केवलं कर्मणा त्वं हि संसारात्तर्तुमिच्छसि॥ ५.
You wish to cross over worldly existence by action alone.
न वेदैश्च न दानैश्च न यज्ञैस्तपसा क्वचित् ५.
Not by the Vedas, nor by gifts, nor by sacrifices, nor by austerity at any time—
तस्माज्ज्ञानपरो भूत्वा कुरु कर्म्म समाहितः ५.
Therefore, being devoted to knowledge, perform action with concentration.
उपदिष्टस्तदा तेन शंभुना परमेष्ठिना ५.
Then, instructed by Śambhu, the supreme lord,
ब्रह्मणापि तथा सर्वे भृग्वाद्याश्च महर्षयः ५.
So too by Brahmā, and all the great sages beginning with Bhṛgu.
गतः पितामहो ब्रह्मा ततश्च सदनं स्वकम्॥ ५.
Then the grandsire Brahmā returned to his own abode.
दक्षोपि च स्वयं वाक्यात्परं बोधमुपागतः। शिवध्यानपरो भूत्वा तपस्तेपे महामनाः॥ ५.
Dakṣa himself, by those words, attained supreme understanding; devoted to meditation on Śiva, the great-minded one performed austerities.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन संक्षेव्यो भगवाञ्छिवः॥ ५.
Therefore, with all effort, the blessed Śiva should be worshipped.
संमार्जनं च कुर्वंति नरा ये च शिवांगणे ५.
Those men who sweep the courtyard of Śiva—
ये शिवस्य प्रयच्छति दर्प्पणं सुमहाप्रभम् ५.
Those who offer a brilliantly shining mirror to Śiva—
चामराणि प्रयच्छंति देवदेवस्य शूलिनः ५.
They offer fly-whisks to the god of gods, the wielder of the trident.
दीपदानं प्रयच्छंति महादेवालये नराः ५.
People present lamps in the great temple of Mahadeva.
धूपं ये वै प्रयच्छन्ति शिवाय परमात्मने ५.
Those who indeed offer incense to Shiva, the supreme soul,
नैवेद्यं ये प्रयच्छंति भकया हरिहराग्रतः ५.
Those who present food offerings before Hari and Hara with devotion,
भग्नं शिवालयं ये च प्रकुर्वंति नरोत्तमाः ५.
And those noble men who restore a broken temple of Shiva,
नूतनं ये प्रकृर्वंति इष्टकैरश्मनापि वा यशो भूमौ द्विजश्रेष्ठा कार्या विचारणा॥ ५.
Or those who build a new one with bricks or even with stone— their fame on earth, O best of twice-born, must be considered.
कारयंति च ये विप्राः प्रासादं बहुभूमिकम् ५.
And those Brahmins who cause to be built a temple with many stories,
शुद्धं धवलितं ये च कुर्वन्ति हरमंदिरम् ५.
And those who make the temple of Hara clean and shining white,
वितानं ये प्रयच्छति नराः सुकृतिनोपि हि ५.
Those virtuous men who offer a canopy,
ये च नादमयीं घंटां निबध्नंति शिवालये ५.
And those who fasten a bell made of metal in the temple of Shiva,
एककालं द्विकालं वा त्रिकालं चानुपश्यति ५.
Whoever observes (worship) once, twice, or three times a day,
श्रद्धावान्भजते यो वा शिवाय परमात्मने ५.
Or whoever, with faith, worships Shiva, the supreme soul,
अत्रैवोदाहरंतीम मितिहासं पुरातनम् ५.
Here, I will recount an ancient legend as an example.
पुरा कृतयुगे ह्यसीदिन्द्रसेनो नराधिपः ५.
Long ago, in the Krita age, there was a king named Indrasena.
अब्रह्मण्यः सदा क्रूरः केवलासुतृपः सदा ५.
He was always unfaithful to the Brahmins, always cruel, and ever greedy for others' wealth.
परस्त्रीलं पटोऽत्यंतं परद्रव्येषु लोलुपः ५.
He was excessively attached to others' wives and ever covetous of others' possessions.
गुरुलत्पगतोत्यर्थं सदा सौवर्णतस्करः ५.
He always stole gold, even from his own teacher, for the sake of wealth.
एवं बहुविधं राज्यं चकार स दुरात्मवान् ५.
Thus, that evil-minded one ruled his kingdom in many such ways.
तदा याम्यैश्च नीतोऽसाविंद्रसेनो दुरात्मवान् ५.
Then that wicked-minded Indrasena was led away by the servants of Yama.
यमेन दृष्टस्तत्रासाविंद्रसेनोग्रतः स्थितः ५.
There, Indrasena saw Yama standing before him.