atmany api sivam praptam

 tadit-pinga-jata-dharam

try-aksam dasa-bhujam pramsum

 udyantam iva bhaskaram

 

vyaghra-carmambaram sula-

 dhanur-isv-asi-carmabhih

aksa-mala-damaruka-

 kapalam parasum saha

 

bibhranam sahasa bhatam

 vicaksya hrdi vismitah

kim idam kuta eveti

 samadher virato munih

 

Translation: 

 

Sri Markandeya saw Lord Siva suddenly appear within his heart. Lord Siva’s golden hair resembled lightning, and he had three eyes, ten arms and a tall body that shone like the rising sun. He wore a tiger skin, and he carried a trident, a bow, arrows, a sword and a shield, along with prayer beads, a damaru drum, a skull and an ax. Astonished, the sage came out of his trance and thought, “Who is this, and where has he come from?”