The Supreme Nature of Shiva

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.10.1)

परमेश्वर उवाच । अन्यच्छृणु हरे विष्णो शासनं मम सुव्रत । सदा सर्वेषु लोकेषु मान्यः पूज्यो भविष्यसि

parameśvara uvāca | anyacchṛṇu hare viṣṇo śāsanaṁ mama suvrata | sadā sarveṣu lokeṣu mānyaḥ pūjyo bhaviṣyasi

Parameshvara said: Hear something more, O Hari Vishnu, my command, O virtuous one. You shall ever be honored and worshipped in all the worlds.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.10.2)

ब्रह्मणा निर्मिते लोके यदा दुःखं प्रजायते । तदा त्वं सर्वदुःखानां नाशाय तत्परो भव

brahmaṇā nirmite loke yadā duḥkhaṁ prajāyate | tadā tvaṁ sarvaduḥkhānāṁ nāśāya tatparo bhava

When sorrow arises in the world fashioned by Brahma, then you should be intent upon the destruction of all sorrows.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.10.3)

सहायं ते करिष्यामि सर्वकार्ये च दुःसहे । तव शत्रून्हनिष्यामि दुःसाध्यान्परमोत्कटान्

sahāyaṁ te kariṣyāmi sarvakārye ca duḥsahe | tava śatrūnhaniṣyāmi duḥsādhyānparamotkaṭān

I shall be your helper in every unbearable task; I shall slay your enemies, however difficult to overcome and utterly formidable.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.10.4)

विविधानवतारांश्च गृहीत्वा कीर्तिमुत्तमाम् । विस्तारय हरे लोके तारणाय परो भव

vividhānavatārāṁśca gṛhītvā kīrtimuttamām | vistāraya hare loke tāraṇāya paro bhava

Taking various incarnations, O Hari, spread your supreme fame throughout the world, and become foremost in delivering beings across existence.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.10.5)

गुणरूपो ह्यहं रुद्रो ह्यनेन वपुषा सदा । कार्यं करिष्ये लोकानां तवाशक्यं न संशयः

guṇarūpo hyahaṁ rudro hyanena vapuṣā sadā | kāryaṁ kariṣye lokānāṁ tavāśakyaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

I myself, in the form of that guna, as Rudra, shall ever, through this very body, accomplish for the worlds the task that lies beyond your power — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.10.6)

रुद्रध्येयो भवांश्चैव भवद्ध्येयो हरस्तथा । युवयोरन्तरं नैव तव रुद्रस्य किञ्चन

rudradhyeyo bhavāṁścaiva bhavaddhyeyo harastathā | yuvayorantaraṁ naiva tava rudrasya kiñcana

You should meditate upon Rudra, and Hara likewise should meditate upon you. Between the two of you, between you and Rudra, there is not the slightest difference.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.10.7)

वस्तुतश्चापि चैकत्वं वरतोऽपि तथैव च । लीलयापि महाविष्णो सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः

vastutaścāpi caikatvaṁ varato'pi tathaiva ca | līlayāpi mahāviṣṇo satyaṁ satyaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

In reality there is oneness, and likewise by the boon I have given, and also through my play, O great Vishnu — truly, truly, there is no doubt.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.10.8)

रुद्रभक्तो नरो यस्तु तव निन्दां करिष्यति । तस्य पुण्यं च निखिलं द्रुतं भस्म भविष्यति

rudrabhakto naro yastu tava nindāṁ kariṣyati | tasya puṇyaṁ ca nikhilaṁ drutaṁ bhasma bhaviṣyati

Whatever man, though a devotee of Rudra, speaks ill of you — all his merit shall swiftly turn to ash.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.10.9)

नरके पतनं तस्य त्वद्द्वेषात्पुरुषोत्तम । मदाज्ञया भवेद्विष्णो सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः

narake patanaṁ tasya tvaddveṣātpuruṣottama | madājñayā bhavedviṣṇo satyaṁ satyaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

O Purushottama, through hatred of you his fall into hell shall come about by my command, O Vishnu — truly, truly, there is no doubt.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.10.10)

लोकेऽस्मिन्मुक्तिदो नृणां भुक्तिदश्च विशेषतः । ध्येयः पूज्यश्च भक्तानां निग्रहानुग्रहौ कुरु

loke'sminmuktido nṛṇāṁ bhuktidaśca viśeṣataḥ | dhyeyaḥ pūjyaśca bhaktānāṁ nigrahānugrahau kuru

In this world, be the giver of liberation to men, and especially the giver of enjoyment; be an object of meditation and worship for devotees, and exercise both restraint and grace.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.10.11)

इत्युक्त्वा मां च धातारं हस्ते धृत्वा स्वयं हरिम् । कथयामास दुःखेषु सहायो भव सर्वदा

ityuktvā māṁ ca dhātāraṁ haste dhṛtvā svayaṁ harim | kathayāmāsa duḥkheṣu sahāyo bhava sarvadā

Having said this, and himself taking hold of the hand of me, the Creator, and of Hari, he said: be a helper always in times of sorrow.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.10.12)

सर्वाध्यक्षश्च सर्वेषु भक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकः । भव त्वं सर्वदा श्रेष्ठः सर्वकामप्रसाधकः

sarvādhyakṣaśca sarveṣu bhaktimuktipradāyakaḥ | bhava tvaṁ sarvadā śreṣṭhaḥ sarvakāmaprasādhakaḥ

Be the overseer of all, the giver of devotion and liberation to all; be ever the best, the accomplisher of every desire.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.10.13)

सर्वेषां प्राणरूपश्च भव त्वं च ममाज्ञया । सङ्कटे भजनीयो हि स रुद्रो मत्तनुर्हरे

sarveṣāṁ prāṇarūpaśca bhava tvaṁ ca mamājñayā | saṅkaṭe bhajanīyo hi sa rudro mattanurhare

By my command, become the very life-breath of all beings. O Hari, in times of danger that Rudra, who is my very body, is indeed the one to be worshipped.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.10.14)

त्वां यः समाश्रितो नूनं मामेव स समाश्रितः । अन्तरं यश्च जानाति निरये पतति ध्रुवम्

tvāṁ yaḥ samāśrito nūnaṁ māmeva sa samāśritaḥ | antaraṁ yaśca jānāti niraye patati dhruvam

Whoever takes refuge in you has indeed taken refuge in me alone; but whoever perceives a difference between us surely falls into hell.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.10.15)

आयुर्बलं शृणुष्वाद्य त्रिदेवानां विशेषतः । सन्देहोऽत्र न कर्तव्यो ब्रह्मविष्णुहरात्मनाम्

āyurbalaṁ śṛṇuṣvādya tridevānāṁ viśeṣataḥ | sandeho'tra na kartavyo brahmaviṣṇuharātmanām

Now hear specifically of the lifespan and power of the three gods; no doubt should be entertained here regarding the very selves of Brahma, Vishnu and Hara.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.10.16)

चतुर्युगसहस्राणि ब्रह्मणो दिनमुच्यते । रात्रिश्च तावती तस्य मानमेतत्क्रमेण ह

caturyugasahasrāṇi brahmaṇo dinamucyate | rātriśca tāvatī tasya mānametatkrameṇa ha

A thousand cycles of the four yugas are said to be one day of Brahma; his night is of that same measure — this is the reckoning, in due order.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.10.17)

तेषां त्रिंशद्दिनैर्मासो द्वादशैस्तैश्च वत्सरः । शतवर्षप्रमाणेन ब्रह्मायुः परिकीर्तितम्

teṣāṁ triṁśaddinairmāso dvādaśaistaiśca vatsaraḥ | śatavarṣapramāṇena brahmāyuḥ parikīrtitam

Thirty of those days make one month, and twelve such months make one year; by the measure of a hundred such years, the lifespan of Brahma is proclaimed.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.10.18)

ब्रह्मणो वर्षमात्रेण दिनं वैष्णवमुच्यते । सोऽपि वर्षशतं यावदात्ममानेन जीवति

brahmaṇo varṣamātreṇa dinaṁ vaiṣṇavamucyate | so'pi varṣaśataṁ yāvadātmamānena jīvati

A single year of Brahma is said to be one day of Vishnu; and he too lives for a hundred years by his own measure.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.10.19)

वैष्णवेन तु वर्षेण दिनं रौद्रं भवेद् ध्रुवम् । हरो वर्षशते याते नररूपेण संस्थितः

vaiṣṇavena tu varṣeṇa dinaṁ raudraṁ bhaved dhruvam | haro varṣaśate yāte nararūpeṇa saṁsthitaḥ

By one year of Vishnu, one day of Rudra surely comes to pass; when a hundred such years have gone by, Hara remains established in human form.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.10.20)

यावदुच्छ्वसितं वक्त्रे सदाशिवसमुद्भवम् । पश्चाच्छक्तिं समभ्येति यावन्निःश्वसितं भवेत्

yāvaducchvasitaṁ vaktre sadāśivasamudbhavam | paścācchaktiṁ samabhyeti yāvanniḥśvasitaṁ bhavet

As long as the out-breath, arising from Sadashiva, remains exhaled from his mouth, and thereafter for as long as the in-breath lasts, he returns to Shakti.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.10.21)

निःश्वासोच्छ्वसितानां च सर्वेषामेव देहिनाम् । ब्रह्मविष्णुहराणां च गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम्

niḥśvāsocchvasitānāṁ ca sarveṣāmeva dehinām | brahmaviṣṇuharāṇāṁ ca gandharvoragarakṣasām

Of the in-breaths and out-breaths of all embodied beings — of Brahma, Vishnu and Hara, and of the Gandharvas, serpents, and Rakshasas —

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.10.22)

एकविंशसहस्राणि शतैः षड्भिः शतानि च । अहोरात्राणि चोक्तानि प्रमाणं सुरसत्तमौ

ekaviṁśasahasrāṇi śataiḥ ṣaḍbhiḥ śatāni ca | ahorātrāṇi coktāni pramāṇaṁ surasattamau

twenty-one thousand six hundred breaths, O best of gods, are said to be the measure of a single day and night.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.10.23)

षड्भिरुच्छ्वासनिःश्वासैः पलमेकं प्रवर्तितम् । घटी षष्टिपला प्रोक्ता सा षष्ट्या च दिनं निशा

ṣaḍbhirucchvāsaniḥśvāsaiḥ palamekaṁ pravartitam | ghaṭī ṣaṣṭipalā proktā sā ṣaṣṭyā ca dinaṁ niśā

By six out-breaths and in-breaths, one pala is reckoned; a ghati is said to be sixty palas, and sixty such ghatis make a day and night.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.10.24)

निःश्वासोच्छ्वासितानां च परिसङ्ख्या न विद्यते । सदाशिवसमुत्थानमेतस्मात्सोऽक्षयः स्मृतः

niḥśvāsocchvāsitānāṁ ca parisaṅkhyā na vidyate | sadāśivasamutthānametasmātso'kṣayaḥ smṛtaḥ

But of the in-breaths and out-breaths of Sadashiva himself there exists no reckoning; since this arises from Sadashiva, he is remembered as imperishable.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.10.25)

इत्थं रूपं त्वया तावद्रक्षणीयं ममाज्ञया । तावत्सृष्टेश्च कार्यं वै कर्तव्यं विविधैर्गुणैः

itthaṁ rūpaṁ tvayā tāvadrakṣaṇīyaṁ mamājñayā | tāvatsṛṣṭeśca kāryaṁ vai kartavyaṁ vividhairguṇaiḥ

In this manner, this form is to be protected by you, by my command, for that long; and for that long the work of creation, with its various qualities, is to be carried out.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.10.26)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचः शम्भोर्मया च भगवान्हरिः । प्रणिपत्य च विश्वेशं प्राह मन्दतरं वशी

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vacaḥ śambhormayā ca bhagavānhariḥ | praṇipatya ca viśveśaṁ prāha mandataraṁ vaśī

Brahma said: Hearing these words of Shambhu, the Blessed Hari, together with me, bowing to the Lord of the universe, self-composed, spoke rather softly.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.10.27)

विष्णुरुवाच । शङ्कर श्रूयतामेतत्कृपासिन्धो जगत्पते । सर्वमेतत्करिष्यामि भवदाज्ञावशानुगः

viṣṇuruvāca | śaṅkara śrūyatāmetatkṛpāsindho jagatpate | sarvametatkariṣyāmi bhavadājñāvaśānugaḥ

Vishnu said: O Shankara, O ocean of compassion, O Lord of the universe, hear this — I shall do all this, remaining under the sway of your command.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.10.28)

मम ध्येयः सदा त्वं च भविष्यसि न चान्यथा । भवतः सर्वसामर्थ्यं लब्धं चैव पुरा मया

mama dhyeyaḥ sadā tvaṁ ca bhaviṣyasi na cānyathā | bhavataḥ sarvasāmarthyaṁ labdhaṁ caiva purā mayā

You shall ever be the object of my meditation, and not otherwise; and I have indeed already obtained, in the past, the whole of your power.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.10.29)

क्षणमात्रमपि स्वामिंस्तव ध्यानं परं मम । चेतसो दूरतो नैव सङ्गच्छतु कदाचन

kṣaṇamātramapi svāmiṁstava dhyānaṁ paraṁ mama | cetaso dūrato naiva saṅgacchatu kadācana

O Lord, may meditation upon you, even for a single moment, never at any time depart far from my mind.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.10.30)

मम भक्तश्च यः स्वामिँस्तव निन्दां करिष्यति । तस्य वै निरये वासं प्रयच्छ नियतं ध्रुवम्

mama bhaktaśca yaḥ svāmi~stava nindāṁ kariṣyati | tasya vai niraye vāsaṁ prayaccha niyataṁ dhruvam

O Lord, whoever, though my devotee, shall speak ill of you — grant him surely, without fail, a dwelling in hell.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.10.31)

त्वद्भक्तो यो भवेत् स्वामिन्मम प्रियतरो हि सः । एवं वै यो विजानाति तस्य मुक्तिर्न दुर्लभा

tvadbhakto yo bhavet svāminmama priyataro hi saḥ | evaṁ vai yo vijānāti tasya muktirna durlabhā

O Lord, whoever is your devotee is indeed dearer to me still; whoever truly understands this — for him liberation is not hard to attain.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.10.32)

महिमा च मदीयोऽद्य वर्धितो भवता ध्रुवम् । कदाचिदगुणश्चैव जायते क्षम्यतामिति

mahimā ca madīyo'dya vardhito bhavatā dhruvam | kadācidaguṇaścaiva jāyate kṣamyatāmiti

My own glory has today surely been magnified by you; and should some fault of mine ever arise, may it be forgiven.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.10.33)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तदा शम्भुस्तदीयं हि श्रुत्वा वचनमुत्तमम् । उवाच विष्णुं सुप्रीत्या क्षम्या तेऽगुणता मया

brahmovāca | tadā śambhustadīyaṁ hi śrutvā vacanamuttamam | uvāca viṣṇuṁ suprītyā kṣamyā te'guṇatā mayā

Brahma said: Then Shambhu, hearing that excellent speech of his, said to Vishnu with great affection: your fault is, by me, forgiven.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.10.34)

एवमुक्त्वा हरिं नौ स कराभ्यां परमेश्वरः । पस्पर्श सकलाङ्गेषु कृपया तु कृपानिधिः

evamuktvā hariṁ nau sa karābhyāṁ parameśvaraḥ | pasparśa sakalāṅgeṣu kṛpayā tu kṛpānidhiḥ

Having said this, the Supreme Lord, the very treasury of compassion, touched Hari and us both over all our limbs with his two hands, out of grace.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.10.35)

आदिश्य विविधान्धर्मान्सर्वदुःखहरो हरः । ददौ वराननेकांश्चावयोर्हितचिकीर्षया

ādiśya vividhāndharmānsarvaduḥkhaharo haraḥ | dadau varānanekāṁścāvayorhitacikīrṣayā

Hara, the remover of every sorrow, having instructed us in various dharmas, gave many boons to us both, desiring our welfare.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.10.36)

ततः स भगवान् शम्भुः कृपया भक्तवत्सलः । दृष्ट्या सम्पश्यतोः शीघ्रं तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

tataḥ sa bhagavān śambhuḥ kṛpayā bhaktavatsalaḥ | dṛṣṭyā sampaśyatoḥ śīghraṁ tatraivāntaradhīyata

Then the Blessed Lord Shambhu, gracious and affectionate to his devotees, vanished right there, swiftly, even as we two looked on.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.10.37)

तदाप्रभृति लोकेऽस्मिँल्लिङ्गपूजाविधिः स्मृतः । लिङ्गे प्रतिष्ठितः शम्भुर्भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकः

tadāprabhṛti loke'smi~lliṅgapūjāvidhiḥ smṛtaḥ | liṅge pratiṣṭhitaḥ śambhurbhuktimuktipradāyakaḥ

From that time onward, the rite of linga-worship has been established in this world; Shambhu, established within the linga, is the giver of both enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.10.38)

लिङ्गवेदिर्महादेवी लिङ्गं साक्षान्महेश्वरः । लयनाल्लिङ्गमित्युक्तं तत्रैव निखिलं जगत्

liṅgavedirmahādevī liṅgaṁ sākṣānmaheśvaraḥ | layanālliṅgamityuktaṁ tatraiva nikhilaṁ jagat

The pedestal of the linga is the great Goddess herself; the linga itself is Maheshvara directly. Because all things dissolve into it, it is called linga — the entire world rests within it.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.10.39)

यस्तु लैङ्गं पठेन्नित्यमाख्यानं लिङ्गसन्निधौ । षण्मासाच्छिवरूपो वै नात्र कार्या विचारणा

yastu laiṅgaṁ paṭhennityamākhyānaṁ liṅgasannidhau | ṣaṇmāsācchivarūpo vai nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Whoever regularly recites this narrative of the Linga in the presence of the linga becomes, within six months, verily one with the form of Shiva — no doubt need be entertained here.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.10.40)

यस्तु लिङ्गसमीपे तु कार्यं किञ्चित्करोति च । तस्य पुण्यफलं वक्तुं न शक्नोमि महामुने

yastu liṅgasamīpe tu kāryaṁ kiñcitkaroti ca | tasya puṇyaphalaṁ vaktuṁ na śaknomi mahāmune

And whoever performs even some small task in the vicinity of the linga — O great sage, I am unable to describe the fruit of merit that becomes his.