विशेषतो लिंगधराः शिवस्तान्बहु मन्यते
Especially, Shiva greatly honors those who bear the liṅga.
अजिताः शंभुना पूर्वं मुक्तलिंगा निषूदिताः
Those who were undefeated were previously destroyed by Shambhu, having abandoned the liṅga.
कथं पापं निरस्यामि शिवभक्तवधाश्रितम्
How can I remove the sin incurred from killing a devotee of Shiva?
तीर्थयात्रां करिष्यामि यावच्छंभुः प्रसीदति 1.3.1.11.
I will undertake a pilgrimage until Shambhu becomes pleased.
तीर्थेषु रचितस्नाना लप्स्ये पापविशोधनम्
By performing ritual baths at the sacred places, I shall obtain purification from sin.
आकर्ण्य शिवधर्मज्ञो भयार्त्तां तामवोचत
Hearing this, the knower of Shiva's dharma spoke to her, who was distressed by fear.
धर्मसूक्ष्मार्थवेत्तारौ दुर्लभा गिरिकन्यके
O daughter of the mountain, those who know the subtle meaning of dharma are rare.
आगमाः पंचभिः प्रोक्ता अष्टाविंशतिकोटयः
The scriptures declare twenty-eight crores, explained in five ways.
तेषुतेषु मुनींद्रैश्च नत्वैव प्रतिपद्यते
Among them, even the greatest sages attain them only by bowing in reverence.
महाव्रतं पंच चैताः शिवमार्गप्रवृत्तयः
These five are the great vows, the sources of the path of Shiva.
साध्य एको हि बलवान्सर्वैस्तैरनिशं शिवः
Among all these, only one is powerful and always attainable—Shiva.
अमत्सरैः शिवे भक्तैः शिवाज्ञापरिपालकैः
By those who are free from envy, devoted to Shiva, and obedient to Shiva's commands.
आराध्यते महादेवः सर्वदा सर्वदायकः
The Great God, who grants all things, is always worshipped by them.
शिवधर्मस्य भेत्तारो निहंतव्यास्तथांजसा 1.3.1.11.
Those who break the dharma of Shiva must be destroyed immediately.
शिवधर्मस्य भेत्तारं हन्यादेवाविचारयन्
One should slay the breaker of Shiva's dharma without hesitation.
शिवधर्मस्य विलये सद्यः शक्तिः प्रवर्तते
When Shiva's dharma is destroyed, power immediately arises.
न जेतुं शक्यते देवि तेनासौ सर्वदैवतैः
O goddess, he cannot be conquered; therefore, he is by all the gods.
आक्रांतः शापदोषेण महर्षीणां शिवाश्रयात्
Afflicted by the curse of the great sages, due to their devotion to Shiva.
शेपुर्महिषवद्दुष्टो महिषोऽयं भवत्विति
They cursed him, saying, 'Let this wicked one become a buffalo, like the demon Mahiṣa.'
प्रणम्य तोषयामास ययाचे शापमोचनम्
He bowed down, sought to please them, and begged for release from the curse.
महिषत्वेपि संहारं स्वयं देव्या शिवाज्ञया
Even in the form of a buffalo, his destruction was to be by the Goddess herself, by Śiva’s command.
सिद्धानां शिवरूपाणामवज्ञा कं न बाधते
Who is not troubled by disrespect shown to the Siddhas, who are forms of Śiva?
सिद्धप्रसादाल्लब्धोऽयं शापनाशस्त्वया कृतः
Through the grace of the Siddhas, you have obtained the removal of the curse.
शापदोषसमुत्पन्ने महिषत्वे विमोचिते 1.3.1.11.
When the fault of the curse arose and the buffalo form was removed—
द्रष्टव्यं तैजसं लिंगमरुणाचलसंज्ञितम्
One should behold the radiant liṅga known as Aruṇācala.
महिषत्वे मदाक्रांतः परं लिंगेन संगतः
While in the buffalo form, overcome by pride, he was united with the supreme liṅga.
दृष्टाः पुरत्रये पूर्वं रुद्रेण पूजितास्त्रयः
In the three cities before, three liṅgas were seen and worshipped by Rudra.
दीक्षादिरहितं लिंगं दत्तं हंतीति चोदितम्
It is said that a liṅga given without initiation and other rites is to be destroyed.
कदाचित्क्षपणोक्तानां विभाषात्प्रत्ययं गतः
At some time, he gained conviction from the explanations given by the mendicants.
त्वत्पादपद्मसंस्पर्शादयं मुक्तो न संशयः
By the touch of your lotus feet, he is freed—there is no doubt.