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.
विज्ञानरक्तवसनं वेदकल्पितनूपुरम् । वामांगुलीयमध्यस्थमतिप्रणवमव्ययम्
Clad in garments dyed with knowledge, adorned with anklets fashioned from the Vedas, with the supreme, imperishable syllable placed upon the middle finger of the left hand.
दृष्टवानथ तं विष्णुः कृतकृत्योऽभवत्तदा । अथाह शंभुर्भो विष्णो हृदि दृष्टं त्वया किमु
Then, upon seeing him, Viṣṇu felt fulfilled; at that moment, Śaṃbhu spoke: 'O Viṣṇu, what have you perceived within your heart?'
हरिराह पुरा दृष्टः पुरुषः शांतविग्रहः । इत्युदीर्य महाविष्णुः शिवपादे पपात ह
Hari replied, 'Previously, I beheld the Person whose form is tranquil.' Having spoken thus, Mahāviṣṇu fell at Śiva's feet.
हरिरुवाच- न शक्तिं भस्मनो जाने प्रभावं वा कुतस्तव । नमस्तेऽस्तु नमस्तेऽस्तु त्वामेव शरणं गतः
Hari said: 'I do not know the power of the ash, nor its influence; from where does it arise? Salutations to you, salutations to you; I have sought refuge in you alone.'
सदाशिव उवाच- वरं वृणु महाभाग मनसा यं त्वमिच्छसि । शिववाचमथाकर्ण्य हरिर्वव्रे वरोत्तमम्
Sadāśiva said: 'Choose a boon, O greatly fortunate one, whatever you desire in your mind.' Hearing Śiva's words, Hari requested the supreme boon.
हरिरुवाच- त्वत्पादयुगले शंभो भक्तिरस्तु सदा मम । अथ दत्वा वरं शंभुरिदमाह वचो हरिम्
Hari said: 'May devotion to your pair of feet, O Śaṃbhu, always be mine.' Then, granting the boon, Śaṃbhu spoke these words to Hari.
भस्मधारणसंपन्नो मम भक्तो भविष्यसि । दधीच उवाच- इत्थमुक्तं महाज्ञानं भस्मसंभवमादितः
'You shall become my devotee, endowed with the wearing of ash.' Dadhīca said: 'Thus was imparted the great knowledge concerning the origin of ash.'
तस्माद्यूयं सुराः सर्वे धारयध्वं तदादरात् । विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयना देवाश्चासंस्तदस्त्विति
Therefore, all you gods, bear it with reverence; the gods, their eyes widened in wonder, said, 'Let it be so.'
य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं पुण्याख्यानमनुत्तमम् । विमुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यो यात्यसौ शांकरं पदम्
Whoever hears this most excellent, sacred account daily, is freed from all sins and attains the abode of Śaṃkara.
शुचिस्मितोवाच- आयुष्यवर्द्धनं भस्माशनं दृष्टं महामुने । परलोकगतिं दातुं शक्तमेतं वदस्व मे
Śucismita spoke: 'O great sage, I have seen the ash-eating that increases longevity; tell me, is it capable of granting passage to the next world?'