Kubera's Friendship with Shiva, in the Kailasa Episode

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.19.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । पाद्मे कल्पे मम पुरा ब्रह्मणो मानसात्सुतात् । पुलस्त्याद्विश्रवा जज्ञे तस्य वैश्रवणः सुतः

brahmovāca | pādme kalpe mama purā brahmaṇo mānasātsutāt | pulastyādviśravā jajñe tasya vaiśravaṇaḥ sutaḥ

Brahma said: Long ago, in the Padma Kalpa, from Pulastya, my own mind-born son, was born Vishrava; and from him was born his son, Vaishravana.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.19.2)

तेनेयमलका भुक्ता पुरी विश्वकृता कृता । आराध्य त्र्यम्बकं देवमत्युग्रतपसा पुरा

teneyamalakā bhuktā purī viśvakṛtā kṛtā | ārādhya tryambakaṁ devamatyugratapasā purā

He enjoyed this city of Alaka, built by Vishvakarma, having in former times worshipped the god Tryambaka with the most severe austerity.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.19.3)

व्यतीते तत्र कल्पे वै प्रवृत्ते मेघवाहने । याज्ञदत्तिरसौ श्रीमान् तपस्तेपे सुदुःसहम्

vyatīte tatra kalpe vai pravṛtte meghavāhane | yājñadattirasau śrīmān tapastepe suduḥsaham

When that kalpa had passed, and the age of Meghavahana had come, this glorious one, the descendant of Yajnadatta, took up an almost unbearable austerity.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.19.4)

भक्तिप्रभावं विज्ञाय शम्भोस्तद्दीपमात्रतः । पुरा पुरारेः सम्प्राप्य काशिकां चित्प्रकाशिकाम्

bhaktiprabhāvaṁ vijñāya śambhostaddīpamātrataḥ | purā purāreḥ samprāpya kāśikāṁ citprakāśikām

Knowing the power of devotion to Shambhu from that single lamp alone, he journeyed first to Kashi, the city that illumines consciousness, sacred to the Destroyer of Tripura.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.19.5)

शिवैकादशमुद्बोध्य चित्तरत्नप्रदीपकैः । अनन्यभक्तिस्नेहाढ्यस्तन्मयो ध्याननिश्चलः

śivaikādaśamudbodhya cittaratnapradīpakaiḥ | ananyabhaktisnehāḍhyastanmayo dhyānaniścalaḥ

Awakening the elevenfold form of Shiva with lamps that were the very jewels of his own heart, filled with unswerving devotion and love, wholly absorbed in Him, unmoving in meditation —

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.19.6)

शिवैक्यं सुमहापात्रं तपोऽग्निपरिबृंहितम् । कामक्रोधमहाविघ्नपतङ्गाघातवर्जितम्

śivaikyaṁ sumahāpātraṁ tapo'gniparibṛṁhitam | kāmakrodhamahāvighnapataṅgāghātavarjitam

— establishing within himself the great vessel of union with Shiva, nourished by the fire of his austerity, untouched by the assault of desire and anger, those great moth-like obstacles —

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.19.7)

प्राणसंरोधनिर्वातं निर्मलं निर्मलेक्षणात् । संस्थाप्य शाम्भवं लिङ्गं सद्भावकुसुमार्चितम्

prāṇasaṁrodhanirvātaṁ nirmalaṁ nirmalekṣaṇāt | saṁsthāpya śāmbhavaṁ liṅgaṁ sadbhāvakusumārcitam

— windless through the restraint of the breath, pure through the purity of his own inner vision, he set up the Shambhava linga, and worshipped it with the flowers of true and sincere feeling.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.19.8)

तावत्तताप स तपस्त्वगस्थिपरिशेषितम् । यावद् बभूव तद्वर्ष्म वर्षाणामयुतं शतम्

tāvattatāpa sa tapastvagasthipariśeṣitam | yāvad babhūva tadvarṣma varṣāṇāmayutaṁ śatam

He went on performing austerity, reduced to nothing but skin and bone, for as long as that body of his endured — for a full million years.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.19.9)

ततः सह विशालाक्ष्या देवो विश्वेश्वरः स्वयम् । अलकापतिमालोक्य प्रसन्नेनान्तरात्मना

tataḥ saha viśālākṣyā devo viśveśvaraḥ svayam | alakāpatimālokya prasannenāntarātmanā

Then the god Vishveshvara himself, together with the wide-eyed Parvati, looked with a contented heart upon the lord of Alaka,

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.19.10)

लिङ्गे मनःसमाधाय स्थितं स्थाणुस्वरूपिणम् । उवाच वरदोऽस्मीति तदाचक्ष्वालकापते

liṅge manaḥsamādhāya sthitaṁ sthāṇusvarūpiṇam | uvāca varado'smīti tadācakṣvālakāpate

who sat there, motionless as a pillar, his mind fixed upon the Shiva-linga. And he said, 'I am one who grants boons — speak, O lord of Alaka; tell me your wish.'

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.19.11)

उन्मील्य नयने यावत्स पश्यति तपोधनः । तावदुद्यत्सहस्रांशुसहस्राधिकतेजसम्

unmīlya nayane yāvatsa paśyati tapodhanaḥ | tāvadudyatsahasrāṁśusahasrādhikatejasam

As that man rich in austerity opened his eyes and looked, he beheld before him one whose splendor surpassed a thousand rising suns —

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.19.12)

पुरो ददर्श श्रीकण्ठं चन्द्रचूडमुमाधवम् । तत्तेजः परिभूताक्षितेजाः सम्मील्य लोचने

puro dadarśa śrīkaṇṭhaṁ candracūḍamumādhavam | tattejaḥ paribhūtākṣitejāḥ sammīlya locane

— Shrikantha, the moon-crested lord of Uma. Overwhelmed by that radiance, and finding the very power of his own eyes vanquished by it, he closed his eyes,

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.19.13)

उवाच देवदेवेशं मनोरथपदातिगम् । निजाङ्घ्रिदर्शने नाथ दृक्सामर्थ्यं प्रयच्छ मे

uvāca devadeveśaṁ manorathapadātigam | nijāṅghridarśane nātha dṛksāmarthyaṁ prayaccha me

and said to that Lord of gods, who lies beyond the reach of any mere desire: 'O Lord, grant me the strength of sight, that I may behold your very feet.'

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.19.14)

अयमेव वरो नाथ यत्त्वं साक्षान्निरीक्ष्यसे । किमन्येन वरेणेश नमस्ते शशिशेखर

ayameva varo nātha yattvaṁ sākṣānnirīkṣyase | kimanyena vareṇeśa namaste śaśiśekhara

'This alone is the boon I ask, O Lord — that I may look upon you face to face. What other boon is there, O Ishvara? Salutations to you, O moon-crested one.'

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.19.15)

इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा देवदेव उमापतिः । ददौ दर्शनसामर्थ्यं स्पृष्ट्वा पाणितलेन तम्

iti tadvacanaṁ śrutvā devadeva umāpatiḥ | dadau darśanasāmarthyaṁ spṛṣṭvā pāṇitalena tam

Hearing these words, that god of gods, the lord of Uma, touched him with the palm of his hand and granted him the power of sight.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.19.16)

प्रसार्य नयने पूर्वमुमामेव व्यलोकयत् । ततोऽसौ याज्ञदत्तिस्तु तत्सामर्थ्यमवाप्य च

prasārya nayane pūrvamumāmeva vyalokayat | tato'sau yājñadattistu tatsāmarthyamavāpya ca

Opening his eyes, he beheld Uma first of all. And then that descendant of Yajnadatta, having obtained that divine power of sight —

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.19.17)

शम्भोः समीपे का योषिदेषा सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरी । अनया किं तपस्तप्तं ममापि तपसोऽधिकम्

śambhoḥ samīpe kā yoṣideṣā sarvāṅgasundarī | anayā kiṁ tapastaptaṁ mamāpi tapaso'dhikam

— began to think: 'Who is this woman, beautiful in every limb, standing here beside Shambhu? Has she performed some austerity even greater than mine?'

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.19.18)

अहो रूपमहो प्रेम सौभाग्यं श्रीरहो भृशम् । इत्यवादीदसौ पुत्रो मुहुर्मुहुरतीव हि

aho rūpamaho prema saubhāgyaṁ śrīraho bhṛśam | ityavādīdasau putro muhurmuhuratīva hi

'Ah, what beauty! Ah, what love! Ah, what good fortune, and what surpassing splendor!' — thus that son (Kubera) exclaimed again and again.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.19.19)

क्रूरदृग्वीक्षते यावत्पुनः पुनरिदं वदन् । तावत्पुस्फोट तन्नेत्रं वामं वामाविलोकनात्

krūradṛgvīkṣate yāvatpunaḥ punaridaṁ vadan | tāvatpusphoṭa tannetraṁ vāmaṁ vāmāvilokanāt

And even as he went on saying this again and again, gazing with what seemed a covetous eye, from that very sidelong glance his left eye suddenly burst.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.19.20)

अथ देव्यब्रवीद्देवं किमसौ दुष्टतापसः । असकृद्वीक्ष्य मां वक्ति वद त्वं मे तपःप्रभाम्

atha devyabravīddevaṁ kimasau duṣṭatāpasaḥ | asakṛdvīkṣya māṁ vakti vada tvaṁ me tapaḥprabhām

Then the Devi said to the god: 'What is this wicked ascetic saying, gazing at me again and again? Tell me yourself — is this the radiance born of my own austerity?'

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.19.21)

असकृद्दक्षिणेनाक्ष्णा पुनर्मामेव पश्यति । असूयमानो मे रूपप्रेमसौभाग्यसम्पदः

asakṛddakṣiṇenākṣṇā punarmāmeva paśyati | asūyamāno me rūpapremasaubhāgyasampadaḥ

'Again and again he looks at me only with his right eye, as though burning with envy at the wealth of my beauty, my love, and my good fortune.'

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.19.22)

इति देवीगिरं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य प्राह तां प्रभुः । उमे त्वदीयः पुत्रोऽयं न च क्रूरेण चक्षुषा

iti devīgiraṁ śrutvā prahasya prāha tāṁ prabhuḥ | ume tvadīyaḥ putro'yaṁ na ca krūreṇa cakṣuṣā

Hearing the Devi's words, the Lord laughed and said to her: 'O Uma, this is your very own son — he does not look upon the splendor of your austerity with a wicked eye —'

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.19.23)

सम्पश्यति तपोलक्ष्मीं तव किं त्वधिवर्णयेत् । इति देवीं समाभाष्य तमीशः पुनरब्रवीत्

sampaśyati tapolakṣmīṁ tava kiṁ tvadhivarṇayet | iti devīṁ samābhāṣya tamīśaḥ punarabravīt

'he is only measuring it in wonder.' Having thus reassured the Devi, Ishvara spoke again to him (Kubera):

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.19.24)

वरान्ददामि ते वत्स तपसानेन तोषितः । निधीनामथ नाथस्त्वं गुह्यकानां भवेश्वरः

varāndadāmi te vatsa tapasānena toṣitaḥ | nidhīnāmatha nāthastvaṁ guhyakānāṁ bhaveśvaraḥ

'My child, pleased by this austerity of yours, I grant you a boon — become the lord of all treasures, and the ruler of the guhyakas.'

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.19.25)

यक्षाणां किन्नराणां च राज्ञां राजा च सुव्रत । पतिः पुण्यजनानां च सर्वेषां धनदो भव

yakṣāṇāṁ kinnarāṇāṁ ca rājñāṁ rājā ca suvrata | patiḥ puṇyajanānāṁ ca sarveṣāṁ dhanado bhava

'O man of true vows, become king of the yakshas and kinnaras, king of kings, lord of the punyajanas — become the giver of wealth to all.'

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.19.26)

मया सख्यं च ते नित्यं वत्स्यामि च तवान्तिके । अलकां निकषा मित्र तव प्रीतिविवृद्धये

mayā sakhyaṁ ca te nityaṁ vatsyāmi ca tavāntike | alakāṁ nikaṣā mitra tava prītivivṛddhaye

'And I shall be your friend forever, and I shall dwell near you, close by Alaka, O friend, for the deepening of your love.'

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.19.27)

आगच्छ पादयोरस्याः पत ते जननी त्वियम् । याज्ञदत्ते महाभक्त सुप्रसन्नेन चेतसा

āgaccha pādayorasyāḥ pata te jananī tviyam | yājñadatte mahābhakta suprasannena cetasā

'Come, O greatly devoted descendant of Yajnadatta, and with a joyful heart fall at the feet of this goddess — she is your very mother.'

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.19.28)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति दत्त्वा वरान्देवः पुनराह शिवां शिवः । प्रसादं कुरु देवेशि तपस्विन्यङ्गजेऽत्र वै

brahmovāca | iti dattvā varāndevaḥ punarāha śivāṁ śivaḥ | prasādaṁ kuru deveśi tapasvinyaṅgaje'tra vai

Brahma said: Having thus granted the boons, Shiva spoke again to Shiva (Parvati): 'O queen of the gods, show your grace to this ascetic's son.'

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.19.29)

इत्याकर्ण्य वचः शम्भोः पार्वती जगदम्बिका । अब्रवीद्याज्ञदत्तिं तं सुप्रसन्नेन चेतसा

ityākarṇya vacaḥ śambhoḥ pārvatī jagadambikā | abravīdyājñadattiṁ taṁ suprasannena cetasā

Hearing these words of Shambhu, Parvati, the mother of the universe, spoke to that descendant of Yajnadatta with a heart full of joy.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.19.30)

देव्युवाच । वत्स ते निर्मला भक्तिर्भवे भवतु सर्वदा । भवैकपिङ्गो नेत्रेण वामेन स्फुटितेन ह

devyuvāca | vatsa te nirmalā bhaktirbhave bhavatu sarvadā | bhavaikapiṅgo netreṇa vāmena sphuṭitena ha

The Devi said: 'My child, may this pure devotion of yours to Shiva remain forever. And because of that burst left eye, may that eye remain always tawny in hue.'

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.19.31)

देवेन दत्ता ये तुभ्यं वराः सन्तु तथैव ते । कुबेरो भव नाम्ना त्वं मम रूपेर्ष्यया सुत

devena dattā ye tubhyaṁ varāḥ santu tathaiva te | kubero bhava nāmnā tvaṁ mama rūperṣyayā suta

'Let the boons the Lord has given you stand exactly as granted. And, my son, because of that look of yours toward my beauty, you shall be known by the name Kubera.'

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.19.32)

इति दत्त्वा वरान्देवो देव्या सह महेश्वरः । धनदायाविवेशाथ धाम वैश्वेश्वराभिधम्

iti dattvā varāndevo devyā saha maheśvaraḥ | dhanadāyāviveśātha dhāma vaiśveśvarābhidham

Having thus bestowed his boons, the great god, together with the Devi, entered Dhanada's own dwelling, named Vaishveshvara.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.19.33)

इत्थं सखित्वं श्रीशम्भोः प्रापैष धनदः पुरम् । अलकान्निकषा चासीत्कैलासः शङ्करालयः

itthaṁ sakhitvaṁ śrīśambhoḥ prāpaiṣa dhanadaḥ puram | alakānnikaṣā cāsītkailāsaḥ śaṅkarālayaḥ

Thus did this Dhanada attain the friendship of glorious Shambhu, and obtain his city; and close beside Alaka came to stand Kailasa, the very abode of Shankara.