ततो नारायणाच्छ्रुत्वा धरणी वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Then, having heard this from Nārāyaṇa, the Earth spoke these words.
परं कौतूहलं देव निखिलं वक्तुमर्हसि
O God, I have great curiosity; you should tell me everything.
किन्त्वत्र त्रिगुणं देव पवित्रे शिवभाषिते
But what is the threefold nature here, O God, in the pure and auspicious speech?
कपालं गृह्य देवोऽत्र दीप्तिमन्तं महौजसम्
Here, the god took up a skull, radiant and of great energy.
श्मशानं पद्मपत्राक्ष रुद्रस्य च निशि प्रियम् शृणु तत्त्वेन मे देवि इदमाख्यानमुत्तमम्
O lotus-eyed one, at night in the cremation ground, dear to Rudra—listen truly, O goddess, to this excellent account of mine.
अद्यापि ते न जानन्ति ह्यनघे संशितव्रताः
Even today, O sinless one, those of firm vows do not know this.
हत्वा च बालान्वृद्धांश्च त्रिपुरे रूपिणीः स्त्रियः
Having slain children and elders, and women in the form of the triple city,
प्रणष्टमानसैश्वर्यो नष्टा माया च योगिनः
The yogin lost his mind’s sovereignty, and his magical power was destroyed.
तत्र स्थाने शिवो भूमे गणैः सर्वैः समावृतः 136.
There, on that spot, Shiva stood, surrounded by all the hosts.
ततो ध्यातो मया देवि शङ्करः पुनरेष्यति
Then, meditated upon by me, O goddess, Shankara will return again.
नष्टं मायाबलं रुद्रं सर्वभूतमहेश्वरम्
Rudra, whose magical power is lost, the great lord of all beings,
नष्टसंज्ञो हतज्ञानो नष्टयोगबलोऽबलः
His awareness lost, his knowledge destroyed, his yogic power gone, he is powerless.
किमिदं तिष्ठसे रुद्र कश्मलेन समावृतः
Why do you stand here, Rudra, shrouded in confusion?
त्वं वैशाख्यं वियोगं च त्वं योनिस्त्वं परायणम्
You are the separation of Vaiśākha, you are the origin, you are the ultimate refuge.
किं न बुध्यति चात्मानं गणैः परिवृतो भवान्
Why do you not recognize yourself, though surrounded by your attendants?
तन्ममाचक्ष्व तत्त्वेन यत्पृष्टोसि मया भवान्
Therefore, tell me truly that which I have asked you.
तव चैव प्रियार्थाय येनाहमिह चागतः
And for the sake of your beloved, it is for this reason that I have come here.
उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं पापसन्तप्तलोचनः
With eyes scorched by sin, he spoke sweet words.
देवं नारायणं चैकं सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम् 136.
The one god Nārāyaṇa, the great lord of all worlds.
लब्धो योगश्च साङ्ख्यं च जातोऽस्मि विगतज्वरः
I have attained union and knowledge, and I am now free from distress.
अहं त्वां तु विजानामि मां त्वं जानासि माधव
I know you, and you know me, O Mādhava.
ब्रह्माणं तु विजानाति नावयोरन्तरेण हि
But Brahmā knows only between us, not beyond.
एवं मह्यं हरो वाक्यमुक्त्वा भूतमहेश्वरः
Thus, having spoken these words to me, Hara, the great lord of beings—
तव विष्णो प्रसादेन मया तत्त्रिपुरं हतम्
By your grace, O Viṣṇu, I have destroyed that Tripura.
बालवृद्धा हतास्तत्र विस्फुरन्तो दिशो दश
There, children and elders were slain, scattering in all ten directions.
प्रणष्टयोगमायश्च नष्टैश्वर्यश्च माधव
Their yoga and magic lost, their sovereignty destroyed, O Mādhava.
विष्णो तत्त्वेन मे ब्रूहि शोधनं पाप नाशनम्
O Viṣṇu, tell me truly the means of purification, the destroyer of sin.
एवं चिन्तात्मनस्तस्य मया रुद्रस्य भाषितम्
Thus, as he pondered, I spoke to Rudra.
ममैवं वचनं श्रुत्वा भगवान्परमेश्वरः 136.
Hearing my words, the blessed supreme lord—
कीदृशः समलो विष्णो यत्र गच्छामहे वयम्
What is that place, O Viṣṇu, which is equal, where we shall go?