आपन्नसंशयाश्चेमं वाक्यमूचुः समीरणम्
Those who were beset by doubts spoke these words to the Wind-god.
अनुग्राह्यतमाः सम्यक्प्रमोदन्ते पुरोत्तमे
Those most worthy of favor rejoice fully in the foremost city.
श्रूयतां देवदेवस्य भक्तिर्यैरनुकल्पिता
Hear now of the devotion to the Lord of gods, which was practiced by them.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा विशुद्धेनान्तरात्मना
By action, by mind, by speech, and by a purified inner self.
तैर्लब्धं रुद्रसालोक्यं शाश्वतं पदमव्ययम्
Through these, they attained the companionship of Rudra, the eternal and imperishable state.
वैश्वानारमुखाः सर्वे विश्वरूपाः कपर्दिनः
All are forms of fire, universal in shape, and bear matted locks.
अर्द्धचन्द्रकृतोष्णीषा जटामुकुट धारिणः
They wear turbans shaped like half-moons and crowns of matted hair.
तरुणादित्यसंकाशाः सर्वे ते पीतवाससः
All are radiant like the rising sun and clothed in yellow garments.
श्रियान्विताः कुण्डलिनो मुक्ताहारविभूषिताः
Endowed with splendor, wearing earrings, and adorned with pearl necklaces.
विभज्य बहुधात्मानं जरामृत्युविवर्जिताः
Having multiplied their forms in many ways, they are free from old age and death.
स्वच्छन्दगतयः सिद्धाः सिद्धैश्चन्यैर्विबोधिताः
They move as they wish, perfected ones, enlightened by other perfected beings.
एभिः सह महात्मा वै देवदेवो महेश्वरः
Together with these, the great-souled Lord of gods, Maheshvara, abides.
नाहं तेषां तु रुद्राणां भवस्य च महात्मनः
I am not among those Rudras, nor among the great-souled Bhava.
मातारिश्वाब्रवीत्पुण्यमित्येतामीश्वराच्छ्रुताम्
Mātariśvan spoke: 'This is holy,' thus declaring what was heard from the Lord.
श्रुत्वेमां परमां पुण्यां कथां त्रैयंबकीन्ततः
Having heard this supremely holy story of the Three-eyed One,
संभाजयित्वा चाप्येनं वायुमूचुर्महाबलम्
and having honored him, they spoke to the mighty Wind.
ईश्वरस्योत्तमं पुण्यमष्टमं त्वौपसार्गिकम्
The eighth, supreme, and most sacred act of the Lord, related to obstacles,
योगधर्मसमृद्धं वै परमं परमात्मनः
is endowed with the yoga of dharma and is supreme, belonging to the Supreme Soul.
स्वेन माहात्म्ययोगेन सहस्रस्यामितौजसः
By his own yoga of greatness, of the thousandfold, immeasurable energy,
ब्राह्मी लक्ष्म्या स्वयं जुष्टा या साप्रतिमशालिनी
he is attended by Brahmī and Lakṣmī herself, she who is adorned with incomparable splendor.
विभूतिर्भ्राजते ऽत्यर्थं देवदेवस्य वेश्मनि
His glory shines exceedingly in the abode of the God of gods.
तत्सर्वं निखिलेनेदं वक्त्रादमृतनिस्रवः
All this, in its entirety, flows from his mouth like nectar.
प्रश्नं देववरप्राण यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि
You should properly answer the question, O best of gods, O life of the blessed.
यन्मया चैव वक्तव्यं तद्वदिष्यामि सुव्रताः
And whatever is to be spoken by me, that I shall declare, O virtuous ones.
वैश्वानरा भूतगण व्याघ्रास्चैवानुगामिनः
The Vaiśvānaras, the hosts of beings, and the tigers who follow them—
किमावस्था भवन्त्येते तन्नो ब्रूहि यथार्थवत्
What is their state? Tell us that truthfully.
यत्र पूर्वं गतास्ते तु कुमारा ब्रह्मणः सुताः
Where did those sons of Brahmā, the Kumāras, go before?
वोढुश्च कपिलस्तेषामासुरिश्च महायशाः
Kapila was their leader, and Asuri, famed among them.
ततः काले व्यतिक्रान्ते कल्पानां पर्यये गते
Then, when time had passed and the cycle of aeons was complete,
अनेकरुद्रकोट्यस्तु या प्रसन्ना महेश्वरीम्
of the countless millions of Rudras, she who is the gracious Great Goddess—