The Marriage of Shiva and Sati

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.38.1)

नारद उवाच । रुद्रपार्श्वे त्वयि गते किमभूच्चरितं ततः । का वार्ता ह्यभवत्तात किं चकार हरः स्वयम्

nārada uvāca | rudrapārśve tvayi gate kimabhūccaritaṁ tataḥ | kā vārtā hyabhavattāta kiṁ cakāra haraḥ svayam

Narada said: Dear one, when you had gone to Rudra's side, what happened then? What news was there, and what did Hara himself do?

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.38.2)

ब्रह्मोवाच । अथाहं शिवमानेतुं प्रसन्नः परमेश्वरम् । आसदं हि महादेवं हिमवद्गिरिसंस्थितम्

brahmovāca | athāhaṁ śivamānetuṁ prasannaḥ parameśvaram | āsadaṁ hi mahādevaṁ himavadgirisaṁsthitam

Brahma said: Then I, pleased, going to bring Shiva, approached Mahadeva, the Supreme Lord, residing on the Himalayan mountain.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.38.3)

मां वीक्ष्य लोकस्रष्टारमायान्तं वृषभध्वजः । मनसा संशयं चक्रे सतीप्राप्तौ मुहुर्मुहुः

māṁ vīkṣya lokasraṣṭāramāyāntaṁ vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ | manasā saṁśayaṁ cakre satīprāptau muhurmuhuḥ

Seeing me, the creator of the world, arriving, the bull-bannered one felt, again and again, a doubt in his mind regarding the attainment of Sati.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.38.4)

अथ प्रीत्या हरो लोके गतिमाश्रित्य लीलया । सत्या भक्त्या च मां क्षिप्रमुवाच प्राकृतो यथा

atha prītyā haro loke gatimāśritya līlayā | satyā bhaktyā ca māṁ kṣipramuvāca prākṛto yathā

Then Hara, resorting by his own play to worldly conduct, out of affection and devotion for Sati, quickly spoke to me like an ordinary person.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.38.5)

ईश्वर उवाच । किमकार्षीत्सुरज्येष्ठ सत्यर्थे त्वत्सुतः स माम् । कथयस्व यथा स्वान्तं न दीर्येन्मन्मथेन हि

īśvara uvāca | kimakārṣītsurajyeṣṭha satyarthe tvatsutaḥ sa mām | kathayasva yathā svāntaṁ na dīryenmanmathena hi

Ishvara said: O eldest of the gods, what did your son say to me regarding Sati's matter? Tell me, so that my heart may not be torn apart by Kama.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.38.6)

धावमानो विप्रयोगो मामेव च सतीं प्रति । अभिहन्ति सुरज्येष्ठ त्यक्त्वान्यां प्राणधारिणीम्

dhāvamāno viprayogo māmeva ca satīṁ prati | abhihanti surajyeṣṭha tyaktvānyāṁ prāṇadhāriṇīm

O eldest of the gods, this separation, running toward me, strikes at me alone on account of Sati, as if abandoning every other living being.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.38.7)

सतीति सततं ब्रह्मन् वद कार्यं करोम्यहम् । अभेदान्मम सा प्राप्या तद्विधे क्रियतां तथा

satīti satataṁ brahman vada kāryaṁ karomyaham | abhedānmama sā prāpyā tadvidhe kriyatāṁ tathā

O Brahman, speak of 'Sati' continually — tell me, and I shall do whatever is needed; since she is not different from me, she is surely to be attained — arrange it so, O Creator.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.38.8)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति रुद्रोक्तवचनं लोकाचारसुगर्भितम् । श्रुत्वाहं नारदमुने सान्त्वयन्नगदं शिवम्

brahmovāca | iti rudroktavacanaṁ lokācārasugarbhitam | śrutvāhaṁ nāradamune sāntvayannagadaṁ śivam

Brahma said: Hearing this speech of Rudra's, thoroughly steeped in worldly manner, O sage Narada, I spoke to Shiva, consoling him.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.38.9)

ब्रह्मोवाच सत्यर्थं यन्मम सुतो वदति स्म वृषध्वज । तच्छ्रणुष्व निजासाध्यं सिद्धमित्यवधारय

brahmovāca satyarthaṁ yanmama suto vadati sma vṛṣadhvaja | tacchraṇuṣva nijāsādhyaṁ siddhamityavadhāraya

Brahma said: O bull-bannered one, hear what my son said regarding Sati's matter; understand that what seemed unattainable to you has now been accomplished.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.38.10)

देया तस्मै मया पुत्री तदर्थं परिकल्पिता । ममाभीष्टमिदं कार्यं त्वद्वाक्यादधिकं पुनः

deyā tasmai mayā putrī tadarthaṁ parikalpitā | mamābhīṣṭamidaṁ kāryaṁ tvadvākyādadhikaṁ punaḥ

'The daughter destined for that very purpose is to be given by me to him' — this is my own desired outcome too, even more than what you had said.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.38.11)

मत्पुत्र्याराधितः शम्भुरेतदर्थं स्वयं पुनः । सोऽप्यन्विष्यति मां यस्मात्तदा देया मया हरे

matputryārādhitaḥ śambhuretadarthaṁ svayaṁ punaḥ | so'pyanviṣyati māṁ yasmāttadā deyā mayā hare

'Shambhu, worshipped by my daughter, will for this very reason himself seek me out again; then, O Hari, she shall be given by me.'

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.38.12)

शुभे लग्ने सुमुहूर्ते समागच्छतु सेऽन्तिकम् । तदा दास्यामि तनयां भिक्षार्थं शम्भवे विधे

śubhe lagne sumuhūrte samāgacchatu se'ntikam | tadā dāsyāmi tanayāṁ bhikṣārthaṁ śambhave vidhe

'At an auspicious moment, in a good hour, let him come to my presence; then, O Creator, I shall give my daughter in gift to Shambhu.'

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.38.13)

इत्युवाच स मां दक्षस्तस्मात्त्वं वृषभध्वज । शुभे मुहूर्ते तद्वेश्म गच्छ तामानयस्व च

ityuvāca sa māṁ dakṣastasmāttvaṁ vṛṣabhadhvaja | śubhe muhūrte tadveśma gaccha tāmānayasva ca

Thus Daksha spoke to me; therefore, O bull-bannered one, go at an auspicious hour to his house and bring her.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.38.14)

ब्रह्मोवाच इति श्रुत्वा मम वचो लौकिकीं गतिमाश्रितः । उवाच विहसन् रुद्रो मुने मां भक्तवत्सलः

brahmovāca iti śrutvā mama vaco laukikīṁ gatimāśritaḥ | uvāca vihasan rudro mune māṁ bhaktavatsalaḥ

Brahma said: Hearing these words of mine, O sage, Rudra, resorting to worldly conduct, laughed and, ever fond of his devotees, said to me.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.38.15)

रुद्र उवाच । गमिष्ये भवता सार्धं नारदेन च तद्गृहम् । अहमेव जगत्स्रष्टस्तस्मात्त्वं नारदं स्मर

rudra uvāca | gamiṣye bhavatā sārdhaṁ nāradena ca tadgṛham | ahameva jagatsraṣṭastasmāttvaṁ nāradaṁ smara

Rudra said: I shall go together with you and with Narada to that house; I am myself the creator [of my retinue], therefore remember Narada.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.38.16)

मरीच्यादीन् स्वपुत्रांश्च मानसानपि संस्मर । तैः सार्धं दक्षनिलयं गमिष्ये सगणो विधे

marīcyādīn svaputrāṁśca mānasānapi saṁsmara | taiḥ sārdhaṁ dakṣanilayaṁ gamiṣye sagaṇo vidhe

Remember also your own mind-born sons, Marichi and the others; together with them, O Creator, I too shall go to Daksha's abode with my own retinue.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.38.17)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याज्ञप्तोऽहमीशेन लोकाचारपरेण ह । संस्मरं नारदं त्वां च मरीच्यादीन्सुतांस्तथा

brahmovāca | ityājñapto'hamīśena lokācārapareṇa ha | saṁsmaraṁ nāradaṁ tvāṁ ca marīcyādīnsutāṁstathā

Brahma said: Thus commanded by Ishvara, who was intent on worldly custom, I remembered you, Narada, and Marichi and the other sons.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.38.18)

ततः समागताः सर्वे मानसास्तनयास्त्वया । मम स्मरणमात्रेण हृष्टास्ते द्रुतमादरात्

tataḥ samāgatāḥ sarve mānasāstanayāstvayā | mama smaraṇamātreṇa hṛṣṭāste drutamādarāt

Then, by my mere remembrance, O Narada, all those mind-born sons, together with you, came quickly and with reverence, delighted.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.38.19)

विष्णुः समागतस्तूर्णं स्मृतो रुद्रेण शैवराट् । स स्वसैन्यैः कमलया गरुडारूढ एव च

viṣṇuḥ samāgatastūrṇaṁ smṛto rudreṇa śaivarāṭ | sa svasainyaiḥ kamalayā garuḍārūḍha eva ca

Vishnu too, remembered by Rudra, the king of Shiva's devotees, came swiftly, together with his own army, with Lakshmi, mounted upon Garuda.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.38.20)

अथ चैत्रसिते पक्षे नक्षत्रे भगदैवते । त्रयोदश्यां दिने भानौ निर्गच्छत्स महेश्वरः

atha caitrasite pakṣe nakṣatre bhagadaivate | trayodaśyāṁ dine bhānau nirgacchatsa maheśvaraḥ

Then, in the bright fortnight of Chaitra, under the constellation ruled by Bhaga, on the thirteenth day, at sunrise, Maheshvara set out.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.38.21)

सर्वैः सुरगणैः सार्धं ब्रह्मविष्णुपुरःसरैः । तथा तैर्मुनिभिर्गच्छन् स बभौ पथि शङ्करः

sarvaiḥ suragaṇaiḥ sārdhaṁ brahmaviṣṇupuraḥsaraiḥ | tathā tairmunibhirgacchan sa babhau pathi śaṅkaraḥ

Together with all the hosts of gods, with Brahma and Vishnu at the fore, and with those sages, Shankara, going along the way, shone forth.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.38.22)

मार्गे समुत्सवो जातो देवादीनां च गच्छताम् । तथा हरगणानां च सानन्दमनसामति

mārge samutsavo jāto devādīnāṁ ca gacchatām | tathā haragaṇānāṁ ca sānandamanasāmati

Along the road there arose great festivity among the gods who were going, and likewise among Hara's own joy-filled attendants.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.38.23)

गजगोव्याघ्रसर्पाश्च जटा चन्द्रकला तथा । जग्मुः सर्वे भूषणत्वं यथायोग्यं शिवेच्छया

gajagovyāghrasarpāśca jaṭā candrakalā tathā | jagmuḥ sarve bhūṣaṇatvaṁ yathāyogyaṁ śivecchayā

Elephants, cows, tigers, serpents, his matted locks, and the crescent moon — all became, by Shiva's own will, fitting ornaments upon him.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.38.24)

ततः क्षणेन बलिना बलीवर्देन वेगिना । सविष्णुप्रमुखः प्रीत्या प्राप दक्षालयं हरः

tataḥ kṣaṇena balinā balīvardena veginā | saviṣṇupramukhaḥ prītyā prāpa dakṣālayaṁ haraḥ

Then, in a moment, upon his powerful, swift bull, Hara, with Vishnu at the forefront, joyfully arrived at Daksha's abode.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.38.25)

ततो दक्षो विनीतात्मा सम्प्रहृष्टतनूरुहः । प्रययौ सम्मुखं तस्य संयुक्तः सकलैर्निजैः

tato dakṣo vinītātmā samprahṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ | prayayau sammukhaṁ tasya saṁyuktaḥ sakalairnijaiḥ

Then Daksha, humble of heart, his body thrilling with delight, went forth to meet him, accompanied by all his own kinsmen.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.38.26)

सर्वे सुरगणास्तत्र स्वयं दक्षेण सत्कृताः । पार्श्वे श्रेष्ठं च मुनिभिरुपविष्टा यथाक्रमम्

sarve suragaṇāstatra svayaṁ dakṣeṇa satkṛtāḥ | pārśve śreṣṭhaṁ ca munibhirupaviṣṭā yathākramam

All the hosts of gods there were honored by Daksha himself, and, together with the sages, the foremost among them were seated at his side in due order.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.38.27)

परिवार्याखिलान्देवान्गणांश्च मुनिभिर्यथा । दक्षः समानयामास गृहाभ्यन्तरतः शिवम्

parivāryākhilāndevāngaṇāṁśca munibhiryathā | dakṣaḥ samānayāmāsa gṛhābhyantarataḥ śivam

Surrounding all the gods and ganas with the sages, Daksha then led Shiva into the interior of his house.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.38.28)

अथ दक्षः प्रसन्नात्मा स्वयं सर्वेश्वरं हरम् । समानर्च विधानेन दत्त्वासनमनुत्तमम्

atha dakṣaḥ prasannātmā svayaṁ sarveśvaraṁ haram | samānarca vidhānena dattvāsanamanuttamam

Then Daksha, his heart delighted, himself duly worshipped Hara, the Lord of all, according to the prescribed rite, offering him the most excellent seat.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.38.29)

ततो विष्णुं च मां विप्रान्सुरान्सर्वान्गणांस्तथा । पूजयामास सद्भक्त्या यथोचितविधानतः

tato viṣṇuṁ ca māṁ viprānsurānsarvāngaṇāṁstathā | pūjayāmāsa sadbhaktyā yathocitavidhānataḥ

Then he worshipped Vishnu, and me, and the brahmins, and all the gods and ganas as well, with true devotion, according to due observance.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.38.30)

कृत्वा यथोचितां पूजां तेषां पूज्यादिभिस्तथा । चकार संविदं दक्षो मुनिभिर्मानसैः पुनः

kṛtvā yathocitāṁ pūjāṁ teṣāṁ pūjyādibhistathā | cakāra saṁvidaṁ dakṣo munibhirmānasaiḥ punaḥ

Having performed due worship for them, in due order of honor, Daksha again held conversation with the mind-born sages.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.38.31)

ततो मां पितरं प्राह दक्षः प्रीत्या हि मत्सुतः । प्रणिपत्य त्वया कर्म कार्यं वैवाहिकं विभो

tato māṁ pitaraṁ prāha dakṣaḥ prītyā hi matsutaḥ | praṇipatya tvayā karma kāryaṁ vaivāhikaṁ vibho

Then my son Daksha, with affection, bowing before me, his father, said, 'O Lord, the rite of marriage should now be performed by you.'

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.38.32)

वाढमित्यहमप्युक्त्वा प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना । समुत्थाय ततोऽकार्षं तत्कार्यमखिलं तथा

vāḍhamityahamapyuktvā prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā | samutthāya tato'kārṣaṁ tatkāryamakhilaṁ tathā

Saying, 'So be it,' with a heart filled with delight, I then rose and performed that entire ceremony accordingly.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.38.33)

ततः शुभे मुहूर्ते हि लग्ने ग्रहबलान्विते । सतीं निजसुतां दक्षो ददौ हर्षेण शम्भवे

tataḥ śubhe muhūrte hi lagne grahabalānvite | satīṁ nijasutāṁ dakṣo dadau harṣeṇa śambhave

Then, at an auspicious hour, in a moment favored by the strength of the planets, Daksha, with joy, gave his own daughter Sati to Shambhu.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.38.34)

उद्वाहविधिना सोऽपि पाणिं जग्राह हर्षितः । दाक्षायण्या वरतनोस्तदानीं वृषभध्वजः

udvāhavidhinā so'pi pāṇiṁ jagrāha harṣitaḥ | dākṣāyaṇyā varatanostadānīṁ vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ

At that time, according to the rite of marriage, the joyful bull-bannered bridegroom took the hand of the daughter of Daksha.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.38.35)

अहं हरिस्त्वदाद्या वै मुनयश्च सुरा गणाः । नेमुः सर्वे संस्तुतिभिः तोषयामासुरीश्वरम्

ahaṁ haristvadādyā vai munayaśca surā gaṇāḥ | nemuḥ sarve saṁstutibhiḥ toṣayāmāsurīśvaram

I, Hari, you, and the other sages, gods, and ganas all bowed with hymns of praise and gladdened the Lord.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.38.36)

समुत्सवो महानासीन्नृत्यगानपुरःसरः । आनन्दं परमं जग्मुः सर्वे मुनिगणाः सुराः

samutsavo mahānāsīnnṛtyagānapuraḥsaraḥ | ānandaṁ paramaṁ jagmuḥ sarve munigaṇāḥ surāḥ

There was a great festival, preceded by dance and song; all the hosts of sages and gods attained the highest joy.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.38.37)

कन्यां दत्त्वा कृतार्थोऽभूत्तदा दक्षो हि मत्सुतः । शिवाशिवौ प्रसन्नौ च निखिलं मङ्गलालयम्

kanyāṁ dattvā kṛtārtho'bhūttadā dakṣo hi matsutaḥ | śivāśivau prasannau ca nikhilaṁ maṅgalālayam

Having given away his daughter, my son Daksha became fulfilled at that time; Shiva and Shakti were both well pleased, and everywhere became an abode of auspiciousness.