दक्षस्य यज्ञं विशति क्षयङ्करे जातो ऋषीणां प्रवरो हि साध्वसः
He who brings destruction entered Daksha’s sacrifice, and the foremost of the seers was struck with fear.
तस्मात् स्थानादपाक्रम्य कुब्जाम्रे ऽन्तर्हितः स्थितः
Withdrawing from that place, he remained hidden within the crooked mango tree.
सा तु जाता सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा सीता नाम सरस्वती
She became the best of rivers, named Sita Sarasvati.
कान्दिशीका लयं जग्मुः समभ्येत्यैव शङ्करम्
The Kandishikas, approaching Shankara, attained dissolution.
समासाद्य पुरोडाशं भक्ष्याश्च महामुने
Having obtained the sacrificial cake and other foods, O great sage,
उत्पत्यरुह्य गगनं स्वमधिष्ठानमास्थितः
He sprang up, ascended the sky, and took his own abode.
पुष्पाञ्जलिपुटा भूत्वा प्रणताः संस्थिता मुने
With hands joined in offering flowers, they stood bowed, O sage.
शक्रादीनां सुरेशानां कृपणं विललाप ह
She lamented pitiably for Indra and the other lords of the gods.
तलप्रहारैरमरा बहवो विनिपातिताः
Many of the immortals were struck down by blows of the palm.
दृष्ट्यग्निना तथैवान्ये देवाद्याः प्रलयीकृताः
Others, including gods and the like, were destroyed by the fire of his gaze.
क्रोधाद् बाहू प्रसार्यथ प्रदुद्राव महेश्वरम्
Then, out of anger, he stretched out his arms and rushed at Maheśvara.
बाहुभ्यां प्रतिजग्राह करेणैकेन शङ्करः
Śaṅkara caught him with both arms, holding him with one hand.
कराङ्गुलिभ्यो निश्चेरुरसृग्धाराः समन्ततः
Streams of blood flowed from his fingers on all sides.
भ्रामयामास सततं सिंहो मृगशिशुं यथा
He swung him about constantly, like a lion with a young deer.
भुजौ हस्वत्वमापन्नौ त्रुटितस्नायुबन्धनौ
His arms became limp, the sinews and joints torn apart.
प्रोवाचैह्येहि कापालिन् पुनः पुनरथेश्वरम्
He said, 'Come here, Kāpālin,' again and again to the Lord of the chariot.
मुष्टिनाहत्य दशनाः पातिता धरणीतले
Struck by a fist, his teeth fell to the ground.
पपात भुवि निःसंज्ञो वज्राहत इवाचलः
He fell to the earth unconscious, like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt.
नेत्राभ्यां घोररूपाभ्यां वृषध्वजमवैक्षत
With his two terrible eyes, he looked at Vṛṣadhvaja.
निपातयामास भुवि क्षोभयन्सर्वदेवताः
He cast him down to the ground, agitating all the gods.
नमस्कृत्य ततः सर्वे तस्थुः प्राञ्जलयो मुने
Then, having bowed, they all stood with joined palms, O sage.
ददर्श दग्धुं कोपेन सर्वांश्चैव सुरामुरान्
In his wrath, he looked to burn up all the gods and asuras.
भयादन्ये हरं दृष्ट्वा गता वैवस्वतक्षयम्
Out of fear, seeing Hara, others went to the abode of Yama.
दृष्टमात्रास्त्रिनेत्रेण भस्मीभूताभवन् क्षणात्
The moment they were seen by his third eye, they were reduced to ashes.
दुद्राव विक्लवगतिर्दक्षिणासहितो ऽम्बरे
He fled, his movement faltering, accompanied by the southern direction, into the sky.
शरं पाशुपतं कृत्वा कालरूपी महेश्वरः
Taking up the Pāśupata missile, Maheśvara, in the form of Time, [stood ready].
अर्द्धेन गगने शर्वः कालरूपी च कथ्यते
With half of his form in the sky, Śarva is described as the embodiment of Time.
लक्षणं च स्वरूपं च सर्वं व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
You should explain in full his characteristics and true nature.
येनाम्बरं मुनिश्रेष्ठ व्याप्तं लोकहितेप्सुना
By whom, O foremost sage, was the sky pervaded, desiring the welfare of the worlds?
मेषो राशिः कुजक्षेत्रं तच्छिरः कालरूपिणः
The sign of Aries, the field of Mars, is said to be the head of that Time-formed one.