स्नात्वा शुक्लाम्बरो भानुमुपतिष्ठत् कृताञ्जलिः
After bathing, clad in white garments, he stood before the Sun with joined palms.
तर्पयामास देवेशो देवेशो देवान् मुनिगणान् पितॄन्
The Lord of the gods offered libations to the gods, the hosts of sages, and the ancestors.
पूजयामास लिङ्गस्थं भूतेशं भूतिभूषणम्
He worshipped Bhūteśa, adorned with ashes, who abides in the liṅga.
भोजयित्वा मुनिवरं ब्राह्मणानभिपूज्य च
After feeding the best of sages and duly honoring the brāhmaṇas,
कथाः पौराणिकीः पुण्याश्चक्रे पुत्रादिभिर्वृतः
Surrounded by his sons and others, he engaged in auspicious Purāṇic tales.
मार्कण्डेयो हसन् कृष्णं बभाषे मधुरं वचः
Mārkaṇḍeya, smiling, spoke sweet words to Kṛṣṇa.
ब्रूहि त्वं कर्मभिः पूज्यो योगिनां ध्येय एव च
Tell me, you are worshipped through deeds and are the object of meditation for yogis.
भारावतरणार्थाय जातो वृष्णिकुले प्रभुः
The Lord was born in the Vṛṣṇi clan for the purpose of relieving the earth’s burden.
शृण्वतामेव पुत्राणां सर्वेषां प्रहसन्निव
As all his sons listened, he spoke, as if smiling.
तथापि देवमीशानं पूजयामि सनातनम्
Still, I worship the eternal Lord, the god of gods.
पूजयामि तथापीशं जानन्नैतत् परं शिवम्
Even so, knowing this supreme Śiva, I worship the Lord.
ततो ऽहं स्वात्मनो मूलं ज्ञापयन् पूजयामि तम्
Therefore, realizing him as the root of my own self, I worship him.
तथा लिङ्गे हितायैषां लोकानां पूजयेच्छिवम्
Thus, for the welfare of the worlds, one should worship Śiva in the liṅga.
ततो ऽहमात्ममीशानं पूजयाम्यात्मनैव तु
Therefore, I worship the Lord of self with my own self.
नावयोर्द्यिते भेदो वेदेष्वेवं विनिश्चयः
O shining one, there is no difference between us; this is the conclusion of the Vedas.
ध्येयः पूज्यश्च वन्द्यश्च ज्ञेयो लिङ्गे महेश्वरः
Maheśvara, in the liṅga, is to be meditated upon, worshipped, honored, and known.
ब्रूहि कृष्ण विशालाक्ष गहनं ह्येतदुत्तमम्
Tell me, O Krishna of wide eyes, for this profound matter is truly supreme.
वेदा महेस्वरं देवमाहुर्लिङ्गिनमव्ययम्
The Vedas declare the great Lord, the imperishable God, as the one who bears the liṅga.
प्रबोधार्थं ब्रह्मणो मे प्रादुर्भूतः स्वयं शिवः
For the sake of awakening Brahma, Shiva himself manifested from me.
पूजयावो महादेवं लोकानां हितकाम्यया
Let us worship the great Lord, desiring the welfare of all worlds.
प्रबोधार्थं स्वयं कृष्ण वक्तुमर्हसि सांप्रतम्
For the sake of understanding, O Krishna, you should now speak yourself.
मध्ये चैकार्णवे तस्मिन् शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः
In the midst of that single ocean, I lay, eternal, bearing the conch, discus, and mace.
सहस्त्रबाहुर्युक्तात्मा शयितो ऽहं सनातनः
Endowed with a thousand arms and united with my own self, I, the ancient one, was lying there.
कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं भ्राजमानं श्रियावृतम्
Radiant like millions of suns, shining forth, enveloped in splendor.
कृष्णाजिरधरं देवमृग्यजुः सामभिः स्तुतम्
The god with dark blue throat, praised by the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma Vedas.
व्याजहार स्वयं ब्रह्मा स्मयमानो महाद्युतिः
Then Brahma himself, of great brilliance, smiling, spoke.
अहं कर्ता हि लोकानां स्वयंभूः प्रपितामहः
I am the creator of the worlds, the self-born, the grandsire.
अहं कर्तास्मि लोकानां संहर्ता च पुनः पुनः
I am the creator of the worlds, and again and again, I am their destroyer.
प्रबोधार्थं परं लिङ्गं प्रादुर्भूतं शिवात्मकम्
For the sake of understanding, the supreme liṅga, of the nature of Shiva, appeared.
क्षयवृद्धिविनिर्मुक्तमादिमध्यान्तवर्जितम्
Free from decay and growth, devoid of beginning, middle, and end.