The Tale of Shankhachuda's Slaying

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.178.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स्वबलं निहतं दृष्ट्वा मुख्यं बहुतरं ततः । तथा वीरान् प्राणसमान् चुकोपातीव दानवः

sanatkumāra uvāca svabalaṁ nihataṁ dṛṣṭvā mukhyaṁ bahutaraṁ tataḥ tathā vīrān prāṇasamān cukopātīva dānavaḥ

Sanatkumara said: "Seeing so many of his chief troops slain, and his heroes, dear to him as his own life, the danava blazed into a towering rage."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.178.2)

उवाच वचनं शम्भुं तिष्ठाम्याजौ स्थिरो भव । किमेतैर्निहतैर्मेऽद्य सम्मुखे समरं कुरु

uvāca vacanaṁ śambhuṁ tiṣṭhāmyājau sthiro bhava kimetairnihatairme'dya sammukhe samaraṁ kuru

He said to Shambhu, "I stand here upon the field — be steadfast yourself. What use are these slain to me today? Come, fight me face to face."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.178.3)

इत्युक्त्वा दानवेन्द्रोऽसौ सन्नद्धः समरे मुने । अगच्छन्निश्चयं कृत्वाऽभिमुखं शङ्करस्य च

ityuktvā dānavendro'sau sannaddhaḥ samare mune agacchanniścayaṁ kṛtvā'bhimukhaṁ śaṅkarasya ca

Having said this, O sage, that lord of danavas, fully armed for battle, advanced with firm resolve straight toward Shankara.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.178.4)

दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि चिक्षेप महारुद्राय दानवः । चकार शरवृष्टिं च तोयवृष्टिं यथा घनः

divyānyastrāṇi cikṣepa mahārudrāya dānavaḥ cakāra śaravṛṣṭiṁ ca toyavṛṣṭiṁ yathā ghanaḥ

The danava hurled divine missiles at the great Rudra, and poured down a rain of arrows as a cloud pours down rain.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.178.5)

मायाश्चकार विविधा अदृश्या भयदर्शिताः । अप्रतर्क्याः सुरगणैर्निखिलैरपिः सत्तमैः

māyāścakāra vividhā adṛśyā bhayadarśitāḥ apratarkyāḥ suragaṇairnikhilairapiḥ sattamaiḥ

He conjured up manifold illusions, invisible yet terrifying in appearance, beyond the imagining even of all the assembled hosts of gods.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.178.6)

तां दृष्ट्वा शङ्करस्तत्र चिक्षेपास्त्रं च लीलया । माहेश्वरं महादिव्यं सर्वमायाविनाशनम्

tāṁ dṛṣṭvā śaṅkarastatra cikṣepāstraṁ ca līlayā māheśvaraṁ mahādivyaṁ sarvamāyāvināśanam

Seeing this, Shankara playfully hurled there the Maheshvara missile, most divine, the destroyer of every illusion.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.178.7)

तेजसा तस्य तन्माया नष्टाश्चासन् द्रुतं तदा । दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि तान्येव निस्तेजांस्यभवन्नपि

tejasā tasya tanmāyā naṣṭāścāsan drutaṁ tadā divyānyastrāṇi tānyeva nistejāṁsyabhavannapi

By its splendor, all those illusions were instantly destroyed; and even those divine missiles were left powerless.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.178.8)

अथ युद्धे महेशानस्तद्वधाय महाबलः । शूलं जग्राह सहसा दुर्निवार्यं सुतेजसाम्

atha yuddhe maheśānastadvadhāya mahābalaḥ śūlaṁ jagrāha sahasā durnivāryaṁ sutejasām

Then, in that battle, the mighty Maheshana, to slay him, suddenly seized his trident — unstoppable and radiant with splendor.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.178.9)

तदैव तन्निषेद्धुं च वाग्बभूवाशरीरिणी । क्षिप शूलं न चेदानीं प्रार्थनां शृणु शङ्कर

tadaiva tanniṣeddhuṁ ca vāgbabhūvāśarīriṇī kṣipa śūlaṁ na cedānīṁ prārthanāṁ śṛṇu śaṅkara

At that very moment a bodiless voice arose to stop him: "Do not hurl the trident now — hear my entreaty, O Shankara."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.178.10)

सर्वथा त्वं समर्थो हि क्षणाद् ब्रह्माण्डनाशने । किमेकदानवस्येश शङ्खचूडस्य साम्प्रतम्

sarvathā tvaṁ samartho hi kṣaṇād brahmāṇḍanāśane kimekadānavasyeśa śaṅkhacūḍasya sāmpratam

In every way, O Lord, you are surely able to destroy the entire universe in an instant; what then is this one danava, Shankhachuda, to you now?

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.178.11)

तथापि वेदमर्यादा न नाश्या स्वामिना त्वया । तां शृणुष्व महादेव सफलं कुरु सत्यतः

tathāpi vedamaryādā na nāśyā svāminā tvayā tāṁ śṛṇuṣva mahādeva saphalaṁ kuru satyataḥ

Even so, you, its own Lord, must not violate the bound set by the Veda. Hear it, O Mahadeva, and fulfill it in truth.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.178.12)

यावदस्य करेऽत्युग्रं कवचं परमं हरेः । यावत्सतीत्वमस्त्येव सत्या अस्यस्य योषितः

yāvadasya kare'tyugraṁ kavacaṁ paramaṁ hareḥ yāvatsatītvamastyeva satyā asyasya yoṣitaḥ

So long as Hari's exceedingly potent, supreme armor remains upon his body, and so long as the chastity of his truthful wife endures —

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.178.13)

तावदस्य जरामृत्युः शङ्खचूडस्य शङ्कर । नास्तीत्यवितथं नाथ विधेहि ब्रह्मणो वचः

tāvadasya jarāmṛtyuḥ śaṅkhacūḍasya śaṅkara nāstītyavitathaṁ nātha vidhehi brahmaṇo vacaḥ

— so long, O Shankara, will old age and death have no power over Shankhachuda; this is no falsehood, O Lord. Fulfill this word spoken by Brahma.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.178.14)

इत्याकर्ण्य नभोवाणीं तथेत्युक्ते हरे तदा । हरेच्छयागतो विष्णुस्तं दिदेश सतां गतिः

ityākarṇya nabhovāṇīṁ tathetyukte hare tadā harecchayāgato viṣṇustaṁ dideśa satāṁ gatiḥ

Hearing the voice from the sky, Hara said, "So be it." Then Vishnu, refuge of the virtuous, having come there at Hara's wish, showed him the way.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.178.15)

वृद्धब्राह्मणवेषेण विष्णुर्मायाविनां वरः । शङ्खचूडोपकण्ठं च गत्वोवाच स तं तदा

vṛddhabrāhmaṇaveṣeṇa viṣṇurmāyāvināṁ varaḥ śaṅkhacūḍopakaṇṭhaṁ ca gatvovāca sa taṁ tadā

Vishnu, foremost among the masters of illusion, taking the guise of an aged Brahmin, went to Shankhachuda's side and spoke to him.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.178.16)

वृद्धब्राह्मण उवाच । देहि भिक्षां दानवेन्द्र मह्यं प्राप्ताय साम्प्रतम्

vṛddhabrāhmaṇa uvāca dehi bhikṣāṁ dānavendra mahyaṁ prāptāya sāmpratam

The aged Brahmin said: "Give alms, O lord of danavas, to me, who have come here now to receive them."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.178.17)

नेदानीं कथयिष्यामि प्रकटं दीनवत्सलम् । पश्चात्त्वां कथयिष्यामि पुनः सत्यं करिष्यसि

nedānīṁ kathayiṣyāmi prakaṭaṁ dīnavatsalam paścāttvāṁ kathayiṣyāmi punaḥ satyaṁ kariṣyasi

"I shall not declare it openly just now, O friend of the humble; afterward I shall tell you, and you will then keep true to your word."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.178.18)

ओमित्युवाच राजेन्द्रः प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणः । कवचार्थी जनश्चाहमित्युवाचेति सच्छलात्

omityuvāca rājendraḥ prasannavadanekṣaṇaḥ kavacārthī janaścāhamityuvāceti sacchalāt

"So be it," said the king, his face and eyes full of gladness; then, by that seemingly honest ruse, the Brahmin said, "I am one who seeks your armor."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.178.19)

तच्छ्रुत्वा दानवेन्द्रोऽसौ ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यवाग्विभुः । तद् ददौ कवचं दिव्यं विप्राय प्राणसम्मतम्

tacchrutvā dānavendro'sau brahmaṇyaḥ satyavāgvibhuḥ tad dadau kavacaṁ divyaṁ viprāya prāṇasammatam

Hearing this, that lord of danavas, devoted to Brahmins and true to his word, gave the Brahmin his divine armor, dear to him as his own life.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.178.20)

माययेत्थं तु कवचं तस्माज्जग्राह वै हरिः । शङ्खचूडस्य रूपेण जगाम तुलसीं प्रति

māyayetthaṁ tu kavacaṁ tasmājjagrāha vai hariḥ śaṅkhacūḍasya rūpeṇa jagāma tulasīṁ prati

Thus, through his illusion, Hari took the armor from him; and then, assuming the very form of Shankhachuda, he went to Tulasi.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.178.21)

गत्वा तत्र हरिस्तस्या योनौ मायाविशारदः । वीर्याधानं चकाराशु देवकार्यार्थमीश्वरः

gatvā tatra haristasyā yonau māyāviśāradaḥ vīryādhānaṁ cakārāśu devakāryārthamīśvaraḥ

Going there, Hari, that master of illusion, the Lord, for the sake of the gods' work, swiftly planted his seed within her womb.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.178.22)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शम्भुमीरयन् स्ववचः प्रभुः । शङ्खचूडवधार्थाय शूलं जग्राह प्रज्वलत्

etasminnantare śambhumīrayan svavacaḥ prabhuḥ śaṅkhacūḍavadhārthāya śūlaṁ jagrāha prajvalat

Meanwhile the Lord, prompting Shambhu with his own word, took up the blazing trident to slay Shankhachuda.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.178.23)

तच्छूलं विजयं नाम शङ्करस्य परात्मनः । सञ्चकाशे दिशः सर्वा रोदसीं सम्प्रकाशयन्

tacchūlaṁ vijayaṁ nāma śaṅkarasya parātmanaḥ sañcakāśe diśaḥ sarvā rodasīṁ samprakāśayan

That trident of Shankara, the Supreme Self, named Vijaya, blazed forth, illumining every direction and both heaven and earth.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.178.24)

कोटिमध्याह्नमार्तण्डप्रलयाग्निशिखोपमम् । दुर्निवार्यं च दुर्द्धर्षमव्यर्थं वैरिघातकम्

koṭimadhyāhnamārtaṇḍapralayāgniśikhopamam durnivāryaṁ ca durddharṣamavyarthaṁ vairighātakam

Like a crore of midday suns, like the very flame of the fire of dissolution; unstoppable, unassailable, unfailing, and a slayer of foes.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.178.25)

तेजसां चक्रमत्युग्रं सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रनायकम् । सुरासुराणां सर्वेषां दुःसहं च भयङ्करम्

tejasāṁ cakramatyugraṁ sarvaśastrāstranāyakam surāsurāṇāṁ sarveṣāṁ duḥsahaṁ ca bhayaṅkaram

A wheel of splendor, most fierce, the foremost of all weapons and missiles; unbearable and terrifying to gods and asuras alike.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.178.26)

संहर्तुं सर्वब्रह्माडमवलम्ब्य च लीलया । संस्थितं परमं तत्र एकत्रीभूय विज्वलत्

saṁhartuṁ sarvabrahmāḍamavalambya ca līlayā saṁsthitaṁ paramaṁ tatra ekatrībhūya vijvalat

Capable of destroying the whole universe, resting there as if in mere play, that supreme power gathered itself into a single blaze and flared forth.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.178.27)

धनुः सहस्रं दीर्घेण प्रस्थेन शतहस्तकम् । जीवब्रह्मस्वरूपं च नित्यरूपमनिर्मितम्

dhanuḥ sahasraṁ dīrgheṇa prasthena śatahastakam jīvabrahmasvarūpaṁ ca nityarūpamanirmitam

A thousand bow-lengths in length, a hundred cubits in breadth; of the very nature of the individual soul and of Brahman, eternal in form, uncreated.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.178.28)

विभ्रमद् व्योम्नि तच्छूलं शङ्खचूडोपरि क्षणात् । चकार भस्म तच्छीघ्रं निपत्य शिवशासनात्

vibhramad vyomni tacchūlaṁ śaṅkhacūḍopari kṣaṇāt cakāra bhasma tacchīghraṁ nipatya śivaśāsanāt

That trident, wheeling through the sky, fell swiftly upon Shankhachuda by Shiva's own command, and in an instant reduced him to ashes.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.178.29)

अथ शूलं महेशस्य द्रुतमावृत्य शङ्करम् । ययौ विहायसा विप्र मनोयायि स्वकार्यकृत्

atha śūlaṁ maheśasya drutamāvṛtya śaṅkaram yayau vihāyasā vipra manoyāyi svakāryakṛt

Then Maheshvara's trident, its task fulfilled, swiftly circled around and, mind-swift, O Brahmin, returned through the sky to Shankara.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.178.30)

नेदुर्दुन्दुभयः स्वर्गे जगुर्गन्धर्वकिन्नराः । तुष्टुवुर्मुनयो देवा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः

nedurdundubhayaḥ svarge jagurgandharvakinnarāḥ tuṣṭuvurmunayo devā nanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ

Kettledrums sounded in heaven, gandharvas and kinnaras broke into song; sages and gods offered praise, and hosts of apsarases danced.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.178.31)

बभूव पुष्पवृष्टिश्च शिवस्योपरि सन्ततम् । प्रशशंस हरिर्ब्रह्मा शक्राद्या मुनयस्तथा

babhūva puṣpavṛṣṭiśca śivasyopari santatam praśaśaṁsa harirbrahmā śakrādyā munayastathā

A ceaseless rain of flowers fell upon Shiva; Hari and Brahma praised him, and Shakra and the other sages did likewise.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.178.32)

शङ्खचूडो दानवेन्द्रः शिवस्य कृपया तदा । शापमुक्तो बभूवाथ पूर्वरूपमवाप ह

śaṅkhacūḍo dānavendraḥ śivasya kṛpayā tadā śāpamukto babhūvātha pūrvarūpamavāpa ha

Shankhachuda, lord of danavas, was then released from his curse by Shiva's grace, and regained his former form.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.178.33)

अस्थिभिः शङ्खचूडस्य शङ्खजातिर्बभूव ह । प्रशस्तं शङ्खतोयं च सर्वेषां शङ्करं विना

asthibhiḥ śaṅkhacūḍasya śaṅkhajātirbabhūva ha praśastaṁ śaṅkhatoyaṁ ca sarveṣāṁ śaṅkaraṁ vinā

From Shankhachuda's bones arose the race of conch shells; and water touched by the conch became sacred and praiseworthy to all — save Shankara.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.178.34)

विशेषेण हरेर्लक्ष्म्याः शङ्खतोयं महाप्रियम् । सम्बन्धिनां च तस्यापि न हरस्य महामुने

viśeṣeṇa harerlakṣmyāḥ śaṅkhatoyaṁ mahāpriyam sambandhināṁ ca tasyāpi na harasya mahāmune

In particular, O great sage, conch-water is exceedingly dear to Hari, to Lakshmi, and to those related to them — but not to Hara.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.178.35)

तमित्थं शङ्करो हत्वा शिवलोकं जगाम सः । सुप्रहृष्टो वृषारूढः सोमस्कन्दगणैर्वृतः

tamitthaṁ śaṅkaro hatvā śivalokaṁ jagāma saḥ suprahṛṣṭo vṛṣārūḍhaḥ somaskandagaṇairvṛtaḥ

Having thus slain him, Shankara, greatly rejoicing, mounted upon his bull and surrounded by Uma, Skanda, and the ganas, departed for Shivaloka.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.178.36)

हरिर्जगाम वैकुण्ठं कृष्णः स्वस्थो बभूव ह । सुराः स्वविषयं प्रापुः परमानन्दसंयुताः

harirjagāma vaikuṇṭhaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ svastho babhūva ha surāḥ svaviṣayaṁ prāpuḥ paramānandasaṁyutāḥ

Hari departed to Vaikuntha, and Krishna became once more at ease; the gods, filled with supreme joy, returned each to his own realm.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.178.37)

जगत्स्वास्थ्यमतीवाप सर्वं निर्विघ्नमाप कम् । निर्मलं चाभवद्व्योम क्षितिः सर्वा सुमङ्गला

jagatsvāsthyamatīvāpa sarvaṁ nirvighnamāpa kam nirmalaṁ cābhavadvyoma kṣitiḥ sarvā sumaṅgalā

The world attained the utmost well-being; all things became free of obstruction and at peace; the sky grew clear, and the whole earth turned auspicious.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.178.38)

इति प्रोक्तं महेशस्य चरितं प्रमुदावहम् । सर्वदुःखहरं श्रीदं सर्वकामप्रपूरकम्

iti proktaṁ maheśasya caritaṁ pramudāvaham sarvaduḥkhaharaṁ śrīdaṁ sarvakāmaprapūrakam

Thus has been told this joy-bringing deed of Mahesha — remover of every sorrow, giver of fortune, and fulfiller of every desire.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.178.39)

धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं सर्वविघ्ननिवारणम् । भुक्तिदं मुक्तिदं चैव सर्वकामफलप्रदम्

dhanyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ sarvavighnanivāraṇam bhuktidaṁ muktidaṁ caiva sarvakāmaphalapradam

It brings blessing, fame, and long life; it wards off every obstacle; it grants both worldly enjoyment and liberation, and bestows the fruit of every desire.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.178.40)

य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं चरितं शशिमौलिनः । श्रावयेद्वा पठेद्वापि पाठयेद्वा सुधीर्नरः

ya idaṁ śṛṇuyānnityaṁ caritaṁ śaśimaulinaḥ śrāvayedvā paṭhedvāpi pāṭhayedvā sudhīrnaraḥ

Whatever wise person constantly hears this deed of the moon-crested Lord, or has others hear it, or reads it, or teaches it to others —

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.178.41)

धनं धान्यं सुतं सौख्यं लभेतात्र न संशयः । सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति शिवभक्तिं विशेषतः

dhanaṁ dhānyaṁ sutaṁ saukhyaṁ labhetātra na saṁśayaḥ sarvānkāmānavāpnoti śivabhaktiṁ viśeṣataḥ

— shall attain wealth, grain, children, and happiness, without doubt; he obtains all his desires, and above all, devotion to Shiva.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.178.42)

इदमाख्यानमतुलं सर्वोपद्रवनाशनम् । परमज्ञानजननं शिवभक्तिविवर्द्धनम्

idamākhyānamatulaṁ sarvopadravanāśanam paramajñānajananaṁ śivabhaktivivarddhanam

This is a peerless tale, destroyer of every calamity; it is the begetter of supreme knowledge and the increaser of devotion to Shiva.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.178.43)

ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मवर्चस्वी क्षत्रियो विजयी भवेत् । धनाढ्यो वैश्यजः शूद्रः शृण्वन् सत्तमतामियात्

brāhmaṇo brahmavarcasvī kṣatriyo vijayī bhavet dhanāḍhyo vaiśyajaḥ śūdraḥ śṛṇvan sattamatāmiyāt

A Brahmin who hears this becomes radiant with Brahmanical splendor; a Kshatriya becomes victorious; a Vaishya grows wealthy; and a Shudra, by hearing it, attains the highest virtue.