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.'
मूर्तस्य ग्रहणं शक्यं ग्रहणं वा कथं श्रुतेः । शंभुरुवाच- पुंसः शक्तिर्न वस्तूनां धारणारोहणादिषु
'How can the embodied grasp, or how can one grasp the sound?' Śaṃbhu said: 'A man’s power is not in holding or ascending objects.'
गृहाणेमं महावेदं जग्राह हरिरप्यथ । नम्रकरश्चाशक्तेर्हि पतन्निव जनार्द्दनः
'Take this great Veda;' then Hari took it; Janārddana, with bowed hands, lacking strength, seemed to fall.
न च शक्यं मया धर्तुमिति प्राह शिवं हरिः । शिवः प्रहस्य निपती पात्यतीव महाह्रदे
Hari said to Shiva, 'I am not able to bear it,' and Shiva, laughing, let it fall into the great abyss.
तत्सोपानमथारुह्य स्नातुमर्हसि केशव । दधीच उवाच- वेदे सोपानभूते हि ऊरुदघ्नोपलब्धिनि
Climb that stairway and bathe, O Keshava. Dadhichi said: In the Veda, the stairway is indeed the means to reach the height of the thighs.
तत्र स्नात्वा स विधिना बहिरुत्तीर्य चोक्तवान् । स्नातोऽस्मि किमतः कार्यं शंभुराह हरिं ततः
There, having bathed according to the rite and come out, he said, 'I have bathed; what is to be done now?' Then Shambhu spoke to Hari.
ध्यायसे हृदये किं त्वं न च किंचिद्वदस्व मे । हरिर्न किंचिदित्याह तमथो शंभुरुक्तवान्
What do you contemplate in your heart? Tell me if there is anything. Hari replied, 'There is nothing.' Then Shambhu spoke.
भस्मस्नानेन संशुद्धो वेत्स्यसे परमं शुभम् । दीक्षितस्य हि तच्छस्तं तद्रक्षां करवाण्यहम्
By bathing with ashes you will become purified and attain the highest good. This is proper for one who is initiated; I will perform that protection for you.
दधीच उवाच- स्ववक्षः स्थितभस्मैकं नखेनादाय शंकरः । प्रणवेनाभिमंत्र्याथ गायत्र्या ब्रह्मभूतया
Dadhichi said: Taking some ash from his own chest with his nail, Shankara, after sanctifying it with the Pranava and the Gayatri which embodies Brahman—
अंगुलिभ्यामुपादाय शिवः पंचाक्षरेण वै । हरिमस्तकगात्रेषु सर्वेष्वपि समाक्षिपत्
Shiva, taking it with his fingers and reciting the five-syllabled mantra, applied it to all the limbs and head of Hari.
शांतदृष्ट्या निरीक्ष्याथ जीवेत्याह हरिं हरः । ध्यायस्व किं ते हृदये स च ध्यानपरोऽभवत्
Then, gazing with a peaceful look, Hara said to Hari, 'Live!' and asked, 'What do you contemplate in your heart?' He became absorbed in meditation.
अपश्यद्धृदये दीपं दीर्घाकारमतिप्रभम् । हरिराह शिवं साक्षाद्दीपो दृष्टो मयेति च
He saw in his heart a lamp, long in shape and exceedingly bright. Hari said directly to Shiva, 'I have seen the lamp.'
शिवः प्राह न ते ज्ञानं परिपक्वमथो हरे । भस्म भक्षय ते ज्ञानं समग्रं संभविष्यति
Shiva said, 'Your knowledge is not yet fully matured, O Hari. Eat the ash, and your knowledge will become complete.'
हरिरुवाच- भक्षयिष्ये शुभं भस्म स्नातोऽहं भस्मना पुरा । दृष्ट्वेश्वरं भक्तिगम्यं भस्माभक्षयदच्युतः
Hari said: 'I will eat the auspicious ash. I have already bathed with ash. Having seen the Lord, the unwavering one ate the ash.'
तत्राश्चर्यमतीवासीत्पक्वबिंबसमद्युतिः । वासुदेवः शुद्धमुक्ताफलवर्णोऽभवत्क्षणात्
There occurred a great wonder: his body shone with the radiance of a ripe bimba fruit. In a moment, Vasudeva became of pure pearl-like color.
ततःप्रभृति शुक्लोऽसौ वासुदेवः प्रसन्नवान् । पुनर्ध्यानपरो भूत्वा दीपमध्ये च पूरुषम्
From that time, Vasudeva became white and serene. Again absorbed in meditation, he saw within the lamp a Person.
शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशं त्रिनेत्रं द्विभुजं शिवम् । वरदं दक्षिणे हस्ते वामे चाभयदं विभुम्
He saw Shiva, resembling pure crystal, three-eyed, two-armed, granting boons with his right hand and protection with his left, the Lord.
पंचवर्षीयवपुषं शरच्चंद्रायुतद्युतिम् । माणिक्यकुंडलं हेम दामजालविभूषितम्
He saw him as a five-year-old child, radiant as ten million autumn moons, adorned with ruby earrings and golden garlands.
रत्नांगुलीयसुभगं बाहुकोष्ठसुभूषणम् । तनुरक्तोष्ठमाकर्ण दीर्घायतविलोचनम्
Charming with jeweled rings, beautifully adorned arms and chest, with red lips, ears reaching to the shoulders, and long, wide eyes.
बाणलोचनसंकाशं भाललोचनमव्ययम् । कंदर्पकार्मुकभ्रांतिजनकभ्रुवमीश्वरम्
He saw the imperishable Lord with eyes like arrows, a forehead-eye, brows causing the illusion of Cupid's bow.
स्निग्धोन्नत सुचार्वंग नासमच्छकपोलकम् । मंदस्मितं प्रसन्नास्यं बालेंदुदर्शनं विभुम्
With smooth, high, well-formed limbs, a nose and cheeks like a lotus, a gentle smile, a serene face, and the beauty of a crescent moon, the Lord appeared.