The Completion of the Wedding Rite, and Brahma's Delusion

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.112.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । अथो ममाज्ञया विप्रैः संस्थाप्यानलमीश्वरः । होमं चकार तत्रैवमङ्के संस्थाप्य पार्वतीम्

brahmovāca atho mamājñayā vipraiḥ saṁsthāpyānalamīśvaraḥ homaṁ cakāra tatraivamaṅke saṁsthāpya pārvatīm

Brahma said: "Then, at my bidding, the Lord had the sacred fire set up by the brahmins, and there, seating Parvati upon his lap, he performed the fire-oblation."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.112.2)

ऋग्यजुस्साममन्त्रैश्चाहुतिं वह्नौ ददौ शिवः । लाजाञ्जलिं ददौ कालीभ्राता मैनाकसंज्ञकः

ṛgyajussāmamantraiścāhutiṁ vahnau dadau śivaḥ lājāñjaliṁ dadau kālībhrātā mainākasaṁjñakaḥ

"Shiva offered oblations into the fire with the mantras of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas; and Mainaka, the mountain who was Kali's brother, offered handfuls of parched grain."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.112.3)

अथ काली शिवश्चोभौ चक्रतुर्विधिवन्मुदा । वह्निप्रदक्षिणां तात लोकाचारं विधाय च

atha kālī śivaścobhau cakraturvidhivanmudā vahnipradakṣiṇāṁ tāta lokācāraṁ vidhāya ca

"Then, O son, Kali and Shiva both, with joy, performed circumambulation of the fire according to rule, observing the worldly custom."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.112.4)

तत्राद्भुतमलञ्चक्रे चरितं गिरिजापतिः । तदेव शृणु देवर्षे तवस्नेहाद् ब्रवीम्यहम्

tatrādbhutamalañcakre caritaṁ girijāpatiḥ tadeva śṛṇu devarṣe tavasnehād bravīmyaham

"There the Lord of Girija performed a wondrous deed; hear that very thing, O divine sage — out of affection I tell it to you."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.112.5)

तस्मिन्नवसरे चाहं शिवमायाविमोहितः । अपश्यं चरणे देव्या नखेन्दुं च मनोहरम्

tasminnavasare cāhaṁ śivamāyāvimohitaḥ apaśyaṁ caraṇe devyā nakhenduṁ ca manoharam

"At that moment, deluded by Shiva's maya, I beheld at the Goddess's foot the moon-like, enchanting beauty of her toenails."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.112.6)

दर्शनात्तस्य च तदाभूवं देवमुने ह्यहम् । मदनेन समाविष्टोऽतीव क्षुभितमानसः

darśanāttasya ca tadābhūvaṁ devamune hyaham madanena samāviṣṭo'tīva kṣubhitamānasaḥ

"From that sight, O divine sage, I became overcome by desire, my mind exceedingly agitated."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.112.7)

मुहुर्मुहुरपश्यं वै तदङ्गं स्मरमोहितः । ततस्तद्दर्शनात्सद्यो वीर्यं मे प्राच्युतद्भुवि

muhurmuhurapaśyaṁ vai tadaṅgaṁ smaramohitaḥ tatastaddarśanātsadyo vīryaṁ me prācyutadbhuvi

"Deluded by desire, I gazed again and again at that limb; and from that very sight my seed instantly fell to the ground."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.112.8)

रेतसा क्षरता तेन लज्जितोऽहं पितामहः । मुने व्यमर्दं तच्छिन्नं चरणाभ्यां हि गोपयन्

retasā kṣaratā tena lajjito'haṁ pitāmahaḥ mune vyamardaṁ tacchinnaṁ caraṇābhyāṁ hi gopayan

"Ashamed at that spilled seed, O sage, I, the Grandsire, rubbed it away, hiding it with my feet."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.112.9)

तज्ज्ञात्वा च महादेवश्चुकोपातीव नारद । हन्तुमैच्छत्तदा शीघ्रं मां विधिं काममोहितम्

tajjñātvā ca mahādevaścukopātīva nārada hantumaicchattadā śīghraṁ māṁ vidhiṁ kāmamohitam

"Knowing this, O Narada, Mahadeva grew exceedingly wrathful and at once wished to slay me, Vidhi, deluded by desire."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.112.10)

हाहाकारो महानासीत्तत्र सर्वत्र नारद । जनाश्चकम्पिरे सर्वे भयमायाति विश्वभृत्

hāhākāro mahānāsīttatra sarvatra nārada janāścakampire sarve bhayamāyāti viśvabhṛt

"O Narada, a great cry of alarm rose there on every side; all beings trembled, and fear overtook even the sustainers of the universe."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.112.11)

ततस्तं तुष्टुवुः शम्भुं विष्ण्वाद्या निर्जरा मुने । सकोपम्प्रज्वलन्तं च तेजसा हन्तुमुद्यतम्

tatastaṁ tuṣṭuvuḥ śambhuṁ viṣṇvādyā nirjarā mune sakopamprajvalantaṁ ca tejasā hantumudyatam

"Then, O sage, Vishnu and the other immortal gods praised Shambhu, who blazed with wrath and stood ready to slay me with his fiery power."

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.112.12)

देवा ऊचुः । देवदेव जगद्व्यापिन् परमेश सदाशिव । जगदीश जगन्नाथ सम्प्रसीद जगन्मय

devā ūcuḥ devadeva jagadvyāpin parameśa sadāśiva jagadīśa jagannātha samprasīda jaganmaya

The gods said: "O God of gods, pervader of the universe, Supreme Lord, ever-auspicious one, Lord of the world, master of the world, you who are the world itself — be gracious."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.112.13)

सर्वेषामपि भावानां त्वमात्मा हेतुरीश्वरः । निर्विकारोऽव्ययो नित्यो निर्विकल्पोऽक्षरः परः

sarveṣāmapi bhāvānāṁ tvamātmā heturīśvaraḥ nirvikāro'vyayo nityo nirvikalpo'kṣaraḥ paraḥ

"You alone are the self and cause of all existing things, the Lord — changeless, imperishable, eternal, beyond distinction, indestructible, and supreme."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.112.14)

आद्यन्तावस्य यन्मध्यमिदमन्यदहं बहिः । यतोऽव्ययः स नैतानि तत्सत्यम्ब्रह्म चिद्भवान्

ādyantāvasya yanmadhyamidamanyadahaṁ bahiḥ yato'vyayaḥ sa naitāni tatsatyambrahma cidbhavān

"The beginning, the end, and all that lies between — this 'other' and 'outer' — none of this is you, since you, imperishable, transcend it all; you alone are that truth, the Brahman, pure consciousness."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.112.15)

तवैव चरणाम्भोजं मुक्तिकामा दृढव्रताः । विसृज्योभयतः सङ्गं मुनयः समुपासते

tavaiva caraṇāmbhojaṁ muktikāmā dṛḍhavratāḥ visṛjyobhayataḥ saṅgaṁ munayaḥ samupāsate

"Sages desirous of liberation, firm in their vows, having renounced attachment on both sides, worship your lotus feet alone."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.112.16)

त्वं ब्रह्म पूर्णममृतं विशोकं निर्गुणम्परम् । आनन्दमात्रमव्यग्रमविकारमनात्मकम्

tvaṁ brahma pūrṇamamṛtaṁ viśokaṁ nirguṇamparam ānandamātramavyagramavikāramanātmakam

"You are Brahman — full, immortal, free from sorrow, beyond qualities, supreme, pure bliss itself, unperturbed, changeless, without individual selfhood."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.112.17)

विश्वस्य हेतुरुदयस्थितिसंयमनस्य हि । तदपेक्षतयात्मेशोऽनपेक्षः सर्वदा विभुः

viśvasya heturudayasthitisaṁyamanasya hi tadapekṣatayātmeśo'napekṣaḥ sarvadā vibhuḥ

"You are the cause of the universe's arising, persistence, and dissolution; though called the Lord of the self in relation to that, you yourself remain ever independent and all-pervading."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.112.18)

एकस्त्वमेव सदसद् द्वयमद्वयमेव च । स्वर्णं कृताकृतमिव वस्तुभेदो न चैव हि

ekastvameva sadasad dvayamadvayameva ca svarṇaṁ kṛtākṛtamiva vastubhedo na caiva hi

"You alone are the one — being and non-being, duality and non-duality as well; like gold that is fashioned or unfashioned, there is in truth no difference of substance."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.112.19)

अज्ञानतस्त्वयि जनैर्विकल्पो विदितो यतः । तस्माद् भ्रमप्रतीकारो निरुपाधेर्न हि स्वतः

ajñānatastvayi janairvikalpo vidito yataḥ tasmād bhramapratīkāro nirupādherna hi svataḥ

"It is only through ignorance that people perceive distinction in you; therefore, in one who is beyond all limiting conditions, such delusion has no basis of its own."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.112.20)

धन्या वयं महेशान तव दर्शनमात्रतः । दृढभक्तजनानन्दप्रदः शम्भो दयां कुरु

dhanyā vayaṁ maheśāna tava darśanamātrataḥ dṛḍhabhaktajanānandapradaḥ śambho dayāṁ kuru

"Blessed are we, O Great Lord, by the mere sight of you; O Shambhu, giver of joy to your steadfast devotees, show us your mercy."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.112.21)

त्वमादिस्त्वमनादिश्च प्रकृतेस्त्वं परः पुमान् । विश्वेश्वरो जगन्नाथो निर्विकारः परात्परः

tvamādistvamanādiśca prakṛtestvaṁ paraḥ pumān viśveśvaro jagannātho nirvikāraḥ parātparaḥ

"You are the beginning, and you are also without beginning; you are the Person beyond Prakriti — Lord of the universe, master of the world, changeless, higher than the highest."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.112.22)

योऽयं ब्रह्मास्ति रजसा विश्वमूर्तिः पितामहः । त्वत्प्रसादात्प्रभो विष्णुः सत्त्वेन पुरुषोत्तमः

yo'yaṁ brahmāsti rajasā viśvamūrtiḥ pitāmahaḥ tvatprasādātprabho viṣṇuḥ sattvena puruṣottamaḥ

"By your grace, O Lord, this Brahma, embodiment of the universe, the Grandsire, exists through rajas; and Vishnu, the Supreme Person, exists through sattva."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.112.23)

कालाग्निरुद्रस्तमसा परमात्मा गुणैः परः । सदा शिवो महेशानःसर्वव्यापी महेश्वरः

kālāgnirudrastamasā paramātmā guṇaiḥ paraḥ sadā śivo maheśānaḥsarvavyāpī maheśvaraḥ

"Through tamas you are Kalagni-Rudra; yet as the Supreme Self you are beyond the gunas — ever auspicious, the Great Lord, all-pervading, the Great God."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.112.24)

व्यक्तं महच्च भूतादिस्तन्मात्राणीन्द्रियाणि च । त्वयैवाधिष्ठितान्येव विश्वमूर्ते महेश्वर

vyaktaṁ mahacca bhūtādistanmātrāṇīndriyāṇi ca tvayaivādhiṣṭhitānyeva viśvamūrte maheśvara

"The manifest world, the Great Principle, the source of the elements, the subtle elements, and the senses — all these are governed by you alone, O Great Lord whose very form is the universe."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.112.25)

महादेव परेशान करुणाकर शङ्कर । प्रसीद देवदेवेश प्रसीद पुरुषोत्तम

mahādeva pareśāna karuṇākara śaṅkara prasīda devadeveśa prasīda puruṣottama

"O Mahadeva, Supreme Lord, fount of compassion, Shankara — be gracious; O Lord of the gods of gods, be gracious, O Supreme Person."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.112.26)

वासांसि सागराः सप्त दिशश्चैव महाभुजाः । द्यौर्मूर्धा ते विभोर्नाभिः खं वायुर्नासिका ततः

vāsāṁsi sāgarāḥ sapta diśaścaiva mahābhujāḥ dyaurmūrdhā te vibhornābhiḥ khaṁ vāyurnāsikā tataḥ

"The seven oceans are your garments, and the directions your mighty arms; heaven is your head, O Lord, space your navel, and the wind your breath."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.112.27)

चक्षूंष्यग्नी रविस्सोमः केशा मेघास्तव प्रभो । नक्षत्रतारकाद्याश्च ग्रहाश्चैव विभूषणम्

cakṣūṁṣyagnī ravissomaḥ keśā meghāstava prabho nakṣatratārakādyāśca grahāścaiva vibhūṣaṇam

"Fire, sun, and moon are your eyes, O Lord; the clouds are your hair; and the stars, constellations, and planets are your ornaments."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.112.28)

कथं स्तोष्यामि देवेश त्वां विभो परमेश्वर । वाचामगोचरोऽसि त्वं मनसा चापि शङ्कर

kathaṁ stoṣyāmi deveśa tvāṁ vibho parameśvara vācāmagocaro'si tvaṁ manasā cāpi śaṅkara

"How shall I praise you, O Lord of gods, O all-pervading Supreme Lord? You are beyond the reach of speech, O Shankara, and beyond the mind as well."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.112.29)

पञ्चास्याय च रुद्राय पञ्चाशत्कोटिमूर्तये । त्र्यधिपाय वरिष्ठाय विद्यातत्त्वाय ते नमः

pañcāsyāya ca rudrāya pañcāśatkoṭimūrtaye tryadhipāya variṣṭhāya vidyātattvāya te namaḥ

"Homage to you, the five-faced Rudra, of fifty crore forms, lord of the three worlds, most excellent, the very essence of knowledge."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.112.30)

अनिर्देश्याय नित्याय विद्युज्ज्वालाय रूपिणे । अग्निवर्णाय देवाय शङ्कराय नमो नमः

anirdeśyāya nityāya vidyujjvālāya rūpiṇe agnivarṇāya devāya śaṅkarāya namo namaḥ

"Homage again and again to Shankara, the indescribable, the eternal, whose form blazes like lightning, whose color is that of fire."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.112.31)

विद्युत्कोटिप्रतीकाशमष्टकोणं सुशोभनम् । रूपमास्थाय लोकेऽस्मिन् संस्थिताय नमो नमः

vidyutkoṭipratīkāśamaṣṭakoṇaṁ suśobhanam rūpamāsthāya loke'smin saṁsthitāya namo namaḥ

"Homage again and again to you, who abide in this world having assumed a form radiant like ten million flashes of lightning, eight-cornered and most beautiful."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.112.32)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तेषां प्रसन्नः परमेश्वरः । ब्रह्मणे मे ददौ शीघ्रमभयं भक्तवत्सलः

brahmovāca ityākarṇya vacasteṣāṁ prasannaḥ parameśvaraḥ brahmaṇe me dadau śīghramabhayaṁ bhaktavatsalaḥ

Brahma said: "Hearing their words, the Supreme Lord, who cherishes his devotees, was pleased and at once granted me, Brahma, freedom from fear."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.112.33)

अथ सर्वे सुरास्तत्र विष्ण्वाद्या मुनयस्तथा । अभवन्सुस्मितास्तात चक्रुश्च परमोत्सवम्

atha sarve surāstatra viṣṇvādyā munayastathā abhavansusmitāstāta cakruśca paramotsavam

"Then, O son, all the gods there — Vishnu and the rest — and the sages too broke into smiles and made a supreme celebration."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.112.34)

मम तद्रेतसा तात मर्दितेन मुहुर्मुहुः । अभवन्कणकास्तत्र भूरिशः परमोज्ज्वलाः

mama tadretasā tāta marditena muhurmuhuḥ abhavankaṇakāstatra bhūriśaḥ paramojjvalāḥ

"O son, from my seed, rubbed away again and again, there arose there many exceedingly brilliant grains."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.112.35)

ऋषयो बहवो जाता बालखिल्याः सहस्रशः । कणकैस्तैश्च वीर्यस्य प्रज्वलद्भिः स्वतेजसा

ṛṣayo bahavo jātā bālakhilyāḥ sahasraśaḥ kaṇakaistaiśca vīryasya prajvaladbhiḥ svatejasā

"From those seed-grains, blazing with their own radiance, thousands of sages called the Balakhilyas were born."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.112.36)

अथ ते ऋषयः सर्वे उपतस्थुस्तदा मुने । ममान्तिकं परप्रीत्या तात तातेति चाब्रुवन्

atha te ṛṣayaḥ sarve upatasthustadā mune mamāntikaṁ paraprītyā tāta tāteti cābruvan

"Then, O sage, all those seers approached near me with great affection and called out, 'Father, father!'"

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.112.37)

ईश्वरेच्छाप्रयुक्तेन प्रोक्तास्ते नारदेन हि । बालखिल्यास्तु ते तत्र कोपयुक्तेन चेतसा

īśvarecchāprayuktena proktāste nāradena hi bālakhilyāstu te tatra kopayuktena cetasā

"Then, moved by the will of the Lord, Narada, his mind filled with anger, spoke thus to those Balakhilyas."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.112.38)

नारद उवाच । गच्छध्वं सङ्गता यूयं पर्वतं गन्धमादनम् । न स्थातव्यं भवद्भिश्च न हि वोऽत्र प्रयोजनम्

nārada uvāca gacchadhvaṁ saṅgatā yūyaṁ parvataṁ gandhamādanam na sthātavyaṁ bhavadbhiśca na hi vo'tra prayojanam

Narada said: "Go, all of you together, to Mount Gandhamadana; you must not remain here — there is no purpose for you in this place."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.112.39)

तत्र तप्त्वा तपश्चाति भवितारो मुनीश्वराः । सूर्यशिष्याः शिवस्यैवाज्ञया मे कथितं त्विदम्

tatra taptvā tapaścāti bhavitāro munīśvarāḥ sūryaśiṣyāḥ śivasyaivājñayā me kathitaṁ tvidam

"There, having performed great austerity, you shall become great lords of sages, disciples of the Sun; this I tell you by the very command of Shiva."

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.112.40)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्तास्ते तदा सर्वे बालखिल्याश्च पर्वतम् । सत्वरं प्रययुर्नत्वा शङ्करं गन्धमादनम्

brahmovāca ityuktāste tadā sarve bālakhilyāśca parvatam satvaraṁ prayayurnatvā śaṅkaraṁ gandhamādanam

Brahma said: "Thus told, all those Balakhilyas quickly bowed to Shankara and went to Mount Gandhamadana."

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.112.41)

विष्ण्वादिभिस्तदाभूवं श्वासितोऽहं मुनीश्वर । निर्भयः परमेशानप्रेरितैस्तैर्महात्मभिः

viṣṇvādibhistadābhūvaṁ śvāsito'haṁ munīśvara nirbhayaḥ parameśānapreritaistairmahātmabhiḥ

"Then, O lord of sages, moved by the Supreme Lord, those great souls — Vishnu and the rest — comforted me and made me fearless."

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.112.42)

अस्तवं चापि सर्वेशं शङ्करं भक्तवत्सलम् । सर्वकार्यकरं ज्ञात्वा दुष्टगर्वापहारकम्

astavaṁ cāpi sarveśaṁ śaṅkaraṁ bhaktavatsalam sarvakāryakaraṁ jñātvā duṣṭagarvāpahārakam

"Knowing Shankara, cherisher of his devotees and destroyer of wicked pride, the doer of all deeds, I too praised that Lord of all."

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.112.43)

देवदेव महादेव करुणासागर प्रभो । त्वमेव कर्ता सर्वस्य भर्ता हर्ता च सर्वथा

devadeva mahādeva karuṇāsāgara prabho tvameva kartā sarvasya bhartā hartā ca sarvathā

"O God of gods, Mahadeva, ocean of compassion, O Lord — you alone are, in every way, the creator, sustainer, and destroyer of all."

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.112.44)

त्वदिच्छया हि सकलं स्थितं हि सचराचरम् । तन्त्यां यथा बलीवर्दा मया ज्ञातं विशेषतः

tvadicchayā hi sakalaṁ sthitaṁ hi sacarācaram tantyāṁ yathā balīvardā mayā jñātaṁ viśeṣataḥ

"By your will alone this entire moving and unmoving world stands, as oxen stand bound by a rope — this I have specially come to understand."

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.112.45)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा सोऽहं वै प्रणामं च कृताञ्जलिः । अन्येऽपि तुष्टुवुः सर्वे विष्ण्वाद्यास्तं महेश्वरम्

ityevamuktvā so'haṁ vai praṇāmaṁ ca kṛtāñjaliḥ anye'pi tuṣṭuvuḥ sarve viṣṇvādyāstaṁ maheśvaram

"Having spoken thus, I bowed with joined palms; and Vishnu and all the other gods too praised that Great Lord."

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.112.46)

अथाकर्ण्य नुतिं शुद्धां मम दीनतया तदा । विष्ण्वादीनाञ्च सर्वेषां प्रसन्नोऽभून्महेश्वरः

athākarṇya nutiṁ śuddhāṁ mama dīnatayā tadā viṣṇvādīnāñca sarveṣāṁ prasanno'bhūnmaheśvaraḥ

"Then, hearing that pure, humble praise from me and from Vishnu and all the others, the Great Lord became pleased."

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.112.47)

ददौ सोऽतिवरं मह्यमभयं प्रीतमानसः । सर्वे सुखमतीवापुरत्यामोदमहं मुने

dadau so'tivaraṁ mahyamabhayaṁ prītamānasaḥ sarve sukhamatīvāpuratyāmodamahaṁ mune

"With a heart full of love, he granted me the great boon of fearlessness; and, O sage, all attained the greatest happiness, and I too felt supreme delight."