धैर्यमालंब्य सर्वेऽपि समागम्येंद्रपूर्वकाः
All of them, led by Indra, gathered together, relying on courage.
किं निमित्तं तु भगवन्नेतदुत्पातदर्शने
O Lord, for what reason has this portent appeared?
जातं कल्पावसानं च भिन्नमर्यादसागरम्
Has the end of the age arrived, with the ocean of boundaries broken?
धरा समाधृता कस्मात्सप्तसागरवारिणा
Why is the earth supported by the water of the seven seas?
यादृशोऽयं श्रुतः शब्दो न भूतो नापि विश्रुतः 5.1.5.
Such a sound as this, heard now, has never existed nor been known.
एवमुक्तोऽब्रवीद्ब्रह्मा परमेशानुभावितः
Thus addressed, Brahmā, empowered by the Supreme Lord, spoke.
यत्पृष्टं मरुतः सर्वे शृणुध्वं तत्र कारणम्
That which you have all asked, O Maruts, listen now to its cause.
मुखं छित्त्वा नखाग्रेण मद्देहात्पंचमं शिरः
Cutting off the fifth head from my body with the tip of his nail,
ययाचे पात्रमादाय भिक्षां नारायणं प्रभुम्
He took a bowl and begged for alms from the Lord Nārāyaṇa.
ततः कुशस्थलीमेत्य भगवांस्तद्वनोत्तमम्
Then the Blessed One went to Kuśasthalī, that excellent forest.
अनुगृह्याथ भगवान्वनं तत्सर्वगांडजम्
Then the Blessed Lord blessed all the creatures of the forest, including those born from eggs.
तत्कपालं करस्थं यन्न्यस्तं भगवता क्षितौ
The skull that was in the Lord's hand was placed by him upon the earth.
तद्द्रक्ष्यथ विरूपाक्षं प्रपद्यत मया सह
You will see that deformed-eyed one; approach him together with me.
इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्ब्रह्मा सह तैर्देवदानवैः
Having spoken thus, the Blessed Brahmā, along with those gods and demons,
प्रहृष्टमनसः सर्वे कोकिलालापलापिताम् 5.1.5.
All of them, their hearts delighted, were charmed by the calls of cuckoos.
संप्राप्तं सर्वमेतैस्तद्वनं नंदनसंमितम्
All of them arrived at that forest, which resembled Nandana.
दृष्ट्वा तद्वनमुत्तमं तनुभृतामाह्रादकं चेतसां नानासत्फलपुष्पपादपवनैरासेवितं सर्वतः
Seeing that excellent forest, which delighted the minds of embodied beings, served everywhere by various trees bearing good fruits and flowers,
इह देवो ऽत्र देवोऽत्र विविशुस्ते दिदृक्षवः
Here is the god; here is the god; you have entered, desiring to see.
अद्भुतस्य वनस्यांते न ते ददृशिरे सुराः
At the edge of that wondrous forest, the gods did not see him.
तमुवाच स भद्रं वै द्रक्ष्यध्वं न तपो विना
He said to them: 'Truly, you will see, but not without austerity.'
स युक्तं हृदये स्मृत्वा ब्रह्मा देवांस्ततोऽब्रवीत्
Remembering this rightly in his heart, Brahmā then spoke to the gods:
श्रद्धाज्ञानेन तपसा योगेनैव निगद्यते
It is said that only by faith, knowledge, austerity, and yoga can he be known.
तपस्विनस्तु सकलं ज्ञानिनो निष्कलं परम्
Those devoted to austerity perceive the whole; the wise perceive the partless supreme.
भक्त्या परमयोपेताः परं पश्यंति योगिनः
Yogis endowed with supreme devotion behold the Supreme.
नादीक्षितैरतो देवाः शैवीं दीक्षां प्रपद्यत
Therefore, O gods, those not initiated should undertake the Śaiva initiation.
तपश्चरत भद्रं वो रुद्राराध नतत्पराः
Practice austerity, blessings to you; be intent on worshipping Rudra.
सर्वकालं विजानाति दातव्यं दर्शनं मया 5.1.6.
At all times he knows; the vision must be granted by me.
शिवेक्षाविष्टमतयो ब्रह्माणमिदमबुवन् ११. श्रुत्वेति वचनं ब्रह्मा प्रत्युवाच विचारितम्
Their minds fixed on the desire to see Śiva, they spoke thus to Brahmā. Hearing these words, Brahmā thoughtfully replied.
संदिदीक्षयिषुः क्षिप्रममराञ्छिवदीक्षया
Desiring to initiate the gods swiftly with the initiation of Shiva,
वेदी प्रकल्प्यतामत्र यष्टव्योऽष्टतनुः शिवः
Let an altar be prepared here; Shiva, the eight-formed, is to be worshipped.