सृजत्यशेषमेवेदं स्वमूर्तेः प्रकृतेरजः
From the rajas of Prakṛti, in his own form, he creates all this without remainder.
तवैतत् कथितं सम्यक् स्त्रष्ट्वत्वं परमात्मनः
Thus, your question about the supreme Self as creator has been properly explained.
समास्थाय परं भावं प्रोक्तो रुद्रो मनीषिभिः
Assuming the supreme state, Rudra is declared by the wise.
दृष्टा हि भवता नूनं विद्यादेहस्त्वहं ततः
You have surely seen this, and therefore I am the one with the body of knowledge.
विष्णुर्ब्रह्मा च भगवान् रुद्रः काल इति श्रुतिः
Viṣṇu, Brahmā, the Blessed Lord, Rudra, and Time—so says the scripture.
तदात्मकं तदव्यक्तं तदक्षरमिति श्रुतिः
That is of their essence, that is unmanifest, that is imperishable—so says the scripture.
आकाशं निष्कलं ब्रह्म तस्मादन्यन्न विद्यते
Space, the partless Brahman—apart from that, nothing else exists.
संपूज्यो वन्दनीयो ऽहं ततस्तं पश्य शाश्वतम्
Therefore, I am to be worshipped and honored; thus, behold that eternal one.
तत्रैव भक्तियोगेन रुद्रामाराधयन्मुनिः
There, by the yoga of devotion, the sage worshipped Rudra.
संसेव्य ब्राह्मणो विद्वान् मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः
Serving him, the learned brāhmaṇa is freed from all sins.
रुद्रकोटिरिति ख्यातं रुद्रस्य परमेष्ठिनः
It is known as Rudrakoṭi, belonging to Rudra, the supreme lord.
कोटिब्रह्मर्षयो दान्तास्तं देशमगमन् परम्
A crore of self-restrained Brahmarṣis went to that place.
अन्यो ऽन्यं भक्तियुक्तानां व्याघातो जायते किल
Indeed, among those devoted to each other, discord arises.
कोटिरूपो ऽभवद् रुद्रो रुद्रकोटिस्ततः स्मृतः
Rudra took on a myriad forms; thus, he is remembered as the multitude of Rudras.
पश्यन्तः पार्वतीनाथं हृष्टपुष्टधियो ऽभवन्
Seeing the Lord of Pārvatī, their minds became joyful and strong.
दृष्टवानिति भक्त्या ते रुद्रन्यस्तधियो ऽभवन्
Thinking, 'We have seen him,' they devoted their minds to Rudra with devotion.
ज्योतिस्तत्रैव ते सर्वे ऽभिलषन्तः परं पदम्
There, all of them, desiring the supreme state, longed for that light.
दृष्ट्वा रुद्रं समभ्यर्च्य रुद्रसामीप्यमाप्नुयात्
Having seen Rudra and duly worshipped him, one attains nearness to Rudra.
तत्र गत्वा नियमवानिन्द्रस्यार्धासनं लभेत्
Going there with discipline, one obtains half the seat of Indra.
तत्र गत्वा पितॄन् पूज्य कुलानां तारयेच्छतम्
Going there and honoring the ancestors, one delivers a hundred families.
कालं जरितवान् देवो यत्र भक्तिप्रियो हरः
There, the god Hara, who delights in devotion, spent his time.
तदाशीस्तन्नमस्कारः पूजयामास शूलिनम्
He then offered salutations and worshipped the trident-bearing one.
जजाप रुद्रमनिशं तत्र संन्यस्तमानसः
With his mind fixed there, he recited the Rudra hymn day and night.
नेतुमभ्यागतो देशं स राजा यत्र तिष्ठति
He came to take the king from the place where he resided.
कालं कालकरं घोरं भीषणं चण्डदीधितिम्
Time, the bringer of death, terrible and fierce, blazing intensely.
ननाम शिरसा रुद्रं जजाप शतरुद्रियम्
He bowed his head to Rudra and recited the Śatarudriya hymn.
एह्येहीति पुरः स्थित्वा कृतान्तः प्रहसन्निव
Standing before him, Death, as if smiling, said, 'Come, come.'
एकमीशार्चनरतं विहायान्यं निषूदय
Abandoning another, strike down the one engaged in worship of the One Lord.
रुद्रार्चनरतो वान्यो मद्वशे को न तिष्ठति
Whoever is devoted to worshipping Rudra, or another, does not remain under my control.
बबन्ध पाशै राजापि जजाप शतरुद्रियम्
Even when the king was bound with fetters, he recited the Śatarudriya hymn.