Shiva's Wondrous Play to Delude Mena

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.106.1)

मेनोवाच । निरीक्षिष्यामि प्रथमं मुने तं गिरिजापतिम् । कीदृशं शिवरूपं हि यदर्थे तप उत्तमम्

menovāca nirīkṣiṣyāmi prathamaṁ mune taṁ girijāpatim kīdṛśaṁ śivarūpaṁ hi yadarthe tapa uttamam

Mena said: "First, O sage, I shall look upon that lord of Girija — what indeed is the form of Shiva, for whose sake she performed such supreme austerity?"

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.106.2)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्यज्ञानपरा सा च दर्शनार्थं शिवस्य च । त्वया मुने समं सद्यश्चन्द्रशालां समागता

brahmovāca ityajñānaparā sā ca darśanārthaṁ śivasya ca tvayā mune samaṁ sadyaścandraśālāṁ samāgatā

Brahma said: "Thus she, given over to this ignorance, in order to see Shiva, came at once together with you, O sage, to the moonlit terrace."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.106.3)

शिवोऽपि च तदा तस्यां ज्ञात्वाहङ्कारमात्मनः । प्राह विष्णुं च मां तात लीलां कृत्वाद्भुतां प्रभुः

śivo'pi ca tadā tasyāṁ jñātvāhaṅkāramātmanaḥ prāha viṣṇuṁ ca māṁ tāta līlāṁ kṛtvādbhutāṁ prabhuḥ

"Shiva too, then, knowing her pride of self, having wrought a wondrous play, dear one, spoke to Vishnu and to me."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.106.4)

शिव उवाच । मदाज्ञया युवां तातौ सदेवौ च पृथक्पृथक् । गच्छतं हि गिरिद्वारं वयं पश्चाद् व्रजेमहि

śiva uvāca madājñayā yuvāṁ tātau sadevau ca pṛthakpṛthak gacchataṁ hi giridvāraṁ vayaṁ paścād vrajemahi

Shiva said: "By my command, you two, dear ones, together with the gods, go separately to the mountain's gate; we shall follow after."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.106.5)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य हरिः सर्वानाहूयोवाच तन्मयाः । सुराः सर्वे तथैवाशु गमनं चक्रुरुत्सुकाः

brahmovāca ityākarṇya hariḥ sarvānāhūyovāca tanmayāḥ surāḥ sarve tathaivāśu gamanaṁ cakrurutsukāḥ

Brahma said: "Hearing this, Hari called all together and spoke in that same spirit; and all the gods, eager, then quickly set out likewise."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.106.6)

स्थितां शिरोगृहे मेनां मुने विश्वेश्वरस्त्वया । तथैव दर्शयामास हृद्विभ्रंशो यथा भवेत्

sthitāṁ śirogṛhe menāṁ mune viśveśvarastvayā tathaiva darśayāmāsa hṛdvibhraṁśo yathā bhavet

"To Mena, as she stood in the upper chamber, O sage, the Lord of the universe, through you, showed things in such a way that her heart might be shaken."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.106.7)

एतस्मिन् समये मेना सेनां च परमां शुभाम् । निरीक्षन्ती मुने दृष्ट्वा सामान्यं हर्षिताभवत्

etasmin samaye menā senāṁ ca paramāṁ śubhām nirīkṣantī mune dṛṣṭvā sāmānyaṁ harṣitābhavat

"At that time, O sage, Mena, gazing upon that supremely auspicious army, and seeing its common ranks, became joyful."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.106.8)

प्रथमं चैव गन्धर्वाः सुन्दराः सुभगास्तदा । आयाताः शुभवस्त्राढ्या नानालङ्कारभूषिताः

prathamaṁ caiva gandharvāḥ sundarāḥ subhagāstadā āyātāḥ śubhavastrāḍhyā nānālaṅkārabhūṣitāḥ

"First came the Gandharvas, beautiful and graceful, richly clothed in fine garments, adorned with manifold ornaments."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.106.9)

नानावाहनसंयुक्ता नानावाद्यपरायणाः । पताकाभिर्विचित्राभिरप्सरोगणसंयुताः

nānāvāhanasaṁyuktā nānāvādyaparāyaṇāḥ patākābhirvicitrābhirapsarogaṇasaṁyutāḥ

"Mounted on various vehicles, absorbed in playing manifold instruments, accompanied by hosts of Apsarases, with wondrous banners."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.106.10)

अथ दृष्ट्वा वसुं तत्र तत्पतिं परमप्रभुम् । मेना प्रहर्षिता ह्यासीच्छिवोऽयमिति चाब्रवीत्

atha dṛṣṭvā vasuṁ tatra tatpatiṁ paramaprabhum menā praharṣitā hyāsīcchivo'yamiti cābravīt

"Then, seeing there the Vasus and their supreme lord, Mena, greatly delighted, exclaimed, 'This is Shiva!'"

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.106.11)

शिवस्य गणका एते न शिवोऽयं शिवापतिः । इत्येवं त्वं ततस्तां वै अवोच ऋषिसत्तम

śivasya gaṇakā ete na śivo'yaṁ śivāpatiḥ ityevaṁ tvaṁ tatastāṁ vai avoca ṛṣisattama

"'These are but Shiva's attendants — this is not Shiva, the husband of Shiva.' Thus, O best of sages, you then spoke to her."

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.106.12)

एवं श्रुत्वा तदा मेना विचारे तत्पराभवत् । इतश्चाभ्यधिको यो वै स च कीदृग्भविष्यति

evaṁ śrutvā tadā menā vicāre tatparābhavat itaścābhyadhiko yo vai sa ca kīdṛgbhaviṣyati

"Hearing this, Mena then fell to pondering: 'He who is even greater than this one — what indeed will he look like?'"

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.106.13)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे यक्षा मणिग्रीवादयश्च ये । तेषां सेना तया दृष्टा शोभादि द्विगुणीकृता

etasminnantare yakṣā maṇigrīvādayaśca ye teṣāṁ senā tayā dṛṣṭā śobhādi dviguṇīkṛtā

"Meanwhile the Yakshas, headed by Manigriva, arrived; their host she beheld, its splendor doubled."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.106.14)

तत्पतिं च मणिग्रीवं दृष्ट्वा शोभान्वितं हि सा । अयं रुद्रः शिवास्वामी मेना प्राहेति हर्षिता

tatpatiṁ ca maṇigrīvaṁ dṛṣṭvā śobhānvitaṁ hi sā ayaṁ rudraḥ śivāsvāmī menā prāheti harṣitā

"And seeing their splendid lord Manigriva, she, delighted, exclaimed, 'This is Rudra, the husband of Shiva!'"

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.106.15)

नायं रुद्रः शिवास्वामी सेवकोऽयं शिवस्य वै । इत्यवोचोऽगपत्न्यै त्वं तावद्वह्निः स आगतः

nāyaṁ rudraḥ śivāsvāmī sevako'yaṁ śivasya vai ityavoco'gapatnyai tvaṁ tāvadvahniḥ sa āgataḥ

"'This is not Rudra, the husband of Shiva — he is but a servant of Shiva.' Thus you spoke to the mountain's wife; and then Vahni, the fire-god, arrived."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.106.16)

ततोऽपि द्विगुणां शोभां दृष्ट्वा तस्य च साब्रवीत् । रुद्रोऽयं गिरिजास्वामी तदा नेति त्वमब्रवीः

tato'pi dviguṇāṁ śobhāṁ dṛṣṭvā tasya ca sābravīt rudro'yaṁ girijāsvāmī tadā neti tvamabravīḥ

"Seeing his splendor doubled yet again, she said, 'This is Rudra, the lord of Girija!' Then you said, 'No.'"

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.106.17)

तावद्यमः समायातः ततोऽपि द्विगुणप्रभः । तं दृष्ट्वा प्राह सा मेना रुद्रोऽयमिति हर्षिता

tāvadyamaḥ samāyātaḥ tato'pi dviguṇaprabhaḥ taṁ dṛṣṭvā prāha sā menā rudro'yamiti harṣitā

"Then Yama arrived, his splendor doubled yet again; seeing him, Mena, delighted, exclaimed, 'This is Rudra!'"

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.106.18)

नेति त्वमब्रवीस्तां वै तावन्निरृतिरागतः । बिभ्राणो द्विगुणां शोभां शुभः पुण्यजनप्रभुः

neti tvamabravīstāṁ vai tāvannirṛtirāgataḥ bibhrāṇo dviguṇāṁ śobhāṁ śubhaḥ puṇyajanaprabhuḥ

"'No,' you said to her; then Nirriti arrived, bearing a splendor doubled again, the auspicious lord of the Punyajanas."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.106.19)

तं दृष्ट्वा प्राह सा मेना रुद्रोऽयमिति हर्षिता । नेति त्वमब्रवीस्तां वै तावद्वरुण आगतः

taṁ dṛṣṭvā prāha sā menā rudro'yamiti harṣitā neti tvamabravīstāṁ vai tāvadvaruṇa āgataḥ

"Seeing him, Mena, delighted, exclaimed, 'This is Rudra!' 'No,' you said to her; then Varuna arrived."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.106.20)

ततोऽपि द्विगुणां शोभां दृष्ट्वा तस्य च साब्रवीत् । रुद्रोऽयं गिरिजास्वामी तदा नेति त्वमब्रवीः

tato'pi dviguṇāṁ śobhāṁ dṛṣṭvā tasya ca sābravīt rudro'yaṁ girijāsvāmī tadā neti tvamabravīḥ

"Seeing his splendor doubled again, she said, 'This is Rudra, the lord of Girija!' Then you said, 'No.'"

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.106.21)

तावद्वायुः समायातः ततोऽपि द्विगुणप्रभः । तं दृष्ट्वा प्राह सा मेना रुद्रोऽयमिति हर्षिता

tāvadvāyuḥ samāyātaḥ tato'pi dviguṇaprabhaḥ taṁ dṛṣṭvā prāha sā menā rudro'yamiti harṣitā

"Then Vayu arrived, his splendor doubled yet again; seeing him, Mena, delighted, exclaimed, 'This is Rudra!'"

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.106.22)

नेति त्वमब्रवीस्तां वै तावद्धनद आगतः । ततोऽपि द्विगुणां शोभां बिभ्राणो गुह्यकाधिपः

neti tvamabravīstāṁ vai tāvaddhanada āgataḥ tato'pi dviguṇāṁ śobhāṁ bibhrāṇo guhyakādhipaḥ

"'No,' you said to her; then Dhanada (Kubera) arrived, the lord of the Guhyakas, bearing a splendor doubled again."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.106.23)

तं दृष्ट्वा प्राह सा मेना रुद्रोऽयमिति हर्षिता । नेति त्वमब्रवीस्तां वै तावदीशान आगतः

taṁ dṛṣṭvā prāha sā menā rudro'yamiti harṣitā neti tvamabravīstāṁ vai tāvadīśāna āgataḥ

"Seeing him, Mena, delighted, exclaimed, 'This is Rudra!' 'No,' you said to her; then Ishana arrived."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.106.24)

ततोऽपि द्विगुणां शोभां दृष्ट्वा तस्य च साब्रवीत् । रुद्रोऽयं गिरिजास्वामी तदा नेति त्वमब्रवीः

tato'pi dviguṇāṁ śobhāṁ dṛṣṭvā tasya ca sābravīt rudro'yaṁ girijāsvāmī tadā neti tvamabravīḥ

"Seeing his splendor doubled again, she said, 'This is Rudra, the lord of Girija!' Then you said, 'No.'"

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.106.25)

तावदिन्द्रः समायातः ततोऽपि द्विगुणप्रभः । सर्वामरवरो नानादिव्यभास्त्रिदिवेश्वरः

tāvadindraḥ samāyātaḥ tato'pi dviguṇaprabhaḥ sarvāmaravaro nānādivyabhāstridiveśvaraḥ

"Then Indra arrived, his splendor doubled yet again — the best of all the immortals, radiant with manifold divine light, the lord of heaven."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.106.26)

तं दृष्ट्वा शङ्करः सोऽयमिति सा प्राह मेनका । शक्रः सुरपतिश्चायं स नेति त्वं तदाब्रवीः

taṁ dṛṣṭvā śaṅkaraḥ so'yamiti sā prāha menakā śakraḥ surapatiścāyaṁ sa neti tvaṁ tadābravīḥ

"Seeing him, Menaka said, 'This is Shankara!' 'This is Shakra, the lord of the gods, not he,' you then said."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.106.27)

तावच्चन्द्रः समायातः शोभां तद्द्विगुणां दधत् । दृष्ट्वा तं प्राह रुद्रोऽयं तां तु नेति त्वमब्रवीः

tāvaccandraḥ samāyātaḥ śobhāṁ taddviguṇāṁ dadhat dṛṣṭvā taṁ prāha rudro'yaṁ tāṁ tu neti tvamabravīḥ

"Then Chandra, the Moon, arrived, bearing a splendor doubled again; seeing him she said, 'This is Rudra!' but you said, 'No.'"

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.106.28)

तावत्सूर्यः समायातः शोभां तद्द्विगुणां दधत् । दृष्ट्वा तं प्राह सा सोऽयं तां तु नेति त्वमब्रवीः

tāvatsūryaḥ samāyātaḥ śobhāṁ taddviguṇāṁ dadhat dṛṣṭvā taṁ prāha sā so'yaṁ tāṁ tu neti tvamabravīḥ

"Then Surya, the Sun, arrived, bearing a splendor doubled again; seeing him she said, 'This is he!' but you said, 'No.'"

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.106.29)

तावत्समागतास्तत्र भृग्वाद्याश्च मुनीश्वराः । तेजसो राशयः सर्वे स्वशिष्यगणसंयुताः

tāvatsamāgatāstatra bhṛgvādyāśca munīśvarāḥ tejaso rāśayaḥ sarve svaśiṣyagaṇasaṁyutāḥ

"Then there arrived Bhrigu and the other lords of sages, all of them heaps of splendor, accompanied by their own bands of disciples."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.106.30)

तन्मध्ये चैव वागीशं दृष्ट्वा सा प्राह मेनका । रुद्रोऽयं गिरिजास्वामी तदा नेति त्वमब्रवीः

tanmadhye caiva vāgīśaṁ dṛṣṭvā sā prāha menakā rudro'yaṁ girijāsvāmī tadā neti tvamabravīḥ

"Seeing among them Vagisha, lord of speech, Menaka said, 'This is Rudra, the lord of Girija!' Then you said, 'No.'"

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.106.31)

तावद्ब्रह्मा समायातः तेजसां राशिरुत्तमः । सर्षिवर्यसुतः साक्षाद्धर्मपुञ्ज इव स्तुतः

tāvadbrahmā samāyātaḥ tejasāṁ rāśiruttamaḥ sarṣivaryasutaḥ sākṣāddharmapuñja iva stutaḥ

"Then Brahma arrived, the supreme heap of splendor, together with the sons of the best of sages, praised as though the very embodiment of Dharma."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.106.32)

दृष्ट्वा मां तं तदा मेना महाहर्षवती मुने । सोऽयं शिवापतिः प्राह तां तु नेति त्वमब्रवीः

dṛṣṭvā māṁ taṁ tadā menā mahāharṣavatī mune so'yaṁ śivāpatiḥ prāha tāṁ tu neti tvamabravīḥ

"Seeing me then, O sage, Mena, filled with great joy, said, 'This is the husband of Shiva!' but to her you said, 'No.'"

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.106.33)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र विष्णुर्देवः समागतः । सर्वशोभान्वितः श्रीमान्मेघश्यामश्चतुर्भुजः

etasminnantare tatra viṣṇurdevaḥ samāgataḥ sarvaśobhānvitaḥ śrīmānmeghaśyāmaścaturbhujaḥ

"Meanwhile, the god Vishnu arrived there, endowed with every splendor, glorious, dark as a rain-cloud, four-armed."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.106.34)

कोटिकन्दर्पलावण्यः पीताम्बरधरः स्वराट् । राजीवलोचनः शान्तः पक्षीन्द्रवरवाहनः

koṭikandarpalāvaṇyaḥ pītāmbaradharaḥ svarāṭ rājīvalocanaḥ śāntaḥ pakṣīndravaravāhanaḥ

"Of a beauty surpassing a million Kamadevas, clad in yellow garments, self-radiant, lotus-eyed, serene, borne on the best of birds, Garuda."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.106.35)

शङ्खादिलक्षणैर्युक्तो मुकुटादिविभूषितः । श्रीवत्सवक्षा लक्ष्मीशो ह्यप्रमेयप्रभान्वितः

śaṅkhādilakṣaṇairyukto mukuṭādivibhūṣitaḥ śrīvatsavakṣā lakṣmīśo hyaprameyaprabhānvitaḥ

"Marked with the conch and other emblems, adorned with crown and ornaments, bearing the Shrivatsa mark on his chest, the lord of Lakshmi, endowed with immeasurable splendor."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.106.36)

तं दृष्ट्वा चकिताक्ष्यासीन्महाहर्षेण साब्रवीत् । सोऽयं शिवापतिः साक्षाच्छिवो वै नात्र संशयः

taṁ dṛṣṭvā cakitākṣyāsīnmahāharṣeṇa sābravīt so'yaṁ śivāpatiḥ sākṣācchivo vai nātra saṁśayaḥ

"Seeing him, her eyes wide with wonder, she said with great joy, 'This is indeed the very husband of Shiva — Shiva himself, no doubt about it.'"

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.106.37)

अथ त्वं मेनकावाक्यमाकर्ण्योवाच ऊतिकृत् । नायं शिवापतिरयं किन्त्वयं केशवो हरिः

atha tvaṁ menakāvākyamākarṇyovāca ūtikṛt nāyaṁ śivāpatirayaṁ kintvayaṁ keśavo hariḥ

"Then you, the bestower of favor, hearing Menaka's words, said: 'This is not the husband of Shiva; this is Keshava, Hari.'"

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.106.38)

शङ्कराखिलकार्यस्य ह्यधिकारी च तत्प्रियः । अतोऽधिको वरो ज्ञेयः स शिवः पार्वतीपतिः

śaṅkarākhilakāryasya hyadhikārī ca tatpriyaḥ ato'dhiko varo jñeyaḥ sa śivaḥ pārvatīpatiḥ

"'He is entrusted with all of Shankara's affairs, and dear to him. Know that the bridegroom is greater still than he — that Shiva, the husband of Parvati.'"

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.106.39)

तच्छोभां वर्णितुं मेने मया नैव हि शक्यते । स एवाखिलब्रह्माण्डपतिः सर्वेश्वरः स्वराट्

tacchobhāṁ varṇituṁ mene mayā naiva hi śakyate sa evākhilabrahmāṇḍapatiḥ sarveśvaraḥ svarāṭ

"'His splendor cannot possibly be described even by me. He alone is the lord of the entire universe, the ruler of all, self-radiant.'"

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.106.40)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य मेना मेने च तां शुभाम् । महाधनां भाग्यवतीं कुलत्रयसुखावहाम्

brahmovāca ityākarṇya vacastasya menā mene ca tāṁ śubhām mahādhanāṁ bhāgyavatīṁ kulatrayasukhāvahām

Brahma said: "Hearing his words, Mena then considered her auspicious daughter to be greatly wealthy, most fortunate, and the bringer of happiness to three families."

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.106.41)

उवाच च प्रसन्नास्या प्रीतियुक्तेन चेतसा । स्वभाग्यमधिकं चापि वर्णयन्ती मुहुर्मुहुः

uvāca ca prasannāsyā prītiyuktena cetasā svabhāgyamadhikaṁ cāpi varṇayantī muhurmuhuḥ

"With a joyful face and a heart full of affection, she spoke, again and again praising her own surpassing good fortune."

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.106.42)

मेनोवाच । धन्याहं सर्वथा जाता पार्वत्या जन्मनाधुना । धन्यो गिरीश्वरोऽप्यद्य सर्वं धन्यतमं मम

menovāca dhanyāhaṁ sarvathā jātā pārvatyā janmanādhunā dhanyo girīśvaro'pyadya sarvaṁ dhanyatamaṁ mama

Mena said: "I have become blessed in every way now, through the birth of Parvati; the lord of mountains too is blessed today — everything of mine is most blessed."

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.106.43)

ये ये दृष्ट्वा मया देवा नायकाः सुप्रभान्विताः । एतेषां यः पतिः सोऽत्र पतिरस्या भविष्यति

ye ye dṛṣṭvā mayā devā nāyakāḥ suprabhānvitāḥ eteṣāṁ yaḥ patiḥ so'tra patirasyā bhaviṣyati

"'All these radiant, leading gods whom I have seen — he who is the lord of all of them will now become the husband of my daughter.'"

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.106.44)

अस्याः किं वर्ण्यते भाग्यमपि वर्षशतैरपि । वर्णितुं शक्यते नैव तत्प्रभुप्राप्तिदर्शनात्

asyāḥ kiṁ varṇyate bhāgyamapi varṣaśatairapi varṇituṁ śakyate naiva tatprabhuprāptidarśanāt

"'How can her fortune be described, even in a hundred years? Seeing that she is to obtain such a Lord, it cannot possibly be described.'"

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.106.45)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्यवादीच्च सा मेना प्रेमनिर्भरमानसा । तावत्समागतो रुद्रोऽद्भुतोतिकारकः प्रभुः

brahmovāca ityavādīcca sā menā premanirbharamānasā tāvatsamāgato rudro'dbhutotikārakaḥ prabhuḥ

Brahma said: "Thus spoke Mena, her mind overflowing with love; and then Rudra himself arrived, the Lord who works wonders beyond wonder."

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.106.46)

अद्भुतात्मागणास्तात मेनागर्वापहारकाः । आत्मानं दर्शयन् मायानिर्लिप्तं निर्विकारकम्

adbhutātmāgaṇāstāta menāgarvāpahārakāḥ ātmānaṁ darśayan māyānirliptaṁ nirvikārakam

"His wondrous own hosts, dear one, destroyers of Mena's pride, accompanied him as he revealed himself, untouched by illusion, unchanging."

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.106.47)

तमागतमभिप्रेत्य नारद त्वं मुने तदा । मेनामवोचः सुप्रीत्या दर्शयंस्तं शिवापतिम्

tamāgatamabhipretya nārada tvaṁ mune tadā menāmavocaḥ suprītyā darśayaṁstaṁ śivāpatim

"Recognizing him as he arrived, O Narada, you then spoke to Mena with great affection, pointing out to her that husband of Shiva:"

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.106.48)

नारद उवाच । अयं स शङ्करः साक्षाद् दृश्यतां सुन्दरि त्वया । यदर्थे शिवया तप्तं तपोऽति विपिने महत्

nārada uvāca ayaṁ sa śaṅkaraḥ sākṣād dṛśyatāṁ sundari tvayā yadarthe śivayā taptaṁ tapo'ti vipine mahat

Narada said: "This is Shankara himself — behold him, O beautiful one — he for whose sake Shiva performed such great austerity in the deep forest."

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.106.49)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा हर्षिता मेना तं ददर्श मुदा प्रभुम् । अद्भुताकृतिमीशानमद्भुतानुगमद्भुतम्

brahmovāca ityuktvā harṣitā menā taṁ dadarśa mudā prabhum adbhutākṛtimīśānamadbhutānugamadbhutam

Brahma said: "Having said this, Mena, delighted, joyfully beheld the Lord — Ishana of wondrous form, wondrous, with a wondrous retinue."

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.106.50)

तावदेवं समायाता रुद्रसेना महाद्भुता । भूतप्रेतादिसंयुक्ता नानागणसमन्विता

tāvadevaṁ samāyātā rudrasenā mahādbhutā bhūtapretādisaṁyuktā nānāgaṇasamanvitā

"Then, just so, Rudra's army arrived — most wondrous, filled with bhutas and pretas, accompanied by manifold hosts."

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.106.51)

वात्यारूपधराः केचित्पताकामर्मरस्वनाः । वक्रतुण्डास्तत्र केचिद्विरूपाश्चापरे तथा

vātyārūpadharāḥ kecitpatākāmarmarasvanāḥ vakratuṇḍāstatra kecidvirūpāścāpare tathā

"Some bore the form of whirlwinds, their banners rustling with sound; some had crooked snouts, and others still were deformed."

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.106.52)

करालाः श्मश्रुलाः केचित्केचित्खञ्जा ह्यलोचनाः । दण्डपाशधराः केचित्केचिन्मुद्गरपाणयः

karālāḥ śmaśrulāḥ kecitkecitkhañjā hyalocanāḥ daṇḍapāśadharāḥ kecitkecinmudgarapāṇayaḥ

"Some were terrible and bearded, some lame and eyeless; some carried staffs and nooses, others held maces in hand."

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.106.53)

विरुद्धवाहनाः केचिच्छृङ्गनादनिनादिनः । डमरोर्वादिनः केचित्केचिद्गोमुखवादिनः

viruddhavāhanāḥ kecicchṛṅganādaninādinaḥ ḍamarorvādinaḥ kecitkecidgomukhavādinaḥ

"Some rode strange and contrary mounts, sounding forth with blaring horns; some played on damaru drums, others sounded gomukha horns."

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.106.54)

अमुखाः विमुखाः केचित्केचिद् बहुमुखा गणाः । अकरा विकराः केचित्केचिद् बहुकरा गणाः

amukhāḥ vimukhāḥ kecitkecid bahumukhā gaṇāḥ akarā vikarāḥ kecitkecid bahukarā gaṇāḥ

"Some hosts were without faces, some faced away, some had many faces; some were without hands, some had deformed hands, some had many hands."

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.106.55)

अनेत्रा बहुनेत्राश्च विशिराः कुशिरास्तथा । अकर्णा बहुकर्णाश्च नानावेषधरा गणाः

anetrā bahunetrāśca viśirāḥ kuśirāstathā akarṇā bahukarṇāśca nānāveṣadharā gaṇāḥ

"Some were eyeless, some many-eyed, some headless, some misshapen-headed; some earless, some many-eared — hosts wearing every manner of guise."

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.106.56)

इत्यादिविकृताकारा अनेके प्रबला गणाः । असङ्ख्यातास्तथा तात महावीरा भयङ्कराः

ityādivikṛtākārā aneke prabalā gaṇāḥ asaṅkhyātāstathā tāta mahāvīrā bhayaṅkarāḥ

"Such were the many mighty hosts of misshapen form, dear one — countless, greatly heroic, and terrifying."

Verse 57 (shiva.rudra.106.57)

अङ्गुल्या दर्शयंस्त्वं तां मुने रुद्रगणांस्ततः । हरस्य सेवकान्पश्य हरं चापि वरानने

aṅgulyā darśayaṁstvaṁ tāṁ mune rudragaṇāṁstataḥ harasya sevakānpaśya haraṁ cāpi varānane

"Pointing them out with your finger, O sage, you then said to her: 'Behold Hara's servants, these Rudra-hosts, and Hara himself as well, O fair-faced one.'"

Verse 58 (shiva.rudra.106.58)

असङ्ख्यातान् गणान् दृष्ट्वा भूतप्रेतादिकान् मुने । तत्क्षणादभवत्सा वै मेनका त्राससङ्कुला

asaṅkhyātān gaṇān dṛṣṭvā bhūtapretādikān mune tatkṣaṇādabhavatsā vai menakā trāsasaṅkulā

"Seeing those countless hosts of bhutas, pretas, and the rest, O sage, Menaka in that very instant was overcome with terror."

Verse 59 (shiva.rudra.106.59)

तन्मध्ये शङ्करं चैव निर्गुणं गुणवत्तरम् । वृषभस्थं पञ्चवक्त्रं त्रिनेत्रं भूतिभूषितम्

tanmadhye śaṅkaraṁ caiva nirguṇaṁ guṇavattaram vṛṣabhasthaṁ pañcavaktraṁ trinetraṁ bhūtibhūṣitam

"In their midst, she beheld Shankara — beyond all attributes, yet supremely endowed with them — seated on his bull, five-faced, three-eyed, adorned with sacred ash."

Verse 60 (shiva.rudra.106.60)

कपर्दिनं चन्द्रमौलिं दशहस्तं कपालिनम् । व्याघ्रचर्मोत्तरीयं च पिनाकवरपाणिनम्

kapardinaṁ candramauliṁ daśahastaṁ kapālinam vyāghracarmottarīyaṁ ca pinākavarapāṇinam

"His hair matted and coiled, the crescent moon upon his crown, ten-armed, bearing a skull, clad in a tiger-skin as his upper garment, the great bow Pinaka in his hand."

Verse 61 (shiva.rudra.106.61)

शूलयुक्तं विरूपाक्षं विकृताकारमाकुलम् । गजचर्म वसानं हि वीक्ष्य त्रेसे शिवाप्रसूः

śūlayuktaṁ virūpākṣaṁ vikṛtākāramākulam gajacarma vasānaṁ hi vīkṣya trese śivāprasūḥ

"Bearing his trident, his eyes fearsome, his form terrifying and wild, clothed in an elephant's hide — beholding him thus, the mother of Shiva trembled with fear."

Verse 62 (shiva.rudra.106.62)

चकितां कम्पसंयुक्तां विह्वलां विभ्रमद्धियम् । शिवोऽयमिति चाङ्गुल्या दर्शयंस्तां त्वमब्रवीः

cakitāṁ kampasaṁyuktāṁ vihvalāṁ vibhramaddhiyam śivo'yamiti cāṅgulyā darśayaṁstāṁ tvamabravīḥ

"To her, terrified, trembling, overwhelmed, her mind reeling, you, pointing with your finger, said: 'This is Shiva.'"

Verse 63 (shiva.rudra.106.63)

त्वदीयं तद्वचः श्रुत्वा वाताहतलता इव । सा पपात द्रुतं भूमौ मेना दुःखभरा सती

tvadīyaṁ tadvacaḥ śrutvā vātāhatalatā iva sā papāta drutaṁ bhūmau menā duḥkhabharā satī

"Hearing that word of yours, like a creeper struck down by a gale, Mena at once fell to the ground, overwhelmed with grief."

Verse 64 (shiva.rudra.106.64)

किमिदं विकृतं दृष्ट्वा वञ्चिताहं दुराग्रहे । इत्युक्त्वा मूर्च्छिता तत्र मेनका साभवत्क्षणात्

kimidaṁ vikṛtaṁ dṛṣṭvā vañcitāhaṁ durāgrahe ityuktvā mūrcchitā tatra menakā sābhavatkṣaṇāt

"'What is this deformity I have seen? I have been deceived in this very obstinacy of mine!' Having said this, Menaka fell senseless there in an instant."

Verse 65 (shiva.rudra.106.65)

अथ प्रयत्नैर्विविधैः सखीभिरुपसेविता । लेभे संज्ञां शनैर्मेना गिरीश्वरप्रिया तदा

atha prayatnairvividhaiḥ sakhībhirupasevitā lebhe saṁjñāṁ śanairmenā girīśvarapriyā tadā

"Then, tended by her companions with various efforts, Mena, the beloved of the lord of mountains, slowly regained her senses."