The Messenger's Departure, for Shankhachuda's Slaying

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.170.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथेशानो महारुद्रो दुष्टकालःसतां गतिः । शङ्खचूडवधं चित्ते निश्चिकाय सुरेच्छया

sanatkumāra uvāca atheśāno mahārudro duṣṭakālaḥsatāṁ gatiḥ śaṅkhacūḍavadhaṁ citte niścikāya surecchayā

Sanatkumara said: "Then Ishana, the great Rudra, doom to the wicked and refuge of the virtuous, resolved in his heart, at the gods' desire, to slay Shankhachuda."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.170.2)

दूतं कृत्वा चित्ररथं गन्धर्वेश्वरमीप्सितम् । शीघ्रं प्रस्थापयामास शङ्खचूडान्तिके मुदा

dūtaṁ kṛtvā citrarathaṁ gandharveśvaramīpsitam śīghraṁ prasthāpayāmāsa śaṅkhacūḍāntike mudā

"Making Chitraratha, the chosen lord of the gandharvas, his messenger, he swiftly and gladly dispatched him to Shankhachuda's presence."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.170.3)

सर्वेश्वराज्ञया दूतो ययौ तन्नगरं च सः । महेन्द्रनगरोत्कृष्टं कुबेरभवनाधिकम्

sarveśvarājñayā dūto yayau tannagaraṁ ca saḥ mahendranagarotkṛṣṭaṁ kuberabhavanādhikam

"By the command of the Lord of all, that messenger went to that city — surpassing even Indra's own city, greater than the abode of Kubera."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.170.4)

गत्वा ददर्श तन्मध्ये शङ्खचूडालयं वरम् । राजितं द्वादशैर्द्वारैर्द्वारपालसमन्वितम्

gatvā dadarśa tanmadhye śaṅkhacūḍālayaṁ varam rājitaṁ dvādaśairdvārairdvārapālasamanvitam

"Going there, he beheld, in the midst of that city, Shankhachuda's excellent palace, resplendent with twelve gates, each attended by its own gatekeepers."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.170.5)

स दृष्ट्वा पुष्पदन्तस्तु वरं द्वारं ददर्श सः । कथयामास वृत्तान्तं द्वारपालाय निर्भयः

sa dṛṣṭvā puṣpadantastu varaṁ dvāraṁ dadarśa saḥ kathayāmāsa vṛttāntaṁ dvārapālāya nirbhayaḥ

"Pushpadanta, seeing it, then beheld the great gate; fearlessly, he made known his purpose to the gatekeeper there."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.170.6)

अतिक्रम्य च तद् द्वारं जगामाभ्यन्तरे मुदा । अतीव सुन्दरं रम्यं विस्तीर्णं समलङ्कृतम्

atikramya ca tad dvāraṁ jagāmābhyantare mudā atīva sundaraṁ ramyaṁ vistīrṇaṁ samalaṅkṛtam

"Passing through that gate, he went gladly within — into a place exceedingly beautiful, delightful, vast, and richly adorned."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.170.7)

स गत्वा शङ्खचूडं तं ददर्श दनुजाधिपम् । वीरमण्डलमध्यस्थं रत्नसिंहासनस्थितम्

sa gatvā śaṅkhacūḍaṁ taṁ dadarśa danujādhipam vīramaṇḍalamadhyasthaṁ ratnasiṁhāsanasthitam

"Going there, he beheld that lord of the danavas, Shankhachuda, seated in the midst of a circle of heroes, upon a jeweled throne."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.170.8)

दानवेन्द्रैः परिवृतं सेवितं च त्रिकोटिभिः । शतकोटिभिरन्यैश्च भ्रमद्भिः शस्त्रपाणिभिः

dānavendraiḥ parivṛtaṁ sevitaṁ ca trikoṭibhiḥ śatakoṭibhiranyaiśca bhramadbhiḥ śastrapāṇibhiḥ

"He was surrounded and attended by thirty million lords of the demons, and by a hundred million others besides, moving about with weapons in hand."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.170.9)

एवम्भूतं च तं दृष्ट्वा पुष्पदन्तः सविस्मयः । उवाच रणवृत्तान्तं यदुक्तं शङ्करेण च

evambhūtaṁ ca taṁ dṛṣṭvā puṣpadantaḥ savismayaḥ uvāca raṇavṛttāntaṁ yaduktaṁ śaṅkareṇa ca

"Seeing him thus, Pushpadanta, filled with wonder, spoke the message of war that Shankara had bidden him deliver."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.170.10)

पुष्पदन्त उवाच । राजेन्द्र शिवदूतोऽहं पुष्पदन्ताभिधः प्रभो । यदुक्तं शङ्करेणैव तच्छृणु त्वं ब्रवीमि ते

puṣpadanta uvāca rājendra śivadūto'haṁ puṣpadantābhidhaḥ prabho yaduktaṁ śaṅkareṇaiva tacchṛṇu tvaṁ bravīmi te

Pushpadanta said: "O king of kings, I am Shiva's messenger, named Pushpadanta, O Lord. Hear what Shankara himself has spoken — I tell it to you."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.170.11)

शिव उवाच । राज्यं देहि च देवानामधिकारं हि साम्प्रतम् । नो चेत्कुरु रणं सार्द्धं परेण च मया सताम्

śiva uvāca rājyaṁ dehi ca devānāmadhikāraṁ hi sāmpratam no cetkuru raṇaṁ sārddhaṁ pareṇa ca mayā satām

Shiva said: "Restore to the gods their kingdom and their offices, this very moment. If not, then wage war with me, the Supreme, the refuge of the virtuous."

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.170.12)

देवा मां शरणापन्ना देवेशं शङ्करं सताम् । अहं क्रुद्धो महारुद्रस्त्वां वधिष्याम्यसंशयम्

devā māṁ śaraṇāpannā deveśaṁ śaṅkaraṁ satām ahaṁ kruddho mahārudrastvāṁ vadhiṣyāmyasaṁśayam

"The gods have come for refuge to me, Shankara, Lord of the gods, the refuge of the virtuous. I, the great Rudra, enraged, shall surely slay you."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.170.13)

हरोऽस्मि सर्वदेवेभ्यो ह्यभयं दत्तवानहम् । खलदण्डधरोऽहं वै शरणागतवत्सलः

haro'smi sarvadevebhyo hyabhayaṁ dattavānaham khaladaṇḍadharo'haṁ vai śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ

"I am Hara; I have granted fearlessness to all the gods. I am indeed the punisher of the wicked and ever affectionate toward those who take refuge in me."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.170.14)

राज्यं दास्यसि किं वा त्वं करिष्यसि रणं च किम् । तत्त्वं ब्रूहि द्वयोरेकं दानवेन्द्र विचार्य्य वै

rājyaṁ dāsyasi kiṁ vā tvaṁ kariṣyasi raṇaṁ ca kim tattvaṁ brūhi dvayorekaṁ dānavendra vicāryya vai

"Will you give back the kingdom, or will you wage war? Tell me which of these two, O lord of the demons, after due consideration."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.170.15)

पुष्पदन्त उवाच । इत्युक्तं यन्महेशेन तुभ्यं तन्मे निवेदितम् । वितथं शम्भुवाक्यं न कदापि दनुजाधिप

puṣpadanta uvāca ityuktaṁ yanmaheśena tubhyaṁ tanme niveditam vitathaṁ śambhuvākyaṁ na kadāpi danujādhipa

Pushpadanta said: "What Mahesha has thus spoken, I have delivered to you. Shambhu's word, O lord of the demons, is never in vain."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.170.16)

अहं स्वस्वामिनं गन्तुमिच्छामि त्वरितं हरम् । गत्वा वक्ष्यामि किं शम्भुं तथा त्वं वद मामिह

ahaṁ svasvāminaṁ gantumicchāmi tvaritaṁ haram gatvā vakṣyāmi kiṁ śambhuṁ tathā tvaṁ vada māmiha

"I wish to return quickly to my own master, Hara. Upon going, what shall I tell Shambhu? Tell me that here and now."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.170.17)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्थं च पुष्पदन्तस्य शिवदूतस्य सत्पतेः । आकर्ण्य वचनं राजा हसित्वा तमुवाच सः

sanatkumāra uvāca itthaṁ ca puṣpadantasya śivadūtasya satpateḥ ākarṇya vacanaṁ rājā hasitvā tamuvāca saḥ

Sanatkumara said: "Hearing thus the word of Pushpadanta, Shiva's own worthy messenger, the king laughed and spoke to him."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.170.18)

शङ्खचूड उवाच । राज्यं दास्ये न देवेभ्यो वीरभोग्या वसुन्धरा । रणं दास्यामि ते रुद्र देवानां पक्षपातिने

śaṅkhacūḍa uvāca rājyaṁ dāsye na devebhyo vīrabhogyā vasundharā raṇaṁ dāsyāmi te rudra devānāṁ pakṣapātine

Shankhachuda said: "I shall not give the kingdom to the gods; the earth belongs to the enjoyment of heroes. To you, O Rudra, patron of the gods, I shall give battle."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.170.19)

यस्योपरि प्रयायी स्यात्स वीरो भुवेनऽधमः । अतः पूर्वमहं रुद्र त्वां गमिष्याम्यसंशयम्

yasyopari prayāyī syātsa vīro bhuvena'dhamaḥ ataḥ pūrvamahaṁ rudra tvāṁ gamiṣyāmyasaṁśayam

"Whoever attacks another first is deemed the basest of heroes on this earth; therefore, O Rudra, I shall come to you first — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.170.20)

प्रभात आगमिष्यामि वीरयात्रा विचारतः । त्वं गच्छाचक्ष्व रुद्राय हीदृशं वचनं मम

prabhāta āgamiṣyāmi vīrayātrā vicārataḥ tvaṁ gacchācakṣva rudrāya hīdṛśaṁ vacanaṁ mama

"At dawn, after due deliberation on the march of heroes, I shall come. Go now and tell Rudra this very word of mine."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.170.21)

इति श्रुत्वा शङ्खचूडवचनं सुप्रहस्य सः । उवाच दानवेन्द्रं स शम्भुदूतस्तु गर्वितम्

iti śrutvā śaṅkhacūḍavacanaṁ suprahasya saḥ uvāca dānavendraṁ sa śambhudūtastu garvitam

"Hearing this word of Shankhachuda, laughing heartily, Shambhu's messenger spoke to that proud lord of the demons."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.170.22)

पुष्पदन्त उवाच अन्येषामपि राजेन्द्र गणानां शङ्करस्य च । न स्थातुं सम्मुखे योग्यः किं पुनस्तस्य सम्मुखम्

puṣpadanta uvāca anyeṣāmapi rājendra gaṇānāṁ śaṅkarasya ca na sthātuṁ sammukhe yogyaḥ kiṁ punastasya sammukham

Pushpadanta said: "O king of kings, you are not even fit to stand before the lesser ganas of Shankara — how much less before Shankara himself!"

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.170.23)

स त्वं देहि च देवानामधिकाराणि सर्वशः । त्वमरं गच्छ पातालं यदि जीवितुमिच्छसि

sa tvaṁ dehi ca devānāmadhikārāṇi sarvaśaḥ tvamaraṁ gaccha pātālaṁ yadi jīvitumicchasi

"Therefore, restore to the gods their offices in full. If you wish to live, go at once to the netherworld."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.170.24)

सामान्यममरं तं नो विद्धि दानवसत्तम । शङ्करः परमात्मा हि सर्वेषामीश्वरेश्वरः

sāmānyamamaraṁ taṁ no viddhi dānavasattama śaṅkaraḥ paramātmā hi sarveṣāmīśvareśvaraḥ

"Do not think of him as an ordinary god, O best of demons; Shankara is indeed the Supreme Self, the Lord of all lords."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.170.25)

इन्द्राद्याः सकला देवा यस्याज्ञावर्तिनः सदा । सप्रजापतयः सिद्धा मुनयश्चाप्यहीश्वराः

indrādyāḥ sakalā devā yasyājñāvartinaḥ sadā saprajāpatayaḥ siddhā munayaścāpyahīśvarāḥ

"All the gods, Indra and the rest, together with the Prajapatis, the siddhas, the sages, and even the lords of serpents, are ever subject to his command."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.170.26)

हरेर्विधेश्च स स्वामी निर्गुणः सगुणः स हि । यस्य भ्रूभङ्गमात्रेण सर्वेषां प्रलयो भवेत्

harervidheśca sa svāmī nirguṇaḥ saguṇaḥ sa hi yasya bhrūbhaṅgamātreṇa sarveṣāṁ pralayo bhavet

"He is the master of Hari and Brahma; he is both without qualities and endowed with them. By the mere knitting of his brow, the dissolution of all things comes to pass."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.170.27)

शिवस्य पूर्णरूपश्च लोकसंहारकारकः । सतां गतिर्दुष्टहन्ता निर्विकारः परात्परः

śivasya pūrṇarūpaśca lokasaṁhārakārakaḥ satāṁ gatirduṣṭahantā nirvikāraḥ parātparaḥ

"He is the complete form of Shiva, the destroyer of the worlds; the refuge of the virtuous, the slayer of the wicked, unchanging, beyond the highest."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.170.28)

ब्रह्मणोऽधिपतिः सोऽपि हरेरपि महेश्वरः । अवमान्यं न वै तस्य शासनं दानवर्षभ

brahmaṇo'dhipatiḥ so'pi harerapi maheśvaraḥ avamānyaṁ na vai tasya śāsanaṁ dānavarṣabha

"He is the overlord of Brahma, and of Hari too — Maheshvara himself. His command, O bull among demons, is not one to be disregarded."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.170.29)

किं बहूक्तेन राजेन्द्र मनसा संविचार्य च । रुद्रं विद्धि महेशानं परं ब्रह्म चिदात्मकम्

kiṁ bahūktena rājendra manasā saṁvicārya ca rudraṁ viddhi maheśānaṁ paraṁ brahma cidātmakam

"What use is there in saying more, O king of kings? Consider well in your own mind, and know Rudra, the great Ishana, to be the Supreme Brahman, of the very nature of pure consciousness."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.170.30)

देहि राज्यं हि देवानामधिकारांश्च सर्वशः । एवं ते कुशलं तात भविष्यत्यन्यथा भयम्

dehi rājyaṁ hi devānāmadhikārāṁśca sarvaśaḥ evaṁ te kuśalaṁ tāta bhaviṣyatyanyathā bhayam

"Give back the kingdom and all the offices of the gods entirely. In this, dear one, lies your well-being; otherwise, there is danger."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.170.31)

सन्त्कुमार उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा दानवेन्द्रः शङ्खचूडः प्रतापवान् । उवाच शिवदूतं तं भवितव्यविमोहितः

santkumāra uvāca iti śrutvā dānavendraḥ śaṅkhacūḍaḥ pratāpavān uvāca śivadūtaṁ taṁ bhavitavyavimohitaḥ

Sanatkumara said: "Hearing this, the mighty lord of the demons, Shankhachuda — bewildered, as fate would have it — spoke to Shiva's messenger."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.170.32)

शङ्खचूड उवाच । स्वतो राज्यं न दास्यामि नाधिकारान् विनिश्चयात् । विना युद्धं महेशेन सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीम्यहम्

śaṅkhacūḍa uvāca svato rājyaṁ na dāsyāmi nādhikārān viniścayāt vinā yuddhaṁ maheśena satyametad bravīmyaham

Shankhachuda said: "Of my own will, I shall not surrender the kingdom, nor the offices, without war against Mahesha — this I declare to be the truth."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.170.33)

कालाधीनं जगत्सर्वं विज्ञेयं सचराचरम् । कालाद्भवति सर्वं हि विनश्यति च कालतः

kālādhīnaṁ jagatsarvaṁ vijñeyaṁ sacarācaram kālādbhavati sarvaṁ hi vinaśyati ca kālataḥ

"Know that this entire world, moving and unmoving, is subject to Time. From Time all things arise, and by Time all things perish."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.170.34)

त्वं गच्छ शङ्करं रुद्रं मयोक्तं वद तत्त्वतः । स च युक्तं करोत्वेवं बहुवार्तां कुरुष्व नो

tvaṁ gaccha śaṅkaraṁ rudraṁ mayoktaṁ vada tattvataḥ sa ca yuktaṁ karotvevaṁ bahuvārtāṁ kuruṣva no

"Go now to Shankara, to Rudra, and tell him truly all that I have said. Let him do as he sees fit; make no more talk with me."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.170.35)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा शिवदूतोऽसौ जगाम स्वामिनं निजम् । यथार्थं कथयामास पुष्पदन्तश्च सन्मुने

sanatkumāra uvāca ityuktvā śivadūto'sau jagāma svāminaṁ nijam yathārthaṁ kathayāmāsa puṣpadantaśca sanmune

Sanatkumara said: "Having said this, that messenger of Shiva returned to his own master; and Pushpadanta, O good sage, related everything exactly as it had happened."