Shiva's Manifestation in His Divine Form

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.108.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे त्वं हि विष्णुना प्रेरितो द्रुतम् । अनुकूलयितुं शम्भुमयास्तन्निकटे मुने

brahmovāca etasminnantare tvaṁ hi viṣṇunā prerito drutam anukūlayituṁ śambhumayāstannikaṭe mune

Brahma said: "Meanwhile, sent quickly by Vishnu, you went into the presence of Shambhu, O sage, in order to win him over."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.108.2)

तत्र गत्वा स वै रुद्रो भवता सुप्रबोधितः । स्तोत्रैर्नानाविधैः स्तुत्वा देवकार्यचिकीर्षया

tatra gatvā sa vai rudro bhavatā suprabodhitaḥ stotrairnānāvidhaiḥ stutvā devakāryacikīrṣayā

"Going there, that Rudra was well persuaded by you, praised with hymns of many kinds, out of the desire to accomplish the gods' purpose."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.108.3)

श्रुत्वा त्वद्वचनं प्रीत्या शम्भुना धृतमद्भुतम् । स्वरूपमुत्तमं दिव्यं कृपालुत्वं च दर्शितम्

śrutvā tvadvacanaṁ prītyā śambhunā dhṛtamadbhutam svarūpamuttamaṁ divyaṁ kṛpālutvaṁ ca darśitam

"Hearing your words with affection, Shambhu then assumed his own wondrous, supreme, divine form, and showed forth his very graciousness."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.108.4)

तद् दृष्ट्वा सुन्दरं शम्भुं स्वरूपं मन्मथाधिकम् । अत्यहृष्यो मुने त्वं हि लावण्यपरमायनम्

tad dṛṣṭvā sundaraṁ śambhuṁ svarūpaṁ manmathādhikam atyahṛṣyo mune tvaṁ hi lāvaṇyaparamāyanam

"Seeing that beautiful form of Shambhu, surpassing even Manmatha, you, O sage, rejoiced exceedingly at that abode of supreme loveliness."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.108.5)

स्तोत्रैर्नानाविधैः स्तुत्वा परमानन्दसंयुतः । आगच्छस्त्वं मुने तत्र यत्र मेना स्थिताखिलैः

stotrairnānāvidhaiḥ stutvā paramānandasaṁyutaḥ āgacchastvaṁ mune tatra yatra menā sthitākhilaiḥ

"Praising him with hymns of many kinds, filled with supreme bliss, you then came, O sage, to where Mena stood among all the others."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.108.6)

तत्रागत्य सुप्रसन्नो मुनेऽतिप्रेमसङ्कुलः । हर्षयंस्तां शैलपत्नीं मेनां त्वं वाक्यमब्रवीः

tatrāgatya suprasanno mune'tipremasaṅkulaḥ harṣayaṁstāṁ śailapatnīṁ menāṁ tvaṁ vākyamabravīḥ

"Coming there, greatly pleased, O sage, overflowing with love, gladdening the mountain's wife, you spoke this word to Mena:"

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.108.7)

नारद उवाच । मेने पश्य विशालाक्षि शिवरूपमनुत्तमम् । कृता शिवेन तेनैव सुकृपा करुणात्मना

nārada uvāca mene paśya viśālākṣi śivarūpamanuttamam kṛtā śivena tenaiva sukṛpā karuṇātmanā

Narada said: "O Mena, wide-eyed one, behold this unsurpassed form of Shiva; that same compassionate Shiva has shown you this great grace."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.108.8)

ब्रह्मोवाच । श्रुत्वा सा तद्वचो मेना विस्मिता शैलकामिनी । ददर्श शिवरूपं तत्परमानन्ददायकम्

brahmovāca śrutvā sā tadvaco menā vismitā śailakāminī dadarśa śivarūpaṁ tatparamānandadāyakam

Brahma said: "Hearing those words, Mena, the mountain's beloved, astonished, beheld that form of Shiva, the giver of supreme bliss."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.108.9)

कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं सर्वावयवसुन्दरम् । विचित्रवसनं चात्र नानाभूषणभूषितम्

koṭisūryapratīkāśaṁ sarvāvayavasundaram vicitravasanaṁ cātra nānābhūṣaṇabhūṣitam

Radiant as ten million suns, beautiful in every limb, clad in wondrous garments, adorned with manifold ornaments.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.108.10)

सुप्रसन्नं सुहासं च सुलावण्यं मनोहरम् । गौराभं द्युतिसंयुक्तं चन्द्ररेखाविभूषितम्

suprasannaṁ suhāsaṁ ca sulāvaṇyaṁ manoharam gaurābhaṁ dyutisaṁyuktaṁ candrarekhāvibhūṣitam

Serene and smiling, of great loveliness, enchanting, of fair radiant complexion, adorned with the crescent of the moon.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.108.11)

सर्वैर्देवगणैः प्रीत्या विष्ण्वाद्यैः सेवितं तथा । सूर्येण च्छत्रितं मूर्ध्नि चन्द्रेण च विशोभितम्

sarvairdevagaṇaiḥ prītyā viṣṇvādyaiḥ sevitaṁ tathā sūryeṇa cchatritaṁ mūrdhni candreṇa ca viśobhitam

Served with affection by all the hosts of gods, headed by Vishnu; shaded overhead by the sun as by a parasol, and beautified by the moon.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.108.12)

सर्वथा रमणीयं च भूषितस्य विभूषणैः । वाहनस्य महाशोभा वर्णितुं नैव शक्यते

sarvathā ramaṇīyaṁ ca bhūṣitasya vibhūṣaṇaiḥ vāhanasya mahāśobhā varṇituṁ naiva śakyate

In every way delightful, adorned with every ornament; the great splendor of his mount could not possibly be described.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.108.13)

गङ्गा च यमुना चैव विधत्तः स्म सुचामरे । सिद्धयोऽष्टौ पुरस्तस्य कुर्वन्ति स्म सुनर्तनम्

gaṅgā ca yamunā caiva vidhattaḥ sma sucāmare siddhayo'ṣṭau purastasya kurvanti sma sunartanam

Ganga and Yamuna themselves waved fine chowries over him; the eight Siddhis danced beautifully before him.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.108.14)

मया चैव तदा विष्णुरिन्द्राद्या ह्यमरास्तथा । स्वं स्वं वेषं सुसम्भूष्य गिरिशेनाचरन्युताः

mayā caiva tadā viṣṇurindrādyā hyamarāstathā svaṁ svaṁ veṣaṁ susambhūṣya giriśenācaranyutāḥ

I myself, and Vishnu too, and Indra and the other immortals, having each finely adorned ourselves, walked along, joined with Girisha.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.108.15)

तथा जयेति भाषन्तो नानारूपा गणास्तदा । स्वलङ्कृतमहामोदा गिरीशपुरतोऽचरन्

tathā jayeti bhāṣanto nānārūpā gaṇāstadā svalaṅkṛtamahāmodā girīśapurato'caran

And the hosts of manifold form, crying out 'Victory!', finely adorned and filled with great joy, walked before the mountain-lord.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.108.16)

सिद्धाश्चोपसुराः सर्वे मुनयश्च महासुखाः । ययुः शिवेन सुप्रीताः सकलाश्चापरे तथा

siddhāścopasurāḥ sarve munayaśca mahāsukhāḥ yayuḥ śivena suprītāḥ sakalāścāpare tathā

The Siddhas, all the lesser gods, and the sages, filled with great joy, went along, delighted with Shiva, together with all the others.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.108.17)

एवं देवादयः सर्वे कुतूहलसमन्विताः । परं ब्रह्म गृणन्तस्ते स्वपत्नीभिरलङ्कृताः

evaṁ devādayaḥ sarve kutūhalasamanvitāḥ paraṁ brahma gṛṇantaste svapatnībhiralaṅkṛtāḥ

Thus all the gods and the rest, filled with eager delight, chanting of the Supreme Brahman, adorned along with their own wives.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.108.18)

विश्वावसुमुखास्तत्र ह्यप्सरोगणसंयुताः । गायन्तोऽप्यग्रतस्तस्य परमं शाङ्करं यशः

viśvāvasumukhāstatra hyapsarogaṇasaṁyutāḥ gāyanto'pyagratastasya paramaṁ śāṅkaraṁ yaśaḥ

The Gandharvas headed by Vishvavasu, together with hosts of Apsarases, sang there before him the supreme glory of Shankara.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.108.19)

इत्थं महोत्सवस्तत्र बभूव मुनिसत्तम । नानाविधो महेशे हि शैलद्वारि च गच्छति

itthaṁ mahotsavastatra babhūva munisattama nānāvidho maheśe hi śailadvāri ca gacchati

Thus, O best of sages, a great festival of many kinds took place there, as Mahesha proceeded toward the mountain's gate.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.108.20)

तस्मिंश्च समये तत्र सुषमा या परात्मनः । वर्णितुं तां विशेषेण कः शक्नोति मुनीश्वर

tasmiṁśca samaye tatra suṣamā yā parātmanaḥ varṇituṁ tāṁ viśeṣeṇa kaḥ śaknoti munīśvara

And at that time, the surpassing beauty of the Supreme Self there — who indeed, O lord of sages, could ever fully describe it?

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.108.21)

तथाविधं च तं दृष्ट्वा मेना चित्रगता इव । क्षणमासीत्ततः प्रीत्या प्रोवाच वचनं मुने

tathāvidhaṁ ca taṁ dṛṣṭvā menā citragatā iva kṣaṇamāsīttataḥ prītyā provāca vacanaṁ mune

Seeing him in that form, Mena remained for a moment as though painted in a picture; then, with affection, she spoke this word, O sage:

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.108.22)

मेनोवाच । धन्या पुत्री मदीया च यया तप्तं महत्तपः । यत्प्रभावान्महेशान त्वं प्राप्त इह मद्गृहे

menovāca dhanyā putrī madīyā ca yayā taptaṁ mahattapaḥ yatprabhāvānmaheśāna tvaṁ prāpta iha madgṛhe

Mena said: "Blessed indeed is my daughter, who performed such great austerity, by whose power, O great Lord, you have come here to my house."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.108.23)

मया कृता पुरा या वै शिवनिन्दा दुरत्यया । तां क्षमस्व शिवास्वामिन्सुप्रसन्नो भवाधुना

mayā kṛtā purā yā vai śivanindā duratyayā tāṁ kṣamasva śivāsvāminsuprasanno bhavādhunā

"'Whatever unpardonable slander I once spoke against Shiva, forgive it, O husband of Shiva; be graciously pleased with me now.'"

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.108.24)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्थं सम्भाष्य सा मेना संस्तूयेन्दुललाटकम् । साञ्जलिः प्रणता शैलप्रिया लज्जापराभवत्

brahmovāca itthaṁ sambhāṣya sā menā saṁstūyendulalāṭakam sāñjaliḥ praṇatā śailapriyā lajjāparābhavat

Brahma said: "Having spoken thus, and having praised him, the moon-crested one, Mena, the mountain's beloved, with joined palms, bowed down, and was overcome with shyness."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.108.25)

तावत्स्त्रियः समाजग्मुर्हित्वा कामाननेकशः । वह्व्यस्ताः पुरवासिन्यः शिवदर्शनलालसाः

tāvatstriyaḥ samājagmurhitvā kāmānanekaśaḥ vahvyastāḥ puravāsinyaḥ śivadarśanalālasāḥ

"Then women came flocking there, having abandoned countless tasks and desires — the many women of the city, eager for the sight of Shiva."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.108.26)

मज्जनं कुर्वती काचित्तच्चूर्णसहिता ययौ । द्रष्टुं कुतूहलाढ्या च शङ्करं गिरिजावरम्

majjanaṁ kurvatī kācittaccūrṇasahitā yayau draṣṭuṁ kutūhalāḍhyā ca śaṅkaraṁ girijāvaram

"One, in the midst of bathing, went still covered with bathing-powder, filled with eager curiosity to see Shankara, the bridegroom of Girija."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.108.27)

काचित्तु स्वामिनःसेवां सखीयुक्ता विहाय च । सुचामरकरा प्रीत्यागाच्छम्भोर्दर्शनाय वै

kācittu svāminaḥsevāṁ sakhīyuktā vihāya ca sucāmarakarā prītyāgācchambhordarśanāya vai

"Another, abandoning her service to her husband, together with her companions, chowrie still in hand, went with delight for the sight of Shambhu."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.108.28)

काचित्तु बालकं हित्वा पिबन्तं स्तन्यमादरात् । अतृप्तं शङ्करं द्रष्टुं ययौ दर्शनलालसा

kācittu bālakaṁ hitvā pibantaṁ stanyamādarāt atṛptaṁ śaṅkaraṁ draṣṭuṁ yayau darśanalālasā

"Another left her infant, who was still eagerly drinking milk and had not yet had his fill, and went, eager for the sight of Shankara."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.108.29)

रशनां बध्नती काचित्तयैव सहिता ययौ । वसनं विपरीतं वै धृत्वा काचिद्ययौ ततः

raśanāṁ badhnatī kācittayaiva sahitā yayau vasanaṁ viparītaṁ vai dhṛtvā kācidyayau tataḥ

"One, still tying her girdle, went just as she was; another went wearing her garment put on the wrong way about."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.108.30)

भोजनार्थं स्थितं कान्तं हित्वा काचिद्ययौ प्रिया । द्रष्टुं शिवावरं प्रीत्या सतृष्णा सकुतूहला

bhojanārthaṁ sthitaṁ kāntaṁ hitvā kācidyayau priyā draṣṭuṁ śivāvaraṁ prītyā satṛṣṇā sakutūhalā

"One beloved wife left her husband seated for his meal, and went, eager and full of curiosity, with delight, to see Shiva's bridegroom."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.108.31)

काचिद्धस्ते शलाकां च धृत्वाञ्जनकरा प्रिया । अञ्जित्वैकाक्षि सन्द्रष्टुं ययौ शैलसुतावरम्

kāciddhaste śalākāṁ ca dhṛtvāñjanakarā priyā añjitvaikākṣi sandraṣṭuṁ yayau śailasutāvaram

"One dear woman, holding the collyrium-stick in her hand, having painted only one eye, went to see the bridegroom of the mountain's daughter."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.108.32)

काचित्तु कामिनी पादौ रञ्जयन्ती ह्यलक्तकैः । श्रुत्वा घोषं च तद्धित्वा दर्शनार्थमुपागता

kācittu kāminī pādau rañjayantī hyalaktakaiḥ śrutvā ghoṣaṁ ca taddhitvā darśanārthamupāgatā

"One woman, in the midst of coloring her feet with red lac-dye, hearing the joyful uproar, left it and came for the sight."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.108.33)

इत्यादि विविधं कार्यं हित्वा वासं स्त्रियो ययुः । दृष्ट्वा तु शाङ्करं रूपं मोहं प्राप्तास्तदाभवन्

ityādi vividhaṁ kāryaṁ hitvā vāsaṁ striyo yayuḥ dṛṣṭvā tu śāṅkaraṁ rūpaṁ mohaṁ prāptāstadābhavan

"Leaving behind such various tasks, the women of the city went forth; and seeing that form of Shankara, they were overcome with rapture."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.108.34)

ततस्ताः प्रेमसंविग्नाः शिवदर्शनहर्षिताः । निधाय हृदि तन्मूर्तिं वचनं चेदमब्रुवन्

tatastāḥ premasaṁvignāḥ śivadarśanaharṣitāḥ nidhāya hṛdi tanmūrtiṁ vacanaṁ cedamabruvan

"Then they, overwhelmed with love, delighted at the sight of Shiva, holding his image within their hearts, spoke these words:"

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.108.35)

पुरवासिन्य ऊचुः । नेत्राणि सफलान्यासन् हिमवत्पुरवासिनाम् । यो योऽपश्यददो रूपं तस्य वै सार्थकं जनुः

puravāsinya ūcuḥ netrāṇi saphalānyāsan himavatpuravāsinām yo yo'paśyadado rūpaṁ tasya vai sārthakaṁ januḥ

The women of the city said: "The eyes of the people of Himavan's city have become truly fruitful; whoever has beheld that form has had a truly meaningful birth."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.108.36)

तस्यैव सफलं जन्म तस्यैव सफलाः क्रियाः । येन दृष्टः शिवः साक्षात्सर्वपापप्रणाशकः

tasyaiva saphalaṁ janma tasyaiva saphalāḥ kriyāḥ yena dṛṣṭaḥ śivaḥ sākṣātsarvapāpapraṇāśakaḥ

"'Fruitful indeed is the birth, fruitful indeed are the deeds, of one by whom Shiva himself has been seen — the destroyer of every sin.'"

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.108.37)

पार्वत्या साधितं सर्वं शिवार्थे यत्तपः कृतम् । धन्येयं कृतकृत्येयं शिवा प्राप्य शिवं पतिम्

pārvatyā sādhitaṁ sarvaṁ śivārthe yattapaḥ kṛtam dhanyeyaṁ kṛtakṛtyeyaṁ śivā prāpya śivaṁ patim

"'Parvati has accomplished everything by that austerity she performed for Shiva's sake; blessed is she, her purpose fulfilled, this Shiva who has obtained Shiva as her husband.'"

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.108.38)

यदीदं युगलं ब्रह्मा न युञ्ज्याच्छिवयोर्मुदा । तदा च सकलोऽप्यस्य श्रमो निष्फलतामियात्

yadīdaṁ yugalaṁ brahmā na yuñjyācchivayormudā tadā ca sakalo'pyasya śramo niṣphalatāmiyāt

"'If Brahma had not joined this pair of Shivas together in joy, then all of her effort would have come to nothing.'"

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.108.39)

सम्यक् कृतं तथा चात्र योजितं युग्ममुत्तमम् । सर्वेषां सार्थता जाता सर्वकार्यसमुद्भवा

samyak kṛtaṁ tathā cātra yojitaṁ yugmamuttamam sarveṣāṁ sārthatā jātā sarvakāryasamudbhavā

"'Rightly indeed has this supreme pair been joined here; the purpose of everyone has thereby been fulfilled, the very source from which all good things arise.'"

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.108.40)

विना तु तपसा शम्भोर्दर्शनं दुर्लभं नृणाम् । दर्शनाच्छङ्करस्यैव सर्वे याताः कृतार्थताम्

vinā tu tapasā śambhordarśanaṁ durlabhaṁ nṛṇām darśanācchaṅkarasyaiva sarve yātāḥ kṛtārthatām

"'Without austerity, the sight of Shambhu is hard for mortals to attain; yet merely by the sight of Shankara, all of us have attained our purpose.'"

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.108.41)

लक्ष्मीर्नारायणं लेभे यथा वै स्वामिनं पुरा । तथासौ पार्वती देवी हरं प्राप्य सुभूषिता

lakṣmīrnārāyaṇaṁ lebhe yathā vai svāminaṁ purā tathāsau pārvatī devī haraṁ prāpya subhūṣitā

"'As Lakshmi once obtained Narayana as her lord, so has the goddess Parvati, having obtained Hara, become truly adorned.'"

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.108.42)

ब्रह्माणं च यथा लेभे स्वामिनं वै सरस्वती । तथासौ पार्वती देवी हरं प्राप्य सुभूषिता

brahmāṇaṁ ca yathā lebhe svāminaṁ vai sarasvatī tathāsau pārvatī devī haraṁ prāpya subhūṣitā

"'And as Sarasvati obtained Brahma as her lord, so has the goddess Parvati, having obtained Hara, become truly adorned.'"

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.108.43)

वयं धन्याः स्त्रियः सर्वाः पुरुषाः सकला वराः । ये ये पश्यन्ति सर्वेशं शङ्करं गिरिजापतिम्

vayaṁ dhanyāḥ striyaḥ sarvāḥ puruṣāḥ sakalā varāḥ ye ye paśyanti sarveśaṁ śaṅkaraṁ girijāpatim

"'Blessed are we, all these women; blessed are all these excellent men, whoever beholds the lord of all, Shankara, the husband of Girija.'"

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.108.44)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्थमुक्त्वा तु वचनं चन्दनैश्चाक्षतैरपि । शिवं समर्चयामासुर्लाजान्ववृषुरादरात्

brahmovāca itthamuktvā tu vacanaṁ candanaiścākṣatairapi śivaṁ samarcayāmāsurlājānvavṛṣurādarāt

Brahma said: "Having spoken these words, they worshipped Shiva with sandal-paste and unbroken rice grains, and reverently showered him with parched grain."

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.108.45)

तस्थुस्तत्र स्त्रियः सर्वा मेनया सह सोत्सुकाः । वर्णयन्त्योऽधिकं भाग्यं मेनायाश्च गिरेरपि

tasthustatra striyaḥ sarvā menayā saha sotsukāḥ varṇayantyo'dhikaṁ bhāgyaṁ menāyāśca girerapi

"All the women remained there, eager, together with Mena, extolling again and again the surpassing good fortune of Mena and of the mountain."

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.108.46)

कथास्तथाविधाः शृण्वंस्तद्वामावर्णिताः शुभाः । प्रहृष्टोऽभूत्प्रभुः सर्वैर्मुने विष्ण्वादिभिस्तदा

kathāstathāvidhāḥ śṛṇvaṁstadvāmāvarṇitāḥ śubhāḥ prahṛṣṭo'bhūtprabhuḥ sarvairmune viṣṇvādibhistadā

"Hearing such auspicious tales, spoken by those lovely women, the Lord, O sage, was then greatly delighted, together with all — Vishnu and the rest."