तमो ह्यग्नी रजो ब्रह्मा सत्त्वं विष्णुः प्रकाशकम् मूर्तिरेका स्थिता चास्य मूर्तयः परिकीर्तिताः
Darkness is Agni, passion is Brahma, and clarity is Vishnu, the illuminator; though his form is one, these manifestations are declared as his aspects.
यत्र तिष्ठति तद्ब्रह्म योगेन तु समन्वितम् तस्माद्धि देवदेवेशम् ईशानं प्रभुमव्ययम्
Wherever that Brahman abides, united with yoga, therefore one should worship the Lord of gods, Ishana, the imperishable master.
आराधयन्ति विप्रेन्द्रा जितक्रोधा जितेन्द्रियाः लिङ्गं कृत्वा यथान्यायं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम्
The foremost brahmins, who have conquered anger and their senses, worship the linga properly, endowed with all auspicious marks.
अङ्गुष्ठमात्रं सुशुभं सुवृत्तं सर्वसंमतम् समनाभं तथाष्टास्रं षोडशास्रम् अथापि वा
It should be as beautiful as a thumb, perfectly shaped, universally approved, with a pedestal equal in height, eight-sided or even sixteen-sided.
सुवृत्तं मण्डलं दिव्यं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् वेदिका द्विगुणा तस्य समा वा सर्वसंमता
The pedestal should be well-formed, circular, divine, and bestow all desires; its base should be twice as wide, or equal, as is universally accepted.
गोमुखी च त्रिभागैका वेद्या लक्षणसंयुता पट्टिका च समन्ताद्वै यवमात्रा द्विजोत्तमाः
The pedestal should have a cow's mouth shape, one third of the whole, marked with auspicious signs, and a band all around, the width of a barley grain, O best of twice-born.
सौवर्णं राजतं शैलं कृत्वा ताम्रमयं तथा वेदिकायाश् च विस्तारं त्रिगुणं वै समन्ततः
It may be made of gold, silver, stone, or copper; the breadth of the pedestal should be three times its size on all sides.
वर्तुलं चतुरस्रं वा षडस्रं वा त्रिरस्रकम् समन्तान्निर्व्रणं शुभ्रं लक्षणैस्तत् सुलक्षितम्
It may be round, square, hexagonal, or triangular, flawless on all sides, bright, and clearly marked with auspicious characteristics.
प्रतिष्ठाप्य यथान्यायं पूजालक्षणसंयुतम् कलशं स्थापयेत्तस्य वेदिमध्ये तथा द्विजाः
Having established, according to proper procedure, a vessel endowed with the marks of worship, one should place it at the center of the altar, O twice-born ones.
सहिरण्यं सबीजं च ब्रह्मभिश् चाभिमन्त्रितम् सेचयेच्च ततो लिङ्गं पवित्रैः पञ्चभिः शुभैः
Filled with gold and seeds, and consecrated by the Brahmins with mantras, then one should bathe the liṅga with five pure and auspicious substances.
पूजयेच्च यथालाभं ततः सिद्धिमवाप्स्यथ समाहिताः पूजयध्वं सपुत्राः सह बन्धुभिः
One should worship according to one's means; then you will attain success. With focused minds, worship together with your sons and relatives.
सर्वे प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा शूलपाणिं प्रपद्यत ततो द्रक्ष्यथ देवेशं दुर्दर्शमकृतात्मभिः
All with joined palms, approach the wielder of the trident; then you will behold the Lord of the gods, who is difficult to see for those whose minds are unpurified.
यं दृष्ट्वा सर्वमज्ञानम् अधर्मश् च प्रणश्यति ततः प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा ब्रह्माणममितौजसम्
Upon seeing him, all ignorance and unrighteousness are destroyed; then, having circumambulated Brahmā, who possesses immeasurable splendor—
सम्प्रस्थिता वनौकास्ते देवदारुवनं ततः आराधयितुमारब्धा ब्रह्मणा कथितं यथा
Those forest-dwellers set out for the Devadāru forest, beginning their worship as instructed by Brahmā.
स्थण्डिलेषु विचित्रेषु पर्वतानां गुहासु च नदीनां च विविक्तेषु पुलिनेषु शुभेषु च
On diverse altars, in mountain caves, and in secluded, auspicious riverbanks and sandbars—
शैवालशोभनाः केचित् केचिदन्तर्जलेशयाः केचिद्दर्भावकाशास्तु पादाङ्गुष्ठाग्रधिष्ठिताः
Some adorned with beautiful moss, some with just a little water within, some with seats of darbha grass, and some standing only on the tips of their toes—
दन्तोलूखलिनस्त्वन्ये अश्मकुट्टास् तथा परे स्थानवीरासनास्त्वन्ये मृगचर्यारताः परे
Some used wooden mortars for seats, others sat on stones; some assumed the posture of standing heroes, while others delighted in the practice of wandering like deer.
कालं नयन्ति तपसा पूजया च महाधियः एवं संवत्सरे पूर्णे वसन्ते समुपस्थिते
The great-minded ones spent their time in austerity and worship; thus, when a full year had passed and spring had arrived—
ततस्तेषां प्रसादार्थं भक्तानाम् अनुकम्पया देवः कृतयुगे तस्मिन् गिरौ हिमवतः शुभे
Then, out of compassion for those devoted ones, to grant them favor, the god, in that auspicious mountain during the Kṛta age—
देवदारुवनं प्राप्तः प्रसन्नः परमेश्वरः भस्मपांसूपदिग्धाङ्गो नग्नो विकृतलक्षणः
The supreme lord, pleased, arrived at the Devadāru forest, his body smeared with ashes and dust, naked, and bearing unusual marks.
उल्मुकव्यग्रहस्तश् च रक्तपिङ्गललोचनः क्वचिच्च हसते रौद्रं क्वचिद्गायति विस्मितः
Holding a blazing firebrand in his hand, his eyes red and tawny, at times he laughed fiercely, at times he sang in wonder.
क्वचिन्नृत्यति शृङ्गारं क्वचिद्रौति मुहुर्मुहुः आश्रमे ह्यटते भैक्ष्यं याचते च पुनः पुनः
Sometimes he danced amorously, sometimes he roared again and again; in the hermitage he wandered, repeatedly begging for alms.
मायां कृत्वा तथारूपां देवस्तद्वनम् आगतः ततस्ते मुनयः सर्वे तुष्टुवुश् च समाहिताः
Assuming such a form by his own power, the god entered that forest; then all the sages, composed in mind, praised him.
अद्भिर् विविधमाल्यैश् च धूपैर्गन्धैस्तथैव च सपत्नीका महाभागाः सपुत्राः सपरिच्छदाः
With water, various garlands, incense, and fragrances, together with their wives, sons, and attendants, those highly fortunate ones—
मुनयस्ते तथा वाग्भिर् ईश्वरं चेदम् अब्रुवन् अज्ञानाद्देवदेवेश यदस्माभिर् अनुष्ठितम्
Those sages thus addressed the Lord with these words: 'O God of gods, whatever we have done out of ignorance—'
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा तत्सर्वं क्षन्तुमर्हसि चरितानि विचित्राणि गुह्यानि गहनानि च
'By deed, by mind, or by speech, may you forgive all of that; for our actions have been diverse, secret, and profound.'
ब्रह्मादीनां च देवानां दुर्विज्ञेयानि ते हर अगतिं ते न जानीमो गतिं नैव च नैव च
O Hara, even for gods like Brahma and the others, your paths are difficult to comprehend; we do not know your coming nor your going, not at all.
विश्वेश्वर महादेव यो ऽसि सो ऽसि नमो ऽस्तु ते स्तुवन्ति त्वां महात्मानो देवदेवं महेश्वरम्
O Lord of all, Great God, you are who you are—salutations to you! The great souls praise you, O God of gods, O Supreme Lord.
नमो भवाय भव्याय भावनायोद्भवाय च अनन्तबलवीर्याय भूतानां पतये नमः
Salutations to Bhava, to the Auspicious, to the source and cause of existence; to the one of infinite strength and power, to the Lord of beings, salutations.
संहर्त्रे च पिशङ्गाय अव्ययाय व्ययाय च गङ्गासलिलधाराय आधाराय गुणात्मने
To the destroyer, to the tawny-hued one, to the imperishable and the perishable, to the bearer of the Ganga's stream, to the support, to the essence of qualities—salutations.