The Wondrous Deed of Kumara

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.124.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच अथ तत्र स गाङ्गेयो दर्शयामास सूतिकाम् । तामेव शृणु सुप्रीत्या नारद त्वं स्वभक्तिदाम्

brahmovāca atha tatra sa gāṅgeyo darśayāmāsa sūtikām tāmeva śṛṇu suprītyā nārada tvaṁ svabhaktidām

Brahma said: Then there Gangeya displayed a wondrous marvel of his own; hear that very thing with love, O Narada — that power which grants devotion to those devoted to him.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.124.2)

द्विज एको नारदाख्य आजगाम तदैव हि । तत्राध्वरकरः श्रीमान् शरणार्थं गुहस्य वै

dvija eko nāradākhya ājagāma tadaiva hi tatrādhvarakaraḥ śrīmān śaraṇārthaṁ guhasya vai

At that very time, a certain brahmin named Narada came there — a glorious performer of sacrifice — seeking refuge with Guha.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.124.3)

स विप्रः प्राप्य निकटं कार्त्तिकस्य प्रसन्नधीः । स्वाभिप्रायं समाचख्यौ सुप्रणम्य शुभैः स्तवैः

sa vipraḥ prāpya nikaṭaṁ kārttikasya prasannadhīḥ svābhiprāyaṁ samācakhyau supraṇamya śubhaiḥ stavaiḥ

That brahmin, coming near Kartika, his mind glad, bowed well with auspicious hymns and told him his own intent.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.124.4)

विप्र उवाच शृणु स्वामिन्वचो मेऽद्य कष्टं मे विनिवारय । सर्वब्रह्माण्डनाथस्त्वमतस्ते शरणं गतः

vipra uvāca śṛṇu svāminvaco me'dya kaṣṭaṁ me vinivāraya sarvabrahmāṇḍanāthastvamataste śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

The brahmin said: Listen, my Lord, to my words today, and remove my distress. You are the Lord of the whole universe, and so I have come to you for refuge.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.124.5)

अजमेधाध्वरं कर्तुमारम्भं कृतवानहम् । सोऽजो गतो गृहान्मे हि त्रोटयित्वा स्वबन्धनम्

ajamedhādhvaraṁ kartumārambhaṁ kṛtavānaham so'jo gato gṛhānme hi troṭayitvā svabandhanam

I had begun to perform the Ajamedha sacrifice; that goat has broken its own bonds and fled from my house.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.124.6)

न जाने स गतः कुत्राऽन्वेषणं तत्कृतं बहु । न प्राप्तोऽतस्स बलवान् भङ्गो भवति मे क्रतोः

na jāne sa gataḥ kutrā'nveṣaṇaṁ tatkṛtaṁ bahu na prāpto'tassa balavān bhaṅgo bhavati me kratoḥ

I do not know where it has gone; I have searched for it a great deal, but it has not been found. Because of this, my sacrifice faces disruption.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.124.7)

त्वयि नाथे सति विभो यज्ञभङ्गः कथं भवेत् । विचार्य्यैवाऽखिलेशान कामं पूर्णं कुरुष्व मे

tvayi nāthe sati vibho yajñabhaṅgaḥ kathaṁ bhavet vicāryyaivā'khileśāna kāmaṁ pūrṇaṁ kuruṣva me

O Lord, with you as my protector, how can my sacrifice possibly be disrupted? O ruler of all, consider this, and fulfill my desire.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.124.8)

त्वां विहाय शरण्यं कं यायां शिवसुत प्रभो । सर्वब्रह्माण्डनाथं हि सर्वामरसुसेवितम्

tvāṁ vihāya śaraṇyaṁ kaṁ yāyāṁ śivasuta prabho sarvabrahmāṇḍanāthaṁ hi sarvāmarasusevitam

O Lord, son of Shiva, leaving you aside, to what other refuge should I go — you, the Lord of the whole universe, well served by all the immortals?

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.124.9)

दीनबन्धुर्दयासिन्धुः सुसेव्यो भक्तवत्सलः । हरिब्रह्मादिदेवैश्च सुस्तुतः परमेश्वरः

dīnabandhurdayāsindhuḥ susevyo bhaktavatsalaḥ haribrahmādidevaiśca sustutaḥ parameśvaraḥ

You are the friend of the humble, the ocean of compassion, worthy of service, affectionate to your devotees, the Supreme Lord well praised by Hari, Brahma, and the other gods.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.124.10)

पार्वतीनन्दनस्स्कन्दः परमेकः परन्तपः । परमात्माऽत्मदः स्वामी सतां च शरणार्थिनाम्

pārvatīnandanasskandaḥ paramekaḥ parantapaḥ paramātmā'tmadaḥ svāmī satāṁ ca śaraṇārthinām

Skanda, the very joy of Parvati, the supreme one, scorcher of foes; the Supreme Self, giver of the Self, Lord of the virtuous and of all who seek refuge.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.124.11)

दीनानाथ महेश शङ्करसुत त्रैलोक्यनाथ प्रभो मायाधीश समागतोऽस्मि शरणं मां पाहि विप्रप्रिय । त्वं सर्वप्रभुरानताऽखिलविदब्रह्मादिदेवैः स्तुतः त्वं मायाकृतिरात्मभक्तसुखदो रक्षापरो मायिकः

dīnānātha maheśa śaṅkarasuta trailokyanātha prabho māyādhīśa samāgato'smi śaraṇaṁ māṁ pāhi viprapriya tvaṁ sarvaprabhurānatā'khilavidabrahmādidevaiḥ stutaḥ tvaṁ māyākṛtirātmabhaktasukhado rakṣāparo māyikaḥ

O lord of the destitute, Mahesha, son of Shankara, Lord of the three worlds! O master of Maya, I have come for refuge — protect me, O lover of brahmins! You are the Lord of all, praised by the all-knowing Brahma and the other gods who bow before you; you are the fashioner of Maya, giver of joy to your devoted souls, ever intent on protecting them, the wielder of Maya.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.124.12)

भक्तप्राणगुणाकरस्त्रिगुणतो भिन्नोऽसि शम्भुप्रियः शम्भुः शम्भुसुतः प्रसन्नसुखदः सच्चित्स्वरूपो महान् । सर्वज्ञस्त्रिपुरघ्नशङ्करसुतः सत्प्रेमवश्यःसदा षड्वक्त्रः प्रियसाधुरानतप्रियः सर्वेश्वरः शङ्करः । साधुद्रोहकरघ्न शङ्करगुरो ब्रह्माण्डनाथो प्रभुः सर्वेषाममरादिसेवितपदो मां पाहि सेवाप्रिय

bhaktaprāṇaguṇākarastriguṇato bhinno'si śambhupriyaḥ śambhuḥ śambhusutaḥ prasannasukhadaḥ saccitsvarūpo mahān sarvajñastripuraghnaśaṅkarasutaḥ satpremavaśyaḥsadā ṣaḍvaktraḥ priyasādhurānatapriyaḥ sarveśvaraḥ śaṅkaraḥ sādhudrohakaraghna śaṅkaraguro brahmāṇḍanātho prabhuḥ sarveṣāmamarādisevitapado māṁ pāhi sevāpriya

You are the very life-breath and the mine of virtue of your devotees, distinct from the three gunas, beloved of Shambhu; you are Shambhu himself, Shambhu's own son, giver of joy, the great one whose nature is pure being and consciousness; all-knowing, son of Shankara the destroyer of the triple city, ever governed by true love; six-faced, dear to the virtuous, fond of those who bow to you, the Lord of all, Shankara himself; O destroyer of those who wrong the virtuous, O teacher even of Shankara, Lord of the universe, whose feet are served by all the immortals, O lover of service — protect me!

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.124.13)

वैरिभयङ्कर शङ्कर जनशरणस्य वन्दे तव पदपद्मं सुखकरणस्य । विज्ञप्तिं मम कर्णे स्कन्द निधेहि निजभक्तिं जनचेतसि सदा विधेहि

vairibhayaṅkara śaṅkara janaśaraṇasya vande tava padapadmaṁ sukhakaraṇasya vijñaptiṁ mama karṇe skanda nidhehi nijabhaktiṁ janacetasi sadā vidhehi

O terror to your foes, refuge of the people, giver of happiness, O Shankara — I bow to your lotus feet. O Skanda, hold my petition in your ear, and set your own devotion ever within the hearts of your people.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.124.14)

करोति किं तस्य बली विपक्षो दक्षोऽपि पक्षोभयपार्श्वगुप्तः । किं तक्षकोऽप्यामिषभक्षको वा त्वं रक्षको यस्य सदक्षमानः

karoti kiṁ tasya balī vipakṣo dakṣo'pi pakṣobhayapārśvaguptaḥ kiṁ takṣako'pyāmiṣabhakṣako vā tvaṁ rakṣako yasya sadakṣamānaḥ

What can even a mighty enemy do to one whose protector, ever capable, is you — though that enemy be skilled and guarded on both flanks? What can the serpent Takshaka, or a flesh-eating beast, do to him?

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.124.15)

विबुधगुरुरपि त्वां स्तोतुमीशो न हि स्यात् कथय कथमहं स्यां मन्दबुद्धिर्वरार्च्यः । शुचिरशुचिरनार्यो यादृशस्तादृशो वा पदकमलपरागं स्कन्द ते प्रार्थयामि

vibudhagururapi tvāṁ stotumīśo na hi syāt kathaya kathamahaṁ syāṁ mandabuddhirvarārcyaḥ śuciraśuciranāryo yādṛśastādṛśo vā padakamalaparāgaṁ skanda te prārthayāmi

When even Brihaspati, the gods' own guru, could not be capable of praising you, tell me how I, of dull intellect, could be worthy to worship you? O Skanda, pure or impure, noble or otherwise, whatever I am, I pray only for the dust of your lotus feet.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.124.16)

हे सर्वेश्वर भक्तवत्सल कृपा-सिन्धो त्वदीयोऽस्म्यहं भृत्यः स्वस्य न सेवकस्य गणप-स्यागःशतं सत्प्रभो । भक्तिं क्वापि कृतां मनागपि विभो जानासि भृत्यार्तिहा त्वत्तो नास्त्यपरोऽविता न भगवन् मत्तो नरः पामरः

he sarveśvara bhaktavatsala kṛpā-sindho tvadīyo'smyahaṁ bhṛtyaḥ svasya na sevakasya gaṇapa-syāgaḥśataṁ satprabho bhaktiṁ kvāpi kṛtāṁ manāgapi vibho jānāsi bhṛtyārtihā tvatto nāstyaparo'vitā na bhagavan matto naraḥ pāmaraḥ

O Lord of all, affectionate to devotees, ocean of compassion, I am yours — your own servant, not the servant of a servant; O true Lord, even a hundred faults of your own attendant are forgiven. O Lord, remover of your servants' distress, you know whatever small devotion I have ever offered, however slight. There is no protector but you, and, O Blessed one, there is no man more wretched than I.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.124.17)

कल्याणकर्त्ता कलिकल्मषघ्नः कुबेरबन्धुः करुणार्द्रचित्तः । त्रिषट्कनेत्रो रसवक्त्रशोभी यज्ञं प्रपूर्णं कुरु मे गुह त्वम्

kalyāṇakarttā kalikalmaṣaghnaḥ kuberabandhuḥ karuṇārdracittaḥ triṣaṭkanetro rasavaktraśobhī yajñaṁ prapūrṇaṁ kuru me guha tvam

O doer of good, destroyer of the sins of the Kali age, friend of Kubera, your heart moist with compassion, you of many eyes and beautiful, delighted faces — O Guha, make my sacrifice complete.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.124.18)

रक्षकस्त्वं त्रिलोकस्य शरणागतवत्सलः । यज्ञकर्त्ता यज्ञभर्त्ता हरसे विघ्नकारिणाम्

rakṣakastvaṁ trilokasya śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ yajñakarttā yajñabharttā harase vighnakāriṇām

You are the protector of the three worlds, affectionate to those who take refuge; the performer and sustainer of sacrifice, who removes the obstacles caused by the wicked.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.124.19)

विघ्नवारण साधूनां सर्ग कारण सर्वतः । पूर्णं कुरु ममेशान सुतयज्ञ नमोस्तु ते

vighnavāraṇa sādhūnāṁ sarga kāraṇa sarvataḥ pūrṇaṁ kuru mameśāna sutayajña namostu te

O averter of the obstacles of the virtuous, O cause of creation in every way, O Ishana — make my sacrifice complete. O son of Shiva, salutation to you.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.124.20)

सर्वत्राता स्कन्द हि त्वं सर्वज्ञाता त्वमेव हि । सर्वेश्वरस्त्वमीशानो निवेशसकलाऽवनः

sarvatrātā skanda hi tvaṁ sarvajñātā tvameva hi sarveśvarastvamīśāno niveśasakalā'vanaḥ

O Skanda, you indeed are the protector of all; you alone are the knower of all. You are the Lord of all, Ishana, the protector who sustains the whole of creation.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.124.21)

सङ्गीतज्ञस्त्वमेवासि वेदविज्ञः परः प्रभुः । सर्वस्थाता विधाता त्वं देवदेवः सतां गतिः

saṅgītajñastvamevāsi vedavijñaḥ paraḥ prabhuḥ sarvasthātā vidhātā tvaṁ devadevaḥ satāṁ gatiḥ

You alone are the knower of music, the supreme Lord versed in the Vedas; you are the sustainer of all, the ordainer, the god of gods, the refuge of the virtuous.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.124.22)

भवानीनन्दनः शम्भुतनयो वयुनः स्वराट् । ध्याता ध्येयः पितॄणां हि पिता योनिः सदात्मनाम्

bhavānīnandanaḥ śambhutanayo vayunaḥ svarāṭ dhyātā dhyeyaḥ pitṝṇāṁ hi pitā yoniḥ sadātmanām

Delight of Bhavani, son of Shambhu, wise, self-ruling; both the meditator and the object of meditation; the father even of the ancestors, the very source of all eternal souls.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.124.23)

ब्रह्मोवाच इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य देवसम्राट् शिवात्मजः । स्वगणं वीरबाह्वाख्यं प्रेषयामास तत्कृते

brahmovāca ityākarṇya vacastasya devasamrāṭ śivātmajaḥ svagaṇaṁ vīrabāhvākhyaṁ preṣayāmāsa tatkṛte

Brahma said: Hearing his words, the king of the gods, the son of Shiva, sent his own gana named Virabahu for that purpose.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.124.24)

तदाज्ञया वीरबाहुस्तदन्वेषणहेतवे । प्रणम्य स्वामिनं भक्त्या महावीरो द्रुतं ययौ

tadājñayā vīrabāhustadanveṣaṇahetave praṇamya svāminaṁ bhaktyā mahāvīro drutaṁ yayau

By that command, the great hero Virabahu, bowing to his lord with devotion, went swiftly forth to search for it.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.124.25)

अन्वेषणं चकारासौ सर्वब्रह्माण्डगोलके । न प्राप तमजं कुत्र शुश्राव तदुपद्रवम्

anveṣaṇaṁ cakārāsau sarvabrahmāṇḍagolake na prāpa tamajaṁ kutra śuśrāva tadupadravam

He searched throughout the entire sphere of the universe; he did not find that goat anywhere, until at last he heard of its mischief.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.124.26)

जगामाऽथ स वैकुण्ठं तत्राऽजं प्रददर्श तम् । उपद्रवं प्रकुर्वन्तं गलयूपं महाबलम्

jagāmā'tha sa vaikuṇṭhaṁ tatrā'jaṁ pradadarśa tam upadravaṁ prakurvantaṁ galayūpaṁ mahābalam

He then went to Vaikuntha, and there he saw that mighty, powerful goat, wreaking havoc with the sacrificial post still bound to its neck.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.124.27)

धृत्वा तं शृङ्गयोर्वीरो धर्षयित्वातिवेगतः । आनिनाय स्वामिपुरो विकुर्वन्तं रवं बहु

dhṛtvā taṁ śṛṅgayorvīro dharṣayitvātivegataḥ ānināya svāmipuro vikurvantaṁ ravaṁ bahu

Seizing it by its horns, the hero, overpowering it with great speed, brought it before his lord, though it bellowed loudly in resistance.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.124.28)

दृष्ट्वा तं कार्त्तिकस्सोऽरमारुरोह स तं प्रभुः । धृतब्रह्माण्डगरिमा महासूतिकरो गुहः

dṛṣṭvā taṁ kārttikasso'ramāruroha sa taṁ prabhuḥ dhṛtabrahmāṇḍagarimā mahāsūtikaro guhaḥ

Seeing it, Kartika, that Lord who bears the weight of the whole universe, Guha the worker of great wonders, promptly mounted upon it.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.124.29)

मुहूर्तमात्रतस्सोऽजो ब्रह्माण्डं सकलं मुने । बभ्राम श्रम एवाशु पुनस्तत्स्थानमागतः

muhūrtamātratasso'jo brahmāṇḍaṁ sakalaṁ mune babhrāma śrama evāśu punastatsthānamāgataḥ

In the space of a mere moment, O sage, that goat wandered through the entire universe, and then, quickly, exhausted, it returned again to its own place.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.124.30)

तत उत्तीर्य स स्वामी समुवास स्वमासनम् । सोऽजः स्थितस्तु तत्रैव स नारद उवाच तम्

tata uttīrya sa svāmī samuvāsa svamāsanam so'jaḥ sthitastu tatraiva sa nārada uvāca tam

Then, dismounting, that Lord sat upon his own seat; the goat remained standing right there, and that Narada spoke to him.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.124.31)

नारद उवाच नमस्ते देव देवेश देहि मेऽजं कृपानिधे । कुर्यामध्वरमानन्दात्सखायं कुरु मामहो

nārada uvāca namaste deva deveśa dehi me'jaṁ kṛpānidhe kuryāmadhvaramānandātsakhāyaṁ kuru māmaho

Narada said: Salutation to you, O god, lord of gods! O treasury of compassion, give me my goat, that I may perform the sacrifice with joy. O wondrous Lord, make me your friend!

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.124.32)

कार्त्तिक उवाच वधयोग्यो न विप्राऽजः स्वगृहं गच्छ नारद । पूर्णोऽस्तु तेऽध्वरः सर्वः प्रसादादेव मे कृतः

kārttika uvāca vadhayogyo na viprā'jaḥ svagṛhaṁ gaccha nārada pūrṇo'stu te'dhvaraḥ sarvaḥ prasādādeva me kṛtaḥ

Kartika said: O brahmin, this goat is not fit to be slain; go home, Narada. Consider your entire sacrifice already complete, accomplished by my own grace.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.124.33)

ब्रह्मोवाच इत्याकर्ण्य द्विजःस्वामी वचनं प्रीतमानसः । जगाम स्वालयं दत्त्वा तस्मा आशिषमुत्तमाम्

brahmovāca ityākarṇya dvijaḥsvāmī vacanaṁ prītamānasaḥ jagāma svālayaṁ dattvā tasmā āśiṣamuttamām

Brahma said: Hearing the Lord's words, the brahmin, his heart pleased, went to his own home, having received an excellent blessing from him.