ततोऽन्ये पुरुषाः पञ्च समायाता नियुध्य माम्
After that, five other men arrived and began to fight with me.
एवं तैः पीडितोऽत्यर्थं पुनर्मोहमुपागतः
Thus, tormented excessively by them, I again fell into delusion.
दृढो भव महाराज मा विषादं कुरु प्रभो
Be steadfast, O great king; do not give in to despair, O lord.
तस्या वाक्येन विप्रेंद्र मया धैर्येण संयुगे
By his words, O best of Brahmins, I maintained courage in the battle.
प्रलीना मच्छरीरे तु केप्यते कापि साऽबला
But then, some powerless woman vanished into my body.
ये त्वया पुरुषा दृष्टास्त्वयि लीना जिता मृधे भ्रमन्ती या च नारी सा त्वया दृष्टा नृपोत्तम
The men you saw, who merged into you and were conquered in battle, and the woman who wandered about—these you beheld, O best of kings.
मनोरूपेण सा बुद्धिर्भ्रमत्येव हि न स्थिरा
That wandering intellect, taking the form of desire, is never steady.
सोऽपि क्रोधवशं नीत इन्द्रियैर्विषयैः प्रियैः
He too was led into anger by the senses, drawn to their pleasing objects.
महादेवो जगन्नाथः सृष्टिसंहारकारकः 5.2.64.
Great Mahadeva, Lord of the universe, is the cause of creation and dissolution.
सुरा विभूतयो यस्य क्रीडार्थं भुवनत्रयम्
The gods and all powers exist for his sport, and the three worlds as well.
पूष्णश्च दंताः संभग्ना मोहितश्च दिवाकरः
Even Pūṣan's teeth were broken, and the sun himself was bewildered.
पशवश्च कृता देवा मुनयो वेदवर्जिताः
Beasts were made into gods, and sages were deprived of the Vedas.
दुर्जयानीन्द्रियाण्याहुर्मुनयो वेदपारगाः
Sages accomplished in the Vedas say that the senses are hard to conquer.
तस्माद्राजन्महाबाहो मा विषादं वृथा कृथाः पशुपालो महादेवि वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे
Therefore, O king of mighty arms, do not fall into useless despair; the great Lord of creatures began to speak.
पशुभावाच्च ब्रह्मापि श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथ्यताम्
Even Brahmā, due to his animal nature—this I wish to hear, let it be told.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नारदः पुनरब्रवीत्
Hearing these words, Nārada spoke again.
ब्रह्माणमग्रतः कृत्वा गताः शरणमीश्वरम्
Having placed Brahmā at their head, they went to seek refuge with the Lord.
उवाच वचनं राजन्यत्कर्तव्यं तदुच्यताम्
He spoke these words: 'O kings, tell me what is to be done.'
देवा ऊचुः देवस्त्वं पूर्ववद्देव यदि तुष्टो महेश्वरः ।।5.2.64.
The gods said: 'O god, as before, if the great Lord Maheśvara is pleased—'
महाकालवने क्षेत्रे पशुभावविमोक्षके
In the sacred field of Mahākālavana, which grants release from the state of bondage—
अहं पतिर्वो भविता ततो मोक्षमवाप्स्यथ लिंगरूपी भविष्यामि नाम्ना पशुपतीश्वरः
'I shall become your Lord; then you will attain liberation. I will take the form of a liṅga, known as Paśupatīśvara.'
अथ ते त्रिदशाः सर्वे दृष्ट्वा देवं तमीश्वरम् ब्रह्मा पशुपतिं प्राह प्रसन्नेनांतरात्मना
Then all the gods, seeing that Lord, the Supreme Ruler, Brahmā addressed Paśupati with a heart full of joy.
ये त्वां पश्यन्ति देवेश भक्त्या परमया युताः स्वकैः कर्मविपाकैश्च तेषां मोक्षो भविष्यति
'O Lord of gods, those who see you with supreme devotion, and through the results of their own actions, for them there will be liberation.'
अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतो वापि यत्पापं क्रियते नरैः
'Whether out of ignorance or knowledge, whatever sin is committed by men—'
ते नराः पशवो लोके किं तेषां जीविते फलम्
'Those men are like cattle in the world; what fruit is there in their lives?'
कौमारे यौवने बाल्ये वार्द्धके यदुपार्जितम्
'Whatever is acquired in childhood, youth, adolescence, or old age—'
पौषमासे तु संप्राप्ते ये त्वां पश्यंति मानवाः
'But when the month of Pauṣa arrives, those men who see you—'
सूर्यग्रहे यथा दत्तं कुरुक्षेत्रे विशेषतः
'Whatever is given during a solar eclipse, especially at Kurukṣetra—'
पौषमासे दिनैकेन नराणामधिकं तथा 5.2.64.
'In the month of Pauṣa, in a single day, men obtain even more.'
इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मलोकं गतो नृप
Having spoken thus, the blessed Brahmā returned to Brahmaloka, O King.