The Gods' Hymn of Praise

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.145.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एतच्छुत्वा तु सर्वेषां देवादीनां वचो हरः । अङ्गीचकार सुप्रीत्या शरण्यो भक्तवत्सलः

sanatkumāra uvāca etacchutvā tu sarveṣāṁ devādīnāṁ vaco haraḥ aṅgīcakāra suprītyā śaraṇyo bhaktavatsalaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Hearing this speech of all the gods, Hara, the refuge of all, the lover of his devotees, gladly accepted it.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.145.2)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे देवी पुत्राभ्यां संयुता शिवा । आजगाम मुने तत्र यत्र देवान्वितो हरः

etasminnantare devī putrābhyāṁ saṁyutā śivā ājagāma mune tatra yatra devānvito haraḥ

Meanwhile, O sage, the Goddess Shiva, accompanied by her two sons, arrived there where Hara was, together with the gods.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.145.3)

अथागतां शिवां दृष्ट्वा सर्वे विष्ण्वादयो द्रुतम् । प्रणेमुरतिनम्रास्ते विस्मिता गतसम्भ्रमाः

athāgatāṁ śivāṁ dṛṣṭvā sarve viṣṇvādayo drutam praṇemuratinamrāste vismitā gatasambhramāḥ

Then, seeing the Goddess arrive, Vishnu and all the others quickly bowed very humbly, astonished, their agitation gone.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.145.4)

प्रोचुर्जयेति सद्वाक्यं मुने सर्वे सुलक्षणम् । तूष्णीमासन्नजानन्तस्तदागमनकारणम्

procurjayeti sadvākyaṁ mune sarve sulakṣaṇam tūṣṇīmāsannajānantastadāgamanakāraṇam

O sage, they all uttered the auspicious word "Victory!", of good omen, and then fell silent, not knowing the reason for her arrival.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.145.5)

अथ सर्वैः स्तुता देवैर्देव्यद्भुतकुतूहला । उवाच स्वामिनं प्रीत्या नानालीलाविशारदम्

atha sarvaiḥ stutā devairdevyadbhutakutūhalā uvāca svāminaṁ prītyā nānālīlāviśāradam

Then the Goddess, praised by all the gods, filled with wondrous curiosity, spoke affectionately to her lord, skilled in manifold play.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.145.6)

देव्युवाच । क्रीडमानं विभो पश्य षण्मुखं रविसन्निभम् । पुत्रं पुत्रवतां श्रेष्ठ भूषितं भूषणैर्वरैः

devyuvāca krīḍamānaṁ vibho paśya ṣaṇmukhaṁ ravisannibham putraṁ putravatāṁ śreṣṭha bhūṣitaṁ bhūṣaṇairvaraiḥ

The Goddess said: "O mighty one, look at our playing six-faced son, radiant as the sun, O best of fathers, adorned with the finest ornaments."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.145.7)

सनत्कुमार उवाच इत्येवं लोकमात्रा च वाग्भिःसम्बोधितश्शिवः । न ययौ तृप्तिमीशानः पिबन् स्कन्दाननामृतम्

sanatkumāra uvāca ityevaṁ lokamātrā ca vāgbhiḥsambodhitaśśivaḥ na yayau tṛptimīśānaḥ piban skandānanāmṛtam

Sanatkumara said: Thus addressed with these words by the Mother of the worlds, Ishana did not attain satiety, drinking in, as it were, the nectar of Skanda's face.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.145.8)

न सस्मारागतान् देवान् निजतेजोनिपीडितान् । स्कन्दमालिङ्ग्य चाघ्राय मुमोदाति महेश्वरः

na sasmārāgatān devān nijatejonipīḍitān skandamāliṅgya cāghrāya mumodāti maheśvaraḥ

He did not even remember the gods who had come, oppressed as they were by his own radiance; embracing Skanda and kissing his head, Maheshvara rejoiced greatly.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.145.9)

जगदम्बाथ तत्रैव सम्मन्त्र्य प्रभुणा च सा । स्थित्वा किञ्चित्समुत्तस्थौ नानालीलाविशारदा

jagadambātha tatraiva sammantrya prabhuṇā ca sā sthitvā kiñcitsamuttasthau nānālīlāviśāradā

Then the Mother of the universe, having conferred there with her lord, stayed a little while and then, skilled in manifold play, rose up.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.145.10)

ततः स नन्दी सह षण्मुखेन तया च सार्द्धं गिरिराजपुत्र्या । विवेश शम्भुर्भवनं सुलीलः सुरैः समस्तैरभिवन्द्यमानः

tataḥ sa nandī saha ṣaṇmukhena tayā ca sārddhaṁ girirājaputryā viveśa śambhurbhavanaṁ sulīlaḥ suraiḥ samastairabhivandyamānaḥ

Then Shambhu, playful, together with Nandi, with the six-faced one, and with the daughter of the mountain-king, entered his palace, being reverenced by all the gods.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.145.11)

द्वारस्य पार्श्वतः तस्थुर्देवदेवस्य धीमतः । तेऽथ देवा महाव्यग्रा विमनस्का मुनेऽखिलाः

dvārasya pārśvataḥ tasthurdevadevasya dhīmataḥ te'tha devā mahāvyagrā vimanaskā mune'khilāḥ

They stood beside the door of the wise god of gods; and then, O sage, all those gods became greatly agitated and downcast.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.145.12)

किं कर्तव्यं क्व गन्तव्यं कः स्यादस्मत्सुखप्रदः । किं तु किन्त्विति सञ्जातं हा हताः स्मेति वादिनः

kiṁ kartavyaṁ kva gantavyaṁ kaḥ syādasmatsukhapradaḥ kiṁ tu kintviti sañjātaṁ hā hatāḥ smeti vādinaḥ

"What is to be done? Where should we go? Who will give us happiness?" — "But — but what—" they murmured, crying, "Alas, we are undone!"

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.145.13)

अन्योन्यं प्रेक्ष्य शक्राद्या बभूवुश्चातिविह्वलाः । प्रोचुर्विकलवाक्यं ते धिक्कुर्वन्तो निजं विधिम्

anyonyaṁ prekṣya śakrādyā babhūvuścātivihvalāḥ procurvikalavākyaṁ te dhikkurvanto nijaṁ vidhim

Looking at one another, Indra and the rest became utterly distraught; they spoke in broken words, cursing their own fate.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.145.14)

पापा वयमिहेत्यन्ये ह्यभाग्याश्चेति चापरे । ते भाग्यवन्तो दैत्येन्द्रा इति चान्येऽब्रुवन् सुराः

pāpā vayamihetyanye hyabhāgyāśceti cāpare te bhāgyavanto daityendrā iti cānye'bruvan surāḥ

"We are sinners," said some; "we are unfortunate," said others; "those lords of the daityas are the fortunate ones," said still other gods.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.145.15)

तस्मिन्नेवान्तरे तेषां श्रुत्वा शब्दाननेकशः । कुम्भोदरो महातेजा दण्डेनाताडयत्सुरान्

tasminnevāntare teṣāṁ śrutvā śabdānanekaśaḥ kumbhodaro mahātejā daṇḍenātāḍayatsurān

At that very moment, hearing their many cries, the greatly radiant Kumbhodara struck the gods with his staff.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.145.16)

दुद्रुवुस्ते भयाविष्टा देवा हाहेति वादिनः । अपतन्मुनयश्चान्ये विह्वलत्वं बभूव ह

dudruvuste bhayāviṣṭā devā hāheti vādinaḥ apatanmunayaścānye vihvalatvaṁ babhūva ha

Overcome with fear, the gods fled, crying "Alas, alas!"; other sages too fell down, and there arose great confusion.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.145.17)

इन्द्रस्तु विकलोऽतीव जानुभ्यामवनीं गतः । अन्ये देवर्षयोऽतीव विकलाः पतिता भुवि

indrastu vikalo'tīva jānubhyāmavanīṁ gataḥ anye devarṣayo'tīva vikalāḥ patitā bhuvi

Indra, utterly distraught, sank to the ground upon his knees; the other gods and sages too, utterly distraught, fell to the earth.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.145.18)

सर्वे मिलित्वा मुनयः सुराश्च सममाकुलाः । सङ्गता विधिहर्योस्तु समीपं मित्रचेतसोः

sarve militvā munayaḥ surāśca samamākulāḥ saṅgatā vidhiharyostu samīpaṁ mitracetasoḥ

All the sages and gods, gathering together, equally troubled, drew close to Vidhi and Hari, their two friends of kindred mind.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.145.19)

अहो विधिबलं चैतन्मुनयः कश्यपादयः । वदन्ति स्म तदा सर्वे हरिं लोकभयापहम्

aho vidhibalaṁ caitanmunayaḥ kaśyapādayaḥ vadanti sma tadā sarve hariṁ lokabhayāpaham

"Ah, such is the power of fate!" — the sages, Kashyapa and the rest, all then spoke thus to Hari, the remover of the world's fear.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.145.20)

अभाग्यान्न समाप्तं तु कार्यमित्यपरे द्विजाः । कस्माद्विघ्नमिदं जातमित्यन्ये ह्यतिविस्मिताः

abhāgyānna samāptaṁ tu kāryamityapare dvijāḥ kasmādvighnamidaṁ jātamityanye hyativismitāḥ

"Through our misfortune the task remains unaccomplished," said some brahmins; "why has this obstacle arisen?" said others, utterly astonished.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.145.21)

इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा कश्यपाद्युदितं मुने । आश्वासयन्मुनीन्देवान् हरिर्वाक्यमुपाददे

ityevaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā kaśyapādyuditaṁ mune āśvāsayanmunīndevān harirvākyamupādade

O sage, hearing these words spoken by Kashyapa and the others, Hari, reassuring the sages and gods, took up speech.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.145.22)

विष्णुरुवाच । हे देवा मुनयः सर्वे मद्वचः शृणुतादरात् । किमर्थं दुःखमापन्ना दुखं तु त्यजताखिलम्

viṣṇuruvāca he devā munayaḥ sarve madvacaḥ śṛṇutādarāt kimarthaṁ duḥkhamāpannā dukhaṁ tu tyajatākhilam

Vishnu said: "O gods, O sages, all of you, hear my words with reverence. Why have you fallen into sorrow? Abandon all this sorrow."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.145.23)

महदाराधनं देवा न सुसाध्यं विचार्यताम् । महदाराधने पूर्वं भवेद्दुःखमिति श्रुतम्

mahadārādhanaṁ devā na susādhyaṁ vicāryatām mahadārādhane pūrvaṁ bhavedduḥkhamiti śrutam

"O gods, consider that the worship of the great is not easily accomplished; it has been taught that in the worship of the great, difficulty comes first."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.145.24)

विज्ञाय दृढतां देवाः प्रसन्नो भवति ध्रुवम्

vijñāya dṛḍhatāṁ devāḥ prasanno bhavati dhruvam

"Knowing your steadfastness, O gods, he will surely become pleased."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.145.25)

शिवः सर्वगणाध्यक्षः सहसा परमेश्वरः । विचार्यतां हृदा सर्वैः कथं वश्यो भवेदिति

śivaḥ sarvagaṇādhyakṣaḥ sahasā parameśvaraḥ vicāryatāṁ hṛdā sarvaiḥ kathaṁ vaśyo bhavediti

"Let it be considered by all of you in your hearts how Shiva, the overlord of all the ganas, the supreme lord, might suddenly be brought under devotional sway."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.145.26)

प्रणवं पूर्वमुच्चार्य नमः पश्चादुदाहरेत् । शिवायेति ततः पश्चाच्छुभद्वयमतः परम्

praṇavaṁ pūrvamuccārya namaḥ paścādudāharet śivāyeti tataḥ paścācchubhadvayamataḥ param

"Uttering the Pranava first, one should then pronounce 'Namah'; then after that, 'Shivaya' — and after that, once more, the same two auspicious syllables."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.145.27)

कुरुद्वयं ततः प्रोक्तं शिवाय च ततः पुनः । नमश्च प्रणवश्चैव मन्त्रमेवं सदा बुधाः

kurudvayaṁ tataḥ proktaṁ śivāya ca tataḥ punaḥ namaśca praṇavaścaiva mantramevaṁ sadā budhāḥ

"Then let the word 'Kuru' be spoken twice, as declared; then again 'Shivaya'; then 'Namah', and then Om itself — thus, O wise ones, is this mantra ever to be recited."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.145.28)

आवर्तध्वं पुनर्यूयं यदि शम्भुकृते तदा । कोटिमेकं तथा जप्त्वा शिवः कार्यं करिष्यति

āvartadhvaṁ punaryūyaṁ yadi śambhukṛte tadā koṭimekaṁ tathā japtvā śivaḥ kāryaṁ kariṣyati

"Repeat it again and again; if you do so for Shambhu's sake, having recited it a full crore of times, Shiva will accomplish the task."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.145.29)

इत्युक्ते च तदा तेन हरिणा प्रभविष्णुना । तथा देवाः पुनश्चक्रुर्हरस्याराधनं मुने

ityukte ca tadā tena hariṇā prabhaviṣṇunā tathā devāḥ punaścakrurharasyārādhanaṁ mune

O sage, when this had thus been said by the mighty Hari, the gods then again performed the worship of Hara accordingly.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.145.30)

सञ्जजाप हरिश्चापि सविधिश्शिवमानसः । देवानां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं मुनीनां च विशेषतः

sañjajāpa hariścāpi savidhiśśivamānasaḥ devānāṁ kāryasiddhyarthaṁ munīnāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ

Hari, together with Vidhi, his mind fixed on Shiva, recited the mantra, for the accomplishment of the task of the gods and especially of the sages.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.145.31)

मुहुः शिवेति भाषन्तो देवा धैर्यसमन्विताः । कोटिसङ्ख्यं तदा कृत्वा स्थितास्ते मुनिसत्तम

muhuḥ śiveti bhāṣanto devā dhairyasamanvitāḥ koṭisaṅkhyaṁ tadā kṛtvā sthitāste munisattama

Repeatedly uttering "Shiva! Shiva!", the gods, filled with fortitude, having completed a full crore of repetitions, O best of sages, remained so.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.145.32)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे साक्षाच्छिवः प्रादुरभूत्स्वयम् । यथोक्तेन स्वरूपेण वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्

etasminnantare sākṣācchivaḥ prādurabhūtsvayam yathoktena svarūpeṇa vacanaṁ cedamabravīt

At that very moment, Shiva himself appeared visibly, in the very form described, and spoke these words.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.145.33)

श्रीशिव उवाच । हे हरे हे विधे देवा मुनयश्च शुभव्रताः । प्रसन्नोऽस्मि वरं ब्रूत जपेनानेन चेप्सितम्

śrīśiva uvāca he hare he vidhe devā munayaśca śubhavratāḥ prasanno'smi varaṁ brūta japenānena cepsitam

Shri Shiva said: "O Hari, O Vidhi, O gods and sages of pure vows, I am pleased by this recitation; tell me the boon you desire."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.145.34)

देवा ऊचुः । यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश जगदीश्वर शङ्कर । सुरान् विज्ञाय विकलान् हन्यन्तां त्रिपुराणि च

devā ūcuḥ yadi prasanno deveśa jagadīśvara śaṅkara surān vijñāya vikalān hanyantāṁ tripurāṇi ca

The gods said: "If you are pleased, O lord of gods, lord of the universe, Shankara, then, knowing the gods to be in distress, let the three cities of Tripura be destroyed."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.145.35)

रक्षास्मान्परमेशान दीनबन्धो कृपाकर । त्वयैव रक्षिता देवाः सदापद्भ्यो मुहुर्मुहुः

rakṣāsmānparameśāna dīnabandho kṛpākara tvayaiva rakṣitā devāḥ sadāpadbhyo muhurmuhuḥ

"Protect us, O supreme lord, friend of the wretched, compassionate one; it is by you alone that the gods have ever, again and again, been protected from calamity."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.145.36)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्तं वचनं तेषां श्रुत्वा सहरिवेधसाम् । विहस्यान्तस्तदा ब्रह्मन्महेशः पुनरब्रवीत्

sanatkumāra uvāca ityuktaṁ vacanaṁ teṣāṁ śrutvā saharivedhasām vihasyāntastadā brahmanmaheśaḥ punarabravīt

Sanatkumara said: Hearing these words of theirs, together with those of Hari and Vidhi, Mahesha, O Brahman, smiling within, then spoke again.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.145.37)

महेश उवाच । हे हरे हे विधे देवा मुनयश्चाखिला वचः । मदीयं शृणुतादृत्य नष्टं मत्वा पुरत्रयम्

maheśa uvāca he hare he vidhe devā munayaścākhilā vacaḥ madīyaṁ śṛṇutādṛtya naṣṭaṁ matvā puratrayam

Mahesha said: "O Hari, O Vidhi, all you gods and sages, hear my word with reverence, knowing that the three cities are as good as destroyed."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.145.38)

रथं च सारथिं दिव्यं कार्मुकं शरमुत्तमम् । पूर्वमङ्गीकृतं सर्वमुपपादयताचिरम्

rathaṁ ca sārathiṁ divyaṁ kārmukaṁ śaramuttamam pūrvamaṅgīkṛtaṁ sarvamupapādayatāciram

"A chariot, a divine charioteer, a bow, and an excellent arrow — all that was earlier promised, provide it without delay."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.145.39)

हे विष्णो हे विधे त्वं हि त्रिलोकाधिपतिर्ध्रुवम् । सर्वसंराट्प्रकारं मे कर्तुमर्हसि यत्नतः

he viṣṇo he vidhe tvaṁ hi trilokādhipatirdhruvam sarvasaṁrāṭprakāraṁ me kartumarhasi yatnataḥ

"O Vishnu, O Vidhi, you are surely the lord of the three worlds; you should, with effort, arrange for me everything befitting a universal sovereign."

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.145.40)

नष्टं पुरत्रयं मत्वा देवसाहाय्यमित्युत । करिष्यथः प्रयत्नेनाधिकृतौ सर्गपालने

naṣṭaṁ puratrayaṁ matvā devasāhāyyamityuta kariṣyathaḥ prayatnenādhikṛtau sargapālane

"Considering the three cities as good as destroyed, you two, being charged with the protection of creation, shall diligently render this aid to the gods."

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.145.41)

अयं मन्त्रो महापुण्यो मत्प्रीतिजनकः शुभः । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदःसर्वकामदः शैवकावहः

ayaṁ mantro mahāpuṇyo matprītijanakaḥ śubhaḥ bhuktimuktipradaḥsarvakāmadaḥ śaivakāvahaḥ

"This mantra is of the greatest merit, auspicious, productive of my pleasure; it grants both enjoyment and liberation, fulfills every desire, and brings about devotion to Shiva."

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.145.42)

धन्यो यशस्य आयुष्यः स्वर्गकामार्थिनां नृणाम् । अपवर्गो ह्यकामानां मुक्तानां भुक्तिमुक्तिदः

dhanyo yaśasya āyuṣyaḥ svargakāmārthināṁ nṛṇām apavargo hyakāmānāṁ muktānāṁ bhuktimuktidaḥ

"It bestows prosperity, fame, and long life on men who desire heaven; final liberation for the desireless; and both enjoyment and liberation for the already liberated."

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.145.43)

य इमं कीर्तयेन्मन्त्रं शुचिर्भूत्वा सदा नरः । शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेद्वापि सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्

ya imaṁ kīrtayenmantraṁ śucirbhūtvā sadā naraḥ śṛṇuyācchrāvayedvāpi sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt

"Whatever person, having become pure, ever recites this mantra, or hears it, or causes it to be heard, shall obtain all his desires."

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.145.44)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य शिवस्य परमात्मनः । सर्वे देवा मुदं प्रापुर्हरिर्ब्रह्माधिकं तथा

sanatkumāra uvāca iti śrutvā vacastasya śivasya paramātmanaḥ sarve devā mudaṁ prāpurharirbrahmādhikaṁ tathā

Sanatkumara said: Hearing these words of Shiva, the Supreme Self, all the gods rejoiced greatly, and Hari and Brahma even more so.

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.145.45)

सर्वदेवमयं दिव्यं रथं परमशोभनम् । रचयामास विश्वार्थे विश्वकर्मा तदाज्ञया

sarvadevamayaṁ divyaṁ rathaṁ paramaśobhanam racayāmāsa viśvārthe viśvakarmā tadājñayā

By that command, Vishvakarma then fashioned, for the sake of the universe, a divine, most resplendent chariot, composed of all the gods.