Daksha Receives His Boon

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.32.1)

नारद उवाच । ब्रह्मन् शम्भुवर प्राज्ञ सम्यगुक्तं त्वयानघ । शिवाशिवचरित्रं च पावितं जन्म मे हितम्

nārada uvāca | brahman śambhuvara prājña samyaguktaṁ tvayānagha | śivāśivacaritraṁ ca pāvitaṁ janma me hitam

Narada said: O Brahma, foremost knower of Shambhu, wise and sinless one, well have you related the story of Shiva and Shivā; my birth has thereby been purified and blessed.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.32.2)

इदानीं वद दक्षस्तु तपः कृत्वा दृढव्रतः । कं वरं प्राप देव्यास्तु कथं सा दक्षजाभवत्

idānīṁ vada dakṣastu tapaḥ kṛtvā dṛḍhavrataḥ | kaṁ varaṁ prāpa devyāstu kathaṁ sā dakṣajābhavat

Now tell me — Daksha, having performed austerity, steadfast in his vow, what boon did he obtain from the goddess, and how did she come to be born as Daksha's daughter?

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.32.3)

ब्रह्मोवाच । शृणु नारद धन्यस्त्वं मुनिभिर्भक्तितोऽखिलैः । यथा तेपे तपो दक्षो वरं प्राप च सुव्रतः

brahmovāca | śṛṇu nārada dhanyastvaṁ munibhirbhaktito'khilaiḥ | yathā tepe tapo dakṣo varaṁ prāpa ca suvrataḥ

Brahma said: Listen, Narada; blessed are you among all sages for your devotion. Hear now how Daksha, faithful to his vow, performed his austerity and obtained the boon.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.32.4)

मदाज्ञप्तः सुधीर्दक्षः समाधाय महाधिपः । अयाद्यष्टुं च तां देवीं तत्कामो जगदम्बिकाम्

madājñaptaḥ sudhīrdakṣaḥ samādhāya mahādhipaḥ | ayādyaṣṭuṁ ca tāṁ devīṁ tatkāmo jagadambikām

At my command, the wise Daksha, that great lord, having composed his mind, set forth, with that very desire, to worship the goddess, mother of the world.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.32.5)

क्षीरोदोत्तरतीरस्थां तां कृत्वा हृदयस्थिताम् । तपस्तप्तुं समारेभे द्रष्टुं प्रत्यक्षतोऽम्बिकाम्

kṣīrodottaratīrasthāṁ tāṁ kṛtvā hṛdayasthitām | tapastaptuṁ samārebhe draṣṭuṁ pratyakṣato'mbikām

Holding her, who dwells on the northern shore of the Ocean of Milk, fixed within his heart, he began to perform austerity, so that he might behold Ambika directly.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.32.6)

दिव्यवर्षेण दक्षस्तु सहस्राणां त्रयं समाः । तपश्चचार नियतः संयतात्मा दृढव्रतः

divyavarṣeṇa dakṣastu sahasrāṇāṁ trayaṁ samāḥ | tapaścacāra niyataḥ saṁyatātmā dṛḍhavrataḥ

Daksha, disciplined and firm in his vow, performed austerity for three thousand years, reckoned in divine years.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.32.7)

मारुताशी निराहारो जलाहारी च पर्णभुक् । एवं निनाय तं कालं चिन्तयन्तां जगन्मयीम्

mārutāśī nirāhāro jalāhārī ca parṇabhuk | evaṁ nināya taṁ kālaṁ cintayantāṁ jaganmayīm

Living now on air alone, now taking no food at all, now subsisting on water, now on leaves — thus he passed that time, his mind fixed in meditation upon her who pervades the world.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.32.8)

दुर्गाध्यानसमासक्तश्चिरं कालं तपोरतः । नियमैर्बहुभिर्देवीमाराधयति सुव्रतः

durgādhyānasamāsaktaściraṁ kālaṁ taporataḥ | niyamairbahubhirdevīmārādhayati suvrataḥ

Long absorbed in meditation upon Durga, devoted wholly to his austerity, he, faithful to his vow, worshipped the goddess through many disciplines.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.32.9)

ततो यमादियुक्तस्य दक्षस्य मुनिसत्तम । जगदम्बां पूजयतः प्रत्यक्षमभवच्छिवा

tato yamādiyuktasya dakṣasya munisattama | jagadambāṁ pūjayataḥ pratyakṣamabhavacchivā

Then, O best of sages, to Daksha, disciplined by yama and the other observances, as he worshipped the mother of the world, Shivā became directly manifest before him.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.32.10)

ततः प्रत्यक्षतो दृष्ट्वा जगदम्बां जगन्मयीम् । कृतकृत्यमथात्मानं मेने दक्षः प्रजापतिः

tataḥ pratyakṣato dṛṣṭvā jagadambāṁ jaganmayīm | kṛtakṛtyamathātmānaṁ mene dakṣaḥ prajāpatiḥ

Then, beholding directly the mother of the world, she who pervades the universe, Daksha, Lord of creatures, considered himself to have attained all he had sought.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.32.11)

सिंहस्थां कालिकां कृष्णां चारुवक्त्रां चतुर्भुजाम् । वरदाभयनीलाब्जखड्गहस्तां मनोहराम्

siṁhasthāṁ kālikāṁ kṛṣṇāṁ cāruvaktrāṁ caturbhujām | varadābhayanīlābjakhaḍgahastāṁ manoharām

Seated upon a lion, dark as Kalika, her face lovely, four-armed, her hands bearing the boon-granting and refuge gestures, a blue lotus, and a sword, altogether enchanting —

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.32.12)

आरक्तनयनां चारुमुक्तकेशीं जगत्प्रसूम् । तुष्टाव वाग्भिश्चित्राभिः सुप्रणम्याथ सुप्रभाम्

āraktanayanāṁ cārumuktakeśīṁ jagatprasūm | tuṣṭāva vāgbhiścitrābhiḥ supraṇamyātha suprabhām

—her eyes tinged red, her hair loose and beautiful, mother of the world — Daksha, bowing low before her, praised that radiant goddess with wondrous words.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.32.13)

दक्ष उवाच । जगदबं महामाये जगदीशे महेश्वरि । कृपां कृत्वा नमस्तेऽस्तु दर्शितं स्ववपुर्मम

dakṣa uvāca | jagadabaṁ mahāmāye jagadīśe maheśvari | kṛpāṁ kṛtvā namaste'stu darśitaṁ svavapurmama

Daksha said: O mother of the world, great Maya, Lady of the world, great goddess, showing your grace, you have revealed to me your own true form — homage to you.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.32.14)

प्रसीद भगवत्याद्ये प्रसीद शिवरूपिणि । प्रसीद भक्तवरदे जगन्माये नमोऽस्तु ते

prasīda bhagavatyādye prasīda śivarūpiṇi | prasīda bhaktavarade jaganmāye namo'stu te

Be gracious, O divine and primordial one; be gracious, O you who share Shiva's very form; be gracious, O bestower of boons upon your devotees; O Maya of the universe, homage be to you.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.32.15)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति स्तुता महेशानी दक्षेण प्रयतात्मना । उवाच दक्षं ज्ञात्वापि स्वयं तस्येप्सितं मुने

brahmovāca | iti stutā maheśānī dakṣeṇa prayatātmanā | uvāca dakṣaṁ jñātvāpi svayaṁ tasyepsitaṁ mune

Brahma said: Thus praised by Daksha, his soul made pure, the great goddess, O sage, though she already knew his heart's desire, spoke to Daksha.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.32.16)

देव्युवाच । तुष्टाहं दक्ष भवतः सद्भक्त्या ह्यनया भृशम् । वरं वृष्णीष्व स्वाभीष्टं नादेयं विद्यते तव

devyuvāca | tuṣṭāhaṁ dakṣa bhavataḥ sadbhaktyā hyanayā bhṛśam | varaṁ vṛṣṇīṣva svābhīṣṭaṁ nādeyaṁ vidyate tava

The goddess said: O Daksha, I am deeply pleased by this true devotion of yours; ask for the boon your heart desires — there is nothing I would withhold from you.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.32.17)

ब्रह्मोवाच । जगदम्बावचः श्रुत्वा ततो दक्षः प्रजापतिः । सुप्रहृष्टतरः प्राह नामं नामं च तां शिवाम्

brahmovāca | jagadambāvacaḥ śrutvā tato dakṣaḥ prajāpatiḥ | suprahṛṣṭataraḥ prāha nāmaṁ nāmaṁ ca tāṁ śivām

Brahma said: Hearing the words of the mother of the world, Daksha, Lord of creatures, greatly delighted, spoke, bowing again and again to that goddess Shivā.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.32.18)

दक्ष उवाच । जगदम्ब महामाये यदि त्वं वरदा मम । मद्वचः शृ णु सुप्रीत्या मम कामं प्रपूरय

dakṣa uvāca | jagadamba mahāmāye yadi tvaṁ varadā mama | madvacaḥ śṛ ṇu suprītyā mama kāmaṁ prapūraya

Daksha said: O mother of the world, great Maya, if you are indeed the giver of boons to me, then hear my words with love, and grant my desire.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.32.19)

मम स्वामी शिवो यो हि स जातो ब्रह्मणः सुतः । रुद्रनामा पूर्णरूपावतारः परमात्मनः

mama svāmī śivo yo hi sa jāto brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ | rudranāmā pūrṇarūpāvatāraḥ paramātmanaḥ

My own Lord, Shiva, who was born as the son of Brahma, known by the name Rudra, is the full and complete incarnation of the Supreme Self.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.32.20)

तवावतारो नो जातः का तत्पत्नी भवेदतः । तं मोहय महेशानमवतीर्य क्षितौ शिवे

tavāvatāro no jātaḥ kā tatpatnī bhavedataḥ | taṁ mohaya maheśānamavatīrya kṣitau śive

No incarnation of yours has yet come into being — so who is to be his wife? O Shivā, descend upon the earth and bewilder that great Lord.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.32.21)

त्वदृते तस्य मोहाय न शक्तान्या कदाचन । तस्मान्मम सुता भूत्वा हरजाया भवाधुना

tvadṛte tasya mohāya na śaktānyā kadācana | tasmānmama sutā bhūtvā harajāyā bhavādhunā

Apart from you, no other is ever capable of deluding him; therefore, becoming my own daughter, become now the wife of Hara.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.32.22)

इत्थं कृत्वा सुलीलां च भव त्वं हरमोहिनी । ममैवैष वरो देवि सत्यमुक्तं तवाग्रतः

itthaṁ kṛtvā sulīlāṁ ca bhava tvaṁ haramohinī | mamaivaiṣa varo devi satyamuktaṁ tavāgrataḥ

In this way, through your own beautiful divine play, become the enchantress of Hara; this alone, O goddess, is my boon — I have spoken the truth before you.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.32.23)

स्वार्थं न केवलं मेऽस्ति सर्वेषां जगतामपि । ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवानां च ब्रह्मणा प्रेरितो ह्यहम्

svārthaṁ na kevalaṁ me'sti sarveṣāṁ jagatāmapi | brahmaviṣṇuśivānāṁ ca brahmaṇā prerito hyaham

This is not merely my own selfish desire, but that of all the worlds, and of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva themselves; indeed, it is Brahma who has urged me to this.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.32.24)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य प्रजेशस्य वचनं जगदम्बिका । प्रत्युवाच विहस्येति स्मृत्वा तं मनसा शिवम्

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya prajeśasya vacanaṁ jagadambikā | pratyuvāca vihasyeti smṛtvā taṁ manasā śivam

Brahma said: Hearing these words of the Lord of creatures, the mother of the world, smiling, called Shiva to mind and replied in this way.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.32.25)

देव्युवाच । तात प्रजापते दक्ष शृणु मे परमं वचः । सत्यं ब्रवीमि त्वद्भक्त्या सुप्रसन्नाखिलप्रदा

devyuvāca | tāta prajāpate dakṣa śṛṇu me paramaṁ vacaḥ | satyaṁ bravīmi tvadbhaktyā suprasannākhilapradā

The goddess said: O father, Lord of creatures, Daksha, hear my supreme word; I speak the truth, greatly pleased by your devotion, and I am the giver of all things.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.32.26)

अहं तव सुता दक्ष त्वज्जायायां महेश्वरी । भविष्यामि न सन्देहस्त्वद्भक्तिवशवर्तिनी

ahaṁ tava sutā dakṣa tvajjāyāyāṁ maheśvarī | bhaviṣyāmi na sandehastvadbhaktivaśavartinī

O Daksha, I, the great goddess, shall become your daughter, born of your own wife; there is no doubt of this — I am won over by your devotion.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.32.27)

तथा यत्नं करिष्यामि तपः कृत्वा सुदुःसहम् । हरजाया भविष्यामि तद्वरं प्राप्य चानघ

tathā yatnaṁ kariṣyāmi tapaḥ kṛtvā suduḥsaham | harajāyā bhaviṣyāmi tadvaraṁ prāpya cānagha

And, O sinless one, I shall so strive, performing austerity most severe, that, having obtained that boon, I shall become the wife of Hara.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.32.28)

नान्यथा कार्यसिद्धिर्हि निर्विकारी च स प्रभुः । विधेर्विष्णोश्च संसेव्यः पूर्ण एव सदाशिवः

nānyathā kāryasiddhirhi nirvikārī ca sa prabhuḥ | vidherviṣṇośca saṁsevyaḥ pūrṇa eva sadāśivaḥ

For there is no other way to accomplish this task; that Lord is unchanging, worthy to be served even by the Creator and by Vishnu, the ever-complete, eternal Shiva.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.32.29)

अहं तस्य सदा दासी प्रिया जन्मनि जन्मनि । मम स्वामी स वै शम्भुर्नानारूपधरोऽपि ह

ahaṁ tasya sadā dāsī priyā janmani janmani | mama svāmī sa vai śambhurnānārūpadharo'pi ha

I am ever his handmaiden and his beloved, life after life; my Lord is truly Shambhu himself, even though he assumes many different forms.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.32.30)

वरप्रभावाद् भ्रुकुटेरवतीर्णो विधेः स च । अहं तद्वरतोऽपीहावतरिष्ये तदाज्ञया

varaprabhāvād bhrukuṭeravatīrṇo vidheḥ sa ca | ahaṁ tadvarato'pīhāvatariṣye tadājñayā

By the power of a boon, he descended from the very brow of the Creator; and I too, through that same power, shall descend here at his command.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.32.31)

गच्छ स्वभवनं तात मया ज्ञाता तु दूतिका । हरजाया भविष्यामि भूत्वा ते तनयाचिरात्

gaccha svabhavanaṁ tāta mayā jñātā tu dūtikā | harajāyā bhaviṣyāmi bhūtvā te tanayācirāt

Go now to your own home, my child; know that your message has been understood by me; before long, having been born as your daughter, I shall become the wife of Hara.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.32.32)

इत्युक्त्वा सद्वचो दक्षं शिवाज्ञां प्राप्य चेतसि । पुनः प्रोवाच सा देवी स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्बुजम्

ityuktvā sadvaco dakṣaṁ śivājñāṁ prāpya cetasi | punaḥ provāca sā devī smṛtvā śivapadāmbujam

Having spoken these true words to Daksha, and having received Shiva's own sanction within her mind, that goddess, calling to mind Shiva's lotus feet, spoke once more.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.32.33)

परन्तु प्रण आधेयो मनसा ते प्रजापते । श्रावयिष्यामि ते तं वै सत्यं जानीहि नो मृषा

parantu praṇa ādheyo manasā te prajāpate | śrāvayiṣyāmi te taṁ vai satyaṁ jānīhi no mṛṣā

But, O Lord of creatures, there is one vow you must hold fixed in your mind; I shall now make it known to you — know it to be true, not false.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.32.34)

यदा भवान् मयि पुनर्भवेन्मन्दादरस्तदा । देहं त्यक्ष्ये निजं सत्यं स्वात्मन्यस्म्यथ वेतरम्

yadā bhavān mayi punarbhavenmandādarastadā | dehaṁ tyakṣye nijaṁ satyaṁ svātmanyasmyatha vetaram

Should there ever come a time when your regard for me grows diminished, then I shall relinquish this body of mine — know this to be true, and no otherwise.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.32.35)

एष दत्तस्तव वरः प्रतिसर्गं प्रजापते । अहं तव सुता भूत्वा भविष्यामि हरप्रिया

eṣa dattastava varaḥ pratisargaṁ prajāpate | ahaṁ tava sutā bhūtvā bhaviṣyāmi harapriyā

This, O Lord of creatures, is the boon granted to you for the coming creation: I, having become your daughter, shall become the beloved of Hara.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.32.36)

ब्रह्मोवाच । एवमुक्त्वा महेशानी दक्षं मुख्यप्रजापतिम् ॥ अन्तर्दधे द्रुतं तत्र सम्यग् दक्षस्य पश्यतः

brahmovāca | evamuktvā maheśānī dakṣaṁ mukhyaprajāpatim || antardadhe drutaṁ tatra samyag dakṣasya paśyataḥ

Brahma said: Having spoken thus to Daksha, chief among the Lords of creatures, the great goddess swiftly vanished from that place, in plain view of Daksha.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.32.37)

अन्तर्हितायां दुर्गायां स दक्षोऽपि निजाश्रमम् । जगाम च मुदं लेभे भविष्यति सुतेति सा

antarhitāyāṁ durgāyāṁ sa dakṣo'pi nijāśramam | jagāma ca mudaṁ lebhe bhaviṣyati suteti sā

When Durga had vanished, Daksha too returned to his own hermitage, and was filled with joy at the thought that she would become his daughter.