Verses 280–289

280. Surya lover of the lotus, was born in the race of Vishnu, husband of Lakshmi, the noble mother and as he duly goes his course, going about the lands and the earth; Vishnu nourisher of the elephant, travels as he does (for Surya is in reality but a form of Vishnu).

281. Let us know the source of the three Gods. First know one of the three, Then fitly with thy tongue offer praise.

282. The water in which the race of saints came plunging in defiled it. In which even Brahma being immersed cannot lift his head out of it. All men, whatever are plunged in this pond upto the middle.

283. By means of ambrosia all become stable. But if we seek ambrosia none can find it; ambrosia turns into venom--what a marvel this is!

284. Know well that this world is partly black, partly red, partly white (the three gunas--tamas, rajas, satwa). What is the reason that it should be all alike?

285. The ultimate has no lameness in his foot; He has no name in the dispute of his world. Understand that this is the bliss of others.

286. He was wonderfully born in the Brahmin class and being sunk in sin flowed thence into the other castes. Though born in the lotus, the sole of his foot is not wetted with the holy stream.

287. The king of hills (Himavat) is his father-in-law, the daughter of he hill (Parvathi) is his wife; a hill Kailas is his home; and gold hill, meru, his bow. Thus O Siva, thou art Lord of Hills. How art thou still given to such go between practices. (This is a sneer at sexual love originating in the creator).

288. The house is worldly connections, the bow is his weapon. The Five--lettered God is mother of redemption but all uniting with woman is but a lie.

289. If you twitch off a head of Brahma, they call it murdering Brahma. Brahma is a Vysya (a man of the third class), is he a Brahmin? If Brahma had even died would Siva become a Brahmin slayer. (This is an allusion to the base of the lingam representing Brahma).