कुर्यात्पीठे चोर्द्ध्वके नागयुग्मं देवाभ्याशे दक्षिणे वामतश्च
Upon the seat and above it, one should place a pair of serpents, to the right and left near the deity.
सुश्वेतेन तस्य मध्ये महेशं लिङ्गाकारं पीठयुक्तं प्रपूज्यम्
In the center of that, with a very white form, one should worship Maheśa, in the shape of a liṅga, set upon a pedestal.
पुष्पैः पत्रैः श्रीतिलैरक्षतैश्च तिलोन्मिश्रैः केवलैश्चप्रपूज्य
One should worship with flowers, leaves, auspicious sesame, unbroken grains, and pure sesame seeds.
पूजाशेषं ते समाप्याथ सर्वे गीतं नृत्यं तत्र तत्रापि चक्रुः
After completing all the acts of worship, everyone there performed singing and dancing in various places.
काले चास्मिन्सुव्रते गौतमस्य शिष्यः प्राप्तः शङ्करात्मेति नाम्ना
At that time, O virtuous one, a disciple of Gautama arrived, named Śaṅkarātman.
क्वचिद्द्विजातिप्रवरः क्वचिञ्चण्डालसन्निभः
At times he appeared as a foremost twice-born, and at times resembling a caṇḍāla.
गर्जत्युत्पतते चैव नृत्यति स्तौति गायति
He would roar, leap up, dance, praise, and sing.
शिवज्ञानैकसंपन्नः परमानन्दनिर्भरः
He was endowed solely with the knowledge of Śiva, filled with supreme bliss.
बुभुजे गुरुणा साकं क्वचिदुच्छिष्टमेव च
He ate together with his guru, and sometimes even ate the guru's leftovers.
हस्तं गृहीत्वैव गुरोः स्वयमेवाभुनक्क्वचित्
At times, taking his teacher's hand, he himself would eat.
सर्वदा तं गुरुर्दृष्ट्वा करमालंब्य मन्दिरम्
The guru, always seeing him, would take his hand and lead him into the temple.
स्वयं तदस्य पात्रेण बुभुजेगौतमो मुनिः
Gautama the sage himself ate with that very vessel of his.
निर्दिष्टो गुरुपत्न्या तु बुभुजे सो ऽविशेषतः
When instructed by the guru's wife, he ate without distinction.
कण्टकानन्नवद्भुक्त्वा यथापूर्वमतिष्ठत
Having eaten food with thorns and the like, he remained just as before.
दिनेदिने तत्प्रदत्तं लोष्टमंबु च गोमयम्
Day by day, he received from them only a lump of clay, water, and cow dung.
एतादृशो मुनिरसौ चण्डालसदृशाकृतिः
That sage appeared just like a Caṇḍāla in form.
अन्त्यजोचितवेषश्च वृषपर्वाणमभ्यगात्
Dressed in the manner appropriate to an outcaste, he approached Vṛṣaparvan.
वृषपर्वा तमज्ञात्वा पीडयित्वा शिरो ऽच्छिनत्
Vṛṣaparvan, not recognizing him, tormented him and cut off his head.
अतीव कलुषं ह्यासीत्तत्रस्था मुनयस्तथा
The sages present there became exceedingly impure as a result.
निर्ययौ चक्षुषो वारि शोकं संदर्शयन्निव
Tears flowed from their eyes, as if revealing their grief.
किमनेन कृते पापं येन च्छिन्नमिदं शिरः
What sin was committed by him, for which this head was severed?
ममापि मरणं सत्यं शिष्यच्छद्मा यतो गुरुः
Indeed, my own death is certain, for the teacher was disguised as a disciple.
मरणं यत्र दृष्टं स्यात्तत्र नो मरणं ध्रुवम्
Wherever death is seen, there our death is also inevitable.
एनं संजीवयिष्यामि भार्गवं शङ्करप्रियम्
I will revive this Bhārgava, dear to Śaṅkara.
इति वादिनि विप्रेन्द्रे गौतमो ऽपि ममार ह
While the foremost of Brahmins was speaking thus, Gautama also died.
तस्यैवं हतिमाज्ञाय प्रह्लादाद्या दितीश्वराः
Learning of his killing in this way, Prahlāda and the other chiefs of the Daityas—
मृतमासीदथ बलं तस्य बाणस्य धीमतः
Then the strength of that wise Bāṇa was destroyed.
गौतमेन महेशस्य पूजया पूजितो विभुः
Honored by Gautama through the worship of Maheśa, the mighty one was worshipped.
अहो कष्टमहोकष्टं महेशा बहवो हताः
Alas, how terrible, how exceedingly terrible! Many of Maheśa’s devotees have been slain.
इति निश्चित्य गतवान्मन्दराचलमव्ययम्
Having resolved thus, he went to the imperishable Mandara mountain.