पंथानो देवलोकस्य ब्राह्मणैर्दशितास्त्वमी। एकोग्निः सर्वदा धार्यो गृहस्थेन द्विजन्मना
These paths to the realm of the gods have been shown by the Brahmins; a householder of twice-born status must always maintain a single fire.
विनाग्निना द्विजेनेह गार्हस्थ्यन्न तु लभ्यते। भीष्म उवाच। योऽसौ कपालादुत्पन्नो नरो नाम धनुर्द्धरः
Without fire, a twice-born person here cannot obtain the fruits of household life. Bhishma said: That one who was born from the skull, called Nara, the wielder of the bow—
किमेष माधवाज्जात उताहो स्वेन कर्मणा। उत रुद्रेण जनितो ह्यथवा बुद्धिपूर्वकम्
Was he born from Madhava, or by his own actions? Or was he produced by Rudra, or perhaps through deliberate intent?
ब्रह्मन्हिरण्यगर्भोऽयमंडजातश्चतुर्मुखः। अद्भुतं पञ्चमं तस्य वक्त्रं तत्कथमुत्थितम्
O Brahmin, Hiranyagarbha is the one born from the egg, four-faced; the fifth wondrous face of his—how did it arise?
सत्वे रजो न दृश्येत न सत्वं रजसि क्वचित्। सत्वस्थो भगवान्ब्रह्मा कथमुद्रेकमादधात्
In sattva, rajas is not seen, nor is sattva found in rajas anywhere; how did Brahma, established in sattva, take on excess?
मूढात्मना नरो येन हंतुं हि प्रहितो हरं। पुलस्त्य उवाच। महेश्वरहरी चैतो द्वावेव सत्पथि स्थितौ
By whom was that man, with a deluded mind, sent to slay Hara? Pulastya said: Maheshvara and Hari—these two alone stand on the righteous path.
तयोरविदितं नास्ति सिद्धासिद्धं महात्मनोः। ब्रह्मणः पंचमं वक्त्रमूर्द्ध्वमासीन्महात्मनः
There is nothing unknown to these two great souls, whether accomplished or unaccomplished; Brahma’s fifth face was above, belonging to the great soul.
ततो ब्रह्माभवन्मूढो रजसा चोपबृंहितः। ततोऽयं तेजसा सृष्टिममन्यत मया कृता
Then Brahma became deluded, strengthened by rajas; then he thought that creation was made by his own power.
मत्तोऽन्यो नास्ति वै देवो येन सृष्टिः प्रवर्तिता। सह देवाः सगंधर्वाः पशुपक्षिमृगाकुलाः
There is no other god besides me by whom creation is set in motion, along with the gods, Gandharvas, and the hosts of animals, birds, and beasts.
एवं मूढः स पंचास्यो विरिंचिरभवत्पुनः। प्राग्वक्त्रं मुखमेतस्य ऋग्वेदस्य प्रवर्तकम्
Thus, deluded, that five-faced Virinchi arose again; his front face is the originator of the Rig Veda.
द्वितीयं वदनं तस्य यजुर्वेदप्रवर्तकम्। तृतीयं सामवेदस्य अथर्वार्थं चतुर्थकम्
His second mouth is the originator of the Yajur Veda; the third of the Sama Veda, and the fourth for the Atharva Veda.
सांगोपांगेतिहासांश्च सरहस्यान्ससंग्रहान्। वेदानधीते वक्त्रेण पंचमेनोर्द्ध्वचक्षुषा
With its limbs, sub-limbs, histories, secrets, and collections, he recites the Vedas with his fifth mouth, whose gaze is upward.
तस्याऽसुरसुराः सर्वे वक्त्रस्याद्भुतवर्चसः। तेजसा न प्रकाशंते दीपाः सूर्योदये यथा
All the gods and demons, before the wondrously radiant face, do not shine by their own brilliance, like lamps at sunrise.
स्वपुरेष्वपि सोद्वेगा ह्यवर्तंत विचेतसः। न कंचिद्गणयेच्चान्यं तेजसा क्षिपते परान्
Even in their own cities, disturbed and bewildered, they did not regard anyone else; by his brilliance, he casts others aside.
नाभिगंतु न च द्रष्टुं पुरस्तान्नोपसर्पितुम्। शेकुस्त्रस्ताः सुरास्सर्वे पद्मयोनिं महाप्रभुम्
Unable to approach, see, or draw near from the front, all the gods, frightened, could not come close to the lotus-born, the great lord.
अभिभूतमिवात्मानं मन्यमाना हतत्विषः। सर्वे ते मंत्रयामासुर्दैवता हितमात्मनः
Thinking themselves overwhelmed and their radiance destroyed, all of them deliberated together for the welfare of the gods.
गच्छामः शरणं शंभुं निस्तेजसोऽस्य तेजसा। देवा ऊचुः। नमस्तेसर्वसत्वेश महेश्वर नमोनमः१०० 1.14.
Let us go for refuge to Shambhu, for we are powerless before his brilliance. The gods said: Salutations to you, lord of all beings, Maheshvara, again and again!
जगद्योने परंब्रह्म भूतानां त्वं सनातनः। प्रतिष्ठा सर्वजगतां त्वं हेतुर्विष्णुना सह
Source of the world, supreme Brahman, you are the eternal one among beings; you are the foundation of all worlds, the cause along with Vishnu.
एवं संस्तूयमानोसौ देवर्षिपितृदानवैः। अंतर्हित उवाचेदं देवाः प्रार्थयतेप्सितम्
Thus, as he was being praised by the gods, sages, ancestors, and demons, he vanished and spoke these words: 'O gods, ask for whatever you desire.'
देवा ऊचुः। प्रत्यक्षदर्शनं दत्वा देहि देव यथेप्सितम्। कृत्वा कारुण्यमस्माकं वरश्चापि प्रदीयताम्
The gods said: 'Having granted us your direct vision, O Lord, bestow upon us whatever you wish. Show compassion to us, and also grant us a boon.'
यदस्माकं महद्वीर्यं तेज ओजः पराक्रमः। तत्सर्वं ब्रह्मणा ग्रस्तं पंचमास्यस्य तेजसा
'Our great strength, brilliance, vigor, and valor—all of that was consumed by Brahma, by the radiance of his fifth face.'
विनेशुः सर्वतेजांसि त्वत्प्रसादात्पुनः प्रभो। जायते तु यथापूर्वं तथा कुरु महेश्वर
'All our powers perished, O Lord, but by your grace, let them arise again as before. Restore them, O great Lord.'
ततः प्रसन्नवदनो देवैश्चापि नमस्कृतः। जगाम यत्र ब्रह्माऽसौ रजोहंकारमूढधीः
Then, with a gracious face and having been saluted by the gods, he went to where Brahma was, whose mind was deluded by pride and passion.
स्तुवंतो देवदेवेशं परिवार्य समाविशन्। ब्रह्मा तमागतं रुद्रं न जज्ञे रजसावृतः
Surrounding and praising the Lord of gods, they entered together; but Brahma, covered by passion, did not recognize Rudra as he arrived.
सूर्यकोटिसहस्राणां तेजसा रंजयन्जगत्। तदादृश्यत विश्वात्मा विश्वसृग्विश्वभावनः
Shining upon the world with the radiance of a hundred thousand suns, there appeared the Soul of the Universe, the Creator and Sustainer of all.
सपितामहमासीनं सकलं देवमंडलम्। अभिगम्य ततो रुद्रो ब्रह्माणं परमेष्ठिनम्
Approaching Brahma, the Grandfather, who was seated with the entire assembly of gods, Rudra went to the supreme creator.
अहोतितेजसा वक्त्रमधिकं देव राजते। एवमुक्त्वाट्टहासं तु मुमोच शशिशेखरः
'O god, your face shines with even greater brilliance,' he said, and then the moon-crested one let out a loud laugh.
वामांगुष्ठनखाग्रेण ब्रह्मणः पंचमं शिरः। चकर्त कदलीगर्भं नरः कररुहैरिव
With the tip of his left thumb's nail, he cut off Brahma's fifth head, as a man might pluck the tender shoot of a banana with his fingernails.
विच्छिन्नं तु शिरः पश्चाद्भवहस्ते स्थितं तदा। ग्रहमंडलमध्यस्थो द्वितीय इव चंद्रमाः
Then, the severed head remained in his hand, shining like a second moon in the midst of the planetary circle.
करोत्क्षिप्तकपालेन ननर्त च महेश्वरः। शिखरस्थेन सूर्येण कैलास इव पर्वतः
With the skull lifted in his hand, the great Lord danced, like Mount Kailasa with the sun atop its peak.