गच्छाम शरणं देवं निस्तेजा ब्रह्मतेजसा
'Let us seek refuge in the god, our power diminished by Brahmā's energy.'
तं भीममत्र दक्ष्यामो भक्त्या नान्येन केनचित् चक्रुः स्तोत्रं महेशस्य परया स्वरसंपदा
'We will propitiate that terrible one here with devotion, and by no other means.' They composed a hymn to Maheśa with supreme melodic skill.
नमस्ते देवदेवेश महेश्वर नमोनमः
Salutations to you, Lord of gods, great Lord—again and again, salutations.
न विद्मः परमं मूढा महिमानं तवातुलम्
We, being deluded, do not know your supreme, incomparable greatness.
प्रतिष्ठा सर्वभूतानां हेतुः सर्वस्य सर्जने
You are the foundation of all beings, the cause of all creation.
नामसंकीर्तनादेव मुच्यन्ते जंतवोऽशुभात्
By the mere chanting of your names, creatures are freed from misfortune.
मूर्तयस्ते महादेव व्याप्तमाभिरशेषतः
Your forms, O great god, have pervaded everything completely.
नावबुध्यति सर्वेश सर्वमूर्तिधरो यतः त्वं करोषि युगावर्तकाले काले च दुःसहम् ।। 5.1.2.
O Lord of all, no one comprehends you, the bearer of all forms, for you perform the difficult acts at the turning of the ages and in due time.
प्रसन्नवदनो भूत्वा देवैश्चापि नमस्कृतः
With a cheerful face, he was honored by the gods.
वासयन्मोहनाम्ना तु सह देवैर्महेश्वरः
Together with the gods, Maheśvara began to play the enchanting melody called Mohana.
एवं संस्तूयमानोऽसौ देवर्षिपितृमानवैः
Thus, he was praised by the gods, sages, ancestors, and humans.
त्वया कारुण्यतोऽस्माकं वरश्चापि प्रदीयताम्
Out of compassion, grant us a boon as well.
यदस्माकं महद्वीर्यं तेजश्चैव पराक्रमम्
Whatever great strength, brilliance, and valor we possess—
विनेशुः सर्वतेजांसि त्वत्प्रसादात्पुनः प्रभो
All powers were subdued, O Lord, but by your favor they returned again.
जगाम तत्र यत्रासौ रजोऽहंकारमूर्त्तिमान्
He went there, where the embodiment of rajas and ego was present.
ब्रह्मा तमागतं देवं नाजानात्तमसा वृतः
Brahmā, covered by darkness, did not recognize that god who had arrived.
तदाऽदृश्यत विश्वात्मा विश्वसृग्विश्वभाव नः
Then the Soul of the Universe, the Creator and Essence of all, appeared to us.
तेजसाभिभवन्रुद्रस्तेन मत्तोऽग्रतः स्थितः 5.1.2.
Rudra, shining with radiance, stood before him, overpowering him with his brilliance.
रात्रौ प्रकाशकिरणश्चंद्रः सूर्योदये यथा
Like the moon shining at night or at sunrise, so was his radiance.
अवन्दत करेणैव प्राह वै सस्मितं वचः
He bowed with his hand and spoke words with a smile.
यतो न वेद परमं देवं तत्तेजसावृतः
Because, covered by that brilliance, he did not know the Supreme God.
पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां शृण्वतां वाचमुक्तवान्
In the sight of all the gods, and as they listened, he spoke these words.
तेजोराशिशशांकाभः शशांकार्काग्निलोचनः
He was like a mass of light, resembling the moon, with eyes like the moon, sun, and fire.
चकर्त कदलीगर्भं नरः कररुहैरिव
He split the banana stalk as a man would with his fingernails.
रुद्रस्य तेजसा तस्मान्मो हितो न नतिं गतः
Struck by Rudra’s radiance, he was bewildered and did not bow.
अपश्यद्दैवतैः सार्धं रौद्रमतिभयाज्ज्वलत्
Together with the gods, he saw the fierce, blazing form, and was greatly afraid.
ग्रहमण्डलमध्यस्थो द्वितीय इव चन्द्रमाः
He stood in the center of the planetary sphere, like a second moon.
शिखरस्थेन सूर्येण कैलास इव पर्वतः तुष्टुवुर्विविधैः स्तोत्रैर्देवदेवं कपालिनम् ।। 5.1.2.
With the sun stationed at its peak, like Mount Kailāsa among mountains, they praised the Lord of gods, the bearer of the skull, with various hymns.
ऐश्वर्यज्ञानयुक्ताय सर्वभोगप्रदायिने
To you, endowed with lordly power and knowledge, bestower of all enjoyments,
कालसंहारकर्ता त्वं महाकालस्ततो ह्यसि
You are the agent of time's destruction; therefore, you are the Great Time.