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.
शैवाल भोजनाः केचित्केचिदन्तर्जलेशयाः
Some ate algae for food, some lived within the water.
दन्तोलूखलिनश्चान्ये त्वश्मकुट्टास्तथा परे
Others used their teeth as mortars, and some crushed with stones.
कालं नयन्ति तपसा तीव्रेण च महाधियः
The great-minded ones spent their time in intense austerity.
भस्मपाण्डुरदिग्धाङ्गो नग्नो विकृतलक्षणः
His body was smeared with pale ash, naked, bearing strange marks.
उल्मुकव्यग्रहस्तश्च रक्तपिङ्गललोचनः
He held a flaming torch in his hand, his eyes were red and tawny.
मुखमङ्गारवर्णेन शुक्लेन च विभूषितम्
His face was adorned with both coal-black and white colors.
क्वचिन्नृत्यति शृङ्गारी क्वचिद्रौति मुहुर्मुहुः
Sometimes he danced amorously, sometimes he cried out again and again.
आश्रमे ऽभ्यागतो ऽभीक्ष्णं या चते च पुनः पुनः
He repeatedly came to the hermitage and begged again and again.
वृषनादं प्रगर्जन्वै खरनादं ननाद च
He roared like a bull and made loud noises like a donkey.
ततस्ते मुनयः क्रुद्धाः क्रोधेन कलुषीकृताः
Then the sages, angered, became tainted by wrath.