The Sages' Question

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.1.1)

विश्वोद्भवस्थितिलयादिषु हेतुमेकं गौरीपतिं विदिततत्त्वमनन्तकीर्तिम् । मायाश्रयं विगतमायमचिन्त्यरूपं बोधस्वरूपममलं हि शिवं नमामि

viśvodbhavasthitilayādiṣu hetumekaṁ gaurīpatiṁ viditatattvamanantakīrtim māyāśrayaṁ vigatamāyamacintyarūpaṁ bodhasvarūpamamalaṁ hi śivaṁ namāmi

To that Shiva who is the sole cause of the world's creation, preservation and dissolution, the husband of Gauri, whose essence is known, of endless glory; the very ground of maya yet untouched by maya, of inconceivable form, of the nature of pure consciousness and stainless — to him I bow in my mind.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.1.2)

वन्दे शिवं तं प्रकृतेरनादिं प्रशान्तमेकं पुरुषोत्तमं हि । स्वमायया कृत्स्नमिदं हि सृष्ट्वा नभोवदन्तर्बहिरास्थितो यः

vande śivaṁ taṁ prakṛteranādiṁ praśāntamekaṁ puruṣottamaṁ hi svamāyayā kṛtsnamidaṁ hi sṛṣṭvā nabhovadantarbahirāsthito yaḥ

I salute that Shiva, beginningless even before prakriti, utterly tranquil, the sole Purushottama, who having created this entire universe by his own maya, abides within it and beyond it like space itself.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.1.3)

वन्देऽन्तरस्थं निजगूढरूपं शिवं स्वतः स्रष्टुमिदं विचष्टे । जगन्ति नित्यं परितो भ्रमन्ति यत्सन्निधौ चुम्बकलोहवत्तम्

vande'ntarasthaṁ nijagūḍharūpaṁ śivaṁ svataḥ sraṣṭumidaṁ vicaṣṭe jaganti nityaṁ parito bhramanti yatsannidhau cumbakalohavattam

I salute him who dwells within, in his own hidden form, Shiva, who of himself conceives the plan to create this universe; in whose presence the worlds forever revolve, as iron is drawn about a magnet.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.1.4)

व्यास उवाच । जगतः पितरं शम्भुं जगतो मातरं शिवाम् । तत्पुत्रश्च गणाधीशं नत्वैतद्वर्णयामहे

vyāsa uvāca jagataḥ pitaraṁ śambhuṁ jagato mātaraṁ śivām tatputraśca gaṇādhīśaṁ natvaitadvarṇayāmahe

Vyasa said: Bowing to Shambhu, father of the world, to Shiva, mother of the world, and to their son, the Lord of the ganas, we now begin this narration.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.1.5)

एकदा मुनयः सर्वे नैमिषारण्यवासिनः । पप्रच्छुर्वरया भक्त्या सूतं ते शौनकादयः

ekadā munayaḥ sarve naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ papracchurvarayā bhaktyā sūtaṁ te śaunakādayaḥ

Once, all the sages dwelling in the Naimisha forest, headed by Shaunaka, questioned Suta with the finest devotion.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.1.6)

ऋषय ऊचुः । विद्येश्वरसंहितायाः श्रुता सा सत्कथा शुभा । साध्यसाधनखण्डाख्या रम्याद्या भक्तवत्सला

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ vidyeśvarasaṁhitāyāḥ śrutā sā satkathā śubhā sādhyasādhanakhaṇḍākhyā ramyādyā bhaktavatsalā

The sages said: We have heard that blessed and true tale of the Vidyeshvara Samhita, known as the Sadhya-Sadhana Khanda — delightful from its very start and tender toward devotees.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.1.7)

सूत सूत महाभाग चिरञ्जीव सुखी भव । यच्छ्रावयसि नस्तात शाङ्करीं परमां कथाम्

sūta sūta mahābhāga cirañjīva sukhī bhava yacchrāvayasi nastāta śāṅkarīṁ paramāṁ kathām

O Suta, Suta, greatly fortunate one! Long may you live, and happily, for you make us hear the supreme tale of Shankara.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.1.8)

पिबन्तस्त्वन्मुखाम्भोजच्युतं ज्ञानामृतं वयम् । अवितृप्ताः पुनः किञ्चित्प्रष्टुमिच्छामहेऽनघ

pibantastvanmukhāmbhojacyutaṁ jñānāmṛtaṁ vayam avitṛptāḥ punaḥ kiñcitpraṣṭumicchāmahe'nagha

O sinless one, though we drink the nectar of knowledge flowing from your lotus mouth, we remain unsatisfied; we wish to ask something further.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.1.9)

व्यासप्रसादात्सर्वज्ञो प्राप्तोऽसि कृतकृत्यताम् । नाज्ञातं विद्यते किञ्चिद्भूतं भव्यं भवच्च यत्

vyāsaprasādātsarvajño prāpto'si kṛtakṛtyatām nājñātaṁ vidyate kiñcidbhūtaṁ bhavyaṁ bhavacca yat

By Vyasa's grace you have become all-knowing and have attained the fulfilment of your purpose; nothing that has been, will be, or now is, in the three worlds remains unknown to you.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.1.10)

गुरोर्व्यासस्य सद्भक्त्या समासाद्य कृपां पराम् । सर्वं ज्ञातं विशेषेण सर्वं सार्थं कृतं जनुः

gurorvyāsasya sadbhaktyā samāsādya kṛpāṁ parām sarvaṁ jñātaṁ viśeṣeṇa sarvaṁ sārthaṁ kṛtaṁ januḥ

By true devotion to your guru Vyasa, having gained his supreme grace, you have come to know everything in full, and your very birth has been made worthwhile.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.1.11)

इदानीं कथय प्राज्ञ शिवरूपमनुत्तमम् । दिव्यानि वै चरित्राणि शिवयोरप्यशेषतः

idānīṁ kathaya prājña śivarūpamanuttamam divyāni vai caritrāṇi śivayorapyaśeṣataḥ

Now, O wise one, tell us the incomparable form of Shiva, and the divine deeds of both Shiva and Shivā, in their entirety.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.1.12)

अगुणो गुणतां याति कथं लोके महेश्वरः । शिवतत्त्वं वयं सर्वे न जानीमो विचारतः

aguṇo guṇatāṁ yāti kathaṁ loke maheśvaraḥ śivatattvaṁ vayaṁ sarve na jānīmo vicārataḥ

How does the qualityless Maheshvara come to take on qualities in this world? None of us, for all our reasoning, can truly grasp the reality of Shiva.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.1.13)

सृष्टेः पूर्वं कथं शम्भुः स्वरूपेणावतिष्ठते । सृष्टिमध्ये स हि कथं क्रीडन्संवर्तते प्रभुः

sṛṣṭeḥ pūrvaṁ kathaṁ śambhuḥ svarūpeṇāvatiṣṭhate sṛṣṭimadhye sa hi kathaṁ krīḍansaṁvartate prabhuḥ

Before creation, how does Shambhu abide in his own true form? In the midst of creation, how does that Lord continue, sporting at play?

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.1.14)

तदन्ते च कथं देवः स तिष्ठति महेश्वरः । कथं प्रसन्नतां याति शङ्करो लोकशङ्करः

tadante ca kathaṁ devaḥ sa tiṣṭhati maheśvaraḥ kathaṁ prasannatāṁ yāti śaṅkaro lokaśaṅkaraḥ

At the end of creation, how does that god Maheshvara remain? How does Shankara, benefactor of the world, come to be gracious?

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.1.15)

स प्रसन्नो महेशानः किं प्रयच्छति सत्फलम् । स्वभक्तेभ्यः परेभ्यश्च तत्सर्वं कथयस्व नः

sa prasanno maheśānaḥ kiṁ prayacchati satphalam svabhaktebhyaḥ parebhyaśca tatsarvaṁ kathayasva naḥ

When gracious, what good fruit does that Maheshana bestow upon his own devotees, and upon others besides? Tell us all of this.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.1.16)

सद्यः प्रसन्नो भगवान्भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम । भक्तप्रयासं स महान्न पश्यति दयापरः

sadyaḥ prasanno bhagavānbhavatītyanuśuśruma bhaktaprayāsaṁ sa mahānna paśyati dayāparaḥ

We have heard that the Lord becomes gracious at once; being supremely compassionate, he does not even weigh the effort of his devotee.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.1.17)

ब्रह्मा विष्णुर्महेशश्च त्रयो देवाः शिवाङ्गजाः । महेशस्तत्र पूर्णांशः स्वयमेव शिवोऽपरः

brahmā viṣṇurmaheśaśca trayo devāḥ śivāṅgajāḥ maheśastatra pūrṇāṁśaḥ svayameva śivo'paraḥ

Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha — these three gods are born of Shiva's own being; among them Mahesha is his full portion, while Shiva himself remains yet beyond even him.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.1.18)

तस्याविर्भावमाख्याहि चरितानि विशेषतः । उमाविर्भावमाख्याहि तद्विवाहं तथा प्रभो

tasyāvirbhāvamākhyāhi caritāni viśeṣataḥ umāvirbhāvamākhyāhi tadvivāhaṁ tathā prabho

Tell us in particular of his manifestation and his deeds; tell us too, O lord, of Uma's manifestation and of her marriage.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.1.19)

तद्गार्हस्थ्यं विशेषेण तथा लीलाः परा अपि । एतत्सर्वं तदन्यच्च कथनीयं त्वयानघ

tadgārhasthyaṁ viśeṣeṇa tathā līlāḥ parā api etatsarvaṁ tadanyacca kathanīyaṁ tvayānagha

Tell us in particular of his householder's life, and also of his other divine sports; O sinless one, narrate to us all of this and whatever else there is.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.1.20)

व्यास उवाच । इति पृष्टस्तदा तैस्तु सूतो हर्षसमन्वितः । स्मृत्वा शम्भुपदाम्भोजं प्रत्युवाच मुनीश्वरान्

vyāsa uvāca iti pṛṣṭastadā taistu sūto harṣasamanvitaḥ smṛtvā śambhupadāmbhojaṁ pratyuvāca munīśvarān

Vyasa said: Thus questioned by them, Suta, filled with joy, called to mind the lotus feet of Shambhu and replied to those lords among sages.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.1.21)

सूत उवाच । सम्यक् पृष्टं भवद्भिश्च धन्या यूयं मुनीश्वराः । सदाशिवकथायां वो यज्जाता नैष्ठिकी मतिः

sūta uvāca samyak pṛṣṭaṁ bhavadbhiśca dhanyā yūyaṁ munīśvarāḥ sadāśivakathāyāṁ vo yajjātā naiṣṭhikī matiḥ

Suta said: You have asked well indeed. Blessed are you, O lords of sages, in whom such steadfast devotion to the story of Sadashiva has now arisen.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.1.22)

सदाशिवकथाप्रश्नः पुरुषांस्त्रीन्पुनाति हि । वक्तारं पृच्छकं श्रोतॄञ्जाह्नवीसलिलं यथा

sadāśivakathāpraśnaḥ puruṣāṁstrīnpunāti hi vaktāraṁ pṛcchakaṁ śrotṝñjāhnavīsalilaṁ yathā

The very question about Sadashiva's story purifies three kinds of persons — the speaker, the questioner, and the listeners — just as the waters of the Jahnavi (Ganga) purify all.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.1.23)

शम्भोर्गुणानुवादात्को विरज्येत पुमान्द्विजाः । विना पशुघ्नं त्रिविधजनानन्दकरात्सदा

śambhorguṇānuvādātko virajyeta pumāndvijāḥ vinā paśughnaṁ trividhajanānandakarātsadā

O brahmins, who among men would not be turned from worldliness by the recounting of Shambhu's virtues, which ever brings joy to beings of all three kinds — save one whose heart is as cruel as a slayer of beasts?

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.1.24)

गीयमानो वितृष्णैश्च भवरोगौषधोऽपि हि । मनःश्रोत्राभिरामश्च यतः सर्वार्थदः स वै

gīyamāno vitṛṣṇaiśca bhavarogauṣadho'pi hi manaḥśrotrābhirāmaśca yataḥ sarvārthadaḥ sa vai

This tale is sung even by those free of worldly desire, for it is the very medicine for the disease of existence; dear to both mind and ear, since it grants the fulfilment of every purpose.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.1.25)

कथयामि यथाबुद्धि भवत्प्रश्नानुसारतः । शिवलीलां प्रयत्नेन द्विजास्तां शृणुतादरात्

kathayāmi yathābuddhi bhavatpraśnānusārataḥ śivalīlāṁ prayatnena dvijāstāṁ śṛṇutādarāt

According to my understanding, and in the order of your questions, I shall recount with care the divine play of Shiva; O brahmins, listen to it with reverence.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.1.26)

भवद्भिः पृच्छ्यते यद्वत्तत्तथा नारदेन वै । पृष्टं पित्रे प्रेरितेन हरिणा शिवरूपिणा

bhavadbhiḥ pṛcchyate yadvattattathā nāradena vai pṛṣṭaṁ pitre preritena hariṇā śivarūpiṇā

As you now ask me, so once did Narada likewise ask — when, at the prompting of his father Brahma, that very question was put to him by Hari, who himself bore the form of Shiva.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.1.27)

ब्रह्मा श्रुत्वा सुतवचः शिवभक्तः प्रसन्नधीः । जगौ शिवयशः प्रीत्या हर्षयन्मुनिसत्तमम्

brahmā śrutvā sutavacaḥ śivabhaktaḥ prasannadhīḥ jagau śivayaśaḥ prītyā harṣayanmunisattamam

Hearing his son's words, Brahma — a devotee of Shiva, glad of mind — sang with love the glory of Shiva, delighting that foremost of sages.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.1.28)

व्यास उवाच । सूतोक्तमिति तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य द्विजसत्तमाः । पप्रच्छुस्तत्सुसंवादं कुतूहलसमन्विताः

vyāsa uvāca sūtoktamiti tadvākyamākarṇya dvijasattamāḥ papracchustatsusaṁvādaṁ kutūhalasamanvitāḥ

Vyasa said: Hearing these words spoken by Suta, those foremost brahmins, filled with curiosity, went on to ask about that fair dialogue.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.1.29)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत सूत महाभाग शैवोत्तम महामते । श्रुत्वा तव वचो रम्यं चेतो नः सकुतूहलम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta sūta mahābhāga śaivottama mahāmate śrutvā tava vaco ramyaṁ ceto naḥ sakutūhalam

The sages said: O Suta, Suta, greatly fortunate, foremost among Shiva's devotees, of great wisdom! Having heard your delightful speech, our minds are filled with curiosity.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.1.30)

कदा बभूव सुखकृद्विधिनारदयोर्महान् । संवादो यत्र गिरिशसुलीला भवमोचनी

kadā babhūva sukhakṛdvidhināradayormahān saṁvādo yatra giriśasulīlā bhavamocanī

When did that great and joy-bringing dialogue between Brahma and Narada take place, in which was told the beautiful play of Girisha that releases one from worldly bondage?

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.1.31)

विधिनारदसंवादपूर्वकं शाङ्करं यशः । ब्रूहि नस्तात तत्प्रीत्या तत्तत्प्रश्नानुसारतः

vidhināradasaṁvādapūrvakaṁ śāṅkaraṁ yaśaḥ brūhi nastāta tatprītyā tattatpraśnānusārataḥ

O father, tell us with love, and in the order of those very questions, that glorious fame of Shankara which was recounted in the dialogue of Brahma and Narada.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.1.32)

इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तेषां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् । सूतः प्रोवाच सुप्रीतस्तत्संवादानुसारतः

ityākarṇya vacasteṣāṁ munīnāṁ bhāvitātmanām sūtaḥ provāca suprītastatsaṁvādānusārataḥ

Vyasa said: Having heard the words of those sages of purified heart, Suta, greatly pleased, began to speak in accordance with that very dialogue.