वैशंपायनकौशल्यशारद्वतकपिध्वजैः
With Vaishampayana, Kaushalya, Sharadvata, and Kapidhvaja,
कृष्णातपोत्तमानंतकरुणामलकप्रियैः
With Krishnatapa, Uttaman, Anta, Karuna, Amala, and Kapriya,
नरनारायणाभ्यां च दिव्यैश्चान्यैर्महर्षिभिः 1.3.2.3.
And with Nara and Narayana, and other divine great sages,
माहेश्वराग्रगण्यस्त्वं समस्तागमपारगः
You are foremost among the attendants of Maheshvara, one who has mastered all the scriptures.
त्वन्मुखादेव भगवन्वयमेते सुशिक्षिताः
O Lord, it is indeed from your own mouth that we have all been well instructed.
दिव्यागमपुराणानि द्रष्टव्यः परमेश्वरः
The divine scriptures and Puranas are to be seen by the Supreme Lord.
त्वयि यद्यस्ति नो भक्तिर्दया चास्मासु ते यदि
If we have devotion to you, and if you have compassion for us,
इत्थं मृकण्डुतनयेन स नंदिकेशो विज्ञापितः सविनयं स्मयमानवक्त्रम्
Thus was Nandikeshvara humbly addressed by Mrikandu’s son, with a smiling face.
तव चेन्नाभिधास्यामि कस्य वान्यस्य कथ्यते
If I do not tell you, for whom else would it be spoken?
त्वादृगन्योस्ति किं लोके शिवधर्मपरायणः
Is there anyone else in the world like you, devoted to the path of Shiva’s dharma?
कस्यान्यस्य कृते देवः स्वस्यैवाज्ञाकरं यमम्
For the sake of whom else would the Lord command his own servant?
त्वमेव शांकरान्धर्मान्सर्वान्विद्धि रहस्यतः
You alone truly know all the secret Shaiva dharmas.
त्वयैवान्येन केनाहमेवं शुश्रूषितश्चिरम्
By you alone, and by no other, have I been served in this way for so long.
उपदेक्ष्यामि ते क्षेत्रं गुप्तं तद्धर्मशासनैः
I will instruct you in that secret field, guarded by the teachings of dharma.
आदरादनुयुंजानं शिष्यं यो देशिकः स्वयम्
The teacher himself, with respect, should engage the disciple who is attentive.
समाहितमना भूत्वा विश्वासं कुरु शाश्वतम्
With a mind composed, establish unwavering trust.
स्मर स्मरांतकं देवं वंदस्वाध्याय शांकरीम्
Remember the god who is the destroyer of Kāma, and praise the Śāṃkarī hymn.
अस्ति दक्षिणदिग्भागे द्राविडेषु तपोधन 1.3.2.4.
In the southern direction, among the Drāviḍa lands, O possessor of austerities, there is—
योजनत्रयविस्तीणमुपास्यं शिवयोगिभिः
—a place three yojanas wide, worshipped by the yogis devoted to Śiva.
तत्र देवः स्वयं शम्भुः पर्वताकारतां गतः
There, the god Śambhu himself has taken the form of a mountain.
आवासः सर्वसिद्धानां महर्षीणां सुपर्वणाम्
It is the dwelling of all perfected beings, great sages, and those of auspicious vows.
सुमेरोरपि कैलासादप्यसौ मन्दरादपि
It surpasses even Sumeru, Kailāsa, and Mandara.
स्पृहयंति यदीयेभ्यो जंतुभ्योपि दिवौकसः
Even the gods in heaven long for the creatures who dwell there.
न कल्पवृक्षाः सदृशा यत्रत्यानां महीरुहाम्
The wish-fulfilling trees are not equal to the great trees found there.
हिंसैकरुचयो व्याधा अपि रूपानुसारतः
Even hunters, whose only delight is violence, are transformed in appearance there.
यदुद्देशचरा मेघाः शिखराण्यभिबंधकाः
The clouds that move in that region touch the mountain peaks.
कलारावाः खगा यत्र क्वणंते कीचका अपि
There, birds sing melodiously, and even the bamboo reeds resound.
स्मरन्तो यत्र खद्योताः कृष्णपक्षे निशागमे 1.3.2.4.
There, fireflies shine at night during the dark fortnight, as if remembering something.
निष्प्रत्यूहकृताश्लेषा नित्यं यत्तटिनीरुहाः
The trees on the riverbanks there are always united without any hindrance.
यस्योत्तुंगस्य शृंगाग्रसंगमा अपि तारकाः
The stars themselves come into contact with the summits of that lofty mountain.