तत्राप्य् एवंविधां पुण्यां कथां शृणु महामते गङ्गाया दक्षिणे तीरे श्रीगिरेर् उत्तरे तटे
There too, hear this virtuous story, O wise one, on the southern bank of the Gaṅgā, on the northern shore of Śrīgiri.
आदिकेश इति ख्यात ऋषिभिः परिपूजितः महादेवो लिङ्गरूपी सदास्ते सर्वकामदः
There, Mahādeva, known as Ādikeśa, always grants all desires, worshipped by sages in the form of a liṅga.
सिन्धुद्वीप इति ख्यातो मुनिः परमधार्मिकः तस्य भ्राता वेद इति स चापि परमो ऋषिः
A sage named Sindhudvīpa, renowned for supreme righteousness, is known there; his brother, Veda, is also a great seer.
तम् आदिकेशं वै देवं त्रिपुरारिं त्रिलोचनम् नित्यं पूजयते भक्त्या प्राप्ते मध्यंदिने रवौ
That god Ādikeśa, the enemy of Tripura, the three-eyed one, is worshipped daily with devotion when the midday sun arrives.
भिक्षाटनाय वेदो ऽपि याति ग्रामं विचक्षणः याते तस्मिन् द्विजवरे व्याधः परमधार्मिकः
Veda, wise among twice-born, goes to the village for alms; while he is away, a hunter of great righteousness
तस्मिन् गिरिवरे पुण्ये मृगयां याति नित्यशः अटित्वा विविधान् देशान् मृगान् हत्वा यथासुखम्
In that holy mountain, the hunter goes hunting daily; wandering through various lands, he kills animals as he pleases.
मुखे गृहीत्वा पानीयम् अभिषेकाय शूलिनः न्यस्य मांसं धनुष्कोट्यां श्रान्तो व्याधः शिवं प्रभुम्
Carrying water in his mouth for the anointing of the trident-bearer, placing meat on the tip of his bow, the weary hunter approaches Śiva, the Lord.
आदिकेशं समागत्य न्यस्य मांसं ततो बहिः गङ्गां गत्वा मुखे वारि गृहीत्वागत्य तं शिवम्
Coming to Ādikeśa, he sets the meat outside, goes to the Gaṅgā, takes water in his mouth, and returns to that Śiva.
यस्य कस्यापि पत्त्राणि करेणादाय भक्तितः अपरेण च मांसानि नैवेद्यार्थं च तन्मनाः
Taking leaves in his hand with devotion, and with his mind intent, other pieces of meat as offerings,
आदिकेशं समागत्य वेदेनार्चितम् ओजसा पादेनाहत्य तां पूजां मुखानीतेन वारिणा
Coming to Ādikeśa, worshipped with power by Veda, he strikes that worship with his foot and with the water brought in his mouth.
स्नापयित्वा शिवं देवम् अर्चयित्वा तु पत्त्रकैः कल्पयित्वा तु तन् मांसं शिवो मे प्रीयताम् इति
After bathing Lord Shiva and worshipping him with leaves, he offers that flesh, saying, 'May Shiva be pleased with me.'
नैव किंचित् स जानाति शिवभक्तिं विना शुभाम् ततो याति स्वकं स्थानं मांसेन तु यथागतम्
Without auspicious devotion to Shiva, he knows nothing at all; therefore, he departs to his own place, taking the flesh as he had brought it.
करोत्य् एतादृग् आगत्यागत्य प्रत्यहम् एव सः तथापीशस् तुतोषास्य विचित्रा हीश्वरस्थितिः
He does this, coming and going, every single day; yet, the Lord was satisfied with him—such is the wondrous nature of the Lord's ways.
यावन् नायात्य् असौ भिल्लः शिवस् तावन् न सौख्यभाक् भक्तानुकम्पितां शंभोर् मानातीतां तु वेत्ति कः
As long as that hunter does not come, Shiva does not partake of happiness; who can comprehend the boundless compassion that Shambhu shows to his devotees?
संपूजयत्य् आदिकेशम् उमया प्रत्यहं शिवम् एवं बहुतिथे काले याते वेदश् चुकोप ह
He worships the Primeval Lord, Shiva, together with Uma, every day; after a long time had passed in this way, Veda became angry.
पूजां मन्त्रवतीं चित्रां शिवभक्तिसमन्विताम् को नु विध्वंसते पापो मत्तः स वधम् आप्नुयात्
Whoever destroys a worship, adorned with mantras and devotion to Shiva, is truly sinful and deserves to be slain by me.
गुरुदेवद्विजस्वामिद्रोही वध्यो मुनेर् अपि सर्वस्यापि वधार्हो ऽसौ शिवस्य द्रोहकृन् नरः
One who betrays a teacher, deity, twice-born, or master is fit for death, even by a sage; and above all, a man who is hostile to Shiva deserves to be slain.
एवं निश्चित्य मेधावी वेदः सिन्धोस् तथानुजः कस्येयं पापचेष्टा स्यात् पापिष्ठस्य दुरात्मनः
Thus reflecting, the wise Veda, along with his brother Sindhu, wondered: 'Whose wicked deed is this, belonging to such an utterly evil soul?'
पुष्पैर् वन्यभवैर् दिव्यैः कन्दैर् मूलफलैः शुभैः कृतां पूजां स विध्वस्य ह्य् अन्यां पूजां करोति यः
He who destroys a worship performed with flowers from the forest, divine bulbs, roots, and auspicious fruits, and then performs another worship—
मांसेन तरुपत्त्रैश् च स च वध्यो भवेन् मम एवं संचिन्त्य मेधावी गोपयित्वा तनुं तदा
—with flesh and tree leaves, he too is fit for death by me. Thinking thus, the wise one then concealed his body.
तं पश्येयम् अहं पापं पूजाकर्तारम् ईश्वरे एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे प्रायाद् व्याधो देवं यथा पुरा
I wish to see that sinner, the one who performs worship for the Lord. Meanwhile, the hunter approached the deity as before.
नित्यवत् पूजयन्तं तम् आदिकेशस् तदाब्रवीत्
Seeing him worshipping as always, the Primeval Lord spoke to him then.
भो भो व्याध महाबुद्धे श्रान्तो ऽसीति पुनः पुनः चिराय कथम् आयातस् त्वां विना तात दुःखितः न विन्दामि सुखं किंचित् समाश्वसिहि पुत्रक
"O hunter of great wisdom, you seem weary again and again. Why have you come after so long? Without you, dear one, I find no happiness at all. Take comfort, my son."
तम् एवंवादिनं देवं वेदः श्रुत्वा विलोक्य तु चुकोप विस्मयाविष्टो न च किंचिद् उवाच ह
Hearing the Lord speak thus, Veda looked on, overcome with amazement and anger, but said nothing.
व्याधश् च नित्यवत् पूजां कृत्वा स्वभवनं ययौ वेदश् च कुपितो भूत्वा आगत्येशम् उवाच ह
The hunter, as always, performed the worship and went to his home; but Veda, now enraged, approached the Lord and spoke.
अयं व्याधः पापरतः क्रियाज्ञानविवर्जितः प्राणिहिंसारतः क्रूरो निर्दयः सर्वजन्तुषु
"This hunter is devoted to sin, lacking knowledge of proper rites, cruel, intent on harming living beings, and merciless to all creatures."
हीनजातिर् अकिंचिज्ज्ञो गुरुक्रमविवर्जितः सदानुचितकारी चानिर्जिताखिलगोगणः
"He is of low birth, ignorant, without a teacher's guidance, always acting improperly, and has never subdued even a single cow."
तस्यात्मानं दर्शितवान् न मां किंचन वक्ष्यसि पूजां मन्त्रविधानेन करोमीश यतव्रतः
"He has revealed himself to you, but will you not say anything to me? O Lord, I perform worship with proper mantras and vows."
त्वदेकशरणो नित्यं भार्यापुत्रविवर्जितः व्याधो मांसेन दुष्टेन पूजां तव करोत्य् असौ
The hunter, who has taken refuge in you alone, always without wife or child, performs your worship with impure meat.
तस्य प्रसन्नो भगवान् न ममेति महाद्भुतम् शास्तिम् अस्य करिष्यामि भिल्लस्य ह्य् अपकारिणः
It is truly astonishing that the Lord is pleased with him and not with me; I shall punish this Bhilla, who has done wrong.