सांगवेदा धर्मशास्त्रं पुराणानि शिवागमाः
The Vedas with their limbs, the Dharmaśāstra, the Purāṇas, and the Śiva scriptures—
निश्रेयसाय भक्तानां त्वयैव गुरुरूपिणा
For the supreme good of devotees, you alone, in the form of the guru—
तेषु कस्य प्रकारेण कुर्वाणौ त्वदुपासनाम्
Among these, in what manner should we perform worship of you?
जगाद करुणामूर्त्तिर्जगतीभृत्सुतापतिः
Then the embodiment of compassion, the Lord of the world and son of the Earth, spoke.
कामिकोक्तेन मार्गेण मामर्चयितुमर्हथः
You should worship me by the path taught in the Kāmika scripture.
मोहतो विस्मृता मन्ये भवद्भ्यां शैवसंहिता 1.3.2.16.
I think the Śaiva Saṃhitā has been forgotten by you both out of delusion.
तदा प्रादुरभूत्तत्र लिंगं किमपि मंगलम्
Then, at that place, a certain auspicious liṅga appeared.
तच्चावलोक्य साश्चर्य्यौ मुकुन्दकमलासनौ
Seeing that, Mukunda and Kamalāsana were both amazed.
तावकारयतां शोणगिरिनाथस्य चालयम्
Then they constructed the temple of the Lord of Śoṇagiri.
खानयामासतुस्तत्र सरः किमपि पावनम्
There they excavated a certain sacred lake.
अरुणाख्यं पुरं चारात्कल्पयामासतुश्चिरम्
They also established, after a long time, the city called Aruṇā.
तस्यां ब्रह्मर्षयो देवा गंधर्वा दिव्ययोषितः
In that place, Brahmarṣis, gods, Gandharvas, and celestial women resided.
तीर्थानि धार्य कूपत्वं गंगाद्याः सरितस्तथा
The sacred fords assumed the form of wells there, as did the Gaṅgā and other rivers.
गोलोको गोगोष्ठतया नैगमत्वं किलागमाः
Goloka became a cow-pen there, and the Vedas themselves, it is said, took form.
भूताः प्रेताः पिशाचाश्च वेतालाः कटपूतनाः
Beings such as ghosts, spirits, piśācas, vetālas, and kaṭapūtanās were also present.
देवोपि धूर्जटिस्तस्यां कौतुकी सिद्धरूपधृक् 1.3.2.16.
Even the god Dhūrjaṭi (Śiva), assuming the form of a siddha, was there out of curiosity.
न केनचिदविज्ञातः सदा सर्वत्र दीप्यति
He is never unrecognized by anyone and always shines everywhere.
दांतौ शोणाद्रिनाथं तमर्चयामासतुश्चिरम्
For a long time, they worshipped the Lord of Śoṇādri with their teeth (i.e., with devotion).
दीक्षादिकानि चक्राते स्वयमाचार्यतां गतौ
They performed initiations and other rites, becoming their own teachers.
प्रातः स्नात्वा समाहृत्य पुष्पपत्रादिकं फलम्
In the morning, after bathing, they gathered flowers, leaves, and fruits.
जंजल्पाकौ जजपतुः सर्वमंत्राधिकं सदा
They constantly recited all the supreme mantras with clear articulation.
प्रदक्षिणानमस्कारैर्मुद्राबंधैर्नवैर्नवैः
With circumambulations, salutations, and ever-new gestures of mudrā,
पंचब्रह्मषडंगाद्यैरर्चयामासतुः शिवम्
They worshipped Śiva with the five Brahmas, the six limbs, and other rites.
वेधोविष्णू समाराध्य शिवज्ञानमवापतुः
By worshipping Viṣṇu and Brahmā, they attained the knowledge of Śiva.
इतीदमश्रावि मया रहस्यं पितुः शिलादस्य मुखात्पुरा यत्
Thus I once heard this secret from the mouth of my father Śilāda.
तथापि कौतुकेनाहमाक्रांतो मुनयोऽप्यमी
Yet, even so, I am seized by curiosity, as are these sages.
शृणु त्वमवधानेन मार्कंडेय महामते
Listen attentively, O Markandeya, great in wisdom.
ननु जानासि तत्पूर्वं यथा दाक्षायणी शिवः
Surely you know how, in former times, Dakshayani became the wife of Shiva.
यथा च सा क्रुधा भर्तुर्द्रुहि दक्षप्रजापतौ
And how, angered by her husband, she opposed Daksha, the lord of progenitors.
तदा हराज्ञानिघ्नेन वीरभद्रेण यत्कृतम्
Then, by the command of Hara, Virabhadra acted as he was ordered.