The Origin of Kirtimukha

Verse 1 (padma.6.99.1)

नारद उवाच । स मां संपूज्य विधिवद्दानवेंद्रो ऽतिभक्तितः । संप्रहस्य तदा वाक्यं जगाद नृपसत्तम

nārada uvāca sa māṁ saṁpūjya vidhivaddānaveṁdro 'tibhaktitaḥ saṁprahasya tadā vākyaṁ jagāda nṛpasattama

Narada said: That lord of the demons duly worshipped me with great devotion, and then, O best of kings, laughing, he spoke these words —

Verse 2 (padma.6.99.2)

जलंधर उवाच । कुतस्त्वागम्यते ब्रह्मन्किं च दृष्टं त्वया क्वचित् । यदर्थमिह चायातस्तदा ज्ञापय मां मुने

jalaṁdhara uvāca kutastvāgamyate brahmankiṁ ca dṛṣṭaṁ tvayā kvacit yadarthamiha cāyātastadā jñāpaya māṁ mune

Jalandhara said: 'O Brahman, where do you come from, and what have you seen anywhere? O sage, tell me the reason you have come here.'

Verse 3 (padma.6.99.3)

नारद उवाच । गतः कैलासशिखरं दैत्येंद्राहं यदृच्छया । तत्रोमया सहासीनं दृष्टवानस्मि शंकरम्

nārada uvāca gataḥ kailāsaśikharaṁ daityeṁdrāhaṁ yadṛcchayā tatromayā sahāsīnaṁ dṛṣṭavānasmi śaṁkaram

Narada said: 'O lord of the demons, I went of my own accord to the peak of Kailasa. There I saw Shankara seated together with Uma (Parvati) —'

Verse 4 (padma.6.99.4)

योजनायुतविस्तीर्णे कल्पद्रुम महावने । कामधेनुशताकीर्णे चिंतामणि सुदीपिते

yojanāyutavistīrṇe kalpadruma mahāvane kāmadhenuśatākīrṇe ciṁtāmaṇi sudīpite

'— in a great forest, ten thousand yojanas in extent, full of wish-fulfilling trees, thronged with hundreds of wish-granting cows, and gleaming with wish-fulfilling gems.'

Verse 5 (padma.6.99.5)

तं दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यं वितर्को मेऽभवत्तदा । क्वापीदृशी भवेद्वृद्धिस्त्रिलोक्यां वा न वेति च

taṁ dṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryaṁ vitarko me'bhavattadā kvāpīdṛśī bhavedvṛddhistrilokyāṁ vā na veti ca

'Seeing that, I was struck with great wonder, and this thought arose in me: whether such prosperity exists anywhere else in the three worlds, or not —'

Verse 6 (padma.6.99.6)

तावत्तवापि दैत्येंद्र समृद्धिः सम्भृता मया । तद्विलोकनकामोऽहं त्वत्सान्निध्यमिहागतः

tāvattavāpi daityeṁdra samṛddhiḥ sambhṛtā mayā tadvilokanakāmo'haṁ tvatsānnidhyamihāgataḥ

'— and along with that, O lord of demons, I had heard of your prosperity as well. Desiring to see it, I have come here into your presence.'

Verse 7 (padma.6.99.7)

त्वत्समृद्धिमिमां पश्यन्स्त्रीरत्नरहितां ध्रुवम् । तर्कयामि शिवादन्यत्त्रिलोक्यां न समृद्धिमान्

tvatsamṛddhimimāṁ paśyanstrīratnarahitāṁ dhruvam tarkayāmi śivādanyattrilokyāṁ na samṛddhimān

'Seeing this prosperity of yours, which surely lacks the jewel of a woman, I conclude that, other than Shiva, no one in the three worlds is truly prosperous.'

Verse 8 (padma.6.99.8)

अप्सरो नागकन्याश्च यद्यपि त्वद्वशे स्थिताः । तथापि ता न पार्वत्या रूपेण सदृशा ध्रुवम्

apsaro nāgakanyāśca yadyapi tvadvaśe sthitāḥ tathāpi tā na pārvatyā rūpeṇa sadṛśā dhruvam

'Though the apsarases and serpent-maidens are indeed at your command, yet they are surely not equal to Parvati in beauty.'

Verse 9 (padma.6.99.9)

यस्या लावण्यजलधौ निमग्नश्चतुराननः । स्वधैर्यममुचत्पूर्वं तया कान्योपमीयते

yasyā lāvaṇyajaladhau nimagnaścaturānanaḥ svadhairyamamucatpūrvaṁ tayā kānyopamīyate

'She, immersed in whose ocean of loveliness the four-faced Brahma himself once lost his own composure — with whom else can she be compared?'

Verse 10 (padma.6.99.10)

वीतरागोऽपि हि यथा मदनारिः स्वलीलया । विश्वतंत्रोऽपि तपसा स चात्मवशगः कृतः

vītarāgo'pi hi yathā madanāriḥ svalīlayā viśvataṁtro'pi tapasā sa cātmavaśagaḥ kṛtaḥ

'Even the foe of Madana (Kama), though free of passion, was, by her mere play, brought under her control; and though lord of the whole universe, he was, through her austerities, made subject to her.'

Verse 11 (padma.6.99.11)

सौंदर्यगहने भ्रामन्शबरीरूपया पुरा । यस्याः पुनः पुनः पश्यन्रूपं धाता विसर्जने

sauṁdaryagahane bhrāmanśabarīrūpayā purā yasyāḥ punaḥ punaḥ paśyanrūpaṁ dhātā visarjane

'Long ago, when she, taking the form of a huntress-woman, bewildered Shiva within the forest of her beauty, Brahma, gazing again and again upon her form, in the act of creation —'

Verse 12 (padma.6.99.12)

ससर्जाप्सरसस्तास्तास्तत्समैकापि नाभवत् । अतः स्त्रीरत्नसंभोक्तुः समृद्धिस्तस्य सा वरा

sasarjāpsarasastāstāstatsamaikāpi nābhavat ataḥ strīratnasaṁbhoktuḥ samṛddhistasya sā varā

'— created those various apsarases, yet not even one of them equalled her. Therefore the prosperity of him who enjoys that jewel of a woman [Shiva] is the finest.'

Verse 13 (padma.6.99.13)

तथा न तव दैत्येंद्र सर्वरत्नाधिपस्य च । एवमुक्त्वा तमामंत्र्य गते मयि स दैत्यराट्

tathā na tava daityeṁdra sarvaratnādhipasya ca evamuktvā tamāmaṁtrya gate mayi sa daityarāṭ

'You do not possess such prosperity, O lord of demons, even though you are lord of all treasures.' Having said this, and having taken leave of him, when I departed, that lord of the demons —

Verse 14 (padma.6.99.14)

तद्रूपश्रवणादासीदनंगज्वरपीडितः । अथ संप्रेषयामास दूतं च सिंहिकासुतम्

tadrūpaśravaṇādāsīdanaṁgajvarapīḍitaḥ atha saṁpreṣayāmāsa dūtaṁ ca siṁhikāsutam

— upon hearing of her beauty, became afflicted with the fever of lust. He then sent Simhika's son (Rahu) as his messenger.

Verse 15 (padma.6.99.15)

त्र्यंबकाय तदा किंचिद्विष्णुमायाविमोहितः । कैलासमगमद्राहुः सर्वशुक्लेंदुवर्चसम्

tryaṁbakāya tadā kiṁcidviṣṇumāyāvimohitaḥ kailāsamagamadrāhuḥ sarvaśukleṁduvarcasam

Rahu, somewhat deluded by the illusion of Vishnu, went to Kailasa to Tryambaka (Shiva) with a message, radiant as the full bright moon.

Verse 16 (padma.6.99.16)

कार्त्स्न्येन कृष्णपक्षेंदुवर्चसं स्वांगजेन तु । निवेदितस्तदादेशान्नंदिना च प्रवेशितः । त्र्यंबकाभ्रूलतासंज्ञा प्रेरितो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

kārtsnyena kṛṣṇapakṣeṁduvarcasaṁ svāṁgajena tu niveditastadādeśānnaṁdinā ca praveśitaḥ tryaṁbakābhrūlatāsaṁjñā prerito vākyamabravīt

As he approached, through his own doing, he became dimmed in radiance like the moon of the dark fortnight. Announced by Nandi, he was, by the god's command, allowed to enter. Prompted by a gesture of Tryambaka's eyebrows, he spoke these words —

Verse 17 (padma.6.99.17)

राहुरुवाच । देवपन्नगसेव्यस्य त्रैलोक्याधिपतेः प्रभोः । सर्वरत्नेश्वरस्य त्वमाज्ञां शृणु वृषध्वज

rāhuruvāca devapannagasevyasya trailokyādhipateḥ prabhoḥ sarvaratneśvarasya tvamājñāṁ śṛṇu vṛṣadhvaja

Rahu said: 'O bull-bannered one, hear the command of the Lord served by gods and serpents, the master of the three worlds, the ruler of all treasures.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.99.18)

श्मशानवासिनो नित्यं मुंडमालाधरस्य च । दिगंबरस्य ते भार्या कथं हैमवती शुभा

śmaśānavāsino nityaṁ muṁḍamālādharasya ca digaṁbarasya te bhāryā kathaṁ haimavatī śubhā

'You, who ever dwell in the cremation ground, who wear a garland of skulls, and who go naked — how can the auspicious Haimavati (Parvati) be your wife?'

Verse 19 (padma.6.99.19)

अहं रत्नाधिनाथोऽस्मि सा च स्त्री रत्नसंज्ञका । तस्मान्ममैव सा योग्या नैव भिक्षाशिनस्तव

ahaṁ ratnādhinātho'smi sā ca strī ratnasaṁjñakā tasmānmamaiva sā yogyā naiva bhikṣāśinastava

'I am the sovereign lord of all treasures, and that woman too is called a treasure. Therefore she is fitting for me alone, not for you, who live on alms.'

Verse 20 (padma.6.99.20)

नारद उवाच । वदत्येवं तदा राहौ भ्रूमध्याच्छूलपाणिनः । अभवत्पुरुषो रौद्रस्तीव्राशनिसमस्वनः

nārada uvāca vadatyevaṁ tadā rāhau bhrūmadhyācchūlapāṇinaḥ abhavatpuruṣo raudrastīvrāśanisamasvanaḥ

Narada said: When Rahu had spoken thus, from between the eyebrows of the trident-bearer (Shiva) there appeared a terrible being, whose roar was like the sharp crash of a thunderbolt.

Verse 21 (padma.6.99.21)

सिंहास्यः प्रचलज्जिह्वः सज्वलन्नयनो महान् । ऊर्ध्वकेशः शुष्कतनुर्नृसिंह इव चापरः

siṁhāsyaḥ pracalajjihvaḥ sajvalannayano mahān ūrdhvakeśaḥ śuṣkatanurnṛsiṁha iva cāparaḥ

He had the face of a lion, a flickering tongue, blazing eyes, was of vast size, with hair standing on end and an emaciated body, as if he were another Narasimha.

Verse 22 (padma.6.99.22)

स तं खादितुमारेभे दृष्ट्वा राहुर्भयातुरः । अधावदतिवेगेन बहिः स च दधार तम्

sa taṁ khāditumārebhe dṛṣṭvā rāhurbhayāturaḥ adhāvadativegena bahiḥ sa ca dadhāra tam

Seeing him, Rahu, terrified, began to flee, and that being, seeking to devour him, pursued him outside with tremendous speed.

Verse 23 (padma.6.99.23)

स च राहुर्महाबाहुर्मेघगंभीरया गिरा । उवाच देवदेवेशं पाहि मां शरणागतम्

sa ca rāhurmahābāhurmeghagaṁbhīrayā girā uvāca devadeveśaṁ pāhi māṁ śaraṇāgatam

Then the mighty-armed Rahu, in a voice deep as thunder, said to the God of gods: 'Protect me, who has come to you for refuge.'

Verse 24 (padma.6.99.24)

ब्राह्मणं मां महादेव खादितुं समुपागतः । एतस्माद्रक्ष देवेश शरणागतवत्सल

brāhmaṇaṁ māṁ mahādeva khādituṁ samupāgataḥ etasmādrakṣa deveśa śaraṇāgatavatsala

'O Mahadeva, this creature has come to devour me, a brahmin. O Lord of gods, O ever-gracious protector of those who seek refuge, save me from him.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.99.25)

महादेवो वचः श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणस्य तदाब्रवीत् । नैवासौ वध्यतामेति दूतोऽयं परवान्यतः

mahādevo vacaḥ śrutvā brāhmaṇasya tadābravīt naivāsau vadhyatāmeti dūto'yaṁ paravānyataḥ

Mahadeva, hearing the brahmin's words, then said: 'He is not deserving of death, for he is a messenger under another's authority.'

Verse 26 (padma.6.99.26)

मुंचेति पुरुषः श्रुत्वा राहुं तत्याज सोंबरे । राहुं त्यक्त्वा स षुरुषो महादेवं व्यजिज्ञपत्

muṁceti puruṣaḥ śrutvā rāhuṁ tatyāja soṁbare rāhuṁ tyaktvā sa ṣuruṣo mahādevaṁ vyajijñapat

Hearing 'Release him,' that being let go of Rahu in the very sky, and, releasing Rahu, made this petition to Mahadeva.

Verse 27 (padma.6.99.27)

पुरुष उवाच । क्षुधा मां बाधते स्वामिन्क्षुत्क्षामश्चास्मि सर्वथा । किं भक्ष्यं मम देवेश तदाज्ञापय मां प्रभो

puruṣa uvāca kṣudhā māṁ bādhate svāminkṣutkṣāmaścāsmi sarvathā kiṁ bhakṣyaṁ mama deveśa tadājñāpaya māṁ prabho

That being said: 'O Lord, hunger torments me; I am utterly wasted with hunger. O God of gods, O Master, command me what my food should be.'

Verse 28 (padma.6.99.28)

ईश्वर उवाच । संभक्षयात्मनः शीघ्रं मांसं त्वं हस्तपादयोः

īśvara uvāca saṁbhakṣayātmanaḥ śīghraṁ māṁsaṁ tvaṁ hastapādayoḥ

Ishvara said: 'Quickly devour the flesh of your own hands and feet.'

Verse 29 (padma.6.99.29)

नारद उवाच । सशिवेनैवमाज्ञप्तश्चखाद पुरुषः स्वयम् । हस्तपादोद्भवं मांसं शिरःशेषो यदाभवत्

nārada uvāca saśivenaivamājñaptaścakhāda puruṣaḥ svayam hastapādodbhavaṁ māṁsaṁ śiraḥśeṣo yadābhavat

Narada said: Thus commanded by Shiva, that being himself devoured the flesh arising from his own hands and feet, until only his head remained.

Verse 30 (padma.6.99.30)

दृष्ट्वा शिरोऽवशेषं तु सुप्रसन्नः सदाशिवः । पुरुषं भीमकर्माणं तमुवाच सविस्मयः

dṛṣṭvā śiro'vaśeṣaṁ tu suprasannaḥ sadāśivaḥ puruṣaṁ bhīmakarmāṇaṁ tamuvāca savismayaḥ

Seeing him reduced to just a head, Sadashiva became greatly pleased, and, astonished, spoke to that being of terrible deeds —

Verse 31 (padma.6.99.31)

ईश्वर उवाच । त्वं कीर्तिमुखसंज्ञो हि भव मद्द्वारगः सदा । त्वदर्चां नैव कुर्वंति नैव ते मत्प्रियंकराः

īśvara uvāca tvaṁ kīrtimukhasaṁjño hi bhava maddvāragaḥ sadā tvadarcāṁ naiva kurvaṁti naiva te matpriyaṁkarāḥ

Ishvara said: 'You shall be known by the name Kirtimukha, and shall ever remain at my doorway. Those who do not worship you are never dear to me either.'

Verse 32 (padma.6.99.32)

नारद उवाच । तदाप्रभृति देवस्य द्वारे कीर्तिमुखः स्थितः । नार्चयंतीह ये पूर्वं तेषामर्चा वृथा भवेत्

nārada uvāca tadāprabhṛti devasya dvāre kīrtimukhaḥ sthitaḥ nārcayaṁtīha ye pūrvaṁ teṣāmarcā vṛthā bhavet

Narada said: From that time on, Kirtimukha has remained at the deity's doorway. Those who do not first worship him find their own worship of Shiva rendered fruitless.

Verse 33 (padma.6.99.33)

राहुर्विमुक्तो यस्तेन सोऽपतद्बर्बरस्थले । अतः स बर्बरोद्भूत इति भूमौ पृथां गतः

rāhurvimukto yastena so'patadbarbarasthale ataḥ sa barbarodbhūta iti bhūmau pṛthāṁ gataḥ

The Rahu whom he had released fell in the land of the Barbaras. Therefore he became known on earth by the name 'Barbaroddhava,' meaning he who fell in the Barbara land.

Verse 34 (padma.6.99.34)

ततश्च राहुः पुनरेव जातमात्मानमस्मिन्निति मन्यमानः । समेत्य सर्वं कथयां बभूव जलंधरायेशविचेष्टितं तत्

tataśca rāhuḥ punareva jātamātmānamasminniti manyamānaḥ sametya sarvaṁ kathayāṁ babhūva jalaṁdharāyeśaviceṣṭitaṁ tat

Then Rahu, feeling as though he had been born anew in this place, returned and related to Jalandhara the entire episode of Shiva's doing.