Andhaka Attains the Rank of Ganapati: The Messenger's Dialogue

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.182.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततो हिरण्याक्षसुतः कदाचि- त्संश्रावितो नर्मयुतैर्मदान्धैः । तैर्भ्रातृभिःसम्प्रयुतो विहारे किमन्ध राज्येन तवाद्य कार्यम्

sanatkumāra uvāca tato hiraṇyākṣasutaḥ kadāci- tsaṁśrāvito narmayutairmadāndhaiḥ tairbhrātṛbhiḥsamprayuto vihāre kimandha rājyena tavādya kāryam

Sanatkumara said: "Then once, that son of Hiranyaksha was addressed by his own brothers, blind with pride and given to jesting."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.182.2)

हिरण्यनेत्रस्तु बभूव मूढः कलिप्रियं नेत्रविहीनमेव । यो लब्धवांस्त्वां विकृतं विरूपं घोरैस्तपोभिर्गिरिशं प्रसाद्य

hiraṇyanetrastu babhūva mūḍhaḥ kalipriyaṁ netravihīnameva yo labdhavāṁstvāṁ vikṛtaṁ virūpaṁ ghoraistapobhirgiriśaṁ prasādya

"Those brothers, gathered together at play, said: \"O blind one, what use have you today for this kingdom?\""

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.182.3)

स त्वं न भागी खलु राज्यकस्य किमन्यजातोऽपि लभेत राज्यम् । विचार्यतां तद्भवतैव नूनं वयं तु तद्भागिन एव सत्यम्

sa tvaṁ na bhāgī khalu rājyakasya kimanyajāto'pi labheta rājyam vicāryatāṁ tadbhavataiva nūnaṁ vayaṁ tu tadbhāgina eva satyam

"Certainly you are no rightful sharer of the kingdom — enjoy only that misshapen, deformed form you gained by pleasing Girisha through terrible austerity."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.182.4)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तेषां तु वाक्यानि निशम्य तानि विचार्य बुद्ध्या स्वयमेव दीनः । तान् शान्तयित्वा विविधैर्वचोभिः गतस्त्वरण्यं निशि निर्जनं तु

sanatkumāra uvāca teṣāṁ tu vākyāni niśamya tāni vicārya buddhyā svayameva dīnaḥ tān śāntayitvā vividhairvacobhiḥ gatastvaraṇyaṁ niśi nirjanaṁ tu

"He is surely no sharer of the kingdom — how then should any other, however born, obtain it? Consider this yourself, O brother — we alone are its true sharers."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.182.5)

वर्षायुतं तत्र तपश्चचार जजाप जाप्यं विधृतैकपादः । आहारहीनो नियमोर्ध्वबाहुः कर्त्तुं न शक्यं हि सुरासुरैर्यत्

varṣāyutaṁ tatra tapaścacāra jajāpa jāpyaṁ vidhṛtaikapādaḥ āhārahīno niyamordhvabāhuḥ karttuṁ na śakyaṁ hi surāsurairyat

Sanatkumara said: Hearing such words from them, and reflecting well with his own understanding, he himself grew despondent; pacifying them all with many words, he went that night into a lonely forest.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.182.6)

प्रज्वाल्य वह्निं स्म जुहोति गात्र- मांसं सरक्तं खलु वर्षमात्रम् । तीक्ष्णेन शस्त्रेण निकृत्य देहात् समन्त्रकं प्रत्यहमेव हुत्वा

prajvālya vahniṁ sma juhoti gātra- māṁsaṁ saraktaṁ khalu varṣamātram tīkṣṇena śastreṇa nikṛtya dehāt samantrakaṁ pratyahameva hutvā

"There he practiced austerity for ten thousand years, standing on a single foot, chanting his mantra, taking no food, arms held aloft under strict vow — an austerity impossible even for gods and demons."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.182.7)

स्नाय्वस्थिशेषं कुणपं तदासौ क्षयं गतं शोणितमेव सर्वम् । यदास्य मांसानि न सन्ति देहं प्रक्षेप्तुकामस्तु हुताशनाय

snāyvasthiśeṣaṁ kuṇapaṁ tadāsau kṣayaṁ gataṁ śoṇitameva sarvam yadāsya māṁsāni na santi dehaṁ prakṣeptukāmastu hutāśanāya

"Kindling a fire, for a full year he cut flesh mingled with his own blood from his body with a sharp weapon, and offered it daily into the fire with mantras."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.182.8)

ततः स दृष्टस्त्रिदशालयैर्जनैः सुविस्मितैर्भीतियुतैः समस्तैः । अथामरैः शीघ्रतरं प्रसादितो बभूव धाता नुतिभिर्नुतो हि

tataḥ sa dṛṣṭastridaśālayairjanaiḥ suvismitairbhītiyutaiḥ samastaiḥ athāmaraiḥ śīghrataraṁ prasādito babhūva dhātā nutibhirnuto hi

"Then his body was reduced to mere sinew and bone, all his blood spent; and when no flesh at all remained on his frame, he resolved to cast even that remaining body into the fire."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.182.9)

निवारयित्वाथ पितामहस्तं ह्युवाच तं चाद्य वरं वृणीष्व । यस्याप्तिकामस्तव सर्वलोके सुदुर्लभं दानव तं गृहाण

nivārayitvātha pitāmahastaṁ hyuvāca taṁ cādya varaṁ vṛṇīṣva yasyāptikāmastava sarvaloke sudurlabhaṁ dānava taṁ gṛhāṇa

"Then the dwellers of heaven beheld him, and, filled with wonder and fear, the gods swiftly appeased him — and then, praised with hymns, the Creator himself appeared there."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.182.10)

स पद्मयोनेस्तु वचो निशम्य प्रोवाच दीनः प्रणतस्तु दैत्यः । यैर्निष्ठुरैर्मे प्रहृतं तु राज्यं प्रह्रादमुख्या मम सन्तु भृत्याः

sa padmayonestu vaco niśamya provāca dīnaḥ praṇatastu daityaḥ yairniṣṭhurairme prahṛtaṁ tu rājyaṁ prahrādamukhyā mama santu bhṛtyāḥ

"The Grandsire, restraining him, said, \"Now choose your boon; obtain, O demon, whatever seems most unattainable to you in all this world.\""

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.182.11)

अन्धस्य दिव्यं हि तथास्तु चक्षु- रिन्द्रादयो मे करदा भवन्तु । मृत्युस्तु माभून्मम देवदैत्य- गन्धर्वयक्षोरगमानुषेभ्यः

andhasya divyaṁ hi tathāstu cakṣu- rindrādayo me karadā bhavantu mṛtyustu mābhūnmama devadaitya- gandharvayakṣoragamānuṣebhyaḥ

"Hearing lotus-born Brahma's words, that demon, humble and bowed, said: \"Let those who cruelly took my kingdom from me — Prahlada and the rest — become my servants.\""

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.182.12)

नारायणाद्वा दितिजेन्द्रशत्रोः सर्वाज्जनात्सर्वमयाच्च शर्वात् । श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य सुदारुणं तत् सुशङ्कितः पद्मभवस्तमाह

nārāyaṇādvā ditijendraśatroḥ sarvājjanātsarvamayācca śarvāt śrutvā vacastasya sudāruṇaṁ tat suśaṅkitaḥ padmabhavastamāha

"Let this blind one gain divine sight, let Indra and all the gods become my tributaries, and let my death come from no god, demon, gandharva, yaksha, serpent, or man."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.182.13)

ब्रह्मोवाच । दैत्येन्द्र सर्वं भविता तदेतद् विनाशहेतुं च गृहाण किञ्चित् । यस्मान्न जातो न जनिष्यते वा यो न प्रविष्टो मुखमन्तकस्य

brahmovāca daityendra sarvaṁ bhavitā tadetad vināśahetuṁ ca gṛhāṇa kiñcit yasmānna jāto na janiṣyate vā yo na praviṣṭo mukhamantakasya

"Not from Narayana, not from any lord of the demons who is foe of the gods, not from any being whatsoever, and not even from Sharva who is the very form of all — hearing his utterly dreadful words, lotus-born Brahma, apprehensive, spoke to him."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.182.14)

अत्यन्तदीर्घं खलु जीवितं तु भवादृशाः सत्पुरुषाः त्यजन्तु । एतद्वचः सानुनयं निशम्य पितामहात्प्राह पुनः स दैत्यः

atyantadīrghaṁ khalu jīvitaṁ tu bhavādṛśāḥ satpuruṣāḥ tyajantu etadvacaḥ sānunayaṁ niśamya pitāmahātprāha punaḥ sa daityaḥ

Brahma said: "O lord of demons, all of this shall be so, but keep some one cause for your own end — for there is none who is unborn, will remain unborn, or has never entered the mouth of death."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.182.15)

अन्धक उवाच । कालत्रये याश्च भवन्ति नार्यः श्रेष्ठाश्च मध्याश्च तथा कनिष्ठाः । तासां च मध्ये खलु रत्नभूता ममापि नित्यं जननीव काचित्

andhaka uvāca kālatraye yāśca bhavanti nāryaḥ śreṣṭhāśca madhyāśca tathā kaniṣṭhāḥ tāsāṁ ca madhye khalu ratnabhūtā mamāpi nityaṁ jananīva kācit

"Even the longest life, good men such as you must in the end relinquish." Hearing these humble words, that demon spoke again to the Grandsire.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.182.16)

कायेन वाचा मनसाप्यगम्या नारी नृलोकस्य च दुर्लभा या । तां कामयानस्य ममास्तु नाशो दैत्येन्द्रभावाद्भगवान्स्वयम्भूः

kāyena vācā manasāpyagamyā nārī nṛlokasya ca durlabhā yā tāṁ kāmayānasya mamāstu nāśo daityendrabhāvādbhagavānsvayambhūḥ

Andhaka said: "Among all the women who exist in the three times — the highest, the middling, and the lowest — she among them who is like a very jewel, let her be to me as my own mother."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.182.17)

वाक्यं तदाकर्ण्य स पद्मयोनिः सुविस्मितः शङ्करपादपद्मम् । सस्मार सम्प्राप्य निदेशमाशु शम्भोस्तु तं प्राह ततोऽन्धकं वै

vākyaṁ tadākarṇya sa padmayoniḥ suvismitaḥ śaṅkarapādapadmam sasmāra samprāpya nideśamāśu śambhostu taṁ prāha tato'ndhakaṁ vai

"That woman who is unapproachable in body, speech, and even in thought, who is beyond attainment in the world of men — should I ever desire her, O self-born Lord, let my own death come, even in the full strength of my demon-lordship."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.182.18)

ब्रह्मोवाच । यत्काङ्क्षसे दैत्य वरांस्तु ते वै सर्वं भवत्येव वचः सकामम् । उत्तिष्ठः दैत्येन्द्र लभस्व कामं सदैव वीरैस्तु कुरुष्व युद्धम्

brahmovāca yatkāṅkṣase daitya varāṁstu te vai sarvaṁ bhavatyeva vacaḥ sakāmam uttiṣṭhaḥ daityendra labhasva kāmaṁ sadaiva vīraistu kuruṣva yuddham

"Hearing that word, lotus-born Brahma was greatly astonished, and, quickly calling to mind Shiva's lotus feet, having received Shambhu's sanction, he then spoke thus to Andhaka."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.182.19)

श्रुत्वा तदेतद्वचनं मुनीश विधातुराशु प्रणिपत्य भक्त्या । लोकेश्वरं हाटकनेत्रपुत्रः स्नाय्वस्थिशेषस्तु तमाह देवम्

śrutvā tadetadvacanaṁ munīśa vidhāturāśu praṇipatya bhaktyā lokeśvaraṁ hāṭakanetraputraḥ snāyvasthiśeṣastu tamāha devam

"Hearing this word, O sage, and swiftly bowing to the Creator with devotion, that son of Hiranyanetra, now reduced to mere sinew and bone, spoke to Brahma, lord of the worlds."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.182.20)

अन्धक उवाच । कथं विभो वैरिबलं प्रविश्य ह्यनेन देहेन करोमि युद्धम् । स्नाय्वस्थिशेषं कुरु मांसपुष्टं करेण पुण्येन च मां स्पृशाद्य

andhaka uvāca kathaṁ vibho vairibalaṁ praviśya hyanena dehena karomi yuddham snāyvasthiśeṣaṁ kuru māṁsapuṣṭaṁ kareṇa puṇyena ca māṁ spṛśādya

Andhaka said: "O mighty one, how shall I, entering the enemy's ranks in this very body, wage war? Restore flesh to this body of mine, reduced to sinew and bone, and touch me today with your own blessed hand."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.182.21)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य स पद्मयोनिः करेण संस्पृश्य च तच्छरीरम् । गतः सुरेन्द्रैः सहितः स्वधाम सम्पूज्यमानो मुनिसिद्धसङ्घैः

sanatkumāra uvāca śrutvā vacastasya sa padmayoniḥ kareṇa saṁspṛśya ca taccharīram gataḥ surendraiḥ sahitaḥ svadhāma sampūjyamāno munisiddhasaṅghaiḥ

Sanatkumara said: Hearing his words, lotus-born Brahma touched that body with his own hand, and then, honored by hosts of sages and siddhas, departed together with the gods to his own abode.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.182.22)

संस्पृष्टमात्रः स च दैत्यराजः सम्पूर्णदेहो बलवान् बभूव । सञ्जातनेत्रः सुभगो बभूव हृष्टः स्वमेवं नगरं विवेश

saṁspṛṣṭamātraḥ sa ca daityarājaḥ sampūrṇadeho balavān babhūva sañjātanetraḥ subhago babhūva hṛṣṭaḥ svamevaṁ nagaraṁ viveśa

"By that touch alone, that lord of demons became whole of body and mighty; he gained eyes too, became handsome, and, rejoicing, entered his own city."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.182.23)

उत्सृज्य राज्यं सकलं च तस्मै प्रह्लादमुख्यास्त्वथ दानवेन्द्राः । तमागतं लब्धवरं च मत्वा भृत्या बभूवुर्वशगास्तु तस्य

utsṛjya rājyaṁ sakalaṁ ca tasmai prahlādamukhyāstvatha dānavendrāḥ tamāgataṁ labdhavaraṁ ca matvā bhṛtyā babhūvurvaśagāstu tasya

"Knowing him thus returned, having gained his boon, Prahlada and the other lords of demons surrendered the whole of the kingdom to him and became his obedient servants."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.182.24)

ततोऽन्धकः स्वर्गमगाद्विजेतुं सेनाभियुक्तः सहभृत्यवर्गः । विजित्य देवान् प्रधने समस्तान् करप्रदं वज्रधरं चकार

tato'ndhakaḥ svargamagādvijetuṁ senābhiyuktaḥ sahabhṛtyavargaḥ vijitya devān pradhane samastān karapradaṁ vajradharaṁ cakāra

"Then Andhaka, joined with his army and servants, went to conquer heaven, and, defeating all the gods in battle, made even thunderbolt-wielding Indra his tributary."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.182.25)

नागान्सुपर्णान्वरराक्षसांश्च गन्धर्वयक्षानपि मानुषांस्तु । गिरीन्द्रवृक्षान्समरेषु सर्वां- श्चतुष्पदः सिंहमुखान्विजिग्ये

nāgānsuparṇānvararākṣasāṁśca gandharvayakṣānapi mānuṣāṁstu girīndravṛkṣānsamareṣu sarvāṁ- ścatuṣpadaḥ siṁhamukhānvijigye

"He conquered the nagas, the garudas, the foremost rakshasas, the gandharvas, the yakshas, and men too; and in his wars he conquered mountains, trees, and even lion-faced four-footed beasts."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.182.26)

त्रैलोक्यमेतद्धि चराचरं वै वशं चकारात्मनि सन्नियोज्य । ततोऽनुकूलानि सुदर्शनानि नारीसहस्राणि बहूनि गत्वा

trailokyametaddhi carācaraṁ vai vaśaṁ cakārātmani sanniyojya tato'nukūlāni sudarśanāni nārīsahasrāṇi bahūni gatvā

"Thus, bringing the whole moving and unmoving three worlds under his own sway, he then obtained many thousands of compliant, beautiful women."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.182.27)

रसातले चैव तथा धरायां त्रिविष्टपे याः प्रमदाः सुरूपाः । ताभिर्युतोऽन्येषु स पर्वतेषु रराम रम्येषु नदीतटेषु

rasātale caiva tathā dharāyāṁ triviṣṭape yāḥ pramadāḥ surūpāḥ tābhiryuto'nyeṣu sa parvateṣu rarāma ramyeṣu nadītaṭeṣu

"With all the beautiful women who were in the netherworld, on earth, and in heaven, he sported upon other mountains and by the lovely banks of rivers."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.182.28)

क्रीडायमानः स तु मध्यवर्ती तासां प्रहर्षादथ दानवेन्द्रः । तत्पीतशिष्टानि पिबन्प्रवृत्त्यै दिव्यानि पेयानि सुमानुषाणि

krīḍāyamānaḥ sa tu madhyavartī tāsāṁ praharṣādatha dānavendraḥ tatpītaśiṣṭāni pibanpravṛttyai divyāni peyāni sumānuṣāṇi

"Sporting in their midst, that lord of demons, exulting in his own splendor, drank of divine and human beverages already tasted by them."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.182.29)

अन्यानि दिव्यानि तु यद्रसानि फलानि पुष्पाणि सुगन्धवन्ति । सम्प्राप्य यानानि सुवाहनानि मयेन सृष्टानि गृहोत्तमानि

anyāni divyāni tu yadrasāni phalāni puṣpāṇi sugandhavanti samprāpya yānāni suvāhanāni mayena sṛṣṭāni gṛhottamāni

"Obtaining other divine, juicy fruits and fragrant flowers, and fine vehicles and excellent mansions fashioned by Maya,"

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.182.30)

पुष्पार्घधूपान्नविलेपनैश्च सुशोभितान्यद्भुतदर्शनैश्च । सङ्क्रीडमानस्य गतानि तस्य वर्षायुतानीह तथान्धकस्य

puṣpārghadhūpānnavilepanaiśca suśobhitānyadbhutadarśanaiśca saṅkrīḍamānasya gatāni tasya varṣāyutānīha tathāndhakasya

"and sporting amid those wondrous places adorned with flowers, offerings, incense, food, and unguents, ten thousand years passed for Andhaka in just this way."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.182.31)

जानाति किञ्चिन्न शुभं परत्र यदात्मनः सौख्यकरं भवेद्धि । सदान्धको दैत्यवरः स मूढो मदान्धबुद्धिः कृतदुष्टसङ्गः

jānāti kiñcinna śubhaṁ paratra yadātmanaḥ saukhyakaraṁ bhaveddhi sadāndhako daityavaraḥ sa mūḍho madāndhabuddhiḥ kṛtaduṣṭasaṅgaḥ

"That foolish, foremost of demons, Andhaka, his mind blinded by pride, fallen into evil company, knew nothing at all of what would truly benefit him, whether in this world or the next."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.182.32)

ततः प्रमत्तस्तु सुतान्प्रधानान् कुतर्कवादैरभिभूय सर्वान् । चचार दैत्यैःसहितो महात्मा विनाशयन्वैदिकसर्वधर्मान्

tataḥ pramattastu sutānpradhānān kutarkavādairabhibhūya sarvān cacāra daityaiḥsahito mahātmā vināśayanvaidikasarvadharmān

"Then, grown reckless, subjugating even his own foremost sons with sophistical arguments, that great-souled one wandered about with his demons, destroying every Vedic dharma."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.182.33)

वेदान्द्विजान् वित्तमदाभिभूतो न मन्यते स्माप्यमरान्गुरूंश्च । रेमे तथा दैवगतो हतायुः स्वैरैरहोभिर्गमयन्वयश्च

vedāndvijān vittamadābhibhūto na manyate smāpyamarāngurūṁśca reme tathā daivagato hatāyuḥ svairairahobhirgamayanvayaśca

"Overcome with the pride of wealth, he honored neither the Vedas, nor brahmins, nor gods, nor his elders — thus, ruled by his own fate and spending his life away, he passed his days exactly as he pleased."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.182.34)

ततः कदाचिद्गतवान्ससैन्यो बहुप्रयाता पृथिवीतलेऽस्मिन् । अनेकसङ्ख्या अपि वर्षकोट्यः प्रहर्षितो मन्दरपर्वतं तु

tataḥ kadācidgatavānsasainyo bahuprayātā pṛthivītale'smin anekasaṅkhyā api varṣakoṭyaḥ praharṣito mandaraparvataṁ tu

"Then once, with his army, he journeyed far across this earth — many crores of years had passed by then — and, glad of heart, went to Mount Mandara."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.182.35)

स्वर्णोपमां तत्र निरीक्ष्य शोभां बभ्राम सैन्यैः सह मानमत्तः । क्रीडार्थमासाद्य च तं गिरीन्द्रं मतिं स वासाय चकार मोहात्

svarṇopamāṁ tatra nirīkṣya śobhāṁ babhrāma sainyaiḥ saha mānamattaḥ krīḍārthamāsādya ca taṁ girīndraṁ matiṁ sa vāsāya cakāra mohāt

"Seeing there a splendor like gold, drunk with pride, he wandered with his army; reaching that lordly mountain for sport, deluded, he resolved to make his abode there."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.182.36)

शुभं दृढं तत्र पुरं स कृत्वा मुदा स्थितो दैत्यपतिः प्रभावात् । निवेशयामास पुनः क्रमेण अत्यद्भुतं मन्दरशैलसानौ

śubhaṁ dṛḍhaṁ tatra puraṁ sa kṛtvā mudā sthito daityapatiḥ prabhāvāt niveśayāmāsa punaḥ krameṇa atyadbhutaṁ mandaraśailasānau

"There, building a fair, sturdy city, that lord of demons dwelt joyfully in his own splendor; and by degrees he founded once more a most wondrous city upon the very peak of Mount Mandara."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.182.37)

दुर्योधनो वैधसहस्तिसंज्ञौ तन्मन्त्रिणौ दानवसत्तमस्य । ते वै कदाचिद्गिरिसुस्थले हि नारीं सुरूपां ददृशुस्त्रयोऽपि

duryodhano vaidhasahastisaṁjñau tanmantriṇau dānavasattamasya te vai kadācidgirisusthale hi nārīṁ surūpāṁ dadṛśustrayo'pi

"That foremost demon had two ministers named Duryodhana and Vaidhasahasti; once, all three of them, on some lovely spot of that mountain, beheld a woman of exceeding beauty."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.182.38)

ते शीघ्रगा दैत्यवरास्तु हर्षाद् द्रुतं महादैत्यपतिं समेत्य । ऊचुर्यथादृष्टमतीव प्रीत्या तथान्धकं वीरवरं हि सर्वे

te śīghragā daityavarāstu harṣād drutaṁ mahādaityapatiṁ sametya ūcuryathādṛṣṭamatīva prītyā tathāndhakaṁ vīravaraṁ hi sarve

"Those swift-moving, foremost demons went at once with delight to that great lord of demons, and all of them, with great affection, told that foremost hero Andhaka exactly what they had seen."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.182.39)

मन्त्रिण ऊचुः । गुहान्तरे ध्याननिमीलिताक्षो दैत्येन्द्र कश्चिन्मुनिरत्र दृष्टः । रूपान्वितश्चन्द्रकलार्द्धचूडः कटिस्थले बद्धगजेन्द्रकृत्तिः

mantriṇa ūcuḥ guhāntare dhyānanimīlitākṣo daityendra kaścinmuniratra dṛṣṭaḥ rūpānvitaścandrakalārddhacūḍaḥ kaṭisthale baddhagajendrakṛttiḥ

The ministers said: "O lord of demons, within a cave, his eyes closed in meditation, we have seen there a certain sage — of beautiful form, crowned with a crescent of the moon, a great elephant's hide bound at his waist,"

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.182.40)

नागेन्द्रभोगावृतसर्वगात्रः कपालमालाभरणो जटालः । स शूलहस्तः शरतूणधारी महाधनुष्मान्विवृताक्षसूत्रः

nāgendrabhogāvṛtasarvagātraḥ kapālamālābharaṇo jaṭālaḥ sa śūlahastaḥ śaratūṇadhārī mahādhanuṣmānvivṛtākṣasūtraḥ

"his whole body wrapped in the coils of a serpent-king, adorned with a garland of skulls and matted locks, trident in hand, quiver and arrows at his side, bearing a mighty bow, a rosary of beads in his hand,"

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.182.41)

खड्गी त्रिशूली लकुटी कपर्दी चतुर्भुजो गौरतराकृतिर्हि । भस्मानुलिप्तो विलसत्सुतेजाः तपस्विवर्योऽद्भुतसर्ववेषः

khaḍgī triśūlī lakuṭī kapardī caturbhujo gauratarākṛtirhi bhasmānulipto vilasatsutejāḥ tapasvivaryo'dbhutasarvaveṣaḥ

"sword, trident, staff, and matted hair, four-armed, of a most fair complexion, smeared with ash, radiant with splendor, a foremost ascetic wondrous in his whole array —"

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.182.42)

तस्याविदूरे पुरुषश्च दृष्टः स वानरो घोरमुखःकरालः । सर्वायुधो रूक्षकरश्च रक्षन् स्थितो जरद्गोवृषभश्च शुक्लः

tasyāvidūre puruṣaśca dṛṣṭaḥ sa vānaro ghoramukhaḥkarālaḥ sarvāyudho rūkṣakaraśca rakṣan sthito jaradgovṛṣabhaśca śuklaḥ

"Near him too was seen a being — a fierce-faced, terrible monkey, armed with every weapon, harsh-handed, standing on guard; and there too was an old white bull."

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.182.43)

तस्योपविष्टस्य तपस्विनोऽपि सुचारुरूपा तरुणी मनोज्ञा । नारी शुभा पार्श्वगता हि तस्य दृष्टा च काचिद्भुवि रत्नभूता

tasyopaviṣṭasya tapasvino'pi sucārurūpā taruṇī manojñā nārī śubhā pārśvagatā hi tasya dṛṣṭā ca kācidbhuvi ratnabhūtā

"Close beside that seated ascetic, a young woman of exceeding beauty and charm, an auspicious lady, was seen seated near him — as though some jewel had appeared upon the earth."

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.182.44)

प्रवालमुक्तामणिहेमरत्न- वस्त्रावृता माल्यशुभोपगूढा । सा येन दृष्टा स च दृष्टिमान्स्याद् दृष्टेन चान्येन किमत्र कार्यम्

pravālamuktāmaṇihemaratna- vastrāvṛtā mālyaśubhopagūḍhā sā yena dṛṣṭā sa ca dṛṣṭimānsyād dṛṣṭena cānyena kimatra kāryam

"Clad in garments set with coral, pearl, gem, gold, and jewels, adorned with lovely garlands — whoever has seen that woman alone has truly seen; what use is any other sight?"

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.182.45)

मान्या महेशस्य च दिव्यनारी भार्या मुनेः पुण्यवतः प्रिया सा । योग्या हि द्रष्टुं भवतश्च सम्य- गानाय्य दैत्येन्द्र सुरत्नभोक्तुः

mānyā maheśasya ca divyanārī bhāryā muneḥ puṇyavataḥ priyā sā yogyā hi draṣṭuṁ bhavataśca samya- gānāyya daityendra suratnabhoktuḥ

"That divine woman, worthy even of Maheshvara, is the beloved wife of some most fortunate sage — she is truly fit to be seen; O lord of demons, that enjoyer of such a jewel deserves to have her brought properly before you."

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.182.46)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । श्रुत्वेति तेषां वचनानि तानि कामातुरो घूर्णितसर्वगात्रः । विसर्जयामास मुनेः सकाशं दुर्योधनादीन्सहसा स दैत्यः

sanatkumāra uvāca śrutveti teṣāṁ vacanāni tāni kāmāturo ghūrṇitasarvagātraḥ visarjayāmāsa muneḥ sakāśaṁ duryodhanādīnsahasā sa daityaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Hearing such words from them, tormented by desire and trembling in every limb, that demon at once dispatched Duryodhana and the others to that sage.

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.182.47)

आसाद्य ते तं मुनिमप्रमेयं बृहद्व्रतं मन्त्रिवरा हि तस्य । सुराजनीतिप्रवणा मुनीश प्रणम्य तं दैत्यनिदेशमाहुः

āsādya te taṁ munimaprameyaṁ bṛhadvrataṁ mantrivarā hi tasya surājanītipravaṇā munīśa praṇamya taṁ daityanideśamāhuḥ

"Those foremost ministers of his, skilled in statecraft, reaching that incomparable, greatly-vowed sage, O foremost of sages, bowed to him and delivered the command of their lord of demons."

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.182.48)

मन्त्रिण ऊचुः । हिरण्यनेत्रस्य सुतो महात्मा दैत्याधिराजोऽन्धकनामधेयः । त्रैलोक्यनाथो भवकृन्निदेशा- दिहोपविष्टोऽद्य विहारशाली

mantriṇa ūcuḥ hiraṇyanetrasya suto mahātmā daityādhirājo'ndhakanāmadheyaḥ trailokyanātho bhavakṛnnideśā- dihopaviṣṭo'dya vihāraśālī

The ministers said: "The great-souled son of Hiranyanetra, sovereign of the demons, known by the name Andhaka, lord of the three worlds, by Bhava's own command, is even now here, at ease and at leisure."

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.182.49)

तन्मन्त्रिणो वै वयमङ्गवीरा- स्तवोपकण्ठं च समागताः स्म । तत्प्रेषितास्त्वां यदुवाच तद्वै शृणुष्व सन्दत्तमनास्तपस्विन्

tanmantriṇo vai vayamaṅgavīrā- stavopakaṇṭhaṁ ca samāgatāḥ sma tatpreṣitāstvāṁ yaduvāca tadvai śṛṇuṣva sandattamanāstapasvin

"O ascetic, we are his ministers, his foremost heroes, come to your presence; sent by him, listen with a settled mind to what he has said."

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.182.50)

त्वं कस्य पुत्रोऽसि किमर्थमत्र सुखोपविष्टो मुनिवर्य धीमन् । कस्येयमीदृक्तरुणी सुरूपा देया शुभा दैत्यपतेर्मुनीन्द्र

tvaṁ kasya putro'si kimarthamatra sukhopaviṣṭo munivarya dhīman kasyeyamīdṛktaruṇī surūpā deyā śubhā daityapatermunīndra

"Whose son are you, and for what purpose, O wise and foremost sage, do you sit here at ease? Whose is this beautiful young woman, who ought rightly to be given to the lord of demons, O foremost of sages?"

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.182.51)

क्वेदं शरीरं तव भस्मदिग्धं कपालमालाभरणं विरूपम् । तूणीरसत्कार्मुकबाणखड्ग- भुशुण्डिशूलाशनितोमराणि

kvedaṁ śarīraṁ tava bhasmadigdhaṁ kapālamālābharaṇaṁ virūpam tūṇīrasatkārmukabāṇakhaḍga- bhuśuṇḍiśūlāśanitomarāṇi

"Where does this body of yours belong, smeared with ash, adorned with a garland of skulls, misshapen as it is! And why here this quiver, fine bow and arrows, sword, mace, trident, and thunderbolt-like weapons?"

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.182.52)

क्व जाह्नवी पुण्यतमा जटाग्रे क्वायं शशी वा कुणपास्थिखण्डम् । विषानलो दीर्घमुखः क्व सर्पः क्व सङ्गमः पीनपयोधरायाः

kva jāhnavī puṇyatamā jaṭāgre kvāyaṁ śaśī vā kuṇapāsthikhaṇḍam viṣānalo dīrghamukhaḥ kva sarpaḥ kva saṅgamaḥ pīnapayodharāyāḥ

"Where does the most sacred Ganga belong, at the tip of your matted hair, and where this moon; and where these fragments of dead bone! Where the venomous, long-mouthed serpent — and where the company of this full-breasted woman?"

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.182.53)

जरद्गवारोहणमप्रशस्तं क्षमावतस्तस्य न दर्शनं च । सन्ध्याप्रणामः क्वचिदेष धर्मः क्व भोजनं लोकविरुद्धमेतत्

jaradgavārohaṇamapraśastaṁ kṣamāvatastasya na darśanaṁ ca sandhyāpraṇāmaḥ kvacideṣa dharmaḥ kva bhojanaṁ lokaviruddhametat

"To ride upon an aged bull is unbecoming, and does not befit a man of forbearance; where the dharma of evening prayer, and where this food that runs against all worldly custom?"

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.182.54)

प्रयच्छ नारीं मम सान्त्वपूर्वं स्त्रिया तपः किं कुरुषे विमूढ । अयुक्तमेतत्त्वयि नानुरूपं यस्मादहं रत्नपतिस्त्रिलोके

prayaccha nārīṁ mama sāntvapūrvaṁ striyā tapaḥ kiṁ kuruṣe vimūḍha ayuktametattvayi nānurūpaṁ yasmādahaṁ ratnapatistriloke

"O deluded one, offer this woman up with due respect — what austerity can you practice with a woman beside you? This is unfitting and unbecoming of you, for I am lord of jewels in all three worlds."

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.182.55)

विमुञ्च शस्त्राणि मयाद्य चोक्तः कुरुष्व पश्चात्तप एव शुद्धम् । उल्लङ्घ्य मच्छासनमप्रधृष्यं विमोक्ष्यसे सर्वमिदं शरीरम्

vimuñca śastrāṇi mayādya coktaḥ kuruṣva paścāttapa eva śuddham ullaṅghya macchāsanamapradhṛṣyaṁ vimokṣyase sarvamidaṁ śarīram

"Release your weapons now at my word, and practice pure austerity only thereafter; should you transgress my unbreakable command, you shall lose this entire body of yours."

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.182.56)

मत्वान्धकं दुष्टमतिप्रधानो महेश्वरो लौकिकभावशीलः । प्रोवाच दैत्यं स्मितपूर्वमेव- माकर्ण्य सर्वं त्वथ दूतवाक्यम्

matvāndhakaṁ duṣṭamatipradhāno maheśvaro laukikabhāvaśīlaḥ provāca daityaṁ smitapūrvameva- mākarṇya sarvaṁ tvatha dūtavākyam

Sanatkumara said: Knowing that Andhaka to be evil-minded, the most exalted Maheshvara, observing the manner of the world, hearing the messenger's entire speech, spoke smiling to that demon.

Verse 57 (shiva.rudra.182.57)

शिव उवाच । यद्यस्मि रुद्रस्तव किं मया स्यात् किमर्थमेवं वदसीति मिथ्या । शृणु प्रभावं मम दैत्यनाथ न्याय्यं न वक्तुं वचनं त्वयैवम्

śiva uvāca yadyasmi rudrastava kiṁ mayā syāt kimarthamevaṁ vadasīti mithyā śṛṇu prabhāvaṁ mama daityanātha nyāyyaṁ na vaktuṁ vacanaṁ tvayaivam

Shiva said: "If I am indeed Rudra, what is that to you? Why do you speak thus — it is false; hear my true power, O lord of demons — it is not fitting for you to speak in this way."

Verse 58 (shiva.rudra.182.58)

नाहं क्वचित्स्वं पितरं स्मरामि गुहान्तरे घोरमनन्यचीर्णम् । एतद् व्रतं पाशुपतं चरामि न मातरं त्वज्ञतमो विरूपः

nāhaṁ kvacitsvaṁ pitaraṁ smarāmi guhāntare ghoramananyacīrṇam etad vrataṁ pāśupataṁ carāmi na mātaraṁ tvajñatamo virūpaḥ

"I recall no father anywhere; here within this cave, I practice only this terrible Pashupata vow, unshared by any other — no mother do I recall either, ignorant and misshapen as I am."

Verse 59 (shiva.rudra.182.59)

अमूलमेतन्मयि तु प्रसिद्धं सुदुस्त्यजं सर्वमिदं ममास्ति । भार्या ममेयं तरुणी सुरूपा सर्वंसहा सर्वगतस्य सिद्धिः

amūlametanmayi tu prasiddhaṁ sudustyajaṁ sarvamidaṁ mamāsti bhāryā mameyaṁ taruṇī surūpā sarvaṁsahā sarvagatasya siddhiḥ

"Whatever I have is established in me without any origin, and all of it is exceedingly hard for me to give up — this young and beautiful woman who is my wife is the very accomplishment of one who is all-enduring and all-pervading."

Verse 60 (shiva.rudra.182.60)

एतर्हि यद्यद्रुचितं तवास्ति गृहाण तद्वै खलु राक्षस त्वम् । एतावदुक्त्वा विरराम शम्भुः तपस्विवेषः पुरतस्तु तेषाम्

etarhi yadyadrucitaṁ tavāsti gṛhāṇa tadvai khalu rākṣasa tvam etāvaduktvā virarāma śambhuḥ tapasviveṣaḥ puratastu teṣām

"Now take for yourself, O demon, whatever pleases you." Having said this much, Shambhu, in the guise of an ascetic, fell silent there before them.

Verse 61 (shiva.rudra.182.61)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । गम्भीरमेतद्वचनं निशम्य ते दानवास्तं प्रणिपत्य मूर्ध्ना । जग्मुस्ततो दैत्यवरस्य सूनुं त्रैलोक्यनाशाय कृतप्रतिज्ञम्

sanatkumāra uvāca gambhīrametadvacanaṁ niśamya te dānavāstaṁ praṇipatya mūrdhnā jagmustato daityavarasya sūnuṁ trailokyanāśāya kṛtapratijñam

Sanatkumara said: Hearing that grave utterance, those demons, bowing to him with their heads, went to that son of the demon-lord, Andhaka, who had vowed the destruction of the three worlds.

Verse 62 (shiva.rudra.182.62)

बभाषिरे दैत्यपतिं प्रमत्तं प्रणम्य राजानमदीनसत्त्वाः । ते तत्र सर्वे जयशब्दपूर्वं रुद्रेण यत्तत्स्मितपूर्वमुक्तम्

babhāṣire daityapatiṁ pramattaṁ praṇamya rājānamadīnasattvāḥ te tatra sarve jayaśabdapūrvaṁ rudreṇa yattatsmitapūrvamuktam

"Those undaunted demons, bowing to that reckless lord of demons and crying words of victory, told him all that Rudra had spoken there, smiling."

Verse 63 (shiva.rudra.182.63)

मन्त्रिण उचुः निशाचरश्चञ्चलशौर्यधैर्यः क्व दानवः कृपणः सत्त्वहीनः । क्रूरः कृतघ्नश्च सदैव पापी क्व दानवः सूर्यसुताद्बिभेति

mantriṇa ucuḥ niśācaraścañcalaśauryadhairyaḥ kva dānavaḥ kṛpaṇaḥ sattvahīnaḥ krūraḥ kṛtaghnaśca sadaiva pāpī kva dānavaḥ sūryasutādbibheti

The ministers said: "Where the fickle valor and steadiness of a night-wanderer, and where a lord of demons, humble and without strength! Where a demon, cruel, ungrateful, and ever sinful, who fears even the son of the Sun!"

Verse 64 (shiva.rudra.182.64)

राजस्त्वमुक्तोऽखिलदैत्यनाथ- स्तपस्विना तन्मुनिना विहस्य । मत्वा स्वबुद्ध्या तृणवत्त्रिलोकं महौजसा वीरवरेण नूनम्

rājastvamukto'khiladaityanātha- stapasvinā tanmuninā vihasya matvā svabuddhyā tṛṇavattrilokaṁ mahaujasā vīravareṇa nūnam

"O king, that ascetic sage, laughing, has spoken thus to you, sovereign of all the demons — you who by your own reckoning count the three worlds as mere straw, of great splendor, foremost among heroes, before you directly."

Verse 65 (shiva.rudra.182.65)

क्वाहं च शस्त्राणि च दारुणानि मृत्योश्च सन्त्रासकरं क्व युद्धम् । क्व वीरको वानरवक्त्रतुल्यो निशाचरो जरसा जर्जराङ्गः

kvāhaṁ ca śastrāṇi ca dāruṇāni mṛtyośca santrāsakaraṁ kva yuddham kva vīrako vānaravaktratulyo niśācaro jarasā jarjarāṅgaḥ

"'Where am I, and where these dreadful weapons! And where a war so terrifying as to bring death! Where this Viraka, monkey-faced, a night-wanderer whose body is worn with age!'"

Verse 66 (shiva.rudra.182.66)

क्वायं स्वरूपः क्व च मन्दभाग्यो बलं त्वदीयं क्व च वीरुधो वा । शक्तोऽपि चेत्त्वं प्रयतस्व युद्धं कर्तुं तदा ह्येहि कुरुष्व किञ्चित्

kvāyaṁ svarūpaḥ kva ca mandabhāgyo balaṁ tvadīyaṁ kva ca vīrudho vā śakto'pi cettvaṁ prayatasva yuddhaṁ kartuṁ tadā hyehi kuruṣva kiñcit

"'Where is my own true form, and where this ill-fortuned one! Where your strength, and where these mere creepers! Yet if you are indeed capable, strive for war — come, do something.'"

Verse 67 (shiva.rudra.182.67)

वज्राशनेस्तुल्यमिहास्ति शस्त्रं भवादृशां नाशकरं च घोरम् । क्व ते शरीरं मृदुपद्मतुल्यं विचार्य चैवं कुरु रोचते यत्

vajrāśanestulyamihāsti śastraṁ bhavādṛśāṁ nāśakaraṁ ca ghoram kva te śarīraṁ mṛdupadmatulyaṁ vicārya caivaṁ kuru rocate yat

"'A weapon there is here, terrible as the thunderbolt itself, that brings ruin upon those like you — where your body, soft as a lotus! Consider well, and do as you please.'"

Verse 68 (shiva.rudra.182.68)

इत्येवमादीनि वचांसि भद्रं तपस्विनोक्तानि च दानवेश । युक्तं न ते तेन सहात्र युद्धं त्वामाह राजन्स्मयमान एव

ityevamādīni vacāṁsi bhadraṁ tapasvinoktāni ca dānaveśa yuktaṁ na te tena sahātra yuddhaṁ tvāmāha rājansmayamāna eva

"O lord of demons, these words and others like them, spoken by that ascetic, are, O auspicious one, unbefitting toward you; therefore war with him is not fitting for you — smiling all the while, O king, he has said this to you."

Verse 69 (shiva.rudra.182.69)

विवस्तुशून्यैर्बहुभिः प्रलापै- रस्माभिरुक्तैर्यदि बुध्यसे त्वम् । तपोभियुक्तेन तपस्विना वै स्मर्तासि पश्चान्मुनिवाक्यमेतत्

vivastuśūnyairbahubhiḥ pralāpai- rasmābhiruktairyadi budhyase tvam tapobhiyuktena tapasvinā vai smartāsi paścānmunivākyametat

"If you can grasp even this much from our many words that may seem meaningless prattle, you will surely remember hereafter this word of that ascetic devoted to austerity."

Verse 70 (shiva.rudra.182.70)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततः स तेषां वचनं निशम्य जज्वाल रोषेण स मन्दबुद्धिः । आज्यावसिक्तस्त्विव कृष्णवर्त्मा सत्यं हितं तत्कुटिलं सुतीक्ष्णम्

sanatkumāra uvāca tataḥ sa teṣāṁ vacanaṁ niśamya jajvāla roṣeṇa sa mandabuddhiḥ ājyāvasiktastviva kṛṣṇavartmā satyaṁ hitaṁ tatkuṭilaṁ sutīkṣṇam

Sanatkumara said: Then, hearing their words, that dull-witted one blazed with fury, like a fire fed with ghee, its flame running dark and swift — though that word was true, benevolent, and straightforward, he took it as crooked and cutting.

Verse 71 (shiva.rudra.182.71)

गृहीतखड्गो वरदानमत्तः प्रचण्डवातानुकृतिं च कुर्वन् । गन्तुं च तत्र स्मरबाणविद्धः समुद्यतोऽभूद्विपरीतदैवः

gṛhītakhaḍgo varadānamattaḥ pracaṇḍavātānukṛtiṁ ca kurvan gantuṁ ca tatra smarabāṇaviddhaḥ samudyato'bhūdviparītadaivaḥ

"Drunk with his own boon, sword in hand, moving with the fury of a raging wind, pierced by the arrows of the god of love, that demon of reversed fortune rose up, ready to go there."