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.
दूतान्संभर्त्सयामास यमो धर्मभृतां वरः ५.
Yama, the foremost among upholders of Dharma, rebuked his messengers.
गच्छ पुण्यतमाँल्लोकान्भुंक्ष्व राजन्यसत्तम ५.
Go to the most virtuous worlds and enjoy them, O best among kings.
पंचभूतानि यावच्च तावत्त्वं च सुखी भव ५.
As long as the five elements endure, so long may you be happy.
यमस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा इंद्रसेनोभ्यभाषत ५.
Hearing Yama's words, Indrasena replied.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य यमो भाष्यमभाषत ५.
Hearing his words, Yama spoke again.
तेन कर्मविपाकेन सदा पूतोसि मानद ५.
Because of the result of your actions, O giver of honor, you are always purified.
एवं संभाषमाणस्य यमस्य च महात्मनः ५.
While the great-souled Yama was thus conversing,
नीलकंठा दशभुजाः पंचवक्त्रास्त्रिलोचनाः ५.
Ten-armed, five-faced, three-eyed blue-throated beings appeared.
तान्दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय यमो धर्मभृतां वरः ५.
Seeing them, Yama, the foremost among upholders of Dharma, quickly rose.
त्वरीरेनैव ते सर्वे ऊचुर्वैवस्वतं यमम् नाम्नाः प्रवर्त्तको नित्यं रुद्रस्य च महात्मनः॥ ५.
With haste, all of them addressed Vaivasvata Yama: 'He is always the initiator by name of the great-souled Rudra.'
श्रुत्वा च वचनं तेषां यमेन च पुरस्कृतः ५.
Hearing their words and being honored by Yama,
आनीतोयं तदा तैश्च पार्षदप्रवरोत्तमैः ५.
He was then brought by those excellent attendants.
अभ्युत्थायागतो रुद्रः परिष्वज्य तदा नृपम् ५.
Rudra arrived, rose up, and embraced the king.
किं दातव्यं नृपश्रेष्ठ प्रयच्छामि तवेप्सितम् आनंदाश्रुकणान्मुंचन्प्रेम्णा नोवाच किंचन॥ ५.
What shall I give you, O best of kings? I will grant what you desire. Shedding tears of joy and love, he said nothing.
तदा कृतो महेशेन पार्षदो हि महात्मना ५.
Then, by the great-souled Maheshvara, he was made an attendant.
नामोच्चारणमात्रेण रुद्रस्य परमात्मनः ५.
By merely uttering the name of Rudra, the Supreme Self,
रहेहरेति वै नाम्ना शंभोश्चक्रधरस्य च ५.
By the names 'Rahu' and 'Hara', indeed, are meant Śambhu and the bearer of the discus.
महेशान्नापरो देवो दृश्यतेभुवनत्रये ५.
No other god than Maheśa is seen in the three worlds.
पत्रैःपुष्पैः फलैर्वापि जलैर्वा विमलैः सदा ५.
With leaves, flowers, fruits, or even with pure waters, always—
करवीराद्दशगुणमर्कपुष्पं विशिष्यते ५.
Among flowers, the oleander surpasses the marigold tenfold.