एवं क्षिप्तः शिवो मौनी गच्छमानोऽपि पर्वतम् यस्मात्कलत्रहर्ता त्वं तस्मात्षंढो भव त्वरम्॥ ६.
Thus rebuked, Śiva remained silent and, even as he was going to the mountain, they said, 'Because you are a stealer of wives, therefore become impotent at once!'
एवं शप्तः स मुनिभिर्लिंगं तस्यापतद्भुवि ६.
Thus cursed by the sages, his liṅga fell to the ground.
आवृत्य सप्त पातालान्क्षणाल्लिंगमदोर्ध्वतः ६.
In an instant, the liṅga, rising upward, covered the seven netherworlds.
स्वर्गाः समावृताः सर्वे स्वर्गातीतमथाभवत् ६.
All the heavens were enveloped, and it surpassed even heaven.
न च वायुर्न वाकाशं नाहंकारो न वा महत् ६.
There was no wind, no space, no ego, nor the great principle.
नासीद्द्ववैतविभागं च सर्वं लीनं च तत्क्षणात् ६.
There was no duality or distinction; everything was dissolved in that instant.
लयनाल्लिंगमित्येवं प्रवदंति मनीषिणः ६.
Because of this dissolution, the wise call it the liṅga.
ब्रह्मेंद्रविष्णुवाय्यग्निलोकपालाः सपन्नगाः ६.
Brahmā, Indra, Viṣṇu, Vāyu, Agni, the guardians of the worlds, and the serpents,
किमायामं च विस्तारं क्व चांतः क्व च पीठिका ६.
What is its length, what is its breadth, where is its end, and where is its base?
अस्य मूलं त्वया विष्णो पद्मोद्भव च मस्तकम् ६.
O Viṣṇu, you are to find its base, and O Padma-born, you are to find its summit.
श्रुत्वा तु तौ महाभागौ वैकुंठकमलोद्भवौ ६.
Hearing this, those two illustrious ones, the Lotus-born and the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha,
स्वर्गं गतस्तदा ब्रह्मा अवलोकनतत्परः ६.
At that time, Brahmā went to heaven, intent on observing.
तथा गतेन मार्गेण प्रत्यावृत्त्याब्जसंभवः ६.
Then, having gone by that path, the Lotus-born returned the same way.
स्थिता या केतकीच्छायामुवाच मधुरं वचः उवाच प्रहसन्वाक्यं छलोक्त्या सुरभिं प्रति॥ ६.
Standing in the shade of the ketakī tree, he spoke sweet words, and, smiling, addressed Surabhi with a deceptive statement.
लिंगं महाद्भुतं दृष्टं येनव्याप्तं जगत्त्रयम् ६.
I saw the wondrous liṅga by which the three worlds are pervaded.
न दृष्टं मस्तकं तस्य व्यापकस्य महात्मनः ६.
But I did not see the head of that all-pervading, great-souled one.
लिंगस्य मस्तकं दृष्टं देवानां च मृषा वदेः ६.
If you say to the gods that you have seen the head of the liṅga, it is false.
ते संति साक्षिमो देवा अस्मिन्नर्थे वदत्वरम् ६.
Let those gods who are witnesses in this matter speak quickly.
तद्वचः शिरसा गृह्य ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः ६.
Accepting those words with his head, of Brahmā, the supreme lord,
एवं समागतो ब्रह्म देवाग्रे समुवाच ह॥ ६.
Thus, having come together, Brahmā spoke before the assembly of gods.
लिंगस्य मस्तकं देवा दृष्टवानहमद्भुतम् ६.
O gods, I have seen the wondrous head of the liṅga.
विशालं विमलं श्लक्ष्णं प्रसन्नतरमद्भुतम् ६.
It was vast, spotless, smooth, and exceedingly marvelous.
एतादृशं मया दृष्टं न दृष्टं तद्विनाक्वचित् ६.
Such a thing I have seen; apart from that, I have seen nothing like it anywhere.
एवं विस्मयपूर्णास्ते इंद्राद्या देवतागणाः ६.
Thus, filled with astonishment, those hosts of gods led by Indra,
पातालादागतः सद्यः सर्वेषामवदत्त्वरम् ६.
Suddenly, one who had come from the netherworld spoke before them all.
विस्मयो मे महाञ्जातः पातालात्परतश्चरन् ६.
Great wonder arose in me as I wandered beyond the netherworld.
तथा गतस्तलं चैव पातालं च तथातलम् ६.
Thus, I went to the earth, to the netherworld, and to the lower regions as well.
शून्यादपि च शून्यं च तत्सर्वं सुनिरीक्षितम् ६.
Even the void beyond the void—all that was thoroughly observed by me.
लिंगरूपी महादेवो येनेदं धार्यते जगत् ६.
Mahadeva, in the form of the linga, by whom this universe is sustained.
श्रुत्वा सुराश्च ऋषयस्तस्य वाक्यमपूजयन् ६.
Hearing his words, the gods and sages honored him.