मृत्युना सह संमन्त्र्य नैमिषारण्यवासिनः सर्वे त्यक्त्वा स्वाश्रमं तं शमित्रा सह नारद
After consulting with Death, all the residents of Naimiṣāraṇya, along with the subduer of Death, left their hermitages, O Nārada.
अग्निमात्रम् उपादाय त्यक्त्वा पात्रादिकं तु यत् क्रतुनिष्पत्तये जग्मुर् गौतमीं प्रति सत्वराः
Taking only the sacred fire and abandoning their vessels and other items, they quickly went toward the Gautamī river for the completion of the sacrifice.
तत्र स्नात्वा महेशानं रक्षणायोपतस्थिरे कृताञ्जलिपुटास् ते तु तुष्टुवुस् त्रिदशेश्वरम्
There, after bathing, they approached the great lord for protection; with joined palms, they praised the lord of the gods.
यो लीलया विश्वम् इदं चकार धाता विधाता भुवनत्रयस्य यो विश्वरूपः सदसत्परो यः सोमेश्वरं तं शरणं व्रजामः
He who playfully created this universe, who is the creator and ordainer of the three worlds, who is of universal form and beyond existence and non-existence—to that lord of Soma we take refuge.
इच्छामात्रेण यः सर्वं हन्ति पाति करोति च तम् अहं त्रिदशेशानं शरणं यामि शंकरम्
I seek refuge in Śaṃkara, the Lord of the gods, who, by mere will, destroys, protects, and creates all things.
महानलं महाकायं महानागविभूषणम् महामूर्तिधरं देवं शरणं यामि शंकरम्
I seek refuge in Śaṃkara, the god of great fire, of vast form, adorned with the great serpent, who bears the mighty form.
ततः प्रोवाच भगवान् मृत्यो का प्रीतिर् अस्तु ते
Then the blessed Lord spoke: 'May you have satisfaction, O Mṛtyu.'
राक्षसेभ्यो भयं घोरम् आपन्नं त्रिदशेश्वर यज्ञम् अस्मांश् च रक्षस्व यावत् सत्त्रं समाप्यते
O Lord of the gods, terrible fear has arisen from the Rākṣasas; protect the sacrifice and us until the rite is completed.
तथा चकार भगवांस् त्रिनेत्रो वृषभध्वजः शमित्रा मृत्युना सत्त्रम् ऋषीणां पूर्णतां ययौ
Thus did the blessed three-eyed, bull-bannered Lord act; with Mṛtyu as ally, the sacrifice of the sages reached completion.
हविषां भागधेयाय आजग्मुर् अमराः क्रमात् तान् अवोचन् मुनिगणाः संक्षुब्धा मृत्युना सह
The immortals came in order for their share of the offerings; the hosts of sages, agitated along with Mṛtyu, addressed them.
अस्मन्मखविनाशाय राक्षसाः प्रेषिता यतः तस्माद् भवद्भ्यः पापिष्ठा राक्षसाः सन्तु शत्रवः
Because the Rākṣasas were sent to destroy our sacrifice, therefore, let the Rākṣasas, most wicked, be your enemies.
ततः प्रभृति देवानां राक्षसा वैरिणो ऽभवन् कृत्यां च वडवां तत्र देवाश् च ऋषयो ऽमलाः
From that time, the Rākṣasas became the enemies of the gods; there, the gods and the pure sages created the mare of magic power.
मृत्योर् भार्या भव त्वं ताम् इत्य् उक्त्वा ते ऽभ्यषेचयन् अभिषेकोदकं यत् तु सा नदी वडवाभवत्
Saying, 'Be the wife of Mṛtyu,' they anointed her; the water of consecration became the river called Vaḍavā.
मृत्युना स्थापितं लिङ्गं महानलम् इति श्रुतम् ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थं वडवासंगमं विदुः
The liṅga established by Mṛtyu is known as Mahānala; from that time, that sacred place is called Vaḍavāsaṃgama.
महानलो यत्र देवस् तत् तीर्थं भुक्तिमुक्तिदम् सहस्रं तत्र तीर्थानां सर्वाभीष्टप्रदायिनाम् उभयोस् तीरयोस् तत्र स्मरणाद् अघघातिनाम्
Where the god Mahānala is, that sacred place grants enjoyment and liberation; there are a thousand holy places granting all desires, on both banks, and remembrance there destroys all sin.
आत्मतीर्थम् इति ख्यातं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं नृणाम् तस्य प्रभावं वक्ष्यामि यत्र ज्ञानेश्वरः शिवः
Known as Ātmatīrtha, it grants enjoyment and liberation to people; I will describe its greatness, where Śiva, the Lord of Knowledge, resides.
दत्त इत्य् अपि विख्यातः सो ऽत्रिपुत्रो हरप्रियः दुर्वाससः प्रियो भ्राता सर्वज्ञानविशारदः स गत्वा पितरं प्राह विनयेन प्रणम्य च
He is also known as Datta, son of Atri, beloved of Hara, dear brother of Durvāsas, skilled in all knowledge; going to his father, he spoke after bowing with humility.
ब्रह्मज्ञानं कथं मे स्यात् कं पृच्छामि क्व यामि च
How may I obtain knowledge of Brahman? Whom should I ask, and where should I go?
तच् छ्रुत्वात्रिः पुत्रवाक्यं ध्यात्वा वचनम् अब्रवीत्
Hearing his son's words, Atri meditated and then spoke.
गौतमीं पुत्र गच्छ त्वं तत्र स्तुहि महेश्वरम् स तु प्रीतो यदैव स्यात् तदा ज्ञानम् अवाप्स्यसि
Go to the Gautamī, my son, and there praise Maheśvara; when he is pleased, then you will obtain knowledge.
तथेत्य् उक्त्वा तदात्रेयो गङ्गां गत्वा शुचिर् यतः कृताञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा भक्त्या तुष्टाव शंकरम्
Saying 'so be it,' Datta went to the Gaṅgā, pure and self-restrained; with folded hands, he worshipped Śaṃkara with devotion.
संसारकूपे पतितो ऽस्मि दैवान् मोहेन गुप्तो भवदुःखपङ्के अज्ञाननाम्ना तमसावृतो ऽहं परं न विन्दामि सुराधिनाथ
I have fallen into the well of worldly existence, covered by delusion through fate, sunk in the mire of suffering, enveloped in darkness called ignorance; O Lord of the gods, I do not find the supreme.
भिन्नस् त्रिशूलेन बलीयसाहं पापेन चिन्ताक्षुरपाटितश् च तप्तो ऽस्मि पञ्चेन्द्रियतीव्रतापैः श्रान्तो ऽस्मि संतारय सोमनाथ
I have been wounded by the powerful trident, torn by the blade of sinful anxiety, scorched by the intense afflictions of the five senses, and exhausted—O Somanatha, rescue me.
बद्धो ऽस्मि दारिद्र्यमयैश् च बन्धैर् हतो ऽस्मि रोगानलतीव्रतापैः क्रान्तो ऽस्म्य् अहं मृत्युभुजंगमेन भीतो भृशं किं करवाणि शंभो
I am bound by the chains of poverty, struck by the fierce fires of disease, overtaken by the serpent of death, and greatly afraid—O Shambhu, what shall I do?
भवाभवाभ्याम् अतिपीडितो ऽहं तृष्णाक्षुधाभ्यां च रजस्तमोभ्याम् ईदृक्षया जरया चाभिभूतः पश्यावस्थां कृपया मे ऽद्य नाथ
I am severely afflicted by existence and non-existence, by thirst and hunger, by passion and darkness, and overwhelmed by decay and old age—O Lord, today behold my condition with compassion.
कामेन कोपेन च मत्सरेण दम्भेन दर्पादिभिर् अप्य् अनेकैः एकैकशः कष्टगतो ऽस्मि विद्धस् त्वं नाथवद् वारय नाथ शत्रून्
By desire, anger, envy, hypocrisy, pride, and many others, I have been pierced and brought to distress one by one—O Lord, like a protector, drive away my enemies.
कस्यापि कश्चित् पतितस्य पुंसो दुःखप्रणोदी भवतीति सत्यम् विना भवन्तं मम सोमनाथ कुत्रापि कारुण्यवचो ऽपि नास्ति
It is true that someone becomes the remover of suffering for a fallen person, but without you, O Somanatha, not even a word of compassion exists for me anywhere.
तावत् स कोपो भयमोहदुःखान्य् अज्ञानदारिद्र्यरुजस् तथैव कामादयो मृत्युर् अपीह यावन् नमः शिवायेति न वच्मि वाक्यम्
So long as I do not utter the words 'Salutations to Shiva,' anger, fear, delusion, suffering, ignorance, poverty, disease, desire, and even death remain here.
न मे ऽस्ति धर्मो न च मे ऽस्ति भक्तिर् नाहं विवेकी करुणा कुतो मे दातासि तेनाशु शरण्य चित्ते निधेहि सोमेति पदं मदीये
I have no righteousness, nor do I have devotion; I am not wise—how could I have compassion? Therefore, O refuge, quickly place the word 'Soma' in my heart.
याचे न चाहं सुरभूपतित्वं हृत्पद्ममध्ये मम सोमनाथ श्रीसोमपादाम्बुजसंनिधानं याचे विचार्यैव च तत् कुरुष्व
I do not ask for the rulership of the gods; O Somanatha, in the lotus of my heart, I ask only for the presence of your auspicious lotus feet—consider this and grant it.