स सर्वगोपि नेक्ष्येत स्वात्मारामो महेश्वरः
He is all-pervading, yet cannot be seen; Maheshvara delights in his own self.
पुरा पितामहं विप्र मेरुशृंगे महर्षयः
Once, the great sages, along with Pitamaha, on the summit of Meru,
समा यया महेशस्य मोहितो लोकसंभवः
By whom the creator of the worlds was deluded, along with all beings.
जगद्योनिरहं धाता स्वयंभूरेक ईश्वरः
I am the source of the world, the sustainer, the self-born, the one Lord.
प्रवर्तको हि जगतामहमेको निवर्तकः
I alone am the initiator of the worlds, and I alone am the one who withdraws them.
तस्यैवं ब्रुवतो धातुः क्रतुर्नारायणांशजः
As the Sustainer spoke thus, the sacrifice born from the portion of Narayana...
अविज्ञाय परं तत्त्वं किमेतत्प्रतिपाद्यते
Without knowing the supreme truth, why is this being asserted?
अहं कर्ता हि लोकानां यज्ञो नारायणः परः
I am indeed the creator of the worlds; the sacrifice is Nārāyaṇa, the supreme.
अहमेव परं ज्योतिरहमेव परा गतिः
I alone am the supreme light; I alone am the highest goal.
एवं विप्र कृतौ मोहात्परस्परजयैषिणौ 4.1.31.
Thus, O Brāhmaṇa, in the age of Kṛta, out of delusion, both sought victory over each other.
यूयमेव न संदेहः किं तत्त्वं प्रतितिष्ठत
You yourselves, without doubt, must establish what the truth is.
श्रुतय ऊचुः यदि मान्या वयं देवौ सृष्टिस्थितिकरौ विभू
The Vedas said: If we are to be respected, O gods, as the creators and sustainers of the universe—
श्रुत्युक्तमिदमाकर्ण्य प्रोचतुस्तौ श्रुतीः प्रति
Having heard this as spoken by the Vedas, the two responded to the Vedas.
ऋगुवाच यदंतःस्थानि भूतानि यतः सर्वं प्रवर्तते
Ṛg said: That within which all beings reside, from which everything proceeds—
येन प्रमाणं हि वयं स एकः सर्वदृक्छिवः
By whom we are measured, he alone is Śiva, the all-seeing.
यद्भासा भासते विश्वं स एकस्त्र्यंबकः परः
By whose radiance the universe shines, he alone is the supreme Three-eyed One.
तमाहुरेकं कैवल्यं शंकरं दुःखतस्करम्
Him they call the one, the absolute, Śaṃkara, the remover of sorrow.
श्रुतीरितं निशम्येत्थं तावतीव विमोहितौ
Hearing thus what was spoken by the Vedas, both became greatly bewildered.
कथं प्रमथनाथोसौ रममाणो निरंतरम्
How does the Lord of the Pramathas, ever delighting, act continuously—
विटंकवेशो जटिलो वृषगोव्यालभूषणः 4.1.31.
With the appearance of a mendicant, matted hair, adorned with bull, cow, and serpent?
तदुदीरितमाकर्ण्य प्रणवात्मा सनातनः
Having heard what was thus spoken, the eternal one whose essence is Praṇava—
प्रणव उवाच कदाचिद्रमते रुद्रो लीलारूपधरो हरः
Praṇava said: Sometimes Rudra delights, taking on the form of sport, Hara.
असौ हि भगवानीशः स्वयंज्योतिः सनातनः
He is indeed the blessed Lord, self-luminous, eternal.
इत्येवमुक्तेपि तदा मखमूर्तेरजस्य हि
Even after this was spoken, at that time, regarding the sacrificial form of Brahmā—
प्रादुरासीत्ततो ज्योतिरुभयोरंतरे महत्
Then, a great light appeared between the two.
ज्योतिर्मंडलमध्यस्थो ददृशे पुरुषाकृतिः
Within the center of that luminous orb, a figure in human form was seen.
आवयोरंतरं कोसौ बिभृयात्पुरुषाकृतिम्
Who is this, bearing a human shape, standing between us?
स्रष्टा क्षणेन च महान्पुरुषो नीललोहितः
In an instant, the great Creator, blue and red in hue, appeared.
हिरण्यगर्भस्तं प्राह जाने त्वां चंद्रशेखरम्
Hiraṇyagarbha spoke to him: 'I know you, O wearer of the crescent moon.'
रोदनाद्रुद्रनामापि योजितोसि मया पुरा 4.1.31.
'Because you wept, I formerly gave you the name Rudra.'