अब्रवीत्परुषं वाक्यं भर्त्सयंश्च पुनःपुनः
He spoke harsh words, repeatedly rebuking him.
सृष्टस्त्वं हि मया मूढ प्रथमोऽहमसंशयम् 7.3.34.
You were indeed created by me, fool; I am the first, without doubt.
एवं विवदमानौ तौ मिथो राजन्महाद्युती
Thus, O King, those two of great splendor argued with each other.
मुष्टिभिर्बाहुभिश्चैव नखैर्दंतैर्विकर्षणैः
With fists, arms, nails, teeth, and by pulling, they fought.
ततो वर्षसहस्रांते तयोर्मध्ये नृपोत्तम
Then, at the end of a thousand years, between those two, O best of kings—
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
At that very moment, a bodiless voice spoke.
एतन्माहेश्वरं लिंगं योऽस्य चांते गमिष्यति
Whoever among you reaches the end of this great liṅga of Maheśvara—
अधोभागं व्रजत्वेक एकश्चोर्द्ध्वं ममाज्ञया
Let one go downward and one upward, by my command.
विदार्य वसुधां कृष्णोऽप्यधस्तात्सत्वरं गतः तावत्कालाग्निरुद्रस्तु दृष्टस्तेन महात्मना
Splitting the earth, Kṛṣṇa quickly went below; there, that great soul saw Kālāgni Rudra.
गंतुमिच्छंस्ततोऽधस्ताद्यावद्वेगं करोति सः
Desiring to go further downward, he moved with all his speed.
ततो मूर्छाभिसंतप्तो दह्यमानोऽद्भुताग्निना
Then, tormented by faintness, burning from that wondrous fire—
तथा लिंगं समासाद्य भक्त्या पूजा कृता ततः 7.3.34.
Thus, having reached the liṅga, he performed worship there with devotion.
ब्रह्माऽपि व्योममार्गेण गतो हंसविमानतः
Brahmā too went by the path of the sky, in his swan-chariot.
ततो वर्षसहस्रांते केतकीं सोऽप्यपश्यत
Then, at the end of a thousand years, he saw the ketakī flower.
क्व त्वया गम्यते ब्रह्मन्निरालंबे महापथि
Where are you going, O Brahmā, on this endless great path?
लिंगस्यास्य हि पर्यंतं यो लभिष्यति चावयोः
Whoever among us attains the end of this liṅga—
स ज्यायानितरो हीनो ह्येतदुक्तं पिनाकिना
He is the greater; the other is lesser—so has Pinākin said.
लब्ध्वा लिंगस्य पर्यंतं यास्यामि क्षितिमंडले
Having found the end of the liṅga, I will return to the earth.
व्यर्थश्रमोऽसि लोकेश नांतो लिंगस्य विद्यते
Your effort is in vain, O Lord of the world; there is no end to the liṅga.
लिंगमूर्ध्नः पतंत्या मे कालो जातो महाद्युते
As I fell from the summit of the liṅga, O one of great splendor, time passed.
यावत्कालेन हंसस्ते योजनं संप्रगच्छति
For as long as the swan travels a yojana in time,
तस्मान्निवर्तनं युक्तं मम वाक्येन ते विभो 7.3.34.
Therefore, it is proper to turn back, as I have said to you, O Lord.
ततो हृष्टमना भूत्वा गृहीत्वा तां चतुर्मुखः दर्शयामास तां विष्णोरेषा लिंगस्य मूर्धतः
Then, becoming joyful in mind and taking it, the Four-faced One showed it to Viṣṇu; this is from the top of the liṅga.
मयाऽऽनीता शुभा माला लब्धश्चांतं चतुर्भुज
The auspicious garland was brought by me, and the Four-armed One obtained its end.
नाहं शक्तः परं पारं गंतुं ब्रह्मन्कथंचन
I am not able, O Brahman, to reach the farthest limit in any way.
यदि त्वयाऽस्य पर्यंतो लब्धो ब्रह्मन्कथंचन
If you have somehow found the end of this, O Brahman,
नान्यथा चास्य पर्यंतो दृश्यते केन चित्क्वचित्
Otherwise, the end of this is not seen by anyone anywhere.
कोपं चक्रे महाराज ब्रह्माणं प्रति तत्क्षणात्
The great king became angry with Brahmā at that very moment.
अथाह दर्शनं गत्वा धिग्धिग्व्यर्थप्रजल्पक
Then, having gone to the witness, he said: 'Fie, fie upon the one who speaks uselessly!'
यस्मात्त्वया मृषा प्रोक्तं मम पर्यंतदर्शनम्
Because you have falsely claimed to have seen my limit,