ब्रह्माणं च पुरस्कृत्य तदा देवास्त्वरान्विताः ९.
Then, placing Brahmā at their head, the gods, filled with urgency—
ब्रह्मादयश्चर्षिगणाश्च तदा परेशं विष्णुं पुराणपुरुषं प्रभविष्णुमीशम् ९.
At that time, Brahmā and the hosts of seers approached the supreme lord Viṣṇu, the ancient person, the powerful lord.
तावत्प्रवृद्धं सुमहत्कालकूटं समभ्ययात् ९.
Meanwhile, the greatly intensified Kālakūṭa poison approached.
कालकूटाग्निना दग्धो विष्णुः सर्वगुहाशयः ९.
Viṣṇu, who dwells in all secret places, was burned by the fire of Kālakūṭa.
वैकुण्ठं च सुनीलं च सर्वलोकैः समावृतम् ९.
Vaikuṇṭha and Sunīla, surrounded by all the worlds—
अष्टावरणसंवीतं ब्रह्मांडं ब्रह्मणा सह ९.
The cosmic egg, wrapped in eight coverings, along with Brahmā—
नोभूमिर्न जलं चाग्निर्न वायुर्न नभस्तदा शिवस्य कोपात्संजातं तदा भस्माकुलं जगत्॥ ९.
At that time, there was neither earth, nor water, nor fire, nor wind, nor sky; from the wrath of Śiva, the world then became filled with ashes.
यत्त्वया कथितं ब्रह्मन्ब्रह्मांडं सचराचरम् १०.
O Brahman, what you have described—the cosmic egg with all that moves and does not move—
ब्रह्मांडांतरतः किं तु रुद्रं मन्यामहे वयम् १०.
But within the cosmic egg, we consider Rudra to be supreme.
भस्मीभूतं रुद्रकोपात्कथं सृष्टिः प्रवर्तिता १०.
How did creation proceed, when everything was reduced to ashes by Rudra's wrath?
अन्ये सुरा सुराः कुत्र भस्मीभूता लयं गताः १०.
Where are the other gods and demons, who were reduced to ashes and dissolved?
व्यासप्रसादात्सकलं वेत्थ त्वं नापरो हि तत् १०.
By Vyāsa's grace, you know everything; indeed, there is no one else who knows thus.
इति पृष्टस्तदा सर्वैर्मुनिभिर्भावितात्मभिः १०.
Thus questioned at that time by all the sages whose minds were purified,
यदा ब्रह्मांडमध्यस्था व्याप्ता देवा विषाग्निना तदा विज्ञापितः शंभुर्हेरंबेन महात्मना॥ १०.
When the gods dwelling in the center of the cosmic egg were pervaded by the poison of the fire, then Śaṃbhu was informed by the great-souled Heramba.
हे रुद्र हे महादेव हे स्थाणो ह जगत्पते १०.
O Rudra, O Mahādeva, O Sthāṇu, O Lord of the universe,
भयेन मति मोहात्त्वां नार्च्चयंति च मामपि १०.
Out of fear and confusion of mind, they do not worship you nor me.
एवमभ्यर्थितस्तेन पिनाकी वृषभध्वजः १०.
Thus entreated by him, Pinākī, the one bearing the bull as his emblem,
लिंगरूपोऽब्रवीच्छंभुर्निराकारो निरामयः १०.
Śaṃbhu, in the form of the liṅga, spoke—formless, free from affliction.
हेरंब श्रृणु मे वाक्यं श्रद्धया परया युतः १०.
Heramba, listen to my words, endowed with supreme faith.
स्थितिं करोत्यहंकारः प्रलयोत्पत्तिमेव च १०.
Ego creates sustenance, as well as dissolution and origination.
मायाविरहितं शांतं द्वैताद्वैतपरं सदा १०.
That which is devoid of illusion, peaceful, always transcending duality and non-duality,
यदि त्वं केवलो ह्यात्मा परमानन्दलक्षणः १०.
If you are indeed the pure Self, characterized by supreme bliss,
नानारूपं कथं जातं सुरासुरविलक्षणम् १०.
How then has the manifold form arisen, distinct from gods and demons?
भूतग्रामैश्चतुर्भिश्च नानाभेदैः समन्वितैः १०.
With the four groups of beings, endowed with various distinctions,
परस्परविरोधेन ज्ञानवादेन मोहिताः १०.
Through mutual opposition and debate about knowledge, they are deluded.
ज्ञाननिष्ठाश्च ये केचित्परस्परविरोधिनः १०.
And those who are established in knowledge, yet mutually opposed,
अहं गणश्च कुत्रत्याः क्व चायं वृषभः प्रभो १०.
Where am I, where is the group, and where is this bull, O Lord?
कृताः सर्वे महाभागाः सात्त्विका राजसाश्च वै १०.
All have been created, O greatly fortunate ones, both those of sattva and rajas.
कालशक्त्या च जातानि रजःसत्त्वतमांसि च १०.
By the power of time, have arisen the qualities of rajas, sattva, and tamas.
परिदृश्यमानमेतच्चानश्वरं परमार्थतः १०.
This which is seen is impermanent, but in the highest truth it is not so.