Rudra Pleads with Brahma; the Birth of Death

Verse 1 (7.53.1)

प्रजासर्गनिमित्तं हि कृतो यत्नस्त्वया विभो । त्वया सृष्टाश्च वृद्धाश्च भूतग्रामाः पृथग्विधाः ॥

prajāsarganimittaṃ hi kṛto yatnastvayā vibho | tvayā sṛṣṭāśca vṛddhāśca bhūtagrāmāḥ pṛthagvidhāḥ

You made an effort, O lord, for the sake of creating beings, and the many kinds of creatures were created and brought to growth by you.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0085–0086.

Verse 2 (7.53.2)

तास्तवेह पुनः क्रोधात्प्रजा नश्यन्ति सर्वशः । ता दृष्ट्वा मम कारुण्यं प्रसीद भगवन्प्रभो ॥

tāstaveha punaḥ krodhātprajā naśyanti sarvaśaḥ | tā dṛṣṭvā mama kāruṇyaṃ prasīda bhagavanprabho

Now those same creatures are perishing everywhere through your anger. Seeing it, I am moved to compassion; be gracious, venerable lord.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0087–0088. Line 1 reads नश्यन्ति for the appendix's "dahyanti".

Verse 3 (7.53.3)

संहर्तुं न च मे काम एतदेवं भवेदिति । पृथिव्या हितकामं तु ततो मां मन्युराविशत् ॥

saṃhartuṃ na ca me kāma etadevaṃ bhavediti | pṛthivyā hitakāmaṃ tu tato māṃ manyurāviśat

I have no wish to destroy, that it should be so; but out of care for the earth's welfare, anger entered me.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0089–0090. Line 1 differs in its first half from the appendix ("na krudhye na ca me kāma"); line 2 reads हितकामं for "hitakāmāt".

Verse 4 (7.53.4)

इयं सन्ना तदा देवी भारार्ता समचूचुदत् । संहारार्थं महादेव भारेणाभिहता सती ॥

iyaṃ sannā tadā devī bhārārtā samacūcudat | saṃhārārthaṃ mahādeva bhāreṇābhihatā satī

Then this goddess, sunk down and afflicted by her burden, urged me, O Mahadeva, towards destruction, crushed as she was by the weight.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0091–0092. Line 1 differs from the appendix's "iyaṃ hi māṃ sadā devī bhārārtā samacūcudat" (इयं सन्ना तदा for "iyaṃ hi māṃ sadā"); line 2 is the same.

Verse 5 (7.53.5)

ततोऽहं नाधिगच्छामि बुद्ध्या बहु विचारयन् । संहारमप्रमेयस्य ततो मां मन्युराविशत् ॥

tato'haṃ nādhigacchāmi buddhyā bahu vicārayan | saṃhāramaprameyasya tato māṃ manyurāviśat

Then, thinking it over at length with my mind, I could not find the way to destroy the immeasurable; and therefore anger entered me.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0093–0094. Line 1 shares only its first half with the appendix's line 0093 ("tato 'haṃ nādhigacchāmi tapye bahuvidhaṃ tadā").

Verse 6 (7.53.6)

संहारार्थं प्रसीदस्व मारुषो वसुधाधिप । मा प्रजाः स्थावराश्चैव जङ्गमाश्च व्यनीनशः ॥

saṃhārārthaṃ prasīdasva māruṣo vasudhādhipa | mā prajāḥ sthāvarāścaiva jaṅgamāśca vyanīnaśaḥ

Be gracious, and let not your anger bring on destruction, O lord of the earth. Do not destroy the creatures, both immovable and moving.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0095–0096. Line 1 ends वसुधाधिप for the appendix's "vibudhādhipa" (a recension variant).

Verse 7 (7.53.7)

तव प्रसादाद्भगवन्निदं वर्तेत्त्रिधा जगत् । अनागतमतीतं च यच्च सम्प्रति वर्तते ॥

tava prasādādbhagavannidaṃ vartettridhā jagat | anāgatamatītaṃ ca yacca samprati vartate

By your grace, lord, this world stands in three times: the future, the past, and what exists now.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0097–0098.

Verse 8 (7.53.8)

भगवन्क्रोधसन्दीप्तः क्रोधादग्निमवासृजत् । स दहत्यश्मकूटानि द्रुमांश्च सरितस्तथा ॥

bhagavankrodhasandīptaḥ krodhādagnimavāsṛjat | sa dahatyaśmakūṭāni drumāṃśca saritastathā

O lord, kindled by anger, you let loose fire in your wrath. It burns the rocky peaks, the trees and likewise the rivers,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0099–0100.

Verse 9 (7.53.9)

पल्वलानि च सर्वाणि सर्वे चैव तृणोलपाः । स्थावरं जङ्गमं चैव निःशेषं कुरुते जगत् ॥

palvalāni ca sarvāṇi sarve caiva tṛṇolapāḥ | sthāvaraṃ jaṅgamaṃ caiva niḥśeṣaṃ kurute jagat

all the pools, all the grasses and herbs; it leaves the whole world, moving and unmoving, without remainder.

Note on the text: Corrected सर्वै → सर्वे (misprint in Wikisource; the appendix reads "sarve"). Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0101–0102.

Verse 10 (7.53.10)

तदेतद्भस्मसाद्भूतं जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम् । प्रसीद भगवन्स त्वं रोषो न स्याद्वरो मम ॥

tadetadbhasmasādbhūtaṃ jagatsthāvarajaṅgamam | prasīda bhagavansa tvaṃ roṣo na syādvaro mama

This world of moving and unmoving things has become mere ashes. Be gracious, lord; let there be no anger in you — that is the boon I ask.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0103–0104. Line 1 shares only its first half with the appendix's line 0103 ("tad etad bhasmasād bhūtaṃ sarvaṃ jagad anāvilam").

Verse 11 (7.53.11)

सर्वे हि सृष्टा नश्यन्ति तव देव कथंचन । तस्मान्निवर्ततां तेजस्त्वय्येवेदं प्रलीयताम् ॥

sarve hi sṛṣṭā naśyanti tava deva kathaṃcana | tasmānnivartatāṃ tejastvayyevedaṃ pralīyatām

All that you have created is perishing, O god, one way or another. Therefore let your fire turn back; let it be absorbed into you alone.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0105–0106. Both lines differ in wording from the appendix ("sarve hi naṣṭā neṣyanti …"; इदं for "iha").

Verse 12 (7.53.12)

उपायमन्यं सम्पश्य प्रजानां हितकाम्यया । यथेमे प्राणिनः सर्वे निर्वर्तेरंस्तथा कुरु ॥

upāyamanyaṃ sampaśya prajānāṃ hitakāmyayā | yatheme prāṇinaḥ sarve nirvarteraṃstathā kuru

Look for some other means, out of care for the welfare of creatures, by which all these living beings may withdraw in due course; do that.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0107–0108.

Verse 13 (7.53.13)

अभावं नेह गच्छेयुरुत्सन्नजननाः प्रजाः । भवता हि नियुक्तोऽहं प्रजानां पालने विभो । दया ते न समुत्पन्ना प्रजासु विबुधेश्वर ॥

abhāvaṃ neha gaccheyurutsannajananāḥ prajāḥ | bhavatā hi niyukto'haṃ prajānāṃ pālane vibho | dayā te na samutpannā prajāsu vibudheśvara

Let creatures not meet with extinction here, their lineages cut off. I was appointed by you, O lord, to protect the creatures, yet no compassion has arisen in you for them, O lord of the gods.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रानां → प्रजानां (misprint in Wikisource; the syllable ज dropped, "protection of the creatures") and विभा → विभो (misprint in Wikisource; the vocative of vibhu). Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0109. Only line 1 is in the appendix; lines 2–3 are not (found in the vulgate recension; the appendix's next line 0110 is a different sentence on the same theme). Three lines on the page (rows 5-53-13a–c).

Verse 14 (7.53.14)

मा विनश्येज्जगन्नाथ जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम् । प्रसादाभिमुखं देवं तस्मादेवं ब्रवीम्यहम् ॥

mā vinaśyejjagannātha jagatsthāvarajaṅgamam | prasādābhimukhaṃ devaṃ tasmādevaṃ bravīmyaham

Let not the world, moving and unmoving, perish, O lord of the world; I speak so to the god who is turned toward grace.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0111–0112.

Verse 15 (7.53.15)

श्रुत्वा हि वचनं देवः प्रजानां हितकारणे । तेजः सन्धारयामास पुनरेवान्तरात्मनि ॥

śrutvā hi vacanaṃ devaḥ prajānāṃ hitakāraṇe | tejaḥ sandhārayāmāsa punarevāntarātmani

Hearing those words, spoken for the welfare of the creatures, the god drew his energy back again into his own self.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0113–0114. Both lines are worded differently from the appendix ("śrutvā hi vacanaṃ devaḥ sthāṇor nihatapāpmanaḥ / tejaḥ saṃveṣṭayām āsa punar evāntarātmani").

Verse 16 (7.53.16)

ततोऽग्निमुपसंहृत्य भगवाँल्लोकसत्कृतः । प्रवृत्तं च निवृत्तं च कल्पयामास वै प्रभुः ॥

tato'gnimupasaṃhṛtya bhagavām̐llokasatkṛtaḥ | pravṛttaṃ ca nivṛttaṃ ca kalpayāmāsa vai prabhuḥ

Then, having drawn back the fire, the venerable lord honoured by the worlds ordained both the way of action and the way of cessation.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0115–0116. Line 2 reads प्रवृत्तं च निवृत्तं च for the appendix's "pravṛttiṃ ca nivṛttiṃ ca".

Verse 17 (7.53.17)

उपसंहरतस्तस्य तमग्निं रोषजं तथा । प्रादुर्बभूव विश्वेभ्यो गोभ्यो नारी महात्मनः ॥

upasaṃharatastasya tamagniṃ roṣajaṃ tathā | prādurbabhūva viśvebhyo gobhyo nārī mahātmanaḥ

As the great one was drawing in the fire born of his wrath, a woman appeared from all his openings.

Note on the text: Corrected गोभ्योनारी → गोभ्यो नारी (the words printed joined in Wikisource; a missing space). Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0117–0118. Line 2 reads विश्वेभ्यो गोभ्यो for the appendix's "viśvebhyaḥ khebhyo"; Wikisource's gloss takes गोभ्यः as the openings of the senses.

Verse 18 (7.53.18)

कृष्णरक्ता तथा पिङ्गा रक्तजिह्वास्यलोचना । कुण्डलाभ्यां च राजेन्द्र तप्ताभ्यां तप्तभूषणा ॥

kṛṣṇaraktā tathā piṅgā raktajihvāsyalocanā | kuṇḍalābhyāṃ ca rājendra taptābhyāṃ taptabhūṣaṇā

She was dark-red and tawny, with red tongue, mouth and eyes, adorned with two burnished earrings, O king of kings, and with ornaments of burnished gold.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0119–0120. Both lines are partly reworded from the appendix ("kṛṣṇā raktāmbaradharā …"; "… samalaṃkṛtā").

Verse 19 (7.53.19)

सा निःसृत्य तथा खेभ्यो दक्षिणां दिशमाश्रिता । स्मयमाना च साऽवेक्ष्य देवौ विश्वेश्वरावुभौ ॥

sā niḥsṛtya tathā khebhyo dakṣiṇāṃ diśamāśritā | smayamānā ca sā'vekṣya devau viśveśvarāvubhau

Coming forth from those openings, she went to the southern quarter, and smiling, she looked at the two gods, the lords of the universe.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0121–0122. Both lines are reworded from the appendix ("sā viniḥsṛtya vai khebhyo dakṣiṇāṃ diśam āśritā / smayamāneva cāvaikṣad …").

Verse 20 (7.53.20)

तां तु तत्र तदा देवीं ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । उक्तवान्मधुरं वाक्यं सान्त्वयित्वा पुनः पुनः । मृत्यो इति महीपाल जहि चेमाः प्रजा इति ॥

tāṃ tu tatra tadā devīṃ brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ | uktavānmadhuraṃ vākyaṃ sāntvayitvā punaḥ punaḥ | mṛtyo iti mahīpāla jahi cemāḥ prajā iti

Then Brahma, grandsire of the worlds, addressed that goddess in sweet words, soothing her again and again: 'O Death! Slay these creatures,' he said, O lord of the earth.

Note on the text: Removed the stray wiki quote marks (backtick and apostrophe). Not in the critical edition's main text; line 3 = Appendix I No. 8 (7.49.21d@008) line 0124; lines 1–2 are not in the appendix (found in the vulgate recension; Wikisource marks them with an opening backtick and a closing quote mark). Three lines on the page (rows 5-53-20a–c).

Verse 21 (7.53.21)

त्वं हि संहारबुद्ध्याऽथ प्रादुर्भूता रुषो मम । तस्मात्संहर सर्वास्त्वं प्रजाः सजडपण्डिताः ॥

tvaṃ hi saṃhārabuddhyā'tha prādurbhūtā ruṣo mama | tasmātsaṃhara sarvāstvaṃ prajāḥ sajaḍapaṇḍitāḥ

You were born of my wrath with the thought of destruction in my mind; therefore destroy all these creatures, the foolish and the learned alike.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0125–0126. The speaker is Brahma, speaking to Mrityu; no heading is printed on the page.

Verse 22 (7.53.22)

अविशेषेण चैव त्वं प्रजाः संहर भामिनि । मम त्वं हि नियोगेन ततः श्रेयो ह्यवाप्स्यासि ॥

aviśeṣeṇa caiva tvaṃ prajāḥ saṃhara bhāmini | mama tvaṃ hi niyogena tataḥ śreyo hyavāpsyāsi

Destroy the creatures without distinction, O fair one; by carrying out my command you will gain the highest good.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; line 2 = Appendix I No. 8 (7.49.21d@008) line 0127 (reading ततः श्रेयो ह्यवाप्स्यासि for "tataḥ śreyo hy avāpsyasi"); line 1 is not in the appendix (found in the vulgate recension). The speaker is Brahma; no heading is printed on the page.

Verse 23 (7.53.23)

एवमुक्ता तु सा तेन मृत्युः कमललोचना । प्रारुदद्भृशसंविग्ना प्रापतन्नश्रुबिन्दवः ॥

evamuktā tu sā tena mṛtyuḥ kamalalocanā | prārudadbhṛśasaṃvignā prāpatannaśrubindavaḥ

Spoken to in this way by him, Mrityu, the lotus-eyed, wept bitterly, deeply distressed, and drops of tears fell.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; line 1 = Appendix I No. 8 (7.49.21d@008) line 0128; line 2 is not in the appendix (found in the vulgate recension; the appendix's line 0129 reads "dadhyau cātyartham abalā praruroda ca susvaram").

Verse 24 (7.53.24)

पाणिभ्यां प्रतिजग्राह तान्यश्रूणि पितामहः । सर्वभूतहितार्थाय तां चाप्यनुनयत्तदा ॥

pāṇibhyāṃ pratijagrāha tānyaśrūṇi pitāmahaḥ | sarvabhūtahitārthāya tāṃ cāpyanunayattadā

The grandsire received those tears in his two hands, and for the good of all beings he consoled her too.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's main text; it is part of Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21, as 7.49.21d@008), lines 0130–0131.