The Gods' Praise of Shiva

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.149.1)

व्यास उवाच । ब्रह्मपुत्र महाप्राज्ञ धन्यस्त्वं शैवसत्तम । किमकार्षुस्ततो देवा दग्धे च त्रिपुरेऽखिलाः

vyāsa uvāca brahmaputra mahāprājña dhanyastvaṁ śaivasattama kimakārṣustato devā dagdhe ca tripure'khilāḥ

Vyasa said: "O son of Brahma, greatly wise one, blessed are you, best among the devotees of Shiva! What did the gods do then, once Tripura had been entirely burned?"

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.149.2)

मयः कुत्र गतोऽदग्धो यतयः कुत्र ते गताः । तत्सर्वं मे समाचक्ष्व यदि शम्भुकथाश्रयम्

mayaḥ kutra gato'dagdho yatayaḥ kutra te gatāḥ tatsarvaṁ me samācakṣva yadi śambhukathāśrayam

"Where did Maya, unburned, go? And where did those ascetics go? Tell me all of this, if it belongs within the story of Shambhu."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.149.3)

सूत उवाच । व्यासवाक्यं समाकर्ण्य भगवान्भवकृत्सुतः । सनत्कुमारः प्रोवाच शिवपादयुगं स्मरन्

sūta uvāca vyāsavākyaṁ samākarṇya bhagavānbhavakṛtsutaḥ sanatkumāraḥ provāca śivapādayugaṁ smaran

Suta said: Hearing Vyasa's words, the blessed son of the Creator, Sanatkumara, calling to mind the pair of Shiva's feet, spoke.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.149.4)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणु व्यास महाबुद्धे पाराशर्य्य महेशितुः । चरितं सर्वपापघ्नं लोकलीलानुसारिणः

sanatkumāra uvāca śṛṇu vyāsa mahābuddhe pārāśaryya maheśituḥ caritaṁ sarvapāpaghnaṁ lokalīlānusāriṇaḥ

Sanatkumara said: "Listen, O greatly wise Vyasa, son of Parashara, to the account of the great Lord, destroyer of every sin, who conducts himself according to the play of the world."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.149.5)

महेश्वरेण सर्वस्मिंस्त्रिपुरे दैत्यसङ्कुले । दग्धे विशेषतस्तत्र विस्मितास्तेऽभवन्सुराः

maheśvareṇa sarvasmiṁstripure daityasaṅkule dagdhe viśeṣatastatra vismitāste'bhavansurāḥ

When Maheshvara had burned the whole of Tripura, crowded as it was with daityas, the gods there were struck with utter astonishment.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.149.6)

न किञ्चिदब्रुवन्देवाः सेन्द्रोपेन्द्रादयस्तदा । महातेजस्विनं रुद्रं सर्वे वीक्ष्य ससम्भ्रमाः

na kiñcidabruvandevāḥ sendropendrādayastadā mahātejasvinaṁ rudraṁ sarve vīkṣya sasambhramāḥ

The gods, Indra and Upendra foremost among them, said nothing at all, gazing in bewildered awe upon the greatly radiant Rudra.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.149.7)

महाभयङ्करं रौद्रं प्रज्वलन्तं दिशो दश । कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं प्रलयानलसन्निभम्

mahābhayaṅkaraṁ raudraṁ prajvalantaṁ diśo daśa koṭisūryapratīkāśaṁ pralayānalasannibham

He was utterly terrible, fierce, ablaze in all ten directions, radiant as ten million suns, resembling the very fire of universal dissolution.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.149.8)

भयाद्देवं निरीक्ष्यैव देवीं च हिमवत्सुताम् । बिभ्यिरे निखिला देवप्रमुखास्तस्थुरानताः

bhayāddevaṁ nirīkṣyaiva devīṁ ca himavatsutām bibhyire nikhilā devapramukhāstasthurānatāḥ

Merely from beholding that god, and the goddess, Himavat's daughter, all the chief gods trembled in fear and stood there bowed.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.149.9)

दृष्ट्वानीकं तदा भीतं देवानामृषिपुङ्गवाः । न किञ्चिदूचुः सन्तस्थुः प्रणेमुस्ते समन्ततः

dṛṣṭvānīkaṁ tadā bhītaṁ devānāmṛṣipuṅgavāḥ na kiñcidūcuḥ santasthuḥ praṇemuste samantataḥ

Seeing that army of gods thus terrified, the foremost sages said nothing at all; they simply stood in silence and bowed down on every side.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.149.10)

अथ ब्रह्मापि सम्भीतो दृष्ट्वा रूपं च शाङ्करम् । तुष्टाव तुष्टहृदयो देवैः सह समाहितः

atha brahmāpi sambhīto dṛṣṭvā rūpaṁ ca śāṅkaram tuṣṭāva tuṣṭahṛdayo devaiḥ saha samāhitaḥ

Then Brahma too, awed at the sight of Shankara's form, yet glad at heart, composed himself together with the gods and began his praise.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.149.11)

विष्णुना च सभीतेन देवदेवं भवं हरम् । त्रिपुरारिं सगिरिजं भक्ताधीनं महेश्वरम्

viṣṇunā ca sabhītena devadevaṁ bhavaṁ haram tripurāriṁ sagirijaṁ bhaktādhīnaṁ maheśvaram

And Vishnu too, likewise struck with awe, turned to that God of gods, Bhava, Hara, the foe of Tripura, Maheshvara together with the Mountain's daughter — he who ever submits himself to his devotees —

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.149.12)

ब्रह्मोवाच । देवदेव महादेव भक्तानुग्रहकारक । प्रसीद परमेशान सर्वदेवहितप्रद

brahmovāca devadeva mahādeva bhaktānugrahakāraka prasīda parameśāna sarvadevahitaprada

Brahma said: "O God of gods, Mahadeva, bestower of grace on your devotees! Be gracious, O supreme Lord, giver of welfare to all the gods."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.149.13)

प्रसीद जगतां नाथ प्रसीदानन्ददायक । प्रसीद शङ्कर स्वामिन् प्रसीद परमेश्वर

prasīda jagatāṁ nātha prasīdānandadāyaka prasīda śaṅkara svāmin prasīda parameśvara

"Be gracious, O Lord of the worlds; be gracious, O giver of bliss; be gracious, O Shankara, my Lord; be gracious, O supreme Lord."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.149.14)

ओङ्काराय नमस्तुभ्यमाकारपरतारक । प्रसीद सर्वदेवेश त्रिपुरघ्न महेश्वर

oṅkārāya namastubhyamākāraparatāraka prasīda sarvadeveśa tripuraghna maheśvara

"Salutation to you, the very syllable Om, the redeemer beyond all form! Be gracious, O Lord of all the gods, destroyer of Tripura, great Lord."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.149.15)

नानावाच्याय देवाय प्रणतप्रिय शङ्कर । अगुणाय नमस्तुभ्यं प्रकृतेः पुरुषात्पर

nānāvācyāya devāya praṇatapriya śaṅkara aguṇāya namastubhyaṁ prakṛteḥ puruṣātpara

"To the god spoken of by many names, O Shankara, dear to those who bow before you; salutation to you, the attributeless one, beyond both Prakriti and Purusha."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.149.16)

निर्विकाराय नित्याय नित्यतृप्ताय भास्वते । निरञ्जनाय दिव्याय त्रिगुणाय नमोऽस्तु ते

nirvikārāya nityāya nityatṛptāya bhāsvate nirañjanāya divyāya triguṇāya namo'stu te

"Salutation to you — the changeless, the eternal, the ever-content, the radiant, the stainless, the divine, and the one who is the three qualities themselves."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.149.17)

सगुणाय नमस्तुभ्यं स्वर्गेशाय नमोस्तु ते । सदाशिवाय शान्ताय महेशाय पिनाकिने

saguṇāya namastubhyaṁ svargeśāya namostu te sadāśivāya śāntāya maheśāya pinākine

"Salutation to you, the one with qualities; salutation to you, Lord of heaven; to Sadashiva, the tranquil one, the great Lord, wielder of the Pinaka."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.149.18)

सर्वज्ञाय शरण्याय सद्योजाताय ते नमः । वामदेवाय रुद्राय तदाप्यपुरुषाय च

sarvajñāya śaraṇyāya sadyojātāya te namaḥ vāmadevāya rudrāya tadāpyapuruṣāya ca

"Salutation to you, the all-knowing, the refuge, Sadyojata; to Vamadeva, to Rudra, and to that same Tatpurusha as well."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.149.19)

अघोराय सुसेव्याय भक्ताधीनाय ते नमः । ईशानाय वरेण्याय भक्तानन्दप्रदायिने

aghorāya susevyāya bhaktādhīnāya te namaḥ īśānāya vareṇyāya bhaktānandapradāyine

"Salutation to you, Aghora, most worthy of service, ever subject to your devotees; to Ishana, most excellent, the bestower of bliss upon devotees."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.149.20)

रक्ष रक्ष महादेव भीतान्नः सकलामरान् । दग्ध्वा च त्रिपुरं सर्वे कृतार्था अमराः कृताः

rakṣa rakṣa mahādeva bhītānnaḥ sakalāmarān dagdhvā ca tripuraṁ sarve kṛtārthā amarāḥ kṛtāḥ

"Protect us, protect us, O Mahadeva — all the immortals here in fear. By burning Tripura, you have made every immortal's purpose fulfilled."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.149.21)

स्तुत्वैवं देवताःसर्वे नमस्कारं पृथक्पृथक् । चक्रुस्ते परमप्रीता ब्रह्माद्यास्तु सदाशिवम्

stutvaivaṁ devatāḥsarve namaskāraṁ pṛthakpṛthak cakruste paramaprītā brahmādyāstu sadāśivam

Having thus offered praise, all the gods, Brahma foremost among them, greatly delighted, each bowed down separately to Sadashiva.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.149.22)

अथ ब्रह्मा स्वयं देवं त्रिपुरारिं महेश्वरम् । तुष्टाव प्रणतो भूत्वा नतस्कन्धः कृताञ्जलिः

atha brahmā svayaṁ devaṁ tripurāriṁ maheśvaram tuṣṭāva praṇato bhūtvā nataskandhaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ

Then Brahma himself, bowing low, shoulders bent, hands folded in reverence, praised the god Maheshvara, foe of Tripura.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.149.23)

ब्रह्मोवाच । भगवन्देवदेवेश त्रिपुरान्तक शङ्कर । त्वयि भक्तिः परा मेऽस्तु महादेवानपायिनी

brahmovāca bhagavandevadeveśa tripurāntaka śaṅkara tvayi bhaktiḥ parā me'stu mahādevānapāyinī

Brahma said: "O Lord, God of gods, Shankara, destroyer of Tripura! May my supreme devotion to you, O Mahadeva, remain forever unfailing."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.149.24)

सर्वदा मेऽस्तु सारथ्यं तव देवेश शङ्कर । अनुकूलो भव विभो सदा त्वं परमेश्वर

sarvadā me'stu sārathyaṁ tava deveśa śaṅkara anukūlo bhava vibho sadā tvaṁ parameśvara

"May I be your charioteer forever, O Lord of gods, Shankara. O mighty one, O supreme Lord, be ever gracious toward me."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.149.25)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इति स्तुत्वा विधिः शम्भुं भक्तवत्सलमानतः । विरराम नतस्कन्धः कृताञ्जलिरुदारधीः

sanatkumāra uvāca iti stutvā vidhiḥ śambhuṁ bhaktavatsalamānataḥ virarāma nataskandhaḥ kṛtāñjalirudāradhīḥ

Sanatkumara said: "Thus having praised Shambhu, affectionate to his devotees, Brahma, noble of mind, bowed low with hands folded, and fell silent."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.149.26)

जनार्दनोऽपि भगवान् नमस्कृत्य महेश्वरम् । कृताञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा तुष्टाव च महेश्वरम्

janārdano'pi bhagavān namaskṛtya maheśvaram kṛtāñjalipuṭo bhūtvā tuṣṭāva ca maheśvaram

The blessed Janardana [Vishnu] too, bowing to Maheshvara, hands folded in homage, offered his own praise to Maheshvara.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.149.27)

विष्णुरुवाच । देवाधीश महेशान दीनबन्धो कृपाकर । प्रसीद परमेशान कृपां कुरु नतप्रिय

viṣṇuruvāca devādhīśa maheśāna dīnabandho kṛpākara prasīda parameśāna kṛpāṁ kuru natapriya

Vishnu said: "O ruler of gods, Mahesha, friend of the lowly, worker of mercy! Be gracious, O supreme Lord; show your grace, O lover of those who bow."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.149.28)

निर्गुणाय नमस्तुभ्यं पुनश्च सगुणाय च । पुनः प्रकृतिरूपाय पुनश्च पुरुषाय च

nirguṇāya namastubhyaṁ punaśca saguṇāya ca punaḥ prakṛtirūpāya punaśca puruṣāya ca

"Salutation to you, the attributeless, and again to you with attributes; again in the form of Prakriti, and again as Purusha."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.149.29)

पश्चाद् गुणस्वरूपाय नतो विश्वात्मने नमः । भक्तिप्रियाय शान्ताय शिवाय परमात्मने

paścād guṇasvarūpāya nato viśvātmane namaḥ bhaktipriyāya śāntāya śivāya paramātmane

"And bowing, too, before your very form as the qualities themselves, salutation to the Soul of the universe — to you who love devotion, the tranquil one, the auspicious, the Supreme Self."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.149.30)

सदाशिवाय रुद्राय जगतां पतये नमः । त्वयि भक्तिर्दृढा मेऽद्य वर्द्धमाना भवत्विति

sadāśivāya rudrāya jagatāṁ pataye namaḥ tvayi bhaktirdṛḍhā me'dya varddhamānā bhavatviti

"Salutation to Sadashiva, to Rudra, to the Lord of all the worlds. May my devotion to you, from this day, remain steadfast and ever grow."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.149.31)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा विररामासौ शैवप्रवरसत्तमः । सर्वे देवाः प्रणम्योचुस्ततस्तं परमेश्वरम्

sanatkumāra uvāca ityuktvā virarāmāsau śaivapravarasattamaḥ sarve devāḥ praṇamyocustatastaṁ parameśvaram

Sanatkumara said: "Having spoken thus, that foremost among Shiva's devotees fell silent. Then all the gods, bowing, addressed that supreme Lord."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.149.32)

देवा ऊचुः । देवनाथ महादेव करुणाकर शङ्कर । प्रसीद जगतां नाथ प्रसीद परमेश्वर

devā ūcuḥ devanātha mahādeva karuṇākara śaṅkara prasīda jagatāṁ nātha prasīda parameśvara

The gods said: "O Lord of gods, Mahadeva, worker of compassion, Shankara! Be gracious, O Lord of the worlds; be gracious, O supreme Lord."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.149.33)

प्रसीद सर्वकर्ता त्वं नमामस्त्वां वयं मुदा । त्वयि भक्तिर्दृढास्माकं नित्यं स्यादनपायिनी

prasīda sarvakartā tvaṁ namāmastvāṁ vayaṁ mudā tvayi bhaktirdṛḍhāsmākaṁ nityaṁ syādanapāyinī

"Be gracious; you alone are the maker of all things. We bow before you in joy. May our devotion to you remain ever firm and unfailing."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.149.34)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इति स्तुतश्च देवेशो ब्रह्मणा हरिणामरैः । प्रत्युवाच प्रसन्नात्मा शङ्करो लोकशङ्करः

sanatkumāra uvāca iti stutaśca deveśo brahmaṇā hariṇāmaraiḥ pratyuvāca prasannātmā śaṅkaro lokaśaṅkaraḥ

Sanatkumara said: "Thus praised by Brahma, Hari, and the other gods, the Lord of gods, Shankara, benefactor of the world, replied with a gladdened heart."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.149.35)

शङ्कर उवाच । हे विधे हे हरे देवाः प्रसन्नोऽस्मि विशेषतः । मनोऽभिलषितं ब्रूत वरं सर्वे विचारतः

śaṅkara uvāca he vidhe he hare devāḥ prasanno'smi viśeṣataḥ mano'bhilaṣitaṁ brūta varaṁ sarve vicārataḥ

Shankar said: "O Vidhi, O Hari, O gods, I am especially well pleased. Deliberate well, all of you, and tell me the boon your hearts desire."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.149.36)

सनत्कुमारः उवाच । इत्युक्तं वचनं श्रुत्वा हरेण मुनिसत्तम । प्रत्यूचुः सर्वदेवाश्च प्रसन्नेनान्तरात्मना

sanatkumāraḥ uvāca ityuktaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā hareṇa munisattama pratyūcuḥ sarvadevāśca prasannenāntarātmanā

Sanatkumara said: "O best of sages, hearing this word spoken by Hara, all the gods replied, their inmost hearts rejoicing."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.149.37)

सर्वे देवा ऊचुः । यदि प्रसन्नो भगवन्यदि देयो वरस्त्वया । देवदेवेश चास्मभ्यं ज्ञात्वा दासान्हि नः सुरान्

sarve devā ūcuḥ yadi prasanno bhagavanyadi deyo varastvayā devadeveśa cāsmabhyaṁ jñātvā dāsānhi naḥ surān

All the gods said: "If you are pleased, O Lord, and if a boon is indeed to be granted by you, then, O God of gods, knowing us to be your very servants —"

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.149.38)

यदा दुःखं तु देवानां सम्भवेद्देवसत्तम । तदा त्वं प्रकटो भूत्वा दुःखं नाशय सर्वदा

yadā duḥkhaṁ tu devānāṁ sambhaveddevasattama tadā tvaṁ prakaṭo bhūtvā duḥkhaṁ nāśaya sarvadā

"— whenever sorrow should come upon the gods, O best of gods, may you then become manifest and forever destroy that sorrow."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.149.39)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्तो भगवान् रुद्रो ब्रह्मणा हरिणामरैः । युगपत्प्राह तुष्टात्मा तथेत्यस्तु निरन्तरम्

sanatkumāra uvāca ityukto bhagavān rudro brahmaṇā hariṇāmaraiḥ yugapatprāha tuṣṭātmā tathetyastu nirantaram

Sanatkumara said: "Thus addressed all at once by Brahma, Hari, and the gods, Lord Rudra, glad at heart, replied: 'So let it be, without end.'"

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.149.40)

स्तवैरेतैश्च तुष्टोऽस्मि दास्यामि सर्वदा ध्रुवम् । यदभीष्टतमं लोके पठतां शृण्वतां सुराः

stavairetaiśca tuṣṭo'smi dāsyāmi sarvadā dhruvam yadabhīṣṭatamaṁ loke paṭhatāṁ śṛṇvatāṁ surāḥ

"And I am well pleased by these hymns of praise. To whoever, O gods, recites or hears this account in the world, I shall forever, without fail, grant their heart's most cherished desire."

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.149.41)

इत्युक्त्वा शङ्करः प्रीतो देवदुःखहरः सदा । सर्वदेवप्रियं यद्वै तत्सर्वं च प्रदत्तवान्

ityuktvā śaṅkaraḥ prīto devaduḥkhaharaḥ sadā sarvadevapriyaṁ yadvai tatsarvaṁ ca pradattavān

Having spoken thus, Shankara — ever the remover of the gods' sorrow — well pleased, granted them everything that was dear and pleasing to all the gods.