विष्णौ गते तदा सर्वे देवाश्च ऋषिभिः सह ५.
When Viṣṇu departed, then all the gods together with the sages—
भृगुं च पातयामास स्मश्रूणां लुंचनं कृतम् ५.
Caused Bhṛgu to fall, having plucked out his beard.
विडंबिता स्वधा तत्र ऋषयश्च विडंबिताः ५.
There, Svadhā was mocked, and the sages too were ridiculed.
अनिर्वाच्यं तदा चक्रुर्गणाः क्रोधसमन्विताः ५.
Then the hosts, filled with anger, performed something indescribable.
तं निलीनं समाज्ञाय आनिनायरुषान्वितः ५.
Knowing that he was hidden, they brought him forth, filled with wrath.
अभेद्यं तच्छिरो मत्वा वीरभद्रः प्रतापवान् ५.
Vīrabhadra, powerful in glory, deemed that head to be invulnerable.
गंधरात्पाट्यमानाच्च शिरश्छिन्नं दुरात्मनः तच्छिरः सुहुतं कुंडे ज्वलिxxxxxxx॥ ५.
And as the Gandharas sang, the head of the wicked one was severed; that head was well-offered into the blazing fire-pit.
ये चान्य ऋषयो देवाः पितरो यक्षराक्षसाः ५.
And all the other sages, gods, ancestors, yakṣas, and rākṣasas—
चंद्रादित्यगणाः सर्वे ग्रहनक्षत्रतारकाः ५.
All the hosts of the moon and sun, the planets, stars, and constellations—
सत्यलोकं गतो ब्रह्मा पुत्रशोकेन पीडितः ५.
Brahmā, afflicted by grief for his son, went to the world of truth.
मनसा दूयमानेन शंन लेभे पितामहः ५.
With his mind tormented, the Grandfather found no peace.
गमनाय मतिं चक्रे कैलासं पर्वतं प्रति ५.
He resolved to go to Mount Kailāsa.
प्रविष्टः पर्वतश्रेष्ठं स ददर्श सदाशिवम् ५.
Entering that supreme mountain, he beheld Sadāśiva.
कपर्द्दिनं श्रिया युक्तं वेदांगानां च दुर्गमम् ५.
He saw the matted-haired one, endowed with splendor, inaccessible even to the limbs of the Vedas.
दंडवत्पतितो भूमौक्षमापयितुमुद्यतः स्तुतिं कर्तुं समारेभे शिवस्य परमात्मनः॥ ५.
Having fallen to the ground in prostration, he rose to seek forgiveness and began to recite praises to Shiva, the Supreme Soul.
नमो रुद्राय शांताय ब्रह्मणे परमात्मने ५.
Salutations to Rudra, the peaceful one, the Brahman, the Supreme Soul.
नमो रुद्राय महते नीलकंठाय वेधसे ५.
Salutations to Rudra, the great one, the blue-throated creator.
ओंकारस्त्वं वषट्कारः सर्वारंभप्रवर्तकः ५.
You are the syllable Om, the utterance Vaṣaṭ, the initiator of all undertakings.
सर्वेषां यज्ञकर्तॄणां त्वमेव प्रतिपालकः रक्ष रक्ष महादेव पुत्रशोकेन पीडितम्॥ ५.
You alone are the protector of all those who perform sacrifices; protect, protect, O Mahadeva, one afflicted by grief for his son.
श्रृणुष्वावहितो भूत्वा मम वाक्यं पितामह ५.
Listen attentively, O Pitamaha, to my words.
स्वीयेन कर्मणा दक्षो हतो ब्रह्मन्न संशयः॥ ५.
Daksha was slain by his own action, O Brahman, there is no doubt.
परेषां क्लेशदं कर्म न कार्यं तत्कदाचन ५.
One should never perform actions that bring suffering to others.
एवमुक्त्वा तदा रुद्रो ब्रह्मणा सहितः सुरैः ५.
Having spoken thus, Rudra, together with Brahma and the gods, at that time—
रुद्रस्तदा ददर्शाय वीरभद्रेण यत्कृतम् ५.
Rudra then saw what had been done by Virabhadra.
तदान्य ऋषयः सर्वे पितरश्च तथाविधाः ५.
Then all the other sages and the fathers likewise—
त्रोटिता लुंचिताश्चैव मृताः केचिद्रणाजिरे॥ ५.
Were wounded, shorn, and some lay dead on the battlefield.
शंभुं समागतं दृष्ट्वा वीरभद्रो गणैः सह ५.
Seeing Shambhu arrive, Virabhadra, together with the hosts, approached.
दृष्ट्वा पुरः स्थितं रुद्रो वीरभद्रं महाबलम् ५.
Seeing Virabhadra, of great strength, standing before him, Rudra—
दक्षमानय शीघ्रं भो येनेदं कृतमीदृशम् ५.
Bring Daksha here quickly, O you by whom this has been done.
एवमुक्तः शंकरेण वीरभद्रस्त्वरान्वितः ५.
Thus addressed by Shankara, Virabhadra, filled with urgency—