अस्माद्भूतानि लिंगानि महाभूतानि पञ्च वै
From this arise the marks of beings, indeed the five great elements—
स्थलमापस्तथाकाशं जन्म चापि चतुर्विधम्
Earth, water, likewise space, and the fourfold kinds of birth—
चतुर्द्धा जन्मचिह्नं यल्लिंगेस्मिन्नेव लक्ष्यते
The fourfold sign of birth that is observed in this very liṅga—
रजःसत्त्वं तमोभावस्तस्माल्लिंगाच्च जायते
Passion, goodness, and darkness, and their manifestations, arise from that liṅga—
अव्यक्तकारणं सूक्ष्मं यत्तत्सदसदात्मकम्
That which is unmanifest, the subtle cause, which is of the nature of both being and non-being—
विश्वेदेवास्तथादित्या वसवोऽथाश्विनावपि 5.2.24.
The Viśvedevas, the Ādityas, the Vasus, and the Aśvins as well—
आपो द्यौः पृथिवी वायुरंतरिक्षं दिशस्तथा
Waters, sky, earth, wind, the intermediate space, and also the directions—
यच्चान्यदपि तत्सर्वं संभूतं लोक साक्षिकम्
And whatever else exists, all that has arisen as witnessed by the world—
अतो महालयोनाम विख्यातो भुवनत्रये
Therefore, it is renowned as the Great Source in the three worlds—
यः पूजयति तल्लिंगं रुद्रमूर्त्या महालयम्
Whoever worships that liṅga as the Great Source in the form of Rudra—
महालयेश्वरे पुण्ये पूजिते परमेश्वरे भवंतीह महाभागे यतस्तैरपि पूज्यते
When the Lord of the Great Source, the Supreme Lord, is worshipped in that holy place, O highly fortunate one, then even those are worshipped by them—
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण मुक्तिर्भवति पार्वति
By whose mere sight, liberation is attained, O Pārvatī—
पुरा राथंतरे कल्पे बभूव द्विजसत्तमः
In former times, in the Rāthaṃtara epoch, there was an excellent twice-born—
महाकालसमीपे तु मुक्तिलिंगमनुत्तमम्
Near Mahākāla, indeed, was the supreme liṅga of liberation—
ततस्तेपे जिताहारो वत्सराणि त्रयोदश
He performed austerity, having conquered his appetite, for thirteen years—
शिप्रां विप्रप्रियां पुण्यां महापातकना शिनीम्
The sacred river Śiprā, dear to the Brāhmaṇas, which removes great sins—
व्याधं महाधनुष्पाणिं रक्तनेत्रं सुभीषणम्
He saw a hunter, bearing a great bow, with blood-red eyes, most terrifying.
तं दृष्ट्वा क्षुभितो विप्रो ब्रह्मघ्नस्य भयादिति
Seeing him, the brahmin was agitated, fearing the slayer of a brahmin.
तं दृष्ट्वांतर्गतहरिर्व्याधो भीत इवाग्रतः
Seeing him, Hari concealed within, the hunter stood before him as if afraid.
इदानीं स्वगता बुद्धिस्त्वां दृष्ट्वैव महाप्रभम्
Now, my mind has turned inward, seeing you, so radiant.
ब्राह्मणानां सहस्राणि स्त्रीणामयुतशस्तथा 5.2.25.
Thousands of brahmins, and tens of thousands of women likewise—
न च मे व्यथितं चित्तं कदाचिदपि जायते
Yet my mind has never once become disturbed.
उपदेशप्रदानेन प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि
By giving instruction, you ought to show your favor.
ब्रह्महा पापकर्मेति मत्वा ब्राह्मणपुंगवः
Thinking, 'He is a brahmin-slayer, a doer of evil deeds,' the eminent brahmin—
स्नात्वा सद्यः समायातो मुक्ति लिंगसमीपतः
Having bathed, he immediately approached the liṅga of liberation.
तत्क्षणाद्दिव्यदेहस्तु तस्मिँल्लिंगे लयं गतः चिंतयामास सहसा मुक्तिः प्राप्ता वरानने
At that very moment, his divine body dissolved into that liṅga; he thought suddenly, 'Liberation has been attained, O beautiful-faced one.'
व्याधेन पापयुक्तेन समाधिरहितेन च
By the hunter, bound by sin and lacking concentration—
न प्राप्ता परमा मूर्त्तिर्मुक्तिर्नैव च लभ्यते अन्तर्जलगतो भूत्वा चचार विपुलं तपः
The supreme form was not attained, nor was liberation obtained; having entered the water, he performed great austerity.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य तां नदीमगमत्किल
Then, after some time, he came to that river.
अंतर्जलचरं विप्रं यावद्व्याघ्रो जिघृक्षति
As the tiger sought to seize the brahmin who was moving within the water—