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.
शंकरोप्याशु भक्तानां तेन त्वं शंकरः स्मृतः
You swiftly bring happiness to your devotees; for this reason, you are remembered as Śaṃkara.
तेन देव कपाली त्वं स्तुतो ह्यसि प्रसीद नः
Therefore, O god Kapālī, you are praised; be gracious to us.
कृपानिधिः स भगवांस्तत्रैवांतरधीयत सितविधृतकपालो मालया रुद्रपार्श्वे स जयति जितवेधा ऊर्जितः प्राज्यतेजाः
That blessed one, a treasury of compassion, vanished there itself; the one holding a white skull, garlanded, at Rudra's side—he triumphs, having conquered the creator, mighty and radiant.
ललाटे स्वदमुत्पन्नं गृहीत्वाऽताडयद्भुवि
He took the sweat that arose on his forehead and struck it upon the earth.
तत्स्वेदात्कुंडली जज्ञे सधनुः समहेषुधिः
From that sweat was born Kuṇḍalī, armed with a bow and great arrows.
तमुवाच विरंचिस्तु दर्शयन्रुद्रमोजसा
Brahmā spoke to him, displaying Rudra's energy.
ब्रह्मणो वचनं श्रुत्वा धनुरुद्यम्य पृष्ठतः
Hearing Brahmā's words, he raised his bow and stood behind him.
स दृष्ट्वा पुरुषं चोग्रमगमद्विस्मितो भवः
Seeing that fierce man, Bhava was astonished.
मया न वध्योऽतिबलः सखा विष्णोर्भविष्यति
He is not to be slain by me; he will become the powerful friend of Viṣṇu.
चिंतयन्नित्थमीशोऽपि विष्णोराश्रममभ्यगात्
Thinking thus, the Lord went to Viṣṇu's hermitage.
प्रपात्य च तदा हृष्टः क्रीडां कुर्वञ्जगत्स्थितौ
Arriving there, delighted, he engaged in play upon the earth.
अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां विश्वात्मा विश्वसृग्विभुः
Invisible to all beings, the soul of the universe, the creator and sovereign of all.
एकांगुष्ठस्थितं भूमौ तपोऽत्यंतमनातुरम् 5.1.3.
Standing on the earth upon a single toe, he performed extreme austerity, undisturbed.
पुण्या धारसमायुक्तं पुराणपुरुषोत्तमम्
The ancient, supreme person, endowed with a stream of merit.
कपालं दर्शयित्वाग्रे ज्वलज्ज्वलनसोत्कटम्
He displayed a skull before them, fierce with blazing fire.
कोऽन्यो योग्यो भवेद्भिक्षुर्भिक्षादानस्य सांप्रतम्
Who else would be fit now to receive alms as a mendicant?
तं बिभेदांतर्गतज्ञः शूलेन शशिशेखरः
Knowing what was within him, the moon-crested one pierced him with his trident.
जांबूनदरसाकारा वह्निज्वालेव निर्मला
Clear as molten gold, pure as a tongue of fire.
ऋज्वी वेगवती शिप्रा दीधितीवांबरे रवेः
Straight and swift flowed the Śiprā, like a ray of the sun in the sky.
दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं सा समुवाह हरेर्भुजात्
For a divine thousand years, she bore it from the arm of Hari.