क्रीडेयं तव देवेश त्रिलोचन महामते
Is this play of yours, O Lord of gods, Three-eyed one, of great wisdom?
किमर्थं भगवत्र्छंभो भिक्षां चरसि शक्तिप
For what purpose, O blessed Śambhu, bearer of power, do you wander for alms?
एवमुक्तस्ततः शंभुर्विष्णुमेतदुदाहरत्
Thus addressed, Śambhu then spoke this to Viṣṇu:
तदघप्रतिघं विष्णो चराम्येतद्व्रतं शुभम्
O Viṣṇu, I observe this auspicious vow to counteract sin.
स्मित्वा किंचिन्नतशिराः पुनरेवं व्यजिज्ञपत्
Smiling slightly and bowing his head, he again addressed him thus:
मायया मां महादेव नच्छादयितुमर्हसि
Do not, O great god, cover me with your illusion.
कल्पे कल्पे सृजामीश त्वन्नियोगबलाद्विभो
In every cycle, O Lord, I create by the force of your command, O mighty one.
मदाद्यो महादेव मायया तव मोहिताः
O great god, all these gods, beginning with me, are deluded by your illusion.
संहारकाले संप्राप्ते सदेवानखिलान्मुनीन् 4.1.31.
When the time of dissolution arrives, with all the gods and sages present,
तदा क्व ते महादेव पाप ब्रह्मवधादिकम्
Then, O Mahadeva, where is your sin, such as the killing of Brahmins and others?
अतीतब्रह्मणामस्थ्नां स्रक्कंठे तव भासते
The garland of bones of past Brahmins shines upon your neck.
कृत्वापि सुमहत्पापं त्वां यः स्मरति भावतः
Even one who has committed a great sin, if he remembers you with devotion,
यथा तमो न तिष्ठेत संनिधावंशुमालिनः
Just as darkness cannot remain in the presence of the radiant one,
यश्चिंतयति पुण्यात्मा तव पादांबुजद्वयम्
Whoever, with a pure soul, contemplates your pair of lotus feet,
तव नामानुरक्ता वाग्यस्य पुंसो जगत्पते
O Lord of the world, whose speech is devoted to your name,
रजसा तमसा विवर्धितं क्व नु पापं परितापदायकम्
Where then is the sin, increased by passion and ignorance, that brings distress?
यदि जातुचिदंधकद्विषस्तवनामौष्ठपुटाद्विनिःसृतम्
If ever, from the lips of the enemy of the Andhakas, your name is uttered,
परमात्मन्परंधाम स्वेच्छा विधृत विग्रह
Supreme Self, supreme abode, who has assumed form by your own will,
अद्य धन्योस्मि देवेश यं न पश्यति योगिनः 4.1.31.
Today I am blessed, O Lord of gods, whom even yogis do not see.
अवियोगोऽस्तु मे देव त्वदंघ्रियुगलेन वै 4.1.31.
May I never be separated, O Lord, from your pair of feet.
ब्रह्महत्यादि पापानि यस्या नाम्नोपि कीर्तनात् 4.1.31.
Even the sins of killing Brahmins and others are destroyed by the mere recitation of whose name.
महाश्मशानमासाद्य यदि देवाद्विपद्यते 4.1.31.
If, upon reaching the great cremation ground, one falls from the gods,
तीर्थे कालोदके स्नात्वा कृत्वा तर्पणमत्वरः 4.1.31.
Having bathed in the sacred waters of the holy place and performed the offering without delay,
कोसौ कस्य सुतः श्रीमान्कीदृगस्य तपो महत्
Who is he, whose son is he, O illustrious one, and what is his great austerity?
कथं च देवदेवस्य प्रियत्वं समुपेयिवान्
And how did he attain the favor of the god of gods?
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं प्रसादं कुरु मे विभो
I wish to hear this, O Lord; grant me your grace.
संभ्रमो विभ्रमश्चोभौ कथं तदनुगामिनौ
How do both confusion and delusion follow in its wake?
कुंभसंभव विप्रर्षे दंडपाणि कथानकम्
O sage born from a pot, tell the tale of Daṇḍapāṇi.
यदाकर्ण्य नरः प्राज्ञ काशीवासस्य यत्फलम्
Hearing which, O wise one, a man attains the fruit of dwelling in Kāśī.
रत्नभद्र इति ख्यातः पर्वते गंधमादने
There was one named Ratnabhadra, renowned on Mount Gandhamādana.