करवद्गायसे यस्मात्खरस्तस्माद्भविष्यसि
Because you sang with your hands, you shall become a donkey.
यथा वैच्छंस्तथा सर्वे क्रुद्धास्ते मुनयः समम्
Just as you wished, all those sages became angry together.
तपांसि तेषां सर्वेषां प्रत्याहन्यन्त शङ्करे
All their austerities were obstructed, O Shankara.
न द्योतन्ते प्रकाशेन तद्वत्तेजांसि शङ्करे
Their radiance no longer shone brightly, O Shankara.
समृद्धः श्रेयसां यौनिर्यज्ञो वै नाशमाप्तवान्
The sacrifice, which was the source of great prosperity, was destroyed.
प्रादुर्भावान्दश प्राप्तो दुःखितश्च सदा कृतः
He experienced ten manifestations and was always made sorrowful.
ऋषिणा गौतमेनोर्व्यां क्रुद्धेन विनिपातितम्
He was cast down to the earth by the angry sage Gautama.
ऋषीणां चैव शापेन नहुषः सर्पतां गतः
By the curse of the sages, Nahusha became a serpent.
धर्मश्चात्र प्रशप्तो वै माण्डव्येन महात्मना
Here, Dharma himself was cursed by the great-souled Mandavya.
वर्जयित्वा विरूपाक्षं देवदेवं महेश्वरम्
Except for Virupaksha, the god of gods, Maheshvara,
ततस्ते ऋषयः सर्वे परस्परमथाब्रुवन्
Then all those sages spoke to one another.
ब्रह्मचर्य रतानां च वने वा वनवासिनाम्
Among those devoted to celibacy, or among the forest-dwelling ascetics,
अनयस्तु महानेष येनायं मोहितो द्विजाः
This is the great misconduct by which these twice-born have been deluded.
वदस्व वाचा मधुरं वस्त्रमेकं समाश्रय
Speak sweet words and take up a single garment.
ऋषीणां तद्वचः श्रुत्वा भगवान्भगनेत्रहा
Hearing those words of the sages, the blessed one, the destroyer of Bhaga’s eyes,
न शक्यमिदमस्मा कं लिङ्गं पातयितुं बलात्
It is not possible for any of us to forcibly cast down this linga.
पातयेयमहं चैतल्लिङ्गं भो द्विजसत्तमाः
But I shall cast down this linga, O best of twice-born.
एवमुक्तो महादेवः प्रत्दृष्टेन्द्रियचेष्टितः
Thus addressed, the great god, perceiving their intentions and actions,
अन्तर्हिते भगवति तथा लिङ्गे कृते भवे
When the Blessed Lord disappeared and thus assumed the form of the liṅga,
व्याकुलं च तदा सर्वं न प्रकाशेत किञ्चन
then all became agitated, and nothing at all was revealed.
नक्षत्राणि ग्रहाश्चैव विपरीता विजज्ञिरे
The stars and planets appeared to move in reverse.
क्रतवो न व्यवर्त्तन्त ऋतुकालाभिगामिनाम्
Sacrifices did not proceed according to their proper seasons.
नष्टप्रभाववीर्याश्च नष्टतेजस एव च
Their power, strength, and brilliance were lost.
ते तुसर्वे समागम्य ब्रह्मलोकमुपागताः
All of them, gathering together, went to the world of Brahmā.
पादयोः पतिताः सर्वे शिववृत्तान्तमूचिरे
Falling at his feet, they all recounted the events concerning Śiva.
उलूकव्यग्रहस्तश्च रक्तपिङ्गललोचनः
He held an owl in his hand, his eyes reddish-brown and intense.
स्नुषाणां च दुहितॄणां पुत्रीणां च विशेषतः
Especially toward daughters-in-law, daughters, and granddaughters.
उन्मत्त इति विज्ञाय सो ऽस्माभिरवमानितः
Thinking him mad, we disrespected him.
तस्य क्रोधप्रसादार्थं वयं ते शरणं गताः
For the sake of appeasing his anger, we have come to you for refuge.
ऋषीणां तद्वचः श्रुत्वा ध्यानाद्विज्ञाय चेश्वरम्
Hearing those words of the sages, and knowing through meditation, the Lord—