तर्पपित्वा पितॄन् स्नात्वा मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया
After satisfying the ancestors and bathing, one is freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin.
कपालं ब्रह्मणः पूर्वं स्थापितं देहजं भुवि
The skull of Brahma, formerly placed, born from the body, on the earth—
माहात्म्यं देवदेवस्य महादेवस्य धीमतः
—is the greatness of the god of gods, the wise great god.
प्रोचुः प्रणम्य लोकादिं किमेकं तत्त्वमव्ययम्
Having bowed, they said to the lord of the worlds: 'What is the one imperishable reality?'
अविज्ञाय परं भावं स्वात्मानं प्राह धर्षिणम्
Not knowing the supreme state, he spoke of his own self as the conqueror.
अनादिमत्परं ब्रह्म मामभ्यर्च्य विमुच्यते
By worshipping me, the supreme Brahman, without beginning and beyond, one is released.
न विद्यते चाभ्यधिको मत्तो लोकेषु कश्चन
There is no one in all the worlds who surpasses me.
प्रोवाच प्रहसन् वाक्यं रोषताम्रविलोचनः
He spoke these words, smiling, his eyes reddened with anger.
अज्ञानयोगयुक्तस्य न त्वेतदुचितं तव
For one endowed with ignorance, this is not fitting for you.
न मामृते ऽस्य जगतो जीवनं सर्वदा क्वचित्
Without me, there is never any life in this world at any time.
मत्प्रेरितेन भवता सृष्टं भुवनमण्डलम्
By my prompting, you created the sphere of worlds.
आजग्मुर्यत्र तौ देवौ वेदाश्चत्वार एव हि
There, the two gods and the four Vedas indeed arrived.
प्रोचुः संविग्नहृदया याथात्म्यं परमेष्ठिनः
With anxious hearts, they spoke the true nature of the Supreme Lord.
यदाहुस्तत्परं तत्त्वं स देवः स्यान्महेश्वरः
That which they declare as the supreme reality, that god is Maheśvara.
यमाहुरीश्वरं देवं स देवः स्यात् पिनाकधृक्
He whom they call the Lord, that god is the bearer of the bow Pināka.
योगिभिर्विद्यते तत्त्वं महादेवः स शङ्करः
The truth is known by yogis: that great god is Śaṅkara.
महेशं पुरुषं रुद्रं स देवो भगवान् भवः
Maheśa, the Person, Rudra—he is the blessed Lord Bhava.
श्रुत्वाह प्रहसन् वाक्यं विश्वात्मापि विमोहितः
Hearing this, the Soul of the Universe, though bewildered, spoke with a smile.
रमते भार्यया सार्धं प्रमथैश्चातिगर्वितैः
He delights together with his wife and with the exceedingly proud Pramathas.
अमूर्तो मूर्तिमान् भूत्वा वचः प्राह पितामहम्
Becoming embodied from the formless, he addressed Pitāmaha with words.
कदाचिद् रमते रुद्रस्तादृशो हि महेश्वरः
Sometimes Rudra delights in this way—such indeed is Maheśvara.
स्वानन्दभूता कथिता देवी नागन्तुका शिवा
The goddess called Śivā is said to be his own bliss, not something external.
नाज्ञानमगमन्नाशमीश्वरस्यैव मायया
Ignorance never overcame or destroyed him, for it is only the illusion of the Lord.
प्रापश्यदद्भुतं दिव्यं पूरयन् गगनान्तरम्
He beheld a wondrous, divine sight, filling the expanse of the sky.
व्योममध्यगतं दिव्यं प्रादुरासीद् द्विजोत्तमाः
A divine form appeared in the midst of the sky, O best of twice-born.
तेन तन्मण्जलं घोरमालोकयदनिन्दितम्
By that, they beheld that dreadful, flawless mass of water.
क्षणाददृश्यत महान् पुरुषो नीललोहितः
In a moment, a great person was seen, dark blue and red.
तं प्राह भगवान् ब्रह्मा शङ्करं नीललोहितम्
The blessed Brahma spoke to Shankara, who was dark blue and red.
प्रादुर्भावं महेशान् मामेव शरणं व्रज
O Lord of Lords, manifest yourself; seek refuge in me alone.
प्राहिणोत् पुरुषं कालं भैरवं लोकदाहकम्
He sent forth the person named Kala Bhairava, the burner of worlds.