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.
कपालस्थः स तत्रैव तुष्टाव हरकेशवौ। शिरस्यंजलिमाधाय तदा वीर उदारधीः
There, standing in the skull, he praised Hara and Keśava, placing his joined hands upon his head, that heroic one of noble mind.
किंकरोमीति तौ प्राह इत्युक्त्वा प्रणतः स्थितः। तमुवाच हरः श्रीमान्ब्रह्मणा स्वेन तेजसा
He said to them, 'What shall I do?' and having spoken thus, stood with reverence; to him, the illustrious Hara spoke with his own energy, as Brahma—
सृष्टो नरो धनुष्पाणिस्त्वमेनं तु निषूदय। इत्थमुक्त्वांजलिधरं स्तुवंतं शंकरो नरम्
A man holding a bow has been created by me; strike him down; thus addressed, as he stood with joined hands, praising, Śaṅkara spoke to the man—
तथैवांजलिसंबद्धं गृहीत्वा च करद्वयम्। उद्धृत्याथ कपालात्तं पुनर्वचनमब्रवीत्
Then, taking both his hands, which were joined in reverence, just so, and raising him from the skull, he spoke again—
स एष पुरुषो रौद्रो यो मया वेदितस्तव। विष्णुहुंकाररचितमोहनिद्रां प्रवेशितः
This fierce man, whom I have recognized as yours, has been cast into the deluding sleep fashioned by Viṣṇu’s roar.
विबोधयैनं त्वरितमित्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे हरः। नारायणस्य प्रत्यक्षं नरेणानेन वै तदा
Awaken him quickly—having said this, Hara vanished; then, in the presence of Nārāyaṇa, that man—
वामपादहतः सोपि समुत्तस्थौ महाबलः। ततो युद्धं समभवत्स्वेदरक्तजयोर्महत्
Struck by the left foot, he too, of great strength, rose up; then a great battle took place between the one born of sweat and the one born of blood.
विस्फारितधनुः शब्दं नादिताशेषभूतलम्। कवचं स्वेदजस्यैकं रक्तजेन त्वपाकृतम्
The sound of the drawn bow resounded across the entire earth; the armor of the one born of sweat was struck off by the one born of blood.
एवं समेतयोर्युद्धे दिव्यं वर्षद्वयं तयोः। युध्यतोः समतीतं च स्वेदरक्तजयोर्नृप
Thus, as they met in battle, two divine years passed for those two, O king, as the one born of sweat and the one born of blood fought.
रक्तजं द्विभुजं दृष्ट्वा स्वेदजं चैव संगतौ। विचिन्त्य वासुदेवोगाद्ब्रह्मणः सदनं परम्
Seeing the one born of blood with two arms and the one born of sweat engaged in combat, Vāsudeva, reflecting, went to the supreme abode of Brahma.