आत्मनश्च हितं कार्यमिहामुत्र सुतौ मम । पुरोधसं तु गच्छामि मम पूर्वं महागुरुम्
For the benefit of myself, my sons, here and hereafter, I go to the priest, my former great teacher.
वसिष्ठं मुनिवर्यं च स दास्यति गतिं मम । एवमुक्त्वा गतो विप्रं वाराणस्यां स्थितं गुरुम्
To Vasiṣṭha, the foremost sage, who will give me guidance. Having spoken thus, he went to the priest, the guru residing in Vārāṇasī.
दंडवत्प्रणनामाथ मुनिना परिपूजितः । आलिंगितशिरो घ्रातो दत्तासनपरिग्रहः
Then, having bowed down in reverence, the sage was duly honored: his head was embraced and smelled, and he was offered a seat.
उक्तश्चागमनं किं ते किं कार्य्यं करवाणि वै । राजोवाच- गतिं प्रयच्छ मे विप्र संसारतरणाय हि
He was asked, 'Why have you come? What task shall I perform for you?' The king said: 'Grant me a path, O Brahmin, for crossing the ocean of worldly existence.'
खिन्नोहं कर्मणा शश्वद्भवंतं शरणं गतः । वसिष्ठ उवाच- गतिं पश्य महालिंगं विश्वेश्वरमिति स्थितम्
I am weary from actions; I have come to you for refuge always. Vasiṣṭha said: 'Behold the great liṅga, established as Lord of the Universe.'
एनं पूजय राजेंद्र देवदेवं पिनाकिनम् । यमाराध्य पुरा शक्तिररुंधत्याः सुतो मुनिः
Worship that Lord of gods, O king, the bearer of the pināka bow, whom the sage, son of Arundhatī, once propitiated through austerity.
रक्षसा भक्षितश्चापि यमलोकं गतो न सः । किंचित्कालं गतः स्वर्गं ब्रह्मलोकमगादतः
Though devoured by a demon, he did not go to Yama's realm; for a time he went to heaven, and from there attained Brahmā's world.
ब्रह्मलोकाद्विष्णुलोके क्रीडन्नास्ते सुतो मम । अमुं पश्य महाराज लुब्धकं वनचारिणम्
From Brahmā's world, my son now dwells playing in Viṣṇu's realm. Behold, O great king, that hunter roaming the forest.
पूजयंतं हि विश्वेशं पत्रमात्रै स्वसंभृतैः । शमीवृक्षस्य संभूतैस्तथा पूगप्रसूनकैः
See him worshipping Viśveśvara with only leaves he has gathered himself, from the śamī tree and with areca flowers.
कदंबकुसुमैरर्ककुसुमैर्यूथिकाभवैः । एतैरन्यैर्महेशानं पूजयंतं विलोकय
With kadamba blossoms, arka flowers, and yūthikā buds—behold him worshipping Maheśāna with these and other offerings.
इतोर्द्धयाममात्रेण मरिष्यति तदद्भुतम् । अंतकाले समायाते लुब्धकोपि शिवाय वै
Within the time it takes to utter 'yam', he will die—such is the wonder. At the final moment, even the hunter will turn to Śiva.
उपहारप्रदानाय दृष्टवान्पार्श्वतो घटम् । तं चूतफलसंपूर्णं शुनोच्छिष्टं विगर्हितम्
As he was about to offer his gift, he saw a pot nearby, filled with mangoes, but defiled by a dog's leftovers and thus despised.
संकल्पितोपहारस्य ह्यभावाल्लुब्धकस्तथा । इदं जगौ शुभं वाक्यं लोकानां भक्तिसूचकम्
Lacking the intended offering, the hunter then spoke these auspicious words, which reveal the devotion of the worlds.
पुष्पाभावे हरिर्नेत्रं फलाभावेंगुलं रविः । लिंगविस्रंसनेकं च जमदग्नि ऋषिस्तथा
When there are no flowers, Hari's eye is offered; when there is no fruit, the Sun's finger; and Jamadagni the sage likewise offered something unique to the liṅga.
लिंगपीठविभेदे च गात्रं निर्भिद्य दत्तवान् । अन्यैर्माहैश्वरैरन्यत्साहसं परमं कृतम्
When the pedestal of the liṅga was broken, he pierced his own body and gave it; others, endowed with great power, have performed other supreme acts of courage.
ममापि तत्तथा कार्य्यमन्यथा दोषभागहम् । एतस्मिन्नंतरे कश्चिदुन्मत्तः शिवमभ्यगात्
So I too must act in this way, otherwise I would incur fault. Meanwhile, a certain madman approached Śiva.
अथ लुब्धकृतां पूजामाहृत्याभक्षयत्क्षणात् । वमनं च तथा चक्रे शिवपीठेथ लुब्धकः
Then, having seized the offerings made by the hunter, he ate them at once, and likewise vomited upon Śiva's pedestal, the hunter looking on.
शिवापकारिणं चैनं हन्मि नो वेत्यचिंतयत् । अथ स्वात्मवधायैव यत्नमास्थाय शंकरः
He considered, 'Should I kill this offender against Śiva, or not?' Then Śaṅkara resolved to destroy himself instead.
उन्मत्तेन यथोद्भुक्ता शिवपूजा मया कृता । लिंगप्रावरणे ह्येषा तदहं मम देहिनः
The madman said, 'As the worship of Śiva was performed by me with what was eaten, so this covering of the liṅga is mine, as I am embodied.'
प्रावृतिस्त्वगियं त्वद्य निर्म्मोक्तव्या मया द्रुतम् । पूजाविमोचनायैतत्फलहानेर्गलं त्यजेत्
This covering, which is my own skin, must now be quickly removed by me, to release the worship and the fruit of the offering without obstacle.
इत्थं संकल्प्य स तथा तीक्ष्णस्वधितिनाद्भुतम् । चक्रे त्वचं दक्षपादं त्वचं च्छित्वा कटेरधः
Thus resolving in this way, he, with his sharp blade, performed a wondrous act: he cut the skin of his right foot below the hip.
वामपादं तथा चक्रे कटिपर्यंतमाशुच । हृष्टश्चावेपितश्चैव तत ऊर्ध्वमथाच्छिनत्
In the same way, he cut the skin of his left foot up to the hip; joyful yet trembling, he then cut upwards from there.
करांसोदरहृत्कंठत्वचं निर्भिद्य लुब्धकः । मस्तकस्य त्वचं चापि निर्बिभेद प्रहृष्टवान्
The hunter, splitting open the skin of his hands, belly, heart, and throat, also joyfully split the skin of his head.
तयोरंतरतस्तस्माद्गात्रं निर्भिद्य वर्तुलम् । छित्त्वांगुलि समादाय देवायार्पितवांस्त्वचम्
Then, cutting through the round flesh between those parts, he took the severed fingers and offered the skin to the god.
आरादेव तथा दिव्यरूपः स्वक्षश्चतुर्भुजः । नानाभूषणसंयुक्तः स्थितो वियति शाङ्करः
Immediately, a divine form appeared nearby—four-armed, adorned with various ornaments, the glorious Śaṅkara standing in the sky.
अथ शैवाः समायाता दूताः शतसहस्रशः । विचित्रमुकुटाकाराः सर्वाभरणभूषिताः
Then arrived the Śaiva messengers by the hundreds of thousands, with wondrous crowns and adorned with all ornaments.
त्रिशूलपाणयः सर्वे शुद्धस्फटिकसंनिभाः । चतुर्भुजाः सुरूपाश्च विमानवरसंस्थिताः
All bore tridents in their hands, shining like pure crystal, four-armed, beautiful in form, standing in splendid aerial chariots.
सर्वे सूर्यसमाः शांता रंभावत्प्रियया युताः । सूनुपत्नीबलोत्साह विलासस्त्रीशतान्विताः
All were as radiant as the sun, peaceful, accompanied by beloveds like Rambhā, and surrounded by hundreds of playful women—wives, sons, and attendants.
तेजसा सूर्यसदृशाः पुष्पवृष्टिमवाकिरन् । तैराहूतो लुब्धकश्च नागच्छदवदच्च तान्
Brilliant as the sun, they showered down a rain of flowers; though called by them, the hunter did not come and spoke to them.
भार्याबंधुजनोपेतो गच्छेहमथवा न वा । शैवास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वाक्यमेतदथोचिरे
"I will go only if I am accompanied by my wife and relatives; otherwise, I will not go." Hearing these words, the Śaivas replied as follows.