अजैकपादहिर्बुध्न्य मुख्या एकादशापि वै
Ajaikapada, Ahirbudhnya, and the principal eleven indeed—
पुर्यष्टकं च दुष्टेभ्यो देवध्रुग्भ्यो ह्यवंति ते
And the eightfold city, from the wicked and those hostile to the gods, they protect.
एतैरपि तपस्तप्तं प्राप्य वाराणसीं पुरीम्
By these also, austerity was performed, and having reached the city of Varanasi—
ईशानेश प्रसादेन दिश्यैश्यां हि दिगीश्वराः
By the grace of Ishana, they became lords of the directions.
भालनेत्रा नीलगलाः शुद्धांगा वृषभध्वजाः
With a third eye on the forehead, blue-throated, pure-bodied, bearing the bull-banner—
तेऽस्यां पुरि वसंत्यैश्यां सर्वभोगसमृद्धयः
They dwell in this city, possessing all enjoyments and prosperity.
विपन्नास्तेन पुण्येन जायंते ऽत्रपुरोहिताः 4.1.14.
Those who have fallen from merit are born here as priests.
त एव रुद्रा विज्ञेया इहामुत्राप्यसंशयम्
These indeed are to be known as Rudras, here and hereafter, without doubt.
उपोष्यभूतांयांकांचिन्न नरो गर्भभाक्पुनः
Having fasted on the fourteenth, no man is again born in a womb.
शिवशर्मा दिवाप्युच्चैरपश्यच्चंद्रचंद्रिकाम्
Shiva Sharma, even by day, clearly saw the moonlight.
चमत्कृत्य चमत्कृत्य कोयं लोको हरेर्गणौ
Amazed again and again, he wondered, 'What world is this among the attendants of Hari?'
गणावूचतुः शिवशर्मन्महाभाग लोक एष कलानिधेः
The attendants spoke: 'O greatly fortunate Shiva Sharma, this is the world of the Lord of arts.'
पिता सोमस्य भो विप्र जज्ञेऽत्रिर्भगवानृषिः
The father of Soma, O Brahmin, was the venerable sage Atri.
अनुत्तरं नाम तपो येन तप्तं हि तत्पुरा
He performed austerity called Anuttara in ancient times.
ऊर्ध्वमाचक्रमे तस्य रेतः सोमत्वमीयिवत्
His seed rose upwards and became Soma.
तं गर्भं विधिना दिष्टा दश देव्यो दधुस्ततः
By destiny, ten goddesses then held that embryo.
यदा न धारणे शक्तास्तस्य गर्भस्य ता दिशः 4.1.14.
When they were unable to sustain that embryo, those goddesses—
पतितं सोममालोक्य ब्रह्मा लो कपितामहः
Seeing Soma fallen, Brahma, the grandsire, looked on.
स तेन रथमुख्येन सागरांतां वसुंधराम्
With that foremost chariot, he traversed the earth bounded by the ocean.
तस्य यत्प्लवितं तेजः पृथिवीमन्वपद्यत
The radiance that overflowed from him merged into the earth.
सलब्धतेजा भगवान्ब्रह्मणा वर्धितः स्वयम्
Having regained his brilliance, the blessed one, nourished by Brahma, grew by his own power.
अविमुक्तं समासाद्य क्षेत्रं परमपावनम्
He reached Avimukta, the supremely pure field.
बीजौषधीनां तोयानां राजाभूदग्रजन्मनाम्
He became the king of seeds, herbs, waters, and noble-born beings.
तत्र कूपं विधायैकममृतोदमिति स्मृतम्
There, he established a single well, remembered as containing immortal water.
तुष्टेनदेवदेवेन स्वमौलौ यो धृतः स्वयम्
Satisfied, the god of gods himself placed him upon his own crown.
पश्चाद्दक्षेण शप्तोपि मासोने क्षयमाप्य च
Later, though cursed by Daksha, he suffered decline during the month.
स तत्प्राप्य महाराज्यं सोमः सोमवतां वरः 4.1.14.
Having attained great sovereignty, Soma, the foremost among the Soma-born, prevailed.
दक्षिणामददत्सोमस्त्रींल्लोकानिति नौ श्रुतम्
Soma gave as sacrificial gift the three worlds; so we have heard.
हिरण्यगर्भो ब्रह्माऽत्रिर्भृगुर्यत्रर्त्विजोभवन्
Hiraṇyagarbha, Brahma, Atri, and Bhṛgu became the officiating priests there.
तंसिनी च कुहूश्चैव द्युतिः पुष्टिः प्रभावसुः
Tāṃsinī, Kuhū, Dyuti, Puṣṭi, and Prabhāvasu were also present.