कलामात्रं कलेः शेषे कुह्वां चन्द्रकला यथा । यादृक् तेजो रवेर्ग्नीष्मे न तादृक् शिशिरे पुनः
At the end of Kali, only a fraction remains, like the faint crescent of the moon; just as the sun's heat is not the same in winter as in summer.
दिनेषु यादृङ्मध्याह्ने सायं प्रातर्न तत्समम् । उदयं याति कालेन बालतां च क्रमेण च
As the brightness at midday is not the same in the evening or morning, so too, with time, it rises, and gradually enters childhood.
प्रकाण्डतां च तत्पश्चात्कालेऽस्तं पुनरेति सः । दिने प्रच्छन्नतां याति कालेन दुर्दिने घने
Afterward, it reaches maturity, and then, with time, it sets again; during the day, it becomes obscured by time, as on a cloudy, stormy day.
राहुग्रस्ते कम्पितश्च पुनरेव प्रसन्नताम् । परिपूर्णतमश्चन्द्रः पूर्णिमायां च जायते
When seized by Rahu, it is shaken, but again becomes clear; the moon becomes completely full at the time of the full moon.
तादृशो न भवेन्नित्यं क्षयं याति दिने दिने । पुनश्च पुष्टिमायाति परं कुह्वा दिने दिने
It does not remain always in such a state; it wanes day by day, and again grows strong, but at times is greatly diminished.
सम्पद्युक्तः शुक्लपक्षे कृष्णे म्लानश्च यक्ष्मणा । राहुग्रस्ते दिने म्लानो दुर्दिने न विरोचते
It is radiant in the bright fortnight, and wanes in the dark, afflicted as if by disease; when seized by Rahu, it is dim, and on a stormy day, it does not shine.
काले चन्द्रो भवेच्छुक्लो भ्रष्टश्रीः कालभेदतः । भविष्यति बलिश्चेन्द्रो भ्रष्टश्रीः सुतलेऽधुना
In time, the moon becomes bright, but loses its luster due to the change of time; likewise, Indra will become powerful, but now, in Sutala, he has lost his splendor.
कालेन पृथ्वी सस्याढ्या सर्वाधारा वसुन्धरा । काले जले निमग्ना सा तिरोभूताम्बुविप्लुता
In time, the earth becomes rich with crops, the sustaining Vasundhara; in time, she is submerged in water, disappearing, overwhelmed by the flood.
काले नश्यन्ति विश्वानि प्रभवन्त्येव कालतः । चराचराश्च कालेन नश्यन्ति प्रभवन्ति च
In time, all things perish, and by time, they come into being; both moving and unmoving beings perish and arise through time.
ईश्वरस्यैव समता ब्रह्मणः परमात्मनः । अहं मृत्युञ्जयो यस्मादसंख्यं प्राकृतं लयम्
It is only the equanimity of the Lord, the Supreme Self, Brahman; I am the conqueror of death, for I have witnessed countless dissolutions of the cosmos.
आदर्शं चापि द्रक्ष्यामि वारं वारं पुनः पुनः । स च प्रकृतिरूपश्च स एव पुरुषः स्मृतः
Again and again, I will see the reflection, time after time; and that is the very form of Prakriti, and he is also known as Purusha.
स चात्मा स च जीवश्च नानारूपधरः परः । करोति सततं यो हि तनामगुणकीर्तनम्
He is the Self, he is the individual soul, the supreme one who takes on many forms; he alone constantly performs the praise of the qualities of the body.
काले मृत्युं स जयति जन्मरोगभयं जराम् । स्रष्टा कृतो विधिस्तेन पाता विष्णुः कृतो भवेत्
He conquers death in due time, as well as the fear of birth, disease, and old age; by him, Brahmā is made the creator and Viṣṇu is made the sustainer.
अहं कृतश्च संहर्ता वयं विषयिणः कृताः । कालाग्निरुद्रं संहारे नियोज्य विषये नृप
I am made the destroyer, and we are made as those who experience the objects of the senses; for destruction, Rudra of the fire of time is appointed in the realm, O King.
अहं करोमि सततं तन्नामगुणकीर्तनम् । तेन मृत्युञ्जयोऽहं च ज्ञानेनानेन निर्भयः
I constantly perform the praise of His names and qualities; by this, I am the conqueror of death and, through this knowledge, fearless.
मृत्युर्मृत्युभयाद्याति वैनतेयादिवोरगाः । इत्युक्त्वा स च सर्वेशः सर्वभावेन तत्परः
Death flees from the fear of death, just as serpents flee from Garuḍa; having spoken thus, the Lord of all, intent with his whole being, remained.
विरराम च शम्भुश्च सभामध्ये च नारद । राजा तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रशशंस पुनः पुनः
And Śambhu became silent in the midst of the assembly, O Nārada; the king, having heard those words, praised him again and again.
उवाच मधुरं देवं परं विनयपूर्वकम् । शङ्खचूड उवाच त्वया यत्कथितं देव नान्यथा वचनं स्मृतम्
With utmost humility, he spoke sweetly to the Lord: Śaṅkhacūḍa said, 'O Lord, whatever you have spoken is not otherwise remembered.'
तथापि किञ्चिद्यथार्थं श्रूयतां मन्निवेदनम् । ज्ञातिद्रोहे महत्पापं त्वयोक्तमधुना च यत्
Still, let something be heard as it truly is—my submission: you have just now said that enmity toward relatives is a great sin.
गृहीत्वा तस्य सर्वस्वं कुतः प्रस्थापितो बलिः । मया समुद्धृतं सर्वमूर्ध्वमैश्वर्यमीश्वर
Having taken all his possessions, why was Bali sent away? O Lord, I have restored all his sovereignty.
सुतलाच्च समुद्धर्तुं नालं तत्र गदाधरः । सभ्रातृको हिरण्याक्षः कथं देवैश्च हिंसितः
From Sutala, Gadādhara was not able to bring him up; how was Hiraṇyākṣa, along with his brother, harmed by the gods?
शुम्भादयश्चासुराश्च कथं देवैर्निपातिताः । पुरा समुद्रमथने पीयूषं भक्षितं सुरैः
How were Śumbha and other Asuras struck down by the gods? Long ago, during the churning of the ocean, the nectar was consumed by the gods.
क्लेशभाजो वयं तत्र ते सर्वे फलभोगिनः । क्रीडाभाण्डमिदं विश्वं प्रकृतेः परमात्मनः
We alone suffered affliction there, while all of them enjoyed the fruits; this whole universe is a plaything of Prakṛti and the Supreme Self.
यस्मै यत्र स ददाति तस्यैश्वर्यं भवेत्तदा । देवदानवयोर्वादः शश्वन्नैमित्तिकः सदा
To whomever He gives, in whatever place, to him comes sovereignty; the dispute between gods and demons is always occasional and eternal.
पराजयो जयस्तेषां कालेऽस्माकं क्रमेण च । तदावयोर्विरोधे वाऽऽगमनं निष्कलं परम्
Defeat and victory come to them and to us in turn, according to time; in our mutual conflict, the coming and going is truly without residue and supreme.
समसम्बन्धिनो बन्धोरीश्वरस्य महात्मनः । इयं ते महती लज्जा युद्धेऽस्माभिः सहाधुना
We are all equally related, kinsmen of the great Lord; this is your great shame, to fight with us now.
जये ततोऽधिका कीर्तिर्हानिश्चैव पराजये । इत्येतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य च त्रिलोचनः
In victory, there is greater fame; in defeat, there is loss; hearing these words, the three-eyed one laughed.
यथोचितमुत्तरं तमुवाच दानवेश्वरम् । महादेव उवाच युष्माभिः सह युद्धे मे ब्रह्मवंशसमुद्भवैः
He replied to the lord of the Daityas as was fitting: Mahādeva said, 'In battle with you, born of the lineage of Brahmā—'
का लज्जा महती राजन्नकीर्तिर्वा पराजये । युद्धमादौ हरेरेव मधुना कैटभेन च
'What great shame or disgrace is there for defeat, O King? In the beginning, there was battle between Hari and Madhu and Kaiṭabha.'
हिरण्यकशिपोश्चैव सह तेनात्मना नृप । हिरण्याक्षस्य युद्धं च पुनस्तेन गदाभृता
'And with that very being, there was battle with Hiraṇyakaśipu, O King; and again, the battle of Hiraṇyākṣa with the wielder of the mace.'