sabhājito bhagavatā. sādaraṁ somayā bhavaḥ. sūpaviṣṭa uvācedaṁ. pratipūjya smayan harim. Welcomed by the Lord with respect, Lord Śiva and Umā were seated comfortably. Lord Śiv

sabhājito bhagavatā

sādaraṁ somayā bhavaḥ

sūpaviṣṭa uvācedaṁ

pratipūjya smayan harim

Welcomed by the Lord with respect, Lord Śiva and Umā were seated comfortably. Lord Śiva worshiped the Lord in return and while smiling spoke as follows.

|| 8.12.4 ||

śrī-mahādeva uvāca

deva-deva jagad-vyāpiñ

jagad-īśa jagan-maya

sarveṣām api bhāvānāṁ

tvam ātmā hetur īśvaraḥ

Śiva said: O Lord who performs pastimes among the devatās! O all-pervading Lord! O Lord of the universe! O Lord who is the universe! You are the giver of consciousness to all things in the universe and the cause of all things. Thus you alone are the Supreme Lord.

O Lord who performs pastimes among the devatās (deva-deva). “But Śiva, you also perform pastimes among the devatās.” O pervader of the universe! Though I also exist within the universe, you are spread everywhere. “You should control the universe along with me.” O Lord of the universe! “But you are also called the lord of the universe by people.” O Lord who personifies the universe! Though I am purely spiritual, I am also intimately mixed with the universe, and thus influenced by that. I am not the controller. You are the controller. I am called the lord by Brahmā and others secondarily. “You say that I am the primary form. That form is well known as the universe itself, made of the matter of the universe.” You are the producer of consciousness in all things and the cause of all things. Thus you are called the Supreme Lord.

|| 8.12.5 ||

ādy-antāv asya yan madhyam

idam anyad ahaṁ bahiḥ

yato 'vyayasya naitāni

tat satyaṁ brahma cid bhavān

That from which visible things like birth, death and life within this universe arises and that from which invisible things like the conception of I and mine arise, is you alone the absolute Brahman. You, the indestructible Brahman, do not have beginning, middle and end.

“You say that I am the material of the universe, but the universe has a beginning, is temporary and unconscious. Are you saying I am temporary and unconscious?” No. From whom arise birth and death in this world, and living (madhyam) as well, anything you see in this world (asya), and other things you cannot see—I (aham) and possessiveness (bahiḥ)—that Brahman with spiritual form is you. You, the indestructible Brahman, do not have beginning, middle and end (etāni).

|| 8.12.6 ||