कृत्वाप्यघान्येव महांत्यपीह धर्मेश्वरार्चां सकृदेव कुर्वन्
Even after committing great sins here, one who worships the Lord of Dharma even once—
पत्रेण पुष्पेण जलेन दूर्वया यो धर्मधर्मेश्वरमर्चयिष्यति
With a leaf, a flower, water, or dūrvā grass, whoever will worship Dharma and the Lord of Dharma—
त्वत्तो विभेष्यंति कृतैनसो ये भयं न तेषां भविता कदाचित्
Those who have committed offenses will be freed from fear by you; fear will never arise for them.
यदत्र दास्यंति हि धर्मपीठे नरा द्युनद्यां कृतमज्जनाश्च
Whatever offerings are made here at the seat of Dharma by men, and those who have bathed in the celestial river—
ये कार्तिके मासि सिताष्टमी तिथौ यात्रां करिष्यंति नरा उपोषिताः
Those men who, during the month of Kārtika, on the bright eighth lunar day, undertake pilgrimage while fasting—
स्तुतिं च ये वै त्वदुदीरितामिमां नराः पठिष्यंति तवाग्रतः क्वचित्
And those men who recite this praise spoken by you, at any time in your presence—
पुनर्वरं ब्रूहि यथेप्सितं ददे तेजोनिधेर्नंदन धर्मराज
Speak again your desired boon; I grant it to you, O son of the radiant source, O King of Dharma.
प्रसन्नमूर्तिं स विलोक्य शंकरं कारुण्यपूर्णं स्वमनोरथाभिदम्
Seeing Śaṃkara with a gracious form, filled with compassion, expressing one's own wishes—
आनंदबाष्पसलिलरुद्धकंठं विलोक्य तम्
Seeing him, whose throat was choked with tears of joy—
अथ तत्स्पर्शसौख्येन धर्मराजो महातपाः
Then, by the bliss of that touch, the great ascetic King of Dharma—
ततः प्रोवाच स ब्राध्निर्देव देवमुमापतिम्
Then he, the radiant one, spoke to the god, the consort of Umā—
प्रसन्नोसि यदीशान सर्वज्ञ करुणानिधे
If you are pleased, O Lord, all-knowing, ocean of compassion—
यं न वेदा विदुः सम्यङ्न च तौ वेदपूरुषौ
Whom the Vedas do not fully know, nor do those two Vedic sages—
श्रीकंठांडज डिंभानाममीषां मधुरब्रुवाम्
Of these sweet-speaking offspring of Śrīkaṇṭha and the egg-born—
पितृभ्यां परिहीनानामितिहास कथाविदाम्
Of those deprived of their fathers, and those who know the stories of tradition—
एतत्प्रसूतिसमये आमयेन प्रपीडिता
At the time of their birth, afflicted by disease—
रक्षितानामनाथानां सदा मन्मुखदर्शिनाम्
Of those who are protected, who are without guardians, and who always gaze upon my face,
इति धर्मवचः श्रुत्वा परोपकृतिनिर्मलम् 4.2.79.१
Having heard these words of Dharma, pure and devoted to the welfare of others,
उवाच धर्मेति प्रीतः शुकशावानिदं वचः
Pleased, Śukaśāvān spoke these words, addressing Dharma thus:
को वरो भवता देयो धर्मेश परिचारिणाम्
"What boon should be granted by you, Lord of Dharma, to those who serve you?"
इति श्रुत्वा महेशस्य वचनं ते पतत्त्रिणः
Hearing these words of Maheśa, those birds replied:
इतोपि त्र्यक्ष यत्साक्षात्तिर्यक्त्वेपि समीक्षिताः
"Moreover, O Three-eyed One, even when born as animals, we have directly beheld you.
लाभाः संतूद्यमवतां गिरीशेह परः शताः
May there be hundreds of supreme gains here, O Lord of Mountains, for those who strive!
यदेतद्दृश्यते नाथ तत्सर्वं क्षणभंगुरम्
Whatever is seen here, O Lord, all of it is momentary and perishable.
विचित्रजन्मकोटीनां स्मृतिर्नोत्र परिस्फुरेत्
Among the countless varieties of births, memory does not arise here.
देवयोनिरपि प्राप्ता चिरमस्माभिरीशितः
We have long attained even the divine birth, O Lord.
आसुरी दानवी नागी नैर्ऋती चापि कैन्नरी
We have been Asuras, Dānavas, Nāgas, Nairṛtas, and Kinnaras as well.
नरत्वे भूपतित्वं च परिप्राप्तमनेकशः 4.2.79.
We have attained human birth and kingship many times.
वने वनौकसो जाता ग्रामेषु ग्रामवासिनः
We have been born as forest-dwellers in the woods, and as villagers in the villages.
सुखिनोपि वयं जाता दुःखिनो वयमास्म च
We have been born happy, and we have also been born miserable.