The Bridegroom's Arrival at the Pavilion Door

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.109.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । अथ शम्भुः प्रसन्नात्मा सदूतं स्वगणैःसुरैः । सर्वैरन्यैर्गिरेर्धाम जगाम सकुतूहलम्

brahmovāca atha śambhuḥ prasannātmā sadūtaṁ svagaṇaiḥsuraiḥ sarvairanyairgirerdhāma jagāma sakutūhalam

Brahma said: "Then Shambhu, his mind serene, together with his own attendant hosts, the messenger, the gods, and all the others, went with eager delight to the mountain's abode."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.109.2)

मेनापि स्त्रीगणैस्तैश्च हिमाचलवरप्रिया । तत उत्थाय स्वगृहाभ्यन्तरं सा जगाम ह

menāpi strīgaṇaistaiśca himācalavarapriyā tata utthāya svagṛhābhyantaraṁ sā jagāma ha

"Mena too, the beloved of Himachala's lord, together with those hosts of women, rose up from there and went within her own house."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.109.3)

नीराजनार्थं शम्भोश्च दीपपात्रकरा सती । सर्वर्षिस्त्रीगणैस्साकमगच्छद् द्वारमादरात्

nīrājanārthaṁ śambhośca dīpapātrakarā satī sarvarṣistrīgaṇaissākamagacchad dvāramādarāt

"That virtuous woman, holding the vessel of lamps in her hand, in order to wave the lamps before Shambhu, went reverently to the door together with all the wives of the sages."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.109.4)

तत्रागतं महेशानं शङ्करं गिरिजावरम् । ददर्श प्रीतितो मेना सेवितं सकलैः सुरैः

tatrāgataṁ maheśānaṁ śaṅkaraṁ girijāvaram dadarśa prītito menā sevitaṁ sakalaiḥ suraiḥ

"There, with affection, Mena beheld the great Lord Shankara, the bridegroom of Girija, who had arrived, attended by all the gods."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.109.5)

चारुचम्पकवर्णाभं पञ्चवक्त्रं त्रिलोचनम् । ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्यं रत्नस्वर्णादिभूषितम्

cārucampakavarṇābhaṁ pañcavaktraṁ trilocanam īṣaddhāsyaprasannāsyaṁ ratnasvarṇādibhūṣitam

Of a lovely champak-flower hue, five-faced, three-eyed, his face serene with a gentle smile, adorned with jewels, gold, and the like.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.109.6)

मालतीमालया युक्तं सद्रत्नमुकुटोज्ज्वलम् । सत्कण्ठाभरणं चारुवलयाङ्गदभूषितम्

mālatīmālayā yuktaṁ sadratnamukuṭojjvalam satkaṇṭhābharaṇaṁ cāruvalayāṅgadabhūṣitam

Wreathed with a garland of jasmine, resplendent with a crown of excellent jewels, wearing fine ornaments upon his throat, adorned with lovely bracelets and armlets.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.109.7)

वह्निशौचेनातुलेन त्वतिसूक्ष्मेण चारुणा । अमूल्यवस्त्रयुग्मेन विचित्रेणातिराजितम्

vahniśaucenātulena tvatisūkṣmeṇa cāruṇā amūlyavastrayugmena vicitreṇātirājitam

Shining gloriously in a pair of priceless, wondrous, extremely fine and lovely garments, purified by fire beyond compare.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.109.8)

चन्दनागरुकस्तूरीचारुकुङ्कुमभूषितम् । रत्नदर्पणहस्तं च कज्जलोज्ज्वललोचनम्

candanāgarukastūrīcārukuṅkumabhūṣitam ratnadarpaṇahastaṁ ca kajjalojjvalalocanam

Adorned with sandal, aloe-wood, musk, and lovely saffron, a jeweled mirror in his hand, his eyes bright with collyrium.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.109.9)

सर्वस्वप्रभयाच्छन्नमतीव सुमनोहरम् । अतीव तरुणं रम्यं भूषिताङ्गैश्च भूषितम्

sarvasvaprabhayācchannamatīva sumanoharam atīva taruṇaṁ ramyaṁ bhūṣitāṅgaiśca bhūṣitam

Wholly enveloped in his own splendor, exceedingly enchanting, exceedingly youthful and delightful, his limbs adorned with every ornament.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.109.10)

कामिनीकान्तमव्यग्रं कोटिचन्द्राननाम्बुजम् । कोटिस्मराधिकतनुच्छविं सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरम्

kāminīkāntamavyagraṁ koṭicandrānanāmbujam koṭismarādhikatanucchaviṁ sarvāṅgasundaram

Beloved of all women, undisturbed, his lotus face like ten million moons, his bodily radiance surpassing ten million Kamadevas, beautiful in every limb.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.109.11)

ईदृग्विधं सुदेवं तं स्थितं स्वपुरतः प्रभुम् । दृष्ट्वा जामातरं मेना जहौ शोकं मुदान्विता

īdṛgvidhaṁ sudevaṁ taṁ sthitaṁ svapurataḥ prabhum dṛṣṭvā jāmātaraṁ menā jahau śokaṁ mudānvitā

Seeing that Lord of such a form, the excellent god standing before her own house, her son-in-law, Mena, filled with joy, cast off her sorrow.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.109.12)

प्रशशंस स्वभाग्यं सा गिरिजां भूधरं कुलम् । मेने कृतार्थमात्मानं जहर्ष च पुनः पुनः

praśaśaṁsa svabhāgyaṁ sā girijāṁ bhūdharaṁ kulam mene kṛtārthamātmānaṁ jaharṣa ca punaḥ punaḥ

She praised her own fortune, Girija, the mountain, and her lineage; she considered herself to have attained her purpose, and rejoiced again and again.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.109.13)

नीराजनं चकारासौ प्रफुल्लवदना सती । अवलोकपरा तत्र मेना जामातरं मुदा

nīrājanaṁ cakārāsau praphullavadanā satī avalokaparā tatra menā jāmātaraṁ mudā

With a face blossoming with joy, that virtuous woman performed the waving of lamps, gazing there, with delight, upon her son-in-law.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.109.14)

गिरिजोक्तमनुस्मृत्य मेना विस्मयमागता । मनसैव ह्युवाचेदं हर्षफुल्लाननाम्बुजा

girijoktamanusmṛtya menā vismayamāgatā manasaiva hyuvācedaṁ harṣaphullānanāmbujā

Recalling what Girija had once said, Mena was struck with wonder; her lotus face blossoming with joy, she spoke this within her own mind:

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.109.15)

यद्वै पुरोक्तं च तया पार्वत्या मम तत्र च । ततोऽधिकं प्रपश्यामि सौन्दर्यं परमेशितुः

yadvai puroktaṁ ca tayā pārvatyā mama tatra ca tato'dhikaṁ prapaśyāmi saundaryaṁ parameśituḥ

"'Whatever Parvati once told me about him — I now see the beauty of the Supreme Lord to be even greater than that.'"

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.109.16)

महेशस्य सुलावण्यमनिर्वाच्यं च सम्प्रति । एवं विस्मयमापन्ना मेना स्वगृहमाययौ

maheśasya sulāvaṇyamanirvācyaṁ ca samprati evaṁ vismayamāpannā menā svagṛhamāyayau

"'The great loveliness of Mahesha is now truly beyond all telling.' Having thus been filled with wonder, Mena then returned to her own house."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.109.17)

प्रशशंसुर्युवतयो धन्या धन्या गिरेः सुता । दुर्गा भगवतीत्येवमूचुः काश्चन कन्यकाः

praśaśaṁsuryuvatayo dhanyā dhanyā gireḥ sutā durgā bhagavatītyevamūcuḥ kāścana kanyakāḥ

The young women praised her, saying, "Blessed, blessed indeed is the mountain's daughter!" And some maidens said, "She is the Goddess Durga herself!"

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.109.18)

न दृष्टो वर इत्येवमस्माभिर्दानगोचरः । धन्या हि गिरिजादेवीमूचुः काश्चन कन्यकाः

na dṛṣṭo vara ityevamasmābhirdānagocaraḥ dhanyā hi girijādevīmūcuḥ kāścana kanyakāḥ

"'Never before have we seen a bridegroom worthy of such a gift as this'; and some maidens said, 'Blessed indeed is the goddess Girija!'"

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.109.19)

जगुर्गन्धर्वप्रवरा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः । दृष्ट्वा शङ्कररूपं च प्रहृष्टाः सर्वदेवताः

jagurgandharvapravarā nanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ dṛṣṭvā śaṅkararūpaṁ ca prahṛṣṭāḥ sarvadevatāḥ

The foremost of the Gandharvas sang, and the hosts of Apsarases danced; all the gods, seeing Shankara's form, were greatly delighted.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.109.20)

नानाप्रकारवाद्यानि वादका मधुराक्षरम् । नानाप्रकारशिल्पेन वादयामासुरादरात्

nānāprakāravādyāni vādakā madhurākṣaram nānāprakāraśilpena vādayāmāsurādarāt

The musicians reverently played instruments of many kinds, with sweet-sounding notes, through manifold skill.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.109.21)

हिमाचलोऽपि मुदितो द्वाराचारमथाकरोत् । मेनापि सर्वनारीभिर्महोत्सवपुरस्सरम्

himācalo'pi mudito dvārācāramathākarot menāpi sarvanārībhirmahotsavapurassaram

Himachala too, delighted, then performed the rites of welcome at the door; Mena too, together with all the women, amid a great festival —

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.109.22)

परपृच्छां चकारासौ मुदिता स्वगृहं ययौ । शिवो निवेदितं स्थानं जगाम गणनिर्जरैः

parapṛcchāṁ cakārāsau muditā svagṛhaṁ yayau śivo niveditaṁ sthānaṁ jagāma gaṇanirjaraiḥ

"— exchanged courteous inquiries, and then, delighted, returned to her own house; Shiva went to the place appointed for him, together with his hosts and the gods."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.109.23)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे दुर्गां शैलान्तः पुरचारिकाः । बहिर्जग्मुः समादाय पूजितुं कुलदेवताम्

etasminnantare durgāṁ śailāntaḥ puracārikāḥ bahirjagmuḥ samādāya pūjituṁ kuladevatām

Meanwhile, the women attending within the mountain's inner city went outside, taking Durga with them, in order to worship the family deity.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.109.24)

तत्र तां ददृशुर्देवा निमेषरहिता मुदा । सुनीलाञ्जनवर्णाभां स्वाङ्गैश्च प्रतिभूषिताम्

tatra tāṁ dadṛśurdevā nimeṣarahitā mudā sunīlāñjanavarṇābhāṁ svāṅgaiśca pratibhūṣitām

There the gods, with unblinking eyes, beheld her with delight — dark blue as fine collyrium, adorned in every limb.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.109.25)

त्रिनेत्रादृतनेत्रां तामन्यवारितलोचनाम् । ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्यां सकटाक्षां मनोहराम्

trinetrādṛtanetrāṁ tāmanyavāritalocanām īṣaddhāsyaprasannāsyāṁ sakaṭākṣāṁ manoharām

Her eyes honored by the Three-Eyed One alone, her glance forbidden to any other; her face serene with a gentle smile, her sidelong glances enchanting.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.109.26)

सुचारुकबरीभारां चारुपत्रकशोभिताम् । कस्तूरीबिन्दुभिस्सार्धं सिन्दूरबिन्दुशोभिताम्

sucārukabarībhārāṁ cārupatrakaśobhitām kastūrībindubhissārdhaṁ sindūrabinduśobhitām

Her braided hair beautifully arranged, adorned with lovely leaf-patterns, beautified with dots of musk together with dots of vermillion.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.109.27)

रत्नेन्द्रसारहारेण वक्षसा सुविराजिताम् । रत्नकेयूरवलयां रत्नकङ्कणमण्डिताम्

ratnendrasārahāreṇa vakṣasā suvirājitām ratnakeyūravalayāṁ ratnakaṅkaṇamaṇḍitām

Her breast resplendent with a necklace of the finest jewels, her arms adorned with jeweled armlets and bracelets, decorated with jeweled bangles.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.109.28)

सद्रत्नकुण्डलाभ्यां च चारुगण्डस्थलोज्ज्वलाम् । मणिरत्नप्रभामुष्टिदन्तराजिविराजिताम्

sadratnakuṇḍalābhyāṁ ca cārugaṇḍasthalojjvalām maṇiratnaprabhāmuṣṭidantarājivirājitām

Her lovely cheeks radiant with fine jeweled earrings, her row of teeth shining with a splendor that outdid handfuls of gems and jewels.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.109.29)

मधुबिम्बाधरोष्ठां च रत्नयावकसंयुताम् । रत्नदर्पणहस्तां च क्रीडापद्मविभूषिताम्

madhubimbādharoṣṭhāṁ ca ratnayāvakasaṁyutām ratnadarpaṇahastāṁ ca krīḍāpadmavibhūṣitām

Her lower lip sweet as the bimba fruit, tinted with jeweled lac-dye, a jeweled mirror in her hand, adorned with a lotus for her play.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.109.30)

चन्दनागुरुकस्तूरीकुङ्कुमेनातिचर्चिताम् । क्वणन्मञ्जीरपादां च रक्ताङ्घ्रितलराजिताम्

candanāgurukastūrīkuṅkumenāticarcitām kvaṇanmañjīrapādāṁ ca raktāṅghritalarājitām

Richly anointed with sandal, aloe-wood, musk, and saffron; her feet tinkling with anklets, her soles beautiful, reddened with lac-dye.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.109.31)

प्रणेमुः शिरसा देवीं भक्तियुक्ताः समेनकाम् । सर्वे सुरादयो दृष्ट्वा जगदाद्यां जगत्प्रसूम्

praṇemuḥ śirasā devīṁ bhaktiyuktāḥ samenakām sarve surādayo dṛṣṭvā jagadādyāṁ jagatprasūm

All the gods and the rest, seeing the Goddess — the origin of the universe, the mother of the world — bowed their heads to her with devotion, together with Mena.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.109.32)

त्रिनेत्रो नेत्रकोणेन तां ददर्श मुदान्वितः । शिवः सत्याकृतिं दृष्ट्वा विजहौ विरहज्वरम्

trinetro netrakoṇena tāṁ dadarśa mudānvitaḥ śivaḥ satyākṛtiṁ dṛṣṭvā vijahau virahajvaram

The Three-Eyed One beheld her from the corner of his eye, filled with joy; Shiva, seeing her true form at last, cast off the burning fever of separation.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.109.33)

शिवः सर्वं विसस्मार शिवासंन्यस्तलोचनः । पुलकाञ्चितसर्वाङ्गो हर्षाद्गौरीविलोचनः

śivaḥ sarvaṁ visasmāra śivāsaṁnyastalocanaḥ pulakāñcitasarvāṅgo harṣādgaurīvilocanaḥ

Shiva, his eyes fixed wholly upon Shiva (Parvati), forgot everything else; every limb of his thrilled with rapture, his eyes filled with joy at the sight of Gauri.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.109.34)

अथ काली बहिः पुर्या गत्वा पूज्य कुलाम्बिकाम् । विवेश भवनं रम्यं स्वपितुस्सद्विजाङ्गना

atha kālī bahiḥ puryā gatvā pūjya kulāmbikām viveśa bhavanaṁ ramyaṁ svapitussadvijāṅganā

Then Kali, having gone outside the city and worshipped the family mother-goddess, that virtuous woman entered the lovely mansion of her own father.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.109.35)

शङ्करोऽपि सुरैः सार्धं हरिणा ब्रह्मणा तथा । हिमाचलसमुद्दिष्टं स्वस्थानमगमन्मुदा

śaṅkaro'pi suraiḥ sārdhaṁ hariṇā brahmaṇā tathā himācalasamuddiṣṭaṁ svasthānamagamanmudā

Shankara too, together with the gods, with Hari, and with Brahma, went with delight to the quarters assigned to him by Himachala.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.109.36)

तत्र सर्वे सुखं तस्थुः सेवन्तः शङ्करं यथा । सम्मानिता गिरीशेन नानाविधसुसम्पदा

tatra sarve sukhaṁ tasthuḥ sevantaḥ śaṅkaraṁ yathā sammānitā girīśena nānāvidhasusampadā

There all remained happily, attending upon Shankara as was fitting, honored by the mountain-lord with manifold excellent riches.