प्रसादाभिमुखो रुद्रः प्रादुरासीन्महेश्वरः
Rudra, favorably disposed, appeared—Maheshvara himself.
तुष्टुवुर्हृष्टमनसो भक्त्या तं परमेश्वरम्
With joyful hearts, they praised that Supreme Lord with devotion.
जयाशेषमुनीशान तपसाभिप्रपूजित
Victory to you, Lord of all sages, honored through austerity.
जयानन्त जगज्जन्मत्राणसंहारकारण
Victory to you, O endless one, cause of the creation, protection, and destruction of the world.
जयाम्बिकापते देव नमस्ते परमेश्वर
Victory to you, Lord of Ambikā, O God; obeisance to you, Supreme Lord.
समालिङ्ग्य हृषीकेशं प्राह गम्भीरया गिरा
Embracing Hṛṣīkeśa, he spoke with a deep voice.
इमं समागता देशं किं वा कार्यं मयाच्युत
Having come to this place, O Acyuta, what task is to be done by me?
प्राह देवो महादेवं प्रसादाभिमुखं स्थितम्
The Lord spoke to Mahādeva, who stood favorably disposed.
अभ्यागता मां शरणं सम्यग्दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः
Those who have come to me for refuge, desiring true vision,
सन्निधौ मम तज्ज्ञानं दिव्यं वक्तुमिहार्हसि
In my presence, you ought to speak that divine knowledge here.
ततस्त्वमात्मनात्मानं मुनीन्द्रेभ्यः प्रदर्शय
Therefore, reveal yourself by your own self to the foremost sages.
प्रदर्शयन् योगसिद्धिं निरीक्ष्य वृषभध्वजम्
Displaying yogic perfection, having beheld the Bull-bannered One,
कृतार्थं स्वयमात्मानं ज्ञातुमर्हथ तत्त्वतः
Having fulfilled your purpose, you should know yourself truly.
ममैव सन्निधावेष यथावद् वक्तुमीश्वरः
It is indeed in my presence that the Lord should speak properly.
सनत्कुमारप्रमुखाः पृच्छन्ति स्म महेश्वरम्
Sanatkumara and the others questioned Maheshvara.
किमप्यचिन्त्यं गगनादीश्वरार्हं समुद्बभौ
Something inconceivable, worthy of the Lord, arose from the sky.
तेजसा पूरयन् विश्वं भाति देवो महेश्वरः
Filling the universe with radiance, the god Maheshvara shines.
विभ्राजमानं विमले तस्मिन् ददृशुरासने
They saw him, brilliant and pure, seated upon that throne.
अनन्यतेजसं शान्तं शिवं ददृशिरे किल
They beheld Shiva, tranquil, unique in splendor.
तमासनस्थं भूतानामीशं ददृशिरे किल
They saw him seated, the Lord of beings.
स वासुदेवमासीनं तमीशं ददृशुः किल
They saw that Lord, Vasudeva, seated there.
निरीक्ष्य पुण्डरीकाक्षं स्वात्मयोगमनुत्तमम्
Beholding Lotus-eyed One, his supreme self-yoga,
प्रशान्तमानसाः सर्वे ज्ञानमीश्वरभाषितम्
With minds at peace, all listened to the knowledge spoken by the Lord.
यन्न देवा विजानन्ति यतन्तो ऽपि द्विजातयः
That which even the gods do not know, nor do the twice-born despite their efforts,
न संसारं प्रपद्यन्ते पूर्वे ऽपि ब्रह्मवादिनः
Nor do the earlier teachers of Brahman enter into worldly existence,
वक्ष्ये भक्तिमतामद्य युष्माकं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्
I shall declare today to you, devoted Brahman-knowers.
अस्ति सर्वान्तरः साक्षाच्चिन्मात्रस्तमसः परः
There exists the innermost, direct witness, pure consciousness, beyond darkness.
स कालो ऽग्निस्तदव्यक्तं स एवेदमिति श्रुतिः
He is time, fire, the unmanifest; he alone is this—all this, so declares the scripture.
स मायी मायया बद्धः करोति विविधास्तनूः
He, the wielder of māyā, bound by māyā, creates various bodies.
नायं पृथ्वी न सलिलं न तेजः पवनो नभः
He is not earth, nor water, nor fire, nor wind, nor space.