वृषध्वजाय मुण्डाय जटिने ब्रह्मचारिणे तप्यमानाय सलिले ब्रह्मण्यायाजिताय च
Salutations to the bull-bannered, the skull-bearer, the matted-haired, the celibate, the one who is heated in water, the Brahmanical, the unconquered.
विश्वात्मने विश्वसृजे विश्वमावृत्य तिष्ठते नमो ऽस्तु दिव्यरूपाय प्रभवे दिव्यशम्भवे
Salutations to the soul of the universe, the creator of the universe, who pervades and stands within all; to the one of divine form, the lord, the divine Śambhu.
अभिगम्याय काम्याय स्तुत्यायार्च्याय सर्वदा भक्तानुकम्पिने नित्यं दिशते यन्मनोगतम्
Salutations to the approachable, the desirable, the praiseworthy, the worshipful always, the ever-compassionate to devotees, who grants whatever is in their minds.
ब्रह्माद्यैः स्तूयमानस्तु देवैर्देवो महेश्वरः प्रजापतिमुवाचेदं देवानां क्व भयं महत्
Praised by Brahmā and the other gods, the god Maheśvara addressed Prajāpati: 'Where is this great fear among the gods?'
भो देवाः स्वागतं वो ऽस्तु ब्रूत यद्वो मनोगतम् तावदेव प्रयच्छामि नास्त्यदेयं मया हि वः
'Welcome to you, O gods! Speak what is in your minds. I will grant it at once; for nothing is withheld by me from you.'
युष्माकं नितरां शं वै कर्ताहं विबुधर्षभाः चरामि महदत्युग्रं यच्चापि परमं तपः
'I will surely bring you welfare, O best of gods. I perform severe and supreme austerities.'
विद्विष्टा वो मम द्विष्टाः कष्टाः कष्टपराक्रमाः तेषामभावः संपाद्यो युष्माकं भव एव च
'Those who hate you are hated by me, those of harsh and dreadful power. Their destruction must be accomplished for your sake, by Bhava.'
एवमुक्तास्तु देवेन प्रेम्णा सब्रह्मकाः सुराः रुद्रमाहुर्महाभागं भागार्हाः सर्व एव ते
Thus addressed by the god with affection, the gods together with Brahmā declared Rudra to be most fortunate, worthy of a share, all of them.
भगवंस्तैस्तपस्तप्तं रौद्रं रौद्रपराक्रमैः असुरैर्वध्यमानाः स्म वयं त्वां शरणं गताः
O Lord, we have endured fierce austerities, and, oppressed by the violent might of the demons, we have sought refuge in you.
मयो नाम दितेः पुत्रस् त्रिनेत्र कलहप्रियः त्रिपुरं येन तद्दुर्गं कृतं पाण्डुरगोपुरम्
There is one named Maya, son of Diti, three-eyed and fond of conflict, who built the fortress Tripura with pale towers.
तदाश्रित्य पुरं दुर्गं दानवा वरनिर्भयाः बाधन्ते ऽस्मान्महादेव प्रेष्यमस्वामिनं यथा
Relying on that fortified city, the fearless demons harass us, O Mahadeva; send your servant as you see fit.
उद्यानानि च भग्नानि नन्दनादीनि यानि च वराश्चाप्सरसः सर्वा रम्भाद्या दनुजैर्हृताः
The gardens, including Nandana and others, have been destroyed, and all the celestial nymphs, beginning with Rambha, have been seized by the demons.
इन्द्रस्य वाह्याश्च गजाः कुमुदाञ्जनवामनाः ऐरावताद्या अपहृता देवतानां महेश्वर
The elephants of Indra, Kumuda, Anjana, Vamana, Airavata and others, have been taken away from the gods, O Maheshvara.
ये चेन्द्ररथमुख्याश् च हरयो ऽपहृतासुरैः जाताश्च दानवानां ते रथयोग्यास्तुरंगमाः
The horses, foremost among Indra’s chariot animals, have been seized by the demons, and those steeds now serve the chariots of the Danavas.
ये रथा ये गजाश्चैव याः स्त्रियो वसु यच्च नः तन्नो व्यपहृतं दैत्यैः संशयो जीविते पुनः
Whatever chariots, elephants, women, and wealth belonged to us have been taken by the Daityas; our lives are now in doubt.
त्रिनेत्र एवमुक्तस्तु देवैः शक्रपुरोगमैः उवाच देवान्देवेशो वरदो वृषवाहनः
Thus addressed by the gods, led by Shakra, the three-eyed Lord, the giver of boons, mounted on the bull, spoke to them.
व्यपगच्छतु वो देवा महद्दानवजं भयम् तदहं त्रिपुरं धक्ष्ये क्रियतां यद्ब्रवीमि तत्
Let your great fear of the demons be dispelled, O gods; I will burn Tripura. Do as I instruct.
यदीच्छत मया दग्धुं तत्पुरं सहमानवम् रथमौपयिकं मह्यं सज्जयध्वं किमास्यते
If you wish me to burn that city along with its inhabitants, prepare for me a suitable chariot; why delay?
दिग्वाससा तथोक्तास्ते सपितामहकाः सुराः तथेत्युक्त्वा महादेवं चक्रुस्ते रथमुत्तमम्
Thus addressed, the gods, accompanied by their grandfathers, replied, 'So be it,' and fashioned for Mahadeva a splendid chariot.
धरां कूबरकौ द्वौ तु रुद्रपार्श्वचरावुभौ अधिष्ठानं शिरो मेरोर् अक्षो मन्दर एव च
The earth and two Kuberas, both attendants of Rudra, became the wheels; the head of Meru was the base, and Mandara was the axle.
चक्रुश्चन्द्रं च सूर्यं च चक्रे काञ्चनराजते कृष्णपक्षं शुक्लपक्षं पक्षद्वयमपीश्वराः
They made the moon and sun as the chariot’s wheels, of gold and silver; the dark and bright lunar fortnights formed the two sides, O Lords.
रथनेमिद्वयं चक्रुर् देवा ब्रह्मपुरःसराः आदिद्वयं पक्षयन्त्रं यन्त्रमेताश्च देवताः
The gods, led by Brahma, made the two chariot rims; the two beginnings, the mechanisms of the sides, and these devices were fashioned by the deities.
कम्बलाश्वतराभ्यां च नागाभ्यां समवेष्टितम् भार्गवश्चाङ्गिराश्चैव बुधो ऽङ्गारक एव च
It was encircled by Kambala and Ashvatara, and by two serpents; Bhargava, Angiras, Budha, and Angaraka were also present.
शनैश्चरस्तथा चात्र सर्वे ते देवसत्तमाः वरूथं गगनं चक्रुश् चारुरूपं रथस्य ते
Shani was there as well, and all those excellent gods made the sky as the chariot’s covering, beautiful in form.
कृतं द्विजिह्वनयनं त्रिवेणुं शातकौम्भिकम् मणिमुक्तेन्द्रनीलैश्च वृतं ह्यष्टमुखैः सुरैः
They fashioned a double-tongued, three-fluted, golden banner, adorned with gems, pearls, sapphires, and surrounded by eight-faced gods.
गङ्गा सिन्धुः शतद्रुश्च चन्द्रभागा इरावती वितस्ता च विपाशा च यमुना गण्डकी तथा
The Ganga, Sindhu, Shatadru, Chandrabhaga, Iravati, Vitasta, Vipasha, Yamuna, and Gandaki rivers were included as well.
सरस्वती देविका च तथा च सरयूरपि एताः सरिद्वराः सर्वा वेणुसंज्ञा कृता रथे
Sarasvatī, Devikā, and likewise Sarayū—these excellent rivers were all given the name Veṇu on the chariot.
धृतराष्ट्राश्च ये नागास् ते च वेश्यात्मकाः कृताः वासुकेः कुलजा ये च ये च रैवतवंशजाः
The Nāgas called Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and those of courtesan origin, those born in the lineage of Vāsuki, and those of the Raivata line—
ते सर्पा दर्पसम्पूर्णाश् चापतूणेष्व् अनूनगाः अवतस्थुः शरा भूत्वा नानाजातिशुभाननाः
These serpents, filled with pride and not lacking in speed, stood as arrows, their faces adorned with various marks.
सुरसा सरमा कद्रूर् विनता शुचिरेव च तृषा बुभुक्षा सर्वोग्रा मृत्युः सर्वशमस्तथा
Surasā, Saramā, Kadrū, Vinatā, Śuci, as well as Tṛṣā, Bubhukṣā, Sarvogrā, Mṛtyu, and Sarvaśama also—