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.
विनीतवेषाः प्रणता अनेन सस्तमन्वगुः
With humble attire, those who had bowed followed him with pure minds.
यज्ञं चकार विधिना वेधाश्चन्द्रार्धधारिणः
The Creator performed the sacrifice according to the rite for the bearer of the crescent moon.
अनुग्रहेण देवांस्तानकारयत भावतः
By his favor, he caused the gods to perform those acts with devotion.
तेभ्यो ददौ देवताभ्यः स तदप्यविरोधवित्
He gave to those deities, and he did so without opposition.
शैवं यथोदितं यच्च आगमाचारचेष्टितम्
Whatever is prescribed as Shaiva, and the practices from tradition and conduct,
सर्वानुग्राहकः शंभुः सर्वदेवैः प्रकल्पितम् 5.1.6.
Shambhu, benefactor of all, was established by all the gods.
तत्तेभ्यो विस्मयं त्यक्त्वा प्रायच्छत्कनकांडजः
Then, abandoning their astonishment, the one born from gold gave to them.
पापघ्रं दुःखशमनं पुष्टिश्रीबलवर्धनम्
It destroys sin, removes suffering, and increases nourishment, prosperity, and strength.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन भस्मस्नानं समाहिताः
Therefore, with all effort and concentration, bathe with ashes.
सर्वे कमंडलुधराः सर्वे रुद्राक्षधारिणः
All bore water pots; all wore Rudraksha beads.
एवं व्रतधराः सर्वे वने तस्मिन्महेश्वरम्
Thus, all those observing vows in that forest worshipped the great Lord.
भक्त्या परमया युक्ता विधिना परमेण च
Endowed with supreme devotion and performing the highest rite,
रुद्रध्यानाग्निनिर्दग्धकल्मषाश्च श्रियान्विताः
Their sins burned away by the fire of meditation on Rudra, they were endowed with prosperity.
समचीकरन्प्रत्युक्ता ब्रह्मापीशानभावितः
Even Brahma, addressed in return, acted with devotion to the Lord.
गते वर्षसहस्रे स दिव्ये देवेश्वरेश्वरः
When a thousand divine years had passed, the Lord of the gods of gods,
गणैर्नानाविधैः सार्धं नानाभूषणभूषितैः 5.1.6.
Together with various hosts, adorned with diverse ornaments,
कामरूपैरकामैश्च सर्वकामसमन्वितैः
With forms shaped by desire and by absence of desire, endowed with every fulfillment of wishes,
अणिमादि गुणैर्दिव्यैर्योगैश्वर्यादिनामभिः
With the divine powers beginning with aṇimā and the rest, and with the yogic lordships so named,
व्याघ्रव्यालाननै रौद्रैः काककंकवटैस्तथा
With fierce faces of tigers and wild beasts, and likewise with crows, herons, and bats,
अरूपैः समरूपैश्च सुरूपैर्बहुरूपकैः
With formless, formed, beautiful, and many-shaped figures,