तस्यां भद्रासनं मध्ये वेदपादविचित्रितम् । सर्वोपनिषदाकॢप्तं पादपीठं सुशोभनम्
In its center is an auspicious seat, adorned with Vedic feet, a beautiful footstool prepared from all the Upanishads,
पुराणान्यागमास्तस्य स्वस्तीति शिवपादयोः । तत्रासीनो महायोगी गोक्षीरसदृशाकृतिः
There the Puranas and Agamas rest at the feet of Shiva, saying 'May it be well'; there sits the great yogi, whose form is like cow's milk.
मंदस्मितसुचार्वास्योद्व्यष्टवर्षवयाः प्रभुः । दधान उरसामालां मणिरुद्राक्षकल्पिताम्
The Lord, with a gentle smile and a beautiful face, in the prime of youth, adorned his chest with a garland made of gems and rudrākṣa beads.
बिभ्राण उपवीतं च कर्णिकारसमद्युतिः । सुरत्नकुंडलो देवः किरीटकनकांबरः
Wearing the sacred thread, shining like the karṇikāra flower, the god bore divine earrings, a golden crown, and splendid garments.
नानाभूषणसंयुक्तो नानागंधविलेपनः । वामांकन्यस्तगिरिजो वीक्षमाणस्तदाननम्
He was adorned with various ornaments and anointed with many fragrances; the daughter of the mountain was seated on his left thigh, as he gazed upon her face.
मुग्धां च सुमुखीं बालां नवयौवनशोभिताम् । भूषितां चारुसर्वांगीं बिभ्रतीं कनकांबुजम्
She was charming, with a lovely face, youthful and radiant, adorned in every limb, holding a golden lotus.
आलिंग्य वामेनकरेण देवीं दक्षेण तस्या मुखमुन्नमय्य । स्पृष्ट्वा शिरो वामकरेण तस्या दक्षेण कुर्वंस्तिलकं च देवः
Embracing the goddess with his left hand, the god gently raised her face with his right, touching her head with his left hand and marking her forehead with his right.
भक्तिर्वीजयते देवं प्रणव व्यजनेन च । पूजाकांतापि कुसुमैर्मालां देवाय बिभ्रती
Devotion fans the god with a sacred fan; the beloved of worship, adorned with a garland of flowers, offers it to the god.
ज्ञप्तिर्विरक्तिर्वनिते बिभ्रत्यौ योगचामरे । समाधिः कार्यकर्तास्य धारणायोषिदस्य च
Knowledge and detachment, in the form of women, hold yogic fly-whisks; meditation is his agent of action, and concentration is his consort.
यमाश्चनियमाश्चैव किंकरास्तस्य कीर्तिताः । प्राणायामः पुरोधास्तु प्रत्याहारः सुवर्णधृक्
Yama and Niyama are said to be his attendants; prāṇāyāma is his priest, and pratyāhāra is the bearer of gold.
ध्यानं च द्रविणाध्यक्षः सत्यं सेनापतिस्तथा । ब्रह्मप्रभृतिकीटांताः पशवस्तत्पतिः शिवः
Meditation is the treasurer, truth is the commander, and all beings from Brahmā down to insects are his subjects, with Śiva as their lord.
पशूनां पालको धर्मः स्यादधर्मश्च तस्करः । मायापाशेन ते बद्धा मोचनी काशिका मृतिः
Dharma is the protector of beings, adharma is the thief; they are bound by the noose of illusion, and Kāśikā is the liberator, and death.
नानाविधाश्च प्रमदा देवदेवमुमापतिम् । एतादृशमुमानाथं कोटिजंतुरनुस्मरेत्
Various divine women serve the god of gods, the lord of Umā; who among countless beings could recall such a lord of Umā?
इष्टान्भोगानवाप्याथ शिवलोके महीयते । ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेंद्राद्यास्तत्पुरद्वारपालकाः
Having attained desired enjoyments, one is honored in the world of Śiva; Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Indra, and others are the guardians of his city’s gates.
लक्ष्मीसरस्वतीदेव्यौ देहल्याद्यर्च्चनेक्षितेः । नियुक्ते देवदेवस्य देवाश्च सुरयोषितः
The goddesses Lakṣmī and Sarasvatī, and other divine women, are appointed to worship and serve the god of gods.
दास्यो देवाः समस्ताश्च दासा यस्य महात्मनः । एतादृशमहाशैलमिक्ष्वाकुः संददर्श ह
All the gods are his servants, and the great-souled one is their master; such a great mountain was seen by Ikṣvāku.
मुनिं प्रणम्य जाबालिमिदमाह वचस्तदा । गंतुकामो महाशैलं शक्तोस्यस्मिन्न वा मुने
After bowing to the sage Jābāli, he spoke these words: 'I wish to go to the great mountain—am I able to do so or not, O sage?'
ममायुरल्पं कथितं यमेन ज्ञानिना पुरा
'My lifespan is short,' Yama, the knower, once told me.
नरकश्च बहुःप्रोक्तः कथं श्रेयो भविष्यति । जाबालिरुवाच- मयापि सर्वमेतत्ते ज्ञातं दिव्येन चक्षुषा
'Hell has been described as manifold—how will I attain the highest good?' Jābāli said: 'All this I have known with my divine sight.'
आयुर्दशदिनं ब्रह्मन्विद्वानपि न धर्मकृत् । न तपस्ते ह्यनभ्यासान्न च योगोऽल्पकालतः
'Your lifespan is ten days, O brāhmaṇa; even a learned man who does not practice dharma, austerity, or yoga for long will not succeed.'
न दानं द्रविणाभावादसामर्थ्यात्तथार्हणा । न यज्ञो न व्रतं पूर्तं न च पुण्यमनायुषः
Neither charity, due to lack of wealth or inability or unworthiness; nor sacrifice, nor observance, nor works of merit are possible for one whose lifespan is short.
न चाध्यापनतीर्थादि सेवाकालविरोधतः । तस्मात्तत्पापनाशाय प्रायश्चित्तं न विद्यते
Nor teaching, nor pilgrimage, nor service, because of conflict with time; therefore, for the removal of such sin, no expiation is prescribed.
गतिप्रदं तथा धर्मं गच्छ वा तिष्ठ वा मुने । इक्ष्वाकुरुवाच-। यावज्जीवं प्रतिज्ञाय क्रियते यो वृषो द्विज
Go or stay, O sage, in pursuit of the dharma that grants liberation; Ikshvaku said: Whoever, having vowed for life, performs the bull (vṛṣa), O twice-born,
तेन पापपरीहारो भविष्यति सुनिश्चितम् । तं ब्रूहि येन धर्मेण मम पापं प्रणश्यति
By that, the removal of sin will certainly occur; tell me by which dharma my sin will be destroyed.
केन वा पुण्ययोगेन स्वर्गतिश्च भविष्यति । शरणं भव विप्रर्षे नरकादतिबिभ्यतः
Or by what accumulation of merit will attainment of heaven occur? Be my refuge, O sage, for I greatly fear hell.
सर्वधर्मफलं प्राहुः शरणागतपालनम् । जाबालिरुवाच- सत्यं स्वल्पेन कालेन न तादृग्लभ्यते वृषः
They declare that the protection of those who seek refuge is the fruit of all dharmas; Jabali said: Truly, in a short time, such a bull is not easily obtained.
अमृतेत्वनृते शक्यं वक्तुं स्वप्नांतरेष्वपि । रहस्यमेकं किंचित्तु यस्य कस्यापि नोच्यते
It is possible to speak truth or untruth even in dreams; but there is one secret which is not told to just anyone.
इक्ष्वाकुरुवाच- शरणं पालय मुने कालो मे निर्गमिष्यति । जाबालिरुवाच- मम प्राणाधिकं विप्र रहस्यं श्रुतिचोदितम्
Ikshvaku said: Protect me, O sage, as my time is departing; Jabali said: The secret prescribed by scripture is dearer to me than life, O Brahmin.
शिवलिंगार्चनं नाम ब्रह्मादिभिरनुष्ठितम् । समस्तपापशमनं सर्वोपद्रवनाशनम्
The worship of the Shiva-linga, known as such, performed by Brahma and others, destroys all sins and removes all calamities.
भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं तस्माच्छिवपूजां समाचर । नातिक्रामेद्यदि मुने शिवलिंगार्चनं शुभम्
It grants both enjoyment and liberation; therefore, perform the worship of Shiva. If, O sage, one does not transgress the auspicious worship of the Shiva-linga,