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.
कुमारमग्निपतिमं सशाखम्
He saw Kumāra, the fire-lord, with his spear.
स्वायंभुवं चापि मनुं ददर्श
He also saw Svāyambhuva Manu.
स्वात्मन्यथात्मानमसौ विचिन्त्य
He contemplated the self within his own self.
त्वामेव सर्व प्रवदन्ति सन्तः
The virtuous declare you alone to be all.
सत्वामेकं शरणमुपैमि देवमीशम्
You alone, the god, the lord, I seek as refuge.
त्वामेकं शरणमुपैमि देवमीशम्
You alone, the god, the lord, I seek as refuge.
स्मृत्वा ते पदयुगलं भवत्प्रसादात्
Remembering your pair of feet by your grace,
नित्यं त्वामहमुपैमि सत्यविभवंविश्वेश्वरन्तंशिवम्
I always approach you, the true and glorious Lord of all, the supreme auspicious one.
महादेवाय ते नित्यमीशानाय नमो नमः
To you, Mahadeva, the eternal Lord, I bow again and again.
नमस्ते वज्रहस्ताय दिग्वस्त्राय कपर्दिने
Salutations to you, who hold the thunderbolt, who are clothed with the directions, with matted hair.