.

विभक्तत्रैवर्ण्यं व्यतिकरितलीलाञ्जनतया

Vibhaktatraivarṇyaṃ vyatikaritalīlāñjanatayā

Divided into three colours by the playful collyrium mingled upon them,

विभाति त्वन्नेत्रत्रितयमिदमीशानदयिते ।

Vibhāti tvannetratritayamidamīśānadayite |

these three eyes of Yours shine, O beloved of Ishana,

पुनः स्रष्टुं देवान् द्रुहिणहरिरुद्रानुपरतान्

Punaḥ sraṣṭuṃ devān druhiṇaharirudrānuparatān

as though bearing the three gunas, rajas, sattva and tamas,

रजः सत्त्वं बिभ्रत्तम इति गुणानां त्रयमिव

Rajaḥ sattvaṃ bibhrattama iti guṇānāṃ trayamiva

in order to create anew Brahma, Hari and Rudra, who had ceased to be.

पवित्रीकर्तुं नः पशुपतिपराधीनहृदये

Pavitrīkartuṃ naḥ paśupatiparādhīnahṛdaye

O You whose heart is given wholly to Pashupati, to make us pure,

दयामित्रैर्नेत्रैररुणधवलश्यामरुचिभिः ।

Dayāmitrairnetrairaruṇadhavalaśyāmarucibhiḥ |

with Your eyes that are friends of compassion, glowing red, white and dark,

नदः शोणो गङ्गा तपनतनयेति ध्रुवममुं

Nadaḥ śoṇo gaṅgā tapanatanayeti dhruvamamuṃ

You surely bring to us the flawless confluence of three sacred waters:

त्रयाणां तीर्थानामुपनयसि संभेदमनघम्

Trayāṇāṃ tīrthānāmupanayasi saṃbhedamanagham

the red Shona river, the Ganga, and the Yamuna, daughter of the sun.

निमेषोन्मेषाभ्यां प्रलयमुदयं याति जगती

Nimeṣonmeṣābhyāṃ pralayamudayaṃ yāti jagatī

The good say, O daughter of the king of mountains,

तवेत्याहुः सन्तो धरणिधरराजन्यतनये ।

Tavetyāhuḥ santo dharaṇidhararājanyatanaye |

that with the closing and opening of Your eyes the world meets dissolution and rises again;

त्वदुन्मेषाज्जातं जगदिदमशेषं प्रलयतः

Tvadunmeṣājjātaṃ jagadidamaśeṣaṃ pralayataḥ

so I suspect that, to save from destruction this whole world

परित्रातुं शङ्के परिहृतनिमेषास्तव दृशः

Paritrātuṃ śaṅke parihṛtanimeṣāstava dṛśaḥ

born of Your opening gaze, Your eyes have given up blinking altogether.

तवापर्णे कर्णेजपनयनपैशुन्यचकिता

Tavāparṇe karṇejapanayanapaiśunyacakitā

O Aparna, frightened by the tale-bearing of Your eyes that reach as far as Your ears,

निलीयन्ते तोये नियतमनिमेषाः शफरिकाः ।

Nilīyante toye niyatamanimeṣāḥ śapharikāḥ |

the little fish surely hide themselves in the water, never closing their eyes;

इयं च श्रीर्बद्धच्छदपुटकवाटं कुवलयम्

Iyaṃ ca śrīrbaddhacchadapuṭakavāṭaṃ kuvalayam

and their beauty leaves the blue lotus at daybreak, its petal-doors closed,

जहाति प्रत्यूषे निशि च विघटय्य प्रविशति

Jahāti pratyūṣe niśi ca vighaṭayya praviśati

and at nightfall throws them open and enters in once more.

दृशा द्राघीयस्या दरदलितनीलोत्पलरुचा

Dṛśā drāghīyasyā daradalitanīlotpalarucā

With Your long glance, bright as a half-opened blue lotus,

दवीयांसं दीनं स्नपय कृपया मामपि शिवे ।

Davīyāṃsaṃ dīnaṃ snapaya kṛpayā māmapi śive |

bathe me too in compassion, wretched and far off as I am;

अनेनायं धन्यो भवति न च ते हानिरियता

Anenāyaṃ dhanyo bhavati na ca te hāniriyatā

by this he becomes blessed, and You lose nothing at all thereby,

वने वा हर्म्ये वा समकरनिपातो हिमकरः

Vane vā harmye vā samakaranipāto himakaraḥ

for the moon casts its rays alike upon the forest and upon the palace.

अरालं ते पालीयुगलमगराजन्यतनये

Arālaṃ te pālīyugalamagarājanyatanaye

O daughter of the king of mountains, in whom does the curved pair of Your eye-corners

न केषामाधत्ते कुसुमशरकोदण्डकुतुकम् ।

Na keṣāmādhatte kusumaśarakodaṇḍakutukam |

not awaken the fancy of the flower-archer's bow?

तिरश्चीनो यत्र श्रवणपथमुल्लङ्घ्य विलस

Tiraścīno yatra śravaṇapathamullaṅghya vilasa

For there Your sidelong glance, slanting past the path of the ear and shining,

न्नपाङ्गव्यासङ्गो दिशति शरसंधानधिषणाम्

Nnapāṅgavyāsaṅgo diśati śarasaṃdhānadhiṣaṇām

gives the impression of an arrow being fitted to the string.

स्फुरद्गण्डाभोगप्रतिफलितताटङ्कयुगलं

Sphuradgaṇḍābhogapratiphalitatāṭaṅkayugalaṃ

With the pair of ear-ornaments reflected on the shining expanse of Your cheeks,

चतुश्चक्रं मन्ये तव मुखमिदं मन्मथरथम् ।

Catuścakraṃ manye tava mukhamidaṃ manmatharatham |

I take this face of Yours for the four-wheeled chariot of Manmatha,

यमारुह्य द्रुह्यत्यवनिरथमर्केन्दुचरणं

Yamāruhya druhyatyavanirathamarkenducaraṇaṃ

mounting which the great hero Mara makes war upon the lord of the Pramathas,

महावीरो मारः प्रमथपतये सज्जितवते

Mahāvīro māraḥ pramathapataye sajjitavate

who has readied the earth as his chariot, with the sun and moon for its wheels.

सरस्वत्याः सूक्तीरमृतलहरीकौशलहरीः

Sarasvatyāḥ sūktīramṛtalaharīkauśalaharīḥ

O Sharvani, as You drink without pause, through the cupped hollows of Your ears,

पिबन्त्याः शर्वाणि श्रवणचुलुकाभ्यामविरलम् ।

Pibantyāḥ śarvāṇi śravaṇaculukābhyāmaviralam |

Saraswati's fine words that steal away the charm of waves of nectar,

चमत्कारश्लाघाचलितशिरसः कुण्डलगणो

Camatkāraślāghācalitaśirasaḥ kuṇḍalagaṇo

Your head moves in praise of their charm, and Your rows of earrings

झणत्कारैस्तारैः प्रतिवचनमाचष्ट इव ते

Jhaṇatkāraistāraiḥ prativacanamācaṣṭa iva te

seem, with their high ringing sound, to be giving her an answer.

असौ नासावंशस्तुहिनगिरिवंशध्वजपटि

Asau nāsāvaṃśastuhinagirivaṃśadhvajapaṭi

This bamboo stem that is Your nose, banner of the snow-mountain's line,

त्वदीयो नेदीयः फलतु फलमस्माकमुचितम् ।

Tvadīyo nedīyaḥ phalatu phalamasmākamucitam |

being so near to us, may it yield us the fruit that we deserve;

वहन्नन्तर्मुक्ताः शिशिरतरनिश्वासगलितं

Vahannantarmuktāḥ śiśirataraniśvāsagalitaṃ

for it carries pearls within, and by their sheer abundance one has slipped out with Your cool breath,

समृद्ध्या यत्तासां बहिरपि च मुक्तामणिधरः

Samṛddhyā yattāsāṃ bahirapi ca muktāmaṇidharaḥ

so that it wears a pearl on the outside as well.

प्रकृत्या रक्तायास्तव सुदति दन्तच्छदरुचेः

Prakṛtyā raktāyāstava sudati dantacchadaruceḥ

O You of lovely teeth, for the natural redness that shines upon Your lips

प्रवक्ष्ये सादृश्यं जनयतु फलं विद्रुमलता ।

Pravakṣye sādṛśyaṃ janayatu phalaṃ vidrumalatā |

I shall offer a comparison: let the coral creeper first bear fruit;

न बिम्बं तद्बिम्बप्रतिफलनरागादरुणितं

Na bimbaṃ tadbimbapratiphalanarāgādaruṇitaṃ

not the bimba fruit, for that is reddened only by reflecting those very lips,

तुलामध्यारोढुं कथमिव विलज्जेत कलया

Tulāmadhyāroḍhuṃ kathamiva vilajjeta kalayā

so how would it not be ashamed to climb into the scale, even by a fraction?

स्मितज्योत्स्नाजालं तव वदनचन्द्रस्य पिबतां

Smitajyotsnājālaṃ tava vadanacandrasya pibatāṃ

The chakora birds who drank the moonlight web of the smile from Your moon-face

चकोराणामासीदतिरसतया चञ्चुजडिमा ।

Cakorāṇāmāsīdatirasatayā cañcujaḍimā |

found their beaks grown numb from the sheer excess of its sweetness;

अतस्ते शीतांशोरमृतलहरीमम्लरुचयः

Ataste śītāṃśoramṛtalaharīmamlarucayaḥ

so now, craving something sour, they freely drink night after night

पिबन्ति स्वच्छन्दं निशि निशि भृशं काञ्जिकधिया

Pibanti svacchandaṃ niśi niśi bhṛśaṃ kāñjikadhiyā

the nectar-wave of the cold-rayed moon, taking it for sour gruel.

अविश्रान्तं पत्युर्गुणगणकथाम्रेडनजपा

Aviśrāntaṃ patyurguṇagaṇakathāmreḍanajapā

Ceaselessly repeating over the tale of Your husband's host of virtues,

जपापुष्पच्छाया तव जननि जिह्वा जयति सा ।

Japāpuṣpacchāyā tava janani jihvā jayati sā |

O Mother, Your tongue, red as the hibiscus flower, stands triumphant;

यदग्रासीनायाः स्फटिकदृषदच्छच्छविमयी

Yadagrāsīnāyāḥ sphaṭikadṛṣadacchacchavimayī

for Saraswati, seated at its tip, whose form is clear as a slab of crystal,

सरस्वत्या मूर्तिः परिणमति माणिक्यवपुषा

Sarasvatyā mūrtiḥ pariṇamati māṇikyavapuṣā

is transformed into a body of ruby.

रणे जित्वा दैत्यानपहृतशिरस्त्रैः कवचिभिर्

Raṇe jitvā daityānapahṛtaśirastraiḥ kavacibhir

Having conquered the daityas in battle, their helmets laid aside, still in their armour,

निवृत्तैश्चण्डांशत्रिपुरहरनिर्माल्यविमुखैः ।

Nivṛttaiścaṇḍāṃśatripuraharanirmālyavimukhaiḥ |

returning, and turning away from Chandesha's portion, the leavings of the destroyer of the three cities,

विशाखेन्द्रोपेन्द्रैः शशिविशदकर्पूरशकला

Viśākhendropendraiḥ śaśiviśadakarpūraśakalā

Vishakha, Indra and Upendra receive the morsels bright with camphor white as the moon,

विलीयन्ते मातस्तव वदनताम्बूलकबलाः

Vilīyante mātastava vadanatāmbūlakabalāḥ

the betel from Your own mouth, O Mother, and there they melt away.

विपञ्च्या गायन्ती विविधमपदानं पशुपतेः

Vipañcyā gāyantī vividhamapadānaṃ paśupateḥ

As Saraswati sings to her vina the many exploits of Pashupati,

त्वयारब्धे वक्तुं चलितशिरसा साधुवचने ।

Tvayārabdhe vaktuṃ calitaśirasā sādhuvacane |

and You, moving Your head, begin to utter a word of approval,

तदीयैर्माधुर्यैरपलपिततन्त्रीकलरवां

Tadīyairmādhuryairapalapitatantrīkalaravāṃ

the sweetness of Your words drowns out the murmur of her strings,

निजां वीणां वाणी निचुलयति चोलेन निभृतम्

Nijāṃ vīṇāṃ vāṇī niculayati colena nibhṛtam

and Vani quietly covers her own vina with its cloth.

कराग्रेण स्पृष्टं तुहिनगिरिणा वत्सलतया

Karāgreṇa spṛṣṭaṃ tuhinagiriṇā vatsalatayā

Touched by the snow-mountain's fingertips in tenderness,

गिरीशेनोदस्तं मुहुरधरपानाकुलतया ।

Girīśenodastaṃ muhuradharapānākulatayā |

lifted again and again by Girisha in his eagerness to drink Your lips,

करग्राह्यं शम्भोर्मुखमुकुरवृन्तं गिरिसुते

Karagrāhyaṃ śambhormukhamukuravṛntaṃ girisute

held in Shambhu's hand, the handle of the mirror that is Your face, O daughter of the mountain:

कथङ्कारं ब्रूमस्तव चिबुकमौपम्यरहितम्

Kathaṅkāraṃ brūmastava cibukamaupamyarahitam

how shall we ever speak of Your chin, which is beyond all comparison?

भुजाश्लेषान्नित्यं पुरदमयितुः कण्टकवती

Bhujāśleṣānnityaṃ puradamayituḥ kaṇṭakavatī

Ever thrilled into gooseflesh by the embrace of the arms of the destroyer of the cities,

तव ग्रीवा धत्ते मुखकमलनालश्रियमियम् ।

Tava grīvā dhatte mukhakamalanālaśriyamiyam |

this neck of Yours bears the grace of the stalk of Your lotus face;

स्वतः श्वेता कालागुरुबहुलजम्बालमलिना

Svataḥ śvetā kālāgurubahulajambālamalinā

and the pearl-string below it, white by nature but darkened with thick black aloe paste,

मृणालीलालित्यम् वहति यदधो हारलतिका

Mṛṇālīlālityam vahati yadadho hāralatikā

carries the very grace of a lotus fibre.

गले रेखास्तिस्रो गतिगमकगीतैकनिपुणे

Gale rekhāstisro gatigamakagītaikanipuṇe

O You unmatched in movement, grace-note and song, the three lines upon Your throat

विवाहव्यानद्धप्रगुणगुणसंख्याप्रतिभुवः ।

Vivāhavyānaddhapraguṇaguṇasaṃkhyāpratibhuvaḥ |

stand witness to the number of auspicious threads bound there at Your wedding;

विराजन्ते नानाविधमधुररागाकरभुवां

Virājante nānāvidhamadhurarāgākarabhuvāṃ

and they shine as though they were the markers fixing the bounds

त्रयाणां ग्रामाणां स्थितिनियमसीमान इव ते

Trayāṇāṃ grāmāṇāṃ sthitiniyamasīmāna iva te

of the three musical scales, the sources of every kind of sweet raga.

मृणालीमृद्वीनां तव भुजलतानां चतसृणां

Mṛṇālīmṛdvīnāṃ tava bhujalatānāṃ catasṛṇāṃ

The beauty of Your four creeper-arms, soft as lotus fibres,

चतुर्भिः सौन्दर्यं सरसिजभवः स्तौति वदनैः ।

Caturbhiḥ saundaryaṃ sarasijabhavaḥ stauti vadanaiḥ |

the lotus-born praises with all four of his faces;

नखेभ्यः सन्त्रस्यन् प्रथममथनादन्धकरिपो

Nakhebhyaḥ santrasyan prathamamathanādandhakaripo

for he dreads the nails of the foe of Andhaka, who once struck off a head of his,

श्चतुर्णां शीर्षाणां सममभयहस्तार्पणधिया

Ścaturṇāṃ śīrṣāṇāṃ samamabhayahastārpaṇadhiyā

and hopes to secure the gesture of safety for all four of his heads at once.

नखानामुद्द्योतैर्नवनलिनरागं विहसतां

Nakhānāmuddyotairnavanalinarāgaṃ vihasatāṃ

Your hands, whose nails by their brilliance mock the hue of a fresh lotus,

कराणां ते कान्तिं कथय कथयामः कथमुमे ।

Karāṇāṃ te kāntiṃ kathaya kathayāmaḥ kathamume |

tell us, O Uma, how are we to describe their loveliness?

कयाचिद्वा साम्यं भजतु कलया हन्त कमलं

Kayācidvā sāmyaṃ bhajatu kalayā hanta kamalaṃ

Ah, perhaps the lotus might come to some slight likeness, by a fraction,

यदि क्रीडल्लक्ष्मीचरणतललाक्षारुणदलम्

Yadi krīḍallakṣmīcaraṇatalalākṣāruṇadalam

if only its petals were reddened by the lac from Lakshmi's soles as she plays upon it.

समं देवि स्कन्दद्विपवदनपीतं स्तनयुगं

Samaṃ devi skandadvipavadanapītaṃ stanayugaṃ

O Devi, may this pair of Your breasts, suckled alike by Skanda and the elephant-faced one,

तवेदं नः खेदं हरतु सततं प्रस्नुतमुखम् ।

Tavedaṃ naḥ khedaṃ haratu satataṃ prasnutamukham |

ever flowing with milk, take away our sorrow;

यदालोक्याशङ्काकुलितहृदयो हासजनकः

Yadālokyāśaṅkākulitahṛdayo hāsajanakaḥ

for seeing them, his heart troubled by a doubt, and so causing laughter,

स्वकुम्भौ हेरम्बः परिमृशति हस्तेन झडिति

Svakumbhau herambaḥ parimṛśati hastena jhaḍiti

Heramba at once feels his own temple-bosses with his hand.

अमू ते वक्षोजावमृतरसमाणिक्यकुतुपौ

Amū te vakṣojāvamṛtarasamāṇikyakutupau

These two breasts of Yours are ruby vessels holding the essence of nectar,

न संदेहस्पन्दो नगपतिपताके मनसि नः ।

Na saṃdehaspando nagapatipatāke manasi naḥ |

O banner of the lord of mountains, and of this there is not a flicker of doubt in our mind;

पिबन्तौ तौ यस्मादविदितवधूसङ्गरसिकौ

Pibantau tau yasmādaviditavadhūsaṅgarasikau

for the two who drank at them, strangers still to the joy of a wife's embrace,

कुमारावद्यापि द्विरदवदनक्रौञ्चदलनौ

Kumārāvadyāpi dviradavadanakrauñcadalanau

the elephant-faced one and the render of Krauncha, remain boys to this very day.

वहत्यम्ब स्तम्बेरमदनुजकुम्भप्रकृतिभिः

Vahatyamba stamberamadanujakumbhaprakṛtibhiḥ

O Mother, the expanse of Your breast bears a spotless string of pearls,

समारब्धां मुक्तामणिभिरमलां हारलतिकाम् ।

Samārabdhāṃ muktāmaṇibhiramalāṃ hāralatikām |

strung with pearl-gems that came from the temples of the elephant-demon,

कुचाभोगो बिम्बाधररुचिभिरन्तः शबलितां

Kucābhogo bimbādhararucibhirantaḥ śabalitāṃ

tinged within by the glow of Your bimba-red lips,

प्रतापव्यामिश्रां पुरदमयितुः कीर्तिमिव ते

Pratāpavyāmiśrāṃ puradamayituḥ kīrtimiva te

so that it seems the fame of the destroyer of the cities, mingled with his valour.

तव स्तन्यं मन्ये धरणिधरकन्ये हृदयतः

Tava stanyaṃ manye dharaṇidharakanye hṛdayataḥ

O daughter of the mountain, I think Your milk is an ocean of milk

पयःपारावारः परिवहति सारस्वतमिव ।

Payaḥpārāvāraḥ parivahati sārasvatamiva |

welling up from Your heart, and flowing as though it were the very essence of Saraswati;

दयावत्या दत्तं द्रविडशिशुरास्वाद्य तव यत्

Dayāvatyā dattaṃ draviḍaśiśurāsvādya tava yat

for the Dravidian child, tasting what You in Your compassion gave,

कवीनां प्रौढानामजनि कमनीयः कवयिता

Kavīnāṃ prauḍhānāmajani kamanīyaḥ kavayitā

became a poet lovely among the most accomplished of poets.

हरक्रोधज्वालावलिभिरवलीढेन वपुषा

Harakrodhajvālāvalibhiravalīḍhena vapuṣā

His body licked all over by the ranks of flames of Hara's wrath,

गभीरे ते नाभीसरसि कृतसङ्गो मनसिजः ।

Gabhīre te nābhīsarasi kṛtasaṅgo manasijaḥ |

Manasija plunged for refuge into the deep lake of Your navel;

समुत्तस्थौ तस्मादचलतनये धूमलतिका

Samuttasthau tasmādacalatanaye dhūmalatikā

and from it, O daughter of the mountain, there rose a slender wisp of smoke,

जनस्तां जानीते तव जननि रोमावलिरिति

Janastāṃ jānīte tava janani romāvaliriti

and people know it, O Mother, as the line of down upon Your body.

यदेतत् कालिन्दीतनुतरतरङ्गाकृति शिवे

Yadetat kālindītanutarataraṅgākṛti śive

O consort of Shiva, that which shines faintly upon Your slender waist, like a thin ripple of the Yamuna,

कृशे मध्ये किंचिज्जननि तव यद्भाति सुधियाम् ।

Kṛśe madhye kiṃcijjanani tava yadbhāti sudhiyām |

and which the wise alone perceive there, O Mother,

विमर्दादन्योऽन्यं कुचकलशयोरन्तरगतं

Vimardādanyo'nyaṃ kucakalaśayorantaragataṃ

is as though the sky, caught between Your two breasts and thinned by their pressing together,

तनूभूतं व्योम प्रविशदिव नाभिं कुहरिणीम्

Tanūbhūtaṃ vyoma praviśadiva nābhiṃ kuhariṇīm

were entering into the hollow of Your navel.

स्थिरो गङ्गावर्तः स्तनमुकुलरोमावलिलता

Sthiro gaṅgāvartaḥ stanamukularomāvalilatā

A still whirlpool of the Ganga; the flower-bed for the creeper of down that buds into Your breasts;

कलावालं कुण्डं कुसुमशरतेजोहुतभुजः ।

Kalāvālaṃ kuṇḍaṃ kusumaśaratejohutabhujaḥ |

the fire-pit for the flame that is the power of the flower-arrowed god;

रतेर्लीलागारं किमपि तव नाभिर्गिरिसुते

Raterlīlāgāraṃ kimapi tava nābhirgirisute

the pleasure-house of Rati; something beyond all describing: Your navel, O daughter of the mountain,

बिलद्वारं सिद्धेर्गिरिशनयनानां विजयते

Biladvāraṃ siddhergiriśanayanānāṃ vijayate

stands triumphant, the cave-mouth to the attainment sought by Girisha's eyes.

निसर्गक्षीणस्य स्तनतटभरेण क्लमजुषो

Nisargakṣīṇasya stanataṭabhareṇa klamajuṣo

By nature slender, wearied by the weight of the slopes of Your breasts,

नमन्मूर्तेर्नारीतिलक शनकैस्त्रुट्यत इव ।

Namanmūrternārītilaka śanakaistruṭyata iva |

bending, and seeming slowly to be giving way, O jewel among women:

चिरं ते मध्यस्य त्रुटिततटिनीतीरतरुणा

Ciraṃ te madhyasya truṭitataṭinītīrataruṇā

may all long be well with Your waist, whose steadiness is that of a tree

समावस्थास्थेम्नो भवतु कुशलं शैलतनये

Samāvasthāsthemno bhavatu kuśalaṃ śailatanaye

standing on the bank of a river that is crumbling away, O daughter of the mountain.

कुचौ सद्यःस्विद्यत्तटघटितकूर्पासभिदुरौ

Kucau sadyaḥsvidyattaṭaghaṭitakūrpāsabhidurau

Your breasts, bursting the bodice clinging to their swiftly moistening slopes,

कषन्तौ दोर्मूले कनककलशाभौ कलयता ।

Kaṣantau dormūle kanakakalaśābhau kalayatā |

and rubbing against Your upper arms, resembling two pitchers of gold:

तव त्रातुं भङ्गादलमिति वलग्नं तनुभुवा

Tava trātuṃ bhaṅgādalamiti valagnaṃ tanubhuvā

seeing them, and judging this enough to save Your waist from breaking,

त्रिधा नद्धं देवि त्रिवलि लवलीवल्लिभिरिव

Tridhā naddhaṃ devi trivali lavalīvallibhiriva

the bodiless god has bound it threefold, O Devi, with Your three folds, as with lavali creepers.

गुरुत्वं विस्तारं क्षितिधरपतिः पार्वति निजा

Gurutvaṃ vistāraṃ kṣitidharapatiḥ pārvati nijā

O Parvati, the lord of mountains took weight and breadth from his own

न्नितम्बादाच्छिद्य त्वयि हरणरूपेण निदधे ।

Nnitambādācchidya tvayi haraṇarūpeṇa nidadhe |

slopes and bestowed them upon You as a bridal gift;

अतस्ते विस्तीर्णो गुरुरयमशेषां वसुमतीं

Ataste vistīrṇo gururayamaśeṣāṃ vasumatīṃ

and so this broad and heavy expanse of Your hips covers the whole earth

नितम्बप्राग्भारः स्थगयति लघुत्वं नयति च

Nitambaprāgbhāraḥ sthagayati laghutvaṃ nayati ca

and renders it light by comparison.

करीन्द्राणां शुण्डान् कनककदलीकाण्डपटली

Karīndrāṇāṃ śuṇḍān kanakakadalīkāṇḍapaṭalī

Having conquered with both Your thighs the trunks of lordly elephants

मुभाभ्यामूरुभ्यामुभयमपि निर्जित्य भवती ।

Mubhābhyāmūrubhyāmubhayamapi nirjitya bhavatī |

and the clustered stems of the golden plantain, both alike,

सुवृत्ताभ्यां पत्युः प्रणतिकठिनाभ्यां गिरिसुते

Suvṛttābhyāṃ patyuḥ praṇatikaṭhinābhyāṃ girisute

with Your knees, well-rounded and hardened by bowing before Your husband,

विजिग्ये जानुभ्यां विबुधकरिकुम्भद्वयमसि

Vijigye jānubhyāṃ vibudhakarikumbhadvayamasi

O daughter of the mountain, You have vanquished the two temple-bosses of the elephant of the gods.

पराजेतुं रुद्रं द्विगुणशरगर्भौ गिरिसुते

Parājetuṃ rudraṃ dviguṇaśaragarbhau girisute

To conquer Rudra, O daughter of the mountain, the god of the five arrows

निषङ्गौ जङ्घे ते विषमविशिखो बाढमकृत ।

Niṣaṅgau jaṅghe te viṣamaviśikho bāḍhamakṛta |

surely made Your two shanks into quivers, each holding twice five arrows;

यदग्रे दृश्यन्ते दशशरफलाः पादयुगली

Yadagre dṛśyante daśaśaraphalāḥ pādayugalī

for at their tips are seen ten arrowheads, in the guise of the nails

नखाग्रच्छद्मानः सुरमकुटशाणैकनिशिताः

Nakhāgracchadmānaḥ suramakuṭaśāṇaikaniśitāḥ

of Your two feet, whetted upon the single grindstone of the crowns of the gods.

श्रुतीनां मूर्धानो दधति तव यौ शेखरतया

Śrutīnāṃ mūrdhāno dadhati tava yau śekharatayā

Those two feet of Yours which the summits of the Vedas bear as their crest,

ममाप्येतौ मातः शिरसि दयया धेहि चरणौ ।

Mamāpyetau mātaḥ śirasi dayayā dhehi caraṇau |

place them too, O Mother, in compassion, upon my head;

ययोः पाद्यं पाथः पशुपतिजटाजूटतटिनी

Yayoḥ pādyaṃ pāthaḥ paśupatijaṭājūṭataṭinī

the feet whose washing-water is the river in Pashupati's matted locks,

ययोर्लाक्षालक्ष्मीररुणहरिचूडामणिरुचिः

Yayorlākṣālakṣmīraruṇaharicūḍāmaṇiruciḥ

and whose lac-red lustre is the glow of the crest-jewel upon Hari's head.

नमोवाकं ब्रूमो नयनरमणीयाय पदयो

Namovākaṃ brūmo nayanaramaṇīyāya padayo

We utter our salutation to this pair of Your feet, delightful to the eyes,

स्तवास्मै द्वन्द्वाय स्फुटरुचिरसालक्तकवते ।

Stavāsmai dvandvāya sphuṭarucirasālaktakavate |

bright with clear and lovely lac;

असूयत्यत्यन्तं यदभिहननाय स्पृहयते

Asūyatyatyantaṃ yadabhihananāya spṛhayate

for the lord of all creatures is exceedingly jealous of that ashoka tree

पशूनामीशानः प्रमदवनकङ्केलितरवे

Paśūnāmīśānaḥ pramadavanakaṅkelitarave

in the pleasure grove, which longs to be struck by them.

मृषा कृत्वा गोत्रस्खलनमथ वैलक्ष्यनमितं

Mṛṣā kṛtvā gotraskhalanamatha vailakṣyanamitaṃ

Pretending He had let another woman's name slip, and when He bent in embarrassment,

ललाटे भर्तारं चरणकमले ताडयति ते ।

Lalāṭe bhartāraṃ caraṇakamale tāḍayati te |

You struck Your husband upon the forehead with Your lotus foot;

चिरादन्तःशल्यं दहनकृतमुन्मूलितवता

Cirādantaḥśalyaṃ dahanakṛtamunmūlitavatā

and the foe of Ishana, who had long carried within him the dart of being burnt to ash,

तुलाकोटिक्वाणैः किलिकिलितमीशानरिपुणा

Tulākoṭikvāṇaiḥ kilikilitamīśānaripuṇā

tore it out at last and shouted for joy through the jingling of Your anklets.

हिमानीहन्तव्यं हिमगिरिनिवासैकचतुरौ

Himānīhantavyaṃ himagirinivāsaikacaturau

The lotus is destroyed by snow; Your feet are wholly at home on the snow mountain.

निशायां निद्राणं निशि चरमभागे च विशदौ ।

Niśāyāṃ nidrāṇaṃ niśi caramabhāge ca viśadau |

The lotus sleeps at night; Your feet are radiant even in the last watch of the night.

वरं लक्ष्मीपात्रं श्रियमतिसृजन्तौ समयिनां

Varaṃ lakṣmīpātraṃ śriyamatisṛjantau samayināṃ

The lotus is at best a seat for Lakshmi; Your feet grant abundance to those who keep the observance.

सरोजं त्वत्पादौ जननि जयतश्चित्रमिह किम्

Sarojaṃ tvatpādau janani jayataścitramiha kim

O Mother, Your feet surpass the lotus: what wonder is there in that?

पदं ते कीर्तीनां प्रपदमपदं देवि विपदां

Padaṃ te kīrtīnāṃ prapadamapadaṃ devi vipadāṃ

The forepart of Your foot, O Devi, is the seat of all renown and no seat for misfortune;

कथं नीतं सद्भिः कठिनकमठीकर्परतुलाम् ।

Kathaṃ nītaṃ sadbhiḥ kaṭhinakamaṭhīkarparatulām |

how then did the good ever bring it into comparison with a hard tortoise shell?

कथं वा बाहुभ्यामुपयमनकाले पुरभिदा

Kathaṃ vā bāhubhyāmupayamanakāle purabhidā

And how, at the hour of the wedding, did the destroyer of the cities take it in His hands

यदादाय न्यस्तं दृषदि दयमानेन मनसा

Yadādāya nyastaṃ dṛṣadi dayamānena manasā

and set it upon the grinding stone, His heart full of tenderness?

नखैर्नाकस्त्रीणां करकमलसंकोचशशिभि

Nakhairnākastrīṇāṃ karakamalasaṃkocaśaśibhi

With nails that are moons making the lotus hands of the women of heaven fold shut,

स्तरूणां दिव्यानां हसत इव ते चण्डि चरणौ ।

Starūṇāṃ divyānāṃ hasata iva te caṇḍi caraṇau |

Your feet, O Chandi, seem to laugh at the trees of heaven;

फलानि स्वःस्थेभ्यः किसलयकराग्रेण ददतां

Phalāni svaḥsthebhyaḥ kisalayakarāgreṇa dadatāṃ

for those trees, with their tendril hands, give their fruits only to the dwellers in heaven,

दरिद्रेभ्यो भद्रां श्रियमनिशमह्नाय ददतौ

Daridrebhyo bhadrāṃ śriyamaniśamahnāya dadatau

while Your feet give auspicious abundance to the poor, at once and unceasingly.

ददाने दीनेभ्यः श्रियमनिशमाशानुसदृशी

Dadāne dīnebhyaḥ śriyamaniśamāśānusadṛśī

Giving ceaselessly to the wretched a wealth measured to their every hope,

ममन्दं सौन्दर्यप्रकरमकरन्दम् विकिरति ।

Mamandaṃ saundaryaprakaramakarandam vikirati |

and scattering unstintingly the nectar that is the mass of Your beauty,

तवास्मिन् मन्दारस्तबकसुभगे यातु चरणे

Tavāsmin mandārastabakasubhage yātu caraṇe

upon this foot of Yours, lovely as a cluster of mandara blossoms,

निमज्जन्मज्जीवः करणचरणः षट्चरणताम्

Nimajjanmajjīvaḥ karaṇacaraṇaḥ ṣaṭcaraṇatām

may my life, sinking in with the senses for its feet, attain the state of a six-footed bee.

पदन्यासक्रीडापरिचयमिवारब्धुमनसः

Padanyāsakrīḍāparicayamivārabdhumanasaḥ

As though wishing to learn the play of Your footsteps,

स्खलन्तस्ते खेलं भवनकलहंसा न जहति ।

Skhalantaste khelaṃ bhavanakalahaṃsā na jahati |

the royal geese of Your palace stumble along and will not leave Your play;

अतस्तेषां शिक्षां सुभगमणिमञ्जीररणित

Atasteṣāṃ śikṣāṃ subhagamaṇimañjīraraṇita

and so, O You of lovely conduct, Your lotus foot seems to be teaching them,

च्छलादाचक्षाणं चरणकमलं चारुचरिते

Cchalādācakṣāṇaṃ caraṇakamalaṃ cārucarite

under the pretext of the ringing of its lovely jewelled anklets.

गतास्ते मञ्चत्वं द्रुहिणहरिरुद्रेश्वरभृतः

Gatāste mañcatvaṃ druhiṇaharirudreśvarabhṛtaḥ

Brahma, Hari, Rudra and Ishvara have become the legs that bear Your couch;

शिवः स्वच्छच्छायाघटितकपटप्रच्छदपटः ।

Śivaḥ svacchacchāyāghaṭitakapaṭapracchadapaṭaḥ |

and Shiva is the coverlet, seeming a disguise woven of His own clear radiance;

त्वदीयानां भासां प्रतिफलनरागारुणतया

Tvadīyānāṃ bhāsāṃ pratiphalanarāgāruṇatayā

and being reddened by the reflected glow of Your own radiance,

शरीरी शृङ्गारो रस इव दृशां दोग्धि कुतुकम्

Śarīrī śṛṅgāro rasa iva dṛśāṃ dogdhi kutukam

He milks the eyes of their wonder, like the sentiment of love made flesh.

अराला केशेषु प्रकृतिसरला मन्दहसिते

Arālā keśeṣu prakṛtisaralā mandahasite

Curling in Your hair, but naturally straight in Your gentle smile;

शिरीषाभा चित्ते दृषदुपलशोभा कुचतटे ।

Śirīṣābhā citte dṛṣadupalaśobhā kucataṭe |

soft as the shirisha flower in Your heart, yet firm as stone at Your breast;

भृशं तन्वी मध्ये पृथुरुरसिजारोहविषये

Bhṛśaṃ tanvī madhye pṛthururasijārohaviṣaye

exceedingly slender at the waist, yet ample where the breasts rise:

जगत्त्रातुं शम्भोर्जयति करुणा काचिदरुणा

Jagattrātuṃ śambhorjayati karuṇā kācidaruṇā

triumphant is that indescribable crimson compassion of Shambhu, come to save the world.

कलङ्कः कस्तूरी रजनिकरबिम्बं जलमयं

Kalaṅkaḥ kastūrī rajanikarabimbaṃ jalamayaṃ

The dark mark is musk, the moon's orb a vessel of water,

कलाभिः कर्पूरैर्मरकतकरण्डं निबिडितम् ।

Kalābhiḥ karpūrairmarakatakaraṇḍaṃ nibiḍitam |

an emerald casket packed tight with camphor, which are its digits:

अतस्त्वद्भोगेन प्रतिदिनमिदं रिक्तकुहरं

Atastvadbhogena pratidinamidaṃ riktakuharaṃ

and so, emptied of its contents each day by Your enjoyment of it,

विधिर्भूयो भूयो निबिडयति नूनं तव कृते

Vidhirbhūyo bhūyo nibiḍayati nūnaṃ tava kṛte

the Creator surely fills up again and again, for Your sake alone.

पुरारातेरन्तःपुरमसि ततस्त्वच्चरणयोः

Purārāterantaḥpuramasi tatastvaccaraṇayoḥ

You are the inner chamber of the foe of the cities; and therefore the rule of worship

सपर्यामर्यादा तरलकरणानामसुलभा ।

Saparyāmaryādā taralakaraṇānāmasulabhā |

at Your feet is hard for those of unsteady senses to reach;

तथा ह्येते नीताः शतमखमुखाः सिद्धिमतुलां

Tathā hyete nītāḥ śatamakhamukhāḥ siddhimatulāṃ

for even Indra of the hundred sacrifices and the other gods were brought to matchless attainment

तव द्वारोपान्तस्थितिभिरणिमाद्याभिरमराः

Tava dvāropāntasthitibhiraṇimādyābhiramarāḥ

by the powers of anima and the rest, who stand at Your very doorway.

कलत्रं वैधात्रं कतिकति भजन्ते न कवयः

Kalatraṃ vaidhātraṃ katikati bhajante na kavayaḥ

How many poets do not win the consort of the Creator, the goddess of speech?

श्रियो देव्याः को वा न भवति पतिः कैरपि धनैः ।

Śriyo devyāḥ ko vā na bhavati patiḥ kairapi dhanaiḥ |

And who, by some wealth or other, does not become the husband of the goddess Shri?

महादेवं हित्वा तव सति सतीनामचरमे

Mahādevaṃ hitvā tava sati satīnāmacarame

But, O chaste one, foremost among the virtuous, apart from Mahadeva

कुचाभ्यामासङ्गः कुरवकतरोरप्यसुलभः

Kucābhyāmāsaṅgaḥ kuravakatarorapyasulabhaḥ

the embrace of Your breasts is beyond reach even for the kuravaka tree.

गिरामाहुर्देवीं द्रुहिणगृहिणीमागमविदो

Girāmāhurdevīṃ druhiṇagṛhiṇīmāgamavido

Those versed in scripture call the goddess of speech the consort of Brahma,

हरेः पत्नीं पद्मां हरसहचरीमद्रितनयाम् ।

Hareḥ patnīṃ padmāṃ harasahacarīmadritanayām |

Padma the wife of Hari, and the mountain's daughter the companion of Hara;

तुरीया कापि त्वं दुरधिगमनिःसीममहिमा

Turīyā kāpi tvaṃ duradhigamaniḥsīmamahimā

but You are some fourth, whose limitless greatness cannot be reached,

महामाया विश्वं भ्रमयसि परब्रह्ममहिषि

Mahāmāyā viśvaṃ bhramayasi parabrahmamahiṣi

the great Maya, O queen of the supreme Brahman, and You set the universe whirling.

कदा काले मातः कथय कलितालक्तकरसं

Kadā kāle mātaḥ kathaya kalitālaktakarasaṃ

O Mother, tell me, when will that hour come when I, a seeker of knowledge,

पिबेयं विद्यार्थी तव चरणनिर्णेजनजलम् ।

Pibeyaṃ vidyārthī tava caraṇanirṇejanajalam |

shall drink the water that has washed Your feet, red with their lac?

प्रकृत्या मूकानामपि च कविताकारणतया

Prakṛtyā mūkānāmapi ca kavitākāraṇatayā

When will it, being the very cause of poetry even in those born dumb,

कदा धत्ते वाणीमुखकमलताम्बूलरसताम्

Kadā dhatte vāṇīmukhakamalatāmbūlarasatām

take on the savour of the betel from the lotus mouth of the goddess of speech?

सरस्वत्या लक्ष्म्या विधिहरिसपत्नो विहरते

Sarasvatyā lakṣmyā vidhiharisapatno viharate

He who worships You lives as a rival to Brahma and Hari through Saraswati and Lakshmi,

रतेः पातिव्रत्यं शिथिलयति रम्येण वपुषा ।

Rateḥ pātivratyaṃ śithilayati ramyeṇa vapuṣā |

and by the beauty of his form he loosens even Rati's fidelity to her lord;

चिरं जीवन्नेव क्षपितपशुपाशव्यतिकरः

Ciraṃ jīvanneva kṣapitapaśupāśavyatikaraḥ

and living long, with the whole bondage of the fettered soul destroyed,

परानन्दाभिख्यम् रसयति रसं त्वद्भजनवान्

Parānandābhikhyam rasayati rasaṃ tvadbhajanavān

he savours the essence that bears the name of supreme bliss.

प्रदीपज्वालाभिर्दिवसकरनीराजनविधिः

Pradīpajvālābhirdivasakaranīrājanavidhiḥ

Waving a lamp-flame before the maker of the day;

सुधासूतेश्चन्द्रोपलजललवैरर्घ्यरचना ।

Sudhāsūteścandropalajalalavairarghyaracanā |

offering water dripped from moonstones as libation to the source of nectar;

स्वकीयैरम्भोभिः सलिलनिधिसौहित्यकरणं

Svakīyairambhobhiḥ salilanidhisauhityakaraṇaṃ

satisfying the ocean with waters that are its own:

त्वदीयाभिर्वाग्भिस्तव जननि वाचां स्तुतिरियम्

Tvadīyābhirvāgbhistava janani vācāṃ stutiriyam

such, O Mother of all speech, is this praise of You made with words that are Your own.

समानीतः पद्भ्यां मणिमुकुरतामम्बरमणि

Samānītaḥ padbhyāṃ maṇimukuratāmambaramaṇi

The sun of the sky, brought down by Your feet to become a jewelled mirror,

र्भयादास्यादन्तःस्तिमितकिरणश्रेणिमसृणः ।

Rbhayādāsyādantaḥstimitakiraṇaśreṇimasṛṇaḥ |

his ranks of rays grown still and soft within, out of fear,

दधाति त्वद्वक्त्रंप्रतिफलनमश्रान्तविकचं

Dadhāti tvadvaktraṃpratiphalanamaśrāntavikacaṃ

holds the reflection of Your face, unwearyingly open,

निरातङ्कं चन्द्रान्निजहृदयपङ्केरुहमिव

Nirātaṅkaṃ candrānnijahṛdayapaṅkeruhamiva

like his own heart-lotus, unafraid at last of the moon.

समुद्भूतस्थूलस्तनभरमुरश्चारु हसितं

Samudbhūtasthūlastanabharamuraścāru hasitaṃ

A full bosom, a breast, a lovely smile,

कटाक्षे कन्दर्पः कतिचन कदम्बद्युति वपुः ।

Kaṭākṣe kandarpaḥ katicana kadambadyuti vapuḥ |

Kandarpa in the sidelong glance, and a body of kadamba radiance:

हरस्य त्वद्भ्रान्तिं मनसि जनयन्ति स्म विमलाः

Harasya tvadbhrāntiṃ manasi janayanti sma vimalāḥ

these arose in the minds of the pure, and gave Hara the illusion that they were You;

भवत्या ये भक्ताः परिणतिरमीषामियमुमे

Bhavatyā ye bhaktāḥ pariṇatiramīṣāmiyamume

O Uma, this is what those who are devoted to You come at last to be.

निधे नित्यस्मेरे निरवधिगुणे नीतिनिपुणे

Nidhe nityasmere niravadhiguṇe nītinipuṇe

O Treasure, ever smiling, of boundless virtues, skilled in right conduct,

निराघातज्ञाने नियमपरचित्तैकनिलये ।

Nirāghātajñāne niyamaparacittaikanilaye |

of unobstructed knowledge, sole dwelling of the minds devoted to the observances,

नियत्या निर्मुक्ते निखिलनिगमान्तस्तुतिपदे

Niyatyā nirmukte nikhilanigamāntastutipade

free from all destiny, the theme of praise in every Vedanta,

निरातङ्के नित्ये निगमय ममापि स्तुतिमिमाम्

Nirātaṅke nitye nigamaya mamāpi stutimimām

free from all fear, eternal: bring this praise of mine also to its completion.

इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यस्य श्रीगोविन्दभगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य श्रीमच्छङ्करभगवतः कृतौ सौन्दर्यलहरी सम्पूर्णा॥ ॐ तत्सत्॥

Iti śrīmat-paramahaṃsaparivrājakācāryasya śrīgovindabhagavatpūjyapādaśiṣyasya śrīmacchaṅkarabhagavataḥ kṛtau saundaryalaharī sampūrṇā oṃ tat sat

Thus is completed the Saundarya Lahari, composed by the revered Shankara, the supreme ascetic and wandering teacher, disciple of the venerable Govinda Bhagavatpada. Om tat sat.