Kurma Purana

नृत्यत्यनन्तमहिमा तस्मै रुद्रात्मने नमः

Homage to him who is the essence of Rudra, whose infinite glory dances.

तं सर्वसाक्षिणं देवं नमस्ये भवतस्तनुम्

I bow to the divine form of yours, O Lord, who is the witness of all.

ज्योतिः पश्यन्ति युञ्जानास्तस्मै योगात्मने नमः

Homage to him who is the essence of yoga, whose light is seen by those who practice.

अपारतरपर्यन्तां तस्मै विद्यात्मने नमः

Homage to him who is the essence of knowledge, boundless and without limit or end.

प्रपद्ये तत् परं तत्त्वं तद्रूपं परमेश्वरम्

I seek refuge in that supreme truth, that form of the highest Lord.

प्रपद्ये परमात्मानं भवन्तं परमेश्वरम्

I seek refuge in you, the supreme soul, the highest Lord.

प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतस्तस्थौ गृणन् ब्रह्म सनातनम्

With joined palms, bowed down, he stood praising the eternal Brahman.

ऐश्वर्यं ब्रह्मसद्भावं वैराग्यं च ददौ हरः

Hara granted him lordship, the state of Brahman, and renunciation.

व्याजहरा स्वयं देवः सो ऽनुगृह्य पितामहम्

The god himself spoke, having shown favor to the grandfather.

कृतं मया तत् सकलं सृजस्व विविधं जगत्

All this has been accomplished by me; now create the diverse worlds.

सर्गरक्षालयगुणैर्निष्कलः परमेश्वरः

The Supreme Lord is without parts, endowed with the qualities of creation, preservation, and dissolution.

ममैव दक्षिणादङ्गाद् वामाङ्गात् पुरुषोत्तमः

From my right side and from my left side arose the Supreme Person.

संबभूवाथ रुद्रो ऽसावहं तस्यापरा तनुः

Then Rudra was born; I am his other form.

विभज्यात्मानमेको ऽपि स्वेच्छया शङ्करः स्थितः

Though one, Śaṅkara abides by his own will, dividing himself.

निरूपः केवलः स्वच्छो महादेवः स्वभावतः

By nature, Mahādeva is formless, pure, and transparent.

माहेश्वरी त्रिनयना योगिनां शान्तिदा सदा

The great goddess, three-eyed, always bestows peace upon yogis.

शाश्वतैश्वर्यविज्ञानतेजोयोगसमन्विताम्

She is endowed with eternal sovereignty, knowledge, brilliance, and union with yoga.

कालो भूत्वा न तमसा मामन्यो ऽभिभविष्यति

Becoming Time, no one else will overcome me by darkness.

तदा तदा मे सान्निध्यं भविष्यति तवानघ

Then and then, my presence will be with you, O sinless one.

सहैव मानसैः पुत्रैः क्षणादन्तरधीयत

Along with his mind-born sons, he vanished in an instant.

नारायणाख्यो भगवान् यथापूर्वं प्रिजापतिः

The Lord called Nārāyaṇa, as before, became the progenitor.

दक्षमत्रिं वसिष्ठं च सो ऽसृजद् योगविद्यया

By the power of yoga, he created Dakṣa, Atri, and Vasiṣṭha.

सर्वे ते ब्रह्मणा तुल्याः साधका ब्रह्मवादिनः

All of them were equal to Brahmā, accomplished and speakers of Brahman.

स्थानाभिमानिनः सर्वान् यथा ते कथितं पुरा

All those who preside over the worlds, as previously described to you.

सहैव मानसैः पुत्रैस्तताप परमं तपः

Along with his mind-born sons, he performed supreme austerity.

त्रिशूलपाणिरीशानः प्रदुरासीत् त्रिलोचनः

The Lord, three-eyed, bearing a trident, appeared.

विभजात्मानमित्युक्त्वा ब्रह्मा चान्तर्दधे भयात्

Saying, 'Divide yourself,' Brahmā disappeared out of fear.

बिभेद पुरुषत्वं च दशधा चैकधा पुनः

He divided the state of being a person in ten ways, and then again into one.

कपालोशादयो विप्रा देवकार्ये नियोजिताः

O Brahmins, Kapāla and others were appointed to the task of the gods.