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.
पाषंडवादसंयुक्ताः शिष्टऽऽचारबहिष्कृताः १.
You are associated with heretical doctrines, excluded from the conduct of the virtuous.
इति शप्तास्तदा तेन दक्षेण शिवकिंकराः १.
Thus, at that time, those attendants of Śiva were cursed by Dakṣa.
शप्ता वयं त्वया विप्र साधवः शिवकिंकराः १.
We, the virtuous attendants of Shiva, have been cursed by you, O Brahmin.
वेदवादरता यूयं नान्यदस्तीतिवादिनः १.
You are devoted to Vedic doctrine, asserting that nothing else exists.
वैदिकं च पुरस्कृत्य ब्राह्मणाः शूद्रयाजकाः १.
The Brahmins, upholding the Vedic tradition, will become priests for Shudras.
दक्ष केचिद्भविष्यन्ति ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्मराक्षसाः लोमश उवाच १.
O Daksha, some Brahmins will become Brahma-rakshasas—demonic spirits among Brahmins.
अथाकर्ण्येश्वरो वाक्यं नंदिनः प्रहसन्निव १.
Then, hearing Nandi's words, Ishvara smiled as if amused.
कोपं नार्हसि वै कर्तुं ब्राह्मणान्प्रति वै सदा १.
You should never be angry toward Brahmins.
वेदो मंत्रमयः साक्षात्तथा सूक्तमयो भृशम् १.
The Veda is, in truth, composed of mantras and rich in hymns.
तस्मान्नात्मविदो निन्द्या आत्मैवाहं न चेतरः १.
Therefore, those who know the Self are not to be condemned; I am the Self, not another.