The Divine Play of Shiva at the Wedding

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.39.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । कृत्वा दक्षः सुतादानं यौतकं विविधं ददौ । हराय सुप्रसन्नश्च द्विजेभ्यो विविधं धनम्

brahmovāca | kṛtvā dakṣaḥ sutādānaṁ yautakaṁ vividhaṁ dadau | harāya suprasannaśca dvijebhyo vividhaṁ dhanam

Brahma said: Having given away his daughter, Daksha offered manifold wedding gifts to Hara, and, greatly pleased, gave various riches to the brahmins as well.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.39.2)

अथ शम्भुमुपागत्य समुत्थाय कृताञ्जलिः । सार्धं कमलया चेदमुवाच गरुडध्वजः

atha śambhumupāgatya samutthāya kṛtāñjaliḥ | sārdhaṁ kamalayā cedamuvāca garuḍadhvajaḥ

Then Garudadhvaja Vishnu, rising with joined hands, together with Kamala, approached Shambhu and spoke these words.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.39.3)

विष्णुरुवाच । देवदेव महादेव करुणासागर प्रभो । त्वं पिता जगतां तात सती माताखिलस्य च

viṣṇuruvāca | devadeva mahādeva karuṇāsāgara prabho | tvaṁ pitā jagatāṁ tāta satī mātākhilasya ca

Vishnu said: O God of gods, Mahadeva, ocean of compassion, Lord! You are the father of the worlds, dear one, and Sati the mother of all.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.39.4)

युवां लीलावतारौ वै सतां क्षेमाय सर्वदा । खलानां निग्रहार्थाय श्रुतिरेषा सनातनी

yuvāṁ līlāvatārau vai satāṁ kṣemāya sarvadā | khalānāṁ nigrahārthāya śrutireṣā sanātanī

You two are ever playful incarnations for the well-being of the good and the suppression of the wicked — this is the eternal teaching.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.39.5)

स्निग्धनीलाञ्जनश्यामशोभया शोभसे हर । दाक्षायण्या यथा चाहं प्रतिलोमेन पद्मया

snigdhanīlāñjanaśyāmaśobhayā śobhase hara | dākṣāyaṇyā yathā cāhaṁ pratilomena padmayā

You shine, O Hara, with the beauty of glossy, dark collyrium, together with the daughter of Daksha, just as I, in the reverse manner, shine together with Padma.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.39.6)

देवानां वा नृणां रक्षां कुरु सत्यानया सताम् । संसारसारिणां शम्भो मङ्गलं सर्वदा तथा

devānāṁ vā nṛṇāṁ rakṣāṁ kuru satyānayā satām | saṁsārasāriṇāṁ śambho maṅgalaṁ sarvadā tathā

Through this Sati, O Shambhu, ever protect the gods and men, and grant perpetual auspiciousness to virtuous souls journeying through samsara.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.39.7)

य एनां साभिलाषो वै दृष्ट्वा श्रुत्वाथवा भवेत् । तं हन्याः सर्वभूतेश विज्ञप्तिरिति मे प्रभो

ya enāṁ sābhilāṣo vai dṛṣṭvā śrutvāthavā bhavet | taṁ hanyāḥ sarvabhūteśa vijñaptiriti me prabho

Whoever, upon seeing or even hearing of her, becomes filled with desire — slay him, O Lord of all beings; this is my humble request to you.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.39.8)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचो विष्णोर्विहस्य परमेश्वरः । एवमस्त्विति सर्वज्ञः प्रोवाच मधुसूदनम्

brahmovāca | iti śrutvā vaco viṣṇorvihasya parameśvaraḥ | evamastviti sarvajñaḥ provāca madhusūdanam

Brahma said: Having heard these words of Vishnu, the all-knowing Supreme Lord, laughing, said 'So be it' to Madhusudana.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.39.9)

स्वस्थानं हरिरागत्य स्थित आसीन्मुनीश्वर । उत्सवं कारयामास जुगोप चरितं च तत्

svasthānaṁ harirāgatya sthita āsīnmunīśvara | utsavaṁ kārayāmāsa jugopa caritaṁ ca tat

O lord of sages, Hari, having returned to his own place, remained there, held the festivities, and kept watch over that conduct.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.39.10)

अहं देवीं समागत्य गृह्योक्तविधिनाखिलम् । अग्निकार्यं यथोद्दिष्टमकार्षं च सुविस्तरम्

ahaṁ devīṁ samāgatya gṛhyoktavidhinākhilam | agnikāryaṁ yathoddiṣṭamakārṣaṁ ca suvistaram

I, having approached the Goddess, began to perform the entire fire-ritual in full detail, exactly as prescribed by the household rite.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.39.11)

ततः शिवा शिवश्चैव यथाविधि प्रहृष्टवत् । अग्नेः प्रदक्षिणं चक्रे मदाचार्यद्विजाज्ञया

tataḥ śivā śivaścaiva yathāvidhi prahṛṣṭavat | agneḥ pradakṣiṇaṁ cakre madācāryadvijājñayā

Then Shiva and Shakti, both delighted, duly circumambulated the fire, at the command of me, the officiating priest.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.39.12)

तदा महोत्सवस्तत्राद्भुतोऽभूद् द्विजसत्तम । सर्वेषां सुखदं वाद्यं गीतनृत्यपुरःसरम्

tadā mahotsavastatrādbhuto'bhūd dvijasattama | sarveṣāṁ sukhadaṁ vādyaṁ gītanṛtyapuraḥsaram

O best of the twice-born, there then arose a wondrous, great festival, delightful to all, preceded by dance, song, and music.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.39.13)

तदानीमद्भुतं तत्र चरितं समभूदति । सुविस्मयकरं तात तच्छृणु त्वं वदामि ते

tadānīmadbhutaṁ tatra caritaṁ samabhūdati | suvismayakaraṁ tāta tacchṛṇu tvaṁ vadāmi te

Dear one, at that time there occurred there an extremely wondrous, astonishing event; hear it, I shall tell you.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.39.14)

दुर्ज्ञेया शाम्भवी माया तया सम्मोहितं जगत् । सचराचरमत्यन्तं सदेवासुरमानुषम्

durjñeyā śāmbhavī māyā tayā sammohitaṁ jagat | sacarācaramatyantaṁ sadevāsuramānuṣam

Shambhu's Maya is hard to fathom; by it the entire moving and unmoving world, including gods, demons, and men, is utterly deluded.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.39.15)

योऽहं शम्भुं मोहयितुं पुरैच्छं कपटेन ह । मां च तं शङ्करस्तात मोहयामास लीलया

yo'haṁ śambhuṁ mohayituṁ puraicchaṁ kapaṭena ha | māṁ ca taṁ śaṅkarastāta mohayāmāsa līlayā

I, who had once wished to delude Shambhu through a trick, was myself deluded by Shankara, dear one, through his own divine play.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.39.16)

इच्छेत्परापकारं यः स तस्यैव भवेद् ध्रुवम् । इति मत्वापकारं नो कुर्यादन्यस्य पूरुषः

icchetparāpakāraṁ yaḥ sa tasyaiva bhaved dhruvam | iti matvāpakāraṁ no kuryādanyasya pūruṣaḥ

Whoever wishes harm upon another — that harm shall surely fall back upon himself; knowing this, a man should never wish harm upon another.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.39.17)

प्रदक्षिणां प्रकुर्वन्त्या वह्नेः सत्याः पदद्वयम् । आविर्बभूव वसनात्तदद्राक्षमहं मुने

pradakṣiṇāṁ prakurvantyā vahneḥ satyāḥ padadvayam | āvirbabhūva vasanāttadadrākṣamahaṁ mune

As Sati was circumambulating the fire, her two feet became visible from beneath her garment; that I saw, O sage.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.39.18)

मदनाविष्टचेताश्च भूत्वाङ्गानि व्यलोकयम् । अहं सत्या द्विजश्रेष्ठ शिवमायाविमोहितः

madanāviṣṭacetāśca bhūtvāṅgāni vyalokayam | ahaṁ satyā dvijaśreṣṭha śivamāyāvimohitaḥ

O best of the twice-born, deluded by Shiva's own Maya, my mind possessed by desire, I began to gaze upon Sati's limbs.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.39.19)

यथा यथाहं रम्याणि व्यैक्षमङ्गानि कौतुकात् । सत्या बभूव संहृष्टः कामार्तो हि तथा तथा

yathā yathāhaṁ ramyāṇi vyaikṣamaṅgāni kautukāt | satyā babhūva saṁhṛṣṭaḥ kāmārto hi tathā tathā

The more I, out of curiosity, gazed upon her lovely limbs, the more Sati too, in equal measure, grew delighted, afflicted by desire.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.39.20)

अहमेवं तथा दृष्ट्वा दक्षजां च पतिव्रताम् । स्मराविष्टमना वक्त्रं द्रष्टुकामोऽभवं मुने

ahamevaṁ tathā dṛṣṭvā dakṣajāṁ ca pativratām | smarāviṣṭamanā vaktraṁ draṣṭukāmo'bhavaṁ mune

Having thus seen that chaste, devoted daughter of Daksha, O sage, my mind possessed by desire, I too became eager to see her face.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.39.21)

न शम्भोर्लज्जया वक्त्रं प्रत्यक्षं च विलोकितम् । न च सा लज्जयाविष्टा करोति प्रकटं मुखम्

na śambhorlajjayā vaktraṁ pratyakṣaṁ ca vilokitam | na ca sā lajjayāviṣṭā karoti prakaṭaṁ mukham

Out of shame before Shambhu, her face was not looked upon directly by me; and she too, overcome with shame, would not reveal her face openly.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.39.22)

ततस्तद्दर्शनार्थाय सदुपायं विचारयन् । धूम्रघोरेण कामार्तोऽकार्षं तच्च ततः परम्

tatastaddarśanārthāya sadupāyaṁ vicārayan | dhūmraghoreṇa kāmārto'kārṣaṁ tacca tataḥ param

Then, pondering a good means to see her, afflicted by desire, I did this, using thick, dark smoke.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.39.23)

आर्द्रेन्धनानि भूरीणि क्षिप्त्वा तत्र विभावसौ । स्वल्पाज्याहुतिविन्यासादार्द्रद्रव्योद्भवस्तथा

ārdrendhanāni bhūrīṇi kṣiptvā tatra vibhāvasau | svalpājyāhutivinyāsādārdradravyodbhavastathā

Having cast abundant wet fuel-wood into the fire, and, through the offering of a small amount of ghee, smoke arose there from that wet material.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.39.24)

प्रादुर्भूतस्ततो धूमो भूयांस्तत्र समन्ततः । तादृग् येन तमोभूतं वेदीभूमिविनिर्मितम्

prādurbhūtastato dhūmo bhūyāṁstatra samantataḥ | tādṛg yena tamobhūtaṁ vedībhūmivinirmitam

So much smoke then spread there on every side that the entire ground of the sacrificial altar was plunged into darkness by it.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.39.25)

ततो धूमाकुले नेत्रे महेशः परमेश्वरः । हस्ताभ्यां छादयामास बहुलीलाकरः प्रभुः

tato dhūmākule netre maheśaḥ parameśvaraḥ | hastābhyāṁ chādayāmāsa bahulīlākaraḥ prabhuḥ

Then Mahesha, the Supreme Lord of manifold playful deeds, covered his own smoke-troubled eyes with his hands.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.39.26)

ततो वस्त्रं समुत्क्षिप्य सतीवक्त्रमहं मुने । अवेक्षं किल कामार्तः प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना

tato vastraṁ samutkṣipya satīvaktramahaṁ mune | avekṣaṁ kila kāmārtaḥ prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā

Then, lifting the veil, O sage, afflicted by desire, my inner heart delighted, I gazed upon Sati's face.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.39.27)

मुहुर्मुहुरहं तात पश्यामि स्म सतीमुखम् । अथेन्द्रियविकारं च प्राप्तवानस्मि सोऽवशः

muhurmuhurahaṁ tāta paśyāmi sma satīmukham | athendriyavikāraṁ ca prāptavānasmi so'vaśaḥ

Dear one, I looked again and again upon Sati's face, and then, powerless, I experienced a disturbance of the senses.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.39.28)

मम रेतः प्रचस्कन्द ततस्तद्वीक्षणाद् द्रुतम् । चतुर्बिन्दुमितं भूमौ तुषारचयसन्निभम्

mama retaḥ pracaskanda tatastadvīkṣaṇād drutam | caturbindumitaṁ bhūmau tuṣāracayasannibham

From that very gazing, my seed spilled forth at once, four drops falling upon the ground, resembling flakes of frost.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.39.29)

ततोऽहं शङ्कितो मौनी तत्क्षणं विस्मितो मुने । आच्छादये स्म तद्रेतो यथा कश्चिद् बुबोध न

tato'haṁ śaṅkito maunī tatkṣaṇaṁ vismito mune | ācchādaye sma tadreto yathā kaścid bubodha na

Then I, apprehensive and silent, astonished in that very moment, O sage, began to hide that seed so that no one might notice.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.39.30)

अथ तद्भगवान् शम्भुर्ज्ञात्वा दिव्येन चक्षुषा । रेतोऽवस्कन्दनात्तस्य कोपादेतदुवाच ह

atha tadbhagavān śambhurjñātvā divyena cakṣuṣā | reto'vaskandanāttasya kopādetaduvāca ha

Then the Blessed Shambhu, having known this through his divine eye, spoke this in anger on account of that spilling of seed.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.39.31)

रुद्र उवाच । किमेतद्विहितं पाप त्वया कर्म विगर्हितम् । विवाहे मम कान्ताया वक्त्रं दृष्टं न रागतः

rudra uvāca | kimetadvihitaṁ pāpa tvayā karma vigarhitam | vivāhe mama kāntāyā vaktraṁ dṛṣṭaṁ na rāgataḥ

Rudra said: O sinner, what reprehensible deed have you committed? At my own wedding you looked with passion upon my beloved's face!

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.39.32)

त्वं वेत्सि शङ्करेणैतत्कर्म ज्ञातं न किञ्चन । त्रैलोक्येऽपि न मेऽज्ञातं गूढं तस्मात्कथं विधे

tvaṁ vetsi śaṅkareṇaitatkarma jñātaṁ na kiñcana | trailokye'pi na me'jñātaṁ gūḍhaṁ tasmātkathaṁ vidhe

Do you think this deed remained unknown to Shankara? Nothing in all the three worlds is unknown to me — how then, O Creator, could this be hidden?

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.39.33)

यत्किञ्चित् त्रिषु लोकेषु जङ्गमं स्थावरं तथा । तस्याहं मध्यगो मूढ तैलं यद्वत्तिलान्तिगम्

yatkiñcit triṣu lokeṣu jaṅgamaṁ sthāvaraṁ tathā | tasyāhaṁ madhyago mūḍha tailaṁ yadvattilāntigam

O fool, whatever, moving or unmoving, exists in the three worlds, in the midst of all that I pervade, just as oil pervades within sesame seeds.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.39.34)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा प्रियविष्णुर्मां तदा विष्णुवचः स्मरन् । इयेष हन्तुं ब्रह्माणं शूलमुद्यम्य शङ्करः

brahmovāca | ityuktvā priyaviṣṇurmāṁ tadā viṣṇuvacaḥ smaran | iyeṣa hantuṁ brahmāṇaṁ śūlamudyamya śaṅkaraḥ

Brahma said: Having said this, Shankara, remembering Vishnu's earlier dear plea, yet at that moment, raising his trident, desired to slay me, Brahma.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.39.35)

शम्भुनोद्यमिते शूले मां च हन्तुं द्विजोत्तम । मरीचिप्रमुखास्ते वै हाहाकारं च चक्रिरे

śambhunodyamite śūle māṁ ca hantuṁ dvijottama | marīcipramukhāste vai hāhākāraṁ ca cakrire

O best of the twice-born, seeing Shambhu raise his trident, ready to slay me, Marichi and the other sons cried out in lamentation.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.39.36)

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे मुनयश्चाखिलास्तथा । तुष्टुवुः शङ्करं तत्र प्रज्वलन्तं भयातुराः

tato devagaṇāḥ sarve munayaścākhilāstathā | tuṣṭuvuḥ śaṅkaraṁ tatra prajvalantaṁ bhayāturāḥ

Then all the hosts of gods, and all the sages as well, terrified with fear, began to praise Shankara, who was blazing there.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.39.37)

देवा ऊचुः । देवदेव महादेव शरणागतवत्सल । ब्रह्माणं रक्ष रक्षेश कृपां कुरु महेश्वर

devā ūcuḥ | devadeva mahādeva śaraṇāgatavatsala | brahmāṇaṁ rakṣa rakṣeśa kṛpāṁ kuru maheśvara

The gods said: O God of gods, Mahadeva, ever fond of those who take refuge! Protect Brahma, O protector! Show grace, O Maheshvara!

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.39.38)

जगत्पिता महेश त्वं जगन्माता सती मता । हरिब्रह्मादयः सर्वे तव दासाः सुरप्रभो

jagatpitā maheśa tvaṁ jaganmātā satī matā | haribrahmādayaḥ sarve tava dāsāḥ suraprabho

O Mahesha, you are the father of the world, and Sati is held to be the mother of the world; Hari, Brahma, and all the rest are your servants, O Lord of gods.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.39.39)

अद्भुताकृतिलीलस्त्वं तव मायाद्भुता प्रभो । तया विमोहितं सर्वं विना त्वद्भक्तिमीश्वर

adbhutākṛtilīlastvaṁ tava māyādbhutā prabho | tayā vimohitaṁ sarvaṁ vinā tvadbhaktimīśvara

O Lord, you are of wondrous form and play, your Maya too is wondrous; without devotion to you, O Ishvara, all is utterly deluded by it.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.39.40)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्थं बहुतरं दीना निर्जरा मुनयश्च ते । तुष्टुवुर्देवदेवेशं क्रोधाविष्टं महेश्वरम्

brahmovāca | itthaṁ bahutaraṁ dīnā nirjarā munayaśca te | tuṣṭuvurdevadeveśaṁ krodhāviṣṭaṁ maheśvaram

Brahma said: Thus, exceedingly distressed, those undecaying sages praised, again and again, the God of gods, Maheshvara, who was overcome with anger.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.39.41)

दक्षो मैवं मैवमिति पाणिमुद्यम्य शङ्कितः । वारयामास भूतेशं क्षिप्रमेत्य पुरोगतः

dakṣo maivaṁ maivamiti pāṇimudyamya śaṅkitaḥ | vārayāmāsa bhūteśaṁ kṣiprametya purogataḥ

Apprehensive Daksha, raising his hand, saying 'Do not, do not!', quickly came forward and tried to restrain the Lord of beings.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.39.42)

अथाग्रे सङ्गतं वीक्ष्य तदा दक्षं महेश्वरः । प्रत्युवाचाप्रियमिदं संस्मरन्प्रार्थनां हरेः

athāgre saṅgataṁ vīkṣya tadā dakṣaṁ maheśvaraḥ | pratyuvācāpriyamidaṁ saṁsmaranprārthanāṁ hareḥ

Then, seeing Daksha come forward before him, Maheshvara, remembering Hari's earlier plea, spoke these unpleasant words to him.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.39.43)

महेश्वर उवाच । विष्णुना मेऽतिभक्तेन यदिदानीमुदीरितम् । मयाप्यङ्गीकृतं कर्तुं तदिहैव प्रजापते

maheśvara uvāca | viṣṇunā me'tibhaktena yadidānīmudīritam | mayāpyaṅgīkṛtaṁ kartuṁ tadihaiva prajāpate

Maheshvara said: O Prajapati, what the exceedingly devoted Vishnu just now said, I too have accepted to do, right here.

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.39.44)

सतीं यः साभिलाषः सन् वीक्षेत वध तं प्रभो । इति विष्णुवचः सत्यं विधिं हत्वा करोम्यहम्

satīṁ yaḥ sābhilāṣaḥ san vīkṣeta vadha taṁ prabho | iti viṣṇuvacaḥ satyaṁ vidhiṁ hatvā karomyaham

'Whoever, filled with desire, should look upon Sati, slay him, O Lord' — fulfilling this true word of Vishnu, I now slay the Creator.

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.39.45)

साभिलाषः कथं ब्रह्मा सतीं समवलोकयत् । अभवत् त्यक्तरेतास्तु ततो हन्मि कृतागसम्

sābhilāṣaḥ kathaṁ brahmā satīṁ samavalokayat | abhavat tyaktaretāstu tato hanmi kṛtāgasam

How could Brahma, filled with desire, gaze upon Sati? His seed has been released — therefore I shall slay this offender.

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.39.46)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्तवति देवेश महेशे क्रोधसङ्कुले । चकम्पिरे जनाः सर्वे सदेवमुनिमानुषाः

brahmovāca | ityuktavati deveśa maheśe krodhasaṅkule | cakampire janāḥ sarve sadevamunimānuṣāḥ

Brahma said: When the Lord of gods, Mahesha, filled with anger, had spoken thus, all beings — gods, sages, and men alike — trembled.

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.39.47)

हाहाकारो महानासीदौदासीन्यं च सर्वशः । अभूवं विकलोऽतीव तदाहं तद्विमोहितः

hāhākāro mahānāsīdaudāsīnyaṁ ca sarvaśaḥ | abhūvaṁ vikalo'tīva tadāhaṁ tadvimohitaḥ

There arose a great cry of lamentation and dismay everywhere; and I too, caught in that very delusion, became exceedingly helpless.

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.39.48)

अथ विष्णुर्महेशातिप्रियः कार्यविचक्षणः । तमेवंवादिनं रुद्रं तुष्टाव प्रणतः सुधीः

atha viṣṇurmaheśātipriyaḥ kāryavicakṣaṇaḥ | tamevaṁvādinaṁ rudraṁ tuṣṭāva praṇataḥ sudhīḥ

Then Vishnu, most dear to Mahesha, skilled in such matters, wise, bowing down, began to appease that Rudra who had spoken thus.

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.39.49)

स्तुत्वा च विविधैः स्तोत्रैः शङ्करं भक्तवत्सलम् । इदमूचे वारयंस्तं क्षिप्रं भूत्वा पुरः सरः

stutvā ca vividhaiḥ stotraiḥ śaṅkaraṁ bhaktavatsalam | idamūce vārayaṁstaṁ kṣipraṁ bhūtvā puraḥ saraḥ

Having praised Shankara, ever fond of his devotees, with various hymns, and quickly placing himself in front, Vishnu, trying to restrain him, spoke thus.

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.39.50)

विष्णुरुवाच । विधिं न जहि भूतेश स्रष्टारं जगतां प्रभुम् । अयं शरणगस्तेऽद्य शरणागतवत्सलः

viṣṇuruvāca | vidhiṁ na jahi bhūteśa sraṣṭāraṁ jagatāṁ prabhum | ayaṁ śaraṇagaste'dya śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ

Vishnu said: O Lord of beings, do not slay the Creator, the maker of the worlds; this one has today taken refuge with you, who are ever fond of those who seek refuge.

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.39.51)

अहं तेऽतिप्रियो भक्तो भक्तराज इतीरितः । विज्ञप्तिं हृदि मे मत्वा कृपां कुरु ममोपरि

ahaṁ te'tipriyo bhakto bhaktarāja itīritaḥ | vijñaptiṁ hṛdi me matvā kṛpāṁ kuru mamopari

I am your most beloved devotee, called the king of devotees; considering this plea of my heart, show grace upon me.

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.39.52)

अन्यच्च शृणु मे नाथ वचनं हेतुगर्भितम् । तन्मनुष्व महेशान कृपां कृत्वा ममोपरि

anyacca śṛṇu me nātha vacanaṁ hetugarbhitam | tanmanuṣva maheśāna kṛpāṁ kṛtvā mamopari

Hear also this other word of mine, O Lord, laden with reason; O Maheshana, heed it, showing grace upon me.

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.39.53)

प्रजाः स्रष्टुमयं शम्भो प्रादुर्भूतश्चतुर्मुखः । अस्मिन् हते प्रजास्रष्टा नास्त्यन्यः प्राकृतोऽधुना

prajāḥ sraṣṭumayaṁ śambho prādurbhūtaścaturmukhaḥ | asmin hate prajāsraṣṭā nāstyanyaḥ prākṛto'dhunā

O Shambhu, this four-faced one has come forth in order to create progeny; if he is slain, there is now no other ordinary being to be the creator of progeny.

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.39.54)

सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकर्माणि करिष्यामः पुनः पुनः । त्रयो देवा वयं नाथ शिवरूप त्वदाज्ञया

sṛṣṭisthityantakarmāṇi kariṣyāmaḥ punaḥ punaḥ | trayo devā vayaṁ nātha śivarūpa tvadājñayā

O Lord, we three gods, in your own form as Shiva, at your very command, perform the acts of creation, preservation, and dissolution again and again.

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.39.55)

एतस्मिन्निहते शम्भो कस्त्वत्कर्म करिष्यति । तस्मान्न वध्यो भवता सृष्टिकृल्लयकृद्विभो

etasminnihate śambho kastvatkarma kariṣyati | tasmānna vadhyo bhavatā sṛṣṭikṛllayakṛdvibho

O Shambhu, if this one is slain, who will then perform your task? Therefore, O Lord who creates and dissolves the universe, he should not be slain by you.

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.39.56)

अनेनैव सती कन्या दक्षस्य च शिवा विभो । सदुपायेन वै भार्या भवदर्थे प्रकल्पिता

anenaiva satī kanyā dakṣasya ca śivā vibho | sadupāyena vai bhāryā bhavadarthe prakalpitā

O Lord, it was by this very one that Sati, the daughter of Daksha, who is Shiva herself, was, through a proper means, arranged to become your wife.

Verse 57 (shiva.rudra.39.57)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य महेशस्तु विज्ञप्तिं विष्णुना कृताम् । प्रत्युवाचाखिलांस्तांश्च श्रावयंश्च दृढव्रतः

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya maheśastu vijñaptiṁ viṣṇunā kṛtām | pratyuvācākhilāṁstāṁśca śrāvayaṁśca dṛḍhavrataḥ

Brahma said: Having heard this plea made by Vishnu, Mahesha, firm in his vow, replied to all of them, making it heard by everyone.

Verse 58 (shiva.rudra.39.58)

महेश उवाच । देवदेव रमेशान विष्णो मत्प्राणवल्लभ । न निवारय मां तात वधादस्य खलस्त्वयम्

maheśa uvāca | devadeva rameśāna viṣṇo matprāṇavallabha | na nivāraya māṁ tāta vadhādasya khalastvayam

Mahesha said: O God of gods, Lord of Ramaa, Vishnu, dearer to me than my own life, dear one! Do not restrain me from slaying this one — he is wicked.

Verse 59 (shiva.rudra.39.59)

पूरयिष्यामि विज्ञप्तिं पूर्वान्तेऽङ्गीकृतां मया । महापापकरं दुष्टं हन्म्येनं चतुराननम्

pūrayiṣyāmi vijñaptiṁ pūrvānte'ṅgīkṛtāṁ mayā | mahāpāpakaraṁ duṣṭaṁ hanmyenaṁ caturānanam

I shall fulfil the plea I accepted at the very outset; I shall slay this great sinner, this wicked four-faced one.

Verse 60 (shiva.rudra.39.60)

अहमेव प्रजाः स्रक्ष्ये सर्वाः स्थिरचरा अपि । अन्यं स्रक्ष्ये सृष्टिकरमथवाहं स्वतेजसा

ahameva prajāḥ srakṣye sarvāḥ sthiracarā api | anyaṁ srakṣye sṛṣṭikaramathavāhaṁ svatejasā

I myself shall create all beings, both moving and unmoving; or else, by my own splendor, I shall create another creator.

Verse 61 (shiva.rudra.39.61)

हत्वैनं विधिमेवाहं स्वपणं पूरयन् कृतम् । स्रष्टारमेकं स्रक्ष्यामि न निवारय मेश माम्

hatvainaṁ vidhimevāhaṁ svapaṇaṁ pūrayan kṛtam | sraṣṭāramekaṁ srakṣyāmi na nivāraya meśa mām

Having slain this one, fulfilling the pledge I made, I shall create a single [new] creator; do not restrain me, O Lord.

Verse 62 (shiva.rudra.39.62)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा गिरीशस्याह चाच्युतः । स्मितप्रभिन्नहृदयः पुनर्मैवमितीरयन्

brahmovāca | iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā girīśasyāha cācyutaḥ | smitaprabhinnahṛdayaḥ punarmaivamitīrayan

Brahma said: Having heard these words of Girisha, Achyuta, his heart softened by a smile, again said, 'Not so.'

Verse 63 (shiva.rudra.39.63)

अच्युत उवाच । प्रतिज्ञापूरणं योग्यं परस्मिन्पुरुषेऽस्ति वै । विचारयस्व वध्येश भवत्यात्मनि न प्रभो

acyuta uvāca | pratijñāpūraṇaṁ yogyaṁ parasminpuruṣe'sti vai | vicārayasva vadhyeśa bhavatyātmani na prabho

Achyuta said: The fulfilment of a vow made regarding another person is indeed fitting; consider, O Lord over the one to be slain, that it does not apply in the case of one's own self, O Lord.

Verse 64 (shiva.rudra.39.64)

त्रयो देवा वयं शम्भो त्वदात्मानः परा नहि । एकरूपा न भिन्नाश्च तत्त्वतः सुविचारय

trayo devā vayaṁ śambho tvadātmānaḥ parā nahi | ekarūpā na bhinnāśca tattvataḥ suvicāraya

O Shambhu, we three gods are your very selves, not separate from you; we are of one form, not distinct — consider this well in true essence.

Verse 65 (shiva.rudra.39.65)

ततस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विष्णोः स्वातिप्रियस्य सः । शम्भुरूचे पुनस्तं वै ख्यापयन्नात्मनो गतिम्

tatastadvacanaṁ śrutvā viṣṇoḥ svātipriyasya saḥ | śambhurūce punastaṁ vai khyāpayannātmano gatim

Then, having heard that word of Vishnu, most dear to him, Shambhu spoke to him once more, revealing his own true nature.

Verse 66 (shiva.rudra.39.66)

शम्भुरुवाच । हे विष्णो सर्वभक्तेश कथमात्मा विधिर्मम । लक्ष्यते भिन्न एवायं प्रत्यक्षेणाग्रतः स्थितः

śambhuruvāca | he viṣṇo sarvabhakteśa kathamātmā vidhirmama | lakṣyate bhinna evāyaṁ pratyakṣeṇāgrataḥ sthitaḥ

Shambhu said: O Vishnu, Lord of all devotees, how is it that this Brahma, said to be my very self, is seen standing here, directly before me, as clearly distinct?

Verse 67 (shiva.rudra.39.67)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याज्ञप्तो महेशेन सर्वेषां पुरतस्तदा । इदमूचे महादेवं तोषयन् गरुडध्वजः

brahmovāca | ityājñapto maheśena sarveṣāṁ puratastadā | idamūce mahādevaṁ toṣayan garuḍadhvajaḥ

Brahma said: Thus commanded by Mahesha, before everyone, Garudadhvaja spoke this, pleasing the Great God.

Verse 68 (shiva.rudra.39.68)

विष्णुरुवाच । न ब्रह्मा भवतो भिन्नो न त्वं तस्मात्सदाशिव । न वाहं भवतो भिन्नो न मत् त्वं परमेश्वर

viṣṇuruvāca | na brahmā bhavato bhinno na tvaṁ tasmātsadāśiva | na vāhaṁ bhavato bhinno na mat tvaṁ parameśvara

Vishnu said: O Sadashiva, Brahma is not different from you, nor are you different from him; O Supreme Lord, I too am not different from you, nor are you different from me.

Verse 69 (shiva.rudra.39.69)

सर्वं जानासि सर्वज्ञ परमेश सदाशिव । मन्मुखादखिलान्सर्वं संश्रावयितुमिच्छसि

sarvaṁ jānāsi sarvajña parameśa sadāśiva | manmukhādakhilānsarvaṁ saṁśrāvayitumicchasi

O all-knowing, Supreme, Sadashiva, you know everything; you wish, through my own mouth, to have this all proclaimed to everyone.

Verse 70 (shiva.rudra.39.70)

त्वदाज्ञया वदामीश शृण्वन्तु निखिलाः सुराः । मुनयश्चापरे शैवं तत्त्वं सन्धार्य स्वं मनः

tvadājñayā vadāmīśa śṛṇvantu nikhilāḥ surāḥ | munayaścāpare śaivaṁ tattvaṁ sandhārya svaṁ manaḥ

O Lord, at your command I shall speak — let all the gods and the other sages hear, holding fast in their minds this Shaiva truth.

Verse 71 (shiva.rudra.39.71)

प्रधानस्याप्रधानस्य भागाभागस्य रूपिणः । ज्योतिर्मयस्य भागास्ते वयं देवाः प्रभोस्त्रयः

pradhānasyāpradhānasya bhāgābhāgasya rūpiṇaḥ | jyotirmayasya bhāgāste vayaṁ devāḥ prabhostrayaḥ

O Lord, we three gods are portions of you, who are both the Principal and the non-Principal, both part and yet not a part, of the light-formed nature.

Verse 72 (shiva.rudra.39.72)

कस्त्वं कोऽहं च को ब्रह्मा तवैव परमात्मनः । अंशत्रयमिदं भिन्नं सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारणम्

kastvaṁ ko'haṁ ca ko brahmā tavaiva paramātmanaḥ | aṁśatrayamidaṁ bhinnaṁ sṛṣṭisthityantakāraṇam

Who are you, who am I, and who is Brahma — all belonging to that same Supreme Self of yours; this apparently distinct threefold portion is the cause of creation, preservation, and dissolution.

Verse 73 (shiva.rudra.39.73)

चिन्तयस्वात्मनात्मानं स्वलीलाधृतविग्रहः । एकस्त्वं ब्रह्म सगुणो ह्यंशभूता वयं त्रयः

cintayasvātmanātmānaṁ svalīlādhṛtavigrahaḥ | ekastvaṁ brahma saguṇo hyaṁśabhūtā vayaṁ trayaḥ

O you who bear a body only through your own play, contemplate your own Self by your own Self; you are the one Brahman possessed of qualities, and we three are but portions of you.

Verse 74 (shiva.rudra.39.74)

शिरोग्रीवादिभेदेन यथैकस्यैव वर्ष्मणः । अङ्गानि ते तथेशस्य तस्य भागत्रयं हर

śirogrīvādibhedena yathaikasyaiva varṣmaṇaḥ | aṅgāni te tatheśasya tasya bhāgatrayaṁ hara

O Hara, as, by the distinction of head, neck, and so forth, we speak of the limbs of one and the same body, so too are these three portions the limbs of that one Ishvara.

Verse 75 (shiva.rudra.39.75)

यज्ज्योतिरभ्रं स्वपुरं पुराणं कूटस्थमव्यक्तमनन्तरूपम् । नित्यं च दीर्घादिविशेषणाद्यै- र्हीनं शिवस्त्वं तत एव सर्वम्

yajjyotirabhraṁ svapuraṁ purāṇaṁ kūṭasthamavyaktamanantarūpam | nityaṁ ca dīrghādiviśeṣaṇādyai- rhīnaṁ śivastvaṁ tata eva sarvam

That light which is boundless, one's own eternal abode, unchanging, unmanifest, of infinite form, eternal, and free from any qualification such as 'long' — that, O Shiva, are you; and from that alone comes all this.

Verse 76 (shiva.rudra.39.76)

ब्रह्मोवाच । एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य महादेवो मुनीश्वर ॥ बभूव सुप्रसन्नश्च न जघान स मां ततः

brahmovāca | etacchrutvā vacastasya mahādevo munīśvara || babhūva suprasannaśca na jaghāna sa māṁ tataḥ

Brahma said: O lord of sages, having heard these words of his, Mahadeva became exceedingly pleased, and after that he did not slay me.