The Severing of Ganesha's Head

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.134.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच इति श्रुत्वा महेशानो भक्तानुग्रहकारकः । त्वद्वाचा युदकामोऽभूत्तेन बालेन नारद

brahmovāca iti śrutvā maheśāno bhaktānugrahakārakaḥ tvadvācā yudakāmo'bhūttena bālena nārada

Brahma said: O Narada, hearing this, Maheshana [Shiva], the bestower of grace upon his devotees, became eager for battle on account of that boy.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.134.2)

विष्णुमाहूय सम्मन्त्र्य बलेन महता युतः । सामरः सम्मुखस्तस्याप्यभूद्देवस्त्रिलोचनः

viṣṇumāhūya sammantrya balena mahatā yutaḥ sāmaraḥ sammukhastasyāpyabhūddevastrilocanaḥ

Having summoned Vishnu and taken counsel with him, the three-eyed god, together with a great army of the immortals, advanced to confront him.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.134.3)

देवाश्च युयुधुस्तेन स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्बुजम् । महाबला महोत्साहाश्शिवसद्दृष्टिलोकिताः

devāśca yuyudhustena smṛtvā śivapadāmbujam mahābalā mahotsāhāśśivasaddṛṣṭilokitāḥ

And the gods, of great strength and great zeal, remembering Shiva's lotus feet and beheld by his own auspicious gaze, fought with him.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.134.4)

युयुधेऽथ हरिस्तेन महाबलपराक्रमः । महादेव्यायुधो वीरः प्रवणः शिवरूपकः

yuyudhe'tha haristena mahābalaparākramaḥ mahādevyāyudho vīraḥ pravaṇaḥ śivarūpakaḥ

Then Hari, of great strength and valor, whose weapon was granted by Mahadevi, a hero devoted to Shiva and himself of Shiva-like form, fought with him.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.134.5)

यष्ट्या गणाधिपः सोऽथ जघानामरपुङ्गवान् । हरिं च सहसा वीरः शक्तिदत्तमहाबलः

yaṣṭyā gaṇādhipaḥ so'tha jaghānāmarapuṅgavān hariṁ ca sahasā vīraḥ śaktidattamahābalaḥ

Then that lord of the ganas, with his staff, struck down the foremost of the immortals; and that hero, his great strength granted by Shakti, struck Hari as well at once.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.134.6)

सर्वेऽमरगणास्तत्र विकुण्ठितबला मुने । अभूवन् विष्णुना तेन हता यष्ट्या पराङ्मुखाः

sarve'maragaṇāstatra vikuṇṭhitabalā mune abhūvan viṣṇunā tena hatā yaṣṭyā parāṅmukhāḥ

O sage, all the hosts of immortals there had their strength checked; and Vishnu too, struck by his staff, turned away in retreat.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.134.7)

शिवोऽपि सह सैन्येन युद्धं कृत्वा चिरं मुने । विकरालं च तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं परमं गतः

śivo'pi saha sainyena yuddhaṁ kṛtvā ciraṁ mune vikarālaṁ ca taṁ dṛṣṭvā vismayaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ

Shiva too, O sage, having fought long together with his army, and seeing him so terrible, was filled with the greatest astonishment.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.134.8)

छलेनैव च हन्तव्यो नान्यथा हन्यते पुनः । इति बुद्धिं समास्थाय सैन्यमध्ये व्यवस्थितः

chalenaiva ca hantavyo nānyathā hanyate punaḥ iti buddhiṁ samāsthāya sainyamadhye vyavasthitaḥ

'He can only be slain by a stratagem, not otherwise can he be struck down' — resolving thus in his mind, he took up a position in the midst of the army.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.134.9)

शिवे दृष्टे तदा देवे निर्गुणे गुणरूपिणि । विष्णौ चैवाथ सङ्ग्रामे आयाते सर्वदेवताः

śive dṛṣṭe tadā deve nirguṇe guṇarūpiṇi viṣṇau caivātha saṅgrāme āyāte sarvadevatāḥ

When Shiva — beyond all qualities yet manifest in form through his own qualities — was thus beheld, and Vishnu too had come to that battle, then all the deities—

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.134.10)

गणाश्चैव महेशस्य महाहर्षं तदा ययुः । सर्वे परस्परं प्रीत्या मिलित्वा चक्रुरुत्सवम्

gaṇāścaiva maheśasya mahāharṣaṁ tadā yayuḥ sarve parasparaṁ prītyā militvā cakrurutsavam

—and Mahesha's own ganas as well were filled then with great joy; all of them, meeting together in mutual affection, made festive celebration.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.134.11)

अथ शक्तिसुतो वीरो वीरगत्या स्वयष्टितः । प्रथमं पूजयामास विष्णुं सर्वसुखावहम्

atha śaktisuto vīro vīragatyā svayaṣṭitaḥ prathamaṁ pūjayāmāsa viṣṇuṁ sarvasukhāvaham

Then the hero, son of Shakti, advancing with a heroic gait, staff in hand, first paid homage to Vishnu, the bestower of all happiness.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.134.12)

अहं च मोहयिष्यामि हन्यतां च त्वया विभो । छलं विना न वध्योऽयं तामसोऽयं दुरासदः

ahaṁ ca mohayiṣyāmi hanyatāṁ ca tvayā vibho chalaṁ vinā na vadhyo'yaṁ tāmaso'yaṁ durāsadaḥ

[Shiva said:] 'I shall delude him, and let him be slain by you, O Lord; without a stratagem this dark and unassailable one cannot be killed.'

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.134.13)

इति कृत्वा मतिं तत्र सुसम्मन्त्र्य च शम्भुना । आज्ञां प्राप्याऽभवच्छैवीं विष्णुर्मोहपरायणः

iti kṛtvā matiṁ tatra susammantrya ca śambhunā ājñāṁ prāpyā'bhavacchaivīṁ viṣṇurmohaparāyaṇaḥ

Having thus resolved, and having taken counsel well with Shambhu, Vishnu, upon receiving his command, became intent upon working delusion.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.134.14)

शक्तिद्वयं तथा लीनं हरिं दृष्ट्वा तथाविधम् । दत्त्वा शक्तिबलं तस्मै गणेशायाभवन्मुने

śaktidvayaṁ tathā līnaṁ hariṁ dṛṣṭvā tathāvidham dattvā śaktibalaṁ tasmai gaṇeśāyābhavanmune

Seeing Hari thus merged with his two Shaktis, O sage, Shiva granted the power of his own Shakti to Ganesha as well.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.134.15)

शक्तिद्वयेऽथ संलीने यत्र विष्णुः स्थितः स्वयम् । परिघं क्षिप्तवांस्तत्र गणेशो बलवत्तरः

śaktidvaye'tha saṁlīne yatra viṣṇuḥ sthitaḥ svayam parighaṁ kṣiptavāṁstatra gaṇeśo balavattaraḥ

Then, toward the spot where Vishnu himself stood merged with those two Shaktis, Ganesha, grown yet mightier, hurled his iron mace.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.134.16)

कृत्वा यत्नं किमप्यत्र वञ्चयामास तद्गतिम् । शिवं स्मृत्वा महेशानं स्वप्रभुं भक्तवत्सलम्

kṛtvā yatnaṁ kimapyatra vañcayāmāsa tadgatim śivaṁ smṛtvā maheśānaṁ svaprabhuṁ bhaktavatsalam

Making some effort there, he evaded its course, remembering Shiva Maheshana, his own Lord, ever affectionate to his devotees.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.134.17)

एकतस्तन्मुखं दृष्ट्वा शङ्करोऽप्याजगाम ह । स्वत्रिशूलं समादाय सुक्रुद्धो युद्धकाम्यया

ekatastanmukhaṁ dṛṣṭvā śaṅkaro'pyājagāma ha svatriśūlaṁ samādāya sukruddho yuddhakāmyayā

Seeing his face turned aside, Shankara too then came forward, taking up his own trident, greatly enraged and eager for battle.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.134.18)

स ददर्शागतं शम्भुं शूलहस्तं महेश्वरम् । हन्तुकामं निजं वीरः शिवापुत्रो महाबलः

sa dadarśāgataṁ śambhuṁ śūlahastaṁ maheśvaram hantukāmaṁ nijaṁ vīraḥ śivāputro mahābalaḥ

That mighty hero, the son of Shiva's own consort, saw the great Lord Shambhu approaching, trident in hand, intent upon slaying him.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.134.19)

शक्त्या जघान तं हस्ते स्मृत्वा मातृपदाम्बुजम् । स गणशो महावीरः शिवशक्तिप्रवर्द्धितः

śaktyā jaghāna taṁ haste smṛtvā mātṛpadāmbujam sa gaṇaśo mahāvīraḥ śivaśaktipravarddhitaḥ

That great hero Ganesha, empowered by Shiva's own Shakti, remembering his mother's lotus feet, struck him on the hand with his spear.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.134.20)

त्रिशूलं पतितं हस्ताच्छिवस्य परमात्मनः । दृष्ट्वा सदूतिकस्तं वै पिनाकं धनुराददे

triśūlaṁ patitaṁ hastācchivasya paramātmanaḥ dṛṣṭvā sadūtikastaṁ vai pinākaṁ dhanurādade

Seeing the trident fallen from the hand of Shiva, the Supreme Self, he at once took up the bow Pinaka.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.134.21)

तमप्यपातयद्भूमौ परिघेण गणेश्वरः । हताः पञ्च तथा हस्ताः पञ्चभिश्शूलमाददे

tamapyapātayadbhūmau parigheṇa gaṇeśvaraḥ hatāḥ pañca tathā hastāḥ pañcabhiśśūlamādade

Ganeshvara struck that bow down to the ground too with his mace; five of his hands were struck, and with the remaining five he took up the trident again.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.134.22)

अहो दुःखतरं नूनं सञ्जातमधुना मम । भवेत्पुनर्गणानां किं भवाचारो जगाविति

aho duḥkhataraṁ nūnaṁ sañjātamadhunā mama bhavetpunargaṇānāṁ kiṁ bhavācāro jagāviti

'Ah, truly a greater sorrow has now come upon me! What indeed will become of the conduct of the ganas now?' — so he said.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.134.23)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वीरः परिघेण गणेश्वरः । जघान सगणान् देवान् शक्तिदत्तबलान्वितः

etasminnantare vīraḥ parigheṇa gaṇeśvaraḥ jaghāna sagaṇān devān śaktidattabalānvitaḥ

Meanwhile the heroic Ganeshvara, endowed with the strength granted by Shakti, struck down the gods together with their hosts with his mace.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.134.24)

गता दशदिशो देवाः सगणाः परिघार्दिताः । न तस्थुःसमरे केऽपि तेनाद्भुतप्रहारिणा

gatā daśadiśo devāḥ sagaṇāḥ parighārditāḥ na tasthuḥsamare ke'pi tenādbhutaprahāriṇā

Tormented by the mace, the gods together with their hosts fled in all ten directions; none could stand their ground before that wondrous striker.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.134.25)

विष्णुस्तं च गणं दृष्ट्वा धन्योऽयमिति चाब्रवीत् । महाबलो महावीरो महाशूरो रणप्रियः

viṣṇustaṁ ca gaṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā dhanyo'yamiti cābravīt mahābalo mahāvīro mahāśūro raṇapriyaḥ

Seeing that Gana, Vishnu declared, 'Blessed indeed is he — of great strength, great heroism, great valor, and fond of battle.'

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.134.26)

बहवो देवताश्चैव मया दृष्टास्तथा पुनः । दानवा बहवो दैत्या यक्षगन्धर्वराक्षसाः

bahavo devatāścaiva mayā dṛṣṭāstathā punaḥ dānavā bahavo daityā yakṣagandharvarākṣasāḥ

'I have seen many gods, and again many danavas, daityas, yakshas, gandharvas, and rakshasas.'

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.134.27)

नैतेन गणनाथेन समतां यान्ति केऽपि च । त्रैलोक्येऽप्यखिले तेजो रूपशौर्यगुणादिभिः

naitena gaṇanāthena samatāṁ yānti ke'pi ca trailokye'pyakhile tejo rūpaśauryaguṇādibhiḥ

'But none in all the three worlds equal this Lord of the Ganas in radiance, form, valor, and such qualities.'

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.134.28)

एवं सम्ब्रुवतेऽमुष्मै परिघं भ्रामयन् स च । चिक्षेप विष्णवे तत्र शक्तिपुत्रो गणेश्वरः

evaṁ sambruvate'muṣmai parighaṁ bhrāmayan sa ca cikṣepa viṣṇave tatra śaktiputro gaṇeśvaraḥ

As he spoke thus, Ganeshvara, the son of Shakti, whirling his mace, hurled it at Vishnu.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.134.29)

चक्रं गृहीत्वा हरिणा स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्बुजम् । तेन चक्रेण परिघो द्रुतं खण्डीकृतस्तदा

cakraṁ gṛhītvā hariṇā smṛtvā śivapadāmbujam tena cakreṇa parigho drutaṁ khaṇḍīkṛtastadā

Hari, remembering Shiva's lotus feet, took up his discus, and with that discus the mace was instantly shattered to pieces.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.134.30)

खण्डं तु परिघस्यापि हरये प्राक्षिपद्गणः । गृहीत्वा गरुडेनापि पक्षिणा विफलीकृतः

khaṇḍaṁ tu parighasyāpi haraye prākṣipadgaṇaḥ gṛhītvā garuḍenāpi pakṣiṇā viphalīkṛtaḥ

The Gana then hurled a fragment of the mace at Hari as well, but the bird Garuda seized it and rendered it futile.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.134.31)

एवं विचरितं कालं महावीरावुभावपि । विष्णुश्चापि गणश्चैव युयुधाते परस्परम्

evaṁ vicaritaṁ kālaṁ mahāvīrāvubhāvapi viṣṇuścāpi gaṇaścaiva yuyudhāte parasparam

Thus the two great heroes, Vishnu and the Gana, fought against each other for a long span of time.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.134.32)

पुनर्वीरवरः शक्तिसुतःस्मृतशिवो बली । गृहीत्वा यष्टिमतुलां तया विष्णुं जघान ह

punarvīravaraḥ śaktisutaḥsmṛtaśivo balī gṛhītvā yaṣṭimatulāṁ tayā viṣṇuṁ jaghāna ha

Again that foremost hero, the mighty son of Shakti, calling Shiva to mind, took up his matchless staff and struck Vishnu with it.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.134.33)

अविषह्य प्रहारं तं स भूमौ निपपात ह । द्रुतमुत्थाय युयुधे शिवापुत्रेण तेन वै

aviṣahya prahāraṁ taṁ sa bhūmau nipapāta ha drutamutthāya yuyudhe śivāputreṇa tena vai

Unable to bear that blow, he fell to the ground; but rising up at once, he fought again with that son of Shiva.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.134.34)

एतदन्तरमासाद्य शूलपाणिस्तथोत्तरे । आगत्य च त्रिशूलेन तच्छिरो निरकृन्तत

etadantaramāsādya śūlapāṇistathottare āgatya ca triśūlena tacchiro nirakṛntata

Seizing this opportunity, the trident-bearer, coming from behind, severed his head with his trident.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.134.35)

छिन्ने शिरसि तस्यैव गणनाथस्य नारद । गणसैन्यं देवसैन्यमभवच्च सुनिश्चलम्

chinne śirasi tasyaiva gaṇanāthasya nārada gaṇasainyaṁ devasainyamabhavacca suniścalam

O Narada, when the head of that lord of the ganas was severed, both the army of the ganas and the army of the gods stood utterly still, stunned.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.134.36)

नारदेन त्वयाऽऽगत्य देव्यै सर्वं निवेदितम् । मानिनि श्रूयतां मानस्त्याज्यो नैव त्वयाधुना

nāradena tvayā''gatya devyai sarvaṁ niveditam mānini śrūyatāṁ mānastyājyo naiva tvayādhunā

You, Narada, went there and reported everything to the Goddess: 'O proud one, listen — you need not give up your indignation now.'

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.134.37)

इत्युक्त्वाऽन्तर्हितस्तत्र नारद त्वं कलिप्रियः । अविकारी सदा शम्भुर्मनोगतिकरो मुनिः

ityuktvā'ntarhitastatra nārada tvaṁ kalipriyaḥ avikārī sadā śambhurmanogatikaro muniḥ

Having said this, you, O Narada, fond of mischief, vanished from there — ever swift as thought in your movements; while Shambhu himself remains ever unchanging.