यद्भासा भासते विश्वं स एकस्त्र्यंबकः परः
By whose light the universe shines—he alone is the transcendent Three-eyed One.
तमाहुरेकं कैवल्यं शंकरं दुःखतस्करम्
Him they call the One, the Absolute, Śaṅkara, the remover of sorrow.
श्रुतीरितं निशम्येत्थं तावतीव विमोहितौ
Hearing this declaration of the Vedas, both became greatly bewildered.
कथं प्रमथनाथोसौ रममाणो निरंतरम्
How does that Lord of the Pramathas, ever delighting,
विटंकवेशो जटिलो वृषगोव्यालभूषणः 4.1.31.
Assume the guise of a mendicant, matted-haired, adorned with bull, cow, and serpent?
तदुदीरितमाकर्ण्य प्रणवात्मा सनातनः
Hearing this statement, the eternal one, whose essence is Praṇava,
प्रणव उवाच कदाचिद्रमते रुद्रो लीलारूपधरो हरः
Praṇava said: Sometimes Rudra, taking on a playful form, delights.
असौ हि भगवानीशः स्वयंज्योतिः सनातनः
That blessed Lord, the self-luminous, eternal ruler, is indeed he.
इत्येवमुक्तेपि तदा मखमूर्तेरजस्य हि
Even when this was spoken, then, from the sacrificial form of Brahmā,
प्रादुरासीत्ततो ज्योतिरुभयोरंतरे महत्
There appeared, between the two, a great light.
ज्योतिर्मंडलमध्यस्थो ददृशे पुरुषाकृतिः
In the center of the circle of light, a figure in human form was seen.
आवयोरंतरं कोसौ बिभृयात्पुरुषाकृतिम्
Who is this, in human form, standing between us?
स्रष्टा क्षणेन च महान्पुरुषो नीललोहितः
In a moment, the great Person, blue and red in hue, was created.
हिरण्यगर्भस्तं प्राह जाने त्वां चंद्रशेखरम्
Hiraṇyagarbha said to him, 'I know you, O wearer of the crescent moon.'
रोदनाद्रुद्रनामापि योजितोसि मया पुरा 4.1.31.
Because of your weeping, I formerly gave you the name Rudra.
अथेश्वरः पद्मयोनेः श्रुत्वा गर्ववतीं गिरम्
Then the Lord, hearing the proud words of the lotus-born one,
प्राह पंकजजन्मासौ शास्यस्ते कालभैरव
said, 'This one born from the lotus will be instructed by you, Kālabhairava.'
विश्वं भर्तुं समर्थोऽसि भरणाद्भैरवः स्मृतः
You are able to sustain the universe; therefore you are called Bhairava, the Sustainer.
आमर्दयिष्यति भवांस्तुष्टो दुष्टात्मनो यतः
Because you will crush the wicked when pleased,
यतः पापानि भक्तानां भक्षयिष्यति तत्क्षणात्
and because you will instantly devour the sins of devotees,
या मे मुक्तिपुरी काशी सर्वाभ्योपि गरीयसी
My city of liberation, Kāśī, is greater than all others.
तत्र ये पापकर्तारस्तेषां शास्ता त्वमेव हि
There, you alone are the chastiser of those who commit sins.
एतान्वरान्प्रगृह्याऽथ तत्क्षणात्कालभैरवः
Then Kālabhairava, having accepted these boons, at that very moment—
यदंगमपराध्नोति कार्यं तस्यैव शासनम्
Whenever someone commits a transgression, his punishment is to be carried out by you.
यज्ञमूर्तिधरो विष्णुस्ततस्तुष्टाव शंकरम् 4.1.31.
Then Viṣṇu, bearer of the form of sacrifice, praised Śaṅkara.
आश्वास्य तौ महादेवः प्रीतः प्रणतवत्सलः
The great god, pleased and affectionate to those who bow, comforted them both.
मान्योऽध्वरोसौ भवता तथा शतधृतिस्त्वयम्
This one is worthy of worship as the lord of sacrifice by you, and this is Śatadhṛti.
ब्रह्महत्यापनोदाय व्रतं लोकाय दर्शयन् इत्युक्त्वांऽतर्हितो देवस्तेजोरूपस्तदा शिवः
To remove the sin of Brahmin-killing, he showed a vow to the world; having said this, the god, Śiva, then vanished in a form of light.
उत्पाद्य कन्यामेकां तु ब्रह्महत्येति विश्रुताम्
He produced a maiden, known as Brahmahatyā.
दंष्टाकरालवदनां ललज्जिह्वातिभीषणाम्
Her face was terrifying with protruding fangs and a lolling tongue.