सोमवंशकरः श्रीमान् अयं राजा भवेद् इति सर्वेभ्यो मतिमानेभ्यो ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठो ऽभवन् मुने
This illustrious king, originator of the Lunar dynasty, became the eldest and best among all the wise.
यत्र च क्रतवो वृत्ता इलस्य नृपतेः शुभाः यत्र पुंस्त्वम् अवाप्याथ यत्र पुत्राः समागताः
There, O sage, the auspicious sacrifices of King Ila were performed, where he regained manhood and where his sons assembled.
यक्षिणीदत्तनृत्यादिगीतसौभाग्यमङ्गलाः नद्यो भूत्वा यत्र गङ्गां संगतास् तानि नारद
O Narada, where the rivers, endowed with the good fortune and auspiciousness of the dance and song given by the Yakshini, joined the Ganga.
तीर्थानि शुभदान्य् आसन् सहस्राण्य् अथ षोडश उभयोस् तीरयोस् तात तत्र शंभुर् इलेश्वरः तेषु स्नानं च दानं च सर्वक्रतुफलप्रदम्
There, O dear one, were sixteen thousand auspicious holy places on both banks, where Shambhu, Lord of Ila, resides. Bathing and giving gifts there bestow the fruit of all sacrifices.
चक्रतीर्थम् इति ख्यातं ब्रह्महत्यादिनाशनम् यत्र चक्रेश्वरो देवश् चक्रम् आप यतो हरिः
It is known as Cakra-tirtha, the destroyer of brahminicide and other sins, where the Lord of the Disc, the god, obtained the discus, and where Hari did so.
यत्र विष्णुः स्वयं स्थित्वा चक्रार्थं शंकरं प्रभुः पूजयाम् आस तत् तीर्थं चक्रतीर्थम् उदाहृतम्
Where Vishnu himself stood, desiring the discus, and worshipped Shankara, the Lord—there that holy place is called Cakra-tirtha.
यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते दक्षक्रतौ प्रवृत्ते तु देवानां च समागमे
By merely hearing this, one is freed from all sins; when Daksha's sacrifice commenced and the gods assembled together—
दक्षेण दूषिते देवे शिवे शर्वे महेश्वरे अनाह्वाने सुरेशस्य दक्षचित्ते मलीमसे
When Daksha, corrupted in mind, failed to invite Shiva, Sharva, the great Lord, and thus defiled the gods—
दाक्षायण्या श्रुते वाक्ये अनाह्वानस्य कारणे अहल्यायां चोक्तवत्यां कुपिताभूत् सुरेश्वरी
When Daksha's daughter heard the words explaining the reason for the lack of invitation, and when Ahalya spoke of it, the queen of the gods became enraged.
पितरं नाशये पापं क्षमेयं न कथंचन शृण्वती दोषवाक्यानि पित्रा चोक्तानि भर्तरि
I could destroy my father for this sin; I could never forgive it, having heard these words of blame spoken by my father against my husband.
पत्युः शृण्वन्ति या निन्दां तासां पापावधिः कुतः यादृशस् तादृशो वापि पतिः स्त्रीणां परा गतिः
For those women who listen to slander of their husband, what limit is there to their sin? As is the husband, so is the supreme destiny of women.
किं पुनः सकलाधीशो महादेवो जगद्गुरुः श्रुतं तन्निन्दनं तर्हि धारयामि न देहकम्
How much more so when the Lord of all, Mahadeva, the teacher of the world, is slandered—having heard such words, I will not sustain this body.
तस्मात् त्यक्ष्य इमं देहम् इत्य् उक्त्वा सा महासती कोपेन महताविष्टा प्रजज्वाल सुरेश्वरी
Therefore, I shall abandon this body—so saying, the great and virtuous goddess, overwhelmed by intense anger, blazed forth.
शिवैकचेतना देहं बलाद् योगाच् च तत्यजे महेश्वरो ऽपि सकलं वृत्तम् आकर्ण्य नारदात्
With her consciousness fixed on Shiva alone, she forcefully abandoned her body through yoga; and the great Lord, having heard all that had happened from Narada—
दृष्ट्वा चुकोप पप्रच्छ जयां च विजयां तथा ते ऊचतुर् उभे देवं दक्षक्रतुविनाशनम्
Seeing this, he grew angry and questioned Jaya and Vijaya; both told the god about the destruction of Daksha's sacrifice.
दाक्षायण्या इति श्रुत्वा मखं प्रायान् महेश्वरः भीमैर् गणैः परिवृतो भूतनाथैः समं ययौ
Hearing that Daksha's daughter had perished, Maheshvara set out for the sacrifice, surrounded by fearsome hosts and accompanied by the lords of spirits.
मखस् तैर् वेष्टितः सर्वो देवब्रह्मपुरस्कृतः दक्षेण यजमानेन शुद्धभावेन रक्षितः
That sacrifice was entirely encircled by them, with the gods and Brahma at the forefront, and was protected with pure intent by Daksha, the officiating priest.
वसिष्ठादिभिर् अत्युग्रैर् मुनिभिः परिवारितः इन्द्रादित्याद्यैर् वसुभिः सर्वतःपरिपालितः
It was surrounded by the exceedingly powerful sages, beginning with Vasishtha, and guarded on all sides by Indra, Aditya, the Vasus, and others.
ऋग्यजुःसामवेदैश् च स्वाहाशब्दैर् अलंकृतः श्रद्धा पुष्टिस् तथा तुष्टिः शान्तिर् लज्जा सरस्वती
It was adorned with the chants of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas, and with the utterance of 'svaha'; faith, nourishment, satisfaction, peace, modesty, and Sarasvati were present.
भूमिर् द्यौः शर्वरी क्षान्तिर् उषा आशा जया मतिः एताभिश् च तथान्याभिः सर्वतः समलंकृतः
Earth, heaven, night, forbearance, dawn, hope, victory, and wisdom—together with these and others, it was adorned on all sides.
त्वष्ट्रा महात्मना चापि कारितो विश्वकर्मणा सुरभिर् नन्दिनी धेनुः कामधुक् कामदोहिनी
By the great soul Tvashtar, the divine craftsman, Surabhi, Nandini, the wish-fulfilling cow, and Kamadhenu, the bestower of desires, were made.
एताभिः कामवर्षाभिः सर्वकामसमृद्धिमान् कल्पवृक्षः पारिजातो लताः कल्पलतादिकाः
With these wish-granting beings, possessing all desired prosperity, the wish-fulfilling tree, Parijata, and creepers such as the Kalpa vine were present.
यद् यद् इष्टतमं किंचित् तत्र तस्मिन् मखे स्थितम् स्वयं मघवता पूष्णा हरिणा परिरक्षितः
Whatever was most desired was present at that sacrifice, and it was personally protected by Maghavan (Indra), Pushan, and Hari (Vishnu).
दीयतां भुज्यतां वापि क्रियतां स्थीयतां सुखम् एतैश् च सर्वतो वाक्यैर् दक्षस्य पूजितं मखम्
Let it be given, enjoyed, performed, or happily maintained—thus, with such words from all sides, Daksha's sacrifice was honored.
आदौ तु वीरभद्रो ऽसौ भद्रकाल्या युतो ययौ शोककोपपरीतात्मा पश्चाच् छूलपिनाकधृक्
At first, Virabhadra, accompanied by Bhadrakali, went forth, his mind seized by grief and anger; afterward, the wielder of the trident and the bow appeared.
अभ्याययौ महादेवो महाभूतैर् अलंकृतः तानि भूतानि परितो मखे वेष्ट्य महेश्वरम्
Then Mahadeva approached, adorned with great spirits; those beings surrounded Maheshvara on all sides at the sacrifice.
क्रतुं विध्वंसयाम् आसुस् तत्र क्षोभो महान् अभूत् पलायन्त ततः केचित् केचिद् गत्वा ततः शिवम्
They began to destroy the sacrifice there; a great tumult arose. Some fled from there, while others went to Shiva.
केचित् स्तुवन्ति देवेशं केचित् कुप्यन्ति शंकरम् एवं विध्वंसितं यज्ञं दृष्ट्वा पूषा समभ्यगात्
Some praised the Lord of the gods, some grew angry at Shankara. Seeing the sacrifice thus ruined, Pushan approached.
पूष्णो दन्तान् अथोत्पाट्य इन्द्रं व्यद्रावयत् क्षणात् भगस्य चक्षुषी विप्र वीरभद्रो व्यपाटयत्
Then, having uprooted Pushan's teeth, Virabhadra instantly drove away Indra; O sage, he also tore out Bhaga's eyes.
दिवाकरं पुनर् दोर्भ्यां परिभ्राम्य समाक्षिपत् ततः सुरगणाः सर्वे विष्णुं ते शरणं ययुः
He seized the Sun with his arms, spinning him around and casting him down. Then all the hosts of gods sought refuge with Vishnu.