The Journey to Kailasa

Verse 1 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.1)

नन्दिकेश्वर उवाच । पुरा कदाचिद्योगीन्द्र विष्णुर्विषधरासनः । सुष्वाप परया भूत्या स्वानुगैरपि संवृतः

nandikeśvara uvāca purā kadācidyogīṁdra viṣṇurviṣadharāsanaḥ suṣvāpa parayā bhūtyā svānugairapi saṁvṛtaḥ

Nandikeshvara said: Once, O lord of yogis, Vishnu, whose couch is the king of serpents, lay sleeping in the greatest splendor, surrounded even then by his own attendants.

Verse 2 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.2)

यदृच्छयागतस्तत्र ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदां वरः । अपृच्छत् पुण्डरीकाक्षं शयानं सर्वसुन्दरम्

yadṛcchayā gatastatra brahmā brahmavidāṁvaraḥ apṛcchatpuṁḍarīkākṣaṁ śayanaṁ sarvasundaram

Brahma, foremost among the knowers of Brahman, who happened by chance to come there, questioned Vishnu, the lotus-eyed one, as he lay in his all-beautiful repose —

Verse 3 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.3)

कस्त्वं पुरुषवच्छेषे दृष्ट्वा मामपि दृप्तवत् । उत्तिष्ठ वत्स मां पश्य तव नाथमिहागतम्

kastvaṁ puruṣavaccheṣe dṛṣṭvā māmapi dṛptavat uttiṣṭha vatsa māṁ paśya tava nāthamihāgatam

"Who are you, sleeping like a mere man, lying there as if in pride even at the sight of me? Rise, child, look at me — know that your lord has come here!"

Verse 4 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.4)

आगतं गुरुमाराध्यं दृष्ट्वा यो दृप्तवच्चरेत् । द्रोहिणस्तस्य मूढस्य प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते

āgataṁ gurumārādhyaṁ dṛṣṭvā yo dṛptavaccaret drohiṇastasya mūḍhasya prāyaścittaṁ vidhīyate

"Even when a guest as worthy of honor as one's own guru has arrived, whoever lies there in pride, that foolish and offensive one must suffer atonement for his fault."

Verse 5 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.5)

इति श्रुत्वा वचः क्रुद्धो बहिः शान्तवदाचरन् । स्वस्ति ते स्वागतं वत्स तिष्ठ पीठमितो विश

iti śrutvā vacaḥ kruddho bahiḥ śāṁtavadācarat svasti te svāgataṁ vatsa tiṣṭha pīṭhamito viśa

Hearing this word, Vishnu grew angry, yet, feigning outward calm, said: "Welcome to you, child! May you fare well! Wait, sit here upon this seat."

Verse 6 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.6)

किमु ते व्यग्रवद्वक्त्रं विभाति विषमेक्षणम् । ब्रह्मोवाच - वत्स विष्णो महामानमागतं कालवेगतः

kimu te vyāgravadvaktraṁ vibhāti viṣamekṣaṇam brahmovāca vatsa viṣṇo mahāmānamāgataṁ kālavegataḥ

"Why does your face look now like a tiger's, and your eyes so unequal and fierce?" Brahma said: "Child Vishnu, a great pride, born of the force of time, has come over you.

Verse 7 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.7)

पितामहश्च जगतः पाता च तव वत्सक । विष्णुरुवाच - मत्स्थं जगदिदं वत्स मनुषे त्वं हि चोरवत्

pitāmahaśca jagataḥ pātā ca tava vatsaka viṣṇuruvāca matsthaṁ jagadidaṁ vatsa manuṣe tvaṁ hi coravat

I am the grandsire of the universe, and your own sustainer too, child." Vishnu said: "This entire universe rests in me alone, child! You seem to me like nothing but a thief —

Verse 8 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.8)

मन्नाभिकमलाज्जातः पुत्रस्त्वं भाषसे वृथा । नन्दिकेश्वर उवाच । एवं हि वदतोस्तत्र मुग्धयोरजयोस्तदा

mannābhikamalājjātaḥ putrastvaṁ bhāṣase vṛthā nandikeśvara uvāca evaṁ hi vadatostatra mugdhayorajayostadā

born as you are from my own lotus navel, yet in vain do you speak as though you were the father!" Nandikeshvara said: Thus, as those two, both deluded, went on disputing with each other,

Verse 9 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.9)

अहमेव वरो न त्वमहं प्रभुरहं प्रभुः । परस्परं हन्तुकामौ चक्रतुः समरोद्यमम्

ahameva baro na tvamahaṁ prabhurahaṁ prabhuḥ parasparaṁ haṁtukāmau cakratuḥ samarodyamam

each saying "I alone am the greater, not you; I alone am lord, I alone am lord" — desiring now to slay one another, the two of them took up the effort of battle.

Verse 10 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.10)

युयुधातेऽमरौ वीरौ हंसपक्षीन्द्रवाहनौ । वैरञ्च्या वैष्णवाश्चैवं मिथो युयुधिरे तदा

yuyudhāte 'marau vīrau haṁsapakṣīṁdravāhanau vairaṁcyā vaiṣṇavāścaivaṁ mitho yuyudhire tadā

Mounted upon the swan and upon Garuda, those two immortal warriors began to fight; and in the same way the followers of Brahma and the followers of Vishnu also began to fight among themselves.

Verse 11 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.11)

तावद्विमानगतयः सर्वा वै देवजातयः । दिदृक्षवः समाजग्मुः समरं तं महाद्भुतम्

tāvadvimānagatayaḥ sarvā vai devajātayaḥ didṛkṣavaḥ samājagmuḥ samaraṁ taṁ mahādbhutam

At that time all the races of gods, mounted on their chariots, gathered there, eager to witness that wondrous battle,

Verse 12 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.12)

क्षिपन्तः पुष्पवर्षाणि पश्यन्तः स्वैरमम्बरे । सुपर्णवाहनस्तत्र क्रुद्धो वै ब्रह्मवक्षसि

kṣipaṁtaḥ puṣpavarṣāṇi paśyaṁtaḥ svairamaṁbare suparṇavāhanastatra kruddho vai brahmavakṣasi

showering flowers down and moving about freely through the sky as they watched. There Vishnu, mounted on Garuda, grew furious and, upon Brahma's breast,

Verse 13 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.13)

मुमोच बाणानसहानस्त्रांश्च विविधान् बहून् । मुमोचाथ विधिः क्रुद्धो विष्णोरुरसि दुःसहान्

mumoca bāṇānasahānastrāṁśca vividhānbahūn mumocā 'tha vidhiḥ kruddho viṣṇorurasi duḥsahān

loosed a great many terrible and unbearable arrows and weapons; then the enraged creator, Brahma, likewise loosed upon Vishnu's breast unbearable

Verse 14 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.14)

बाणाननलसङ्काशानस्त्रांश्च बहुशस्तदा । तदाश्चर्यमिति स्पष्टं तयोः समरगोचरम्

bāṇānanalasaṁkāśānastrāṁśca bahuśastadā tadāścaryamiti spaṣṭaṁ tayoḥ samaragocaram

arrows, blazing like fire, and many weapons besides. What happened then upon the field of that battle between the two was so astonishing and so plain to see that

Verse 15 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.15)

समीक्ष्य दैवतगणाः शशंसुर्भृशमाकुलाः । ततो विष्णुः सुसङ्क्रुद्धः श्वसन् व्यसनकर्शितः

samīkṣya daivatagaṇāḥ śaśaṁsurbhṛśamākulāḥ tato viṣṇuḥ susaṁkruddhaḥ śvasanvyasanakarśitaḥ

the assembled hosts of gods, watching, grew utterly distraught and cried out again and again in lament. Then Vishnu, greatly enraged, worn out with weariness and hard breathing,

Verse 16 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.16)

माहेश्वरास्त्रं मतिमान् सन्दधे ब्रह्मणोपरि । ततो ब्रह्मा भृशं क्रुद्धः कम्पयन् विश्वमेव हि

māheśvarāstraṁ matimān saṁdadhe brahmaṇopari tato brahmā bhṛśaṁ kruddhaḥ kaṁpayanviśvameva hi

wise though he was, took up and aimed the fearsome Maheshvara weapon at Brahma; then Brahma too, greatly enraged, causing the whole universe to tremble,

Verse 17 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.17)

अस्त्रं पाशुपतं घोरं सन्दधे विष्णुवक्षसि । ततस्तदुत्थितं व्योम्नि तपनायुतसन्निभम्

astraṁ pāśupataṁ ghoraṁ saṁdadhe viṣṇuvakṣasi tatastadutthitaṁ vyomni tapanāyutasannibham

took up and aimed the terrible Pashupata weapon at Vishnu's breast. Then, from those two weapons, a radiance like a thousand suns rose up into the sky —

Verse 18 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.18)

सहस्रमुखमत्युग्रं चण्डवातभयङ्करम् । अस्त्रद्वयमिदं तत्र ब्रह्मविष्ण्वोर्भयङ्करम्

sahasramukhamatyugraṁ caṁḍavātabhayaṁkaram astradvayamidaṁ tatra brahmaviṣṇvorbhayaṁkaram

with a thousand mouths, exceedingly fierce, terrible as a raging storm-wind; those two weapons became a terror to both Brahma and Vishnu alike.

Verse 19 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.19)

इत्थं बभूव समरं ब्रह्मविष्ण्वोः परस्परम् । ततो देवगणाः सर्वे विषण्णा भृशमाकुलाः । ऊचुः परस्परं तात राजक्षोभे यथा द्विजाः

itthaṁ babhūva samaro brahmaviṣṇvoḥ parasparam tato devagaṇāḥ sarve viṣaṇṇā bhṛśamākulāḥ ūcuḥ parasparaṁ tāta rājakṣobhe yathā dvijāḥ

Thus this battle broke out between Brahma and Vishnu; then all the hosts of the gods grew utterly dismayed and distraught, and said to one another — as happens, dear one, when a kingdom falls into turmoil — thus, O brahmins,

Verse 20 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.20)

सृष्टिः स्थितिश्च संहारस्तिरोभावोऽप्यनुग्रहः । यस्मात् प्रवर्तते तस्मै ब्रह्मणे च त्रिशूलिने

sṛṣṭiḥ sthitiśca saṁhārastiro bhāvopyanugrahaḥ yasmātpravartate tasmai brahmaṇe ca triśūline

"We must take refuge in that trident-bearing Brahman alone, from whom creation, preservation, destruction, concealment, and grace all proceed."

Verse 21 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.21)

अशक्यमन्यैर्यदनुग्रहं विना तृणक्षयोऽप्यत्र यदृच्छया क्वचित्

aśakyamanyairyadanugrahaṁ vinā tṛṇakṣayopyatra yadṛcchayā kvacit

For without his grace this cannot be turned aside by anyone else — indeed even the destruction of a single blade of grass, here, is at times difficult except by his own will.

Verse 22 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.22)

इति देवा भयं कृत्वा विचिन्वन्तः शिवक्षयम् । जग्मुः कैलासशिखरं यत्रास्ते चन्द्रशेखरः

iti devābhayaṁ kṛtvā vicinvaṁtaḥ śivakṣayam jagmuḥ kailāsaśikharaṁ yatrāste caṁdraśekharaḥ

Thus, praying for protection and pondering the way to reach Shiva, the gods set out for the peak of Kailasa, where Chandrashekhara dwells.

Verse 23 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.23)

दृष्ट्वैवममरा हृष्टाः पदं तत्पारमेश्वरम् । प्रणेमुः प्रणवाकारं प्रविष्टास्तत्र सद्मनि

dṛṣṭvaivamamarā hṛṣṭāḥ padaṁtatpārameśvaram praṇemuḥ praṇavākāraṁ praviṣṭāstatra sadmani

Arriving thus at that abode of the Supreme Lord, the gods, filled with joy, bowed in the very form of the syllable Om, and entered that dwelling.

Verse 24 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.24)

तेऽपि तत्र सभामध्ये मण्डपे मणिविष्टरे । विराजमानमुमया ददृशुर्देवपुङ्गवम्

tepi tatra sabhāmadhye maṁḍape maṇiviṣṭare virājamānamumayā dadṛśurdevapuṁgavam

There, in the midst of the assembly, they beheld that foremost of gods seated upon a jewel-studded throne, together with Uma.

Verse 25 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.25)

सव्योत्तरेतरपदं तदर्पितकराम्बुजम् । स्वगणैः सर्वतो जुष्टं सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम्

savyottaretarapadaṁ tadarhitakarāṁ bujam svagaṇaiḥ sarvato juṣṭaṁ sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitam

whose form, with its right and left aspects, was thus adorned; whose arms were worthy of reverence; who was attended on every side by his own attendants; and who bore every auspicious mark,

Verse 26 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.26)

वीज्यमानं विशेषज्ञैः स्त्रीजनैस्तीव्रभावनैः । शंस्यमानं सदा वेदैरनुगृह्णन्तमीश्वरम्

vījyamānaṁ viśoṣajaiḥ strījanaistīvrabhāvanaiḥ śasyamānaṁ sadāvedairanugṛhṇaṁtamīśvaram

who was being fanned with fragrant fans by women filled with deep feeling, who was ever praised by the very Vedas, and who sat there bestowing his grace, the Lord himself.

Verse 27 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.27)

दृष्ट्वैवमीशममराः सन्तोषसलिलेक्षणाः । दण्डवद् दूरतो वत्स नमश्चक्रुर्महागणाः

dṛṣṭvaivamīśamamarāḥ saṁtoṣasalilekṣaṇāḥ daṁḍavaddūrato vatsa namaścakrurmahāgaṇāḥ

Seeing the Lord thus, the gods, their eyes filled with tears of joy, dear one, prostrated themselves from a distance like fallen staves — the great hosts too bowed down to him.

Verse 28 (shiva.vidyeshvara.6.28)

तानवेक्ष्य पतिर्देवान् समीपे चाह्वयद् गणैः । अथ संह्लादयन् देवान् देवो देवशिखामणिः । अवोचदथ गम्भीरं वचनं मधुमङ्गलम्

tānavekṣya patirdevānsamīpe cāhvayadgaṇaiḥ atha saṁhlādayandevāndevo devaśikhāmaṇiḥ avocadarthagaṁbhīraṁ vacanaṁ madhumaṁgalam

Seeing them thus, the Lord of the gods had them summoned near through his attendants; then the god of gods, the crest-jewel among gods, delighting those gods, spoke words deep in meaning yet sweet and auspicious.