The Birth of Shankhachuda

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.165.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथान्यच्छम्भुचरितं प्रेमतः शृणु वै मुने । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण शिवभक्तिर्दृढा भवेत्

sanatkumāra uvāca athānyacchambhucaritaṁ premataḥ śṛṇu vai mune yasya śravaṇamātreṇa śivabhaktirdṛḍhā bhavet

Sanatkumara said: "Now, O sage, listen lovingly to another account of Shambhu's deeds, by merely hearing which one's devotion to Shiva becomes firm."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.165.2)

शङ्खचूडाभिधो वीरो दानवो देवकण्टकः । यथा शिवेन निहतो रणमूर्ध्नि त्रिशूलतः

śaṅkhacūḍābhidho vīro dānavo devakaṇṭakaḥ yathā śivena nihato raṇamūrdhni triśūlataḥ

"How the heroic demon named Shankhachuda, a thorn in the side of the gods, was slain by Shiva with his trident at the very height of battle —"

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.165.3)

तच्छम्भुचरितं दिव्यं पवित्रं पापनाशनम् । शृणु व्यास सुसम्प्रीत्या वच्मि सुस्नेहतस्तव

tacchambhucaritaṁ divyaṁ pavitraṁ pāpanāśanam śṛṇu vyāsa susamprītyā vacmi susnehatastava

"that divine deed of Shambhu is sacred and destroys sin — hear it, O Vyasa, with great love; I tell it to you out of deep affection."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.165.4)

मरीचेस्तनयो धातुः पुत्रो यः कश्यपो मुनिः । स धर्मिष्ठःसृष्टिकर्त्ता विद्याज्ञप्तः प्रजापतिः

marīcestanayo dhātuḥ putro yaḥ kaśyapo muniḥ sa dharmiṣṭhaḥsṛṣṭikarttā vidyājñaptaḥ prajāpatiḥ

"Marichi's son was Dhatu, and Dhatu's son was the sage Kashyapa — a most righteous being, a creator, learned in knowledge, a Prajapati."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.165.5)

दक्षः प्रीत्या ददौ तस्मै निजकन्यास्त्रयोदश । तासां प्रसूतिः प्रसभं न कथ्या बहुविस्तृताः

dakṣaḥ prītyā dadau tasmai nijakanyāstrayodaśa tāsāṁ prasūtiḥ prasabhaṁ na kathyā bahuvistṛtāḥ

"Daksha, out of affection, gave him thirteen of his own daughters; their offspring were so vast in extent that they cannot be told in full."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.165.6)

यत्र देवादिनिखिलं चराचरमभूज्जगत् । विस्तरात्तत्प्रवक्तुं च कः क्षमोऽस्ति त्रिलोकके

yatra devādinikhilaṁ carācaramabhūjjagat vistarāttatpravaktuṁ ca kaḥ kṣamo'sti trilokake

"From them arose this entire moving and unmoving world, gods and all — who in the three worlds is capable of describing it in full?"

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.165.7)

प्रस्तुतं शृणु वृत्तान्तं शम्भुलीलान्वितं च यत् । तदेव कथयाम्यद्य शृणु भक्तिप्रवर्द्धनम्

prastutaṁ śṛṇu vṛttāntaṁ śambhulīlānvitaṁ ca yat tadeva kathayāmyadya śṛṇu bhaktipravarddhanam

"Now hear the account presently at hand, joined as it is with Shambhu's own sport; that alone I tell today — listen, for it increases devotion."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.165.8)

तासु कश्यपपत्नीषु दनुस्त्वेका वराङ्गना । महारूपवती साध्वी पतिसौभाग्यवर्द्धिता

tāsu kaśyapapatnīṣu danustvekā varāṅganā mahārūpavatī sādhvī patisaubhāgyavarddhitā

"Among Kashyapa's wives was one excellent lady named Danu — of great beauty, virtuous, and blessed through her husband's favor."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.165.9)

आसंस्तस्या दनोः पुत्रा बहवो बलवत्तराः । तेषां नामानि नोच्यन्ते विस्तारभयतो मुने

āsaṁstasyā danoḥ putrā bahavo balavattarāḥ teṣāṁ nāmāni nocyante vistārabhayato mune

"That Danu had many exceedingly mighty sons; their names, O sage, are not given here for fear of undue length."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.165.10)

तेष्वेको विप्रचित्तिस्तु महाबलपराक्रमः । तत्पुत्रो धार्मिको दम्भो विष्णुभक्तो जितेन्द्रियः

teṣveko vipracittistu mahābalaparākramaḥ tatputro dhārmiko dambho viṣṇubhakto jitendriyaḥ

"Among them was one named Vipracitti, of great strength and valor; his son was the righteous Dambha, a devotee of Vishnu, master of his senses."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.165.11)

नासीत्तत्तनयो वीरस्ततश्चिन्तापरोऽभवत् । शुक्राचार्यं गुरुं कृत्वा कृष्णमन्त्रमवाप्य च

nāsīttattanayo vīrastataścintāparo'bhavat śukrācāryaṁ guruṁ kṛtvā kṛṣṇamantramavāpya ca

"He had no heroic son, and so fell into anxious thought; making Shukracharya his teacher, and obtaining from him the mantra of Krishna —"

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.165.12)

तपश्चकार परमं पुष्करे लक्षवर्षकम् । कृष्णमन्त्रं जजापैव दृढं बद्ध्वासनं चिरम्

tapaścakāra paramaṁ puṣkare lakṣavarṣakam kṛṣṇamantraṁ jajāpaiva dṛḍhaṁ baddhvāsanaṁ ciram

"he performed supreme austerity at Pushkara for a hundred thousand years, having firmly fixed his seat, reciting the Krishna-mantra for a very long time."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.165.13)

तपः प्रकुर्वतस्तस्य मूर्ध्नो निःसृत्य प्रज्वलत् । विससार च सर्वत्र तत्तेजो हि सुदुःसहम्

tapaḥ prakurvatastasya mūrdhno niḥsṛtya prajvalat visasāra ca sarvatra tattejo hi suduḥsaham

"As he performed his austerity, a blazing splendour issued from his head and spread in every direction — a splendour exceedingly hard to bear."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.165.14)

तेन तप्ताः सुराः सर्वे मुनयो मनवस्तथा । सुनासीरं पुरस्कृत्य ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययुः

tena taptāḥ surāḥ sarve munayo manavastathā sunāsīraṁ puraskṛtya brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ

"Scorched by it, all the gods, the sages, and the Manus, with Indra at their head, went for refuge to Brahma."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.165.15)

प्रणम्य च विधातारं दातारं सर्वसम्पदाम् । तुष्टुवुर्विकलाः प्रोचुः स्ववृत्तान्तं विशेषतः

praṇamya ca vidhātāraṁ dātāraṁ sarvasampadām tuṣṭuvurvikalāḥ procuḥ svavṛttāntaṁ viśeṣataḥ

"Bowing to the Creator, the giver of every prosperity, they, in their distress, praised him and related their entire situation to him in detail."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.165.16)

तदाकर्ण्य विधातापि वैकुण्ठं तैर्ययौ सह । तदेव विज्ञापयितुं निखिलेन हि विष्णवे

tadākarṇya vidhātāpi vaikuṇṭhaṁ tairyayau saha tadeva vijñāpayituṁ nikhilena hi viṣṇave

"Hearing this, the Creator too went together with them to Vaikuntha, in order to inform Vishnu of the whole matter."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.165.17)

तत्र गत्वा त्रिलोकेशं विष्णुं रक्षाकरं परम् । प्रणम्य तुष्टुवुःसर्वे करौ बद्ध्वा विनम्रकाः

tatra gatvā trilokeśaṁ viṣṇuṁ rakṣākaraṁ param praṇamya tuṣṭuvuḥsarve karau baddhvā vinamrakāḥ

"Arriving there, all of them, with joined hands and in humility, bowed to and praised Vishnu, Lord of the three worlds, the supreme protector."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.165.18)

देवा ऊचुः । देवदेव न जानीमो जातं किं कारणं त्विह । सन्तप्ताः सकला जातास्तेजसा केन तद्वद

devā ūcuḥ devadeva na jānīmo jātaṁ kiṁ kāraṇaṁ tviha santaptāḥ sakalā jātāstejasā kena tadvada

The gods said: "O God of gods, we do not know what has happened, nor its cause; all of us have grown scorched — please tell us by whose splendour this is."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.165.19)

तप्तात्मनां त्वमविता दीनबन्धोऽनुजीविनाम् । रक्ष रक्ष रमानाथ शरण्यः शरणागतान्

taptātmanāṁ tvamavitā dīnabandho'nujīvinām rakṣa rakṣa ramānātha śaraṇyaḥ śaraṇāgatān

"You are the protector of afflicted souls, O friend of the lowly and dependent. Protect us, protect us, O Lord of Lakshmi, refuge of those who take refuge in you."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.165.20)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचो विष्णुर्ब्रह्मादीनां दिवौकसाम् । उवाच विहसन्प्रेम्णा शरणागतवत्सलः

sanatkumāra uvāca iti śrutvā vaco viṣṇurbrahmādīnāṁ divaukasām uvāca vihasanpremṇā śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ

Sanatkumara said: "Hearing this appeal of Brahma and the other gods, Vishnu, ever affectionate toward those who seek refuge, smiled and spoke with love."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.165.21)

विष्णुरुवाच । सुस्वस्था भवताव्यग्रा न भयं कुरुतामराः । नोपप्लवा भविष्यन्ते लयकालो न विद्यते

viṣṇuruvāca susvasthā bhavatāvyagrā na bhayaṁ kurutāmarāḥ nopaplavā bhaviṣyante layakālo na vidyate

Vishnu said: "Be at ease and untroubled, O immortals; have no fear. No calamity shall come, nor is this the time of dissolution."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.165.22)

दानवो दम्भनामा हि मद्भक्तः कुरुते तपः । पुत्रार्थी शमयिष्यामि तमहं वरदानतः

dānavo dambhanāmā hi madbhaktaḥ kurute tapaḥ putrārthī śamayiṣyāmi tamahaṁ varadānataḥ

"A demon named Dambha, a devotee of mine, is performing austerity in desire of a son; I shall pacify him by granting him the boon he seeks."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.165.23)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्तास्ते सुराःसर्वे धैर्यमालम्ब्य वै मुने । ययुर्ब्रह्मादयः सुस्थाः स्वस्वधामानि सर्वशः

sanatkumāra uvāca ityuktāste surāḥsarve dhairyamālambya vai mune yayurbrahmādayaḥ susthāḥ svasvadhāmāni sarvaśaḥ

Sanatkumara said: "Thus reassured, O sage, all the gods, Brahma and the rest, taking heart, went at ease each to their own abode."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.165.24)

अच्युतोऽपि वरं दातुं पुष्करं सञ्जगाम ह । तपश्चरति यत्रासौ दम्भनामा हि दानवः

acyuto'pi varaṁ dātuṁ puṣkaraṁ sañjagāma ha tapaścarati yatrāsau dambhanāmā hi dānavaḥ

"Achyuta too, in order to grant the boon, went to Pushkara, where that demon named Dambha was performing his austerity."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.165.25)

तत्र गत्वा वरं ब्रूहीत्युवाच परिसान्त्वयन् । गिरा सूनृतया भक्तं जपन्तं स्वमनुं हरिः

tatra gatvā varaṁ brūhītyuvāca parisāntvayan girā sūnṛtayā bhaktaṁ japantaṁ svamanuṁ hariḥ

"Going there, Hari, comforting his devotee, who was reciting Hari's own mantra, said to him in a gentle voice, 'Ask for a boon.'"

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.165.26)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं विष्णोर्दृष्ट्वा तं च पुरः स्थितम् । प्रणनाम महाभक्त्या तुष्टाव च पुनः पुनः

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ viṣṇordṛṣṭvā taṁ ca puraḥ sthitam praṇanāma mahābhaktyā tuṣṭāva ca punaḥ punaḥ

"Hearing this word of Vishnu, and seeing him standing before him, he bowed with great devotion and praised him again and again."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.165.27)

दम्भ उवाच । देवदेव नमस्तेऽस्तु पुण्डरीकविलोचन । रमानाथ त्रिलोकेश कृपां कुरु ममोपरि

dambha uvāca devadeva namaste'stu puṇḍarīkavilocana ramānātha trilokeśa kṛpāṁ kuru mamopari

Dambha said: "O God of gods, salutation to you, O lotus-eyed one. O Lord of Lakshmi, Lord of the three worlds, show your mercy upon me."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.165.28)

स्वभक्तं तनयं देहि महाबल पराक्रमम् । त्रिलोकजयिनं वीरमजेयं च दिवौकसाम्

svabhaktaṁ tanayaṁ dehi mahābala parākramam trilokajayinaṁ vīramajeyaṁ ca divaukasām

"Grant me a son, your own devotee, of great strength and valor — a hero who conquers the three worlds, unconquerable even by the gods."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.165.29)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्तो दानवेन्द्रेण तं वरं प्रददौ हरिः । निवर्त्य चोग्रतपसः ततः सोऽन्तरधान्मुने

sanatkumāra uvāca ityukto dānavendreṇa taṁ varaṁ pradadau hariḥ nivartya cogratapasaḥ tataḥ so'ntaradhānmune

Sanatkumara said: "Thus entreated by the lord of the demons, Hari granted him that boon; then, having made him desist from his fierce austerity, O sage, he vanished from sight."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.165.30)

गते हरौ दानवेन्द्रः कृत्वा तस्यै दिशे नमः । जगाम स्वगृहं सिद्धतपाः पूर्णमनोरथः

gate harau dānavendraḥ kṛtvā tasyai diśe namaḥ jagāma svagṛhaṁ siddhatapāḥ pūrṇamanorathaḥ

"When Hari had departed, the lord of the demons, bowing in that direction, went home — his austerity accomplished and his heart's desire fulfilled."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.165.31)

कालेनाल्पेन तत्पत्नी सगर्भा भाग्यवत्यभूत् । रराज तेजसात्यन्तं रोचयन्ती गृहान्तरम्

kālenālpena tatpatnī sagarbhā bhāgyavatyabhūt rarāja tejasātyantaṁ rocayantī gṛhāntaram

"In a short time his wife, blessed with good fortune, conceived; she shone with exceeding splendour, lighting up the very interior of the house."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.165.32)

सुदामा नाम गोपो यो कृष्णस्य पार्षदाग्रणीः । तस्या गर्भे विवेशासौ राधाशप्तश्च यन्मुने

sudāmā nāma gopo yo kṛṣṇasya pārṣadāgraṇīḥ tasyā garbhe viveśāsau rādhāśaptaśca yanmune

"Sudama, the cowherd who was foremost among Krishna's attendants, and who had been cursed by Radha, O sage — he it was who entered her womb."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.165.33)

असूत समये साध्वी सुप्रभं तनयं ततः । जातकं सुचकारासौ पिताऽऽहूय मुनीन्बहून्

asūta samaye sādhvī suprabhaṁ tanayaṁ tataḥ jātakaṁ sucakārāsau pitā''hūya munīnbahūn

"At the appointed time, the virtuous woman gave birth to a radiant son; the father, summoning many sages, duly performed the birth rites."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.165.34)

उत्सवः सुमहानासीत्तस्मिञ्जाते द्विजोत्तम । नाम चक्रे पिता तस्य शङ्खचूडेति सद्दिने

utsavaḥ sumahānāsīttasmiñjāte dvijottama nāma cakre pitā tasya śaṅkhacūḍeti saddine

"O best of Brahmins, there was a very great celebration at his birth; on an auspicious day his father gave him the name Shankhachuda."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.165.35)

पितुर्गेहे स ववृधे शुक्लपक्षे यथा शशी । शैशवेऽभ्यस्तविद्यस्तु स बभूव सुदीप्तिमान्

piturgehe sa vavṛdhe śuklapakṣe yathā śaśī śaiśave'bhyastavidyastu sa babhūva sudīptimān

"He grew up in his father's house like the moon waxing in the bright fortnight; having mastered learning in his childhood, he became exceedingly radiant."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.165.36)

स बालक्रीडया नित्यं पित्रोर्हर्षं ततान ह । प्रियो बभूव सर्वेषां कुलजानां विशेषतः

sa bālakrīḍayā nityaṁ pitrorharṣaṁ tatāna ha priyo babhūva sarveṣāṁ kulajānāṁ viśeṣataḥ

"By his childhood play he continually increased his parents' joy; he became dear to everyone, and especially to the members of his own lineage."