वालखिल्या महात्मानस्तपः सिद्धाश्च सुव्रताः
The Vālakhilyas, the great-souled ones, ascetics, and the accomplished, steadfast in vows—
उमा सीता सिनीवाली कुहूर्गायत्र्य एव च
Umā, Sītā, Sinīvālī, Kuhū, and also Gāyatrī—
त्वत्तः प्रसूता देवेश संध्या रात्रिस्तथैव च
From you are born, O Lord of the gods, Sandhyā and Night as well.
नमो ऽस्तु ते वज्रपिनाकधारिणे नमोस्तु ते देव हिरण्यवाससे
Salutations to you, bearer of the thunderbolt and Pināka bow; salutations to you, O god clad in gold.
नमो ऽस्तु ते देव हिरण्यरेतसे नमो ऽस्तु ते देव हिरण्यवाससे
Salutations to you, O god of golden seed; salutations to you, O god clad in gold.
नमो ऽस्तु ते देव हिरण्यरेतसे नमो ऽस्तु ते नेत्रसहस्रचित्र
Salutations to you, O god of golden seed; salutations to you, O god of a thousand wondrous eyes.
नमो ऽस्तु ते देव हिरण्यवीर नमो ऽस्तु ते देव हिरण्यदायिने
Salutations to you, O god, golden hero; salutations to you, O god, giver of gold.
नमो ऽस्तु ते देव पिनाकपाणे नमो ऽश्तुते ते शङ्कर नीलकण्ठ
Salutations to you, O god, who holds the Pinaka bow; salutations to you, O Shankara, blue-throated one.
देवदेवो जगद्योनिः सूर्य कोटिसमप्रभः
God of gods, origin of the world, radiant as millions of suns.
वक्त्रकोटिसहस्रेण ग्रसमान इवांबरम्
With thousands of mouths, as if devouring the sky.
नानारत्नविचित्राङ्गो नानामाल्यानुलेपनः
His form adorned with various gems, decorated with diverse garlands and ointments.
व्यालय ज्ञोपवीती च सुराणामभयङ्करः
Wearing serpents as sacred thread, a terror to the gods' enemies.
मुक्तो हासस्तदा तेन सर्वमापूरयञ्जगत्
Then his smile filled the entire world.
अथोवाच महादेवः प्रीतो ऽहं सुरसत्तमौ
Then Mahadeva spoke: I am pleased with you, O best of gods.
युवां प्रसूतौ गात्रेभ्यो मम पूर्वं सनातनौ
You two were born from my limbs in ancient times.
वामो बाहुश्च मे विष्णुर्नित्यं युद्धेष्वनिर्जितः
My left arm is Vishnu, ever undefeated in battle.
ततः प्रहृष्टमनसौ प्रणतौ पादयोः प्रभोः
Then, with joyful hearts, they bowed at the feet of the Lord.
भक्तिर्भवतु नौ नित्यं त्वयि देव सुरेश्वर
May devotion to you, O god, lord of the gods, be ours always.
एवमुक्त्वा स भगवांस्तत्रैवातरधाद्विभुः
Having spoken thus, the blessed one vanished there.
एतद्धि परमं ज्ञानमव्यक्तं शिवसंज्ञितम्
This is the supreme knowledge, subtle and known as Shiva.
महादेव नमस्ते ऽस्तु महेश्वर नमो ऽस्तु ते
O Mahadeva, salutations to you; O Maheshvara, salutations to you.
नमस्कारं प्रकुर्वाणाः शङ्कराय महात्मने
Offering salutations to Shankara, the great-souled one.
कामांश्च लभते सर्वान् पापेभ्यश्च प्रमुच्यते
He attains all desires and is freed from all sins.
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं मया माहेश्वरं बलम्
I have told you all this, the mighty power of Maheśvara.
महादेवस्य माहात्म्यं श्रोतुं कौतूहलं च नः
We have a curiosity to hear the greatness of Mahādeva.
चकार वेषं विकृतं येन बुद्धा महर्षयः
He assumed a strange form by which the great sages became bewildered.
आराधयन्प्रसादार्थं नैषां तुष्टः पुनर्भवः
They worshipped him to obtain his favor, but he was not pleased with them.
तत्सर्वं कथयस्वेह त्वं नो बुद्धिमतां वरः
Tell us all this here, you who are foremost among the wise.
निर्म्मितं देवदेवेन भक्तानामनुकंपया
Created by the Lord of gods out of compassion for his devotees.
देवदारुवनं रम्यं नानाद्रुमलताकुलम्
The delightful Devadāru forest, crowded with various trees and creepers.