अनादिरक्षयो ऽनन्तो महाभूतो महेश्वरः
Beginningless, undecaying, infinite, the great lord of beings, Maheshvara.
ययौ स तूर्णं गोविन्दः स्थानं तस्य महात्मनः
Govinda quickly went to the abode of that great soul.
चकार देवकीसूनुर्देवर्षिपितृतर्पणम्
The son of Devaki performed offerings to the gods, sages, and ancestors.
लिङ्गानि पूजयामास शंभोरमिततेजसः
He worshipped the emblems of Shambhu, of immeasurable brilliance.
पूजयाञ्चक्रिरे पुष्पैरक्षतैस्तत्र वासिनः
The residents there performed worship with flowers and unbroken rice.
तस्थिरे निश्चलाः सर्वे शुभाङ्गं तन्निवासिनः
All those dwelling there stood motionless, with auspicious bodies.
दृष्ट्वा समीहितान्यासन् निष्क्रामन्ति पुराहिरम्
Seeing the desired rites accomplished, they began to depart from the ancient city.
आदाय पुष्पवर्याणि मुनीन्द्रस्याविशद् गृहम्
Taking the best flowers, he entered the house of the chief sage.
जटाचीरधरं शान्तं ननाम शिरसा मुनिम्
He bowed his head to the sage, calm, wearing matted locks and bark garments.
आसने चासयामास योगिनां प्रथमातिथिम्
He seated the foremost guest of the yogis upon a seat.
विष्णुमव्यक्तसंस्थानं शिष्यभावेन संस्थितम्
Viṣṇu, whose form is unmanifest, stood there in the attitude of a disciple.
यद् साक्षादेव विश्वात्मा मद्गेहं विष्णुरागतः
That very Viṣṇu, the soul of the universe, has come to my house in person.
तादृशस्याथ भवतः किमागमनकारणम्
For what reason, then, has someone like you come here?
व्याजहार महायोगी वचनं प्रणिपत्य तम्
The great yogi, having bowed to him, spoke these words.
संप्राप्तो भवतः स्थानं भगवद्दर्शनोत्सुकः
I have come to your abode, eager for the vision of the Blessed One.
मयाचिरेण कुत्राहं द्रक्ष्यामि तमुमापतिम्
Where, and after how long, will I see that Lord of Uma?
भक्त्या चोग्रेण तपसा तत्कुरुष्वेह यत्नतः
With devotion and intense austerity, do that here with diligence.
ध्यायन्तो ऽत्रासते देवं जापिनस्तापसाश्च ये
Here, those ascetics who recite and meditate remain absorbed in the Lord.
क्रीडते विविधैर्भूतैर्योगिभिः परिवारितः
He plays with various beings, surrounded by yogis.
लेभे महेश्वराद् योगं वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः
The venerable sage Vasiṣṭha obtained yoga from Maheśvara.
दृष्ट्वा तं परमं ज्ञानं लब्धवानीश्वरेश्वरम्
Having seen him, he attained supreme knowledge and the Lord of lords.
अविन्दत् पुत्रकान् रुद्रात् सुरभिर्भक्तिसंयुता
Surabhi, endowed with devotion, obtained sons from Rudra.
दृष्टवन्तो हरं श्रीमन्निर्भया निर्वृतिं ययुः
Having seen the glorious Hara, they became fearless and attained bliss.
लब्धवान् परमं योगं ग्रन्थकारत्वमुत्तमम्
He attained supreme yoga and the highest authorship of scripture.
पौराणिकीं सुपुण्यार्थां सच्छिष्येषु द्विजातिषु
He taught the ancient, supremely meritorious text to worthy disciples among the twice-born.
द्वादशैव सहस्त्राणि श्लोकानां पुरुषोत्तम
O best of men, it consists of exactly twelve thousand verses.
इहैव ख्यापितं शिष्यैः शांशपायनभाषितम्
Here itself, it was made known by the disciples, as spoken by Śāṃśapāyana.
चकार तन्नियोगेन योगशास्त्रमनुत्तमम्
By his command, he composed that unsurpassed scripture of yoga.
शुक्रो महेश्वरात् पुत्रो लब्धो योगविदां वरः
Śukra, the foremost among those who know yoga, was obtained as a son from Maheśvara.
द्रष्टुमर्हसि विश्वेशमुग्रं भीमं कपर्दिनम्
You are worthy to behold Viśveśa, the fierce and formidable one with matted hair.