तेषां सदर्शनौत्सुक्यादागतो हि महातपाः १.
Out of eagerness to see them, the great ascetic came.
तत्रागतं ते ददृशुर्मुनयो दीर्घसत्रिणः १.
There, the sages performing long sacrifices saw him as he arrived.
दत्त्वार्घ्यपाद्यं सत्कृत्य मुनयो वीतकल्मषाः १.
Having offered arghya and water for the feet, honoring him, the sages—free from stain—
कथयस्व महाप्राज्ञ देवदेवस्य शूलिनः १.
Tell us, O greatly wise one, about the god of gods, the wielder of the trident.
संमार्जने किं फलं स्यात्तथा रंगावलीषु च १.
What is the fruit of sweeping, and likewise of decorating the arenas?
प्रदाने च वितानस्य तथा धारागृहस्य च १.
And of giving canopies, and likewise of constructing water-halls?
कानिकानि च पुण्यानि कथ्यतां शिवपूजने १.
Tell us what merits arise from the worship of Śiva.
शिवस्याग्रे प्रकुर्वंति कारयन्त्यथ वा नराः १.
Whatever acts people perform or cause to be performed before Śiva—
शिवाख्यानपरोलोके त्वत्तो नान्योऽस्ति वै मुने॥ १.
In the other world, there is no one but you, O sage, devoted to the narration of Śiva.
इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् १.
Hearing these words of the sages, whose minds were purified—
अष्टादशपुराणेषु गीयते वै परः शिवः १.
In the eighteen Purāṇas, the supreme Śiva is indeed sung.
शिवेति द्व्यक्षरं नाम व्याहरिइष्यंति ये जनाः १.
Those people who utter the two-syllabled name 'Śiva'—
उदारो हि महादेवो देवानां पतिरिश्वरः १.
For the great god is generous, the lord and ruler of the gods.
ते धन्यास्ते महात्मानो ये भजंति सदा शिवम्॥ १.
Blessed and great-souled are those who always worship Śiva.
विना सदाशिवं योहि संसारं तर्तुमिच्छति १.
Whoever wishes to cross over worldly existence without Sadāśiva—
भक्षितं हि गरं येन दक्षयज्ञो विनाशितः १.
It is he who consumed poison and destroyed Dakṣa’s sacrifice.
यथा गरं भक्षितं च यथा यज्ञो विनाशितः १.
Just as the poison was swallowed, and just as the sacrifice was destroyed—
दाक्षायणी पुरा दत्ता शंकराय महात्मने १.
Long ago, Dākṣāyaṇī was given to Śaṅkara, the great-souled one.
एकदा हि स दक्षो वै नैमिषारण्यमागतः १.
Once, that Dakṣa indeed came to Naimiṣāraṇya.
स्तुतिभिः प्रणिपातैश्च तथा सर्वैः सुरासुरैः चकारास्य ततः क्रुद्धो दक्षो वचनब्रवीत्॥ १.
With praises and prostrations, all the gods and demons honored him; then, angered, Dakṣa spoke these words.
सर्वत्र सर्वे हि सुरासुरा भृशं नमंति मां विप्रवराः समुत्सुकाः श्मशानवासी निरपत्रपो ह्ययं कथं प्रणामं न करोति मेऽधुना॥ १.
Everywhere, all gods and demons, and eager best of Brāhmaṇas, bow deeply to me; but this shameless dweller in cremation grounds does not bow to me now—how is this?
पाखंडिनो दुर्जनाः पापशीला विप्रं दृष्ट्वा चोद्धता उन्मदाश्च १.
Hypocrites, wicked men, those of sinful conduct, when they see a Brāhmaṇa, become arrogant and mad.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा स महातपास्तदा रुषान्वितो रुद्रमिदं बभाषे॥ १.
Thus having spoken, that great ascetic, filled with anger, addressed Rudra as follows:
श्रृण्वंत्वमी विप्रतमा इदानीं वचो हि मे कर्तुमिहार्हथैतत् १.
Let these foremost Brāhmaṇas now hear my words; you must do this here.
नंदी निशम्य तद्वाक्यं शैलादो हि रुषान्वितः १.
Nandī, son of Śailāda, hearing those words, was filled with anger.
यज्ञबाह्यो हि मे स्वामी महेशोऽयं कृतः कथम् १.
How has my lord, Maheśa, been made an outcaste from the sacrifice?
यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव तीर्थानि विविधानि च १.
Sacrifice, charity, austerity, and the various sacred places—
वृथा ते ब्रह्मचापल्याच्छप्तोऽयं दक्ष दुर्मते शप्तोऽयं स कथं पाप रुद्रोऽयं ब्राह्मणाधम॥ १.
In vain, through your Brāhmaṇa arrogance, you have cursed this Rudra, O evil-minded Dakṣa; how has this Rudra, the lowest of Brāhmaṇas, been cursed as sinful?
एवं निर्भार्त्सितस्तेन नंदिना हि प्रजापतिः १.
Thus, rebuked by Nandī, Prajāpati Dakṣa—
यूयं सर्वे रुद्रवरा वेदबाह्याश्च वै भृशम् १.
All of you, followers of Rudra, are indeed greatly outside the Vedas.