The Departure of Shiva

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.147.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ईदृग्विधं महादिव्यं नानाश्चर्यमयं रथम् । सन्नह्य निगमानश्वांस्तं ब्रह्मा प्रार्पयच्छिवम्

sanatkumāra uvāca īdṛgvidhaṁ mahādivyaṁ nānāścaryamayaṁ ratham sannahya nigamānaśvāṁstaṁ brahmā prārpayacchivam

Sanatkumara said: "Having thus equipped that greatly divine, wonder-filled chariot, and having yoked to it horses that were themselves the Vedas, Brahma offered it to Shiva."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.147.2)

शम्भवेऽसौ निवेद्याधिरोपयामास शूलिनम् । बहुशः प्रार्थ्य देवेशं विष्ण्वादिसुरसम्मतम्

śambhave'sau nivedyādhiropayāmāsa śūlinam bahuśaḥ prārthya deveśaṁ viṣṇvādisurasammatam

Presenting it to Shambhu, and entreating the trident-wielding Lord of gods again and again, he helped him mount it — that chariot approved by Vishnu and the other gods.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.147.3)

ततस्तस्मिन् रथे दिव्ये रथप्राकारसंयुते । सर्वदेवमयः शम्भुरारुरोह महाप्रभुः

tatastasmin rathe divye rathaprākārasaṁyute sarvadevamayaḥ śambhurāruroha mahāprabhuḥ

Then upon that divine chariot, fitted with its rampart-walls, the great Lord Shambhu — who is himself composed of all the gods — mounted.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.147.4)

ऋषिभिः स्तूयमानश्च देवगन्धर्वपन्नगैः । विष्णुना ब्रह्मणा चापि लोकपालैर्बभूव ह

ṛṣibhiḥ stūyamānaśca devagandharvapannagaiḥ viṣṇunā brahmaṇā cāpi lokapālairbabhūva ha

He was extolled by sages, by gods, gandharvas, and serpents, and by Vishnu, Brahma, and the guardians of the quarters as well.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.147.5)

उपावृतश्चाप्सरसाङ्गणैर्गीतविशारदैः । शुशुभे वरदः शम्भुः स तं प्रेक्ष्य च सारथिम्

upāvṛtaścāpsarasāṅgaṇairgītaviśāradaiḥ śuśubhe varadaḥ śambhuḥ sa taṁ prekṣya ca sārathim

Encircled by hosts of apsaras skilled in song, the boon-bestowing Shambhu shone in splendor, looking upon his charioteer.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.147.6)

तस्मिन्नारोहति रथं कल्पितं लोकसम्भृतम् । शिरोभिः पतिता भूमौ तुरगा वेदसम्भवाः

tasminnārohati rathaṁ kalpitaṁ lokasambhṛtam śirobhiḥ patitā bhūmau turagā vedasambhavāḥ

As he mounted onto that chariot — fashioned and furnished by all the worlds — the Veda-born horses fell to the ground, head foremost.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.147.7)

चचाल वसुधा चेलुः सकलाश्च महीधराः । चकम्पे सहसा शेषोऽसोढा तद्भारमातुरः

cacāla vasudhā celuḥ sakalāśca mahīdharāḥ cakampe sahasā śeṣo'soḍhā tadbhāramāturaḥ

The earth quaked, all the mountains shook, and Shesha suddenly trembled in distress, unable to bear that weight.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.147.8)

अथाधः स रथस्यास्य भगवान्धरणीधरः । वृषेन्द्ररूपी चोत्थाय स्थापयामास वै क्षणम्

athādhaḥ sa rathasyāsya bhagavāndharaṇīdharaḥ vṛṣendrarūpī cotthāya sthāpayāmāsa vai kṣaṇam

Then, beneath that chariot, the earth-bearing lord [Shesha], assuming the form of a great Bull, rose up and held it steady for a moment.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.147.9)

क्षणान्तरे वृषेन्द्रोऽपि जानुभ्यामगमद्धराम् । रथारूढमहेशस्य सुतेजस्सोढुमक्षमः

kṣaṇāntare vṛṣendro'pi jānubhyāmagamaddharām rathārūḍhamaheśasya sutejassoḍhumakṣamaḥ

A moment later, even that Bull-lord fell upon his knees to the ground, unable to bear the great radiance of Mahesha mounted on the chariot.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.147.10)

अभीषुहस्तो भगवानुद्यम्य च हयांस्तदा । स्थापयामास देवस्य वचनाद्वै रथं वरम्

abhīṣuhasto bhagavānudyamya ca hayāṁstadā sthāpayāmāsa devasya vacanādvai rathaṁ varam

Then, reins in hand, the Lord raised up the horses and, at the god's own command, held that excellent chariot steady.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.147.11)

ततोऽसौ नोदयामास मनोमारुतरंहसः । ब्रह्मा हयान्वेदमयान्नद्धान् रथवरे स्थितः

tato'sau nodayāmāsa manomārutaraṁhasaḥ brahmā hayānvedamayānnaddhān rathavare sthitaḥ

Then Brahma, stationed on that excellent chariot, urged onward those yoked, Veda-formed horses, swift as mind and wind.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.147.12)

पुराण्युद्दिश्य वै त्रीणि तेषां खस्थानि तानि हि । अधिष्ठिते महेशे तु दानवानां तरस्विनाम्

purāṇyuddiśya vai trīṇi teṣāṁ khasthāni tāni hi adhiṣṭhite maheśe tu dānavānāṁ tarasvinām

With Mahesha now firmly seated, they set out toward those three sky-borne cities of the swift Danavas, taking aim.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.147.13)

अथाह भगवान् रुद्रो देवानालोक्य शङ्करः । पशूनामाधिपत्यं मे दध्वं हन्मि ततोऽसुरान्

athāha bhagavān rudro devānālokya śaṅkaraḥ paśūnāmādhipatyaṁ me dadhvaṁ hanmi tato'surān

Then Lord Rudra Shankara, looking upon the gods, spoke: "Grant me lordship over all creatures — then I shall slay the asuras."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.147.14)

पृथक् पशुत्वं देवानां तथान्येषां सुरोत्तमाः । कल्पयित्वैव वध्यास्ते नान्यथा दैत्यसत्तमाः

pṛthak paśutvaṁ devānāṁ tathānyeṣāṁ surottamāḥ kalpayitvaiva vadhyāste nānyathā daityasattamāḥ

O best of gods, only by first establishing 'creaturehood' separately for the gods and for all others can those foremost daityas be slain — not otherwise.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.147.15)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य देवदेवस्य धीमतः । विषादमगमन्सर्वे पशुत्वं प्रतिशङ्किताः

sanatkumāra uvāca iti śrutvā vacastasya devadevasya dhīmataḥ viṣādamagamansarve paśutvaṁ pratiśaṅkitāḥ

Sanatkumara said: "Hearing these words of the wise God of gods, all the gods fell into gloom, fearing that state of creaturehood."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.147.16)

तेषां भावमथ ज्ञात्वा देवदेवोऽम्बिकापतिः । विहस्य कृपया देवान् शम्भुस्तानिदमब्रवीत्

teṣāṁ bhāvamatha jñātvā devadevo'mbikāpatiḥ vihasya kṛpayā devān śambhustānidamabravīt

Then, perceiving their state of mind, the God of gods, Ambika's Lord, Shambhu, smiled and spoke these words to the gods out of compassion.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.147.17)

शम्भुरुवाच । मा वोऽस्तु पशुभावेऽपि पातो विबुधसत्तमाः । श्रूयतां पशुभावस्य विमोक्षः क्रियतां च सः

śambhuruvāca mā vo'stu paśubhāve'pi pāto vibudhasattamāḥ śrūyatāṁ paśubhāvasya vimokṣaḥ kriyatāṁ ca saḥ

Shambhu said: "O best of gods, let there be no fall for you even in this state of creaturehood. Hear now the means of release from that creaturehood, and let it be accomplished."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.147.18)

यौ वै पाशुपतं दिव्यं चरिष्यति स मोक्ष्यति । पशुत्वादिति सत्यं वः प्रतिज्ञातं समाहिताः

yau vai pāśupataṁ divyaṁ cariṣyati sa mokṣyati paśutvāditi satyaṁ vaḥ pratijñātaṁ samāhitāḥ

Whoever practices the divine Pashupata vow shall be freed from creaturehood — this is truth, pledged to you; attend well.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.147.19)

ये चाप्यन्ये करिष्यन्ति व्रतं पाशुपतं मम । मोक्ष्यन्ति ते न सन्देहः पशुत्वात्सुरसत्तमाः

ye cāpyanye kariṣyanti vrataṁ pāśupataṁ mama mokṣyanti te na sandehaḥ paśutvātsurasattamāḥ

And whatever others, too, undertake my Pashupata vow — they, O best of gods, shall be released from creaturehood, beyond any doubt.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.147.20)

नैष्ठिकं द्वादशाब्दं वा तदर्द्धं वर्षकत्रयम् । शुश्रूषां कारयेद्यस्तु स पशुत्वाद्विमुच्यते

naiṣṭhikaṁ dvādaśābdaṁ vā tadarddhaṁ varṣakatrayam śuśrūṣāṁ kārayedyastu sa paśutvādvimucyate

Whoever undertakes lifelong observance, or twelve years, or half that [six years], or service for three years, is released from creaturehood.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.147.21)

तस्मात्परमिदं दिव्यं चरिष्यथ सुरोत्तमाः । पशुत्वान्मोक्ष्यथ तदा यूयमत्र न संशयः

tasmātparamidaṁ divyaṁ cariṣyatha surottamāḥ paśutvānmokṣyatha tadā yūyamatra na saṁśayaḥ

Therefore, O best of gods, practice this supreme, divine vow; then shall you be released from creaturehood — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.147.22)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य महेशस्य परात्मनः । तथेति चाब्रुवन्देवा हरिब्रह्मादयस्तथा

sanatkumāra uvāca ityākarṇya vacastasya maheśasya parātmanaḥ tatheti cābruvandevā haribrahmādayastathā

Sanatkumara said: "Hearing this word of the supreme-souled Mahesha, the gods, Hari and Brahma foremost among them, replied, 'So be it.'"

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.147.23)

तस्माद्वै पशवः सर्वे देवासुरवराः प्रभोः । रुद्रः पशुपतिश्चैव पशुपाशविमोचकः

tasmādvai paśavaḥ sarve devāsuravarāḥ prabhoḥ rudraḥ paśupatiścaiva paśupāśavimocakaḥ

Thus all the foremost gods and asuras became the Lord's creatures, and Rudra became Pashupati — the very releaser from the creature's bond.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.147.24)

तदा पशुपतीत्येतत्तस्य नाम महेशितुः । प्रसिद्धमभवद् ह्यद्धा सर्वलोकेषु शर्मदम्

tadā paśupatītyetattasya nāma maheśituḥ prasiddhamabhavad hyaddhā sarvalokeṣu śarmadam

Then this name of the great Lord, 'Pashupati,' became truly renowned throughout all the worlds, a name that bestows well-being.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.147.25)

मुदा जयेति भाषन्तः सर्वे देवर्षयस्तदा । अमुदंश्चाति देवेशो ब्रह्मा विष्णुः परेऽपि च

mudā jayeti bhāṣantaḥ sarve devarṣayastadā amudaṁścāti deveśo brahmā viṣṇuḥ pare'pi ca

Then all the gods and divine sages, crying 'Victory!' with joy, rejoiced greatly, and so too did the Lord of gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and the rest.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.147.26)

तस्मिंश्च समये यच्च रूपं तस्य महात्मनः । जातं तद्वर्णितुं शक्यं न हि वर्षशतैरपि

tasmiṁśca samaye yacca rūpaṁ tasya mahātmanaḥ jātaṁ tadvarṇituṁ śakyaṁ na hi varṣaśatairapi

And the form that great-souled one assumed at that moment cannot be described even in a hundred years.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.147.27)

एवंविधो महेशानो महेशान्यखिलेश्वरः । जगाम त्रिपुरं हन्तुं सर्वेषां सुखदायकः

evaṁvidho maheśāno maheśānyakhileśvaraḥ jagāma tripuraṁ hantuṁ sarveṣāṁ sukhadāyakaḥ

Thus formed, Mahesha — lord of Maheshani, ruler of all, giver of joy to every being — set forth to destroy Tripura.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.147.28)

तं देवदेवं त्रिपुरं निहन्तुं तदानु सर्वे तु रविप्रकाशाः । गजैर्हयैस्सिंहवरै रथैश्च वृषैर्ययुस्तेऽमरराजमुख्याः

taṁ devadevaṁ tripuraṁ nihantuṁ tadānu sarve tu raviprakāśāḥ gajairhayaissiṁhavarai rathaiśca vṛṣairyayuste'mararājamukhyāḥ

Behind that God of gods, going forth to destroy Tripura, all the chief lords of the immortals, radiant as the sun, followed on elephants, horses, splendid lions, chariots, and bulls.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.147.29)

हलैश्च शालैर्मुशलैर्भुशुण्डै- र्गिरीन्द्रकल्पैर्गिरिसन्निभाश्च । नानायुधैः संयुतबाहवस्ते ततो नु हृष्टाः प्रययुः सुरेशाः

halaiśca śālairmuśalairbhuśuṇḍai- rgirīndrakalpairgirisannibhāśca nānāyudhaiḥ saṁyutabāhavaste tato nu hṛṣṭāḥ prayayuḥ sureśāḥ

Their arms laden with ploughshares, spears, clubs, and sling-weapons — mountain-vast, resembling great mountain-lords, armed with manifold weapons — the lords of the gods, filled with delight, marched on.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.147.30)

नानायुधाढ्याः परमप्रकाशा महोत्सवाः शम्भुजयं वदन्तः । ययुः पुरस्तस्य महेश्वरस्य तदेन्द्रपद्मोद्भवविष्णुमुख्याः

nānāyudhāḍhyāḥ paramaprakāśā mahotsavāḥ śambhujayaṁ vadantaḥ yayuḥ purastasya maheśvarasya tadendrapadmodbhavaviṣṇumukhyāḥ

Rich with manifold weapons, supremely resplendent, rejoicing in great festivity, proclaiming Shambhu's victory, Indra, the lotus-born Brahma, Vishnu, and the other chiefs went on ahead of that great Lord.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.147.31)

जहृषुर्मुनयः सर्वे दण्डहस्ता जटाधराः । ववृषुः पुष्पवर्षाणि खेचरास्सिद्धचारणाः

jahṛṣurmunayaḥ sarve daṇḍahastā jaṭādharāḥ vavṛṣuḥ puṣpavarṣāṇi khecarāssiddhacāraṇāḥ

All the staff-bearing, matted-haired sages rejoiced; the sky-roaming siddhas and charanas showered down rains of flowers.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.147.32)

पुरत्रयं च विप्रेन्द्र व्रजन्सर्वे गणेश्वराः । तेषां सङ्ख्या च कः कर्तुं समर्थो वच्मि कांश्चन

puratrayaṁ ca viprendra vrajansarve gaṇeśvarāḥ teṣāṁ saṅkhyā ca kaḥ kartuṁ samartho vacmi kāṁścana

O foremost of Brahmins, all the lords of Shiva's hosts marched toward the three cities. Who could possibly count them? I shall name but a few.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.147.33)

गणेश्वरैर्देवगणैश्च भृङ्गी समावृतः सर्वगणेन्द्रवर्यः । जगाम योगांस्त्रिपुरं निहन्तुं विमानमारुह्य यथा महेन्द्रः

gaṇeśvarairdevagaṇaiśca bhṛṅgī samāvṛtaḥ sarvagaṇendravaryaḥ jagāma yogāṁstripuraṁ nihantuṁ vimānamāruhya yathā mahendraḥ

Surrounded by the lords of the ganas and hosts of gods, Bhringi, most excellent among all the lords of the ganas, mounted an aerial chariot and, by yogic power, set out to destroy Tripura, even as great Indra might.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.147.34)

केशो विगतवासश्च महाकेशो महाज्वरः । सोमवल्लीसवर्णश्च सोमपः सनकस्तथा

keśo vigatavāsaśca mahākeśo mahājvaraḥ somavallīsavarṇaśca somapaḥ sanakastathā

Kesha, Vigatavasa, Mahakesha, Mahajvara, Somavallisavarna, Somapa, and Sanaka too —

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.147.35)

सोमधृक् सूर्यवर्चाश्च सूर्यप्रेषणकस्तथा । सूर्याक्षः सूरिनामा च सुरः सुन्दर एव च

somadhṛk sūryavarcāśca sūryapreṣaṇakastathā sūryākṣaḥ sūrināmā ca suraḥ sundara eva ca

Somadhrik, Suryavarchas, Suryapreshanaka, Suryaksha, Surinama, Sura, and Sundara —

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.147.36)

प्रस्कन्दः कुन्दरश्चण्डः कम्पनश्चातिकम्पनः । इन्द्रश्चेन्द्रजवश्चैव यन्ता हिमकरस्तथा

praskandaḥ kundaraścaṇḍaḥ kampanaścātikampanaḥ indraścendrajavaścaiva yantā himakarastathā

Praskanda, Kundara, Chanda, Kampana, Atikampana, Indra, Indrajava, Yanta, and Himakara —

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.147.37)

शताक्षश्चैव पञ्चाक्षः सहस्राक्षो महोदरः । सतीजुहः शतास्यश्च रङ्कः कर्पूरपूतनः

śatākṣaścaiva pañcākṣaḥ sahasrākṣo mahodaraḥ satījuhaḥ śatāsyaśca raṅkaḥ karpūrapūtanaḥ

Shataksha, Panchaksha, Sahasraksha, Mahodara, Satijuha, Shatasya, Ranka, and Karpuraputana —

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.147.38)

द्विशिखस्त्रिशिखश्चैव तथाहङ्कारकारकः । अजवक्त्रोऽष्टवक्त्रश्च हयवक्त्रोऽर्द्धवक्त्रकः

dviśikhastriśikhaścaiva tathāhaṅkārakārakaḥ ajavaktro'ṣṭavaktraśca hayavaktro'rddhavaktrakaḥ

Dvishikha, Trishikha, Ahankarakaraka, Ajavaktra, Ashtavaktra, Hayavaktra, and Ardhavaktraka —

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.147.39)

इत्याद्या गणपा वीरा बहवोऽपरिमेयकाः । प्रययुः परिवार्येशं लक्ष्यलक्षणवर्जिताः

ityādyā gaṇapā vīrā bahavo'parimeyakāḥ prayayuḥ parivāryeśaṁ lakṣyalakṣaṇavarjitāḥ

These and many other heroic gana-leaders, innumerable and beyond all reckoning, marched forth, encircling the Lord.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.147.40)

समावृत्य महादेवं तदापुस्ते पिनाकिनम् । दग्धुं समर्था मनसा क्षणेन सचराचरम्

samāvṛtya mahādevaṁ tadāpuste pinākinam dagdhuṁ samarthā manasā kṣaṇena sacarācaram

Surrounding Mahadeva, the wielder of the Pinaka, they arrived there — those capable, by thought alone, of burning the whole moving and unmoving universe in an instant.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.147.41)

दग्धुं जगत्सर्वमिदं समर्थाः किं त्वत्र दग्धुं त्रिपुरं पिनाकी । रथेन किं चात्र शरेण तस्य गणैश्च किं देवगणैश्च शम्भोः

dagdhuṁ jagatsarvamidaṁ samarthāḥ kiṁ tvatra dagdhuṁ tripuraṁ pinākī rathena kiṁ cātra śareṇa tasya gaṇaiśca kiṁ devagaṇaiśca śambhoḥ

They were capable of burning this entire universe — what then, of burning Tripura here? What need, then, had Shambhu the Pinaka-wielder of his chariot, of his arrow, of the ganas, or of the hosts of gods?

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.147.42)

स एव दग्धुं त्रिपुराणि तानि देवद्विषां व्यास पिनाकपाणिः । स्वयं गतस्तत्र गणैश्च सार्द्धं निजैस्सुराणामपि सोऽद्भुतोतिः

sa eva dagdhuṁ tripurāṇi tāni devadviṣāṁ vyāsa pinākapāṇiḥ svayaṁ gatastatra gaṇaiśca sārddhaṁ nijaissurāṇāmapi so'dbhutotiḥ

O Vyasa, the Pinaka-bearer himself went there, together with his own ganas and with the gods, to burn those cities of the gods' enemies — his very conduct in this was itself a wonder.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.147.43)

किं तत्र कारणं चान्यद्वच्मि ते ऋषिसत्तम । लोकेषु ख्यापनार्थं वै यशः परमलापहम्

kiṁ tatra kāraṇaṁ cānyadvacmi te ṛṣisattama lokeṣu khyāpanārthaṁ vai yaśaḥ paramalāpaham

O best of sages, I shall tell you the further reason for this: it was to proclaim throughout the worlds his own supreme and stainless glory.

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.147.44)

अन्यच्च कारणं ह्येतद्दुष्टानां प्रत्ययाय वै । सर्वेष्वपि च देवेषु यस्मान्नान्यो विशिष्यते

anyacca kāraṇaṁ hyetadduṣṭānāṁ pratyayāya vai sarveṣvapi ca deveṣu yasmānnānyo viśiṣyate

And this too was a further reason: to convince the wicked that among all the gods, none other is his equal or superior.