The Description of Tripura

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.139.1)

नारद उवाच । श्रुतमस्माभिरानन्दप्रदं चरितमुत्तमम् । गृहस्थस्यैव शम्भोश्च गणस्कन्दादिसत्कथम्

nārada uvāca śrutamasmābhirānandapradaṁ caritamuttamam gṛhasthasyaiva śambhośca gaṇaskandādisatkatham

Narada said: "We have heard the joy-giving, most excellent account of Shambhu as a householder, and the true stories of Ganesha, Skanda, and the others."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.139.2)

इदानीं ब्रूहि सुप्रीत्या चरितं वरमुत्तमम् । शङ्करो हि यथा रुद्रो जघान विहरन् खलान्

idānīṁ brūhi suprītyā caritaṁ varamuttamam śaṅkaro hi yathā rudro jaghāna viharan khalān

"Now tell us with delight that most excellent tale — how Shankara, as Rudra, slew the wicked while at his sport."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.139.3)

कथं ददाह भगवान्नगराणि सुरद्विषाम् । त्रीण्येकेन च बाणेन युगपत्केन वीर्यवान्

kathaṁ dadāha bhagavānnagarāṇi suradviṣām trīṇyekena ca bāṇena yugapatkena vīryavān

"How did the Lord burn the cities of the gods' enemies — by what valor did he consume all three at once with a single arrow?"

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.139.4)

एतत्सर्वं समाचक्ष्व चरितं शशिमौलिनः । देवर्षिसुखदं शश्वन्मायाविहरतः प्रभोः

etatsarvaṁ samācakṣva caritaṁ śaśimaulinaḥ devarṣisukhadaṁ śaśvanmāyāviharataḥ prabhoḥ

"Tell us this whole account of the moon-crested Lord — the deed that ever delights gods and sages, of him who plays eternally through his maya."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.139.5)

ब्रह्मोवाच । एवमेतत्पुरा पृष्टो व्यासेन ऋषिसत्तम । सनत्कुमारं प्रोवाच तदेव कथयाम्यहम्

brahmovāca evametatpurā pṛṣṭo vyāsena ṛṣisattama sanatkumāraṁ provāca tadeva kathayāmyaham

Brahma said: "Just so, O best of sages, was I once asked by Vyasa; and it was Sanatkumara who told it to him. That very account I now relate."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.139.6)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणु व्यास महाप्राज्ञ चरितं शशिमौलिनः । यथा ददाह त्रिपुरं बाणेनैकेन विश्वहृत्

sanatkumāra uvāca śṛṇu vyāsa mahāprājña caritaṁ śaśimaulinaḥ yathā dadāha tripuraṁ bāṇenaikena viśvahṛt

Sanatkumara said: "Listen, O greatly wise Vyasa, to the account of the moon-crested one — how the ravisher of the universe burned Tripura with a single arrow."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.139.7)

शिवात्मजेन स्कन्देन निहते तारकासुरे । तत्पुत्रास्तु त्रयो दैत्याः पर्यतप्यन्मुनीश्वर

śivātmajena skandena nihate tārakāsure tatputrāstu trayo daityāḥ paryatapyanmunīśvara

When the demon Taraka was slain by Skanda, Shiva's son, his three sons, the daityas, O lord of sages, were consumed with grief.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.139.8)

तारकाक्षस्तु तज्ज्येष्ठो विद्युन्माली च मध्यमः । कमलाक्षः कनीयांश्च सर्वे तुल्यबलाः सदा

tārakākṣastu tajjyeṣṭho vidyunmālī ca madhyamaḥ kamalākṣaḥ kanīyāṁśca sarve tulyabalāḥ sadā

Tarakaksha was the eldest of them, Vidyunmali the middle, and Kamalaksha the youngest — all three ever equal in strength.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.139.9)

जितेन्द्रियाः सुसन्नद्धाः संयताः सत्यवादिनः । दृढचित्ता महावीरा देवद्रोहिण एव च

jitendriyāḥ susannaddhāḥ saṁyatāḥ satyavādinaḥ dṛḍhacittā mahāvīrā devadrohiṇa eva ca

They were masters of their senses, well-disciplined, self-controlled, truthful, firm of mind, mighty heroes — and ever the enemies of the gods.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.139.10)

ते तु मेरुगुहां गत्वा तपश्चक्रुर्महाद्भुतम् । त्रयः सर्वान्सुभोगांश्च विहाय सुमनोहरान्

te tu meruguhāṁ gatvā tapaścakrurmahādbhutam trayaḥ sarvānsubhogāṁśca vihāya sumanoharān

Going to a cave on Mount Meru, the three of them performed a most wondrous austerity, having abandoned all their beautiful, pleasant enjoyments.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.139.11)

वसन्ते सर्वकामांश्च गीतवादित्रनिस्स्वनम् । विहाय सोत्सवं तेपुस्त्रयस्ते तारकात्मजाः

vasante sarvakāmāṁśca gītavāditranissvanam vihāya sotsavaṁ tepustrayaste tārakātmajāḥ

In spring, giving up every desire, the sound of song and music, and all festivity, the three sons of Taraka performed austerity.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.139.12)

ग्रीष्मे सूर्यप्रभां जित्वा दिक्षु प्रज्वाल्य पावकम् । तन्मध्यसंस्थाः सिद्ध्यर्थं जुहुवुर्हव्यमादरात्

grīṣme sūryaprabhāṁ jitvā dikṣu prajvālya pāvakam tanmadhyasaṁsthāḥ siddhyarthaṁ juhuvurhavyamādarāt

In summer, having conquered even the sun's blazing radiance, they kindled fire in the four directions and, standing in its midst, offered oblations with reverence for the sake of accomplishment.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.139.13)

महाप्रतापपतिताःसर्वेऽप्यासन् सुमूर्च्छिताः । वर्षासु गतसन्त्रासा वृष्टिं मूर्द्धन्यधारयन्

mahāpratāpapatitāḥsarve'pyāsan sumūrcchitāḥ varṣāsu gatasantrāsā vṛṣṭiṁ mūrddhanyadhārayan

Overcome by that great heat they all fell into a swoon; and in the monsoon, their fear gone, they bore the falling rain upon their heads.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.139.14)

शरत्काले प्रभूतं तु भोजनं तु बुभुक्षिताः । रम्यं स्निग्धं स्थिरं हृद्यं फलं मूलमनुत्तमम्

śaratkāle prabhūtaṁ tu bhojanaṁ tu bubhukṣitāḥ ramyaṁ snigdhaṁ sthiraṁ hṛdyaṁ phalaṁ mūlamanuttamam

In autumn, though hungry, they took only pleasant, wholesome, sustaining and delightful food — the finest of fruits and roots.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.139.15)

संयमात्क्षुत्तृषो जित्वा पानान्युच्चावचान्यपि । बुभुक्षितेभ्यो दत्त्वा तु बभूवुरुपला इव

saṁyamātkṣuttṛṣo jitvā pānānyuccāvacānyapi bubhukṣitebhyo dattvā tu babhūvurupalā iva

By self-restraint they conquered hunger and thirst; whatever food or drink came to them they gave away to the hungry, and remained themselves as still as stones.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.139.16)

संस्थितास्ते महात्मानो निराधाराश्चतुर्दिशम् । हेमन्ते गिरिमाश्रित्य धैर्येण परमेण तु

saṁsthitāste mahātmāno nirādhārāścaturdiśam hemante girimāśritya dhairyeṇa parameṇa tu

Those great souls stood without support in all four directions; in the winter they took refuge on the mountain, sustained by supreme fortitude.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.139.17)

तुषारदेहसञ्छन्ना जलक्लिन्नेन वाससा । आसाद्य देहं क्षौमेण शिशिरे तोयमध्यगाः

tuṣāradehasañchannā jalaklinnena vāsasā āsādya dehaṁ kṣaumeṇa śiśire toyamadhyagāḥ

Their bodies covered with frost, their garments soaked with water, in the deep-winter cold they stood immersed in water, wearing only thin linen.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.139.18)

अनिर्विण्णास्ततःसर्वे क्रमशोऽवर्द्धयंस्तपः । तेपुस्त्रयस्ते तत्पुत्रा विधिमुद्दिश्य सत्तमाः

anirviṇṇāstataḥsarve kramaśo'varddhayaṁstapaḥ tepustrayaste tatputrā vidhimuddiśya sattamāḥ

Undespairing, all of them gradually increased their austerity; those three virtuous sons practiced it with Brahma as their object.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.139.19)

तप उग्रं समास्थाय नियमे परमे स्थिताः । तपसा कर्षयामासुर्देहान् स्वान् दानवोत्तमाः

tapa ugraṁ samāsthāya niyame parame sthitāḥ tapasā karṣayāmāsurdehān svān dānavottamāḥ

Undertaking fierce austerity, established in the highest discipline, those foremost of demons wasted away their own bodies through tapas.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.139.20)

वर्षाणां शतकं चैव पदमेकं निधाय च । भूमौ स्थित्वा परं तत्र तेपुस्ते बलवत्तराः

varṣāṇāṁ śatakaṁ caiva padamekaṁ nidhāya ca bhūmau sthitvā paraṁ tatra tepuste balavattarāḥ

For a hundred years, standing on a single foot placed upon the ground, those mighty ones practiced the utmost austerity.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.139.21)

ते सहस्रं तु वर्षाणां वातभक्षाः सुदारुणाः । तपस्तेपुर्दुरात्मानः परं तापमुपागताः

te sahasraṁ tu varṣāṇāṁ vātabhakṣāḥ sudāruṇāḥ tapastepurdurātmānaḥ paraṁ tāpamupāgatāḥ

For a thousand years those terrible, evil-souled ones lived on air alone and practiced austerity, reaching the utmost degree of torment.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.139.22)

वर्षाणां तु सहस्रं वै मस्तकेनास्थितास्तथा । वर्षाणां तु शतेनैव ऊर्ध्वबाहव आस्थिताः

varṣāṇāṁ tu sahasraṁ vai mastakenāsthitāstathā varṣāṇāṁ tu śatenaiva ūrdhvabāhava āsthitāḥ

For a thousand years they stood balanced upon their heads; and for a hundred years they stood with arms raised upward.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.139.23)

एवं दुःखं परं प्राप्ता दुराग्रहपरा इमे । ईदृक् ते संस्थिता दैत्या दिवारात्रमतन्द्रिता

evaṁ duḥkhaṁ paraṁ prāptā durāgrahaparā ime īdṛk te saṁsthitā daityā divārātramatandritā

Thus, given over to their stubborn resolve, these daityas attained the utmost suffering; so they remained, tireless, day and night.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.139.24)

एवं तेषां गतः कालो महान् सुतपतां मुने । ब्रह्मात्मनां तारकाणां धर्मेणेति मतिर्मम

evaṁ teṣāṁ gataḥ kālo mahān sutapatāṁ mune brahmātmanāṁ tārakāṇāṁ dharmeṇeti matirmama

Thus, O sage, a great span of time passed for those sons of Taraka as they practiced excellent austerity, their minds fixed on Brahma with righteous intent — such is my understanding.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.139.25)

प्रादुरासीत्ततो ब्रह्मा सुरासुरगुरुर्महान् । सन्तुष्टस्तपसा तेषां वरं दातुं महायशाः

prādurāsīttato brahmā surāsuragururmahān santuṣṭastapasā teṣāṁ varaṁ dātuṁ mahāyaśāḥ

Then Brahma, the great and illustrious preceptor of gods and demons, appeared, pleased by their austerity, to grant them a boon.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.139.26)

मुनिदेवासुरैः सार्द्धं सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वचः । ततस्तानब्रवीत्सर्वान् सर्वभूतपितामहः

munidevāsuraiḥ sārddhaṁ sāntvapūrvamidaṁ vacaḥ tatastānabravītsarvān sarvabhūtapitāmahaḥ

Accompanied by sages, gods and demons, the grandsire of all beings then spoke these conciliatory words to them.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.139.27)

ब्रह्मोवाच । प्रसन्नोऽस्मि महादैत्या युष्माकं तपसा मुने । सर्वं दास्यामि युष्मभ्यं वरं ब्रूत यदीप्सितम्

brahmovāca prasanno'smi mahādaityā yuṣmākaṁ tapasā mune sarvaṁ dāsyāmi yuṣmabhyaṁ varaṁ brūta yadīpsitam

Brahma said: "O great daityas, sages, I am pleased by your austerity; ask whatever boon you desire — I shall grant you everything."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.139.28)

किमर्थं सुतपस्तप्तं कथयध्वं सुरद्विषः । सर्वेषां तपसो दाता सर्वकर्तास्मि सर्वदा

kimarthaṁ sutapastaptaṁ kathayadhvaṁ suradviṣaḥ sarveṣāṁ tapaso dātā sarvakartāsmi sarvadā

"Tell me, O enemies of the gods, for what purpose this excellent austerity was performed — I am ever the giver of the fruit of all austerity, the doer of all things."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.139.29)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शनैस्ते स्वात्मनो गतम् । ऊचुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे प्रणिपत्य पितामहम्

sanatkumāra uvāca tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā śanaiste svātmano gatam ūcuḥ prāñjalayaḥ sarve praṇipatya pitāmaham

Sanatkumara said: Hearing his words, they slowly recovered their composure, and all of them, with joined palms, bowed to the grandsire and spoke.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.139.30)

दैत्या ऊचुः । यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश यदि देयो वरस्त्वया । अवध्यत्वं च सर्वेषां सर्वभूतेषु देहिनः

daityā ūcuḥ yadi prasanno deveśa yadi deyo varastvayā avadhyatvaṁ ca sarveṣāṁ sarvabhūteṣu dehinaḥ

The daityas said: "O lord of gods, if you are pleased, and if a boon is to be given, grant that we be unslayable by any embodied being among all creatures."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.139.31)

स्थिरान् कुरु जगन्नाथ पान्तु नः परिपन्थिनः । जरारोगादयः सर्वे नास्मान्मृत्युरगात् क्वचित्

sthirān kuru jagannātha pāntu naḥ paripanthinaḥ jarārogādayaḥ sarve nāsmānmṛtyuragāt kvacit

"Make us steadfast, O lord of the world; let even our enemies come to protect us. Let old age and disease never touch us, and let death never approach us."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.139.32)

अजराश्चामराः सर्वे भवाम इति नो मतम् । समृत्यवः करिष्यामः सर्वानन्यांस्त्रिलोकके

ajarāścāmarāḥ sarve bhavāma iti no matam samṛtyavaḥ kariṣyāmaḥ sarvānanyāṁstrilokake

"Let us all become ageless and immortal — this is our wish; as for everyone else in the three worlds, we shall make them subject to death."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.139.33)

लक्ष्म्या किं तद्विपुलया किं कार्यं हि पुरोत्तमैः । अन्यैश्च विपुलैर्भोगैः स्थानैश्वर्येण वा पुनः

lakṣmyā kiṁ tadvipulayā kiṁ kāryaṁ hi purottamaiḥ anyaiśca vipulairbhogaiḥ sthānaiśvaryeṇa vā punaḥ

"What use is that abundant wealth, what purpose do excellent cities serve, or other manifold pleasures, or lordship over rich domains —"

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.139.34)

यत्रैव मृत्युना ग्रस्तो नियतं पञ्चभिर्दिनैः । व्यर्थं तस्याखिलं ब्रह्मन् निश्चितं न इतीव हि

yatraiva mṛtyunā grasto niyataṁ pañcabhirdinaiḥ vyarthaṁ tasyākhilaṁ brahman niścitaṁ na itīva hi

"— when, seized by death, one is certainly gone within a mere five days? O Brahman, all of that is truly useless — this is our firm conviction."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.139.35)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां दैत्यानां च तपस्विनाम् । प्रत्युवाच शिवं स्मृत्वा स्वप्रभुं गिरिशं विधिः

sanatkumāra uvāca iti śrutvā vacasteṣāṁ daityānāṁ ca tapasvinām pratyuvāca śivaṁ smṛtvā svaprabhuṁ giriśaṁ vidhiḥ

Sanatkumara said: Having heard these words of the ascetic daityas, Brahma, remembering Shiva, his own lord, the mountain-dweller, replied.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.139.36)

ब्रह्मोवाच । नास्ति सर्वामरत्वं च निवर्तध्वमतोऽसुराः । अन्यं वरं वृणीध्वं वै यादृशो वो हि रोचते

brahmovāca nāsti sarvāmaratvaṁ ca nivartadhvamato'surāḥ anyaṁ varaṁ vṛṇīdhvaṁ vai yādṛśo vo hi rocate

Brahma said: "Complete immortality is not possible; therefore desist from this, O asuras, and choose some other boon, whatever pleases you."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.139.37)

जातो हनिष्यते नूनं जन्तुः कोऽप्यसुराः क्वचित् । अजरश्चामरो लोके न भविष्यति भूतले

jāto haniṣyate nūnaṁ jantuḥ ko'pyasurāḥ kvacit ajaraścāmaro loke na bhaviṣyati bhūtale

"Whatever is born must certainly be slain by someone; no creature upon this earth can ever be ageless and immortal."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.139.38)

ऋते तु खण्डपरशोः कालकालाद्धरेस्तथा । तौ धर्माधर्मपरमावव्यक्तौ व्यक्तरूपिणौ

ṛte tu khaṇḍaparaśoḥ kālakālāddharestathā tau dharmādharmaparamāvavyaktau vyaktarūpiṇau

"Except for Shiva, wielder of the broken axe, and Hari who is death to Death itself — those two alone stand beyond both dharma and adharma, unmanifest yet appearing in manifest form."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.139.39)

सम्पीडनाय जगतो यदि स क्रियते तपः । सफलं तद्गतं वेद्यं तस्मात्सुविहितं तपः

sampīḍanāya jagato yadi sa kriyate tapaḥ saphalaṁ tadgataṁ vedyaṁ tasmātsuvihitaṁ tapaḥ

"If austerity is performed for the affliction of the world, know that its fruit accordingly follows the same measure; therefore let austerity be undertaken rightly."

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.139.40)

तद्विचार्य स्वयं बुद्ध्या न शक्यं यत्सुरासुरैः । दुर्लभं वा सुदुस्साध्यं मृत्युं वञ्चयतानघाः

tadvicārya svayaṁ buddhyā na śakyaṁ yatsurāsuraiḥ durlabhaṁ vā sudussādhyaṁ mṛtyuṁ vañcayatānaghāḥ

"Consider this well with your own wisdom: choose something impossible, rare, or extremely hard to achieve even for gods and demons — O sinless ones, by that alone may you outwit death."

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.139.41)

तत्किञ्चिन्मरणे हेतुं वृणीध्वं सत्त्वमाश्रिताः । येन मृत्युर्नैव वृतो रक्षतस्तत्पृथक् पृथक्

tatkiñcinmaraṇe hetuṁ vṛṇīdhvaṁ sattvamāśritāḥ yena mṛtyurnaiva vṛto rakṣatastatpṛthak pṛthak

"Therefore, relying on your own strength, choose some particular condition as the cause of your death — one not directly chosen as death itself — and each of you guard that condition with the utmost care."

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.139.42)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एतद्विधिवचः श्रुत्वा मुहूर्त्तं ध्यानमास्थिताः । प्रोचुस्ते चिन्तयित्वाथ सर्वलोकपितामहम्

sanatkumāra uvāca etadvidhivacaḥ śrutvā muhūrttaṁ dhyānamāsthitāḥ procuste cintayitvātha sarvalokapitāmaham

Sanatkumara said: Hearing these words of Brahma, they fell into meditation for a moment; then, having reflected, they spoke to the grandsire of all worlds.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.139.43)

दैत्या ऊचुः । भगवन्नास्ति नो वेश्म पराक्रमवतामपि । अधृष्याः शात्रवानां तु यन्न वत्स्यामहे सुखम्

daityā ūcuḥ bhagavannāsti no veśma parākramavatāmapi adhṛṣyāḥ śātravānāṁ tu yanna vatsyāmahe sukham

The daityas said: "O Lord, though we are mighty, we have no dwelling in which, unassailable by our enemies, we might live in comfort."

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.139.44)

पुराणि त्रीणि नो देहि निर्मायात्यद्भुतानि हि । सर्वसम्पत्समृद्धान्यप्रधृष्याणि दिवौकसाम्

purāṇi trīṇi no dehi nirmāyātyadbhutāni hi sarvasampatsamṛddhānyapradhṛṣyāṇi divaukasām

"Grant us three cities — built to be wondrous, replete with every prosperity, and unassailable even by the dwellers of heaven."

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.139.45)

वयं पुराणि त्रीण्येवं समास्थाय महीमिमाम् । चरिष्यामो हि लोकेश त्वत्प्रसादाज्जगद्गुरो

vayaṁ purāṇi trīṇyevaṁ samāsthāya mahīmimām cariṣyāmo hi lokeśa tvatprasādājjagadguro

"Established in these three cities, O lord of the worlds, teacher of the universe, we shall roam this earth by your grace."

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.139.46)

तारकाक्षस्ततः प्राह यदभेद्यं सुरैरपि । करोति विश्वकर्मा तन्मम हेममयं पुरम्

tārakākṣastataḥ prāha yadabhedyaṁ surairapi karoti viśvakarmā tanmama hemamayaṁ puram

Then Tarakaksha said: "Let Vishvakarma build for me a golden city, impenetrable even by the gods."

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.139.47)

ययाचे कमलाक्षस्तु राजतं सुमहत्पुरम् । विद्युन्माली च संहृष्टो वज्रायसमयं महत्

yayāce kamalākṣastu rājataṁ sumahatpuram vidyunmālī ca saṁhṛṣṭo vajrāyasamayaṁ mahat

Kamalaksha asked for a vast city of silver, and Vidyunmali, greatly delighted, asked for a great city of adamantine iron.

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.139.48)

पुरेष्वेतेषु भो ब्रह्मन्नेकस्थानस्थितेषु च । मध्याह्नाभिजिते काले शीतांशौ पुष्य संस्थिते

pureṣveteṣu bho brahmannekasthānasthiteṣu ca madhyāhnābhijite kāle śītāṁśau puṣya saṁsthite

"O Brahman, when these three cities stand together in one place, at midday during the Abhijit hour, when the cool-rayed moon rests in Pushya —"

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.139.49)

उपर्युपर्यदृष्टेषु व्योम्नि लीलाभ्रसंस्थिते । वर्षत्सु कालमेघेषु पुष्करावर्तनामसु

uparyuparyadṛṣṭeṣu vyomni līlābhrasaṁsthite varṣatsu kālamegheṣu puṣkarāvartanāmasu

"— when they stand one above another, unseen, resting on sportive clouds in the sky, while the doomsday clouds called Pushkaravartaka pour down rain —"

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.139.50)

तथा वर्षसहस्रान्ते समेष्यामः परस्परम् । एकीभावं गमिष्यन्ति पुराण्येतानि नान्यथा

tathā varṣasahasrānte sameṣyāmaḥ parasparam ekībhāvaṁ gamiṣyanti purāṇyetāni nānyathā

"— then, at the end of a thousand years, when we come together and these three cities alone become one — only then, not otherwise, let our end come."

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.139.51)

सर्वदेवमयो देवः सर्वेषां मे कुहेलया । असम्भवे रथे तिष्ठन् सर्वोपस्करणान्विते

sarvadevamayo devaḥ sarveṣāṁ me kuhelayā asambhave rathe tiṣṭhan sarvopaskaraṇānvite

"[Only] some god embodying all the gods, appearing to us as if by illusion, standing in some impossible chariot fitted with every equipment —"

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.139.52)

असम्भाव्यैककाण्डेन भिनत्तु नगराणि नः । निर्वैरः कृत्तिवासास्तु योऽस्माकमिति नित्यशः

asambhāvyaikakāṇḍena bhinattu nagarāṇi naḥ nirvairaḥ kṛttivāsāstu yo'smākamiti nityaśaḥ

"— let him pierce our cities with a single, impossible arrow: one free of enmity, the hide-wearer Krittivasa, ever regarded as our very own."

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.139.53)

वन्द्यः पूज्योऽभिवाद्यश्च सोऽस्माकं निर्दहेत्कथम् । इति चेतसि सन्धाय तादृशो भुवि दुर्लभः

vandyaḥ pūjyo'bhivādyaśca so'smākaṁ nirdahetkatham iti cetasi sandhāya tādṛśo bhuvi durlabhaḥ

"How could one worthy of veneration, worship and salutation ever burn us down?" — fixing this thought in their hearts, they reasoned that such a being would be rare indeed upon the earth.

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.139.54)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । एवमस्त्विति तान् प्राह सृष्टिकर्ता स्मरन् शिवम्

sanatkumāra uvāca etacchrutvā vacasteṣāṁ brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ evamastviti tān prāha sṛṣṭikartā smaran śivam

Sanatkumara said: Having heard their words, Brahma, the creator and grandsire of the worlds, remembering Shiva, said to them, "So be it."

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.139.55)

आज्ञां ददौ मयस्यापि कुरु त्वं नगरत्रयम् । काञ्चनं राजतं चैव आयसं चेति भो मय

ājñāṁ dadau mayasyāpi kuru tvaṁ nagaratrayam kāñcanaṁ rājataṁ caiva āyasaṁ ceti bho maya

He commanded Maya: "O Maya, build the three cities — of gold, of silver, and of iron."

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.139.56)

इत्यादिश्य मयं ब्रह्मा प्रत्यक्षं प्राविशद्दिवम् । तेषां तारकपुत्राणां पश्यतां निजधाम हि

ityādiśya mayaṁ brahmā pratyakṣaṁ prāviśaddivam teṣāṁ tārakaputrāṇāṁ paśyatāṁ nijadhāma hi

Having thus instructed Maya, Brahma, before the very eyes of Taraka's sons, entered his own heavenly abode.

Verse 57 (shiva.rudra.139.57)

ततो मयश्च तपसा चक्रे धीरः पुराण्यथ । काञ्चनं तारकाक्षस्य कमलाक्षस्य राजतम्

tato mayaśca tapasā cakre dhīraḥ purāṇyatha kāñcanaṁ tārakākṣasya kamalākṣasya rājatam

Then the steadfast Maya, by his own power, built the cities — a golden one for Tarakaksha, a silver one for Kamalaksha,

Verse 58 (shiva.rudra.139.58)

विद्युन्माल्यायसं चैव त्रिविधं दुर्गमुत्तमम् । स्वर्गे व्योम्नि च भूमौ च क्रमाज्ज्ञेयानि तानि वै

vidyunmālyāyasaṁ caiva trividhaṁ durgamuttamam svarge vyomni ca bhūmau ca kramājjñeyāni tāni vai

and an iron one for Vidyunmali — three most excellent, well-fortified cities, understood to stand respectively in heaven, in the sky, and upon the earth.

Verse 59 (shiva.rudra.139.59)

दत्त्वा तेभ्योऽसुरेभ्यश्च पुराणि त्रीणि वै मयः । प्रविवेश स्वयं तत्र हितकामपरायणः

dattvā tebhyo'surebhyaśca purāṇi trīṇi vai mayaḥ praviveśa svayaṁ tatra hitakāmaparāyaṇaḥ

Having given those three cities to the three asuras, Maya himself, devoted to their welfare, entered there as well.

Verse 60 (shiva.rudra.139.60)

एवं पुरत्रयं प्राप्य प्रविष्टास्तारकात्मजाः । बुभुजुः सकलान्भोगान्महाबलपराक्रमाः

evaṁ puratrayaṁ prāpya praviṣṭāstārakātmajāḥ bubhujuḥ sakalānbhogānmahābalaparākramāḥ

Thus, having obtained the three cities, the sons of Taraka entered them and, mighty in strength and valor, gave themselves up to every pleasure.

Verse 61 (shiva.rudra.139.61)

कल्पद्रुमैश्च सङ्कीर्णं गजवाजिसमाकुलम् । नानाप्रासादसङ्कीर्णं मणिजालसमावृतम्

kalpadrumaiśca saṅkīrṇaṁ gajavājisamākulam nānāprāsādasaṅkīrṇaṁ maṇijālasamāvṛtam

Those cities were filled with wish-fulfilling trees, crowded with elephants and horses, dense with many palaces, and overspread with nets of jewels.

Verse 62 (shiva.rudra.139.62)

सूर्यमण्डलसङ्काशैर्विमानैः सर्वतोमुखैः । पद्मरागमयैश्चैव शोभितं चन्द्रसन्निभैः

sūryamaṇḍalasaṅkāśairvimānaiḥ sarvatomukhaiḥ padmarāgamayaiścaiva śobhitaṁ candrasannibhaiḥ

They were adorned with celestial cars resembling the orb of the sun, opening on every side, made of ruby, and gleaming like the moon.

Verse 63 (shiva.rudra.139.63)

प्रासादैर्गोपुरैर्दिव्यैः कैलासशिखरोपमैः । दिव्यस्त्रीजनसङ्कीर्णैर्गन्धर्वस्सिद्धचारणैः

prāsādairgopurairdivyaiḥ kailāsaśikharopamaiḥ divyastrījanasaṅkīrṇairgandharvassiddhacāraṇaiḥ

They had divine palaces and gate-towers resembling the peaks of Kailasa, thronged with celestial women, and filled with gandharvas, siddhas and charanas.

Verse 64 (shiva.rudra.139.64)

रुद्रालयैः प्रतिगृहमग्निहोत्रैः प्रतिष्ठितैः । द्विजोत्तमैः शास्त्रविज्ञैः शिवभक्तिरतैः सदा

rudrālayaiḥ pratigṛhamagnihotraiḥ pratiṣṭhitaiḥ dvijottamaiḥ śāstravijñaiḥ śivabhaktirataiḥ sadā

Every house held a shrine of Rudra with its fire-sacrifice duly established, and the finest brahmins, learned in scripture, ever devoted to the worship of Shiva, dwelt there.

Verse 65 (shiva.rudra.139.65)

वापीकूपतडागैश्च दीर्घिकाभिःसुशोभितम् । उद्यानवनवृक्षैश्च स्वर्गच्युतगुणोत्तमैः

vāpīkūpataḍāgaiśca dīrghikābhiḥsuśobhitam udyānavanavṛkṣaiśca svargacyutaguṇottamaiḥ

They were beautified with step-wells, wells, ponds and long pools, and graced with gardens, groves and trees seeming to have descended from heaven itself.

Verse 66 (shiva.rudra.139.66)

नदीनदसरिन्मुख्यपुष्करैः शोभितं सदा । सर्वकामफलाद्यैश्चानेकैर्वृक्षैर्मनोहरम्

nadīnadasarinmukhyapuṣkaraiḥ śobhitaṁ sadā sarvakāmaphalādyaiścānekairvṛkṣairmanoharam

They were ever adorned with rivers, streams and fine lotus-pools, and made charming by numerous trees bearing every desired fruit.

Verse 67 (shiva.rudra.139.67)

मत्तमातङ्गयूथैश्च तुरङ्गैश्च सुशोभनैः । रथैश्च विविधाकारैः शिबिकाभिरलङ्कृतम्

mattamātaṅgayūthaiśca turaṅgaiśca suśobhanaiḥ rathaiśca vividhākāraiḥ śibikābhiralaṅkṛtam

They were adorned with herds of rutting elephants, fine horses, chariots of every shape, and palanquins.

Verse 68 (shiva.rudra.139.68)

समयादिशिकैश्चैव क्रीडास्थानैः पृथक्पृथक् । वेदाध्ययनशालाभिर्विविधाभिः पृथक्पृथक्

samayādiśikaiścaiva krīḍāsthānaiḥ pṛthakpṛthak vedādhyayanaśālābhirvividhābhiḥ pṛthakpṛthak

They had separate places for various sports and pastimes, and many separate halls for the study of the Vedas.

Verse 69 (shiva.rudra.139.69)

अदृष्टं मनसा वाचा पापान्वितनरैस्सदा । महात्मभिश्शुभाचारैः पुण्यवद्भिः प्रवीक्ष्यते

adṛṣṭaṁ manasā vācā pāpānvitanaraissadā mahātmabhiśśubhācāraiḥ puṇyavadbhiḥ pravīkṣyate

They were never perceived, even in thought or word, by men given to sin, but were beheld only by great souls of pure conduct and merit.

Verse 70 (shiva.rudra.139.70)

पतिव्रताभिः सर्वत्र पावितं स्थलमुत्तमम् । पतिसेवनशीलाभिर्विमुखाभिः कुधर्मतः

pativratābhiḥ sarvatra pāvitaṁ sthalamuttamam patisevanaśīlābhirvimukhābhiḥ kudharmataḥ

That excellent ground was everywhere purified by devoted wives given to the service of their husbands, turned away from wrongful conduct.

Verse 71 (shiva.rudra.139.71)

दैत्यशूरैर्महाभागैः सदारैः ससुतैर्द्विजैः । श्रौतस्मार्तार्थतत्त्वज्ञैः स्वधर्मनिरतैर्युतम्

daityaśūrairmahābhāgaiḥ sadāraiḥ sasutairdvijaiḥ śrautasmārtārthatattvajñaiḥ svadharmaniratairyutam

They were filled with heroic, fortunate daityas together with their wives and sons, and with brahmins versed in the truths of shruti and smriti, devoted to their own dharma.

Verse 72 (shiva.rudra.139.72)

व्यूढोरस्कैर्वृषस्कन्धैः सामयुद्धधरैः सदा । प्रशान्तैः कुपितैश्चैव कुब्जैर्वामनकैस्तथा

vyūḍhoraskairvṛṣaskandhaiḥ sāmayuddhadharaiḥ sadā praśāntaiḥ kupitaiścaiva kubjairvāmanakaistathā

There were warriors, broad-chested and bull-shouldered, skilled equally in negotiation and in battle, at times peaceful and at times fierce, together with dwarfs and hunchbacks,

Verse 73 (shiva.rudra.139.73)

नीलोत्पलदलप्रख्यैर्नीलकुञ्चितमूर्द्धजैः । मयेन रक्षितैः सर्वैः शिक्षितैर्युद्धलालसैः

nīlotpaladalaprakhyairnīlakuñcitamūrddhajaiḥ mayena rakṣitaiḥ sarvaiḥ śikṣitairyuddhalālasaiḥ

dark as the petals of the blue lotus, with curling dark hair, well-trained and eager for battle, all of them protected by Maya himself.

Verse 74 (shiva.rudra.139.74)

वरसमररतैर्युतं समन्ता- दजशिवपूजनया विशुद्धवीर्यैः । रविमरुतमहेन्द्रसन्निकाशैः सुरमथनैः सुदृढैः सुसेवितं यत्

varasamararatairyutaṁ samantā- dajaśivapūjanayā viśuddhavīryaiḥ ravimarutamahendrasannikāśaiḥ suramathanaiḥ sudṛḍhaiḥ susevitaṁ yat

Those cities were filled everywhere with warriors devoted to excellent combat, of valor purified through worship of the unborn Shiva, resembling the sun, the wind-gods and great Indra, crushers of the gods, most steadfast — and well attended by them all.

Verse 75 (shiva.rudra.139.75)

शास्त्रवेदपुराणेषु ये ये धर्माः प्रकीर्तिताः । शिवप्रियाःसदा देवास्ते धर्मास्तत्र सर्वतः

śāstravedapurāṇeṣu ye ye dharmāḥ prakīrtitāḥ śivapriyāḥsadā devāste dharmāstatra sarvataḥ

Whatever dharmas are proclaimed in the scriptures, the Vedas and the Puranas, ever dear to Shiva and the gods — all those dharmas were observed there in every respect.

Verse 76 (shiva.rudra.139.76)

एवं लब्धवरास्ते तु दैतेयास्तारकात्मजाः । शैवं मयमुपाश्रित्य निवसन्ति स्म तत्र ह

evaṁ labdhavarāste tu daiteyāstārakātmajāḥ śaivaṁ mayamupāśritya nivasanti sma tatra ha

Thus, having obtained their boon, those daitya sons of Taraka, taking refuge in the Shiva-devoted Maya, dwelt there.

Verse 77 (shiva.rudra.139.77)

सर्वं त्रैलोक्यमुत्सार्य प्रविश्य नगराणि ते । कुर्वन्ति स्म महद्राज्यं शिवमार्गरताः सदा

sarvaṁ trailokyamutsārya praviśya nagarāṇi te kurvanti sma mahadrājyaṁ śivamārgaratāḥ sadā

Having subdued the entire three worlds and entered their cities, they ruled a great kingdom, ever devoted to the path of Shiva.

Verse 78 (shiva.rudra.139.78)

ततो महान् गतः कालो वसतां पुण्यकर्मणाम् । यथासुखं यथाजोषं सद्राज्यं कुर्वतां मुने

tato mahān gataḥ kālo vasatāṁ puṇyakarmaṇām yathāsukhaṁ yathājoṣaṁ sadrājyaṁ kurvatāṁ mune

Thus, O sage, a great span of time passed as those virtuous ones dwelt there, ruling their excellent kingdom happily and at will.