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.
ब्रह्माणं च हरिं तत्र स्थितौ प्राह शिवो वचः
There, Śiva spoke these words to Brahmā and Hari, who were present.
गत्वा पश्यामि हे विष्णो सर्वं तत्कृतसाहसम्
Going, I will see, O Viṣṇu, all that has been done by him.
नन्दिकेन सुवेषेण धृते छत्रे ऽतिशोभने
With Nandī, splendidly attired, holding a most beautiful parasol,
महेशानुमतिं लब्ध्वा हरिर्नागान्तके स्थितः
Having obtained the consent of Maheśa, Hari stood at the serpent's end.
शिवानुमत्या ब्रह्मापि हंसारूढो ऽभवत्तदा
With Śiva's approval, Brahmā too then mounted upon a swan.
इन्द्रादिसर्वदेवाश्च स्वस्ववाहनसंयुताः
Indra and all the other gods, each accompanied by their own vehicle,
कोटिकोटिगणाकीर्णा गौतमस्याश्रमं गताः
Surrounded by countless multitudes, they went to Gautama's hermitage.
स्वभक्तं जीवयामास वामकोणनिरीक्षणात्
He revived his devotee by gazing from the left side.
तदाकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य गौतमः प्राह सादरम्
Hearing those words, Gautama spoke with respect.
त्वल्लिङ्गार्चनसामर्थ्यं नित्यमस्तु ममेश्वर
May I always have the ability to worship your emblem, O Lord.