महेशस्य करस्पर्शाद्विशापः करुणोऽभवत् । स्वरूपं च ततो गत्वा स्वमाश्रमपदं ययौ
By the touch of Mahesha's hand, the compassionate curse was lifted; then, regaining his own form, he went to his hermitage.
दधीचमपि सा साध्वी गृहमानीय भोजने । प्रार्थयामास विप्रर्षिं भुक्तवानथ स द्विजः
That virtuous lady brought Dadhichi to her house for a meal; she requested the sage to eat, and the twice-born one ate.
भुक्तवत्यथ विप्रेंद्रे कोटिशिष्याः समागताः । अथ देवाः समायाता भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाः
After the illustrious sage had eaten, countless disciples gathered; then the gods arrived, their forms covered in ashes.
नमस्कृत्य दधीचं तु पप्रच्छुः शिवकांक्षया । देवा ऊचुः - अस्माकं तु पुरा ज्ञानं नष्टमासीन्महामते
Having bowed to Dadhichi, they questioned him, desiring Shiva; the gods said: 'O wise one, formerly our knowledge was lost.'
गौतमस्य तु भार्यां वै दृष्ट्वा कामातुरा वयम् । तथा च धर्षिता देवी विवाहकृतमंगला
'Seeing Gautama's wife, we were overcome by desire; thus, the goddess, whose wedding rites had been performed, was violated.'
तां वै कामयमानानां नष्टं ज्ञानमभूच्च नः । ततः सर्वे वयं भूता गता दुर्वाससं मुनिम्
'Desiring her, our knowledge was lost; then we all went to the sage Durvasa.'
स उवाचाधुना सर्वमपनेष्यामि वोमलम् । शतरुद्रियमंत्रेण मंत्रितं शंभुना स्वयम्
He said, 'Now I will remove all impurity from you, with the Śatarudriya mantra, consecrated by Śambhu himself.'
ममापि दत्तं तेनैव ब्रह्महत्यादिशांतये । इत्येवमुक्त्वा दुर्वासा दत्तवान्भस्मचोत्तमम्
He also gave it to me, for the pacification of brahma-hatya and other sins; having said this, Durvāsas bestowed the excellent ashes.
अथ तद्वचनात्सर्वे वयं विकृतचेतनाः । शतरुद्रियमंत्रेण भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाः
Then, at those words, all of us, our minds transformed, dusted our bodies with ashes empowered by the Śatarudriya mantra.
निर्धूतपातकाः सर्वे संवृत्तास्तत्क्षणेन हि । आश्चर्यमेतज्जानीमो भस्मसामर्थ्यमीदृशम्
All of us were instantly freed from sin; we realized with wonder the remarkable power of the sacred ash.
दधीच उवाच- शैवस्य भस्मनः शक्तिं संक्षेपेण वदामि वः । विस्तरेण न शक्येत वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि
Dadhīca said: 'I will briefly tell you the power of Śaiva sacred ash; even in a hundred years, it cannot be fully described.'
अत्र वः कीर्तयिष्यामि पुरावृत्तं तु देवयोः । हरिशंकरयोः सर्वे ब्रह्महत्यादिनाशनम्
Here I will recount to you an ancient event concerning the gods: the destruction of brahma-hatya and other sins by Hari and Śaṅkara.
पुरा चैकार्णवे घोरे ब्रह्मणः प्रलये सति । महाविष्णुस्तु भगवाञ्छेते स्म प्रलयांभसि
Long ago, during the dreadful dissolution of Brahmā in the single ocean, the blessed Mahāviṣṇu lay upon the waters of the deluge.
तस्य पार्श्वद्वयं प्राप्य ब्रह्मांडानां शतद्वयम् । विंशतिः पादयोः पार्श्वे विंशतिर्मस्तकांतरे
Having reached both his sides, two hundred cosmic eggs were at his feet, and twenty at his sides, and twenty within his head.
नासामौक्तिकभावेन ब्रह्मांडमदधात्प्रभुः । तन्नाभिमंडले केचिल्लोमशाद्या मुनीश्वराः
The Lord placed the cosmic eggs as pearls in his nostrils; at his navel circle, some sage-lords like Lomaśa performed great austerities, worshipping the Supreme Lord.
तपस्तपंतः सुमहदीश्वरं पर्युपासते । अथ विष्णुर्महातेजाश्चिंतामाप सिसृक्षया
Then Viṣṇu, of immense radiance, was seized by the desire to create; absorbed in meditation and yoga, he saw nothing.
ध्यानयोगपरो भूत्वा न किंचित्पर्यपश्यत । अथ दुःखेन महता रुरोदोच्चैः पुनः पुनः
Afflicted by great sorrow, he cried out loudly again and again.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे दीप्तिः काचिल्लोकविलक्षणा । दृष्ट्वा च हरिणा भीत्या लोचने च निमीलिते
At that moment, a certain extraordinary radiance appeared; seeing it, Hari closed his eyes in fear.
आगम्यमानो गोक्षीरसमतेजाः स गात्रवान् । संग्रथ्य कोटिब्रह्मांडदामयुग्मं करद्वये
Approaching, a being with a body as radiant as cow's milk, gathered a pair of cosmic eggs in his two hands.
दधानमुरसा धामकोटिब्रह्मांडकल्पितम् । ब्रह्मांडमेकं निपतदुत्पतच्च करद्वये
Holding them to his chest, he bore a realm fashioned from countless cosmic eggs; one cosmic egg fell, and another rose in his hands.
सर्वाभरणसंयुक्तं तथाभूतं तमव्ययम् । विष्णुस्तुष्टाव चादृष्ट्वा दर्शनाय च तस्य वै
That imperishable one, adorned with all ornaments, appeared thus; Viṣṇu, not seeing him, praised him and sought his vision.
विष्णुरुवाच- नमस्ते देवदेवेश नमस्ते शाश्वताव्यय । न जानेऽहं भवंतं भोस्त्वं च वेत्सि नमोनमः
Viṣṇu said: 'Salutations to you, Lord of gods, salutations to you, eternal and imperishable one; I do not know you, O Lord, but you know me—salutations, salutations.'
जानामि न च ते भावं दुर्निरीक्ष्या च ते द्युतिः । माणिक्यकुंडलं हेमदामजालविभूषितम्
I do not know your nature, and your radiance is difficult to behold; adorned with ruby earrings and golden netted ornaments.
रत्नांगुलीयं सुभगं बाहुकोष्ठविभूषणम् । तनुरक्तोत्तमाकीर्ण दीप्तायतविलोचनम्
With a beautiful gem ring, arm and chest ornaments, your body is covered in excellent red, your eyes are bright and wide.
बाणलोचनसंकाशं भाललोचनमव्ययम् । कंदर्पकार्मुकभ्रांतिजनक भ्रुवमीश्वरम्
With eyes like arrows, an unwavering eye on the forehead, and lordly brows that stir the illusion of Cupid’s bow.
स्निग्धाधोन्नतचार्वंग नासमच्छकपोलकम् । मंदस्मितं प्रसन्नास्यं विभुं बालेंदुदर्शनम्
With limbs smooth, elevated, and beautiful, a nose and cheeks like a fish, a gentle smile, a radiant face, and a form resembling the young moon.
विज्ञानरक्तवसनं वेदकल्पितभूषणम् । शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नोऽस्मि चक्षुर्मे दीयतां विभो
Clad in garments dyed with knowledge, adorned with ornaments fashioned by the Vedas; I have sought refuge in you—O Lord, grant me sight.
दीनांधकृपणाज्ञाननष्टस्य शरणं भव । अथ दिव्यं ददौ चक्षुः स्वात्मदर्शनशक्तिमत्
Be the refuge for one who is destitute, blind, wretched, and lost in ignorance; then he bestowed divine sight, endowed with the power of self-realization.
अथ दृष्ट्वा हरिः शंभुं त्रिनेत्रं पुरतः स्थितम् । को भवानित्युवाचाथ न जाने त्वां महायशः
Then Hari saw Śaṃbhu, the three-eyed one, standing before him; he asked, 'Who are you?' and said, 'I do not know you, O illustrious one.'
प्रणामं केवलं कर्तुं शक्तोऽस्मि न हि वेदितुम् । सदाशिव उवाच- तव ज्ञानं प्रदास्यामि कुरु स्नानं च वारुणम्
I am only able to offer obeisance, not to comprehend you; Sadāśiva said: 'I will grant you knowledge; perform the Varuṇa bath.'