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.
ततस्तदद्भुततमं दृष्ट्वा शैवादयो गणाः
Then, upon seeing that most wondrous event, the hosts of Shiva and the others,
यदाभिन्नममन्यन्त देवेदेवं सदाशिवम्
when they regarded the god of gods, Sadashiva, as undivided,
तेष्वेवं धूतपापेषु अभिन्नेषु हरीश्वरः
among those whose sins had been cleansed, who were now undivided, the Lord Hari,
परितुष्टो ऽस्मि वः सर्वे ज्ञानेनानेन सुव्रताः
said, 'I am pleased with you all, O virtuous ones, because of this knowledge.'
भिन्नदृष्ट्युद्भवं पापं यत्तद् भ्रंशं प्रयातु नः
May the sin that arises from the perception of division depart from us.
संपरिष्वजताव्यक्तस्तान् सर्वान् गणयूथपान्
The Unmanifest One embraced all the leaders of the hosts.
श्रुतिगदितानुगमेनेव मन्दरं गिरिमवतत्य समध्यवसन्तम्
Just as the Mandara mountain, following the course described in the scriptures, settled in the midst,
नीलाजिनातततनुः शरदभ्रवर्णो यद्वद् विभाति बलवान् वृषभो हरस्य
so too does the mighty bull of Hara, with a body covered in dark hide and the color of autumn clouds, shine forth.
मन्दरं पर्वतश्रेष्ठं प्रमथाश्रितकन्दरम्
The foremost mountain, Mandara, with caves inhabited by the Pramathas,
प्रमथाश्चापि संरब्धा जघ्नुस्तूर्याण्यनेकशः
and the Pramathas, excited, struck many musical instruments.