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.'
भस्मस्नानं ततः पश्चात्ततो ज्ञानं वदाम्यहम् । श्रीभगवानुवाच- मत्स्नानयोग्यं सलिलं न चतिष्ठति कुत्रचित्
After the bath with ashes, then I will impart knowledge; Śrī Bhagavān said: 'Water suitable for my bath is not found anywhere.'
इत्युक्तोथ निषण्णस्तु ब्रह्मांडासक्तविग्रहः । ऊरुदघ्नजले स्नातुं न योग्यमभवद्धरेः
Having spoken thus, he sat, his form pervading the universe; water reaching up to the thighs was not suitable for Hari’s bath.
शंभुर्जहास स्नानाय जलमत्यधिकं त्वहो । दधीच उवाच- अथ देवः शिवो विष्णुं भालाक्षेण व्यलोकयत्
Śaṃbhu laughed, for the water was exceedingly abundant for bathing; Dadhīca said: 'Then the god Śiva gazed at Viṣṇu with his forehead eye.'
विलीनसूक्ष्मावयवं वामाक्षेण व्यलोकयत् । ततः सूक्ष्मतनुर्विष्णुः शीतदेहश्च शंभुना
He gazed with his left eye at the subtle, dissolved form; then Viṣṇu became subtle-bodied and cool through Śaṃbhu’s influence.
उक्तश्च स्नाहि भो विष्णो ह्रद एष विकल्पितः । ततो ह्रदे हरिः स्नातुं हरांके कल्पिते तदा
And he said: 'Bathe, O Viṣṇu, this lake has been prepared;' then Hari attempted to bathe in the lake created by Hara.
प्रवेष्टुं न शशाकाथ गंभीरे तद्ध्रदस्य तु । हरिराह च नो पंथा ह्रदस्यास्य प्रवेशने
He was unable to enter the deep lake; Hari said, 'There is no path for entering this lake.'
मार्गो मे दीयतां देव तमथो शंभुरब्रवीत् । कोटियोजनगंभीरं जलमेतन्महत्पुरा
'Grant me a way, O god, for entering it,' he said; Śaṃbhu replied: 'This water was once vast, deep for a hundred yojanas.'
निविष्टस्यैव भवत ऊरुदघ्नं जलं विभो । इदानीं तिष्ठतश्चापि न प्रवेशो ह्रदे कथम्
'For you, who are established, the water reaches only to your thighs, O Lord; now, while standing, how can you enter the lake?'
अष्टांगुलप्रमाणोऽयमूरुस्तस्मिन्ह्रदे च मे । पश्यामि प्रविश त्वं च पादस्पर्शं ददामि ते
'My thigh measures eight fingers in this lake; see, enter, and I will grant you the touch of my foot.'
वाक्यमेकं तु सोपानं वेदं मद्वाक्यनिस्सृतम् । हरिरुवाच- शब्दारोहणसामर्थ्यं कस्यापीह न विद्यते
'A single statement is the stairway, the Veda issued from my words;' Hari said: 'No one here possesses the ability to ascend by sound.'