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.
दत्तां नारायणेनाथ सत्पात्रे पात्र उत्तमे
Then Nārāyaṇa gave it to the best of worthy recipients.
संपूर्णं तव पात्रं हि ततो वै परमेश्वरः
Your vessel is now full; then the Supreme Lord—
शशिसूर्याग्नि नयनः शशिशेखरशोभितः 5.1.3.
He whose eyes are the moon, sun, and fire, adorned with the crescent moon.
अंगुल्या घटयन्प्राह कपालं चातिपूरितम्
Tapping the skull with his finger, he said, 'The vessel is overfilled.'
पार्श्वतोथ हरेरीशः स्वांगुल्या रुधिरं तदा
Then the Lord of Hari, with his own finger, drew blood from his side.
मथ्यमाने ततो रक्ते कललं बुद्बुदं क्रमात्
As the blood was churned, gradually scum and bubbles formed.
सहस्रबाहू रक्ताक्षो धनुर्ज्यां संस्पृशन्मुहुः
A thousand-armed one, red-eyed, repeatedly touched the bowstring.
पुरुषोऽर्जुनसंकाशः कपाले संप्रकाशयन्
A man, resembling Arjuna, became manifest in the skull.
कपाले भगवन्कोऽयं प्रादुर्भूतोऽभवन्नरः
In the skull, this blessed one, a man, appeared.
नरो नामेति पुरुषः परमास्त्रविदांवरः
This man is called Nara, foremost among masters of supreme weapons.