जले तत्प्रोक्षितं मूलफलशाकादिकं नृप । न च पर्युषितं प्रोक्तं गंगातोयं च सागरम्
That which is washed in water—roots, fruits, vegetables, and the like, O king—should not be stale, and water from the Gaṅgā and the ocean.
महानदीजलं सर्वं केदारजलमेव च । ह्रदरूपेण यत्तीर्थं कूपतीर्थेन राघव
All water from great rivers, and also water from fields; water from lakes in the form of tirthas, and from wells, O Rāghava.
तडागवापीसरसां कूपेनापां च यद्भवेत् । तत्तीर्थतोयं सर्वं च न च पर्युषितं भवेत्
Whatever water is from tanks, ponds, lakes, or wells, all that water from tirthas should not be stale.
न रात्रौ जलमाहार्यं दिवा संपादयेज्जलम् । ससैकतं तथा धार्यं न च पर्युषितं हि तत्
Water should not be drawn at night; draw water during the day. It should be kept with sand, and it should not be stale.
एवं विदित्वा पूजां त्वं शिवलिंगे समाचर । शंभुरुवाच- एवमुक्तोथ मुनिना इक्ष्वाकुर्ब्राह्मणप्रियः
Knowing thus, you should perform worship at the Śiva-liṅga. Śaṃbhu said: Thus addressed by the sage, Ikṣvāku, dear to the brāhmaṇas,
शिवपूजापरो भूत्वा दिनाष्टकमतिष्ठत । नवमेऽथ दिने प्राप्ते प्रातःकाले कृतार्चनः
Devoted to the worship of Śiva, observed the rite for eight days; and when the ninth day arrived, he performed the morning worship.
मरणावसरे प्राप्ते शिवपूजां विधाय सः । स्वान्प्राणानुपहाराय तत्याजैव महेशितुः
When the time of death arrived, he performed the worship of Shiva and then offered up his own life-breaths as an oblation to the Great Lord.
मृतं तमथ विज्ञाय यमदूताः समागताः । यमलोकप्रापका ये यतमास्थाय तस्थिरे
Then, realizing he had died, the messengers of Yama assembled—those whose task is to bring souls to Yama's realm—and stood ready, taking their positions.
शैवाश्चापि समायाता दूता वह्निमुखादयः । तेषामन्योन्यवादोभून्मामको मामकस्त्विति
But also the Shaiva messengers arrived—those led by Vahnimukha and others; a dispute arose among them, each claiming, 'He is mine, he is mine.'
अथ यामः पाशपाणिः शिवदूतमथार्दयत् । अथ वह्निमुखः क्रुद्धो यमदूतशतं ततः
Then Yama's messenger, holding a noose in his hand, attacked the Shaiva messenger; but Vahnimukha, enraged, struck down a hundred of Yama's messengers.
महाकायस्तथा भूत्वा गृहीत्वा च करेण तत् । शिरांसि च तथैकेनापीड्य चिच्छेद शष्पवत्
Becoming massive in form, he seized them with his hand and, crushing their heads with one hand, cut them off as easily as blades of grass.
मारयित्वा ततो दूतानादायेक्ष्वाकुमभ्यगात् । निवेदयामास च तं वीरभद्राय धीमते
After killing the messengers, he took the soul and went to Ikshvaku; he reported everything to the wise Virabhadra.
स चापि शंकरायाथ तं प्राह च महेश्वरः । त्वयाष्टदिनपूजैव कृता कृष्णा दिने दिने
And he, in turn, spoke to Shankara, and the Great Lord said: 'For eight days you have worshipped me, O Krishna, day after day.'
त्वमनिंदः पुरा मां च लिंगं शिश्नाग्रमित्युत । तेनैव पापयोगेन शिश्नवक्त्रो भविष्यसि
'You once insulted me and my linga, calling it the tip of the phallus; because of that sinful act, you will have a phallus for a face.'
शिश्नाग्रे विवरं चक्रं जिह्वानासादिवर्जितः । पूर्वं मन्नामवक्तृत्वाद्वक्ता चापि भविष्यसि
'At the tip of the phallus there will be an opening, but you will lack tongue and nose; yet, because you once spoke my name, you will also become a speaker.'
अथेशवचनात्सोपि तथाभूतोभवत्क्षणात् । शंभुरुवाच- य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं पुराणाख्यानमुत्तमम्
Then, by the Lord's command, he instantly became thus. Shambhu said: 'Whoever listens daily to this supreme Purana narrative—'
विमुक्तपापबंधश्च शिवभक्तो भविष्यति । स याति च शिवस्थाने वक्ता चापि तथा भवेत्
'—will be freed from the bonds of sin, become a devotee of Shiva, attain the abode of Shiva, and also become a speaker.'
यश्च वक्ति कथामेनां हरेण सदृशो भवेत् । उक्त्वा कथामिमां पूर्वमधीरो नाम भूमिपः
'And whoever recites this story will become like Hari; once, a king named Adhira recited this story.'
स्वर्गं स गतवान्राजा कृतपापोथ भार्यया
'That king, along with his wife, went to heaven, having destroyed his sins.'
श्रीराम उवाच- अयमग्निशिखो नाम वह्निः शिवगणश्च वै । स कथं तादृशो भूतस्तन्मे वद नमस्तव
Shri Rama said: 'This Vahni, called Agnishikha, is a follower of Shiva—how did he become such? Tell me that, O reverend one, I bow to you.'
शंभुरुवाच- अयमासीत्पुरा कश्चित्क्षत्त्रियः क्रोधनः सदा । नष्टभार्यो नष्टसेनो नष्टराष्ट्रोतिदुःखितः
Shambhu said: 'Once there was a certain kshatriya, always wrathful; he lost his wife, his army, and his kingdom, and was greatly afflicted.'
लब्ध्वा लुलाय द्वितयं कृषिं चक्रे सहात्मजैः । ऋणेन महता युक्तः पुनश्चातीव दुःखितः
Having obtained two oxen, he took up farming with his sons; burdened by great debt, he again became extremely distressed.
पुनश्च दुःखितो राजा सर्पेण सुतनाशनात् । तथाभूतो महीपालस्तत्याज कृषिमप्युत
Again the king was grieved, for a snake caused the death of his son; thus afflicted, the ruler abandoned even farming.
परित्यज्य सुतौ चापि त्यक्ताहारो रुरोद ह । सुतावथ समागम्य प्राहतुः पितरं त्विदम्
He gave up his two sons as well, and, forsaking food, he wept; then the two sons came together and spoke these words to their father.
किमर्थं रुद्यते तात नष्टो नायाति रोदनात् । शरीरशोषणायाथ शोकस्तेऽद्य भविष्यति
Why do you weep, dear one? The lost does not return by crying; your sorrow today will only bring the wasting of your body.
शोकेन चक्षुषी नष्टे कंठो नष्टस्तथा तव । अनुष्ठानं तथा नष्टं किमर्थं परितप्यसे
Through grief, your eyes are lost, your throat is lost as well; your ability to act is lost—why do you torment yourself?
एको नष्टो न चायाति रक्ष पंचस्थितानसून् । बहूनां रक्षणं पुण्यमाश्रितानां विशेषतः
One is lost and does not return; protect the five who remain alive. Especially, the protection of many who depend on you is meritorious.
अन्याश्रितममुं शत्रुं कथं शोचितुमर्हसि । पितोवाच- पुत्रः शत्रुः कथं पुत्रौ युवां शत्रू तथा च मे
How can you grieve for that enemy who relied on another? Father said: How is a son an enemy? You two are also enemies to me.
अत्यंतसुखिनं पुत्रं कथं शत्रुमभाषतम् । सुतावूचतुः जायमानो हरेद्भार्यां वर्द्धमानो हरेद्धनम्
How did you call the son, who was supremely happy, an enemy? The sons said: When born, he takes the wife; as he grows, he takes wealth.
म्रियमाणस्तथा प्राणाञ्छत्रुत्वं किमतः परम् । यत्सुखं च त्वया प्रोक्तं स्पर्शनालिंगनादिभिः
When dying, he takes the life-breath; what greater enmity is there? And the happiness you spoke of—touching, embracing, and so on—