सर्वभुक्सर्वकर्ता त्वं सर्वसंहारकारक 4.2.73.
You are the eater of all, the doer of all, the cause of all destruction.
त्वमेव हि शरण्यं मे त्वमेव हि गतिः परा 4.2.73.
You alone are my refuge; you alone are my highest goal.
सुरश्रेष्ठ तपःश्रेष्ठ सर्वाम्नाय निधिर्भव 4.2.73.
O best among gods, best in austerity, be the repository of all traditions.
अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां तीर्थानि सह सागरैः 4.2.73.
On the eighth and the fourteenth days, the sacred places together with the oceans.
केवलं भूमिभाराय जन्मिनो जन्म तस्य वै 4.2.73.
Indeed, beings are born solely for the burden of the earth.
स्तुवन्ब्रह्म स्तवेनैव स्वात्मना विहितेन हि ।।4.2.73.
He praised Brahma with a hymn composed by his own self.
ब्रह्मस्तवमिमं जप्त्वा त्रिकालं परिवत्सरम्
Reciting this hymn to Brahma three times a day for a year—
पद्मकल्पे तु या वृत्ता दमनस्य द्विजन्मनः
Now, in the Padma Kalpa, there occurred the story of Damana, the twice-born.
भारद्वाजस्य तनयो दमनो नाम नामतः
Damana was the son of Bharadvaja, so named by name.
संसारदुःखबहुलं जीवितं चापि चंचलम्
Life, full of the many pains of worldly existence, is also unstable.
कांचिद्दिशं समालंब्य निर्वेदं परमं गतः
Taking up a certain direction, he attained supreme dispassion.
प्रतितीर्थं प्रतिनदि स बभ्राम तपोयुतः
He wandered, endowed with austerity, to every sacred ford and river.
अध्युवास स तावंति संयतेंद्रियमानसः
He dwelt there for some time, with senses and mind restrained.
मनोरथोपदेष्टा च कुत्रचित्क्वापि नेक्षितः
The instructor of his desires was nowhere to be seen.
रेवातटे निरैक्षिष्ट तीर्थं चामरकंटकम्
On the bank of the Reva, he beheld the holy place Amarakaṇṭaka.
दृष्ट्वा हृष्टमना आसीच्चेतः स्थैर्यमवाप ह
Seeing it, his mind became joyful and he attained steadiness of heart.
विभूतिभूषिततनून्कृतलिंगसमर्चनान् 4.2.74.
He saw those whose bodies were adorned with sacred ashes, engaged in the worship of the liṅga.
स्वस्थोपविष्टान्स्वपुरोरग्रतोऽचलमानसान्
Seated at ease before him in their own city, their minds unshaken.
प्रबद्धहस्तयुगलः प्रणमतरकंधरः
With hands joined and head bowed, he offered his reverence.
वार्धकेन समाक्रांतस्तपसा कृशविग्रहः
Overcome by old age, his body emaciated by austerity.
पप्रच्छ दमनं चेति कस्त्वं कस्मादिहागतः
He asked Damana: 'Who are you? For what reason have you come here?'
भगोः पाशुपताचार्य सर्वज्ञाराधनप्रिय
The teacher of the Pāśupata path, devoted to the worship of the all-knowing Lord Bhaga.
कथयामि यथार्थं ते निजचेतोविचेष्टितम्
I will tell you truly the movements of my own mind.
संसारासारतां ज्ञात्वा वानप्रस्थमशिश्रियम्
Recognizing the futility of worldly existence, I embraced the life of a forest-dweller.
स्नातं बहुषु तीर्थेषु मंत्रा जप्तास्तु कोटिशः
I have bathed at many sacred fords, and recited mantras by the millions.
शुश्रूषिताश्च गुरवो बहवो बह्वनेहसम्
I have served many teachers, most of whom were free from faults.
शिखराणि गिरींद्राणां मया चाध्युषितान्यहो 4.2.74.
I have dwelled upon the peaks of the great mountains, indeed.
रसायनानि बहुशः सेवितानि मया पुनः
I have repeatedly practiced many kinds of alchemical preparations.
मया प्रविष्टा बहुशः कृतांतवदनोपमाः
I have entered many places resembling the face of Death.
परं किंचित्क्वचिन्नैक्षि सिद्ध्यंकुरमपि प्रभो
Yet, O Lord, I did not see anywhere even a trace of true accomplishment.