ब्रह्मा विष्णुः सुरेंद्रश्च लोकपालाः सहर्षयः उत्थिताश्चैव ते सर्वे निद्रापरिगता इव॥ १०.
Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Indra, the guardians of the worlds, and the sages—all of them arose as if awakened from sleep.
विस्मयेन समाविष्टा बभूवुर्जातसाध्वसाः १०.
They were overcome with astonishment and became filled with newly arisen fear.
क्व कालकूटं सुमहद्येन विद्राविता वयम् १०.
Where is the great Kālakūṭa, by which we were driven away?
इत्यब्रुवंस्तदा दैत्यास्तूष्णींभूतास्तदा स्थिताः ब्रह्माणं च पुरस्कृत्य इदमूचुः समेधिता॥ १०.
Thus spoke the demons, who stood silent at that time; gathering together, they addressed Brahmā as their leader.
केनेदं कारितं विष्णो न विदामोऽल्पमेधसः १०.
By whom was this done, O Viṣṇu? We, of little understanding, do not know.
समाधिमगमन्सर्वेऽप्येकाग्रमनसस्तदा १०.
Then, all of them entered into meditation, their minds focused on one point.
तदात्मनि स्थितं लिंगमपश्यन्वि बुधादयः १०.
Then the wise and others beheld the liṅga established in the Self.
आत्मना परमात्मानं योगिनः पर्युपासते॥ १०.
Yogis worship the Supreme Self by means of their own self.
लिंगमेव परं ज्ञानं लिंगमेव परं तपः तस्माल्लिंगात्परतरं यच्च किंचिन्न विद्यते॥ १०.
The liṅga alone is the highest knowledge; the liṅga alone is the highest austerity; therefore, there is nothing whatsoever superior to the liṅga.
एवं ब्रुवंतो हि तदा सुरासुराः सलोकपाला ऋषिभिश्च साकम् १०.
Thus speaking at that time were the gods, asuras, and the guardians of the worlds, together with the sages.
त्राहित्राहि महादेव कृपालो परमेश्वर १०.
"Save us, save us, O great god, compassionate Supreme Lord!"
तद्देवदेव भवतश्चरणारविंदं सेवानुबंधमहिमानमनंतरूपम् १०.
O God of gods, the greatness of serving your lotus feet is boundless and without limit.
लिंगस्वरूपमध्यस्थो भगवान्भूतभावनः १०.
The Blessed Lord, the creator of beings, abides in the midst of the true form of the liṅga.
त्वं लिंगरूपी भगवाञ्जगतामभयप्रदः १०.
You, O Blessed Lord, are of the form of the liṅga, the giver of fearlessness to all worlds.
मृतास्त्राता गरात्सर्वे तस्मान्मृत्युंजय प्रभो १०.
You are the savior of all who have died or fallen into danger; therefore, O Lord, conqueror of death.
विष्णुना संस्तुतो देवो लिंगरूपी महेश्वरः १०.
Praised by Viṣṇu, the god Maheśvara, in the form of the liṅga, was worshipped.
हे विष्णो हे सुराः सर्व ऋषयः श्रूयतामिदम् १०.
"O Viṣṇu, O all gods, O sages, listen to this!"
अविलोकयताऽऽत्मात्मना विबुधादयः १०.
The wise and others, not perceiving the Self by the self.
एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन किंचिन्नैव प्रयोजनम् १०.
Whether as unity or as diversity, there is truly no purpose.
क्षीराब्धेर्मथनं तत्तु अमृतार्थं कथं कृतम् १०.
That churning of the ocean of milk—how was it done for the sake of nectar?
तस्मात्सर्वे मृत्युमुखं पतिता वै न संशयः १०.
Therefore, all have fallen into the jaws of death, without doubt.
न नमंति गणेशं च दुर्गां चैव तथाविधाम् १०.
They do not bow to Gaṇeśa or to Durgā of such kind.
यूयं सर्वे त्वधर्मिष्ठाः स्तब्धाः पंडितमानिनः १०.
All of you are indeed unrighteous, arrogant, and think yourselves wise.
तस्मात्कालमुखे सर्वे पतिता नात्र संशयः १०.
Therefore, all have fallen into the mouth of Time; there is no doubt about this.
प्ररोचनपराः सर्वे क्षुद्राश्चेंद्रादयो वृथा १०.
All those like Indra are petty and devoted only to persuasion, but their efforts are in vain.
कृतः प्रयत्नो हि महानमृतार्थं त्वया शठ अपि तच्च पराधीन तन्न जानासि दुर्मते॥ १०.
You have indeed made an effort for the great nectar, O deceitful one, but even that is dependent on others; you do not understand this, O misguided one.
यैर्वदवाक्यैस्त्वं मूढ संस्तुतोऽसि तपस्विभिः १०.
With foolish words, you have been praised by ascetics, O fool.
विष्णो त्वं च पक्षपातान्न जानासि हिताहितम् १०.
O Vishnu, because of partiality, you do not know what is beneficial or harmful.
इच्छायुक्तस्त्वमत्रैव सदा बालकचेष्टितः १०.
Here, you are always driven by desire, behaving like a child.
अन्यथा हि कृते ह्यर्थे अन्यथात्वं भविष्यति १०.
If the purpose is done otherwise, its result will also be otherwise.