संसारचक्रक्रमणैरनेकैः क्वचिद्भवान्देववराधिदेवः। तत्सर्वविज्ञानविशुद्धसत्वैरुपास्यसे किं प्रणमाम्यहं त्वाम्
By many revolutions through the cycle of existence, you sometimes appear, O God of gods, Lord of lords. Therefore, those whose understanding is purified by all knowledge worship you; why should I not bow to you?
एवं भवंतं प्रकृतेः पुरस्ताद्यो वेत्त्यसौ सर्वविदां वरिष्ठः। गुणान्वितेषु प्रसभं विवेद्यो विशालमूर्तिस्त्विह सूक्ष्मरूपः
He who knows you in this way, as you stand before nature, is the foremost among those who know all; though you are to be known among those endowed with qualities, your vast form here is subtle indeed.
वाक्पाणिपादैर्विगतेन्द्रियोपि कथं भवान्वै सुगतिस्सुकर्मा। संसारबंधे निहितेंद्रियोपि पुनः कथं देववरोसि वेद्यः
Though you are without speech, hands, or feet, and devoid of senses, how is it that you, O blessed one, act well and prosper? Though bound in the cycle of existence and lacking senses, how again, O Lord of gods, are you to be known?
मूर्त्तादमूर्त्तं न तु लभ्यते परं परं वपुर्देवविशुद्धभावैः। संसारविच्छित्तिकरैर्यजद्भिरतोवसीयेत चतुर्मुख त्वम्
The embodied and the unembodied cannot attain that supreme form; O Four-faced one, you are worshipped by those whose minds are purified by devotion, who sever the bonds of existence.
परं न जानंति यतो वपुस्ते देवादयोप्यद्भुतरूपधारिन्। विभोवतारेग्रतरं पुराणमाराधयेद्यत्कमलासनस्थम्
Because your supreme form is not known, even by the gods and others who assume wondrous forms, O Lord, the ancient one seated on the lotus is to be worshipped as the highest manifestation.
न ते तत्त्वं विश्वसृजोपि योनिमेकांततो वेत्ति विशुद्धभावः। परं त्वहं वेद्मि कथं पुराणं भवंतमाद्यं तपसा विशुद्धम्
Even the creator of the universe, though pure in mind, does not know your true essence or your unique source; but I, through austerity, know you as the supreme, ancient, and original being.
पद्मासनो वै जनकः प्रसिद्ध एवं प्रसिद्धिर्ह्यसकृत्पुराणात्। संचिंत्य ते नाथ विभुं भवंतं जानाति नैवं तपसाविहीनः
The lotus-seated one is well known as the progenitor; this fame is repeatedly declared in the ancient texts. By contemplating you, O Lord, one comes to know you; but not so for one lacking in austerity.
अस्मादृशैश्च प्रवरैर्विबोध्यं त्वां देवमूर्खाः स्वमतिं विभज्य। प्रबोद्धुमिच्छन्ति न तेषु बुद्धिरुदारकीर्तिष्वपि वेदहीनाः
Even the best among men, like myself, seek to awaken you, O God, by dividing their own understanding; but those without the Veda, though famed, lack the wisdom to awaken you.
जन्मांतरैर्वेद विवेकबुद्धिभिर्भवेद्यथा वा यदि वा प्रकाशः। तल्लाभलुब्धस्य न मानुषत्वं न देवगंधर्वपतिः शिवः स्यात्
Whether through discernment born of the Veda in many lives, or by some other illumination, one who is greedy for that attainment does not become human, nor a lord of gods or gandharvas, nor Shiva.
न विष्णुरूपो भगवान्सुसूक्ष्मः स्थूलोसि देवः कृतकृत्यतायाः। स्थूलोपि सूक्ष्मः सुलभोसि देव त्वद्बाह्यकृत्या नरकेपतंति
The blessed Lord is not only of the subtle form of Vishnu; you are also gross, O God, for the sake of accomplishment. Though gross, you are easily subtle, O God; those who act outwardly fall into hell.
विमुच्यते वा भवति स्थितेस्मिन्दस्रेन्दुवह्न्यर्कमरुन्महीभिः। तत्वैः स्वरूपैः समरूपधारिभिरात्मस्वरूपे वितत स्वभावः
Whether released or remaining here, with Indra, the moon, fire, sun, wind, and earth, you assume forms corresponding to their natures, yet your own essence is ever-spread and unchanging.
इति स्तुतिं मे भगवन्ह्यनंत जुषस्व भक्तस्य विशेषतश्च। समाधियुक्तस्य विशुद्धचेतसस्त्वद्भावभावैकमनोनुगस्य
O infinite Lord, accept this praise of mine, especially from a devotee whose mind is united in meditation, whose heart is pure, and whose mind follows only the thought of you.
सदा हृदिस्थो भगवन्नमस्ते नमामि नित्यं भगवन्पुराण। इति प्रकाशं तव मे तदीशस्तवं मया सर्वगतिप्रबुद्ध
O Lord, ever abiding in the heart, I bow to you; I always bow to you, O ancient Lord. Thus, your glory has been revealed to me, awakened to all paths by you.
संसारचक्रे भ्रमणादियुक्ता भीतिं पुनर्नः प्रतिपालयस्व
As we are caught in the cycle of worldly wandering, do not let fear arise in us again.
ब्रह्मोवाच॥ सर्वज्ञस्त्वं न संदेहो प्रज्ञाराशिश्च केशव। देवानां प्रथमः पूज्यः सर्वदा त्वं भविष्यसि
Brahma said: There is no doubt that you are all-knowing, O Kesava, the very treasury of wisdom. You will always be the first and foremost to be worshipped among the gods.
नारायणादनंतरं रुद्रो भक्त्या विरिंचनम्। तुष्टाव प्रणतो भूत्वा ब्रह्माणं कमलोद्भवम्
After Narayana, Rudra, with devotion, praised Brahma, the lotus-born, having first bowed down to him.
नमः कमलपत्राक्ष नमस्ते पद्मजन्मने। नमः सुरासुरगुरो कारिणे परमात्मने
Salutations to you, Lotus-eyed one; obeisance to you, born from the lotus. Salutations to the guru of gods and asuras, to the doer, to the Supreme Self.
नमस्ते सर्वदेवेश नमो वै मोहनाशन। विष्णोर्नाभिस्थितवते कमलासन जन्मने
Obeisance to you, Lord of all the gods; salutations to the destroyer of delusion. To you who dwell upon the navel of Viṣṇu, born upon the lotus-seat.
नमो विद्रुमरक्तांग पाणिपल्लवशोभिने। शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नोस्मि त्राहि मां भवसंसृतेः
Salutations to you whose body is red as coral, whose tender hands shine. I have sought refuge in you; save me from the ocean of worldly existence.
पूर्वं नीलांबुदाकारं कुड्मलं ते पितामह। दृष्ट्वा रक्तमुखं भूयः पत्रकेसरसंयुतम्
Formerly, O Grandfather, seeing your bud-like form blue as a raincloud, and again your red face adorned with petals and filaments—
पद्मं चानेकपत्रान्तमसंख्यातं निरंजनम्। तत्र स्थितेन त्वयैषा सृष्टिश्चैव प्रवर्तिता
The lotus, with countless petals, pure and without blemish—upon that you abided, and from there this creation was set in motion by you.
त्वां मुक्त्वा नान्यतस्त्राणं जगद्वंद्य नमोस्तु ते। सावित्रीशापदग्धोहं लिंगं मे पतितं क्षितौ
Apart from you, O worshipped by the world, there is no other refuge; salutations to you. Afflicted by the curse of Sāvitrī’s lord, my liṅga has fallen to the earth.
इदानीं कुरु मे शांतिं त्राहि मां सह भार्यया। ब्रह्मा वै पातु मे पादौ जंघे वै कमलासनः
Now grant me peace; protect me together with my wife. May Brahmā guard my feet, and the lotus-seated one my shanks.
विरिंचो मे कटिं पातु सृष्टिकृद्गुह्यमेव च। नाभिं पद्मनिभः पातु जठरं चतुराननः
May Virin̄ci protect my waist, the creator my private parts; may he who is lotus-like guard my navel, and the four-faced one my belly.
उरस्तु विश्वसृक्पातु हृदयं पातु पद्मजः। सावित्रीपतिर्मे कंठं हृषीकेशो मुखं मम
May the creator of the universe protect my chest, and the lotus-born my heart; may the husband of Sāvitrī guard my throat, and Hṛṣīkeśa my mouth.
पद्मवर्णश्च नयने परमात्मा शिरो मम। एवं न्यस्य गुरोर्नाम शंकरो नामशंकरः
May the lotus-hued one guard my eyes, and the Supreme Self my head. Thus, having assigned the names of the guru, Śaṅkara became the bestower of auspiciousness.
नमस्ते भगवन्ब्रह्मन्नित्युक्त्वा विरराम ह। ततस्तुष्टो हरं ब्रह्मा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह
Having thus spoken, 'Salutations to you, blessed Brahman,' he became silent. Then, pleased, Brahmā addressed these words to Hara.
कं ते कामं करोम्यद्य पृच्छ मां यद्यदिच्छसि। रुद्र उवाच॥ यदि प्रसन्नो मे नाथ वरदो यदि वा मम
What boon shall I grant you today? Ask me whatever you desire. Rudra said: If you are pleased with me, O Lord, and wish to grant me a boon—
तदेकं मे वद विभो यस्मिन्स्थाने भवान्स्थितः। केषुकेषु च स्थानेषु त्वां पश्यंति सदा द्विजाः
Then tell me, O mighty one, in which place you reside, and in which places the twice-born always see you.
नाम्ना च केन ते स्थानं शोभते धरणीतले। तन्मे वदस्व सर्वेश तव भक्तिरतस्य च
And by what name does your abode shine upon the earth? Tell me this, O Lord of all, and also about the devotion to you there.