The Tale of Sandhya, Continued

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.26.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । सुतवर्य महाप्राज्ञ शृणु सन्ध्यातपो महत् । यच्छ्रुत्वा नश्यते पापसमूहस्तत्क्षणाद् ध्रुवम्

brahmovāca | sutavarya mahāprājña śṛṇu sandhyātapo mahat | yacchrutvā naśyate pāpasamūhastatkṣaṇād dhruvam

Brahma said: O best of Sutas, greatly wise one, hear now of Sandhya's great austerity, hearing which a mass of sins is certainly destroyed in that very instant.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.26.2)

उपदिश्य तपोभावं वसिष्ठे स्वगृहं गते । सन्ध्यापि तपसो भावं ज्ञात्वा मोदमवाप ह

upadiśya tapobhāvaṁ vasiṣṭhe svagṛhaṁ gate | sandhyāpi tapaso bhāvaṁ jñātvā modamavāpa ha

When Vasishtha, having taught her the way of austerity, had returned to his own home, Sandhya too, now understanding the practice, felt great joy.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.26.3)

ततः सानन्दमनसो वेषं कृत्वा तु यादृशम् । तपश्चर्तुं समारेभे बृहल्लोहिततीरगा

tataḥ sānandamanaso veṣaṁ kṛtvā tu yādṛśam | tapaścartuṁ samārebhe bṛhallohitatīragā

Then, with a joyful heart, having taken on a fitting garb, she who dwelt on the shore of Brihallohita began her austerity.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.26.4)

यथोक्तं तु वसिष्ठेन मन्त्रं तपसि साधनम् । मन्त्रेण तेन सद्भक्त्या पूजयामास शङ्करम्

yathoktaṁ tu vasiṣṭhena mantraṁ tapasi sādhanam | mantreṇa tena sadbhaktyā pūjayāmāsa śaṅkaram

With the mantra Vasishtha had taught her as the means of her austerity, she worshipped Shankara through that very mantra with true devotion.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.26.5)

एकान्तमनसस्तस्याः कुर्वन्त्याः सुमहत्तपः । शम्भौ विन्यस्तचित्ताया गतमेकं चतुर्युगम्

ekāntamanasastasyāḥ kurvantyāḥ sumahattapaḥ | śambhau vinyastacittāyā gatamekaṁ caturyugam

For her, whose mind was wholly focused, performing that supremely great austerity, her thoughts fixed upon Shambhu, one entire cycle of four ages passed by.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.26.6)

प्रसन्नोऽभूत्तदा शम्भुस्तपसा तेन तोषितः । अन्तर्बहिस्तथाकाशे दर्शयित्वा निजं वपुः

prasanno'bhūttadā śambhustapasā tena toṣitaḥ | antarbahistathākāśe darśayitvā nijaṁ vapuḥ

Then Shambhu, gratified by that austerity, became pleased; and showing his own form within her, without, and in the sky,

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.26.7)

यद्रूपं चिन्तयन्ती सा तेन प्रत्यक्षतां गतः

yadrūpaṁ cintayantī sā tena pratyakṣatāṁ gataḥ

— the very form on which she had meditated became, through that vision, directly manifest before her.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.26.8)

अथ सा पुरतो दृष्ट्वा मनसा चिन्तितं प्रभुम् । प्रसन्नवदनं शान्तं मुमोदातीव शङ्करम्

atha sā purato dṛṣṭvā manasā cintitaṁ prabhum | prasannavadanaṁ śāntaṁ mumodātīva śaṅkaram

Then, seeing before her the Lord she had held in her meditation — serene, his countenance gracious — she rejoiced in Shankara beyond measure.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.26.9)

ससाध्वसमहं वक्ष्ये किं कथं स्तौमि वा हरम् । इति चिन्तापरा भूत्वा न्यमीलयत चक्षुषी

sasādhvasamahaṁ vakṣye kiṁ kathaṁ staumi vā haram | iti cintāparā bhūtvā nyamīlayata cakṣuṣī

'What shall I say, trembling as I am — how shall I praise Hara?' Thinking so, anxious, she closed her eyes.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.26.10)

निमीलिताक्ष्यास्तस्यास्तु प्रविश्य हृदयं हरः । दिव्यं ज्ञानं ददौ तस्यै वाचं दिव्ये च चक्षुषी

nimīlitākṣyāstasyāstu praviśya hṛdayaṁ haraḥ | divyaṁ jñānaṁ dadau tasyai vācaṁ divye ca cakṣuṣī

Then Hara, entering the heart of her whose eyes were closed, granted her divine knowledge, divine speech, and divine sight.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.26.11)

दिव्यज्ञानं दिव्यचक्षुर्दिव्यां वाचमवाप सा । प्रत्यक्षं वीक्ष्य दुर्गेशं तुष्टाव जगतां पतिम्

divyajñānaṁ divyacakṣurdivyāṁ vācamavāpa sā | pratyakṣaṁ vīkṣya durgeśaṁ tuṣṭāva jagatāṁ patim

Having received divine knowledge, divine sight, and divine speech, she, now beholding Durga's Lord directly, praised the Lord of all the worlds.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.26.12)

सन्ध्योवाच । निराकारं ज्ञानगम्यं परं य- न्नैव स्थूलं नापि सूक्ष्मं न चोच्चम् । अन्तश्चिन्त्यं योगिभिस्तस्य रूपं तस्मै तुभ्यं लोककर्त्रे नमोऽस्तु

sandhyovāca | nirākāraṁ jñānagamyaṁ paraṁ ya- nnaiva sthūlaṁ nāpi sūkṣmaṁ na coccam | antaścintyaṁ yogibhistasya rūpaṁ tasmai tubhyaṁ lokakartre namo'stu

Sandhya said: Formless, knowable only through wisdom, the supreme — neither gross, nor subtle, nor manifest — whose form the yogis contemplate within their hearts: to you, maker of the worlds, be homage.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.26.13)

सर्वं शान्तं निर्मलं निर्विकारं ज्ञानागम्यं स्वप्रकाशेऽविकारम् । खाध्वप्रख्यं ध्वान्तमार्गात्परस्ताद्- रूपं यस्य त्वां नमामि प्रसन्नम्

sarvaṁ śāntaṁ nirmalaṁ nirvikāraṁ jñānāgamyaṁ svaprakāśe'vikāram | khādhvaprakhyaṁ dhvāntamārgātparastād- rūpaṁ yasya tvāṁ namāmi prasannam

Wholly tranquil, stainless, unchanging, attainable through knowledge, unwavering in its own self-luminous nature — like the pathway of the sky, beyond the reach of the path of darkness — to you, whose form this is, gracious one, I bow.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.26.14)

एकं शुद्धं दीप्यमानं विनाजां चिदानन्दं सहजं चाविकारि । नित्यानन्दं सत्यभूतिप्रसन्नं यस्य श्रीदं रूपमस्मै नमस्ते

ekaṁ śuddhaṁ dīpyamānaṁ vinājāṁ cidānandaṁ sahajaṁ cāvikāri | nityānandaṁ satyabhūtiprasannaṁ yasya śrīdaṁ rūpamasmai namaste

The one, pure, radiant, unborn, whose nature is consciousness and bliss, innate and unchanging, ever blissful, gracious with true glory — to you, whose form bestows all fortune, I offer homage.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.26.15)

विद्याकारोद्भावनीयं प्रभिन्नं सत्त्वच्छन्दं ध्येयमात्मस्वरूपम् । सारं पारं पावनानां पवित्रं तस्मै रूपं यस्य चैवं नमस्ते

vidyākārodbhāvanīyaṁ prabhinnaṁ sattvacchandaṁ dhyeyamātmasvarūpam | sāraṁ pāraṁ pāvanānāṁ pavitraṁ tasmai rūpaṁ yasya caivaṁ namaste

To be revealed through the form of knowledge, distinct in nature, made of pure sattva, to be meditated on as one's own true self — the essence and the farthest shore, purest among the purifiers — to that form of yours, thus, I bow.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.26.16)

यत्त्वाकारं शुद्धरूपं मनोज्ञं रत्नाकल्पं स्वच्छकर्पूरगौरम् । इष्टाभीती शूलमुण्डं दधानं हस्तैर्नमो योगयुक्ताय तुभ्यम्

yattvākāraṁ śuddharūpaṁ manojñaṁ ratnākalpaṁ svacchakarpūragauram | iṣṭābhītī śūlamuṇḍaṁ dadhānaṁ hastairnamo yogayuktāya tubhyam

That form of yours — pure, lovely, as though adorned with jewels, fair as pure camphor — bearing in your hands the gestures of boon and refuge, the trident, and the skull: homage to you, ever joined in yoga.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.26.17)

गगनं भूर्दिशश्चैव सलिलं ज्योतिरेव च । पुनः कालश्च रूपाणि यस्य तुभ्यं नमोऽस्तु ते

gaganaṁ bhūrdiśaścaiva salilaṁ jyotireva ca | punaḥ kālaśca rūpāṇi yasya tubhyaṁ namo'stu te

The sky, the earth, the quarters of space, water, light, and time — these too are your forms; homage be to you.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.26.18)

प्रधानपुरुषौ यस्य कायत्वेन विनिर्गतौ । तस्मादव्यक्तरूपाय शङ्कराय नमो नमः

pradhānapuruṣau yasya kāyatvena vinirgatau | tasmādavyaktarūpāya śaṅkarāya namo namaḥ

From whose very body both Prakriti and Purusha have come forth — to that Shankara, of unmanifest form, homage, homage again.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.26.19)

यो ब्रह्मा कुरुते सृष्टिं यो विष्णुः कुरुते स्थितिम् । संहरिष्यति यो रुद्रस्तस्मै तुभ्यं नमो नमः

yo brahmā kurute sṛṣṭiṁ yo viṣṇuḥ kurute sthitim | saṁhariṣyati yo rudrastasmai tubhyaṁ namo namaḥ

He who as Brahma creates, who as Vishnu sustains, who as Rudra shall one day destroy — to you, homage, homage again.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.26.20)

नमो नमः कारणकारणाय दिव्यामृतज्ञानविभूतिदाय । समस्तलोकान्तरभूतिदाय प्रकाशरूपाय परात्पराय

namo namaḥ kāraṇakāraṇāya divyāmṛtajñānavibhūtidāya | samastalokāntarabhūtidāya prakāśarūpāya parātparāya

Homage, homage to the cause of all causes, the giver of the splendor of divine and immortal knowledge, the bestower of prosperity within every world, of the very form of light, the highest beyond the high.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.26.21)

यस्यापरं नो जगदुच्यते पदात् क्षितिर्दिशः सूर्य इन्दुर्मनोजः । बहिर्मुखा नाभितश्चान्तरिक्षं तस्मै तुभ्यं शम्भवे मे नमोऽस्तु

yasyāparaṁ no jagaducyate padāt kṣitirdiśaḥ sūrya indurmanojaḥ | bahirmukhā nābhitaścāntarikṣaṁ tasmai tubhyaṁ śambhave me namo'stu

He from whose foot this further world is said to spring — the earth, the quarters, the sun, and the mind-born moon — and from whose navel the mid-region of the sky arose: to you, Shambhu, be my homage.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.26.22)

त्वं परः परमात्मा च त्वं विद्या विविधा हरः । सद्ब्रह्म च परं ब्रह्म विचारणपरायणः

tvaṁ paraḥ paramātmā ca tvaṁ vidyā vividhā haraḥ | sadbrahma ca paraṁ brahma vicāraṇaparāyaṇaḥ

You are the Supreme, the highest Self; you, Hara, are knowledge in its many forms; you are true Brahman and the highest Brahman, devoted wholly to right reflection.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.26.23)

यस्य नादिर्न मध्यं च नान्तमस्ति जगद्यतः । कथं स्तोष्यामि तं देवं वाङ्मनोऽगोचरं हरम्

yasya nādirna madhyaṁ ca nāntamasti jagadyataḥ | kathaṁ stoṣyāmi taṁ devaṁ vāṅmano'gocaraṁ haram

He who has no beginning, no middle, and no end, from whom this world arises — how shall I praise that god Hara, who lies beyond the reach of speech and mind?

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.26.24)

यस्य ब्रह्मादयो देव मुनयश्च तपोधनाः । न विवृण्वन्ति रूपाणि वर्णनीयः कथं स मे

yasya brahmādayo deva munayaśca tapodhanāḥ | na vivṛṇvanti rūpāṇi varṇanīyaḥ kathaṁ sa me

He whose forms even the gods headed by Brahma, and sages rich in austerity, cannot fully unfold — how then could he be described by me?

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.26.25)

स्त्रिया मया ते किं ज्ञेया निर्गुणस्य गुणाः प्रभो । नैव जानन्ति यद्रूपं सेन्द्रा अपि सुरासुराः

striyā mayā te kiṁ jñeyā nirguṇasya guṇāḥ prabho | naiva jānanti yadrūpaṁ sendrā api surāsurāḥ

How, O Lord, could I, a mere woman, come to know the qualities of you who are beyond all qualities? Even the gods and demons, Indra among them, do not know your true form.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.26.26)

नमस्तुभ्यं महेशान नमस्तुभ्यं तपोमय । प्रसीद शम्भो देवेश भूयो भूयो नमोऽस्तु ते

namastubhyaṁ maheśāna namastubhyaṁ tapomaya | prasīda śambho deveśa bhūyo bhūyo namo'stu te

Homage to you, great Lord; homage to you, embodiment of austerity. Be gracious, O Shambhu, Lord of the gods; homage again and yet again to you.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.26.27)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्याः संस्तुतः परमेश्वरः । सुप्रसन्नतरश्चाभूच्छङ्करो भक्तवत्सलः

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vacastasyāḥ saṁstutaḥ parameśvaraḥ | suprasannataraścābhūcchaṅkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ

Brahma said: Hearing these words, the Supreme Lord, thus praised, Shankara, ever tender toward his devotees, became yet more deeply pleased.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.26.28)

अथ तस्याः शरीरं तु वल्कलाजिनसंयुतम् । परिच्छन्नं जटाव्रातैः पवित्रे मूर्ध्नि राजितैः

atha tasyāḥ śarīraṁ tu valkalājinasaṁyutam | paricchannaṁ jaṭāvrātaiḥ pavitre mūrdhni rājitaiḥ

Then, beholding her body clad in bark-cloth and deer-skin, covered by masses of matted hair that shone upon her sacred head,

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.26.29)

हिमानीतर्जिताम्भोजसदृशं वदनं तदा । निरीक्ष्य कृपयाविष्टो हरः प्रोवाच तामिदम्

himānītarjitāmbhojasadṛśaṁ vadanaṁ tadā | nirīkṣya kṛpayāviṣṭo haraḥ provāca tāmidam

and her face, at that moment like a lotus wilted by frost — seeing this, Hara, moved with compassion, spoke to her these words.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.26.30)

महेश्वर उवाच । प्रीतोऽस्मि तपसा भद्रे भवत्याः परमेण वै । स्तवेन च शुभप्राज्ञे वरं वरय साम्प्रतम्

maheśvara uvāca | prīto'smi tapasā bhadre bhavatyāḥ parameṇa vai | stavena ca śubhaprājñe varaṁ varaya sāmpratam

Maheshvara said: I am well pleased, gentle one, by your supreme austerity, and, O wise and virtuous one, by your hymn of praise; now choose your boon.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.26.31)

येन ते विद्यते कार्यं वरेणास्मिन्मनोगतम् । तत्करिष्ये च भद्रं ते प्रसन्नोऽहं तव व्रतैः

yena te vidyate kāryaṁ vareṇāsminmanogatam | tatkariṣye ca bhadraṁ te prasanno'haṁ tava vrataiḥ

Whatever purpose lies in your heart to be fulfilled through this boon, that I shall grant; blessings be upon you — I am pleased by your vows of austerity.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.26.32)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति श्रुत्वा महेशस्य प्रसन्नमनसस्तदा । सन्ध्योवाच सुप्रसन्ना प्रणम्य च मुहुर्मुहुः

brahmovāca | iti śrutvā maheśasya prasannamanasastadā | sandhyovāca suprasannā praṇamya ca muhurmuhuḥ

Brahma said: Hearing this from the now-gracious Mahesha, Sandhya, greatly delighted, having bowed to him again and again, spoke.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.26.33)

सन्ध्योवाच । यदि देयो वरः प्रीत्या वरयोग्यास्म्यहं यदि । यदि शुद्धास्म्यहं जाता तस्मात्पापान्महेश्वर

sandhyovāca | yadi deyo varaḥ prītyā varayogyāsmyahaṁ yadi | yadi śuddhāsmyahaṁ jātā tasmātpāpānmaheśvara

Sandhya said: If a boon is indeed to be given out of love, if I am worthy of one, if I have truly become pure of that sin, O Maheshvara —

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.26.34)

यदि देव प्रसन्नोऽसि तपसा मम साम्प्रतम् । वृतस्तदायं प्रथमं वरो मम विधीयताम्

yadi deva prasanno'si tapasā mama sāmpratam | vṛtastadāyaṁ prathamaṁ varo mama vidhīyatām

if, O God, you are now truly pleased with my austerity — then let this, my first boon, be granted.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.26.35)

उत्पन्नमात्रा देवेश प्राणिनोऽस्मिन् भुवस्थले । न भवन्तु समेनैव सकामाः सम्भवन्तु वै

utpannamātrā deveśa prāṇino'smin bhuvasthale | na bhavantu samenaiva sakāmāḥ sambhavantu vai

O Lord of gods, may beings upon this earth, the very moment they are born, not become the objects of desire — let them become so only when the proper time has come.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.26.36)

यद्धि वृत्ता हि लोकेषु त्रिष्वपि प्रथिता यथा । भविष्यामि तथा नान्या वर एको वृतो मया

yaddhi vṛttā hi lokeṣu triṣvapi prathitā yathā | bhaviṣyāmi tathā nānyā vara eko vṛto mayā

As I have conducted myself, so may I become renowned throughout all three worlds, with none other like me — this alone is the single boon I have chosen.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.26.37)

सकामा मम सृष्टिस्तु कुत्रचिन्न पतिष्यति । यो मे पतिर्भवेन्नाथ सोऽपि मेऽतिसुहृच्च वै

sakāmā mama sṛṣṭistu kutracinna patiṣyati | yo me patirbhavennātha so'pi me'tisuhṛcca vai

May the nature born in me never fall prey to desire anywhere; and O Lord, whoever becomes my husband, may he too be my truest and dearest friend.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.26.38)

यो द्रक्ष्यति सकामो मां पुरुषस्तस्य पौरुषम् । गमिष्यति तदा नाशं स च क्लीबो भविष्यति

yo drakṣyati sakāmo māṁ puruṣastasya pauruṣam | gamiṣyati tadā nāśaṁ sa ca klībo bhaviṣyati

Whatever man looks upon me with desire — his manhood shall then be destroyed, and he shall become impotent.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.26.39)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्याः शङ्करो भक्तवत्सलः । उवाच सुप्रसन्नात्मा निष्पापायास्तयेरिते

brahmovāca | iti śrutvā vacastasyāḥ śaṅkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ | uvāca suprasannātmā niṣpāpāyāstayerite

Brahma said: Hearing these words spoken by her, now free of sin, Shankara, ever tender toward his devotees, his heart well pleased, spoke.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.26.40)

महेश्वर उवाच । शृणु देवि च सन्ध्ये त्वं त्वत्पापं भस्मतां गतम् । त्वयि त्यक्तो मया क्रोधः शुद्धा जाता तपःकरात्

maheśvara uvāca | śṛṇu devi ca sandhye tvaṁ tvatpāpaṁ bhasmatāṁ gatam | tvayi tyakto mayā krodhaḥ śuddhā jātā tapaḥkarāt

Maheshvara said: Listen, O goddess Sandhya — your sin has been burnt to ashes. I have set aside my anger toward you; through the power of your austerity, you have become pure.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.26.41)

यद्यद्वृतं त्वया भद्रे दत्तं तदखिलं मया । सुप्रसन्नेन तपसा तव सन्ध्ये वरेण हि

yadyadvṛtaṁ tvayā bhadre dattaṁ tadakhilaṁ mayā | suprasannena tapasā tava sandhye vareṇa hi

O gentle Sandhya, whatever you have asked, all of it I grant you, well pleased as I am by your austerity, as your boon.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.26.42)

प्रथमं शैशवो भावः कौमाराख्यो द्वितीयकः । तृतीयो यौवनो भावश्चतुर्थो वार्धकस्तथा

prathamaṁ śaiśavo bhāvaḥ kaumārākhyo dvitīyakaḥ | tṛtīyo yauvano bhāvaścaturtho vārdhakastathā

The first stage is called infancy, the second boyhood, the third youth, and the fourth is old age.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.26.43)

तृतीये त्वथ सम्प्राप्ते वयोभागे शरीरिणः । सकामाः स्युर्द्वितीयान्ते भविष्यति क्वचित् क्वचित्

tṛtīye tvatha samprāpte vayobhāge śarīriṇaḥ | sakāmāḥ syurdvitīyānte bhaviṣyati kvacit kvacit

When embodied beings reach the third stage of life, that of youth, they shall become subject to desire; toward the end of the second stage, it may occur here and there, in rare cases.

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.26.44)

तपसा तव मर्यादा जगति स्थापिता मया । उत्पन्नमात्रा न यथा सकामाः स्युः शरीरिणः

tapasā tava maryādā jagati sthāpitā mayā | utpannamātrā na yathā sakāmāḥ syuḥ śarīriṇaḥ

Through your austerity, I have established this rule in the world: that embodied beings shall not become subject to desire the very instant they are born.

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.26.45)

त्वं च लोके सतीभावं तादृशं समवाप्नुहि । त्रिषु लोकेषु नान्यस्या यादृशं सम्भविष्यति

tvaṁ ca loke satībhāvaṁ tādṛśaṁ samavāpnuhi | triṣu lokeṣu nānyasyā yādṛśaṁ sambhaviṣyati

And you shall attain in this world such a state of chaste devotion as shall belong to no other woman in all three worlds.

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.26.46)

यः पश्यति सकामस्त्वां पाणिग्राहमृते तव । स सद्यः क्लीबतां प्राप्य दुर्बलत्वं गमिष्यति

yaḥ paśyati sakāmastvāṁ pāṇigrāhamṛte tava | sa sadyaḥ klībatāṁ prāpya durbalatvaṁ gamiṣyati

Whoever, apart from the one who takes your hand in marriage, looks upon you with desire, shall at once become impotent and fall into weakness.

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.26.47)

पतिस्तव महाभागस्तपोरूपसमन्वितः । सप्तकल्पान्तजीवी च भविष्यति सह त्वया

patistava mahābhāgastaporūpasamanvitaḥ | saptakalpāntajīvī ca bhaviṣyati saha tvayā

Your husband shall be a greatly fortunate one, embodying austerity itself, and shall live on together with you until the end of seven kalpas.

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.26.48)

इति ते ये वरा मत्तः प्रार्थितास्ते कृता मया । अन्यच्च ते वदिष्यामि पूर्वजन्मनि संस्थितम्

iti te ye varā mattaḥ prārthitāste kṛtā mayā | anyacca te vadiṣyāmi pūrvajanmani saṁsthitam

Thus have I granted the boons you asked of me. And now I shall tell you something more, concerning what was determined in a former birth.

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.26.49)

अग्नौ शरीरत्यागस्ते पूर्वमेव प्रतिश्रुतः । तदुपायं वदामि त्वां तत्कुरुष्व न संशयः

agnau śarīratyāgaste pūrvameva pratiśrutaḥ | tadupāyaṁ vadāmi tvāṁ tatkuruṣva na saṁśayaḥ

The relinquishing of your body in fire was already foretold before; I shall now tell you the means of it — do so without any doubt.

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.26.50)

स च मेधातिथेर्यज्ञे मुनेद्वादशवार्षिके । कृत्स्नप्रज्वलिते वह्नावचिरात् क्रियतां त्वया

sa ca medhātitheryajñe munedvādaśavārṣike | kṛtsnaprajvalite vahnāvacirāt kriyatāṁ tvayā

Let it be done by you swiftly, in the twelve-year sacrifice of the sage Medhatithi, within that fire which blazes there in its fullness.

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.26.51)

एतच्छैलोपत्यकायां चन्द्रभागानदीतटे । मेधातिथिर्महायज्ञं कुरुते तापसाश्रमे

etacchailopatyakāyāṁ candrabhāgānadītaṭe | medhātithirmahāyajñaṁ kurute tāpasāśrame

At the foot of this very mountain, on the bank of the river Chandrabhaga, Medhatithi is performing a great sacrifice in his hermitage of austerity.

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.26.52)

तत्र गत्वा स्वयं छन्दं मुनिभिर्नोपलक्षिता । मत्प्रसादाद्वह्निजाता तस्य पुत्री भविष्यसि

tatra gatvā svayaṁ chandaṁ munibhirnopalakṣitā | matprasādādvahnijātā tasya putrī bhaviṣyasi

Going there of your own will, unseen by the sages, by my grace you shall be born from the fire as his daughter.

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.26.53)

यस्ते वरो वाञ्छनीयः स्वामी मनसि कश्चन । तं निधाय निजस्वान्ते त्यज वह्नौ वपुः स्वकम्

yaste varo vāñchanīyaḥ svāmī manasi kaścana | taṁ nidhāya nijasvānte tyaja vahnau vapuḥ svakam

Whatever husband you desire, held within your own mind — keeping him fixed in your heart, give up your body in the fire.

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.26.54)

यदा त्वं दारुणं सन्ध्ये तपश्चरसि पर्वते । यावच्चतुर्युगं तस्य व्यतीते तु कृते युगे

yadā tvaṁ dāruṇaṁ sandhye tapaścarasi parvate | yāvaccaturyugaṁ tasya vyatīte tu kṛte yuge

O Sandhya, while you were performing this fierce austerity upon the mountain, throughout that cycle of four ages — when its Krita Yuga had passed,

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.26.55)

त्रेतायाः प्रथमे भागे जाता दक्षस्य कन्यकाः । यास्ताः शीलसमापन्ना यथायोग्यं विवाहिताः

tretāyāḥ prathame bhāge jātā dakṣasya kanyakāḥ | yāstāḥ śīlasamāpannā yathāyogyaṁ vivāhitāḥ

in the first portion of the Treta Yuga, daughters were born to Daksha; and these, endowed with virtue, were duly married.

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.26.56)

तन्मध्ये स ददौ कन्या विधवे सप्तविंशतिः । चन्द्रोऽन्याःसम्परित्यज्य रोहिण्यां प्रीतिमानभूत्

tanmadhye sa dadau kanyā vidhave saptaviṁśatiḥ | candro'nyāḥsamparityajya rohiṇyāṁ prītimānabhūt

Among these, Daksha gave twenty-seven daughters to the Moon; but the Moon, forsaking all the others, became devoted solely to Rohini.

Verse 57 (shiva.rudra.26.57)

तद्धेतोर्हि यदा चन्द्रः शप्तो दक्षेण कोपिना । तदा भवत्या निकटे सर्वे देवाः समागताः

taddhetorhi yadā candraḥ śapto dakṣeṇa kopinā | tadā bhavatyā nikaṭe sarve devāḥ samāgatāḥ

For that reason, when the enraged Daksha cursed the Moon, all the gods then gathered near you.

Verse 58 (shiva.rudra.26.58)

न दृष्टाश्च त्वया सन्ध्ये ते देवा ब्रह्मणा सह । मयि विन्यस्तमनसा खं च दृष्ट्वा लभेत्पुनः

na dṛṣṭāśca tvayā sandhye te devā brahmaṇā saha | mayi vinyastamanasā khaṁ ca dṛṣṭvā labhetpunaḥ

But you, O Sandhya, your mind wholly fixed upon me, did not see those gods, Brahma among them; having seen only the sky, you shall regain awareness once more.

Verse 59 (shiva.rudra.26.59)

चन्द्रस्य शापमोक्षार्थं जाता चन्द्रनदी तदा । सृष्टा धात्रा तदैवात्र मेधातिथिरुपस्थितः

candrasya śāpamokṣārthaṁ jātā candranadī tadā | sṛṣṭā dhātrā tadaivātra medhātithirupasthitaḥ

For the release of the Moon from his curse, the river Chandra then came into being, created at that very time by the Creator; and Medhatithi too was present there at that hour.

Verse 60 (shiva.rudra.26.60)

तपसा तत्समो नास्ति न भूतो न भविष्यति । येन यज्ञः समारब्धो ज्योतिष्टोमो महाविधिः

tapasā tatsamo nāsti na bhūto na bhaviṣyati | yena yajñaḥ samārabdho jyotiṣṭomo mahāvidhiḥ

In austerity there has been none equal to him, nor shall there ever be; by him was begun that great rite, the Jyotishtoma sacrifice.

Verse 61 (shiva.rudra.26.61)

तत्र प्रज्वलितो वह्निस्तस्मिन्त्यज वपुः स्वकम् । इदानीं सुपवित्रा त्वं सम्पूर्णोऽस्तु पणस्तव

tatra prajvalito vahnistasmintyaja vapuḥ svakam | idānīṁ supavitrā tvaṁ sampūrṇo'stu paṇastava

There the fire burns bright; in it, give up your own body. You are now utterly pure; may your vow be fulfilled.

Verse 62 (shiva.rudra.26.62)

एतन्मया स्थापितं स्वाकार्यार्थं भो तपस्विनि । तत्कुरुष्व महाभागे याहि यज्ञे महामुनेः । कृत्वा हितं च देवेशस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

etanmayā sthāpitaṁ svākāryārthaṁ bho tapasvini | tatkuruṣva mahābhāge yāhi yajñe mahāmuneḥ | kṛtvā hitaṁ ca deveśastatraivāntaradhīyata

This have I ordained, O ascetic woman, for the fulfillment of your own purpose; do as I say, greatly blessed one — go to the sacrifice of the great sage. Having done this kindness, the Lord of the gods vanished from that very place.