शंभो महेश करुणाकर शूलपाणे मृत्युंजयस्त्वमिति वेदविदो वदंति
O Śambhu, O Maheśa, O compassionate one, O wielder of the trident, O conqueror of death—thus do the knowers of the Vedas declare.
हा हंतहंतभवता भव तापहारी कस्माद्विधेऽत्र विदधे बहुभिः प्रयत्नैः 4.1.11.
Alas, alas! You, O remover of suffering, why did you create this here with so many efforts?
हा कालबालकवती किमुतेन राज्ञी त्वत्कालतां न हृतवान्नसुताननेंदुः
Alas, O queen with a child as dark as time, why did you not take away the time of your son, O moon-faced one?
इत्थं विलप्य बहुशो नयनांबुधारासंपातजात तटिनी शतमुत्तरंगम्
Thus lamenting again and again, a river arose from the streams of tears flowing from the eyes.
आकर्ण्य तत्करुणवत्परिदेवितानि तानि द्रुमा व्रततयः कुसुमाश्रुपातैः
Hearing those compassionate lamentations, the trees, steadfast in their vows, shed flowers mixed with tears.
रुण्णं तया किल तथा बहुमुक्तकंठमार्तस्वरैः प्रतिरवच्छलतो यथोच्चैः
By her, indeed, with many choked throats and voices full of pain, the echo resounded loudly through the forest.
श्रुत्वार्तनादमिति विश्वनरोपि मोहं हित्वोत्थितः किमिति किंत्विति किंकिमेतत्
Hearing that cry of distress, Viśvanara, abandoning delusion, arose, asking: 'What is this? What indeed? What is all this?'
अगस्त्य उवाच ततो दृष्ट्वा स पितरौ बहुशोकसमावृतौ
Agastya said: Then, seeing his parents overwhelmed by great sorrow—
न मांकृत वपुस्त्राणं भवच्चरणरेणुभिः
I did not make this body a shield, with the dust of your feet.
प्रतिज्ञां शृणुतं तातौ यदि वां तनयो ह्यहम्
Hear my promise, O parents, if I am indeed your son.
मृत्युंजयं समाराध्य सर्वज्ञं सर्वदं सताम्
By worshipping the deathless one, the all-knowing, the giver of all, the refuge of the virtuous—
इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य जरितौ द्विजदंपती 4.1.11.
Thus, hearing his words, the aged Brahmin couple—
अंधकं यस्त्रिशूलाग्रप्रोतं वर्षायुतं पुरा 4.1.11.
He who, long ago, pierced Andhaka with the tip of the trident for ten thousand years—
तत्र स्नात्वा विधानेन दृष्ट्वा विश्वेश्वरं विभुम्
There, having bathed according to the rite, and having seen Viśveśvara, the Lord—
आलोक्यालोक्य तल्लिंगं तुतोष हृदये बहु 4.1.11.
Having gazed again and again upon that liṅga, he was greatly satisfied in his heart.
विश्वेषां विश्वबीजानां कर्माख्यानां लयो यतः 4.1.11.
For from it arises the dissolution of all actions, the seeds of the universe and their names.
उवाच मधुरं धीरः कीरवन्मधुराक्षरम् 4.1.11.
The wise one spoke sweetly, with words melodious like a song.
परिज्ञाय महादेवं गुरुवाक्यत आगमात् 4.1.11.
Recognizing the great god through the words of the teacher and the tradition,
ततः काशीं पुनः प्राप्य कल्पांते मोक्षमाप्नुयात् 4.1.11.
Then, having reached Kāśī again, at the end of the age one attains liberation.
गणावूचतुः इत्थमग्निस्वरूपं ते शिवशर्मन्प्रवर्णितम्
The Gaṇas said: Thus has the fire-form been described to you by Śivaśarman.
शिवशर्मोवाच पुरुषोत्तमपादाब्जपरागोद्धूसरालकौ
Śivaśarman said: Their hair is dusted with the pollen from the lotus feet of the supreme person.
गणावूचतुः दिक्पतेर्निर्ऋतस्यासौ पुण्यापुण्यजनोषिता
The Gaṇas said: This is the region of Nirṛti, the lord of the quarters, inhabited by people of merit and demerit.
राक्षसानिवसंत्यस्यामपरद्रोहिणः सदा
Here always dwell Rākṣasas and those who betray others.
स्मृत्युक्तश्रुतिवर्त्मानो जातवर्णावरेष्वपि
Those who follow the path prescribed by smṛti and śruti, even among those born in lower castes,
परदार परद्रव्य परद्रोहपराङ्मुखाः
Who turn away from others’ wives, others’ wealth, and harming others,
द्विजातिभक्त्युत्पन्नार्थैरात्मानं पोषयंति ये
Who sustain themselves with wealth obtained through devotion to the twice-born,
आहूता वस्त्रवदना वदंति द्विजसंनिधौ
When called, women with faces like the moon speak in the presence of the twice-born.
तीर्थस्नानपरानित्यं नित्यं देवपरायणाः
Ever devoted to bathing at sacred fords, always intent on the gods,
दम दान दया क्षांति शौचेंद्रिय विनिग्रहाः
Self-control, charity, compassion, forgiveness, purity, and restraint of the senses—
आवश्येषु सदोद्युक्ता ये जाता यत्रकुत्रचित् 4.1.12.
Those who are always engaged in these, wherever they may be born,