The Sporting of Shiva and Sati

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.41.1)

नारद उवाच । समीचीनं वचस्तात सर्वज्ञस्य तवानघ । महाद्भुतं श्रुतं नो वै चरितं शिवयोः शुभम्

nārada uvāca | samīcīnaṁ vacastāta sarvajñasya tavānagha | mahādbhutaṁ śrutaṁ no vai caritaṁ śivayoḥ śubham

Narada said: "Fitting are your words, O father, all-knowing and sinless one. We have indeed heard this greatly wondrous, auspicious tale of Shiva and Shivā."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.41.2)

विवाहश्च श्रुतः सम्यक् सर्वमोहापहारकः । परमज्ञानसम्पन्नो मङ्गलालय उत्तमः

vivāhaśca śrutaḥ samyak sarvamohāpahārakaḥ | paramajñānasampanno maṅgalālaya uttamaḥ

We have well heard too of their marriage, which dispels all delusion, is filled with supreme knowledge, and is the finest abode of auspiciousness.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.41.3)

भूय एव विवित्सा मे चरितं शिवयोः शुभम् । तद्वर्णय महाप्राज्ञ कृपां कृत्वातुलामरम्

bhūya eva vivitsā me caritaṁ śivayoḥ śubham | tadvarṇaya mahāprājña kṛpāṁ kṛtvātulāmaram

Yet I still wish to hear more of that auspicious tale of Shiva and Shivā. O greatly wise one, show me your matchless grace and narrate it further.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.41.4)

ब्रह्मोवाच । सम्यक्कारुणिकस्यैव मुने ते विचिकित्सितम् । यदहं नोदितः सौम्य शिवलीलानुवर्णने

brahmovāca | samyakkāruṇikasyaiva mune te vicikitsitam | yadahaṁ noditaḥ saumya śivalīlānuvarṇane

Brahma said: "O sage, this longing of yours belongs indeed to one who is truly compassionate, in that you, gentle one, have urged me to narrate further the divine play of Shiva."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.41.5)

विवाह्य दक्षजां देवीं सतीं त्रैलोक्यमातरम् । गत्वा स्वधाम सुप्रीत्या यदकार्षीन्निबोध मे

vivāhya dakṣajāṁ devīṁ satīṁ trailokyamātaram | gatvā svadhāma suprītyā yadakārṣīnnibodha me

Having married the goddess Sati, Daksha's daughter, mother of the three worlds, and having gone with great delight to his own abode — hear from me what Shiva then did.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.41.6)

ततो हरः स सगणः स्वस्थानं प्राप्य मोदनम् । देवर्षे तत्र वृषभादवातरदतिप्रियात्

tato haraḥ sa sagaṇaḥ svasthānaṁ prāpya modanam | devarṣe tatra vṛṣabhādavātaradatipriyāt

Then, O divine sage, Hara, joyful together with his hosts, having reached his own delightful abode, dismounted there from his dearly loved bull.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.41.7)

यथायोग्यं निजस्थानं प्रविश्य स सतीसखः । मुमुदेऽतीव देवर्षे भवाचारकरः शिवः

yathāyogyaṁ nijasthānaṁ praviśya sa satīsakhaḥ | mumude'tīva devarṣe bhavācārakaraḥ śivaḥ

O divine sage, Shiva, Sati's beloved companion, having duly entered his own abode and observing the ways of the world, rejoiced exceedingly.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.41.8)

ततो विरूपाक्ष इमां प्राप्य दाक्षायणीं गणान् । स्वीयान्निर्यापयामास नन्द्यादीन् गिरिकन्दरात्

tato virūpākṣa imāṁ prāpya dākṣāyaṇīṁ gaṇān | svīyānniryāpayāmāsa nandyādīn girikandarāt

Thereafter Virupaksha, having obtained Daksha's daughter, sent forth his own attendants — Nandi and the rest — out from the mountain cave.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.41.9)

उवाच चैतांस्तान् सर्वान्नन्द्यादीनतिसूनृतम् । लौकिकीं रीतिमाश्रित्य करुणासागरः प्रभुः

uvāca caitāṁstān sarvānnandyādīnatisūnṛtam | laukikīṁ rītimāśritya karuṇāsāgaraḥ prabhuḥ

The Lord, an ocean of compassion, following worldly custom, spoke most kindly to all of them — Nandi and the others.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.41.10)

महेश उवाच । यदाहं च स्मराम्यत्र स्मरणादरमानसाः । समागमिष्यथ तदा मत्पार्श्वं मे गणा द्रुतम्

maheśa uvāca | yadāhaṁ ca smarāmyatra smaraṇādaramānasāḥ | samāgamiṣyatha tadā matpārśvaṁ me gaṇā drutam

Maheshvara said: "O my attendants, whenever I remember you here, honoring that remembrance, come swiftly at once to my side."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.41.11)

इत्युक्ते वामदेवेन नन्द्याद्याः स्वगणाश्च ते । महावेगा महावीरा नानास्थानेषु संययुः

ityukte vāmadevena nandyādyāḥ svagaṇāśca te | mahāvegā mahāvīrā nānāsthāneṣu saṁyayuḥ

When Vamadeva had spoken thus, Nandi and the rest of his attendants, of great speed and great valor, went their way to various places.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.41.12)

ईश्वरोऽपि तया सार्धं तेषु यातेषु विभ्रमी । दाक्षायण्या समं रेमे रहस्ये मुदितो भृशम्

īśvaro'pi tayā sārdhaṁ teṣu yāteṣu vibhramī | dākṣāyaṇyā samaṁ reme rahasye mudito bhṛśam

When they had departed, the playful Lord, greatly delighted, sported in seclusion together with Daksha's daughter.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.41.13)

कदाचिद्वन्यपुष्पाणि समाहृत्य मनोहराम् । मालां विधाय सत्यास्तु हारस्थाने स योजयत्

kadācidvanyapuṣpāṇi samāhṛtya manoharām | mālāṁ vidhāya satyāstu hārasthāne sa yojayat

Sometimes, gathering wildflowers and fashioning a beautiful garland, he would place it upon Sati in place of a necklace.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.41.14)

कदाचिद्दर्पणे चैव वीक्षन्तीमात्मनः सतीम् । अनुगम्य हरो वक्त्रं स्वीयमप्यवलोकयत्

kadāciddarpaṇe caiva vīkṣantīmātmanaḥ satīm | anugamya haro vaktraṁ svīyamapyavalokayat

Sometimes, when Sati gazed at her own face in a mirror, Hara would come up behind her and look at his own face too.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.41.15)

कदाचित्कुण्डलं तस्या उल्लास्योल्लास्य सङ्गतः । बध्नाति मोचयत्येव सा स्वयं मार्जयत्यपि

kadācitkuṇḍalaṁ tasyā ullāsyollāsya saṅgataḥ | badhnāti mocayatyeva sā svayaṁ mārjayatyapi

Sometimes, sitting close to her, he would lift her earring again and again, tying and untying it, while she herself would wipe it clean.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.41.16)

सरागौ चरणावस्याः यावकेनोज्ज्वलेन च । निसर्गरक्तौ कुरुते पूर्णरागौ वृषध्वजः

sarāgau caraṇāvasyāḥ yāvakenojjvalena ca | nisargaraktau kurute pūrṇarāgau vṛṣadhvajaḥ

Vrishadhvaja would color her feet, naturally red, with brilliant red lac-dye, making them fully radiant with color.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.41.17)

उच्चैरपि यदाख्येयमन्येषां पुरतो बहु । तत् कर्णे कथयत्यस्या हरो द्रष्टुं तदाननम्

uccairapi yadākhyeyamanyeṣāṁ purato bahu | tat karṇe kathayatyasyā haro draṣṭuṁ tadānanam

Even what could well have been spoken aloud before others, Hara would whisper into her ear instead, only to gaze upon her face as he spoke.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.41.18)

न दूरमपि गन्तासौ समागत्य प्रयत्नतः । अनुबध्नाति नामाक्षी पृष्ठदेशेऽन्यमानसाम्

na dūramapi gantāsau samāgatya prayatnataḥ | anubadhnāti nāmākṣī pṛṣṭhadeśe'nyamānasām

Even when she went but a short way, he would steal up carefully and follow close behind the fair-eyed one when her thoughts were elsewhere.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.41.19)

अन्तर्हितस्तु तत्रैव मायया वृषभध्वजः । तामालिलिङ्ग भीत्या स्वं चकिता व्याकुलाभवत्

antarhitastu tatraiva māyayā vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ | tāmāliliṅga bhītyā svaṁ cakitā vyākulābhavat

Vrishadhvaja, becoming invisible there through his power of illusion, would suddenly embrace her, and she, startled, would grow flustered with fright.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.41.20)

सौवर्णपद्मकलिकातुल्ये तस्याः कुचद्वये । चकार भ्रमराकारं मृगनाभिविशेषकम्

sauvarṇapadmakalikātulye tasyāḥ kucadvaye | cakāra bhramarākāraṁ mṛganābhiviśeṣakam

On her two breasts, like golden lotus buds, he would trace a special musk-mark shaped like a hovering bee.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.41.21)

हारमस्याः कुचयुगाद्वियोज्य सहसा हरः । न्ययोजयच्च तत्रैव स्वकरस्पर्शनं मुहुः

hāramasyāḥ kucayugādviyojya sahasā haraḥ | nyayojayacca tatraiva svakarasparśanaṁ muhuḥ

Hara would suddenly loosen the necklace from between her two breasts, and there again and again let his hand linger in its place.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.41.22)

अङ्गदान्वलयानूर्मान्विश्लेष्य च पुनः पुनः । तत्स्थानात्पुनरेवासौ तत्स्थाने प्रत्ययोजयत्

aṅgadānvalayānūrmānviśleṣya ca punaḥ punaḥ | tatsthānātpunarevāsau tatsthāne pratyayojayat

He would again and again loosen her armlets and bracelets from their place, and then put them back again in that very spot.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.41.23)

कालिकेति समायाति सवर्णा ते सखी त्विमाम् । यास्यत्वस्यास्तथेक्षन्त्याः प्रोत्तुङ्गौ साहसं कुचौ

kāliketi samāyāti savarṇā te sakhī tvimām | yāsyatvasyāstathekṣantyāḥ prottuṅgau sāhasaṁ kucau

"Look, your dark-hued friend Kalika is coming," he would say — and while she turned to look that way, he would boldly touch her high, full breasts.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.41.24)

कदाचिन्मदनोन्मादचेतनः प्रमथाधिपः । चकार नर्म शर्माणि तथाकृत्प्रियया मुदा

kadācinmadanonmādacetanaḥ pramathādhipaḥ | cakāra narma śarmāṇi tathākṛtpriyayā mudā

Sometimes the lord of the Pramathas, his mind stirred with the intoxication of love, would engage in playful jests with his beloved, filled with joy.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.41.25)

आहृत्य पद्मपुष्पाणि रम्यपुष्पाणि शङ्करः । सर्वाङ्गेषु करोति स्म पुष्पाभरणमादरात्

āhṛtya padmapuṣpāṇi ramyapuṣpāṇi śaṅkaraḥ | sarvāṅgeṣu karoti sma puṣpābharaṇamādarāt

Shankara, gathering lotus blossoms and other lovely flowers, would lovingly adorn her entire body with ornaments of flowers.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.41.26)

गिरिकुञ्जेषु रम्येषु सत्या सह महेश्वरः । विजहार समस्तेषु प्रियया भक्तवत्सलः

girikuñjeṣu ramyeṣu satyā saha maheśvaraḥ | vijahāra samasteṣu priyayā bhaktavatsalaḥ

Maheshvara, ever affectionate to his devotees, sported with his beloved Sati in all the lovely mountain groves.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.41.27)

तया विना स्म नो याति नास्थितो न स्म चेष्टते । तया विना क्षणमपि शर्म लेभे न शङ्करः

tayā vinā sma no yāti nāsthito na sma ceṣṭate | tayā vinā kṣaṇamapi śarma lebhe na śaṅkaraḥ

He would go nowhere without her, would not remain without her, would do nothing without her; not even for a moment did Shankara find happiness apart from her.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.41.28)

विहृत्य सुचिरं कालं कैलासगिरिकुञ्जरे । अगमद्धिमवत्प्रस्थं सस्मार स्वेच्छया स्मरम्

vihṛtya suciraṁ kālaṁ kailāsagirikuñjare | agamaddhimavatprasthaṁ sasmāra svecchayā smaram

After sporting for a long while in the groves of Mount Kailasa, he went to the region of the Himalaya, and of his own accord called Kama, the god of love, to mind.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.41.29)

तस्मिन्प्रविष्टे कामे तु वसन्तः शङ्करान्तिके । वितस्तार निजं भावं हार्दं विज्ञाय यत्प्रभोः

tasminpraviṣṭe kāme tu vasantaḥ śaṅkarāntike | vitastāra nijaṁ bhāvaṁ hārdaṁ vijñāya yatprabhoḥ

As soon as Kama had entered there, Vasanta, understanding the Lord's inmost wish, spread forth his own influence in Shankara's presence.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.41.30)

सर्वे च पुष्पिता वृक्षा लताश्चान्याश्च पुष्पिताः । अम्भांसि फुल्लपद्मानि पद्माः सभ्रमरास्तथा

sarve ca puṣpitā vṛkṣā latāścānyāśca puṣpitāḥ | ambhāṁsi phullapadmāni padmāḥ sabhramarāstathā

All the trees blossomed, and other creepers too flowered; the waters filled with blooming lotuses, and bees hovered about the lotuses.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.41.31)

प्रविष्टे सदृतौ तत्र ववौ स मलयो मरुत् । सुगन्धिगन्धपुष्पेण मोदकश्च सुगन्धियुक्

praviṣṭe sadṛtau tatra vavau sa malayo marut | sugandhigandhapuṣpeṇa modakaśca sugandhiyuk

As the season entered there, the Malaya breeze began to blow, sweet with the fragrance of flowers and delightful in its scent.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.41.32)

सन्ध्यार्धचन्द्रसङ्काशाः पलाशाश्च विरेजिरे । कामास्त्रवत्सुमनसः प्रमोदात्पादपाधरः

sandhyārdhacandrasaṅkāśāḥ palāśāśca virejire | kāmāstravatsumanasaḥ pramodātpādapādharaḥ

The palasha blossoms shone like the crescent moon at twilight, and the joyous trees seemed to bear their flowers like so many arrows of the god of love.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.41.33)

बभुः पङ्कजपुष्पाणि सरस्सु सकलाञ्जनान् । सम्मोहयितुमुद्युक्ता सुमुखी वायुदेवता

babhuḥ paṅkajapuṣpāṇi sarassu sakalāñjanān | sammohayitumudyuktā sumukhī vāyudevatā

Lotus flowers shone forth in the lakes, as though the fair-faced wind-goddess had set herself to enchant every dark-hued bee.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.41.34)

नागकेशरवृक्षाश्च स्वर्णवर्णैः प्रसूनकैः । बभुर्मदनकेत्वाभा मनोज्ञाः शङ्करान्तिके

nāgakeśaravṛkṣāśca svarṇavarṇaiḥ prasūnakaiḥ | babhurmadanaketvābhā manojñāḥ śaṅkarāntike

The nagakeshara trees, with their golden blossoms, shone lovely near Shankara like the very banner of the god of love.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.41.35)

लवङ्गवल्ली सुरभिगन्धेनोद्वास्य मारुतम् । मोहयामास चेतांसि भृशं कामिजने पुरा

lavaṅgavallī surabhigandhenodvāsya mārutam | mohayāmāsa cetāṁsi bhṛśaṁ kāmijane purā

The clove-creeper, perfuming the very wind with its fragrance, deeply bewitched the hearts of lovers as it had done of old.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.41.36)

चारुचर्चितभृङ्गौघाः सुस्वराश्चूतशालिनः । बभुर्मदनबाणौघपर्यङ्कमदनावृताः

cārucarcitabhṛṅgaughāḥ susvarāścūtaśālinaḥ | babhurmadanabāṇaughaparyaṅkamadanāvṛtāḥ

The mango trees, humming sweetly with lovely swarms of bees, shone forth as though they were couches strewn with the very arrows of the god of love.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.41.37)

अम्भांसि मलहीनानि रेजुः फुल्लकुशाशयाः । मुनीनामिव चेतांसि प्रव्यक्तज्योतिरुद्गमम्

ambhāṁsi malahīnāni rejuḥ phullakuśāśayāḥ | munīnāmiva cetāṁsi pravyaktajyotirudgamam

The waters, free of any impurity, and the ponds thick with blossoming kusha grass, shone as though they were the hearts of sages in whom the light of wisdom had plainly dawned.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.41.38)

तुषाराः सूर्यरश्मीनां सङ्गमादगमन् बहिः । प्रमत्वानीक्ष्यतेक्षाश्च सलिलीहृदयास्तदा

tuṣārāḥ sūryaraśmīnāṁ saṅgamādagaman bahiḥ | pramatvānīkṣyatekṣāśca salilīhṛdayāstadā

Touched by the rays of the sun, the dewdrops dispersed away, and then, as though intoxicated with joy, the very hearts of the waters seemed to gaze upon them.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.41.39)

प्रसन्नाः सह चन्द्रेण निर्नीशारास्तदाऽभवन् । विभावर्यः प्रियेणैवं कामिन्यः सुमनोहराः

prasannāḥ saha candreṇa nirnīśārāstadā'bhavan | vibhāvaryaḥ priyeṇaivaṁ kāminyaḥ sumanoharāḥ

At that time the nights, bright with the moon, became free of mist, lovely as delighted women in the company of their beloved.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.41.40)

तस्मिन्काले महादेवः सह सत्या धरोत्तमे । रेमे स सुचिरं छन्दं निकुञ्जेषु नदीषु च

tasminkāle mahādevaḥ saha satyā dharottame | reme sa suciraṁ chandaṁ nikuñjeṣu nadīṣu ca

At that time, in that finest region of the earth, Mahadeva sported for a long while, freely and at will, with Sati in the groves and along the rivers.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.41.41)

तथा तेन समं रेजे तदा दाक्षायणी मुने । यथा हरः क्षणमपि शान्तिमाप तया विना

tathā tena samaṁ reje tadā dākṣāyaṇī mune | yathā haraḥ kṣaṇamapi śāntimāpa tayā vinā

O sage, at that time Daksha's daughter shone together with him in such a way that Hara found no peace, even for a moment, apart from her.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.41.42)

सम्भोगविषये देवी सती तस्य मनःप्रिया । विशतीव हरस्याङ्गे पाययन्निव तद्रसम्

sambhogaviṣaye devī satī tasya manaḥpriyā | viśatīva harasyāṅge pāyayanniva tadrasam

In their intimate union, the goddess Sati, dear to his heart, seemed to enter into Hara's very being, as though pouring that very rapture into him.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.41.43)

तस्याः कुसुममालाभिर्भूषयन्सकलां तनुम् । स्वहस्तरचिताभिस्तु नवशर्माकरोच्च सः

tasyāḥ kusumamālābhirbhūṣayansakalāṁ tanum | svahastaracitābhistu navaśarmākarocca saḥ

Adorning her entire body with garlands of flowers strung by his own hands, he gave her fresh delight again and again.

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.41.44)

आलापैर्वीक्षितैर्हास्यैस्तथा सम्भाषणैर्हरः । तस्यादिदेश गिरिजां शंसतीवात्मसंविदम्

ālāpairvīkṣitairhāsyaistathā sambhāṣaṇairharaḥ | tasyādideśa girijāṁ śaṁsatīvātmasaṁvidam

Through his words, his glances, his laughter, and his conversation, Hara seemed to declare to Girija his very own inmost feeling.

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.41.45)

तद्वक्त्रचन्द्रपीयूषपानस्थिरतनुर्हरः । नानावैशेषिकीं तन्वीमवस्थां स कदाचन

tadvaktracandrapīyūṣapānasthiratanurharaḥ | nānāvaiśeṣikīṁ tanvīmavasthāṁ sa kadācana

Hara, his body held still as he drank the nectar of her moon-like face, would at times fall into one or another special, tender state of feeling toward that slender-limbed goddess.

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.41.46)

तद्वक्त्राम्बुजवासेन तत्सौन्दर्य्यैश्च नर्मभिः । गुणैरिव महादन्ती बद्धो नान्यविचेष्टितः

tadvaktrāmbujavāsena tatsaundaryyaiśca narmabhiḥ | guṇairiva mahādantī baddho nānyaviceṣṭitaḥ

Bound as if by cords to the fragrance of her lotus face, to her beauty, and to her playful words, that great elephant among gods engaged in no other activity.

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.41.47)

इति हिमगिरिकुञ्जप्रस्थभागे दरीषु प्रतिदिनमभिरेमे दक्षपुत्र्या महेशः । क्रतुभुजपरिमाणैः क्रीडतस्तस्य जाता दश दश च सुरर्षे वत्सराः पञ्च चान्ये

iti himagirikuñjaprasthabhāge darīṣu pratidinamabhireme dakṣaputryā maheśaḥ | kratubhujaparimāṇaiḥ krīḍatastasya jātā daśa daśa ca surarṣe vatsarāḥ pañca cānye

Thus did Mahesha sport daily with Daksha's daughter in the caves upon the slopes and groves of the Himalaya. O divine sage, as he played on in this way, twenty-five years passed by, reckoned in the measure of the gods.