प्राह प्रहस्य देवेशं शूलपाणिं गणाधिपम्
He, the lord of the gods, the wielder of the trident, the leader of the Gaṇas, spoke with a smile.
महापाशुपतानां हि यत् त्वयालिङ्गनं कृतम्
That embrace you gave to the great Pāśupatas—
रूपं ज्ञानं विवेकं च वदस्व स्वेच्छया विभो
Tell us, O mighty one, freely, about their form, knowledge, and discernment.
बभाषे तान् गणान् सर्वान् भावाभावविचारिणः
He addressed all those Gaṇas, who pondered both being and non-being.
अहङ्कारविमूढैश्च निन्दद्भिर्वैष्णवं पदम्
And by those deluded by ego, who revile the station of Viṣṇu—
यो ऽहं स भगवान् विष्णुर्विष्णुर्यः सो ऽहमव्ययः
I am that Lord Viṣṇu; Viṣṇu is myself, the imperishable one.
तदमीभिर्नरव्याघ्रैर्भक्तिभावयुतैर्गणैः
Therefore, by these tiger-like men, these Gaṇas endowed with devotion—
येनाहं निन्दितो नित्यं भवद्भिर्मूढबुद्धिभिः
By you, whose minds are deluded, I am constantly reviled.
इत्येवमुक्ते वचने गणाः प्रोचुर्महेश्वरम्
When these words were spoken, the Gaṇas addressed Maheśvara.
भवान् हि निर्मलः सुद्धः शान्तः सुक्लो निरञ्जनः
You are indeed pure, spotless, peaceful, white, and stainless.
तेषां वचनमर्थाढ्यं श्रुत्वा जीमूतवाहनः
Hearing their meaningful words, the cloud-borne one—
श्रूयतां सर्वमाख्यास्ये स्वयशोवर्द्धनं वचः
Hear now; I shall tell everything, words that increase my own glory.
अपवादभयाद् गुह्यं भवतां हि प्रकाशये
Out of fear of reproach, I reveal this secret to you.
एकरूपात्मकं देहं कुरुध्यं यत्नमास्थिताः
With steadfast effort, you must assume a single-formed body.
चन्दनादिभिरेकाग्रैर्न मे प्रीतिः प्रजायते
My pleasure does not arise from sandalwood and other offerings, even when offered with focused mind.
नरकार्हा भवद्भक्ता रक्षामि स्वयशोर्ऽथतः
I protect even those devoted to you who are worthy of hell, for the sake of my own fame.
यथा पतन्ति नरके हरभक्तास्तपस्विनः
Just as the devotees of Hara, though ascetics, fall into hell,
अतोर्ऽथं न क्षिपाम्यद्य भवतो नरके ऽद्भुते
Therefore, today I do not cast you into the wondrous hell.
श्वेतमूर्तिः स गवान् पीतो रक्तो ऽञ्जनप्रभः
He whose form is white, yellow, red, and dark as collyrium—
श्वेतमूर्तिः स भगवान् पीतो रक्तो ऽञ्जनप्रभः
That Blessed Lord whose form is white, yellow, red, and dark as collyrium—
स एव धत्ते भगवान् सर्वपूज्यः सदाशिवः
That very Lord, ever worthy of worship, Sadāśiva, assumes these forms.
प्रत्यूचुर्भगवन् ब्रूहि सदाशिवविशेणम्
They replied: 'O Lord, tell us the distinction of Sadāśiva.'
दर्शयामास तद्रूपं सदाशैवं निरञ्जनम्
He revealed that very form of Sadāśiva, stainless.
सहस्रवक्त्रचरणं सहस्त्रभुजमीश्वरम्
The Lord appeared with a thousand faces, feet, and arms.
दण्डसंस्थास्य दृश्यन्ते देवप्रहरणास्तथा
Weapons of the gods were seen established in his staff.
रौद्रैश्च वैष्णवैश्चैव वृतं चिह्नैः सहस्रशः
He was adorned with thousands of fierce and Vaiṣṇava emblems.
खगध्वजं वृषारूढं वृषध्वजम्
He bore the banner of the bird, rode the bull, and had the bull-banner.
तथा तथा त्वजायन्त महापाशुपता गणाः
In that way, great hosts of Pāśupata beings were born from him.
क्षणाच्छ्वेतः क्षणाद् रक्तः पीतो नीलः क्षणादपि
In an instant he became white, in an instant red, yellow, or even blue.
क्षणाद् भवति रुद्रेन्द्रः क्षणाच्छंभुः प्रभाकरः
In an instant he became Rudra, Indra, Śambhu, or the radiant sun.