अद्य मे सफलं ज्ञानमद्य मे सफलं तपः 5.2.25.
Today my knowledge is fruitful; today my austerity is fruitful.
श्रुतं देवेन संप्रोक्तं स्नात्वा पश्यंति देहिनः
Having heard what was spoken by the god, embodied beings see after bathing...
तेजोमयं शरीरं तु ब्रह्मरूपं सनातनम्
A body made of light, truly the eternal form of Brahman.
कारणं श्रोतुमिच्छामि हृदि मे वर्त्तते चिरम्
I wish to hear the reason; it has long remained in my heart.
योगाभ्यासरतेनापि वत्सरांश्च त्रयोदश
Even though I was devoted to the practice of yoga for thirteen years...
अत्र मे संशयो जातः को हेतुः कथ्यतां भृशम्
Here, a doubt has arisen in me; tell me the cause in detail.
तस्य तद्वचन श्रुत्वा ततो वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing those words of his, then he spoke the following words.
महादेवमुपास्याशु मुने मुक्तिः सुदुर्लभा
O sage, liberation is very difficult to attain without quickly worshipping Mahādeva.
शृणुष्वैकमना विप्र कुरु यत्नं यथार्थतः
Listen attentively, O Brahmin, and make every effort as is proper.
शप्तोऽहं तैर्यदा विप्रैस्तदा मे तोषिता भृशम्
When I was cursed by those Brahmins, I was greatly satisfied.
मुक्तिकामो महाकाले मुक्तिर्ब्राह्मणसत्तमः 5.2.25.
O best of Brahmins, one who desires liberation at the time of great death attains liberation.
मुक्तीश्वरं तदा लिंगं तस्याग्रे कथयिष्यसि
Then, before that Liṅga which is the Lord of Liberation, you shall speak.
पूर्वं हि चिह्नितं कर्म देहिनो न विमुंचति
Indeed, the karma previously marked does not leave the embodied being.
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा स विप्रो ब्रह्मवित्तमः
Hearing these words, that Brāhmin, foremost knower of Brahman,
दिष्ट्या त्वमागतो भूप दिष्ट्या ते संगतं मया
"By fortune you have come, O king; by fortune I have met you,"
इत्युक्त्वा नृपविप्रौ तौ मुक्तिलिंगं समा गतौ
Having spoken thus, the king and the Brāhmin together approached the Mukti Liṅga.
तत्क्षणात्सशरीरौ तौ तस्मिँल्लिंगे लयं गतौ
In that very moment, both with their bodies dissolved into that Liṅga.
अस्य लिंगस्य संस्पर्शान्मुक्तिर्भवति नान्यथा अपि पापसमायुक्तः स याति परमां गतिम्
By the touch of this Liṅga, liberation is attained, not otherwise; even one beset with sin reaches the supreme state.
रे मूढाः किं तपोभिश्च किं दानैर्नियमैश्च किम्
O fools, what use are austerities, what use are gifts and observances?
न मां विदुर्देवगणा नासुरा न महर्षयः
The hosts of gods do not know me, nor the Asuras, nor the great sages.
न मे वेत्ति परं रूपं स्वयं साक्षात्प्रजापतिः 5.2.25.
Even Prajāpati himself does not truly know my supreme form.
यदेतद्दृश्यते तेजो लिंगरूपं यशस्विनि
O illustrious one, this radiance which is seen in the form of the Liṅga—
अनेकजन्मसंशुद्धा योगिनोऽनुग्रहान्मम
Yogis purified by many births, through my grace,
ईश्वर उवाच यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण निष्कलंको नरो भवेत्
Īśvara said: By merely seeing whom a man becomes stainless—
अत्रिर्नाम महाभागो ब्रह्मणो मानसः सुतः
There was Atri by name, greatly fortunate, the mind-born son of Brahmā.
तस्य पुत्रोऽभवत्सोमो दक्षोथ मातृभागतः
His son was Soma; then, through a share of the mothers, Dakṣa.
सोमपत्न्यो हि मंतव्यास्तासां श्रेष्ठा तु रोहिणी
The wives of Soma are to be considered; among them, Rohiṇī is the best.
इतराः प्रोचुरागत्य दक्षस्याग्रे यथातथम्
The others, having come, spoke as was fitting before Dakṣa.
यदा न वारितस्तस्थौ दक्षः कुद्धस्तदा प्रिये
When Daksha, enraged, was not restrained, O beloved, he remained steadfast.
एवं शप्तस्तु सोमो वै तदा ह्यंतर्हितोऽभवत्
Thus cursed, Soma at that moment disappeared.