अग्निरित्यादिकं पुण्यमृषिभिः संप्रवर्तितम्
The sacred rites beginning with Agni were instituted by the sages.
साक्षात् पाशुपतो भूत्वा वेदाभ्यासरतो ऽभवत्
Becoming directly a devotee of Paśupati, he engaged in Vedic study.
शान्तो दान्तो जितक्रोधः संन्यासविधिमाश्रितः
Peaceful, self-controlled, with anger subdued, he adopted the discipline of renunciation.
प्राचीनबर्हिषं नाम्ना धनुर्वेदस्य पारगम्
He, known as Prācīnabarhis, mastered the science of archery.
समुद्रतनयायां वै दश पुत्रानजीजनत्
He begot ten sons on the daughter of the ocean.
अधीतवन्तः स्वं वेदं नारायणपरायणाः
They studied their own Veda, devoted to Nārāyaṇa.
दक्षो जज्ञे महाभागो यः पूर्वं ब्रह्मणः सुतः
Dakṣa was born, greatly fortunate, who was formerly the son of Brahmā.
कृत्वा विवादं रुद्रेण शप्तः प्राचेतसो ऽभवत्
Having quarreled with Rudra, he was cursed and became a son of the Pracetas.
दृष्ट्वा यथोचितां पूजां दक्षाय प्रददौ स्वयम्
Seeing the proper worship, he himself offered it to Dakṣa.
पूजामनर्हामन्विच्छन् जगाम कुपितो गृहम्
Desiring unmerited worship, he went home in anger.
भर्त्रा सह विनिन्द्यैनां भर्त्सयामसा वै रुषा
Together with her husband, he harshly rebuked her in anger, censuring her.
त्वमप्यसत्सुतास्माकं गृहाद् गच्छ यथागतम्
You too are an unworthy daughter of ours; leave this house as you came.
विनिन्द्य पितरं दक्षं ददाहात्मानमात्मना
Condemning her father Daksha, she consumed herself by her own power.
हिमवद्दुहिता साभूत् तपसा तस्य तोषिता
She became the daughter of Himavat, having pleased him through her austerities.
शशाप दक्षं कुपितः समागत्याथ तद्गृहम्
Angry, he cursed Daksha after coming to his house.
स्वस्यां सुतायां मूढात्मा पुत्रमुत्पादयिष्यसि
You, deluded in mind, will beget a son on your own daughter.
स्वायंभुवो ऽपि कालेन दक्षः प्राचेतसो ऽभवत्
In time, Daksha, the son of Prachetas, was also born in the era of Svayambhuva.
विसर्गं दक्षपर्यन्तं शृण्वतां पापनाशनम्
The account of creation up to Daksha, when heard, destroys sin.
उत्पत्तिं विस्तरात् सूत ब्रूहि वैवस्वते ऽन्तरे
O Sūta, tell in detail the origin during the interval of Vaivasvata.
किमकार्षोन्महाबुद्धे श्रोतुमिच्छाम सांप्रतम्
What did he do, O great-minded one? We wish to hear this now.
त्रिकालबद्धं पापघ्नं प्रजासर्गस्य विस्तरम्
The detailed account of the creation of beings, bound to the three times and destroying sin.
विनिन्द्य पूर्ववैरेण गङ्गाद्वरे ऽयजद् भवम्
Out of former enmity, he criticized and performed a sacrifice to Bhava at the ford of the Ganga.
सहैव मुनिभिः सर्वैरागता मुनिपुङ्गवाः
All the foremost sages came there together with all the other sages.
दधीचो नाम विप्रर्षिः प्राचेतसमथाब्रवीत्
A sage named Dadhīci then spoke to Prācetasa.
स देवः सांप्रतं रुद्रो विधिना किं न पूज्यते
Why is that god Rudra not being worshipped now according to the proper rite?
न मन्त्रा भार्यया सार्धं शङ्करस्येति नेज्यते
Because there are no mantras together with a wife for Śaṅkara, he is not worshipped.
शृण्वतां सर्वदेवानां सर्वज्ञानमयः स्वयम्
As all the gods listened, he, full of all knowledge, himself—
संपूज्यते सर्वयज्ञैर्विदित्वा किल शङ्करः
Śaṅkara is indeed worshipped by all sacrifices, having been recognized.
नग्नः कपाली विकृतो विश्वात्मा नोपपद्यते
Naked, bearing a skull, deformed, the soul of the universe—he does not fit (the ritual).
सत्त्वात्मको ऽसौ भगवानिज्यते सर्वकर्मसु
That blessed one, whose essence is sattva, is worshipped in all rites.