स्वेदतः कुंडली जज्ञे सधनुष्को महेषुधिः। सहस्रकवची वीरः किंकरोमीत्युवाच ह
From that sweat was born Kuṇḍalī, armed with bow and great arrows, a hero with a thousand armors, who said, 'What shall I do?'
तमुवाच विरिंचस्तु दर्शयन्रुद्रमोजसा। हन्यतामेष दुर्बुद्धिर्जायते न यथा पुनः
Then the Creator said to him, showing Rudra in his might: 'Let this evil-minded one be slain, so that he may not be born again.'
ब्रह्मणो वचनं श्रुत्वा धनुरुद्यम्य पृष्ठतः। संप्रतस्थे महेशस्य बाणहस्तोतिरौद्रदृक्
Hearing Brahmā's words, he took up his bow and, with arrows in hand and a fierce gaze, set out behind Maheśa.
दृष्ट्वा पुरुषमत्युग्रं भीतस्तस्य त्रिलोचनः। अपक्रांतस्ततो वेगाद्विष्णोराश्रममभ्यगात्
Seeing that exceedingly terrible man, the three-eyed one was afraid; fleeing swiftly, he went to Viṣṇu's hermitage.
त्राहित्राहीति मां विष्णो नरादस्माच्च शत्रुहन्। ब्रह्मणा निर्मितः पापो म्लेच्छरूपो भयंकरः
'Save me, save me, O Viṣṇu, slayer of foes, from this man! Created by Brahmā, he is sinful, of mleccha form, and terrifying.'
यथा हन्यान्न मां क्रुद्धस्तथा कुरु जगत्पते। हुंकारध्वनिना विष्णुर्मोहयित्वा तु तं नरम्
'O Lord of the world, act so that, in his anger, he does not kill me.' Then Viṣṇu, with a roar, bewildered that man.
अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां योगात्मा विश्वदृक्प्रभुः। तत्र प्राप्तं विरूपाक्षं सांत्वयामास केशवः
Invisible to all beings, the master of yoga, the all-seeing Lord, Keśava then soothed the one with deformed eyes who had arrived there.
ततस्स प्रणतो भूमौ दृष्टो देवेन विष्णुना। विष्णुरुवाच। पौत्रो हि मे भवान्रुद्र कं ते कामं करोम्यहम्
Then, bowing on the ground, he was seen by the god Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu said: 'You are indeed my grandson, O Rudra. What boon shall I grant you?'
दृष्ट्वा नारायणं देवं भिक्षां देहीत्युवाच ह। कपालं दर्शयित्वाग्रे प्रज्वलंस्तेजसोत्कटम्
Seeing the god Nārāyaṇa, he said, 'Give me alms,' showing before him a skull, blazing with fierce radiance.
कपालपाणिं संप्रेक्ष्य रुद्रं विष्णुरचिन्तयत्। कोन्यो योग्यो भवेद्भिक्षुर्भिक्षादानस्य सांप्रतम्
Beholding Rudra with a skull in his hand, Viṣṇu thought, 'Who else would be worthy now to receive alms from me?'
योग्योऽयमिति संकल्प्य दक्षिणं भुजमर्पयत्। तद्बिभेदातितीक्ष्णेन शूलेन शशिशेखरः
Concluding, 'He is worthy,' he offered his right arm; and the moon-crested one pierced it with his exceedingly sharp trident.
प्रावर्तत ततो धारा शोणितस्य विभोर्भुजात्। जांबूनदरसाकारा वह्निज्वालेव निर्मिता
Then a stream of blood began to flow from the Lord's arm, golden as jambūnada gold, appearing like a line of fire.
निपपात कपालांतश्शम्भुना सा प्रभिक्षिता। ऋज्वी वेगवती तीव्रा स्पृशंती त्वांबरं जवात्
That stream, received by Śambhu in the skull, fell swiftly, straight, and forceful, touching the sky as it rushed.
पंचाशद्योजना दैर्घ्याद्विस्ताराद्दशयोजना। दिव्यवर्षसहस्रं सा समुवाह हरेर्भुजात्
Fifty yojanas in length and ten yojanas in breadth, for a thousand divine years it flowed from Hari's arm.
इयंतं कालमीशोसौ भिक्षां जग्राह भिक्षुकः। दत्ता नारायणेनाथ कापाले पात्र उत्तमे
For that length of time, the Lord, as a mendicant, received alms; Nārāyaṇa gave it into the excellent skull-bowl.
ततो नारायणः प्राह शंभुं परमिदं वचः। संपूर्णं वा न वा पात्रं ततो वै परमीश्वरः
Then Nārāyaṇa spoke these supreme words to Śambhu: 'Is the bowl filled or not, O Supreme Lord?'
सतोयांबुदनिर्घोषं श्रुत्वा वाक्यं हरेर्हरः। शशिसूर्याग्निनयनः शशिशेखरशोभितः
Hearing Hari's words, resounding like thunderclouds with water, Hara, whose eyes are the moon, sun, and fire, adorned with the crescent moon,
कपाले दृष्टिमावेश्य त्रिभिर्नेत्रैर्जनार्दनम्। अंगुल्या घटयन्प्राह कपालं परिपूरितम्
Fixing his gaze with his three eyes upon Janārdana in the skull, he tapped the bowl with his finger and said, 'The skull is filled.'
श्रुत्वा शिवस्य तां वाणीं विष्णुर्धारां समाहरत्। पश्तोऽथ हरेरीशः स्वांगुल्या रुधिरं तदा
Hearing Śiva's words, Viṣṇu stopped the flow; then the Lord pressed the blood with his own finger.
दिव्यवर्षसहस्रं च दृष्टिपातैर्ममंथ सः। मथ्यमाने ततो रक्ते कलिलं बुद्बुदं क्रमात्
For a thousand divine years, he churned it with his glances; as the blood was churned, gradually a mass of bubbles arose.
बभूव च ततः पश्चात्किरीटी सशरासनः। बद्धतूणीरयुगलो वृषस्कंधोङ्गुलित्रवान्
Then, from that, there appeared a man crowned and armed with bow and arrows, with two quivers bound, bull-shouldered, and marked with finger-lines.
पुरुषो वह्निसंकाशः कपाले संप्रदृश्यते। तं दृष्ट्वा भगवान्विष्णुः प्राह रुद्रमिदं वचः
A man, radiant as fire, was seen in the skull; seeing him, the blessed Viṣṇu spoke these words to Rudra:
कपाले भव को वाऽयं प्रादुर्भूतोऽभवन्नरः। वचः श्रुत्वा हरेरीशस्तमुवाच विभो शृणु
'O Bhava, who is this man who has appeared in the skull?' Hearing Hari's words, the Lord said, 'Listen, O mighty one.'
नरो नामैष पुरुषः परमास्त्रविदां वरः। भवतोक्तो नर इति नरस्तस्माद्भविष्यति
'This man is named Nara, foremost among those skilled in supreme weapons; since you called him Nara, he shall be known as Nara.'
नरनारायणौ चोभौ युगे ख्यातौ भविष्यतः। संग्रामे देवकार्येषु लोकानां परिपालने
'Nara and Nārāyaṇa—both will become renowned in the age, in battles for the gods' cause, for the protection of the worlds.'
एष नारायणसखो नरस्तस्माद्भविष्यति। अथासुरवधे साह्यं तव कर्ता महाद्युतिः
'This Nara will be the companion of Nārāyaṇa; then, in the destruction of the demons, this great and radiant one will be your ally.'
मुनिर्ज्ञानपरीक्षायां जेता लोके भविष्यति। तेजोधिकमिदं दिव्यं ब्रह्मणः पंचमं शिरः
A sage will become the foremost in the world in the examination of knowledge; this divine, exceedingly radiant fifth head of Brahma—
तेजसो ब्रह्मणो दीप्ताद्भुजस्य तव शोणितात्। मम दृष्टि निपाताच्च त्रीणि तेजांसि यानि तु
From the blazing energy of Brahma, from your arm’s blood, and from the glance of my eye—these three energies—
तत्संयोगसमुत्पन्नः शत्रुं युद्धे विजेष्यति। अवध्या ये भविष्यंति दुर्जया अपि चापरे
Arising from their union, he will conquer his enemy in battle; those who are invincible and others who are difficult to defeat will not be able to slay him.
शक्रस्य चामराणां च तेषामेष भयंकरः। एवमुक्त्वा स्थितः शंभुर्विस्मितश्च हरिस्तदा
He will be terrifying to Indra and the Maruts; having spoken thus, Śambhu stood there, and Hari was amazed at that moment.