तथा ब्रह्माहं सतनुस्तदंतं वीक्षितुं ययौ भित्त्वा पातालनिलयं गत्वा दूरतरं हरिः
Likewise, Brahma took the form of a swan to see its top; Hari, having pierced the abode of the underworld, went far below.
ना ऽपि श्यात्तस्य संस्थानं स्तंभस्यानलवर्चसः श्रांतः स सूकरहरीः प्राप पूर्वं रणांगणम्
Yet, the form of that pillar, radiant as fire, could not be found; exhausted, Hari in the form of a boar returned first to the battlefield.
अथ गच्छंस्तु व्योम्ना च विधिस्तात पिता तव ददर्श केतकी पुष्पं किंचिद्विच्युतमद्भुतम्
Then, as your father, the Creator, was going through the sky, he saw a ketakī flower, somewhat fallen, wondrous to behold.
अतिसौरभ्यमम्लानं बहुवर्षच्युतं तथा अन्वीक्ष्य च तयोः कृत्यं भगवान्परमेश्वरः
Very fragrant, unfaded, fallen many years before—seeing it, the Blessed Supreme Lord considered what was to be done by the two.
परिहासं तु कृतवान्कंपनाच्चलितं शिरः तस्मात्तावनुगृह्णातुं च्युतं केतकमुत्तमम्
He made a jest, and as his head shook, the excellent ketaka flower fell; so he reached out to catch it.
किं त्वं पतसि पुष्पेश पुष्पराट् केन वा धृतम् आदिमस्याप्रमेयस्य स्तंभमध्याच्च्युतश्चिरम्
Why do you fall, O Lord of Flowers, King of Blossoms? By whom have you been held? You have long fallen from the middle of the immeasurable, primal pillar.
न संपश्यामि तस्मात्त्वं जह्याशामंतदर्शने अस्यां तस्य च सेवार्थं हंसमूर्तिरिहागतः
Therefore, I do not see you; abandon hope of seeing that. For the sake of serving him, I have come here in the form of a swan.
इतः परं सखे मे ऽद्य त्वया कर्तव्यमीप्सितम् मया सह त्वया वाच्यमेतद्विष्णोश्च सन्निधौ
From now on, my friend, today you must do what is desired. This must be spoken by you together with me in the presence of Vishnu.
स्तंभांतो वीक्षितो धात्रा तत्र साक्ष्यहमच्युत इत्युक्त्वा केतकं तत्र प्रणनाम पुनः नः असत्यमपि शस्तं स्यादापदीत्यनुशासनम्
At the end of the pillar, the Creator looked; there I am witness, O Achyuta. Saying this, he bowed again to the ketaka there. Even a falsehood may be proper in distress—so goes the teaching.
समीक्ष्य तत्रा ऽच्युतमायतश्रमं प्रनष्टहर्षं तु ननर्त हर्षात् उवाच चैनं परमार्थमच्युतं षंढात्तवादः स विधिस्ततो ऽच्युतम्
Seeing Achyuta there, exhausted from his great effort and deprived of joy, he danced with delight and spoke to him the highest truth; that was the statement of Brahma to Achyuta.
स्तंभाग्रमेतत्समुदीक्षितं हरे तत्रैव साक्षी ननु केतकं त्विदम् ततो ऽवदत्तत्र हि केतकं मृषा तथेति तद्धातृवचस्तदंतिके
O Hari, this tip of the pillar was seen—there itself the ketaka is witness. Then the ketaka said there, 'It is false.' Thus spoke the Creator in his presence.
हरिश्च तत्सत्यमितीव चिंतयंश्चकार तस्मै विधये नमः स्वयम् षोडशैरुपचारैश्च पूजयामास तं विधिम्
And Hari, thinking that this was true, himself bowed to Brahma and worshipped him with sixteen offerings.
विधिं प्रहर्तुं शठमग्निलिंगतः स ईश्वरस्तत्र बभूव साकृतिः समुत्थितः स्वामि विलोकनात्पुनः प्रकंपपाणिः परिगृह्य तत्पदम्
As Brahma, deceitful, was about to strike the linga of fire, the Lord appeared there in visible form. Seeing the Lord, his hands trembled; again he grasped his feet.
आद्यंतहीनवपुषि त्वयि मोहबुद्ध्या भूयाद्विमर्श इह नावति कामनोत्थः स त्वं प्रसीद करुणाकर कश्मलं नौ मृष्टं क्षमस्व विहितं भवतैव केल्या
Upon you, whose form is without beginning or end, may there not arise, through delusion, any further desire-born confusion here. Be gracious, O source of compassion; forgive the stain that has been committed by your own sport.
वत्सप्रसन्नो ऽस्मि हरे यतस्त्वमीशत्वमिच्छन्नपि सत्यवाक्यम् ब्रूयास्ततस्ते भविता जनेषु साम्यं मया सत्कृतिरप्यलप्थाः
O Hari, I am pleased with you, my child, because, though desiring lordship, you spoke the truth. Therefore, among people, you shall have equality with me, and you shall receive my honor.
इतः परं ते पृथगात्मनश्च क्षेत्रप्रतिष्ठोत्सवपूजनं च
From now on, you and your distinct self shall perform the festival and worship for the establishment of the sacred site.
इति देवः पुरा प्रीतः सत्येन हरये परम् ददौ स्वसाम्यमत्यर्थं देवसंघे च पश्यति
Thus, long ago, the pleased Lord gave supreme equality to Hari because of truthfulness, as all the assembly of gods looked on.
ससर्जाथ महादेवः पुरुषं कंचिदद्भुतम् भैरवाख्यं भ्रुवोर्मध्याद्ब्रह्मदर्पजिघांसया
Then the great god created a certain wondrous being, called Bhairava, from between his brows, desiring to subdue Brahma's pride.
स वै तदा तत्र पतिं प्रणम्य शिवमंगणे किं कार्यं करवाण्यत्र शीघ्रमाज्ञापय प्रभो
He then bowed to the Lord in Shiva's assembly and said, 'What should I do here? Command me quickly, O Lord.'
वत्सयो ऽयं विधिः साक्षाज्जगतामाद्यदैवतम् नूनमर्चय खड्गं स्वं तिग्मेन जवसा परम्
This Brahma, the direct progenitor of the worlds, is indeed to be worshipped. Strike him swiftly with your sharp sword.
स वै गृहीत्वैककरेण केशं तत्पञ्चमं दृप्तमसत्यभाषणम् छित्त्वा शिरांस्यस्य निहंतुमुद्यतः प्रकंपयन्खड्गमतिस्फुटं करैः
He then, with one hand, seized the fifth head—proud and speaking falsehoods—cut it off, and, intending to slay him, brandished his sword fiercely with his hands.
पिता तवोत्सृष्टविभूषणांबरस्रगुत्तरीयामलकेशसंहतिः प्रवातरंभेव लतेव चंचलः पपात वै भैरवपादपंकजे
Your father, with his ornaments, garments, garlands, upper cloth, and matted hair cast aside, became unsteady like a creeper at the onset of a storm, and fell at Bhairava's lotus feet.
तावद्विधिं तात दिदृक्षुरच्युतः कृपालुरस्मत्पतिपादपल्लवम् निषिच्य बाष्पैरवदत्कृतांजलिर्यथा शिशुः स्वं पितरं कलाक्षरम्
Then, desiring to see the ordinance, the compassionate Acyuta placed the dust of our lord's lotus feet upon his head, and, with hands joined and tears streaming, spoke as a child to his father, uttering faltering words.
त्वया प्रयत्नेन पुरा हि दत्तं यदस्य पञ्चाननमीशचिह्नम् तस्मात्क्षमस्वाद्यमनुग्रहार्हं कुरु प्रसादं विधये ह्यमुष्मै
O Lord, what was once given by you with effort—the five-faced mark, the sign of sovereignty—because of that, forgive him; he is worthy of your grace. Show favor to him for the sake of the ordinance.
इत्यर्थितो ऽच्युतेनेशस्तुष्टः सुरगणांगणे निवर्तयामास तदा भैरवं ब्रह्मदंडतः
Thus entreated by Acyuta, the Lord, pleased, in the assembly of the gods, then withdrew Bhairava from the punishment of Brahmā.
अथाह देवः कितवं विधिं विगतकंधरम् ब्रह्मंस्त्वमर्हणाकांक्षी शठमीशत्वमास्थितः
Then the god spoke to the deceitful Vidhi, who was now without his head: 'O Brahmā, you who desire worship, you hypocrite, you have assumed the lordship.'
नातस्ते सत्कृतिर्लोके भूयात्स्थानोत्सवादिकम् स्वामिन्प्रसीदाद्य महाविभूते मन्ये वरं वरद मे शिरसः प्रमोक्षम्
May you never again receive honor in the world—no festivals or seats of respect. O Lord of great glory, be gracious now; I think the release of my head is the only boon I desire.
नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते बंधवे विश्वयोनये सहिष्णवे सर्वदोषाणां शंभवे शैलधन्वने
Salutations to you, O Blessed One, kinsman, source of the universe, patient bearer of all faults, Śambhu, wielder of the mountain bow.
अराजभयमेतद्वै जगत्सर्वं न शिष्यति ततस्त्वं जहि दंडार्हं वह लोकधुरं शिशो
Without a ruler, this entire world would not endure out of fear; therefore, punish the one deserving of chastisement, and bear the burden of the world, O child.
वरं ददामि ते तत्र गृहाण दुर्लभं परम् वैतानिकेषु गृह्येषु यज्ञे च भवान् गुरुः
I grant you a boon—accept this rare and supreme gift: in all Vaitānika and domestic sacrifices, you shall be the preceptor.