Your naturally beautiful reflection will gain entry into the clear waters of
Gambhira River, as into a clear mind.
Therefore it is not fitting that you, outof obstinancy, should render futile her glances which are the darting leaps oflittle fish, as white as night-lotus flowers.
Removing her blue garment which is her water, exposing her hips which areher banks, it is clutched by cane-branches as if grasped by her hands.
Departure will inevitably be difficult for you who tarries,
O friend.
Who,having experienced enjoyment, is able to forsake another whose loins are laidbare?
A cool breeze, grown pleasant through contact with the scent of the earthrefreshed by your showers, which is inhaled by elephants with a pleasingsound at their nostrils, and which is the ripener of wild figs in the forest,gently fans you who desire to proceed to Devagiri.
There, you, taking the form of a cloud of flowers, should bathe Skanda, whoalways resides there, with a shower of flowers, wet with the water of theheavenly Ganges.
For he is the energy surpassing the sun, that was born intothe mouth of the fire by the bearer of the crescent moon6 for the purpose ofprotecting the forces of of the sons of Indra.
Then, with claps of thunder, magnified by their own echoes, you should causeto dance the peacock of the son of Agni, the corners of whose eyes are bathedby the light of the crescent moon at the head of Shiva and whose discardedtail-feather, ringed by rays of light,
Parvati placed behind her ear, next to the petal of the blue lotus, out of her love for her son.
Having worshipped that god born in a reedbed, after you have travelledfurther, your route abandoned by siddha-couples carrying lutes because theyfear rain-drops, you should descend while paying homage to the glory
Randideva, born from the slaughter of the daughter of Surabhi, and whoarose on earth in the form or a river.
When you, the robber of the complexion of bearer of the bow Sharnga, stoopto drink the water of that river, which is broad but appears narrow from adistance, those who range the skies, when they look down, will certainly seethat the stream resembles a single string of pearls on the earth, enlarged at its centre with a sapphire.
Having crossed the river, go on, making yourself into a form worthy of thecuriosity of the eyes of the women of Dashapura, adept in the amorous play oftheir tendril-like eyebrows, whose dark and variageted brilliance flashes up atthe fluttering of their eyelashes, and whose splendour has been stolen from thebees attendant on tossing kunda flowers.
Then, entering the district of Brahmavarta, accompanied by your shadow, youshould proceed to the plain of the Kurus, evocative of the battle of thewarriors, where the one whose bow is Gandiva brought down showers ofhundreds of sharp arrows, just as you bring down showers of rain on the facesof the lotuses.
Having partaken of the waters of the Sarasvati which were enjoyed by thebearer of the plough who was averse to war on account of his love for hiskinsfolk, after he had forsaken the wine of agreeable flavour which wasmarked by the reflection of Revati’s eyes, you, friend, will be purified within:only your colour will be black.
From there you should go to the daughter of Jahnu above the Kanakhulamountains, where she emerges from the Himalaya, who provided a flight ofsteps to heaven for the sons of Sagara, and who laughing with her foam at thefrown on the face of Gauri, made a grab at the hair of Shambhu and claspedhis crescent moon with her wave-hands.
If you, like an elephant of the gods, your front partly inclining down from thesky to drink her waters which are pure as crystal, in an instrant, because ofyour reflection on her gliding current, she would become very lovely, as ifunited with the Yamuna in second location.
Having reached the mountain which is the source of that very river, whosecrags are made fragrant with the scent of the musk of the deer that reclinethere, white with snow, reposing on the summit which dispells the fatigue oftravel, you will take on the splendour like that of the white soil cast up by the bull of the three-eyed one.
If, when the wind is blowing, a forest fire were to afflict the mountain, ignited by the friction of branches of the sarala trees, burning with its flames the tailhairs of the yaks, it would befit you to extinguish it completely with thousands of torrents of water, for the resources of the great have as their fruit the alleviation of those who suffer misfortune.
The sharabha there, intent on springing in anger at you who departs fromtheir path, would lunge at you, only to break their own limbs.
You shouldcover them with a tumultuous storm of hail and rain.
Who, intent upon afruitless endeavour, would not be the object of contempt?
There, with your body bowed in devotion, you should circumambulate thefoot-print of the one wears the half-moon diadem, which is continuallyheaped with offerings from ascetics, and at the sight of which, at their departure from the bodies, cleansed of their misdeeds, the faithful are able toachieve the immuteable state of membership of Shiva’s following.
The bamboo canes filled with the wind sound sweetly.
Victory over the threecities is celebrated in song by the Kinnari demi-gods.
If your rumbling like amuraja drum resounds in the caves, the theme of a concert for Shiva will becomplete.
Having passed various features on the flanks of the Himalayas, proceed thencenorth to Krauncarandhra, gateway for wild geese, which was the route to gloryfor Bhrgupati—you whose beautiful form is flat and long, like the dark bluefoot of Vishnu uplifted for the suppression of Bali.
And having gone further, become the guest of Mt Kailasa, the seams of whosepeaks were rent by the arms of the ten-faced one and which is a mirror forthe consorts of the Thirty Gods, and which, extending with lofty peaks likewhite lotuses, stands in the sky like the loud laughter of the three-eyed one accumulated day by day.
I foresee that when you, resembling glossy powdered kohl, reach the foot ofthat mountain as white as a freshly cut piece of ivory, the imminent beautywill be fit to be gazed upon with an unerring eye, like the dark blue garmentplaced on the shoulder of the plough-carrier.
And if Gauri should take a walk on the foot of that pleasure-hill, lent a handby Shiva who has set aside his serpent-bracelet, your shape transformed into aflight of steps, your torrents of water withheld within yourself, become astairway rising in front of her for the ascent of the jewel-slopes.
There the young women of the gods will use you as a shower—you whosewaters are brought forth by the striking together of the diamonds in theirbracelets.
If, friend, you were unable to release yourself from them, beingencountered in the hot season, startle them who are intent on playing withyou, with claps of thunder, harsh to the ear.
Partaking of the waters of Manasa which bring forth golden lotuses, bringingat pleasure momentary delight like a cloth upon the face of Airavata, shakingwith your winds the sprouts of wish-fulfilling trees like garments, enjoy theking of mountains with various playful actions,
O cloud.
Once you, who wander at will, have seen Alaka seated in the lap of themountain like a lover, with the Ganges like a garment that has slipped, youwill not fail to recognise her again with her lofty palaces and bearing hosts ofclouds with showers of rain at the time of year when you are present,resembling a woman whose tresses are interwoven with strings of pearls.
