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.
सर्वलोकैकसंहर्ता कालात्मा परमेश्वरः
The supreme lord, the embodiment of time, is the sole destroyer of all worlds.
सो ऽयं साक्षी तीव्ररोचिः कालात्मा शाङ्करीतनुः
He, the witness, of intense brilliance, is the embodiment of time, with the form of Śaṅkara.
आदित्यो भगवान् सूर्यो नीलग्रीवो विलोहितः
The blessed sun, Āditya, is the lord; his throat is dark, and he is fiery red.
पश्यैनं विश्वकर्माणं रुद्रमूर्ति त्रयीमयम्
Behold this universal creator, Rudra in form, composed of the three Vedas.
सर्वे सूर्या इति ज्ञेया न ह्यान्यो विद्यते रविः
All are to be understood as Sūryas; for there is no other sun than Ravi.
बाढमित्यब्रुवन् वाक्यं तस्य साहाय्यकारिणः
Those who assisted him replied, 'So be it,' to his statement.
सहस्त्रशो ऽथ शतशो भूय एव विनिन्द्यते
Then, by the thousands and hundreds, he was repeatedly reviled.
अपूजयन् दक्षवाक्यं मोहिता विष्णुमायया
Deluded by Viṣṇu's māyā, they honored Dakṣa's words.
नापश्यन् देवमीशानमृते नारायणं हरिम्
Except for Nārāyaṇa Hari, they did not perceive the divine lord.
पश्यतामेव सर्वेषां क्षणादन्तरधीयत
While all were watching, he vanished in an instant.
रक्षकं जगतां देवं जगाम शरणं स्वयम्
The god, protector of the worlds, himself sought refuge.
रक्षते भगवान् विष्णुः शरणागतरक्षकः
The blessed Viṣṇu protects, as the guardian of those who seek refuge.
संप्रेक्ष्यर्षिगणान् देवान् सर्वान् वै ब्रह्मविद्विषः
Having observed the groups of sages and all the gods, hostile to Brahman,
नरः पापमवाप्नोति महद् वै नात्र संशयः
A man incurs great sin; there is no doubt about this.
दण्डो देवकृतस्तत्र सद्यः पतति दारुणः
There, the punishment created by the gods falls immediately and terribly.
समागतान् ब्राह्मणांस्तान् दक्षसाहाय्यकारिणः
Those brāhmaṇas who had gathered, assisting Dakṣa,
विनिन्दितो महादेवः शङ्करो लोकवन्दितः
Mahādeva Śaṅkara, revered by the world, was reviled.
निन्दन्तो ह्यैश्वरं मार्गं कुशास्त्रासक्तमानसाः
Indeed, those whose minds are attached to false teachings revile the divine path.
प्राप्य घोरं कलियुगं कलिजैः किल पीडिताः
Having entered the dreadful Kali age, afflicted indeed by the qualities of Kali,
भविष्यति हृषीकेशः स्वाश्रितो ऽपि पराङ्मुखः
Even though resorted to by his own devotees, Hṛṣīkeśa will become indifferent.