Praise of the God of Gods, for Shankhachuda's Slaying

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.168.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । गत्वा तदैव सविधिस्तदा व्यास रमेश्वरः । शिवलोकं महादिव्यं निराधारमभौतिकम्

sanatkumāra uvāca gatvā tadaiva savidhistadā vyāsa rameśvaraḥ śivalokaṁ mahādivyaṁ nirādhāramabhautikam

Sanatkumara said: "O Vyasa, then, going at once together with the Creator, Rameshvara — Vishnu — reached that great, divine world of Shiva, which rests on nothing and lies beyond the material."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.168.2)

साह्लादोऽभ्यन्तरं विष्णुर्जगाम मुदिताननः । नानारत्नपरिक्षिप्तं विलसन्तं महोज्ज्वलम्

sāhlādo'bhyantaraṁ viṣṇurjagāma muditānanaḥ nānāratnaparikṣiptaṁ vilasantaṁ mahojjvalam

"Vishnu, his face joyful, filled with delight, entered within that realm — strewn with countless gems, gleaming, exceedingly brilliant."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.168.3)

सम्प्राप्य प्रथमं द्वारं विचित्रं गणसेवितम् । शोभितं परया लक्ष्म्या महोच्चमतिसुन्दरम्

samprāpya prathamaṁ dvāraṁ vicitraṁ gaṇasevitam śobhitaṁ parayā lakṣmyā mahoccamatisundaram

"Reaching the first gate — wondrous, attended by Shiva's ganas, adorned with supreme splendour, towering and most beautiful —"

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.168.4)

ददर्श द्वारपालांश्च रत्नसिंहासनस्थितान् । शोभितान् श्वेतवस्त्रैश्च रत्नभूषणभूषितान्

dadarśa dvārapālāṁśca ratnasiṁhāsanasthitān śobhitān śvetavastraiśca ratnabhūṣaṇabhūṣitān

"he saw the gatekeepers, seated upon jeweled thrones, resplendent in white garments, adorned with jeweled ornaments."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.168.5)

पञ्चवक्त्रत्रिनयनान्गौरसुन्दरविग्रहान् । त्रिशूलादिधरान्वीरान् भस्मरुद्राक्षशोभितान्

pañcavaktratrinayanāngaurasundaravigrahān triśūlādidharānvīrān bhasmarudrākṣaśobhitān

"They were five-faced, three-eyed, of fair and beautiful form, heroic bearers of the trident and other weapons, adorned with ash and rudraksha beads."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.168.6)

स ब्रह्मापि रमेशश्च तान् प्रणम्य विनम्रकः । कथयामास वृत्तान्तं प्रभुसन्दर्शनार्थकम्

sa brahmāpi rameśaśca tān praṇamya vinamrakaḥ kathayāmāsa vṛttāntaṁ prabhusandarśanārthakam

"Brahma too, together with the Lord of Lakshmi, bowing to them humbly, related their purpose — that they had come to see the Lord."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.168.7)

तदाज्ञां च ददुस्तस्मै प्रविवेश तदाज्ञया । परं द्वारं महारम्यं विचित्रं परमप्रभम्

tadājñāṁ ca dadustasmai praviveśa tadājñayā paraṁ dvāraṁ mahāramyaṁ vicitraṁ paramaprabham

"They granted him leave, and by their permission he entered the next gate — most delightful, wondrous, of supreme splendour."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.168.8)

प्रभूपकण्ठगत्यर्थं वृत्तान्तं संन्यवेदयत् । तद् द्वारपाय चाज्ञप्तस्तेनान्यं प्रविवेश ह

prabhūpakaṇṭhagatyarthaṁ vṛttāntaṁ saṁnyavedayat tad dvārapāya cājñaptastenānyaṁ praviveśa ha

"To gain access to the Lord, he made known his purpose there as well; and, granted leave by that gatekeeper, he entered yet another gate."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.168.9)

एवं पञ्चदशद्वारान्प्रविश्य कमलोद्भवः । महाद्वारं गतस्तत्र नन्दिनं प्रददर्श ह

evaṁ pañcadaśadvārānpraviśya kamalodbhavaḥ mahādvāraṁ gatastatra nandinaṁ pradadarśa ha

"Thus, having passed through fifteen gates, the Lotus-born Brahma reached the great gate, and there beheld Nandin."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.168.10)

सम्यङ्नत्वा च तं स्तुत्वा पूर्ववत्तेन नन्दिना । आज्ञप्तश्च शनैर्विष्णुर्विवेशाभ्यन्तरं मुदा

samyaṅnatvā ca taṁ stutvā pūrvavattena nandinā ājñaptaśca śanairviṣṇurviveśābhyantaraṁ mudā

"Bowing to him duly and praising him as before, and receiving that Nandin's leave, Vishnu slowly entered within, filled with joy."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.168.11)

ददर्श गत्वा तत्रोच्चैः सभां शम्भोः समुत्प्रभाम् । तां पार्षदैः परिवृतां लसद्देहैः सुभूषिताम्

dadarśa gatvā tatroccaiḥ sabhāṁ śambhoḥ samutprabhām tāṁ pārṣadaiḥ parivṛtāṁ lasaddehaiḥ subhūṣitām

"Going there, he beheld Shambhu's lofty assembly hall, radiant with splendour, surrounded by attendants of gleaming bodies, richly adorned —"

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.168.12)

माहेश्वरस्य रूपैश्च दिग्भुजैः शुभकान्तिभिः । पञ्चवक्त्रैस्त्रिनयनैः शितिकण्ठैर्महोज्ज्वलैः

māheśvarasya rūpaiśca digbhujaiḥ śubhakāntibhiḥ pañcavaktraistrinayanaiḥ śitikaṇṭhairmahojjvalaiḥ

"—attendants who shared Maheshvara's own form, many-armed, of auspicious splendour, five-faced, three-eyed, blue-throated, exceedingly brilliant —"

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.168.13)

सद्रत्नयुक्तरुद्राक्षभस्माभरणभूषितैः । नवेन्दुमण्डलाकारां चतुरस्रां मनोहराम्

sadratnayuktarudrākṣabhasmābharaṇabhūṣitaiḥ navendumaṇḍalākārāṁ caturasrāṁ manoharām

"—adorned with ornaments of fine gems, rudraksha, and sacred ash. That hall itself was shaped like the orb of the new moon, four-cornered, and delightful —"

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.168.14)

मणीन्द्रहारनिर्माणहीरसारसुशोभिताम् । अमूल्यरत्नरचितां पद्मपत्रैश्च शोभिताम्

maṇīndrahāranirmāṇahīrasārasuśobhitām amūlyaratnaracitāṁ padmapatraiśca śobhitām

"That hall was adorned with garlands fashioned from the finest gems and the very essence of diamonds, wrought entirely of priceless jewels, and beautified with lotus petals."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.168.15)

माणिक्यजालमालाभिर्नानाचित्रविचित्रिताम् । पद्मरागेन्द्ररचितामद्भुतां शङ्करेच्छया

māṇikyajālamālābhirnānācitravicitritām padmarāgendraracitāmadbhutāṁ śaṅkarecchayā

"It was adorned with networks of ruby garlands, ornamented with designs of every kind, fashioned of the finest rubies, and made wondrous by Shankara's own will —"

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.168.16)

सोपानशतकैर्युक्तां स्यमन्तकविनिर्मितैः । स्वर्णसूत्रग्रन्थियुक्तैश्चारुचन्दनपल्लवैः

sopānaśatakairyuktāṁ syamantakavinirmitaiḥ svarṇasūtragranthiyuktaiścārucandanapallavaiḥ

"It was fitted with hundreds of steps made of the Syamantaka gem, bound with threads of gold, and decorated with lovely sprays of sandalwood."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.168.17)

इन्द्रनीलमणिस्तम्भैर्वेष्टितां सुमनोहराम् । सुसंस्कृतां च सर्वत्र वासितां गन्धवायुना

indranīlamaṇistambhairveṣṭitāṁ sumanoharām susaṁskṛtāṁ ca sarvatra vāsitāṁ gandhavāyunā

"It was ringed with pillars of sapphire, most delightful, elegantly finished throughout, and perfumed everywhere with fragrant breezes."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.168.18)

सहस्रयोजनायामां सुपूर्णां बहुकिङ्करैः । ददर्श शङ्करं साम्बं तत्र विष्णुः सुरेश्वरः

sahasrayojanāyāmāṁ supūrṇāṁ bahukiṅkaraiḥ dadarśa śaṅkaraṁ sāmbaṁ tatra viṣṇuḥ sureśvaraḥ

"A thousand yojanas in extent, full of countless attendants — there, in that hall, Vishnu, lord of the gods, beheld Shankara together with Uma."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.168.19)

वसन्तं मध्यदेशे च येथेन्दुतारकावृतम् । अमूल्यरत्ननिर्माणचित्रसिंहासनस्थितम्

vasantaṁ madhyadeśe ca yethendutārakāvṛtam amūlyaratnanirmāṇacitrasiṁhāsanasthitam

"He sat in the central place, as if surrounded by the moon and the stars, enthroned upon a wondrous seat made of priceless jewels."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.168.20)

किरीटिनं कुण्डलिनं रत्नमालाविभूषितम् । भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वाङ्गं बिभ्रतं केलिपङ्कजम्

kirīṭinaṁ kuṇḍalinaṁ ratnamālāvibhūṣitam bhasmoddhūlitasarvāṅgaṁ bibhrataṁ kelipaṅkajam

"He was crowned, wearing earrings, adorned with a garland of jewels, his whole body dusted with sacred ash, holding a lotus in his hand as if in play."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.168.21)

पुरतो गीतनृत्यञ्च पश्यन्तं सस्मितं मुदा

purato gītanṛtyañca paśyantaṁ sasmitaṁ mudā

"—watching, before him, song and dance, smiling gently, filled with joy."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.168.22)

शान्तं प्रसन्नमनसमुमाकान्तं महोल्लसम् । देव्या प्रदत्तताम्बूलं भुक्तवन्तं सुवासितम्

śāntaṁ prasannamanasamumākāntaṁ mahollasam devyā pradattatāmbūlaṁ bhuktavantaṁ suvāsitam

"He was peaceful, joyful of mind, the beloved of Uma, greatly delighted, and had just partaken of the fragrant betel offered to him by the Goddess."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.168.23)

गणैश्च परया भक्त्या सेवितं श्वेतचामरैः । स्तूयमानं च सिद्धैश्च भक्तिनम्रात्मकन्धरैः

gaṇaiśca parayā bhaktyā sevitaṁ śvetacāmaraiḥ stūyamānaṁ ca siddhaiśca bhaktinamrātmakandharaiḥ

"His ganas attended him with supreme devotion, fanning him with white chowries; and siddhas too praised him, their necks bowed low in devotion."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.168.24)

गुणातीतं परेशानं त्रिदेवजनकं विभुम् । निर्विकल्पं निराकारं साकारं स्वेच्छया शिवम्

guṇātītaṁ pareśānaṁ tridevajanakaṁ vibhum nirvikalpaṁ nirākāraṁ sākāraṁ svecchayā śivam

"He was beyond the gunas, the Supreme Lord, father of the three gods, mighty; without distinction, formless, yet taking on form by his own will — that is Shiva."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.168.25)

अमायमजमाद्यञ्च मायाधीशं परात्परम् । प्रकृतेः पुरुषस्यापि परमं स्वप्रभुं सदा

amāyamajamādyañca māyādhīśaṁ parātparam prakṛteḥ puruṣasyāpi paramaṁ svaprabhuṁ sadā

"He was without maya, unborn, the primal being, the very master of maya, higher than the highest — the supreme, self-existent lord, ever beyond both Prakriti and Purusha."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.168.26)

एवं विशिष्टं तं दृष्ट्वा परिपूर्णतमं समम् । विष्णुर्ब्रह्मा तुष्टुवतुः प्रणम्य सुकृताञ्जली

evaṁ viśiṣṭaṁ taṁ dṛṣṭvā paripūrṇatamaṁ samam viṣṇurbrahmā tuṣṭuvatuḥ praṇamya sukṛtāñjalī

"Seeing him thus — so distinguished, utterly complete, and impartial — Vishnu and Brahma, bowing with palms well joined, praised him."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.168.27)

विष्णुविधी ऊचतुः देवदेव महादेव परब्रह्माखिलेश्वर ॥ त्रिगुणातीत निर्व्यग्र त्रिदेवजनक प्रभो

viṣṇuvidhī ūcatuḥ devadeva mahādeva parabrahmākhileśvara triguṇātīta nirvyagra tridevajanaka prabho

Vishnu and Brahma said: "O God of gods, Mahadeva, Supreme Brahman, Lord of all; beyond the three gunas, ever untroubled, father of the three gods, O Lord —"

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.168.28)

वयं ते शरणापन्ना रक्षास्मान्दुःखितान्विभो । शङ्खचूडार्दितान्क्लिष्टान्सन्नाथान्परमेश्वर

vayaṁ te śaraṇāpannā rakṣāsmānduḥkhitānvibho śaṅkhacūḍārditānkliṣṭānsannāthānparameśvara

"We have come to you for refuge; protect us, O mighty one, in our sorrow — afflicted and distressed by Shankhachuda, O Supreme Lord, though we still have a protector."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.168.29)

अयं योऽधिष्ठितो लोको गोलोक इति स स्मृतः । अधिष्ठाता तस्य विभुः कृष्णोऽयं त्वदधिष्ठितः

ayaṁ yo'dhiṣṭhito loko goloka iti sa smṛtaḥ adhiṣṭhātā tasya vibhuḥ kṛṣṇo'yaṁ tvadadhiṣṭhitaḥ

"This realm over which he presides is called Goloka; its ruling lord is this mighty Krishna, who is himself established there by you."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.168.30)

पार्षदप्रवरस्तस्य सुदामा दैवयन्त्रितः । राधाशप्तो बभूवाथ शङ्खचूडश्च दानवः

pārṣadapravarastasya sudāmā daivayantritaḥ rādhāśapto babhūvātha śaṅkhacūḍaśca dānavaḥ

"His foremost attendant, Sudama, driven by fate and cursed by Radha, thereupon became the demon Shankhachuda."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.168.31)

तेन निःसारिताः शम्भो पीड्यमानाः समन्ततः । हृताधिकारास्त्रिदशा विचरन्ति महीतले

tena niḥsāritāḥ śambho pīḍyamānāḥ samantataḥ hṛtādhikārāstridaśā vicaranti mahītale

"By him, O Shambhu, we, the gods, have been driven out and afflicted on every side; our offices seized, we now wander upon the earth."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.168.32)

त्वां विना न स वध्यश्च सर्वेषां त्रिदिवौकसाम् । तं घातय महेशान लोकानां सुखमावह

tvāṁ vinā na sa vadhyaśca sarveṣāṁ tridivaukasām taṁ ghātaya maheśāna lokānāṁ sukhamāvaha

"Without you, he cannot be slain even by all the dwellers of heaven together; slay him, O Mahesha, and bring happiness to the worlds."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.168.33)

त्वमेव निर्गुणः सत्योऽनन्तोऽनन्तपराक्रमः । सगुणः सन्निवेशश्च प्रकृतेः पुरुषात्परः

tvameva nirguṇaḥ satyo'nanto'nantaparākramaḥ saguṇaḥ sanniveśaśca prakṛteḥ puruṣātparaḥ

"You alone are without qualities, true in nature, infinite, of infinite valor; and, when you take on qualities and abide among us, you remain beyond both Prakriti and Purusha."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.168.34)

रजसा सृष्टिसमये त्वं ब्रह्मा सृष्टिकृत्प्रभो । सत्त्वेन पालने विष्णुस्त्रिभुवावनकारकः

rajasā sṛṣṭisamaye tvaṁ brahmā sṛṣṭikṛtprabho sattvena pālane viṣṇustribhuvāvanakārakaḥ

"O Lord, at the time of creation, through the quality of rajas, you are Brahma, the creator; in the time of preservation, through sattva, you are Vishnu, protector of the three worlds."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.168.35)

तमसा प्रलये रुद्रो जगत्संहारकारकः । निस्त्रैगुण्ये शिवाख्यातस्तुर्य्यो ज्योतिःस्वरूपकः

tamasā pralaye rudro jagatsaṁhārakārakaḥ nistraiguṇye śivākhyātasturyyo jyotiḥsvarūpakaḥ

"At the time of dissolution, through the quality of tamas, you are Rudra, the destroyer of the world; and, beyond the three gunas altogether, you are known as Shiva — the fourth state, whose very nature is light."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.168.36)

त्वं दीक्षया च गोलोके त्वं गवां परिपालकः । त्वद्गोशालामध्यगश्च कृष्णः क्रीडत्यहर्निशम्

tvaṁ dīkṣayā ca goloke tvaṁ gavāṁ paripālakaḥ tvadgośālāmadhyagaśca kṛṣṇaḥ krīḍatyaharniśam

"By your own consecration, you are, in Goloka, the protector of the cows; and Krishna, dwelling within your own cow-pasture, sports there day and night."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.168.37)

त्वं सर्वकारणं स्वामी विधिर्विष्ण्वीश्वरः परम् । निर्विकारी सदासाक्षी परमात्मा परेश्वरः

tvaṁ sarvakāraṇaṁ svāmī vidhirviṣṇvīśvaraḥ param nirvikārī sadāsākṣī paramātmā pareśvaraḥ

"You are the cause of all things, the master — Brahma, Vishnu, and the supreme Ishvara alike; unchanging, ever the witness, the Supreme Self, the Supreme Lord."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.168.38)

दीनानाथसहायी च दीनानां प्रतिपालकः । दीनबन्धुस्त्रिलोकेशः शरणागतवत्सलः

dīnānāthasahāyī ca dīnānāṁ pratipālakaḥ dīnabandhustrilokeśaḥ śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ

"You are the helper of the helpless and the lowly, the protector of the humble, the friend of the poor, Lord of the three worlds, ever affectionate toward those who seek refuge."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.168.39)

अस्मानुद्धर गौरीश प्रसीद परमेश्वर । त्वदधीना वयं नाथ यदिच्छसि तथा कुरु

asmānuddhara gaurīśa prasīda parameśvara tvadadhīnā vayaṁ nātha yadicchasi tathā kuru

"Deliver us, O Lord of Gauri; be gracious, O Supreme Lord. We are subject to you, O Lord — do as you see fit."

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.168.40)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा तौ सुरौ व्यास हरिर्ब्रह्मा च वै तदा । विरेमतुः शिवं नत्वा करौ बद्ध्वा विनीतकौ

sanatkumāra uvāca ityuktvā tau surau vyāsa harirbrahmā ca vai tadā virematuḥ śivaṁ natvā karau baddhvā vinītakau

Sanatkumara said: "Having said this, O Vyasa, those two gods, Hari and Brahma, then fell silent, bowing to Shiva, their hands joined together in humility."