मार्कण्डेय उवाच आज्ञापय विभो मह्यं यथा शंभुः सनातनः
Markandeya said: Command me, O Lord, as to how the eternal Shambhu acted.
यदेव देवो विदधे दयया भक्तवत्सलः
Whatever the god did, he did out of compassion, being devoted to his devotees.
अथोदस्थात्तयोर्मध्ये तथा विवदमानयोः
Then, between those two, as they continued to argue,
महता जृंभमाणेन तस्य ब्रह्मांडभेदिनः
A great manifestation arose, splitting the cosmic egg.
विष्वग्विवर्णता तस्य ज्योतिर्लिंगस्य तेजसा
By the radiance of that Jyotirlinga, everything everywhere lost its color.
तीव्रैस्तस्य महाज्वालैः शोषिता इव सागराः
By its intense, great flames, the oceans seemed to be dried up.
व्यद्योतंत दिवि प्राग्वद्वहास्तारागणैः सह
It shone in the sky as before, along with countless stars.
तेजसा तस्य शोणेन गैरिकेणेव रंजिताः
By its red brilliance, everything appeared as if painted with ochre.
समुद्रास्तत्प्रतिच्छायानिर्भराश्लिष्ट यादसः
The oceans, filled with its reflection, were embraced by aquatic creatures.
प्रवालगुच्छैः प्रत्यग्रैर्लंबिता इव पादपाः 1.3.2.10.
The trees seemed to be adorned with fresh clusters of coral.
मही कुंकुमलिप्तेव दिशः सिंदूरिता इव
The earth appeared as if smeared with saffron, and the directions seemed tinged with vermilion.
ब्रह्मांडकर्परमभूत्तन्महः पूरितांतरम्
The radiance filled the entire interior of the cosmic egg, as if it were its shell.
एवं प्रवर्द्धमानेन तेजःस्तम्भेन तेन च
Thus, as that pillar of brilliance kept growing,
तेजोलिंगं तदाश्चर्यं दृष्ट्वा त्यक्तमिथः क्रुधौ
Seeing that wondrous linga of light, they abandoned their mutual anger.
किमेष वसुधां भित्त्वा शेषादीनां फणाभृताम्
Is this, having pierced the earth, from the hoods of Śeṣa and the other serpents?
किं वा कल्पांतसुलभप्रादुर्भावाः प्रभाकराः
Or is it the sun, manifesting as at the end of a kalpa, which is easily seen then?
आहोस्विन्मेघ संघर्षाद्वितता व्योममध्यतः
Or perhaps, from the friction of clouds, has it spread through the middle of the sky?
प्रतिघ्नन्नेष तेजोभिरक्ष्णोः शक्तिमनुक्षणम्
Is it, with its rays, constantly repelling the power of your eyes?
एष उद्दीप्यमानोऽपि संतापाय न कल्पते
Even though it is blazing, it does not cause any burning.
एतस्य कांतिसंक्रांत्या जगदेव न केवलम् 1.3.2.10.
By the transmission of its radiance, not only the world,
कस्मादेष समुत्पन्नः किं मूलः किमुपाधिकः
From where has this arisen? What is its root, what is its cause?
कियानवधिरेतस्य विष्वक्तिर्यगधोर्ध्वतः
How far does its extent reach, in all directions, across and above?
तदेतदखिलं ज्ञातुं मनः पर्युत्सुकं मुहुः
Thus, the mind is repeatedly restless to know all this.
इति चिंताभराक्रांतौ तेजःस्तंभावलोकनात्
Thus, overwhelmed by the weight of these thoughts, from gazing at the pillar of light,
अभाषत च गोविंदः सुतरामेव गर्वितम्
Govinda spoke, even more proudly,
सत्यमेव परीक्षायै निकषः समुपस्थितः
Truly, a test has now presented itself for examination.
अमुष्य तेजसां राशेरपरिच्छेद्यसंपदः
Of this mass of radiance, whose extent cannot be determined,
यः पश्येन्मूलमग्रं वा तेजसोस्य स्वयंभुवः
Whoever could see either its root or its tip—of this self-existent light—
तेजसोतिमहतो बभूवतुः स्पर्धया विरचितोद्यमौ मिथः
By their rivalry, both became possessed of exceedingly great energy, each striving with determination against the other.
भेजे विरंचिस्तस्याग्रं द्रक्ष्यामीति कृतोद्यमः
Brahmā approached that foremost place, resolved to see it.