पितृकाननसंवासं शूलिनं च कपालिनम्
He dwells in the ancestral forest, wields the trident, and bears the skull.
कलंकिकृतमौलिं च धूलिधूसरचर्चितम्
His crown is stained, his body smeared with dust and ashes.
क्वचिच्च चर्मवसनं क्वचिद्भिक्षाटनप्रियम्
Sometimes he wears garments of skin, sometimes he delights in wandering for alms.
रुद्रं रौद्रपरीवारं महाकालवपुर्धरम् 4.2.88.
He is Rudra, surrounded by fierce attendants, bearing the form of Mahākāla.
न सम्यग्वेत्ति तं कश्चिज्जानानोपि प्रतारितः
No one truly knows him; even those who know are misled.
क्व पांसुलपटच्छन्नो महाशंखविभूषणः
Where is he, covered in dusty cloth, adorned with great conch ornaments?
डमड्डमरुकव्यग्र हस्ताग्रः खंडचंद्रभृत्
His hand is busy with the ḍamaru drum, he bears the crescent moon.
मृडानि सहरः क्वाऽयमध्वरो मंगलालयः
Where is Mṛḍa, with the mountain, and where is this sacrificial, auspicious abode?
दुकूलान्यनुकूलानि रत्नालंकृतयः शुभाः
Fine garments, agreeable, adorned with jewels, auspicious in appearance.
इह मंगलवेशेषु देवेंद्रेषु स शूलधृक्
Here, among the auspiciously dressed gods and lords, he stands holding the trident.
इत्याकर्ण्य सती साध्वी जनेतुरुदितं तदा
Thus, hearing what her mother had spoken, Sati, the virtuous one, listened.
सत्युवाच नाकर्णितं मया किंचित्त्वयि प्रब्रुवति प्रभो
Sati spoke: 'Nothing was unheard by me while you, O Lord, were speaking.'
न सम्यग्वेत्ति तं कश्चिज्जानानोपि प्रतारितः
No one truly understands him, even those who know are led astray.
त्वं तु प्रतारितः पूर्वमधुनापि प्रतारितः 4.2.88.
But you were deceived before, and even now you are deceived.
यादृशं वक्षितं शंभुं तादृशं यद्यमन्यथाः
If you describe Śambhu as he is, but others speak differently—
अथवा तेन संबंधे न हेतुर्भवतो मतिः
Or, in that connection, your mind does not find a reason.
अथोक्त्वैवं बहुतरं त्वं जनेतास्य वर्ष्मणः
Or, having spoken thus at length, you will cause the birth of his form.
पुरश्चरणमेवैतद्यदस्यैव विसर्जनम् यावज्जीवितनाथस्याश्रवणीया विगर्हणा
This very act of dismissal is a rite for him, as long as the lord of life lives, reproach will be heard.
इत्युक्त्वा क्रोधदीप्ताग्नौ महादेवस्वरूपिणि
Having said this, in the fire blazing with anger, in the form of Mahādeva—
ततो विवर्णतां प्राप्ताः सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः
Then all the gods, along with Indra, became discolored.
मंत्राः कुंठितसामर्थ्यास्तत्क्षणादेव चाभवन्
The mantras immediately lost their power.
केचिदूचुर्द्विजवरा मिथः परियियासवः
Some of the best of the twice-born said to each other, wishing to depart.
मखमंडप भूस्तेन क्षणतः स्थपुटीकृता
The sacrificial pavilion was instantly reduced to ashes by that.
दिवश्चोल्काः प्रपतिताः पिशाचा नृत्यमादधुः 4.2.88.
Flames fell from the sky, and piśācas began to dance.
दक्षोपि वदनग्लानिमवाप्य सपरिच्छदः
Dakṣa too, along with his retinue, was overcome by weakness in his face.
पुनः स नारदोऽगस्त्य देव्याः प्राक्समुपागतः
Again, Nārada and Agastya approached the goddess from the east.
दृष्ट्वा स नारदः शंभुं नंदिना सह संकथाम्
Seeing Śambhu with Nandī engaged in conversation, Nārada—
उपाविशच्च शैलादि विसृष्टासनमुत्तमम्
Sat down on the excellent seat offered by the mountain lord.
आकारेणैव सर्वज्ञस्तद्वृत्तांतं विवेद ह
By his very appearance, the all-knowing one understood the entire event.
शरारिणां स्थितिरियमुत्पत्तिप्रलयात्मिका
This is the state of embodied beings, consisting of creation and dissolution.