कर्दमं काष्ठदंडं च भुक्त्वा प्रीत्याथ हर्षितः । एतादृशो मुनिरसौ चंडालसदृशाकृतिः
He ate mud and wooden sticks with delight and joy; such was that sage, whose appearance resembled that of a candala.
सुजीर्णोपानहौ हस्ते गृहीत्वा तु तथा करे । अंत्यजोचितभाषाभिर्वृषपर्वाणमभ्यगात्
With well-worn sandals in hand, he approached Vrishaparvan, speaking in the manner of outcastes.
वृषपर्वेशयोर्मध्ये दिग्वासाः समतिष्ठत । वृषपर्वा तमज्ञात्वा पीडयित्वा शिरोऽच्छिनत्
Standing naked between Vrishaparvan and his people, Vrishaparvan, not recognizing him, struck and severed his head.
हते तस्मिन्द्विजश्रेष्ठे जगदेतच्चराचरम् । अतीव कलुषमभवत्तत्रस्था मुनयस्तथा
When that best of twice-born was killed, the entire world, both moving and unmoving, became exceedingly impure, as did the sages present there.
गौतमस्य महाशोकः संजातः सुमहात्मनः । निर्ययौ चक्षुषोर्वारि शोकं संदर्शयन्निव
Great sorrow arose in the noble Gautama; tears flowed from his eyes, visibly revealing his grief.
गौतमः सर्वदैत्यानां संनिधौ वाक्यमुक्तवान् । किमनेन कृतं पापं येन च्छिन्नमिदं शिरः
In the assembly of all the daityas, Gautama spoke these words: 'What sin did he commit, for which his head was cut off?'
मम प्राणाधिकस्येह सर्वदा शिवयोगिनः । ममापि मरणं सत्यं शिष्यरूपी यतो गुरुः
'He was dearer to me than life itself, always a devotee of Shiva; truly, my own death is certain, for the disciple is like the guru.'
शैवानां धर्मयुक्तानां सर्वदा शिववर्तिनाम् । मरणं यत्र दृष्टं स्यात्तत्र नो मरणं ध्रुवम्
'Wherever the death of those devoted to Shiva, who always follow the path of righteousness, is seen, there indeed, for us, death is certain.'
शुक्र उवाच- एनं संजीवयिष्यामि मम गोत्रं शिवप्रियम् । किमसौ म्रियते ब्रह्मन्पश्य मे तपसो बलम्
Shukra said: 'I will revive him, for my lineage is dear to Shiva. Why should he die, O Brahman? Behold the power of my austerity.'
इति वादिनि विप्रेंद्रे गौतमोऽपि ममार ह । तस्मिन्मृतेऽथ शुक्रोऽपि प्राणांस्तत्याज योगतः
As the foremost of Brahmins spoke thus, Gautama too died; and when he died, Shukra also abandoned his life by yogic power.
तस्यापि हतमाज्ञाय प्रह्लादा द्दानवेश्वराः । सर्वे मृताः क्षणेनैव तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
When he too was slain, Prahlada and the lords of the daityas all died instantly; it was a wonder to behold.
मृतमासीदथ बलं तस्य बाणस्य धीमतः । अहल्या शोकसंतप्ता रुरोदोच्चैः पुनः पुनः
Then the strength of the wise Bana was gone in death; Ahalya, tormented by grief, wept loudly again and again.
गौतमेन महेशस्य पूजया पूजितो विभुः । वीरभद्रो महायोगी सर्वं दृष्ट्वा चुकोप ह
Honored by Gautama through worship of the great Lord, Virabhadra, the great yogi, seeing all this, became enraged.
अहो कष्टमहोकष्टं माहेशा बहवो मृताः । शिवं विज्ञापयिष्यामि तेनोक्तं करवाण्यहम्
'Alas, how terrible, how exceedingly terrible! Many followers of Maheshvara have died. I will inform Shiva and do as he commands.'
इति निश्चित्य गतवान्मंदराचलमव्ययम् । नमस्कृत्वा विरूपाक्षमिदं सर्वमथोक्तवान्
Having resolved thus, he went to the imperishable Mandara mountain, bowed to the three-eyed one, and reported all these events.
ब्रह्म हरी स्थितौ तत्र दृष्ट्वा प्राह शिवो वचः । मद्भक्तैः साहसं कर्म कृतं दृष्ट्वा वरप्रदः
There, seeing Brahma and Hari present, Shiva spoke these words: 'Witnessing this violent deed done by my devotees, I, the granter of boons...'
गत्वा पश्यामहे विष्णो युवामप्यागमिष्यथ । अथेशो वृषमारुह्य वायुना धूतचामरः
Let us go and see Vishnu; you two should also come. Then the Lord mounted the bull, his fan waving in the wind.
नंदिकेन सुवेषेण धृते छत्रेति शोभने । सुश्वेतहेमदंडे च नान्ययोगे धृते विभोः
Nandikeśvara, splendidly attired, held the shining white parasol with a golden handle over the Lord, as was proper.
महेशानुमतिं लब्ध्वा हरिर्नागांतके स्थितः । आरक्तनीलछत्राभ्यां शुशुभे लक्ष्यकौस्तुभः
With Shiva’s permission, Hari stood at the place of the serpent’s end, adorned with red and blue parasols, and the Lakshmi gem Kaustubha shone brilliantly.
शिवानुमत्या ब्रह्मापि हंसारूढोऽभवत्तदा । इंद्रगोपप्रभाकारच्छत्राभ्यां शुशुभे विधिः
With Shiva’s consent, Brahma too mounted his swan at that time; the Creator shone with parasols radiant like the glow of indragopa insects.
इंद्रादिसर्वदेवाश्च स्वस्ववाहनसंयुताः । अथ ते निर्ययुः सर्वे नानावाद्यानुमोदिताः
All the gods, including Indra and the others, each with their own vehicles, then set out together, accompanied by various musical instruments.
कोटिकोटिगणाकीर्णा गौतमस्याश्रमं गताः । ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशाना दृष्ट्वा तत्परमाद्भुतम्
Surrounded by countless millions, they reached Gautama’s hermitage, and upon seeing Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara, they beheld that most wondrous sight.
स्वभक्तं जीवयामास वामकोणनिरीक्षणात् । शंकरो गौतमं प्राह तुष्टोऽहं ते वरं वृणु
By merely glancing from the left side, Shiva revived his devotee; pleased, Shankara said to Gautama, 'I am satisfied—choose your boon.'
गौतम उवाच- यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश यदि देयो वरो मम । त्वल्लिंगार्चनसामर्थ्यं नित्यमस्तु महेश्वर
Gautama said: 'If you are pleased, Lord of the gods, and if a boon is to be granted to me, may I always have the ability to worship your liṅga, O Maheshvara.'
वृतमेतन्मया देव शृणुष्वैतत्त्रिलोचन । मम शिष्यो महाभागो हेयाहेयादिवर्जितः
'This boon I have chosen, O three-eyed Lord; listen further: my disciple, greatly fortunate, is free from all that is to be accepted or rejected.'
प्रेक्षणीयं ममत्वेन न च पश्यति चक्षुषा । न च घ्राणेन घ्रातव्यं न दातव्यं न चेतरत्
'He does not see what is to be seen as his own, nor does he look with the eye; nor should he smell with the nose, nor give, nor do anything else.'
इति बुद्घ्वा तथा कुर्वन्स हि योगी महायशाः । उन्मत्तविकृताकारः शंकरात्मेति कीर्तितः
Understanding this, acting accordingly, that yogi of great fame, with a mad and distorted appearance, is known as one who comes from Shankara.
न कश्चित्तं प्रतिद्विष्यान्न च तं हिंसयेदिति । एतन्मे दीयतां देव एतेषाममृतिस्तथा
'Let no one bear enmity toward him, nor harm him in any way; O Lord, grant me this, and also immortality for these ones.'
श्रीभगवानुवाच-। आकल्पमेते जीवंतु ततो मुक्तिं भजंतु च । त्वया कृतमिदं वेश्म विस्तृतं विकृतं शुभम्
The Blessed Lord said: 'Let these live until the end of the kalpa, and then attain liberation. This dwelling you have made is vast, extraordinary, and auspicious.'
तिष्ठामः क्षणमात्रं तु ततो यास्याम मंदिरम् । गौतम उवाच- अयोग्यं प्रार्थयामीश ह्यर्थी दोषं न पश्यति
'We shall remain only for a moment, then we will go to the temple.' Gautama said: 'O Lord, I ask for what is unfit, for a supplicant does not see fault.'