प्रसन्नवदनं सौम्यं पद्मपत्रायतेक्षणम् दिव्यकांतिसमायुक्तं दिव्यगंधानुलेपनम्
With a cheerful face, gentle in demeanor, eyes elongated like lotus petals, endowed with divine radiance, and anointed with celestial fragrance.
दिव्यशुक्लांबरधरं दिव्यमालाविभूषितम् सुरासुरेन्द्रयोगींद्रवंद्यमानपदांबुजम्
Clad in divine white garments, adorned with a heavenly garland, whose lotus feet are venerated by the lords of gods, demons, and yogis.
सर्वलक्षणयुक्तांग्या लब्धचामरहस्तया भ्राजमानं सरस्वत्या प्रभयेव दिवाकरम्
With limbs bearing all auspicious marks, holding a fly-whisk in hand, shining like the sun by the brilliance of Sarasvati.
तं दृष्ट्वा मुनयस्सर्वे प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणाः शिरस्यंजलिमाधाय तुष्टुवुस्सुरपुंगवम्
Upon seeing him, all the sages, their faces radiant with joy, placed their hands upon their heads in reverence and praised the foremost among the gods.
नमस्त्रिमूर्तये तुभ्यं सर्गस्थित्यंतहेतवे पुरुषाय पुराणाय ब्रह्मणे परमात्मने
Salutations to you, O Three-formed One, cause of creation, preservation, and dissolution, the primordial Person, ancient, Brahman, supreme Self.
नमः प्रधानदेहाय प्रधानक्षोभकारिणे त्रयोविंशतिभेदेन विकृतायाविकारिणे
Salutations to the One whose body is Pradhana, who agitates Pradhana, who, though transformed in twenty-three ways, remains unchanged.
नमो ब्रह्माण्डदेहाय ब्रह्मांडोदरवर्तिने तत्र संसिद्धकार्याय संसिद्धकरणाय च
Salutations to the One whose body is the cosmic egg, who dwells within its interior, who accomplishes all tasks and brings all instruments to perfection therein.
नमोस्तु सर्वलोकाय सर्वलोकविधायिने सर्वात्मदेहसंयोग वियोगविधिहेतवे
Salutations to the One who is all worlds, who arranges all worlds, who is the cause of union and separation of all embodied souls.
त्वयैव निखिलं सृष्टं संहृतं पालितं जगत् तथापि मायया नाथ न विद्मस्त्वां पितामह
By you alone, the entire universe is created, dissolved, and protected; yet, O Lord, due to your maya, we do not know you, O Ancestor.
एवं ब्रह्मा महाभागैर्महर्षिभिरभिष्टुतः प्राह गंभीरया वाचा मुनीन् प्रह्लादयन्निव
Thus, Brahma, praised by the great sages of great fortune, spoke with a deep voice, as if delighting the sages.
ऋषयो हे महाभागा महासत्त्वा महौजसः किमर्थं सहितास्सर्वे यूयमत्र समागताः
O illustrious sages, of great strength and energy, for what purpose have you all gathered here together?
तमेवंवादिनं देवं ब्रह्माणं ब्रह्मवित्तमाः वाग्भिर्विनयगर्भाभिस्सर्वे प्रांजलयो ऽब्रुवन्
To that god, Brahma, who spoke thus, all the knowers of Brahman, with hands joined in reverence, addressed him with words filled with humility.
भगवन्नंधकारेण महता वयमावृताः खिन्ना विवदमानाश्च न पश्यामो ऽत्र यत्परम्
O Lord, we are enveloped by great darkness, distressed and disputing, unable to perceive what is supreme here.
त्वं हि सर्वजगद्धाता सर्वकारणकारणम् त्वया ह्यविदितं नाथ नेह किंचन विद्यते
You are indeed the sustainer of all worlds, the cause of all causes; O Lord, nothing here exists unknown to you.
कः पुमान् सर्वसत्त्वेभ्यः पुराणः पुरुषः परः विशुद्धः परिपूर्णश्च शाश्वतः परमेश्वरः
Who is the supreme, ancient Person among all beings, pure, complete, eternal, and the highest Lord?
केनैव चित्रकृत्येन प्रथमं सृज्यते जगत् तत्त्वं वद महाप्राज्ञ स्वसंदेहापनुत्तये
By what wondrous act is the universe first created? Tell us the truth, O great sage, to dispel our doubts.
एवं पृष्टस्तदा ब्रह्मा विस्मयस्मेरवीक्षणः देवानां दानवानां च मुनीनामपि सन्निधौ
Thus questioned, Brahma, gazing with wonder and a smile, in the presence of gods, demons, and sages,
उत्थाय सुचिरं ध्यात्वा रुद्र इत्युद्धरन् गिरिम् आनंदक्लिन्नसर्वांगः कृतांजलिरभाषत
Rising up, after long contemplation, uttering 'Rudra,' his whole body moist with joy, with joined palms, he spoke.
यतो वाचो निवर्तंते अप्राप्य मनसा सह आनंदं यस्य वै विद्वान्न बिभेति कुतश्चन
From whom words, along with the mind, turn back, not attaining; the bliss of whom, when known, leaves the wise one unafraid of anything.
यस्मात्सर्वमिदं ब्रह्मविष्णुरुद्रेन्द्रपूर्वकम् सह भूतेन्द्रियैः सर्वैः प्रथमं संप्रसूयते
From whom all this—beginning with Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra, together with all beings and senses—first arises.
कारणानां च यो धाता ध्याता परमकारणम् न संप्रसूयते ऽन्यस्मात्कुतश्चन कदाचन
Who is the source and meditator of causes, the supreme cause; he is not born from another, at any time or from anywhere.
सर्वैश्वर्येण संपन्नो नाम्ना सर्वेश्वरः स्वयम् सर्वैर्मुमुक्षुभिर्ध्येयश्शंभुराकाशमध्यगः
Endowed with all lordship, called by the name 'Lord of All,' he is to be meditated upon by all seekers of liberation—Shambhu, dwelling in the midst of space.
यो ऽग्रे मां विदधे पुत्रं ज्ञानं च प्रहिणोति मे तत्प्रसादान्मयालब्धं प्राजापत्यमिदं पदम्
He who formerly created me, his son, and grants me knowledge—by his grace I have attained this position of Prajapati.
ईशो वृक्ष इव स्तब्धो य एको दिवि तिष्ठति येनेदमखिलं पूर्णं पुरुषेण महात्मना
The Lord, unmoving like a tree, stands alone in the sky; by whom this entire universe is filled, by the great-souled Person.
एको बहूनां जंतूनां निष्क्रियाणां च सक्रियः य एको बहुधा बीजं करोति स महेश्वरः
He alone, among the many beings, is active among the inactive; he alone, in many forms, becomes the seed—he is the great Lord.
य एको भागवान्रुद्रो न द्वितीयो ऽस्ति कश्चन
He alone is the blessed Rudra; there is no second at all.
सदा जनानां हृदये संनिविष्टो ऽपि यः परैः अलक्ष्यो लक्षयन्विश्वमधितिष्ठति सर्वदा
Though always dwelling in the hearts of people, he is not perceived by others; perceiving all, he ever abides in the universe.
यस्तु कालात्प्रमुक्तानि कारणान्यखिलान्यपि अनन्तशक्तिरेवैको भगवानधितिष्ठति
He alone, the Lord of infinite power, remains, even when all causes, released from time, have ceased.
न यस्य दिवसो रात्रिर्न समानो न चाधिकः स्वभाविकी पराशक्तिर्नित्या ज्ञानक्रिये अपि
For whom there is neither day nor night, neither equal nor greater; whose supreme power is natural, eternal, knowledge and action as well.
यदिदं क्षरमव्यक्तं यदप्यमृतमक्षरम् तावुभावक्षरात्मानावेको देवः स्वयं हरः
That which is perishable and unmanifest, and that which is immortal and imperishable—both these, whose essence is imperishable, are the one god Hara himself.