भोग्यात्मना परिणता विद्यावेद्या यतो मयि साम चाह सुषुप्त्याख्यमेवं सर्वं मयोच्यते
Knowledge, which is to be experienced, is transformed in me as the object of knowledge; the Sama Veda speaks of this as the state called deep sleep, thus all is declared by me.
ममार्थेन शिवेनेदं तामसेनाभिधीयते अथर्वाह तुरायाख्यं तुरीयातीतमेव च
By my meaning, O Shiva, this is called tamasic; the Atharva Veda speaks of the state called 'the fourth' and also that which is beyond the fourth.
मयाभिधीयते तस्मादध्वातीतपदोस्म्यहम् अध्वात्मकं तु त्रितयं शिवविद्यात्मसंज्ञितम्
It is declared by me; therefore, I am called the one beyond the path. But the threefold path, consisting of the path itself, is known as the knowledge of Shiva, the Self.
तत्त्रैगुण्यं त्रयीसाध्यं संशोध्यं च पदैषिणा अध्वातीतं तुरीयाख्यं निर्वाणं परमं पदम्
That threefold nature, accomplished by the three Vedas, must be purified by the seeker of the state; the state beyond the path, called the fourth, is liberation, the supreme state.
तदतीतं च नैर्गुण्यादध्वनोस्य विशोधकम् द्वयोः प्रमापको नादो नदांतश्च मदात्मकः
That which is beyond is due to absence of qualities, the purifier of this path; the sound, which is the measure of the two, and the end of sounds, is of my own nature.
तस्मान्ममार्थस्वातंत्र्यात्प्रधानः परमेश्वरः यदस्ति वस्तु तत्सर्वं गुणप्रधान्ययोगतः
Therefore, by the freedom of my own meaning, the Supreme Lord is foremost; whatever thing exists, all that is due to the predominance of qualities.
समस्तं व्यस्तमपि च प्रणवार्थं प्रचक्षते सवार्थवाचकं तस्मादेकं ब्रह्मैतदक्षरम्
Both the collective and the particular are explained as the meaning of the syllable Om; therefore, this single imperishable syllable is Brahman, the signifier of all meanings.
तेनोमिति जगत्कृत्स्नं कुरुते प्रथमं शिवः शिवो हि प्रणवो ह्येष प्रणवो हि शिवः स्मृतः
By that Om, Shiva first creates the entire world; for Shiva is indeed Om, and Om is remembered as Shiva.
वाच्यवाचकयोर्भेदो नात्यंतं विद्यते यतः चिंतया रहितो रुद्रो वाचोयन्मनसा सह
There is no absolute difference between the signifier and the signified, because Rudra is beyond thought, and speech together with mind is his vehicle.
अप्राप्य तन्निवर्तंते वाच्यस्त्वेकाक्षरेण सः एकाक्षरादकाराख्यादात्मा ब्रह्माभिधीयते
Not attaining that, they turn back; but the signified is expressed by the single syllable. From the single syllable called 'A', the Self is named Brahman.
एकाक्षरादुकाराख्याद्द्विधा विष्णुरुदीर्यते एकाक्षरान्मकाराख्याच्छिवो रुद्र उदाहृतः
From the single syllable called 'U', Vishnu is spoken of in two forms; from the single syllable called 'M', Shiva, Rudra, is declared.
दक्षिणांगान्महेशस्य जातो ब्रह्मात्मसंज्ञिकः वामांगादभवद्विष्णुस्ततो विद्येति संज्ञितः
From the right side of the Great Lord arose Brahma, known as the Self; from the left side arose Vishnu, therefore called Knowledge.
हृदयान्नीलरुद्रो भूच्छिवस्य शिवसंज्ञिकः सृष्टेः प्रवर्तको ब्रह्मा स्थितेर्विष्णुर्विमोहकः
From the heart arose Nīlarudra, called Shiva, who initiates creation as Brahma, sustains as Vishnu, and deludes.
संहारस्य तथा रुद्रस्तयोर्नित्यं नियामकः
Rudra is likewise the agent of dissolution, and always the regulator of both.
तस्मात्त्रयस्ते कथ्यंते जगतः कारणानि च कारणत्रयहेतुश्च शिवः परमकारणम्
Therefore, these three are said to be the causes of the world, and Shiva is the supreme cause, the source of the three causes.
अर्थमेतमविज्ञाय रजसा बद्धवैरयोः युवयोः प्रतिबोधाय मध्ये लिंगमुपस्थितम्
Not understanding this meaning, bound by passion and enmity, the sign of the liṅga was established between you two for your awakening.
एवमोमिति मां प्राहुर्यदिहोक्तमथर्वणा ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि शाखाश्चान्याः सहस्रशः
Thus, they call me by this name, as stated here by the Atharvans: the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma verses, and countless other branches.
वेदेष्वेवं स्वयं वक्त्रैर्व्यक्तमित्यवदत्स्वपि स्वप्नानुभूतमिव तत्ताभ्यां नाध्यवसीयते
In the Vedas, spoken directly by their own mouths, it is declared clearly; yet even so, as if experienced in a dream, it is not fully grasped by them.
तयोस्तत्र प्रबोधाय तमोपनयनाय च लिंगेपि मुद्रितं सर्वं यथा वेदैरुदाहृतम्
For their awakening and removal of darkness, everything is sealed within the Liṅga, just as it is cited in the Vedas.
तद्दृष्ट्वा मुद्रितं लिंगे प्रसादाल्लिंगिनस्तदा प्रशांतमनसौ देवौ प्रबुद्धौ संबभूवतुः
Seeing all sealed in the Liṅga, by its grace, those two deities, their minds calmed, became awakened.
उत्पत्तिं विलयं चैव यथात्म्यं च षडध्वनाम् ततः परतरं धाम धामवंतं च पूरुषम्
The origin and dissolution, the true nature of the six paths, and then the supreme abode, the abode-bearing Person.
निरुत्तरतरं ब्रह्म निष्कलं शिवमीश्वरम् पशुपाशमयस्यास्य प्रपञ्चस्य सदा पतिम्
The most transcendent Brahman, the partless, Shiva, the Lord, the eternal master of this world made of bound souls and bonds.
अकुतोभयमत्यंतमवृद्धिक्षयमव्ययम् वाह्यमाभ्यंतरं व्याप्तं वाह्याभ्यंतरवर्जितम्
Absolutely fearless, without increase or decrease, imperishable, pervading both outside and inside, yet free from both.
निरस्तातिशयं शश्वद्विश्वलोकविलक्षणम् अलक्षणमनिर्देश्यमवाङ्मनसगोचरम्
Free from all excess, eternally distinct from all worlds, without mark, indescribable, beyond the reach of speech and mind.
प्रकाशैकरसं शांतं प्रसन्नं सततोदितम् सर्वकल्याणनिलयं शक्त्या तादृशयान्वितम्
Of a single essence of light, peaceful, serene, ever-radiant, the abode of all auspiciousness, endowed with such power.
ज्ञात्वा देवं विरूपाक्षं ब्रह्मनारायणौ तदा रचयित्वांजलिं मूर्ध्नि भीतौ तौ वाचमूचतुः
Knowing the god Virūpākṣa, Brahma and Nārāyaṇa then, with hands joined in reverence upon their heads, fearful, spoke these words.
अज्ञो वाहमभिज्ञो वा त्वयादौ देव निर्मितः ईदृशीं भ्रांतिमापन्न इति को ऽत्रापराध्यति
Whether ignorant or knowledgeable, I was created by you, O God, at the beginning; having fallen into such confusion, who here is at fault?
आस्तां ममेदमज्ञानं त्वयि सन्निहते प्रभो निर्भयः को ऽभिभाषेत कृत्यं स्वस्य परस्य वा
Let my ignorance remain, O Lord, with you present; who, without fear, would speak of his own or another's duty?
आवयोर्देवदेवस्य विवादो ऽपि हि शोभनः पादप्रणामफलदो नाथस्य भवतो यतः
Even the dispute between us, O God of gods, is auspicious, for bowing at your feet yields fruit, O Master.
स्तोतुं देव न वागस्ति महिम्नः सदृशी तव प्रभोरग्रे विधेयानां तूष्णींभावो व्यतिक्रमः
To praise you, O Lord, words are lacking, none are worthy of your greatness; before you, silence among the devoted is not a transgression.