The Origin of the Discus of All the Gods' Radiance

Verse 1 (padma.6.9.1)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।इंद्रादिभिस्तदा देवैः किं कृतं द्विजसत्तम । जालंधरेण विजितैः स्वर्गराज्ये हृते सति

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca iṁdrādibhistadā devaiḥ kiṁ kṛtaṁ dvijasattama jālaṁdhareṇa vijitaiḥ svargarājye hṛte sati

Yudhishthira said: O best of the twice-born, when their heavenly kingdom had been conquered and taken by Jalandhara, what did the defeated Indra and the other gods do then?

Verse 2 (padma.6.9.2)

नारद उवाच । अथ त्यक्त्वा दिवं देवाः प्रापुस्ते दुर्दशां चिरम् । न पीयूषं नैव यज्ञाः ययुः स्थानं स्वयंभुवः

nārada uvāca atha tyaktvā divaṁ devāḥ prāpuste durdaśāṁ ciram na pīyūṣaṁ naiva yajñāḥ yayuḥ sthānaṁ svayaṁbhuvaḥ

Narada said: Then, having lost heaven, the gods fell into a wretched state for a long time; they had neither nectar nor sacrifices, and went to the abode of Svayambhu.

Verse 3 (padma.6.9.3)

ददृशुर्ब्राह्मभुवने ब्रह्माणं परमेष्ठिनम् । प्राणायामेन युंजानं मनः स्वं परमात्मनि

dadṛśurbrāhmabhuvane brahmāṇaṁ parameṣṭhinam prāṇāyāmena yuṁjānaṁ manaḥ svaṁ paramātmani

In the Brahma-world they beheld Brahma, the Supreme Lord, joining his own mind to the Supreme Self through the discipline of breath-control.

Verse 4 (padma.6.9.4)

ते तुष्टुवुः सुराः सर्वे वाग्भिस्तथ्याभिरादृताः । ततः प्रसन्नो भगवान्किंकरोमीति चाब्रवीत्

te tuṣṭuvuḥ surāḥ sarve vāgbhistathyābhirādṛtāḥ tataḥ prasanno bhagavānkiṁkaromīti cābravīt

All the gods, with reverent and truthful words, praised him; then, pleased, the Lord said: 'What shall I do for you?'

Verse 5 (padma.6.9.5)

ततो निवेदयांचक्रुः ब्रह्मणे विबुधाः पुनः । जालंधरस्य सकलं तथा निजपराभवम्

tato nivedayāṁcakruḥ brahmaṇe vibudhāḥ punaḥ jālaṁdharasya sakalaṁ tathā nijaparābhavam

Then the gods related to Brahma the whole matter of Jalandhara, and the story of their own defeat.

Verse 6 (padma.6.9.6)

क्षणं ध्यात्वा ययौ ब्रह्मा कैलासं त्रिदशैः सह । तस्य शैलस्य पार्श्वे ते वैचित्र्येण समाकुलाः । स्थिताः संतुष्टुवुर्देवा ब्रह्मशक्रपुरोगमाः

kṣaṇaṁ dhyātvā yayau brahmā kailāsaṁ tridaśaiḥ saha tasya śailasya pārśve te vaicitryeṇa samākulāḥ sthitāḥ saṁtuṣṭuvurdevā brahmaśakrapurogamāḥ

Having meditated for a moment, Brahma went to Kailasa together with the thirty gods; standing beside that mountain, bewildered by its wondrous beauty, those gods, with Brahma and Indra at their head, began their praise —

Verse 7 (padma.6.9.7)

नमो भवाय शर्वाय नीलग्रीवाय ते नमः । नमः स्थूलाय सूक्ष्माय बहुरूपाय ते नमः

namo bhavāya śarvāya nīlagrīvāya te namaḥ namaḥ sthūlāya sūkṣmāya bahurūpāya te namaḥ

'Salutation to Bhava, salutation to Sharva, salutation to you, O blue-throated one! Salutation to the gross and to the subtle, salutation to you, of many forms!'

Verse 8 (padma.6.9.8)

इति सर्वमुखो भूत्वा वाणीमाकर्ण्य शंकरः । प्रोवाच नंदिनं देवा नानयस्वेति सत्वरम्

iti sarvamukho bhūtvā vāṇīmākarṇya śaṁkaraḥ provāca naṁdinaṁ devā nānayasveti satvaram

Thus, turning attentive on every side, hearing this hymn, Shankara said to Nandin: 'Bring them in swiftly.'

Verse 9 (padma.6.9.9)

श्रुत्वा शंभोर्वचो देवा आहूता नंदिना द्रुतम् । प्रविश्यांतःपुरे देवा ददृशुर्विस्मितेक्षणाः

śrutvā śaṁbhorvaco devā āhūtā naṁdinā drutam praviśyāṁtaḥpure devā dadṛśurvismitekṣaṇāḥ

Hearing Shambhu's word, the gods, swiftly summoned by Nandin, entered the inner chamber and beheld, their eyes wide with wonder —

Verse 10 (padma.6.9.10)

तत्रासने समासीनं शंकरं लोकशंकरम् । गणैः कोटिसहस्रैस्तु सेवितं भक्तिशालिभिः

tatrāsane samāsīnaṁ śaṁkaraṁ lokaśaṁkaram gaṇaiḥ koṭisahasraistu sevitaṁ bhaktiśālibhiḥ

Shankara, the benefactor of all worlds, seated there upon his seat, attended by thousands of millions of devoted attendants,

Verse 11 (padma.6.9.11)

नग्नैर्विरूपैः कुटिलैर्जटिलैर्धूलिधूसरैः । प्रणिपत्याग्रतः प्राह सह देवैः पितामहः

nagnairvirūpaiḥ kuṭilairjaṭilairdhūlidhūsaraiḥ praṇipatyāgrataḥ prāha saha devaiḥ pitāmahaḥ

surrounded by naked, misshapen, crooked, matted-locked, dust-grey attendants. Grandsire, together with the gods, came forward, bowed, and said —

Verse 12 (padma.6.9.12)

सुखरोगो यथा स्यासीच्छक्रः सोऽयं वृथागतः । कृपां कुरु महादेव शरणागतवत्सल

sukharogo yathā syāsīcchakraḥ so'yaṁ vṛthāgataḥ kṛpāṁ kuru mahādeva śaraṇāgatavatsala

'That Indra's ease might be restored — he has come here, otherwise in vain; show mercy, O Mahadeva, you who are gentle to those who seek refuge.'

Verse 13 (padma.6.9.13)

तत उच्चैर्विभोर्हास्यं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा पिनाकिनः । उवाच देवदेवेशं पश्यावस्थां दिवौकसाम्

tata uccairvibhorhāsyaṁ śrutvā brahmā pinākinaḥ uvāca devadeveśaṁ paśyāvasthāṁ divaukasām

Then, hearing the Lord's loud laughter, Brahma said to Pinakin, the Lord of gods: 'Behold this state of the heaven-dwellers.'

Verse 14 (padma.6.9.14)

ततः सर्वेश्वरो ज्ञात्वा ब्रह्मणो मनसेप्सितम् । शक्रस्य मानभंगं च देवार्थे परमेश्वरः

tataḥ sarveśvaro jñātvā brahmaṇo manasepsitam śakrasya mānabhaṁgaṁ ca devārthe parameśvaraḥ

Then that Supreme Lord, the Lord of all, understanding what was in Brahma's mind and Indra's wounded pride, for the sake of the gods —

Verse 15 (padma.6.9.15)

प्रेम्णा भवान्या विज्ञप्तो नृप प्राह वचो हरः । विष्णुना न हतो योऽरि स कथं हन्यते मया

premṇā bhavānyā vijñapto nṛpa prāha vaco haraḥ viṣṇunā na hato yo'ri sa kathaṁ hanyate mayā

and, entreated with love by Bhavani, spoke these words, O king: 'That enemy whom even Vishnu did not slay — how shall I slay him?

Verse 16 (padma.6.9.16)

पूर्वसृष्टान्यायुधानि वज्रादीनि पितामह । तैः शस्त्रैर्नैव वध्योऽसौ बली जालंधरोऽसुरः

pūrvasṛṣṭānyāyudhāni vajrādīni pitāmaha taiḥ śastrairnaiva vadhyo'sau balī jālaṁdharo'suraḥ

'With the weapons already created of old — the thunderbolt and the rest, O Grandsire — that mighty demon Jalandhara cannot be slain.

Verse 17 (padma.6.9.17)

हेतिभिः पूर्वसंसृष्टैः समयापि न हन्यते । देवाः कुर्वंतु शस्त्रं हि मम प्राणसहं दृढम्

hetibhiḥ pūrvasaṁsṛṣṭaiḥ samayāpi na hanyate devāḥ kurvaṁtu śastraṁ hi mama prāṇasahaṁ dṛḍham

'He cannot be slain even by weapons made before, nor even by covenant. Let the gods make me a weapon, firm and dear as my own life.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.9.18)

शंभोरित्युत्तरं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मोवाचाथ शंकरम् । स्वयं कुरु महाशस्त्रं त्वं वेत्थ स्वात्मनो बलम्

śaṁbhorityuttaraṁ śrutvā brahmovācātha śaṁkaram svayaṁ kuru mahāśastraṁ tvaṁ vettha svātmano balam

Hearing Shambhu's reply, Brahma said to Shankara: 'Make the great weapon yourself — you alone know your own power.'

Verse 19 (padma.6.9.19)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच महेश्वरः । ब्रह्मन्विमुंच तेजस्त्वं क्रोधयुक्तं सुरैः सह

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā pratyuvāca maheśvaraḥ brahmanvimuṁca tejastvaṁ krodhayuktaṁ suraiḥ saha

Hearing his words, Maheshvara replied: 'O Brahma, release your own wrath-filled energy, together with the gods.'

Verse 20 (padma.6.9.20)

ततस्तेजो मुमोचाथ ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मास्त्रसूचकः । रुद्रस्त्रिनेत्रजं तेजस्ततो निर्मुक्तवान्स्वयम्

tatastejo mumocātha brahmā brahmāstrasūcakaḥ rudrastrinetrajaṁ tejastato nirmuktavānsvayam

Then Brahma released his own energy, the very source of the Brahmastra; and Rudra himself then released the energy born of his third eye.

Verse 21 (padma.6.9.21)

देवाश्च मुमुचुः सर्वे सक्रोधं तेजसां चयम् । अत्रांतरे स्मृतः प्राप्तो हरेण मधुसूदनः

devāśca mumucuḥ sarve sakrodhaṁ tejasāṁ cayam atrāṁtare smṛtaḥ prāpto hareṇa madhusūdanaḥ

All the gods too released their own store of wrathful energy; meanwhile, remembered by Hara, Madhusudana arrived there.

Verse 22 (padma.6.9.22)

किं करोमीति तेनोक्तः शिवः प्राह जनार्दनम् । विष्णो जालंधरः कस्मान्न हतः संगरे त्वया

kiṁ karomīti tenoktaḥ śivaḥ prāha janārdanam viṣṇo jālaṁdharaḥ kasmānna hataḥ saṁgare tvayā

When he asked, 'What shall I do?', Shiva said to Janardana: 'O Vishnu, why did you not slay Jalandhara in that battle?

Verse 23 (padma.6.9.23)

कथं सुरान्परित्यज्य क्षीराब्धिं शयितुं गतः

kathaṁ surānparityajya kṣīrābdhiṁ śayituṁ gataḥ

'How could you abandon the gods and go to lie down in the Ocean of Milk?'

Verse 24 (padma.6.9.24)

श्रीविष्णुरुवाच । यदि तं हन्मि देवेश श्रीः कथं मम वल्लभा । तस्मात्त्वं पार्वतीकांत जहि जालंधरं रणे

śrīviṣṇuruvāca yadi taṁ hanmi deveśa śrīḥ kathaṁ mama vallabhā tasmāttvaṁ pārvatīkāṁta jahi jālaṁdharaṁ raṇe

Sri Vishnu said: 'O Lord of gods, if I slay him, how shall Sri remain my beloved? Therefore you, O beloved of Parvati, must slay Jalandhara in battle.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.9.25)

तेजस्त्वं क्रोधजं मुंचेत्युक्तः शर्वेण केशवः । मुमोच वैष्णवं तेजः तत्सर्वं समवर्द्धत । तेजः प्रवृद्धं तद्दृष्ट्वा व्यापकं प्राह केशवम्

tejastvaṁ krodhajaṁ muṁcetyuktaḥ śarveṇa keśavaḥ mumoca vaiṣṇavaṁ tejaḥ tatsarvaṁ samavarddhata tejaḥ pravṛddhaṁ taddṛṣṭvā vyāpakaṁ prāha keśavam

Told by Sharva, 'Release your own wrath-born energy,' Keshava released his Vaishnava energy, and it grew, combining with the rest; seeing that energy grown vast and all-pervading, he said to Keshava —

Verse 26 (padma.6.9.26)

शंकर उवाच । एतेन तेजसा शीघ्रं ममास्त्रं कर्तुमर्हथ । विश्वकर्मादयस्तच्च श्रुत्वा शंकरभाषितम्

śaṁkara uvāca etena tejasā śīghraṁ mamāstraṁ kartumarhatha viśvakarmādayastacca śrutvā śaṁkarabhāṣitam

Shankara said: 'With this energy, swiftly fashion a weapon for me.' Hearing Shankara's words, Vishvakarma and the others —

Verse 27 (padma.6.9.27)

निरीक्ष्य च तदाऽन्योऽन्यं किं कुर्म इति शंकिताः । दृष्ट्वा तूष्णीं स्थितांस्तांश्च ज्ञात्वा तन्मनसि स्थितम्

nirīkṣya ca tadā'nyo'nyaṁ kiṁ kurma iti śaṁkitāḥ dṛṣṭvā tūṣṇīṁ sthitāṁstāṁśca jñātvā tanmanasi sthitam

looked at one another, uncertain what to do, and grew hesitant; seeing them standing silent, and understanding what was in their minds —

Verse 28 (padma.6.9.28)

तदाह भगवान्ब्रह्मा अनालोक्यं हि दैवतैः । सोढुं न शक्तास्ते तेजो धर्तुं केन च शक्यते

tadāha bhagavānbrahmā anālokyaṁ hi daivataiḥ soḍhuṁ na śaktāste tejo dhartuṁ kena ca śakyate

then Lord Brahma said: 'This is beyond even the gods' own sight — they are unable to bear this energy. Who indeed can hold it?'

Verse 29 (padma.6.9.29)

ततः प्रहस्य भगवानुत्पत्योपरि तेजसः । वामांघ्रिपार्ष्णिना शंभुर्ननर्त भ्रमरीचयम्

tataḥ prahasya bhagavānutpatyopari tejasaḥ vāmāṁghripārṣṇinā śaṁbhurnanarta bhramarīcayam

Then the Lord, laughing, leapt up above that mass of energy and, with the heel of his left foot, began the whirling dance upon it.

Verse 30 (padma.6.9.30)

ततो देवा महेंद्राद्यास्तेजसोपरि शंकरम् । नृत्यमानं तदा दृष्ट्वा मुदा वाद्यान्यवादयन्

tato devā maheṁdrādyāstejasopari śaṁkaram nṛtyamānaṁ tadā dṛṣṭvā mudā vādyānyavādayan

Then the gods, headed by Mahendra, seeing Shankara thus dancing above that energy, joyfully played their instruments.

Verse 31 (padma.6.9.31)

तदाप्रभृति नृत्येषु भ्राम्यते भ्रमरीचयम् । अथ चक्रं समुत्पन्नं शंभोर्नर्तनमर्दनात्

tadāprabhṛti nṛtyeṣu bhrāmyate bhramarīcayam atha cakraṁ samutpannaṁ śaṁbhornartanamardanāt

From that time onward, the whirling turn is performed in dances; then, from the pounding of Shambhu's dance, a discus came into being,

Verse 32 (padma.6.9.32)

आरलक्षत्रयोपेतं अस्थिकोटिसमाकुलम् । शर्वांघ्रिकषणात्तस्य तेजसो निसृताः कणाः

āralakṣatrayopetaṁ asthikoṭisamākulam śarvāṁghrikaṣaṇāttasya tejaso nisṛtāḥ kaṇāḥ

fitted with three sharp edges, thronged with countless points, formed from the particles of that energy scattered by the friction of Sharva's foot.

Verse 33 (padma.6.9.33)

विश्वकर्मा च तेनास्त्रं विमानानि च निर्ममे । ततस्ते निर्ज्जरा भीत्या दृष्ट्वा चक्रं सुदर्शनम्

viśvakarmā ca tenāstraṁ vimānāni ca nirmame tataste nirjjarā bhītyā dṛṣṭvā cakraṁ sudarśanam

Vishvakarma fashioned from it further weapons and celestial cars; then those gods, seeing that Sudarshana discus, in fear —

Verse 34 (padma.6.9.34)

त्राहित्राहीति देवेशं प्रत्यूचुस्ते सुरान्नृप । पृथ्वीकाठिन्यमादाय लोहानामपि तेजसाम्

trāhitrāhīti deveśaṁ pratyūcuste surānnṛpa pṛthvīkāṭhinyamādāya lohānāmapi tejasām

cried out, O king, 'Save us, save us!' to the Lord of gods; taking the very hardness of the earth and iron mixed with fire's own energy —

Verse 35 (padma.6.9.35)

यद्विश्वकर्मणा कोशं कृतं भस्मीकृतं च तत् । सृष्टेन तेन चक्रेण दग्धः कालोऽपतत्क्षितौ

yadviśvakarmaṇā kośaṁ kṛtaṁ bhasmīkṛtaṁ ca tat sṛṣṭena tena cakreṇa dagdhaḥ kālo'patatkṣitau

even the very treasury Vishvakarma had fashioned was reduced to ashes; scorched by that newly-created discus, even Time itself fell to the ground.

Verse 36 (padma.6.9.36)

ततस्तद्ब्रह्मणो हस्ते ददौ चक्रं स धूर्जटिः । चक्रार्चिर्निचयैः कूर्चं दृष्ट्वा दग्धमुमापतिः

tatastadbrahmaṇo haste dadau cakraṁ sa dhūrjaṭiḥ cakrārcirnicayaiḥ kūrcaṁ dṛṣṭvā dagdhamumāpatiḥ

Then Dhurjati handed that discus into Brahma's hand; seeing his own beard scorched by the mass of the discus's flames, the Lord of Uma —

Verse 37 (padma.6.9.37)

हसित्वा ब्रह्मणो हस्ताद्गृहीत्वा सत्वरं शिवः । दधौ कक्षापुटे चक्रं निधानं निर्धनो यथा

hasitvā brahmaṇo hastādgṛhītvā satvaraṁ śivaḥ dadhau kakṣāpuṭe cakraṁ nidhānaṁ nirdhano yathā

laughing, swiftly took it back from Brahma's hand, and held that discus tucked at his own side, as a poor man guards a hidden treasure.

Verse 38 (padma.6.9.38)

ततो न दृश्यते चक्रं शिवकक्षापुटेस्थितम् । महामूर्खस्य यद्दत्तं दानं तस्य फलं यथा

tato na dṛśyate cakraṁ śivakakṣāpuṭesthitam mahāmūrkhasya yaddattaṁ dānaṁ tasya phalaṁ yathā

From that day the discus, tucked away at Shiva's side, is never seen again — as if it were the very fruit of a gift once given to a great fool.