द्वयोः पञ्चमुखत्वेन भेदं न विविदुस्तदा
At that time, they did not perceive any difference between the two, both having five faces.
तेषां संवदतां मध्ये क्षिप्रमन्तर्हितः शिवः
While they conversed among themselves, Śiva suddenly disappeared.
उभयोरपि संवादस्त्वहं ब्रह्मेत्यजायत
In the dialogue between the two, the thought arose: 'I am Brahmā.'
त्वं च रुद्रश्च मे पुत्रौ सृष्टिकर्तुरुभौ युवाम्
You and Rudra are both my sons, creators of the world.
प्रादुरासीन्महाज्योतिस्तंभरूपो महेश्वरः
Then there appeared a great light, in the form of a pillar—Maheshvara himself.
ब्रह्मणः शिरसामूर्ध्वं ज्योतिश्चक्रमभूत्पुरः
Above Brahma’s heads, there arose a wheel of light before him.
ऊर्ध्वमैक्षथ भूयस्तमवमत्य वचो ऽब्रवीत्
He looked upward again and again, and, bowing down, spoke these words.
विष्णुमेवं तदालोक्य क्रोधेनैव विकारतः
Seeing Vishnu in that way, he was transformed by anger.
हाहेति तत्र सर्वे ऽपि क्रन्दन्तश्च पलायिताः
There, all of them cried out 'Alas!' and fled away.
भूयोभूयो धुनोति स्म तथापि न मुमोच तम्
Again and again he shook himself, yet still he could not release it.
पुण्यक्षेत्राणि सर्वाणि गङ्गाद्याश्च महानदीः
He visited all the sacred places and the great rivers beginning with the Ganga.
चिरेण प्राप्तवान्काञ्चीं ब्रह्मणा पूर्वमोषिताम्
After a long time, he reached Kanchi, which had formerly been inhabited by Brahma.
पञ्चतीर्थे प्रतिदिनं स्नात्वा भूलक्षणाङ्किते
He bathed daily at the five sacred fords, marked by the signs of the earth.
काञ्चीक्षेत्रनिवासेन क्रमेण प्रयताशयः
By dwelling in the holy land of Kanchi, his mind gradually became pure.
उत्तरे सेवितुं लक्ष्म्या वासुदेवेन दक्षिणे
He served Lakshmi in the north, and Vasudeva in the south.
आदिलक्ष्मीपदध्यानमाततान यतात्मवान्
He, self-controlled, spread forth meditation on the feet of Adi-Lakshmi.
तथान्तर्वायुरोधेन न चचाला चलेश्वरः
Thus, by restraining his breath within, the Lord of the moving did not move.
न ब्रह्मा नैव विष्णुर्वा न सिद्धः कपिलो ऽपि वा
Neither Brahma, nor Vishnu, nor even the perfected sage Kapila was able.
तया समाधिनिष्ठायां न समर्थाः कथञ्चन
While she was established in that samadhi, none were capable in any way.
अर्धरात्रे पुरः स्थित्वा वाचं प्रोवाच वाङ्मयी
At midnight, standing before him, the Lady of Speech spoke these words.
मद्रूपस्त्वं कथं देहः सेयं लोकविडम्बना
How is it that you, who are my own form, have this body? This is a delusion for the world.
इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे तत्र महासिंहासनेश्वरी
Having spoken thus, the sovereign Lady vanished there upon the great lion-throne.
विनीय तं निशाशेषं श्रीध्यानैकपरायणः
Having passed that entire night, wholly absorbed in meditation on the glorious goddess,
पुनः पुनर्धूनुते स्म करलग्नं कपालकम्
again and again he shook the skull that was held in his hand.
स्वप्नः किमेष माया वा मानसभ्रान्तिरेव वा
Is this a dream, or an illusion, or merely a confusion of the mind?
स्वयमेव निगृह्याथ शोकं धीराग्रणीः शिवः
Then, mastering his own sorrow by himself, the foremost of the steadfast, Śiva,
निगृहीतेन्द्रियग्रामः समाधिस्थो ऽभवत्पुनः
having restrained the group of his senses, again entered into samādhi.
अलं समाधिना शम्भो निमज्जात्र सरोवरे
"Enough of samādhi, O Śambhu; now plunge into this lake."
इयं च माया स्वप्नो वा किं कर्त्तव्यं मयाथ वा
"This too may be illusion or a dream—what then should I do?"
इत्युक्तं श्रीपरादेव्या यामातीतमिदं दिनम्
Thus was spoken by Śrī Parādevī about the day that had just passed.