एको नंदी महाकालो द्वावेतौ शिववल्लभौ ५.
One is Nandī, the other Mahākāla—these two are beloved of Śiva.
एकांगुलिं समुद्धृत्य महादेवोभ्यभाषत ५.
Raising one finger, Mahādeva spoke.
एवं संज्ञान्वितौ द्वारि तिष्ठतस्तौ महात्मनः ५.
Thus, these two, endowed with such recognition, stand at the door of the great soul.
शैलादेन पुरा प्रोक्तं शिवधर्ममनंतकम् ५.
Formerly, by Śailāda, the endless Dharma of Śiva was proclaimed.
ये पापिनोऽप्यधर्मिष्ठा अंधा मूकाश्च पंगवः ५.
Even those who are sinful, most unrighteous, blind, mute, and crippled,
यादृशास्तादृशाश्चान्ये शिवभक्तिपुरस्कृताः ५.
Others are just as they are, led by devotion to Shiva.
लिंगं सिकतामयं ये पूजयंति विपश्चितः ५.
Those wise ones who worship a sand-made linga,
लिंगे प्रतिष्ठा च कथं शिवं हित्वा प्रवर्तिता ६.
How did the establishment of the linga proceed, forsaking Shiva?
यदा दारुवने शंभुर्भिक्षार्थं प्राचरत्प्रभुः॥ ६.
When Shambhu, the Lord, wandered in the Daru forest seeking alms,
दिगंबरो मुक्तजटाकलापो वेदांतवेद्यो भुवनैकभर्ता ६.
Clad in the directions, with matted locks unbound, known through Vedanta, sole ruler of the worlds,
अणोरणीयान्महतो मही यान्महानुभावो भुवनाधिपो महान् ६.
Smaller than the smallest, greater than the great, of immense glory, the mighty lord of the worlds,
मध्याह्न ऋषयो विप्रास्तीर्थं जग्मुः स्वकाश्रमात् ६.
At midday, the sages and Brahmins went from their hermitage to the sacred place.
विलोकयंत्यः शंभुं तमाचख्युश्च परस्परम् ६.
Seeing Shambhu, they spoke of him among themselves.
अस्मै भिक्षां प्रयच्छामो वयं च सखिभिः सह ६.
Let us give him alms, together with our companions.
भिक्षान्नं विविधं श्लक्ष्णं सोपचारं च शक्तितः ६.
Various fine alms-food, with proper offerings, as much as possible,
काचित्प्रियतमं शंभुं बभाषे विस्मयान्विता ६.
One woman, filled with wonder, addressed her beloved Shambhu.
ऋषीणामाश्रमं शुद्धं किमर्थं नो निषीदसि ६.
Why do you sit in the pure hermitage of the sages?
ईश्वरोहं सुकेशांते पावनं प्राप्तवानिमम् ६.
I am the Lord, O beautiful-haired one, I have come to this holy place.
ईश्वरोऽसि महाभाग कैलासपतिरेव च ६.
You are the Lord, O greatly fortunate one, and the very master of Kailasa.
एवमुक्तस्तया शंभुः पुनस्तामब्रवीद्वचः ६.
Thus addressed by her, Shambhu again spoke these words to her.
भिक्षाटनार्थं सुश्रोणि संकल्परहितः सदा न रोचते विशालाक्षि सत्यं प्रतिवदामि ते॥ ६.
For the sake of begging alms, O lovely-hipped one, always free from resolve, it does not please me, O wide-eyed one; I speak the truth to you.
तस्योक्तं वचनं श्रुत्वा उवाच कमलेक्षणा ६.
Hearing his words, the lotus-eyed woman replied.
तास्स्त्रियो वर्जिताः शंभो त्वादृशेन विपश्चिता॥ ६.
Those women were abandoned by Śambhu, who is wise like you.
इति च प्रमदाः सर्वा मिलिता यत्र शंकरः ६.
And so, all the women gathered where Śaṃkara was.
अन्नैश्चतुर्विधैः षड्भी रसैश्च परिपूरितम् तदा सर्वा विप्रपत्न्यो ह्यन्गच्छन्मुदान्विताः॥ ६.
Filled with four kinds of food and six flavors, all the wives of the sages went there joyfully.
गृहकार्यं परित्यज्य चेरुस्तद्गतमानसाः ६.
Leaving aside their household duties, their minds absorbed in him, they wandered there.
यावदाश्रममभ्येत्य तावच्छून्यं व्यलोकयन् ६.
When they reached the hermitage, they saw it empty.
न विदामोऽथ वै सर्वाः केन नष्टेन चाहृताः ६.
Then all of them said, 'We do not know by whom or how we have been taken away.'
समपश्यंस्ततः सर्वे शिवस्यानुगताश्च ताः ६.
Then they all saw that those women had followed Śiva.
शिवस्याथाग्रतो भूत्वा ऊचुः सर्वे त्वरान्विताः परदारापहर्त्तासि त्वमृषीणां न संशयः॥ ६.
Standing before Śiva, they all spoke quickly: 'You are indeed the abductor of others' wives, O sage, there is no doubt.'