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.
व्रतं पाशुपतं योगं कृष्णायाक्लिष्टकर्मणे
The Pāśupata vow and yoga were given to Kṛṣṇa, whose actions are untainted.
तत्रैव तपसा देवं रुद्रमाराधयत् प्रभुः
There itself, the lord worshipped the god Rudra through austerity.
जजाप रुद्रमनिशं शिवैकाहितमानसः
With his mind fixed solely on Śiva, he recited the Rudra mantra day and night.
अदृश्यत महादेवो व्योम्नि देव्या महेश्वरः
Mahādeva, Maheśvara, appeared in the sky with the goddess.
देव्या महादेवमसौ ददर्श
With the goddess, he beheld Mahādeva.
सहस्त्रसूर्यप्रतिमं ददर्श
He saw him, radiant like a thousand suns.
प्राणेश्वरं शंभुमसौ ददर्श
He beheld Śambhu, the lord of life-breath.
तमादिदेवं पुरतो ददर्श
He saw that primordial god standing before him.
शङ्खासिचक्रार्पितहस्तमाद्यम्
He saw the primeval one, holding conch, sword, and discus in his hands.
पितामहं लोकगुरुं दिवस्थम्
He saw the grandsire, the teacher of the worlds, shining in the heavens.