Description of Shiva's Boon

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.1.10.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत पूर्वं त्वया प्रोक्तं व्यासेनामिततेजसा । कृत्वा पुराणमखिलं शुकायाध्यापितं शुभम् ॥ 10.1 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta pūrvaṁ tvayā proktaṁ vyāsenāmitatejasā kṛtvā purāṇamakhilaṁ śukāyādhyāpitaṁ śubham

The sages said: O Suta, you have said before that Vyasa, of boundless splendor, having composed the entire auspicious Purana, taught it to Shuka.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.1.10.2)

व्यासेन तु तपस्तप्त्वा कथमुत्पादितः शुकः । विस्तरं ब्रूहि सकलं यच्छ्रुतं कृष्णतस्त्वया ॥ 10.2 ॥

vyāsena tu tapastaptvā kathamutpāditaḥ śukaḥ vistaraṁ brūhi sakalaṁ yacchrutaṁ kṛṣṇatastvayā

But having performed austerity, how was Shuka begotten by Vyasa? Tell us all of it in detail, just as you heard it from Krishna.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.1.10.3)

सूत उवाच । प्रवक्ष्यामि शुकोत्पत्तिं व्यासात्सत्यवतीसुतात् । यथोत्पन्नः शुकः साक्षाद्योगिनां प्रवरो मुनिः ॥ 10.3 ॥

sūta uvāca pravakṣyāmi śukotpattiṁ vyāsātsatyavatīsutāt yathotpannaḥ śukaḥ sākṣādyogināṁ pravaro muniḥ

Suta said: I shall recount the birth of Shuka from Vyasa, the son of Satyavati — how Shuka was born, that very sage who is the foremost of yogis.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.1.10.4)

मेरुशृङ्गे महारम्ये व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः । तपश्चचार सोऽत्युग्रं पुत्रार्थं कृतनिश्चयः ॥ 10.4 ॥

meruśṛṅge mahāramye vyāsaḥ satyavatīsutaḥ tapaścacāra so'tyugraṁ putrārthaṁ kṛtaniścayaḥ

On a most beautiful peak of Meru, Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, performed the most severe austerity, firmly resolved to obtain a son.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.1.10.5)

जपन्नेकाक्षरं मन्त्रं वाग्बीजं नारदाच्छ्रुतम् । ध्यायन्परां महामायां पुत्रकामस्तपोनिधिः ॥ 10.5 ॥

japannekākṣaraṁ mantraṁ vāgbījaṁ nāradācchrutam dhyāyanparāṁ mahāmāyāṁ putrakāmastaponidhiḥ

Reciting the one-syllabled mantra, the seed-syllable of speech, heard from Narada, meditating on the supreme Mahamaya, that treasury of austerity, desiring a son,

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.1.10.6)

अग्नेर्भूमेस्तथा वायोरन्तरिक्षस्य चाप्ययम् । वीर्येण सम्मितः पुत्रो मम भूयादिति स्म ह ॥ 10.6 ॥

agnerbhūmestathā vāyorantarikṣasya cāpyayam vīryeṇa sammitaḥ putro mama bhūyāditi sma ha

— he prayed: 'May a son, equal in vigor to fire, to earth, to wind, and to the sky, be mine.'

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.1.10.7)

अतिष्ठत्स गताहारः शतसंवत्सरं प्रभुः । आराधयन्महादेवं तथैव च सदाशिवाम् ॥ 10.7 ॥

atiṣṭhatsa gatāhāraḥ śatasaṁvatsaraṁ prabhuḥ ārādhayanmahādevaṁ tathaiva ca sadāśivām

That lord stood there, taking no food, for a hundred years, worshipping Mahadeva and likewise Sadashiva.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.1.10.8)

शक्तिः सर्वत्र पूज्येति विचार्य च पुनः पुनः । अशक्तो निन्द्यते लोके शक्तस्तु परिपूज्यते ॥ 10.8 ॥

śaktiḥ sarvatra pūjyeti vicārya ca punaḥ punaḥ aśakto nindyate loke śaktastu paripūjyate

Reflecting again and again that Shakti is to be worshipped everywhere — for the powerless is despised in the world, while the powerful is duly honored —

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.1.10.9)

यत्र पर्वतशृङ्गे वै कर्णिकारवनाद्भुते । क्रीडन्ति देवताः सर्वे मुनयश्च तपोऽधिकाः ॥ 10.9 ॥

yatra parvataśṛṅge vai karṇikāravanādbhute krīḍanti devatāḥ sarve munayaśca tapo'dhikāḥ

— on that mountain peak, amid a wondrous grove of karnikara trees, where all the gods sport, and sages abounding in austerity too,

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.1.10.10)

आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा मरुतश्चाश्विनौ तथा । वसन्ति मुनयो यत्र ये चान्ये ब्रह्मवित्तमाः ॥ 10.10 ॥

ādityā vasavo rudrā marutaścāśvinau tathā vasanti munayo yatra ye cānye brahmavittamāḥ

— where the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Maruts, and the two Ashvins, and the sages, and other knowers of Brahman dwell,

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.1.10.11)

तत्र हेमगिरेः शृङ्गे सङ्गीतध्वनिनादिते । तपश्चचार धर्मात्मा व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः ॥ 10.11 ॥

tatra hemagireḥ śṛṅge saṅgītadhvaninādite tapaścacāra dharmātmā vyāsaḥ satyavatīsutaḥ

— there, on that golden peak, resounding with the sound of music, the righteous-souled Vyasa, son of Satyavati, performed austerity.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.1.10.12)

ततोऽस्य तेजसा व्याप्तं विश्वं सर्वं चराचरम् । अग्निवर्णा जटा जाता पाराशर्यस्य धीमतः ॥ 10.12 ॥

tato'sya tejasā vyāptaṁ viśvaṁ sarvaṁ carācaram agnivarṇā jaṭā jātā pārāśaryasya dhīmataḥ

By his splendor, the entire universe, moving and unmoving, became pervaded; matted locks, the color of fire, grew upon the wise son of Parashara.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.1.10.13)

ततोऽस्य तेज आलक्ष्य भयमाप शचीपतिः । तुरासाहं तदा दृष्ट्वा भयत्रस्तं श्रमातुरम् ॥ 10.13 ॥

tato'sya teja ālakṣya bhayamāpa śacīpatiḥ turāsāhaṁ tadā dṛṣṭvā bhayatrastaṁ śramāturam

Then, perceiving his splendor, the lord of Shachi became afraid; seeing Turasah then terrified with fear and worn out with distress,

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.1.10.14)

उवाच भगवान् रुद्रो मघवन्तं तथास्थितम् । शङ्कर उवाच । कथमिन्द्राद्य भीतोऽसि किं दुःखं ते सुरेश्वर ॥ 10.14 ॥

uvāca bhagavān rudro maghavantaṁ tathāsthitam śaṅkara uvāca kathamindrādya bhīto'si kiṁ duḥkhaṁ te sureśvara

the Lord Rudra spoke to Maghavan, standing there thus: Shankara said: 'Why, O Indra, are you afraid today? What is your trouble, O lord of gods?'

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.1.10.15)

अमर्षो नैव कर्तव्यस्तापसेषु कदाचन । तपश्चरन्ति मुनयो ज्ञात्वा मां शक्तिसंयुतम् ॥ 10.15 ॥

amarṣo naiva kartavyastāpaseṣu kadācana tapaścaranti munayo jñātvā māṁ śaktisaṁyutam

'Anger should never be shown toward ascetics; sages perform austerity knowing me to be joined with Shakti.'

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.1.10.16)

न त्वेतेऽहितमिच्छन्ति तापसाः सर्वथैव हि । इत्युक्तवचनः शक्रस्तमुवाच वृषध्वजम् ॥ 10.16 ॥

na tvete'hitamicchanti tāpasāḥ sarvathaiva hi ityuktavacanaḥ śakrastamuvāca vṛṣadhvajam

'These ascetics never wish harm at all.' Thus addressed, Shakra spoke to him, the bull-bannered one:

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.1.10.17)

कस्मात्तपस्यति व्यासः कोऽर्थस्तस्य मनोगतः । शिव उवाच । पाराशर्यस्तु पुत्रार्थी तपश्चरति दुश्चरम् ॥ 10.17 ॥

kasmāttapasyati vyāsaḥ ko'rthastasya manogataḥ śiva uvāca pārāśaryastu putrārthī tapaścarati duścaram

'Why does Vyasa perform austerity? What is the purpose in his mind?' Shiva said: 'The son of Parashara, desiring a son, performs this most arduous austerity.'

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.1.10.18)

पूर्णवर्षशतं जातं ददाम्यद्य सुतं शुभम् । सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्या वासवं रुद्रो दयया मुदिताननः ॥ 10.18 ॥

pūrṇavarṣaśataṁ jātaṁ dadāmyadya sutaṁ śubham sūta uvāca ityuktyā vāsavaṁ rudro dayayā muditānanaḥ

'When his hundred years are complete, I shall grant him an auspicious son today.' Suta said: Having said this to Vasava, Rudra, his face bright with joy out of compassion,

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.1.10.19)

गत्वा ऋषिसमीपं तु तमुवाच जगद्गुरुः । उत्तिष्ठ वासवीपुत्र पुत्रस्ते भविता शुभः ॥ 10.19 ॥

gatvā ṛṣisamīpaṁ tu tamuvāca jagadguruḥ uttiṣṭha vāsavīputra putraste bhavitā śubhaḥ

went to the presence of the sage, and the teacher of the world said to him: 'Arise, O son; you shall have an auspicious son.'

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.1.10.20)

सर्वतेजोमयो ज्ञानी कीर्तिकर्ता तवानघ । अखिलस्य जनस्यात्र वल्लभस्ते सुतः सदा ॥ 10.20 ॥

sarvatejomayo jñānī kīrtikartā tavānagha akhilasya janasyātra vallabhaste sutaḥ sadā

'O sinless one, full of all splendor, wise, a bringer of fame to you; your son shall ever be beloved of all people here.'

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.1.10.21)

भविष्यति गुणैः पूर्णः सात्त्विकैः सत्यविक्रमः । सूत उवाच । तदाकर्ण्य वचः श्लक्ष्णं कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा ॥ 10.21 ॥

bhaviṣyati guṇaiḥ pūrṇaḥ sāttvikaiḥ satyavikramaḥ sūta uvāca tadākarṇya vacaḥ ślakṣṇaṁ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanastadā

'He shall be full of sattvic virtues, true in valor.' Suta said: Hearing these gentle words, Krishna Dvaipayana then—

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.1.10.22)

शूलपाणिं नमस्कृत्य जगामाश्रममात्मनः । स गत्वाश्रममेवाशु बहुवर्षश्रमातुरः ॥ 10.22 ॥

śūlapāṇiṁ namaskṛtya jagāmāśramamātmanaḥ sa gatvāśramamevāśu bahuvarṣaśramāturaḥ

— bowed to the trident-bearer and went to his own hermitage; having gone at once to his hermitage, wearied by the toil of many years,

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.1.10.23)

अरणीसहितं गुह्यं ममन्थाग्निं चिकीर्षया । मन्थनं कुर्वतस्तस्य चित्ते चिन्ताभरस्तदा ॥ 10.23 ॥

araṇīsahitaṁ guhyaṁ mamanthāgniṁ cikīrṣayā manthanaṁ kurvatastasya citte cintābharastadā

he churned the sacred fire together with the fire-sticks, desiring to perform a rite; and as he churned, a great weight of thought arose in his mind then:

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.1.10.24)

प्रादुर्बभूव सहसा सुतोत्पत्तौ महात्मनः । मन्थानारणिसंयोगान्मन्थनाच्च समुद्भवः ॥ 10.24 ॥

prādurbabhūva sahasā sutotpattau mahātmanaḥ manthānāraṇisaṁyogānmanthanācca samudbhavaḥ

— suddenly it arose in the mind of that great soul, concerning the begetting of a son: 'From the union of the churning-stick and the fire-sticks, and from the churning, arises' —

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.1.10.25)

पावकस्य यथा तद्वत्कथं मे स्यात्सुतोद्भवः । पुत्रारणिस्तु या ख्याता सा ममाद्य न विद्यते ॥ 10.25 ॥

pāvakasya yathā tadvatkathaṁ me syātsutodbhavaḥ putrāraṇistu yā khyātā sā mamādya na vidyate

'— fire, just as that arises from churning — so how, then, shall a son arise for me? The fire-stick for a son, as it is known, I do not have today.'

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.1.10.26)

तरुणी रूपसम्पन्ना कुलोत्पन्ता पतिव्रता । कथं करोमि कान्तां च पादयोः शृङ्खलासमाम् ॥ 10.26 ॥

taruṇī rūpasampannā kulotpantā pativratā kathaṁ karomi kāntāṁ ca pādayoḥ śṛṅkhalāsamām

'A young woman, endowed with beauty, of good family, devoted to her husband — how shall I take a wife, who would be like a chain upon my feet?'

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.1.10.27)

पुत्रोत्पादनदक्षां च पातिव्रत्ये सदा स्थिताम् । पतिव्रतापि दक्षापि रूपवत्यपि कामिनी ॥ 10.27 ॥

putrotpādanadakṣāṁ ca pātivratye sadā sthitām pativratāpi dakṣāpi rūpavatyapi kāminī

'— skilled in bearing a son, and ever established in devotion to her husband; yet even a chaste, capable, and beautiful woman —'

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.1.10.28)

सदा बन्धनरूपा च स्वेच्छासुखविधायिनी । शिवोऽपि वर्तते नित्यं कामिनीपाशसंयुतः ॥ 10.28 ॥

sadā bandhanarūpā ca svecchāsukhavidhāyinī śivo'pi vartate nityaṁ kāminīpāśasaṁyutaḥ

'— is ever, by her very form, a bondage, though a giver of pleasure by one's own free choice; even Shiva himself remains ever bound by the snare of a woman.'

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.1.10.29)

कथं करोम्यहं चात्र दुर्घटं च गृहाश्रमम् । एवं चिन्तयतस्तस्य घृताची दिव्यरूपिणी ॥ 10.29 ॥

kathaṁ karomyahaṁ cātra durghaṭaṁ ca gṛhāśramam evaṁ cintayatastasya ghṛtācī divyarūpiṇī

'How, then, shall I undertake this so-difficult householder's life?' As he was thus reflecting, Ghritachi, of divine form,

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.1.10.30)

प्राप्ता दृष्टिपथं तत्र समीपे गगने स्थिता । तां दृष्ट्वा चञ्चलापाङ्गीं समीपस्थां वराप्सराम् ॥ 10.30 ॥

prāptā dṛṣṭipathaṁ tatra samīpe gagane sthitā tāṁ dṛṣṭvā cañcalāpāṅgīṁ samīpasthāṁ varāpsarām

came within the range of his sight there, standing close by in the sky; seeing her, with her restless glances, that excellent apsaras standing nearby,

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.1.10.31)

पञ्चबाणपरीताङ्गस्तूर्णमासीद्धृतव्रतः । चिन्तयामास च तदा किं करोम्यद्य सङ्कटे ॥ 10.31 ॥

pañcabāṇaparītāṅgastūrṇamāsīddhṛtavrataḥ cintayāmāsa ca tadā kiṁ karomyadya saṅkaṭe

his limbs at once overcome by the five arrows of Kama, though he had held firm to his vow; he then thought: 'What shall I do now, caught in this dilemma?'

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.1.10.32)

धर्मस्य पुरतः प्राप्ते कामभावे दुरासदे । अङ्गीकरोमि यद्येनां वञ्चनार्थमिहागताम् ॥ 10.32 ॥

dharmasya purataḥ prāpte kāmabhāve durāsade aṅgīkaromi yadyenāṁ vañcanārthamihāgatām

'With this state of desire, so hard to overcome, arisen before the very face of dharma, if I accept her, who has come here perhaps to deceive me —'

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.1.10.33)

हसिष्यन्ति महात्मानस्तापसा मां तु विह्वलम् । तपस्तप्त्वा महाघोरं पूर्णवर्षशतं त्विह ॥ 10.33 ॥

hasiṣyanti mahātmānastāpasā māṁ tu vihvalam tapastaptvā mahāghoraṁ pūrṇavarṣaśataṁ tviha

'— the great souls, the ascetics, will laugh at me, so overcome, having performed here such terrible austerity for a full hundred years,'

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.1.10.34)

दृष्ट्वाप्सरां च विवशः कथं जातो महातपाः । कामं निन्दापि भवतु यदि स्यादतुलं सुखम् ॥ 10.34 ॥

dṛṣṭvāpsarāṁ ca vivaśaḥ kathaṁ jāto mahātapāḥ kāmaṁ nindāpi bhavatu yadi syādatulaṁ sukham

'— seeing an apsaras and thus becoming utterly helpless — how has this great ascetic become so?' Let there be blame, even so, if there be incomparable happiness in it.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.1.10.35)

गहस्थाश्रमसम्भूतं सुखदं पुत्रकामदम् । स्वर्गदं च तथा प्रोक्तं ज्ञानिनां मोक्षदं तथा ॥ 10.35 ॥

gahasthāśramasambhūtaṁ sukhadaṁ putrakāmadam svargadaṁ ca tathā proktaṁ jñānināṁ mokṣadaṁ tathā

'The happiness born of the householder's life is declared to grant sons and desires, and likewise heaven, and, for the wise, even liberation.'

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.1.10.36)

न भविष्यति तन्नूनमया देवकन्यया । नारदाच्च मया पूर्वं श्रुतमस्ति कथानकम् । यथोर्वशीवशो राजा पराभूतः पुरूरवाः ॥ 10.36 ॥

na bhaviṣyati tannūnamayā devakanyayā nāradācca mayā pūrvaṁ śrutamasti kathānakam yathorvaśīvaśo rājā parābhūtaḥ purūravāḥ

'That will surely not come to be through this daughter of the gods; for I have heard before, from Narada, a story — how King Pururavas was ruined, enslaved by Urvashi.'