Prefatory 0
In plain words
The traditional account places this hymn during Shankara’s debate with Mandana and his wife. Challenged on erotic knowledge, Shankara sets a limit of one month, leaves his own body guarded by disciples, and enters the body of King Amaruka. When the time he named has passed, some of the disciples, anxious, go disguised as singers, stand before the king and begin to praise him with this hymn.
Word for word
Sri Shankara, the world-teacher, set out on his philosophical conquest and defeated in debate Mandana, the exponent of the Veda’s ritual portion who lived in the northern city of Mahishmati. Mandana’s wife said, “Unless you defeat me too, your victory is not complete.” She debated with him and, after being defeated, questioned him in the field of erotic knowledge. For that he set a limit of one month, left his body in a mountain cave under his disciples’ watch, and entered the body of the dead king Amaruka. While he was experiencing sensual enjoyment with the king’s hundred wives, the time he had specified passed. Some disciples, concerned, went disguised as singers, stood before the king and began to praise him with this hymn.