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.
नो वा तत्कथ्यतां शीघ्रं याथातथ्येन दुर्मते ८.
Speak out quickly and truthfully, you wicked-minded one, or not at all.
तैर्मुक्तस्तेन वाक्येन गतास्ते कितवादयः ८.
Freed by those words, the gamblers departed.
शिरोधिरुह्य शम्भोश्च घण्टामादातुमुद्यतः ८.
Climbing upon the head of Shiva, he set out to take the bell.
अनेन यत्कृतं चाद्य सर्वेषामधिकं भुवि ८.
What he did today surpassed all others on earth.
इति प्रोक्त्वान यामास वीरभद्रादिभिर्गणैः ८.
Having said this, he was seized by the hosts led by Virabhadra.
सर्वैर्डमरुनादेन नादितं भुवनत्रयम् लिंगस्य मस्तकात्सद्यः पलायनपरोऽभवत्॥ ८.
All three worlds resounded with the beating of drums; at once, he fled from the head of the linga.
पलायमानं तं दृष्ट्वा वीरभद्रः समाह्वयत्॥ ८.
Seeing him fleeing, Virabhadra called out to him.
कस्माद्विभेपि रे मन्द देवदेवो महेस्वरः ८.
Why do you tremble, fool? The great god, lord of gods, is here.
इत्युक्त्वा तं विमाने च कृत्वा कैलासमाययौ ८.
Having said this, he placed him in the aerial chariot and went to Kailāsa.
तस्माद्भाव्या शिवे भक्तिः सर्वेषामपि देहिनाम् ८.
Therefore, devotion to Śiva should exist in all embodied beings.