Shankhachuda's Austerities and Marriage

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.166.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततश्च शङ्खचूडोऽसौ जैगीषव्योपदेशतः । ततश्चकार सुप्रीत्या ब्रह्मणः पुष्करे चिरम्

sanatkumāra uvāca tataśca śaṅkhacūḍo'sau jaigīṣavyopadeśataḥ tataścakāra suprītyā brahmaṇaḥ puṣkare ciram

Sanatkumara said: "Thereafter, on the instruction of the sage Jaigishavya, Shankhachuda performed, with great devotion, austerity to Brahma at Pushkara for a long time."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.166.2)

गुरुदत्तां ब्रह्मविद्यां जजाप नियतेन्द्रियः । स एकाग्रमना भूत्वा करणानि निगृह्य च

gurudattāṁ brahmavidyāṁ jajāpa niyatendriyaḥ sa ekāgramanā bhūtvā karaṇāni nigṛhya ca

"With his senses controlled, he recited the Brahma-vidya given by his teacher; becoming single-minded and restraining his organs —"

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.166.3)

तपन्तं पुष्करे तं वै शङ्खचूडं च दानवम् । वरं दातुं जगामाशु ब्रह्मा लोकगुरुर्विभुः

tapantaṁ puṣkare taṁ vai śaṅkhacūḍaṁ ca dānavam varaṁ dātuṁ jagāmāśu brahmā lokagururvibhuḥ

"To that demon Shankhachuda, performing austerity at Pushkara, Brahma, the mighty preceptor of the worlds, swiftly came to grant a boon."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.166.4)

वरं ब्रूहीति प्रोवाच दानवेन्द्रं विधिस्तदा । स दृष्ट्वा तं ननामातिनम्रस्तुष्टाव सद्गिरा

varaṁ brūhīti provāca dānavendraṁ vidhistadā sa dṛṣṭvā taṁ nanāmātinamrastuṣṭāva sadgirā

"The Creator then said to the lord of the demons, 'Ask for a boon.' Seeing him, he bowed most humbly and praised him with sincere words."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.166.5)

वरं ययाचे ब्रह्माणमजेयत्वं दिवौकसाम् । तथेत्याह विधिस्तं वै सुप्रसन्नेन चेतसा

varaṁ yayāce brahmāṇamajeyatvaṁ divaukasām tathetyāha vidhistaṁ vai suprasannena cetasā

"He asked Brahma for the boon of being unconquerable by the gods; the Creator, with a most gracious heart, said to him, 'So be it.'"

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.166.6)

श्रीकृष्णकवचं दिव्यं जगन्मङ्गलमङ्गलम् । दत्तवान् शङ्खचूडाय सर्वत्र विजयप्रदम्

śrīkṛṣṇakavacaṁ divyaṁ jaganmaṅgalamaṅgalam dattavān śaṅkhacūḍāya sarvatra vijayapradam

"He gave Shankhachuda the divine armor of Shri Krishna, the most auspicious of all auspicious things in the world, granting victory everywhere."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.166.7)

बदरीं सम्प्रयाहि त्वं तुलस्या सह तत्र वै । विवाहं कुरु तत्रैव सा तपस्यति कामतः

badarīṁ samprayāhi tvaṁ tulasyā saha tatra vai vivāhaṁ kuru tatraiva sā tapasyati kāmataḥ

"Go now to Badari; there marry Tulasi — she is performing austerity there, desiring a husband."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.166.8)

धर्मध्वजसुता सेति सन्दिदेश च तं विधिः । अन्तर्धानं जगामाशु पश्यतस्तस्य तत्क्षणात्

dharmadhvajasutā seti sandideśa ca taṁ vidhiḥ antardhānaṁ jagāmāśu paśyatastasya tatkṣaṇāt

"'She is the daughter of Dharmadhvaja' — having instructed him thus, the Creator vanished at once, right before his eyes."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.166.9)

ततःस शङ्खचूडो हि तपःसिद्धोऽतिपुष्करे । गले बबन्ध कवचं जगन्मङ्गलमङ्गलम्

tataḥsa śaṅkhacūḍo hi tapaḥsiddho'tipuṣkare gale babandha kavacaṁ jaganmaṅgalamaṅgalam

"Then Shankhachuda, his austerity at Pushkara now accomplished, bound around his neck that armor, most auspicious among the world's auspicious things."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.166.10)

आज्ञया ब्रह्मणः सोऽपि तपःसिद्धमनोरथः । समाययौ प्रहृष्टास्यस्तूर्णं बदरिकाश्रमम्

ājñayā brahmaṇaḥ so'pi tapaḥsiddhamanorathaḥ samāyayau prahṛṣṭāsyastūrṇaṁ badarikāśramam

"At Brahma's command, he too, his desire now accomplished through his austerity, came swiftly, his face full of joy, to the Badarikashrama."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.166.11)

यदृच्छयाऽऽगतस्तत्र शङ्खचूडश्च दानवः । तपश्चरन्ती तुलसी यत्र धर्मध्वजात्मजा

yadṛcchayā''gatastatra śaṅkhacūḍaśca dānavaḥ tapaścarantī tulasī yatra dharmadhvajātmajā

"The demon Shankhachuda, arriving there as if by mere chance, found Tulasi, the daughter of Dharmadhvaja, performing her austerity in that place."

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.166.12)

सुरूपा सुस्मिता तन्वी शुभभूषणभूषिता । सकटाक्षं ददर्शासौ तमेव पुरुषं परम्

surūpā susmitā tanvī śubhabhūṣaṇabhūṣitā sakaṭākṣaṁ dadarśāsau tameva puruṣaṁ param

"Of lovely form, gently smiling, slender, adorned with auspicious ornaments, she gazed with a sidelong glance upon that supreme man."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.166.13)

दृष्ट्वा तां ललितां रम्यां सुशीलां सुन्दरीं सतीम् । उवास तत्समीपे तु मधुरं तामुवाच सः

dṛṣṭvā tāṁ lalitāṁ ramyāṁ suśīlāṁ sundarīṁ satīm uvāsa tatsamīpe tu madhuraṁ tāmuvāca saḥ

"Seeing her — graceful, delightful, of good character, beautiful, and chaste — he sat down near her and spoke to her sweetly."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.166.14)

शङ्खचूड उवाच । का त्वं कस्य सुता त्वं हि किं करोषि स्थितात्र किम् । मौनीभूता किङ्करं मां सम्भावितुमिहार्हसि

śaṅkhacūḍa uvāca kā tvaṁ kasya sutā tvaṁ hi kiṁ karoṣi sthitātra kim maunībhūtā kiṅkaraṁ māṁ sambhāvitumihārhasi

Shankhachuda said: "Who are you? Whose daughter are you? What are you doing, sitting here in silence? You should give due regard to me, your servant, here."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.166.15)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा सकामं तमुवाच सा

sanatkumāra uvāca ityevaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā sakāmaṁ tamuvāca sā

Sanatkumara said: "Hearing this speech, she, her heart moved with feeling, replied to him."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.166.16)

तुलस्युवाच । धर्मध्वजसुताहं च तपस्यामि तपस्विनी । तपोवने च तिष्ठामि कस्त्वं गच्छ यथासुखम्

tulasyuvāca dharmadhvajasutāhaṁ ca tapasyāmi tapasvinī tapovane ca tiṣṭhāmi kastvaṁ gaccha yathāsukham

Tulasi said: "I am the daughter of Dharmadhvaja; I, an ascetic woman, am performing austerity, and I dwell here in this penance-grove. Who are you? Go as you please."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.166.17)

नारीजातिर्मोहिनी च ब्रह्मादीनां विषोपमा । निन्द्या दोषकरी माया शृङ्खला ह्यनुशायिनाम्

nārījātirmohinī ca brahmādīnāṁ viṣopamā nindyā doṣakarī māyā śṛṅkhalā hyanuśāyinām

"Womankind is a bewitching thing, comparable to poison even for Brahma and the rest; despicable, the cause of faults, a maya — indeed a chain upon those who become attached to her."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.166.18)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा तुलसी तं च सरसं विरराम ह । दृष्ट्वा तां सस्मितां सोऽपि प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे

sanatkumāra uvāca ityuktvā tulasī taṁ ca sarasaṁ virarāma ha dṛṣṭvā tāṁ sasmitāṁ so'pi pravaktumupacakrame

Sanatkumara said: "Having said this to him with feeling, Tulasi fell silent. Seeing her smiling gently, he too began to speak."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.166.19)

शङ्खचूड उवाच । त्वया यत्कथितं देवि न च सर्वमलीककम् । किञ्चित्सत्यमलीकं च किञ्चिन्मत्तो निशामय

śaṅkhacūḍa uvāca tvayā yatkathitaṁ devi na ca sarvamalīkakam kiñcitsatyamalīkaṁ ca kiñcinmatto niśāmaya

Shankhachuda said: "O Goddess, what you have said is not wholly untrue; some of it is true, and some false — hear this from me."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.166.20)

पतिव्रताः स्त्रियो याश्च तासां मध्ये त्वमग्रणीः । न चाहं पापदृक्कामी तथा त्वं नेति धीर्मम

pativratāḥ striyo yāśca tāsāṁ madhye tvamagraṇīḥ na cāhaṁ pāpadṛkkāmī tathā tvaṁ neti dhīrmama

"Among women devoted to their husbands, you are foremost; and I am not one of sinful, lustful gaze, nor are you such a woman — this is my own thought."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.166.21)

आगच्छामि त्वत्समीपमाज्ञया ब्रह्मणोऽधुना । गान्धर्वेण विवाहेन त्वां ग्रहीष्यामि शोभने

āgacchāmi tvatsamīpamājñayā brahmaṇo'dhunā gāndharveṇa vivāhena tvāṁ grahīṣyāmi śobhane

"I have come into your presence just now by Brahma's own command; O lovely one, I shall take you in marriage by the Gandharva rite."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.166.22)

शङ्खचूडोऽहमेवास्मि देवविद्रावकारकः । मां न जानासि किं भद्रे न श्रुतोऽहं कदाचन

śaṅkhacūḍo'hamevāsmi devavidrāvakārakaḥ māṁ na jānāsi kiṁ bhadre na śruto'haṁ kadācana

"I am indeed Shankhachuda, the terror of the gods. Do you not know me, O gentle one? Have you never heard of my name?"

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.166.23)

दनुवंश्यो विशेषेण दम्भपुत्रश्च दानवः । सुदामा नाम गोपोऽहं पार्षदश्च हरेः पुरा

danuvaṁśyo viśeṣeṇa dambhaputraśca dānavaḥ sudāmā nāma gopo'haṁ pārṣadaśca hareḥ purā

"I am, in this present birth, a demon of Danu's lineage, the son of Dambha; but in a former birth I was Sudama, a cowherd, an attendant of Hari."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.166.24)

अधुना दानवेन्द्रोऽहं राधिकायाश्च शापतः । जातिस्मरोऽहं जानामि सर्वं कृष्णप्रभावतः

adhunā dānavendro'haṁ rādhikāyāśca śāpataḥ jātismaro'haṁ jānāmi sarvaṁ kṛṣṇaprabhāvataḥ

"Now, through Radhika's curse, I have become lord of the demons; I remember my former birth, and by Krishna's grace I know everything."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.166.25)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा शङ्खचूडो विरराम च तत्पुरः । दानवेन्द्रेण सेत्युक्ता वचनं सत्यमादरात् । सस्मितं तुलसी तुष्टा प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे

sanatkumāra uvāca evamuktvā śaṅkhacūḍo virarāma ca tatpuraḥ dānavendreṇa setyuktā vacanaṁ satyamādarāt sasmitaṁ tulasī tuṣṭā pravaktumupacakrame

Sanatkumara said: "Having spoken thus, Shankhachuda fell silent before her. Hearing these true words spoken respectfully by the lord of the demons, Tulasi, pleased, and smiling gently, began to speak."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.166.26)

तुलस्युवाच । त्वयाहमधुना सत्त्वविचारेण पराजिता । स धन्यः पुरुषो लोके न स्त्रिया यः पराजितः

tulasyuvāca tvayāhamadhunā sattvavicāreṇa parājitā sa dhanyaḥ puruṣo loke na striyā yaḥ parājitaḥ

Tulasi said: "I have now been defeated by you in this trial of character; blessed indeed is that man in this world who is never defeated by a woman."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.166.27)

सत्क्रियोऽप्यशुचिर्नित्यं स पुमान्यः स्त्रिया जितः । निन्दन्ति पितरो देवा मानवाःसकलाश्च तम्

satkriyo'pyaśucirnityaṁ sa pumānyaḥ striyā jitaḥ nindanti pitaro devā mānavāḥsakalāśca tam

"Even one who performs good deeds, if he is conquered by a woman, remains ever impure; the ancestors, the gods, and all humankind condemn him."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.166.28)

शुध्येद्विप्रो दशाहेन जातके मृतसूतके । क्षत्रियो द्वादशाहेन वैश्यः पञ्चदशाहतः

śudhyedvipro daśāhena jātake mṛtasūtake kṣatriyo dvādaśāhena vaiśyaḥ pañcadaśāhataḥ

"At the impurity following a birth or death, a Brahmin is purified in ten days, a Kshatriya in twelve, and a Vaishya in fifteen —"

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.166.29)

शूद्रो मासेन शुध्येत्तु हीति वेदानुशासनम् । न शुचिः स्त्रीजितः क्वापि चितादाहं विना पुमान्

śūdro māsena śudhyettu hīti vedānuśāsanam na śuciḥ strījitaḥ kvāpi citādāhaṁ vinā pumān

"and a Shudra is purified within a month — so declares the Vedic ordinance. But a man conquered by a woman is never pure anywhere, except through the burning of the funeral pyre."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.166.30)

न गृह्णन्तीच्छया तस्मात्पितरः पिण्डतर्पणम् । न गृह्णन्ति सुरास्तेन दत्तं पुष्पफलादिकम्

na gṛhṇantīcchayā tasmātpitaraḥ piṇḍatarpaṇam na gṛhṇanti surāstena dattaṁ puṣpaphalādikam

"Therefore the ancestors do not willingly accept his offering of funerary rice-balls; nor do the gods accept flowers, fruits, and the like offered by him."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.166.31)

तस्य किं ज्ञानसुतपोजपहोमप्रपूजनैः । विद्यया दानतः किं वा स्त्रीभिर्यस्य मनो हृतम्

tasya kiṁ jñānasutapojapahomaprapūjanaiḥ vidyayā dānataḥ kiṁ vā strībhiryasya mano hṛtam

"What use are knowledge, good austerity, japa, fire-offerings, and worship to him? What use is learning or charity, to one whose mind has been carried away by women?"

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.166.32)

विद्याप्रभावज्ञानार्थं मया त्वं च परीक्षितः । कृत्वा कान्तपरीक्षां वै वृणुयात्कामिनी वरम्

vidyāprabhāvajñānārthaṁ mayā tvaṁ ca parīkṣitaḥ kṛtvā kāntaparīkṣāṁ vai vṛṇuyātkāminī varam

"I tested you in order to know the power of your knowledge and understanding; a woman in love should indeed choose her husband only after putting him to the test."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.166.33)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्येवं प्रवदन्त्यां तु तुलस्यां तत्क्षणे विधिः । तत्राजगाम संस्रष्टा प्रोवाच वचनं ततः

sanatkumāra uvāca ityevaṁ pravadantyāṁ tu tulasyāṁ tatkṣaṇe vidhiḥ tatrājagāma saṁsraṣṭā provāca vacanaṁ tataḥ

Sanatkumara said: "Even as Tulasi was speaking thus, at that very moment the Creator, maker of all, arrived there, and then spoke these words."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.166.34)

ब्रह्मोवाच । किं करोषि शङ्खचूड संवादमनया सह । गान्धर्वेण विवाहेन त्वमस्या ग्रहणं कुरु

brahmovāca kiṁ karoṣi śaṅkhacūḍa saṁvādamanayā saha gāndharveṇa vivāhena tvamasyā grahaṇaṁ kuru

Brahma said: "What are you doing, Shankhachuda, engaged in this conversation with her? Take her in marriage by the Gandharva rite."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.166.35)

त्वं वै पुरुषरत्नं च स्त्रीरत्नं च त्वियं सती । विदग्धाया विदग्धेन सङ्गमो गुणवान् भवेत्

tvaṁ vai puruṣaratnaṁ ca strīratnaṁ ca tviyaṁ satī vidagdhāyā vidagdhena saṅgamo guṇavān bhavet

"You are indeed a jewel among men, and this virtuous woman is a jewel among women; the union of the accomplished with the accomplished proves auspicious."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.166.36)

निर्विरोधं सुखं राजन् को वा त्यजति दुर्लभम् । योऽविरोधसुखत्यागी स पशुर्नात्र संशयः

nirvirodhaṁ sukhaṁ rājan ko vā tyajati durlabham yo'virodhasukhatyāgī sa paśurnātra saṁśayaḥ

"O king, who would forsake an untroubled happiness so hard to attain? Whoever abandons such unopposed happiness is no better than a beast — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.166.37)

किं त्वं परीक्षसे कान्तमीदृशं गुणिनं सति । देवानामसुराणां च दानवानां विमर्दकम्

kiṁ tvaṁ parīkṣase kāntamīdṛśaṁ guṇinaṁ sati devānāmasurāṇāṁ ca dānavānāṁ vimardakam

"O virtuous lady, why do you test such a husband as this — one who is the destroyer of gods, asuras, and demons alike?"

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.166.38)

अनेन सार्धं सुचिरं विहारं कुरु सर्वदा । स्थाने स्थाने यथेच्छं च सर्वलोकेषु सुन्दरि

anena sārdhaṁ suciraṁ vihāraṁ kuru sarvadā sthāne sthāne yathecchaṁ ca sarvalokeṣu sundari

"With him, O beautiful one, enjoy delight for a very long time, always, moving from place to place as you please, throughout all the worlds."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.166.39)

अन्ते प्राप्स्यति गोलोके श्रीकृष्णं पुनरेव सः । चतुर्भुजं च वैकुण्ठे मृते तस्मिंस्त्वमाप्स्यसि

ante prāpsyati goloke śrīkṛṣṇaṁ punareva saḥ caturbhujaṁ ca vaikuṇṭhe mṛte tasmiṁstvamāpsyasi

"In the end, he will attain Shri Krishna once more in Goloka; and when he dies, you shall attain the four-armed Lord in Vaikuntha."

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.166.40)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्येवमाशिषं दत्त्वा स्वालयं तु ययौ विधिः । गान्धर्वेण विवाहेन जगृहे तां च दानवः

sanatkumāra uvāca ityevamāśiṣaṁ dattvā svālayaṁ tu yayau vidhiḥ gāndharveṇa vivāhena jagṛhe tāṁ ca dānavaḥ

Sanatkumara said: "Having given this blessing, the Creator departed to his own abode; and the demon took her in marriage by the Gandharva rite."

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.166.41)

एवं विवाह्य तुलसीं पितुः स्थानं जगाम ह । स रेमे रमया सार्धं वासगेहे मनोरमे

evaṁ vivāhya tulasīṁ pituḥ sthānaṁ jagāma ha sa reme ramayā sārdhaṁ vāsagehe manorame

"Having thus married Tulasi, he went to his father's home; there he enjoyed himself with his beloved in a delightful chamber."