कथयामास सर्वेषां दूतानां स्वयमेव हि ३२.
He himself narrated to all the messengers.
कर्त्तव्यं च प्रयत्नेन नान्यथा मम भाषितम्॥ ३२.
What is to be done must be done with effort; my words are not otherwise.
ये त्रिपुण्ड्रंधारयंति तथा ये वै जटाधराः ३२.
Those who bear the tripuṇḍra, and those who wear matted hair—
उपजीवनहेतोश्च भिया ये ह्यपि मानवाः ३२.
And those humans who, out of fear or for livelihood, do so—
नानेतव्या भवद्भिश्च मम लोकं कदाचन ३२.
You must never lead anyone to my realm.
अन्येषां का कथा दूता येऽर्चयंति सदाशिवम् ३२.
What need is there to speak of others, when messengers worship Sadāśiva?
रुद्राक्षमेकं शिरसा बिभर्ति यस्तथा त्रिपुंड्रं च ललाटमध्यके ३२.
Whoever wears a single rudrākṣa bead upon his head, and likewise the three lines in the middle of his forehead,
यस्मिन्राष्ट्रोऽथ वा देशे ग्रामे चापि विचक्षणः तद्राष्ट्रं देशमित्याहुः सत्यं प्रतिवदामि वः॥ ३२.
In whatever kingdom, region, or village such a wise person dwells, that kingdom or region is called blessed; I declare this truth to you.
यस्मिन्न संति नित्यं हि शिवभक्तिसमन्विताः ३२.
Wherever there are not those always endowed with devotion to Śiva,
एवमाज्ञापयामास यमोऽपि निजकिंकरान् ३२.
Thus Yama also instructed his own attendants.
एवंविधोऽयं भुवनैकभर्ता सदाशिवो लोकगुरुः स एकः ३२.
Such is Sadāśiva, the sole lord of the world, the teacher of all beings, the one alone.
दग्ध्वा कालं महादेवो निर्भयं च ददौ विभुः ३२.
Having burned Kāla, the great god granted fearlessness.
तदा निर्भयमापन्नः श्वेतराजो महामनाः ३२.
Then Śvetarāja, of great mind, attained fearlessness.
तदा देवैः पूज्यमान ऋषिभिः पन्नगैस्तथा ३२.
Then, honored by the gods, by sages, and likewise by serpents,
एवं भक्तिपराणां च महेशे च जगद्गुरौ ३२.
Thus, for those devoted to Mahādeva, the teacher of the world,
श्वपचोऽपि वरिष्ठः स्यात्प्रसादाच्छं करस्य च ३२.
Even a dog-eater becomes exalted by the grace of Śaṃkara.
बहूनां जनमनामंते शिवभक्तिः प्रजायते॥ ३२.
Among many people, devotion to Śiva arises at the end of their lives.
ज्ञानिनां कृतबुद्धीनां जन्मजन्मनिशंकरः ३२.
For the wise, those of firm resolve, Śaṃkara is present birth after birth.
अत्रैवोदाहरंतीममितिहासं पुरातनम् येनैव तारितं विश्वं जगदेतच्चराचरम्॥ ३२.
Here I shall recount an ancient legend, by which the entire world, both moving and unmoving, was delivered.
किन्नामा च किरातोऽभूत्किं तेन व्रतमाहितम् ३३.
What was the name of the Kirāta, and what vow did he undertake?
तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामो याथातथ्येन कथ्यताम् तस्मात्कथ भो विप्र सर्वं शुश्रूषतां हि नः॥ ३३.
We wish to hear all this; tell it truthfully. Therefore, O sage, narrate everything to us who are eager to listen.
एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन शौनकेन महात्मना ३३.
Thus addressed at that time by the great-souled Śaunaka,
आसीत्पुरा महारौद्रश्चडोनाम दुरात्मवान् ३३.
Long ago there was a most terrible and wicked man named Chaḍa.
जालेन मत्स्यान्दुष्टात्मा घातयत्यनिशं खलु ३३.
With nets, this evil-hearted man would ceaselessly kill fish.
खड्गांश्चैव च दुष्टात्मा दृष्ट्वा कांश्चिच्च पापवान् ३३.
And this wicked man, whenever he saw certain birds, would also, being sinful, kill them with swords.
लुब्धको हि महापापो दुष्टो दुष्टजनप्रियः ३३.
Indeed, the hunter was exceedingly sinful, wicked, and beloved by evil people.
एवं विहरतस्तस्य बहुकालोत्यवर्तत ३३.
In this way, much time passed as he continued his ways.
निषंगे जलमादाय क्षुत्पिपासार्द्दितो भृशम् कोलं हंतुं धनुष्पाणिर्जाग्रच्चानिमिषेण हि॥ ३३.
One day, tormented by hunger and thirst, he took water in his quiver and, bow in hand, stayed awake without blinking, ready to kill a boar.
माघमासेऽसितायां वै चतुर्दश्यामथाग्रतः ३३.
Then, in the month of Māgha, on the dark fourteenth day, he stood there.
श्रीवृक्षपर्णानि बहूनि तत्र स च्छेदयामास रुषान्वितोपि ३३.
There, even though filled with anger, he cut down many leaves from a sacred tree.