शाकपर्णाशिनः केचित् संप्रक्षाला मरीचिपाः
Some ate leaves and vegetables, some purified themselves, some subsisted on sunlight.
कालं नयन्ति तपसा पूजयन्तो महेश्वरम्
They spent their time in austerity, worshipping Maheśvara.
चका भगवान् बुद्धिं प्रबोधाय वृषध्वजः
The blessed Bull-bannered One inspired understanding for their awakening.
देवदारुवनं प्राप्तः प्रसन्नः परमेश्वरः
The gracious Supreme Lord arrived at the Devadāru forest.
उल्मुकव्यग्रहस्तश्च रक्तपिङ्गललोचनः
With a blazing torch in hand and reddish-yellow eyes,
क्वचिन्नृत्यति शृङ्गारी क्वचिद्रौति मुहुर्मुहुः
At times he dances amorously, at times he cries out again and again.
मायां कृत्वात्मनो रूपं देवस्तद् वनमागतः
The god, having assumed a form by his own power of illusion, entered that forest.
सा च पूर्ववद् देवेशी देवदारुवनं गता
And the goddess, as before, went to the Devadāru forest.
प्रणेमुः शिरसा भूमौ तोषयामासुरीश्वरम्
They bowed with their heads to the ground and sought to please the Lord.
अथर्वशिरसा चान्ये रुद्राद्यैर्ब्रह्मभिर्भवम्
Others, along with Rudra and the Brahmas, worshipped Bhava with the Atharvaśiras hymn.
त्र्यम्बकाय नमस्तुभ्यं त्रिशूलवरधारिणे
Salutations to you, O Three-eyed One, bearer of the trident and the boon.
सर्वप्रणतदेहाय स्वयमप्रणतात्मने
To the one whose body is approached by all, yet whose self is unattached—salutations.
नमो ऽस्तु नृत्यशीलाय नमो भैरवरूपिणे
Salutations to the one fond of dance, salutations to the one who assumes the form of Bhairava.
नमो दान्ताय शान्ताय तापसाय हराय च
Salutations to the restrained, the peaceful, the ascetic, and to Hara.
नमस्ते लेलिहानाय शितिकण्ठाय ते नमः
Salutations to you, who licks with your tongue, to you with the blue throat—salutations.
नमः कनकमालाय देव्याः प्रियकराय च
Salutations to the one adorned with a golden garland, and to the one who brings joy to the goddess.
नमो योगाधिपतये ब्रह्माधिपतये नमः
Salutations to the lord of yoga, salutations to the lord of Brahma.
नमस्ते घनवाहाय दंष्ट्रिणे वह्निरेतसे
Salutations to you, who are dark-clouded, with fangs, and whose seed is fire.
विश्वेश्वर महादेव यो ऽसि सो ऽसि नमो ऽस्तु ते
O Lord of the universe, great god, you are who you are—salutations to you.
नमः कनकलिङ्गाय वारिलिङ्गाय ते नमः
Salutations to you, whose emblem is gold, and whose emblem is water—salutations.
किरीटिने कुण्डलिने कालकालाय ते नमः
Salutations to you, crowned, coiled with serpents, and the death of Time itself.
क्षम्यतां यत्कृतं मोहात् त्वमेव शरणं हि नः
May what was done out of delusion be forgiven; you alone are our refuge.
ब्रह्मादीनां च सर्वेषां दुर्विज्ञेयो ऽसि शङ्कर
O Śaṅkara, you are difficult for all, even Brahma and the others, to comprehend.
तत्सर्वं भगवानेन कुरुते योगमायया
All this, O Lord, is accomplished by him through his yogic illusion.
ऊचुः प्रणम्य गिरिशं पश्यामस्त्वां यथा पुरा
Having bowed, they said to the Lord of the Mountain: 'May we see you as before.'
स्वमेव परमं रूपं दर्शयामास शङ्करः
Śaṅkara then revealed his own supreme form.
यथा पूर्वं स्थिता विप्राः प्रणेमुर्हृष्टमानसाः
As before, the sages stood, their minds elated, and bowed.
भृग्वङ्गिरोवसिष्ठास्तु विश्वामित्रस्तथैव च
Bhṛgu, Aṅgiras, Vasiṣṭha, and likewise Viśvāmitra.
प्रणम्य देवदेवेशमिदं वचनमब्रुवन्
Having bowed to the Lord of gods and lords, they spoke these words.
ज्ञानेन वाथ योगेन पूजयामः सदैव हि
Should we always worship by means of knowledge, or by yoga?