शिरः कमण्डलुगतं निधायाग्निनिमन्त्रितम्
Placing on his head water from the water-pot, sanctified by mantras to Agni,
अथ स्नापयितुं देवमादाय करसंपुटे
Then, to bathe the god, he took water in the hollow of his hands.
लिङ्गमात्रं करगतं दृष्ट्वा भीतिसमन्वितः
Seeing only the emblem in his hand, he was filled with fear.
यदेतत्पीठरहितं शिवलिङ्गं करस्थितम्
That Śiva-liṅga, without a pedestal, was resting in his hand.
अथ रुद्रं जपिष्यामि तदायति महेश्वरः
Then he resolved, 'I will recite the Rudra hymn,' and thus invoked Maheśvara.
यदा तु न समायातो महेशो ऽथ कपीश्वरः
But when Maheśa did not appear, then the lord of monkeys—
किमर्थं रुद्यते भद्र रुदिते कारणं वद
Why are you weeping, O blessed one? Tell me the reason for your tears.
पीठहीनमिदं लिङ्गं पश्य मे पापसंचयम्
See, this liṅga is without a pedestal; behold my accumulation of sin.
यदि नायाति पीठं ते लिङ्गे मा साहसं कुरु
If the pedestal does not come to your liṅga, do not act rashly.
पश्य दर्शय मे लिङ्गं पीठं चात्रागतं न वा
Look, show me the liṅga and whether the pedestal has arrived here or not.
दग्धुकामो ऽखिलांल्लोकान्वीरभद्रः प्रातापवान्
Vīrabhadra, full of might, desired to burn all the worlds.
अथ सप्ततलान्दग्ध्वा पुनरूर्द्ध्वमवर्तत
Then, having burned seven layers, he turned upward again.
ललाटनेत्रसंभूतं नखेनादाय चानलम्
He took up fire, produced from his forehead eye, with his nail.
तपः सत्यं च संदग्धुमुद्यतो ऽभून्मुनीश्वरः
The lord of sages prepared to burn up asceticism and truth itself.
दग्धुकामं वीरभद्रं गौतमाश्रममागताः
Those wishing to stop Vīrabhadra, who sought to burn, came to Gautama’s hermitage.
अस्तुवन्भक्तिसंयुक्ताः स्तोत्रैर्वेदसमुद्भवैः
With devotion, they praised him with hymns born from the Vedas.
ब्रह्माद्यधीशाय सृष्ट्यादिकर्त्रे,विष्णुप्रियायार्तिहॄन्त्रेंऽतकर्त्रे
To the lord of Brahmā and others, the creator of creation and more, beloved of Viṣṇu, remover of suffering, destroyer of death—
नमो वेदगुह्याय भक्तप्रियाय नमः पाकभोक्त्रे मखेशाय तुभ्यम्
Homage to you, knower of the Vedic secret, beloved of devotees; homage to you, eater of sacrificial offerings, lord of sacrifices.
नमस्ते सुराबिन्दुवर्षापनाय त्रयीमूर्तये कालकालाय नाथ
Salutations to you, who cause the rain of nectar for the gods, embodiment of the three Vedas, lord who is death to death itself.
शिवायाशिवघ्नाय वीराय भूयात्सदा नः प्रसन्नो जगन्नाथकेज्यः
To Śiva, destroyer of what is inauspicious, the heroic one, may you always be pleased with us, O lord of the world, worthy of worship.
जगज्जाड्यविध्वंसनोभुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदः स्तात्प्रसन्नः सदा शुद्ध कीर्तिः
May he, destroyer of the world’s dullness, giver of enjoyment and liberation, always be pleased; may his pure fame endure.
लयं यास्यते यत्र वाचां विदूरे स वै नः प्रसन्नो ऽस्तु कालत्रयात्मा
Where all dissolves, where speech falls silent—may he, the soul of the three times, be pleased with us.
स वै सर्वमूर्तिः सदा नो विभूत्येप्रसन्नो ऽस्तु किं ज्ञापयामो ऽत्र कृत्यम्
He who is all-formed, may he always be gracious to us for our prosperity; what need is there to declare our purpose here?
विष्णुमाह मुनीनेतानानयस्व मदन्तिकम्
Viṣṇu said: 'O sage, bring these ascetics to me.'
मुनीन्सांत्वय्य विश्वेशं दर्शयामास शङ्करम्
After consoling the sages, he revealed Śaṅkara, the Lord of the universe.
तपोलोकाद्भूमिलोकं मुनयो मुक्तकिल्बिषाः
The sages, freed from all sin, came from the world of ascetics to the earthly realm.
देव द्वादशलोकानां दृश्यन्ते भस्मराशयः
O god, heaps of ashes are seen in the twelve worlds.
तच्छ्रुत्वा गिरिशः प्राह तान्मुनीनूर्द्धरेतसः
Hearing this, the Lord of the Mountain addressed those sages of pure mind.
सन्देहो नास्ति मुनयः स्थितानां नो रहःस्थले
O sages, there is no doubt for those who remain steadfast, not even in a secret place.
कथमङ्गारवृष्टिश्च कथं नो वा महाध्वनिः
How did the rain of embers occur, and how did that great noise arise for us?