लिंगेशैश्च तथा सर्वैः पूर्णमासीज्जगत्त्रयम् ७.३६ तत्र विंशतिसंस्कारास्तेषामष्टाधिकाभवन् ७.
By all these linga-lords, the three worlds became complete; there, their consecrations numbered twenty-eight.
संति रुद्रेण कथिताः शिवधर्मा सनातनाः ७.
There are eternal Śiva-dharmas, declared by Rudra.
गुरोर्जाताश्च गुरवो विख्याता भुवनत्रये ७.
And the teachers born from the Teacher became renowned throughout the three worlds.
तथा स्कन्दो हि भगवान्न्ये ते नामधारकाः ७.
In the same way, Skanda himself, O Blessed One, and others are bearers of those names.
शैलादेन महाभागा विचित्रा लिंगधारकाः ७.
By Śailāda, the highly fortunate ones, various and bearers of the liṅga, were produced.
लिंगेन सह पञ्चत्वं लिंगेन सह जीवितम् ७.
With the liṅga comes dissolution; with the liṅga comes life.
धर्मः पाशुपतः श्रेष्ठः स्कन्देन प्रतिपालितः॥ ७.
The supreme Pāśupata Dharma is protected by Skanda.
शुद्धापञ्चाक्षरीविद्याप्रासादी तदनन्तरम् ७.
Then, the pure five-syllabled mantra became manifest.
स्कन्दात्तत्समनुप्राप्तमगस्त्येन महात्मना ७.
That was received from Skanda by the great-souled Agastya.
किं तु वै बहुनोक्तेन श्वि इत्यक्षरद्वयम् ७.
But what is the use of saying much? The two syllables 'śvi'—
सतां मार्गं पुरस्कृत्य ये सर्वे ते पुरांतकाः ७.
All those who, following the path of the virtuous, became destroyers of cities.
प्रसंगेनानुपंक्षेण श्रद्वया च यदृच्छया ७.
By association, without hindrance, and by chance, through both kinds of faith—
श्रृणुध्वं कथयामीह इतिहासं पुरातनम् ७.
Listen, I shall now recount an ancient legend.
आगता भक्षणार्थं हि नैवेद्यं केन चार्पितम् ७.
They came for the sake of eating, to whom the offering had been presented.
तेन कर्मविपाकेन उत्तमं स्वर्गमागता ७.
By the result of that action, they attained the highest heaven.
काशिराजसुता जाता सुन्दरीनाम विश्रुता ७.
A daughter was born to the king of Kāśī, famed by the name Sundarī.
उषस्युषसि तन्वंगी शिवद्वाररता सदा ७.
At dawn, the slender maiden was always devoted at the door of Śiva.
स्वयमेव तदा देवी सुन्दरी राजकन्यका ७.
Then, the goddess herself, Sundarī, the royal maiden—
सुकुमारी सती बाले स्वयमेव कथं शुभे ७.
The gentle, virtuous girl, O auspicious one, how could she herself—
दासी दास्यश्च बहवः संति देवि तवाग्रतः ७.
There are many maidservants and servants present before you, O goddess.
ऋषेस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्येदमुवाच ह॥ ७.
Hearing those words of the sage, he laughed and spoke as follows:
शिवसेवां प्रकुर्वाणाः शिवभक्तिपुरस्कृताः ७.
Engaged in the service of Shiva, led by devotion to Shiva,
संमार्जनं च पाणिभ्यां पद्भ्यां यानं शिवालये ७.
Sweeping with my hands and feet, and going to the temple of Shiva,
अन्यत्किञ्चिन्न जानामि एकं संमार्जनं विना ७.
I know nothing else except for sweeping.
अनया किं कृतं पूर्वं केयं कस्य प्रसादतः विस्मयेन समाविष्टस्तूष्णींभूतोऽभवत्तदा॥ ७.
What has she done before? Who is she? By whose grace? Filled with wonder, he then became silent.
सविस्मयोऽभूदथ तद्विदित्वा उद्दालको ज्ञानवतां वरिष्ठः ७.
Then, knowing this, Uddālaka, foremost among the wise, was amazed.
तस्करोऽपि पुरा ब्रह्मन्सर्वधर्मबाहिष्कृतः ८.
O Brahmin, once there was a thief, cast out from all religious duties.
लंपटोहि महापाप उत्तमस्त्रीषु सर्वदा ८.
He was a rogue, a great sinner, always lusting after the best women.
एकदा क्रीडता तेन हारितं द्यूतमद्भुतम् ८.
Once, while playing, he deceitfully won at gambling in a marvelous way.
पीडितोऽप्यभवत्तूष्णीं तैरुक्तः पापकृत्तमः ८.
Though tormented, he remained silent, addressed by those other great sinners.