Banasura Attains the Rank of a Gana-lord

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.194.1)

नारद उवाच । कृष्णे गते द्वारकायामनिरुद्धेन भार्यया । अकार्षीत्किं ततो बाणस्तत्त्वं वद महामुने

nārada uvāca kṛṣṇe gate dvārakāyāmaniruddhena bhāryayā akārṣītkiṁ tato bāṇastattvaṁ vada mahāmune

Narada said: When Krishna had gone to Dvaraka with Aniruddha and his wife, what then did Bana do? Tell me the truth of it, O great sage.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.194.2)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । कृष्णे गते द्वारकायामनिरुद्धेन भार्यया । दुःखितोऽभूत्ततो बाणः स्वाज्ञानं संस्मरन्हृदा

sanatkumāra uvāca kṛṣṇe gate dvārakāyāmaniruddhena bhāryayā duḥkhito'bhūttato bāṇaḥ svājñānaṁ saṁsmaranhṛdā

Sanatkumara said: When Krishna had gone to Dvaraka with Aniruddha and his wife, Bana then became sorrowful, recalling in his heart his own ignorance.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.194.3)

ततो नन्दी शिवगणो बाणं प्रोवाच दुःखितम् । दैत्यं शोणितदिग्धाङ्गमनुतापसमन्वितम्

tato nandī śivagaṇo bāṇaṁ provāca duḥkhitam daityaṁ śoṇitadigdhāṅgamanutāpasamanvitam

Then Nandi, Shiva's gana, spoke to that sorrowing daitya Bana, his limbs smeared with blood, filled with remorse.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.194.4)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । बाण शङ्करसद्भक्त मानुतापं कुरुष्व भोः । भक्तानुकम्पी शम्भुर्वै भक्तवत्सलनामधृक्

nandīśvara uvāca bāṇa śaṅkarasadbhakta mānutāpaṁ kuruṣva bhoḥ bhaktānukampī śambhurvai bhaktavatsalanāmadhṛk

Nandishvara said: "O Bana, true devotee of Shankara, do not grieve! Shambhu is ever compassionate to his devotees, bearing indeed the very name 'kind to devotees.'"

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.194.5)

तदिच्छया च यज्जातं तज्जातमिति चेतसा । मन्यस्व भक्तशार्दूल शिवं स्मर पुनःपुनः

tadicchayā ca yajjātaṁ tajjātamiti cetasā manyasva bhaktaśārdūla śivaṁ smara punaḥpunaḥ

"Whatever has happened has happened by his very will — think this in your heart, O tiger among devotees, and remember Shiva again and again."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.194.6)

मन आद्ये समाधाय कुरु नित्यं महोत्सवम् । भक्तानुकम्पनश्चाऽस्य शङ्करस्य पुनःपुनः

mana ādye samādhāya kuru nityaṁ mahotsavam bhaktānukampanaścā'sya śaṅkarasya punaḥpunaḥ

"Fix your mind upon the Primal One, and hold festival always; this Shankara is ever, again and again, compassionate to his devotees."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.194.7)

नन्दिवाक्यात्ततो बाणो द्विषा शीर्षकमात्रकः । शिवस्थानं जगामाशु धृत्वा धैर्यं महामनाः

nandivākyāttato bāṇo dviṣā śīrṣakamātrakaḥ śivasthānaṁ jagāmāśu dhṛtvā dhairyaṁ mahāmanāḥ

At Nandi's word, Bana — his body all but destroyed by his foe — took heart, and, being of a great soul, went at once to Shiva's abode.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.194.8)

गत्वा तत्र प्रभुं नत्वा रुरोदातीव विह्वलः । गतगर्वव्रजो बाणः प्रेमाकुलितमानसः

gatvā tatra prabhuṁ natvā rurodātīva vihvalaḥ gatagarvavrajo bāṇaḥ premākulitamānasaḥ

Going there, bowing to the Lord, Bana, his pride now utterly gone, his heart overwhelmed with love, wept most piteously.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.194.9)

संस्तुवन्विविधैः स्तोत्रैः सन्नमन्नुतितस्तथा । यथोचितं पादघातं कुर्वन्विक्षेपयन्करान्

saṁstuvanvividhaiḥ stotraiḥ sannamannutitastathā yathocitaṁ pādaghātaṁ kurvanvikṣepayankarān

Praising him with various hymns, bowing repeatedly, striking his feet upon the ground as is fitting, and flinging out his arms,

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.194.10)

ननर्त ताण्डवं मुख्यं प्रत्यालीढादिशोभितम् । स्थानकैर्विविधाकारैरालीढप्रमुखैरपि

nanarta tāṇḍavaṁ mukhyaṁ pratyālīḍhādiśobhitam sthānakairvividhākārairālīḍhapramukhairapi

he danced the chief tandava, adorned with the pratyalidha and other stances, in postures of every kind, foremost among them the alidha.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.194.11)

मुखवादसहस्राणि भ्रूक्षेपसहितान्यपि । शिरःकम्पसहस्राणि प्राप्तानीकः सहस्रशः

mukhavādasahasrāṇi bhrūkṣepasahitānyapi śiraḥkampasahasrāṇi prāptānīkaḥ sahasraśaḥ

With a thousand facial expressions accompanied by the arching of brows, with a thousand tossings of the head, he alone displayed a thousandfold variety.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.194.12)

वारीश्च विविधाकारा दर्शयित्वा शनैः शनैः । तथा शोणितधाराभिः सिञ्चयित्वा महीतलम्

vārīśca vividhākārā darśayitvā śanaiḥ śanaiḥ tathā śoṇitadhārābhiḥ siñcayitvā mahītalam

Displaying, little by little, gestures of every kind, and sprinkling the earth with streams of his own blood,

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.194.13)

रुद्रं प्रसादयामास शूलिनं चन्द्रशेखरम् । बाणासुरो महाभक्तो विस्मृतात्मगतिर्नतः

rudraṁ prasādayāmāsa śūlinaṁ candraśekharam bāṇāsuro mahābhakto vismṛtātmagatirnataḥ

that great devotee Banasura, bowed low, forgetful of his own condition, thus propitiated Rudra, the trident-bearer, the moon-crested one.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.194.14)

ततो नृत्यं महत्कृत्वा भगवान्भक्तवत्सलः । उवाच बाणं संहृष्टो नृत्य गीतप्रियो हरः

tato nṛtyaṁ mahatkṛtvā bhagavānbhaktavatsalaḥ uvāca bāṇaṁ saṁhṛṣṭo nṛtya gītapriyo haraḥ

Then, seeing that great dance performed, the Blessed Hara, who ever loves dance and song, delighted and ever affectionate to his devotees, spoke to Bana.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.194.15)

रुद्र उवाच । बाण तात बलेः पुत्र सन्तुष्टो नर्तनेन ते । वरं गृहाण दैत्येन्द्र यत्ते मनसि वर्तते

rudra uvāca bāṇa tāta baleḥ putra santuṣṭo nartanena te varaṁ gṛhāṇa daityendra yatte manasi vartate

Rudra said: "O Bana, dear one, son of Bali, I am well pleased with your dancing; O lord of daityas, choose a boon — whatever dwells in your mind."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.194.16)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचः शम्भोर्दैत्येन्द्रेण तदा मुने । बाणेन संवृणीतोऽभूद्वरस्तु व्रणरोपणे

sanatkumāra uvāca ityākarṇya vacaḥ śambhordaityendreṇa tadā mune bāṇena saṁvṛṇīto'bhūdvarastu vraṇaropaṇe

Sanatkumara said: O sage, hearing these words of Shambhu, the lord of daityas, Bana, then chose his boon — first, the healing of his wounds,

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.194.17)

बाहुयुद्धस्य चोद्धत्तिर्गाणपत्यमथाक्षयम् । उषापुत्रस्य राज्यं तु तस्मिन् शोणितकाह्वये

bāhuyuddhasya coddhattirgāṇapatyamathākṣayam uṣāputrasya rājyaṁ tu tasmin śoṇitakāhvaye

the renown of his own arm-strength in battle, an imperishable rank as a Ganapati, and for Usha's son, sovereignty over that city called Shonitaka,

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.194.18)

निर्वैरता च विबुधैर्विष्णुना च विशेषतः । न पुनर्दैत्यता दुष्टा रजसा तमसा युता

nirvairatā ca vibudhairviṣṇunā ca viśeṣataḥ na punardaityatā duṣṭā rajasā tamasā yutā

freedom from enmity with the gods, and especially with Vishnu, and never again a wicked demonic nature bound up with rajas and tamas,

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.194.19)

शम्भुभक्तिर्विशेषेण निर्विकारा सदा मुने । शिवभक्तेषु च स्नेहो दया सर्वेषु जन्तुषु

śambhubhaktirviśeṣeṇa nirvikārā sadā mune śivabhakteṣu ca sneho dayā sarveṣu jantuṣu

O sage, an especially unwavering devotion to Shambhu forever, and affection toward Shiva's devotees, and compassion toward all living beings.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.194.20)

इति कृत्वा वरान् शम्भोर्बलिपुत्रो महाऽसुरः । प्रेम्णाऽश्रुनयनो रुद्रं तुष्टाव सुकृताञ्जलिः

iti kṛtvā varān śambhorbaliputro mahā'suraḥ premṇā'śrunayano rudraṁ tuṣṭāva sukṛtāñjaliḥ

Sanatkumara said: Having thus chosen these boons from Shambhu, that great asura, son of Bali, his eyes filled with tears of love, praised Rudra with hands well joined.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.194.21)

बाण उवाच । देवदेव महादेव शरणागतवत्सल । त्वां नमामि महेशान दीनबन्धो दयानिधे

bāṇa uvāca devadeva mahādeva śaraṇāgatavatsala tvāṁ namāmi maheśāna dīnabandho dayānidhe

Bana said: "O god of gods, Mahadeva, ever kind to those who seek refuge — I bow to you, O Maheshana, friend of the humble, ocean of mercy."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.194.22)

कृता मयि कृपातीव कृपासागर शङ्कर । गर्वोपहारितः सर्वः प्रसन्नेन मम प्रभो

kṛtā mayi kṛpātīva kṛpāsāgara śaṅkara garvopahāritaḥ sarvaḥ prasannena mama prabho

"You have shown me the greatest compassion, O ocean of mercy, Shankara; by you, my Lord, now pleased, all my pride has been utterly stripped away."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.194.23)

त्वं ब्रह्म परमात्मा हि सर्वव्याप्यखिलेश्वरः । ब्रह्माण्डतनुरुग्रेशो विराट् सर्वान्वितः परः

tvaṁ brahma paramātmā hi sarvavyāpyakhileśvaraḥ brahmāṇḍatanurugreśo virāṭ sarvānvitaḥ paraḥ

"You are Brahman, the Supreme Self, all-pervading, lord of all; whose body is the cosmic egg, the fierce lord, the cosmic form, present in all things, yet supreme and beyond."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.194.24)

नाभिर्नभोऽग्निर्वदनमम्बु रेतो दिशः श्रुतिः । द्यौः शीर्षमङ्घ्रिरुर्वी ते मनश्चन्द्रस्तव प्रभो

nābhirnabho'gnirvadanamambu reto diśaḥ śrutiḥ dyauḥ śīrṣamaṅghrirurvī te manaścandrastava prabho

"O Lord, your navel is the sky, fire your face, water your seed, the directions your ears; heaven is your head, the earth your foot, and the moon your mind."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.194.25)

दृगर्को जठरं वार्द्धिर्भुजेन्द्रो धिषणा विधिः । प्रजापतिर्विसर्गश्च धर्मो हि हृदयं तव

dṛgarko jaṭharaṁ vārddhirbhujendro dhiṣaṇā vidhiḥ prajāpatirvisargaśca dharmo hi hṛdayaṁ tava

"The sun is your eye, the ocean your belly, Indra your arm, Brahma your intellect, Prajapati your act of creation, and dharma indeed is your heart."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.194.26)

रोमाण्यौषधयो नाथ केशा जलमुचस्तव । गुणास्त्रयस्त्रिनेत्राणि सर्वात्मा पुरुषो भवान्

romāṇyauṣadhayo nātha keśā jalamucastava guṇāstrayastrinetrāṇi sarvātmā puruṣo bhavān

"O Lord, the herbs are your body-hairs, the rain-clouds your hair; the three gunas are your three eyes; you are the Purusha, the Self of all."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.194.27)

ब्राह्मणं ते मुखं प्राहुर्बाहुं क्षत्रियमेव च । ऊरुजं वैश्यमाहुस्ते पादजं शूद्रमेव च

brāhmaṇaṁ te mukhaṁ prāhurbāhuṁ kṣatriyameva ca ūrujaṁ vaiśyamāhuste pādajaṁ śūdrameva ca

"Your mouth is said to be the brahmin, your arm indeed the kshatriya; the vaishya, they say, is born of your thigh, and the shudra indeed born of your foot."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.194.28)

त्वमेव सर्वदोपास्यःसर्वैर्जीवैर्महेश्वर । त्वां भजन्परमां मुक्तिं लभते पुरुषो ध्रुवम्

tvameva sarvadopāsyaḥsarvairjīvairmaheśvara tvāṁ bhajanparamāṁ muktiṁ labhate puruṣo dhruvam

"You alone, O Maheshvara, are ever to be worshipped by all living beings; the man who reveres you surely attains the highest liberation."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.194.29)

यस्त्वां विसृजते मर्त्य आत्मानं प्रियमीश्वरम् । विपर्ययेन्द्रियार्थार्थं विषमत्त्यमृतं त्यजन्

yastvāṁ visṛjate martya ātmānaṁ priyamīśvaram viparyayendriyārthārthaṁ viṣamattyamṛtaṁ tyajan

"The mortal who abandons you, his own dear Self, his Lord, and, deluded, pursues instead the objects of the senses, eats poison while forsaking nectar."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.194.30)

विष्णुर्ब्रह्माऽथ विबुधा मुनयश्चामलाशयाः । सर्वात्मना प्रपन्नास्त्वां शङ्करं प्रियमीश्वरम्

viṣṇurbrahmā'tha vibudhā munayaścāmalāśayāḥ sarvātmanā prapannāstvāṁ śaṅkaraṁ priyamīśvaram

"Vishnu, Brahma, the gods, and the sages of stainless heart, all with their whole being take refuge in you, Shankara, their own dear Lord."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.194.31)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा बलिपुत्रस्तु विरराम शरासुरः । प्रेमप्रफुल्लिताङ्गश्च प्रणम्य स महेश्वरम्

sanatkumāra uvāca ityuktvā baliputrastu virarāma śarāsuraḥ premapraphullitāṅgaśca praṇamya sa maheśvaram

Sanatkumara said: Having spoken thus, that son of Bali, the asura Bana, fell silent, his body radiant with love, and bowed to Maheshvara.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.194.32)

इति श्रुत्वा स्वभक्तस्य बाणस्य भगवान्भवः । सर्वं लभिष्यसीत्युक्त्वा तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

iti śrutvā svabhaktasya bāṇasya bhagavānbhavaḥ sarvaṁ labhiṣyasītyuktvā tatraivāntaradhīyata

Hearing this from his own devotee Bana, the Blessed Bhava said, "You shall obtain everything," and vanished there on the spot.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.194.33)

ततः शम्भोः प्रसादेन महाकालत्वमागतः । रुद्रस्यानुचरो बाणो महाप्रमुदितोऽभवत्

tataḥ śambhoḥ prasādena mahākālatvamāgataḥ rudrasyānucaro bāṇo mahāpramudito'bhavat

Then, by Shambhu's grace, having attained the rank of a Mahakala, Bana, now Rudra's own follower, became greatly rejoiced.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.194.34)

इति किल शरनाम्ना शङ्करस्यापि वृत्तं सकलगुरुजनानां सद्गुरोः शूलपाणेः । कथितमिह वरिष्ठं श्रोत्ररम्यैर्वचोभिः सकलभुवनमध्ये क्रीडमानस्य नित्यम्

iti kila śaranāmnā śaṅkarasyāpi vṛttaṁ sakalagurujanānāṁ sadguroḥ śūlapāṇeḥ kathitamiha variṣṭhaṁ śrotraramyairvacobhiḥ sakalabhuvanamadhye krīḍamānasya nityam

Thus has this excellent deed — belonging both to him named Shara and to Shankara, true Guru of all gurus, the trident-bearer who plays eternally amid all the worlds — been told here in words most delightful to the ear.