निर्जीवमभवत्स्थानं समंताद्दशयोजनम् । अथ मृत्युदिनं प्राप्तं राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः
His dwelling became lifeless for ten yojanas all around; then the day of death arrived for that king, the great-souled one.
मृत्युकालेथ संप्राप्ते स्नातं भूमिगतं नृपम् । तस्य चानुचराः सर्वे परिवार्योपतस्थिरे
When the time of death came, the king, having bathed, lay upon the ground; all his attendants gathered around him.
सुरापः सचिवः प्राह किं कार्यं मम चादिश । अथ राजा तथा शक्तो निर्गतायुस्तदार्दितः
Surāpa, the minister, spoke: 'What should I do? Command me.' Then the king, his strength gone, his life departing, afflicted thus,
नाभेरधस्तु क्षीणासुः कथंचिद्वाक्यमुक्तवान् । त्वं सर्वकाले दैत्येंद्र प्रहरप्राहराहर
With his breath failing, below the navel, he somehow uttered these words: 'At all times, O lord of Daityas, bring (food) at each watch.'
इत्यथोक्त्वा ममारासौ यमदूताः समाययुः । विचित्रं बंधने यत्नं चक्रुस्ताडनतत्पराः
Having said this, he died; the messengers of Yama arrived. They made various efforts at binding, intent on striking.
चूर्णिता बंधपाशाश्च हेतिदंडाश्च चूर्णिताः । तद्गात्रस्पर्शमात्रे च तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
The nooses and fetters were shattered, and the rods and weapons were also broken; merely by touching his body, a wonder occurred.
अथायातः स्वयं मृत्युः पाशेनैनमयोजयत् । मृत्युपाशमपिच्छिन्नं वीक्ष्य मृत्युरचिंतयत्
Then Death himself arrived and bound him with his noose; seeing even the noose of Death broken, Death was astonished.
सर्वमर्त्यमृतिर्दृष्टा दृष्टा नैतादृशी क्वचित् । इति चिंतापरे मृत्यौ ज्वालावक्त्रः प्रतापवान्
All mortals have been seen to die, but never has such a thing been seen anywhere; thus, while Death was absorbed in thought, the one with a flaming mouth, full of might,
वीरभद्रेण निर्दिष्टः सहसायाच्च शूलभृत् । ज्वालावक्त्रमथालोक्य मृत्युस्तूर्णं पलाययौ
Was suddenly pointed out by Vīrabhadra, the trident-bearer, who arrived; seeing the one with a flaming mouth, Death quickly fled.
पलायमानं तं दृष्ट्वा मृत्युं वह्निमुखस्तदा । अरे रे चोर चोर त्वं तिष्ठतिष्ठ क्व यास्यसि
Seeing Death fleeing at that time, the one with a fiery mouth called out: 'Hey, thief, thief, you! Stop, stop! Where will you go?'
एनसो मुच्यते चोरः शूलारोपणमात्रतः । एवमाभाष्य मृत्युं तं शूलप्रोतमकल्पयत्
A thief is freed from sin merely by being impaled on the stake; having spoken thus, he prepared to impale Death upon the stake.
शूलं स्कंधगतं कृत्वा दूतान्संग्रथ्य रज्जुना । पादशृंखलविन्यस्तानादाय नृपमध्यगात्
Placing the stake upon his shoulder, gathering the messengers and binding them with rope, he took those whose feet were chained and went before the king.
विमानवरमारोप्य गीतवाद्यसुशोभितम् । वीरांतिकमथो गत्वा सर्वमस्मै न्यवेदयत्
Then, placing him in a splendid aerial chariot adorned with song and music, he went to Vīrāntika and reported everything to him.
वीरभद्रोपि तत्सर्वं शंकरायामितात्मने । नानामुनिगणैर्देवैर्ब्रह्मविष्णुपुरः सुरैः
Vīrabhadra, together with various groups of sages, gods, and the foremost among Brahmā and Viṣṇu, conveyed all this to Śaṅkara, the boundless soul.
सेव्यमानाय देवाय पार्वतीसहिताय च । प्रणिपत्य निवेद्याथ शूलस्थंमृत्युमेव च
To the god being served by the gods, accompanied by Pārvatī, he bowed down, reported everything, and also presented Death, who was on the stake.
तूष्णीं बभूव विश्वात्मा वीरभद्रः प्रतापवान् । अग्न्याननं वीक्ष्य शिवो विगर्हयन्कथं त्वयैतद्गणसाहसं कृतम् । बिभेषि मृत्योर्न कथं यमाधिकाद्वदस्व सर्वं परमार्थतो मे
Vīrabhadra, the mighty soul of the universe, became silent; Śiva, seeing Agni-faced Death, reproached him: 'How have you dared such an act among my attendants? Why do you not fear Death or Yama's authority? Tell me everything truthfully.'
प्रणम्य तं वह्निमुखोऽतिरोषो मृत्युं समालोक्य ननर्त हर्षात् । उवाच चौर्यं कृतमेव मृत्युना तदेष शूलेऽपि मया प्ररोहितः
Bowing to him, Death, with a fiery face and great anger, looked at Śiva and danced with joy. He said, 'Indeed, theft was committed by Death, and for that I have been impaled on the stake by you.'
विमोचयामास शिवोपि मृत्युं दूतानशेषान्निरुजश्चकार । मृत्युं समालोक्य शिवो बभाषे मन्नाम एषां मरणे समास्ते
Śiva released Death and all the messengers, making them free from pain. Looking at Death, Śiva spoke: 'In the matter of their death, my name prevails over all.'
मच्चेतसामन्यधियां च नामहीनाक्षरं वाधिकवर्णयुक्तम् । ममैव लोकं प्रददामि सत्यं ह्यनेन नाम प्रहरेति भाषितम्
For those whose minds are fixed on me, or who utter my name—even if only a syllable more or less—I truly grant them my own realm; this is my declared word.
प्रशब्दमात्रं त्वधिकं हरेतिपदप्रदं वै पदमीरयंति । आरादमूंस्त्वं जपतो नमस्व मदीयवाक्यं च यमं वदस्व
Even the mere utterance of my name, or the word 'Hara', grants the supreme state. Those who recite it from afar, bow to me, and follow my command—tell this to Yama.
नतिं यतिं कीर्तिमुपास्तिमाश्रिता दास्यं च कैंकर्य्यमथ श्रुतिंवदाः । पंचाक्षरोक्तिं शतरुद्रियोक्तिं शिवस्य कुर्वंति न ते विचार्याः
Those who take refuge in bowing, asceticism, fame, devotion, service, or the recitation of scripture, who utter the five-syllabled mantra or the Śatarudriya of Śiva—they are not to be judged.
मन्नामरुद्राक्षविभूतिधारणो ममाग्रतो यस्तु पुराणवक्ता । सर्वेषु पापेष्वपि तेषु सत्सु प्रशास्म्यहं नैव यमाधिकारः
Whoever wears my name, rudrākṣa beads, or sacred ash, or recites the Purāṇas before me—among all such, even if sinful, I rule over them; Yama has no authority.
ये चापि पापान्वितमायिनो नराः परान्नवस्त्रादिवधूभुजश्च । वाराणसीमृत्युपराश्च ये वै श्रीशैलमर्त्याश्च न ते विचार्याः
And those men who are sinful, deceitful, who eat others' food, wear others' clothes, or enjoy others' wives, as well as those who die in Vārāṇasī or at Śrīśaila—they are not to be judged.
यूकाश्च दंशा अपि मत्कुणाश्च मृगादयः कीटपिपीलिकाश्च । सरीसृपा वृश्चिकशूकराश्च काशीमृताः शंकरमाप्नुवंति
Lice, mosquitoes, bugs, animals, insects, ants, reptiles, scorpions, and pigs—those who die in Kāśī attain Śaṅkara.
इदं नामगृणन्ध्यायेद्यो वै हृत्पद्ममंदिरे । त्रियंबकं विरूपाक्षं सोमं सोमार्द्धभूषणम्
Whoever recites this name and meditates upon it in the temple of the lotus heart—Triambaka, the three-eyed one, the deformed-eyed, Soma, the one adorned with the crescent moon—
त्रिनेत्रकं त्रयीनेत्रं सोमसूर्याग्निलोचनम् । तं नमस्कृत्य दूरस्थो भवमृत्यो ममाज्ञया
The three-eyed, the one with three eyes, whose eyes are the moon, sun, and fire—having bowed to him even from afar, Death acts according to my command.
अथाकर्ण्य शिवप्रोक्तं मृत्युस्तुष्टाव शंकरम् । नमस्ते देवतानाथ नमस्ते देवमूर्तये
Hearing these words spoken by Śiva, Death praised Śaṅkara: 'Salutations to you, Lord of the gods; salutations to you, embodiment of divinity.'
सर्वज्ञाय नमस्तुभ्यं पशूनां पतये नमः । अथ देवो महादेवो मृत्युं प्राह वरं वृणु
'Salutations to you, the all-knowing, salutations to the Lord of creatures.' Then the great god spoke to Death: 'Choose a boon.'
स्तोत्रेणानेन तुष्टोस्मि मृत्युर्वरमयाचत । त्वदीयं पालय विभो मां च शंकर पापिनम्
I am pleased by this hymn; Death, ask for a boon. Protect what is yours, O Lord, and also me, O Śaṅkara, though I am sinful.
तथेत्युक्त्वा मृत्युमीशो गच्छ वत्सेति चाब्रवीत् । यमलोकं गतः सोपि यमायाशेषमुक्तवान्
Saying 'So be it,' the Lord told Death, 'Go, my child.' He went to Yama's realm and reported everything to Yama.