The Glory of Devotion

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.43.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । एवं कृत्वा विहारं वै शङ्करेण च सा सती । सन्तुष्टा साभवच्चाति विरागा समजायत

brahmovāca | evaṁ kṛtvā vihāraṁ vai śaṅkareṇa ca sā satī | santuṣṭā sābhavaccāti virāgā samajāyata

Brahma said: Having thus sported with Shankara, Sati became greatly content, and at the same time a deep detachment arose within her.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.43.2)

एकस्मिन्दिवसे देवी सती रहसि सङ्गता । शिवं प्रणम्य सद्भक्त्या न्यस्योच्चैः सुकृताञ्जलिः

ekasmindivase devī satī rahasi saṅgatā | śivaṁ praṇamya sadbhaktyā nyasyoccaiḥ sukṛtāñjaliḥ

One day, seated alone with Shiva, the goddess Sati bowed to him with true devotion, raised her folded hands high, and spoke.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.43.3)

सुप्रसन्नं प्रभुं नत्वा सा दक्षतनया सती । उवाच साञ्जलिर्भक्त्या विनयावनता ततः

suprasannaṁ prabhuṁ natvā sā dakṣatanayā satī | uvāca sāñjalirbhaktyā vinayāvanatā tataḥ

Daksha's daughter, having bowed to the gladdened Lord, then spoke with folded hands, humble and devoted.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.43.4)

सत्युवाच । देवदेव महादेव करुणासागर प्रभो । दीनोद्धर महायोगिन् कृपां कुरु ममोपरि

satyuvāca | devadeva mahādeva karuṇāsāgara prabho | dīnoddhara mahāyogin kṛpāṁ kuru mamopari

Sati said: "O God of gods, Mahadeva, ocean of compassion, O Lord, deliverer of the humble, great yogin — show your grace upon me."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.43.5)

त्वं परः पुरुषः स्वामी रजःसत्त्वतमः परः । निर्गुणः सगुणः साक्षी निर्विकारी महाप्रभुः

tvaṁ paraḥ puruṣaḥ svāmī rajaḥsattvatamaḥ paraḥ | nirguṇaḥ saguṇaḥ sākṣī nirvikārī mahāprabhuḥ

"You are the Supreme Person, the Master, beyond the three qualities of rajas, sattva, and tamas; you are both without attributes and with attributes, the witness, the changeless, the great Lord."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.43.6)

धन्याहं ते प्रिया जाता कामिनी सुविहारिणी । जातस्त्वं मे पतिः स्वामिन् भक्तवात्सल्यतो हर

dhanyāhaṁ te priyā jātā kāminī suvihāriṇī | jātastvaṁ me patiḥ svāmin bhaktavātsalyato hara

"Blessed am I to have become your beloved, your loving companion in play; O Lord, O Hara, out of your affection for your devotees you have become my husband."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.43.7)

कृतो बहुसमा नाथ विहारः परमस्त्वया । सन्तुष्टाहं महेशान निवृत्तं मे मनस्ततः

kṛto bahusamā nātha vihāraḥ paramastvayā | santuṣṭāhaṁ maheśāna nivṛttaṁ me manastataḥ

"O Lord, you have sported with me most fully across many years; O Mahesha, I am now content, and my mind has now turned away from that delight."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.43.8)

ज्ञातुमिच्छामि देवेश परं तत्त्वं सुखावहम् । येन संसारदुःखाद्वै तरेज्जीवोऽञ्जसा हर

jñātumicchāmi deveśa paraṁ tattvaṁ sukhāvaham | yena saṁsāraduḥkhādvai tarejjīvo'ñjasā hara

"O God of gods, I now wish to know that supreme, bliss-bearing truth, O Hara, by which a soul may readily cross beyond the suffering of worldly existence."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.43.9)

यत्कृत्वा विषयी जीवः स लभेत्परमं पदम् । संसारी न भवेन्नाथ तत्त्वं वद कृपां कुरु

yatkṛtvā viṣayī jīvaḥ sa labhetparamaṁ padam | saṁsārī na bhavennātha tattvaṁ vada kṛpāṁ kuru

"That by doing which even a soul attached to worldly objects may attain the supreme state and never again be bound to worldly existence — O Lord, tell me that truth, show me your grace."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.43.10)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्यपृच्छत्स्म सद्भक्त्या शङ्करं सा सती मुने । आदिशक्तिर्महेशानी जीवोद्धाराय केवलम्

brahmovāca | ityapṛcchatsma sadbhaktyā śaṅkaraṁ sā satī mune | ādiśaktirmaheśānī jīvoddhārāya kevalam

Brahma said: O sage, thus did Sati — the primordial Shakti, the great goddess — question Shankara with true devotion, solely for the deliverance of embodied souls.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.43.11)

आकर्ण्य तच्छिवः स्वामी स्वेच्छयोपात्तविग्रहः । अवोचत्परमप्रीतः सतीं योगविरक्तधीः

ākarṇya tacchivaḥ svāmī svecchayopāttavigrahaḥ | avocatparamaprītaḥ satīṁ yogaviraktadhīḥ

Hearing this, Lord Shiva, who had taken form of his own free will, greatly pleased, spoke to Sati, whose mind was now turned to yoga and dispassion.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.43.12)

शिव उवाच । शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि दाक्षायणि महेश्वरि । परं तत्त्वं तदेवानुशयी मुक्तो भवेद्यतः

śiva uvāca | śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi dākṣāyaṇi maheśvari | paraṁ tattvaṁ tadevānuśayī mukto bhavedyataḥ

Shiva said: "Listen, O goddess, O Daksha's daughter, great Ishvari — I shall declare to you that supreme truth, by following which the soul attains liberation."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.43.13)

परतत्त्वं विजानीहि विज्ञानं परमेश्वरी । द्वितीयं स्मरणं यत्र नाहं ब्रह्मेति शुद्धधीः

paratattvaṁ vijānīhi vijñānaṁ parameśvarī | dvitīyaṁ smaraṇaṁ yatra nāhaṁ brahmeti śuddhadhīḥ

"O Supreme Goddess, know that the supreme truth is that realized wisdom in which no remembrance of duality remains, and in which the pure mind knows: 'I am Brahman, nothing else.'"

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.43.14)

तद्दुर्लभं त्रिलोकेऽस्मिंस्तज्ज्ञाता विरलः प्रिये । यादृशो यः स दासोऽहं ब्रह्म साक्षात्परात्परः

taddurlabhaṁ triloke'smiṁstajjñātā viralaḥ priye | yādṛśo yaḥ sa dāso'haṁ brahma sākṣātparātparaḥ

"That is exceedingly rare in these three worlds, my beloved, and rare too is one who truly knows it; whosoever attains such realization — of him I am the servant, even though I myself am, in truth, the Supreme Brahman beyond the highest."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.43.15)

तन्माता मम भक्तिश्च भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदा । सुलभा मत्प्रसादाद्धि नवधा सा प्रकीर्तिता

tanmātā mama bhaktiśca bhuktimuktiphalapradā | sulabhā matprasādāddhi navadhā sā prakīrtitā

"The mother of that wisdom is devotion to me, which bestows both worldly enjoyment and liberation as its fruit; by my grace it is easily attained, and it is proclaimed to be of nine kinds."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.43.16)

भक्तौ ज्ञाने न भेदो हि तत्कर्तुः सर्वदा सुखम् । विज्ञानं न भवत्येव सति भक्तिविरोधिनः

bhaktau jñāne na bhedo hi tatkartuḥ sarvadā sukham | vijñānaṁ na bhavatyeva sati bhaktivirodhinaḥ

"There is truly no difference between devotion and knowledge; whoever practices it finds happiness always. Where there is opposition to devotion, true realization can never arise."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.43.17)

भक्त्याधीः सदाहं वै तत्प्रभावाद् गृहेष्वपि । नीचानां जातिहीनानां यामि देवि न संशयः

bhaktyādhīḥ sadāhaṁ vai tatprabhāvād gṛheṣvapi | nīcānāṁ jātihīnānāṁ yāmi devi na saṁśayaḥ

"O goddess, I am ever subject to devotion; by its power alone I go even into the homes of the lowly and those without caste — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.43.18)

सा भक्तिर्द्विविधा देवि सगुणा निर्गुणा मता । वैधी स्वाभाविकी या या वरा सा त्ववरा स्मृता

sā bhaktirdvividhā devi saguṇā nirguṇā matā | vaidhī svābhāvikī yā yā varā sā tvavarā smṛtā

"O goddess, that devotion is held to be of two kinds — with attributes and without; and again, it is either governed by scriptural rule or spontaneous by nature — of these the spontaneous is deemed the higher, the rule-bound the lesser."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.43.19)

नैष्ठिक्यनैष्ठिकी भेदाद् द्विविधे द्विविधे हि ते । षड्विधा नैष्ठिकी ज्ञेया द्वितीयैकविधा स्मृता

naiṣṭhikyanaiṣṭhikī bhedād dvividhe dvividhe hi te | ṣaḍvidhā naiṣṭhikī jñeyā dvitīyaikavidhā smṛtā

"Each of those two, again, divides further by whether it is grounded in steadfast devotion or not; the steadfast kind is to be known as sixfold, the other as of a single kind."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.43.20)

विहिताविहिताभेदात्तामनेकां विदुर्बुधाः । तयोर्बहुविधत्वाच्च तत्त्वं त्वन्यत्र वर्णितम्

vihitāvihitābhedāttāmanekāṁ vidurbudhāḥ | tayorbahuvidhatvācca tattvaṁ tvanyatra varṇitam

"By the further distinction of enjoined and unenjoined practice, the wise know devotion to take on many forms; the true nature of that manifold variety is set forth elsewhere."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.43.21)

ते नवाङ्गे उभे ज्ञेये वर्णिते मुनिभिः प्रिये । वर्णयामि नवाङ्गानि प्रेमतः शृणु दक्षजे

te navāṅge ubhe jñeye varṇite munibhiḥ priye | varṇayāmi navāṅgāni premataḥ śṛṇu dakṣaje

"Both these kinds, my beloved, are to be known through the nine limbs described by the sages. O daughter of Daksha, I shall now lovingly describe those nine limbs — listen."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.43.22)

श्रवणं कीर्तनं चैव स्मरणं सेवनं तथा । दास्यं तथार्चनं देवि वन्दनं मम सर्वदा

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ caiva smaraṇaṁ sevanaṁ tathā | dāsyaṁ tathārcanaṁ devi vandanaṁ mama sarvadā

"O goddess: hearing, chanting, remembrance, service, servitude, worship, and constant veneration of me —"

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.43.23)

सख्यमात्मार्पणं चेति नवाङ्गानि विदुर्बुधाः । उपाङ्गानि शिवे तस्या बहूनि कथितानि वै

sakhyamātmārpaṇaṁ ceti navāṅgāni vidurbudhāḥ | upāṅgāni śive tasyā bahūni kathitāni vai

"— friendship, and self-surrender: these the wise know as the nine limbs. O Shivā, its subsidiary limbs too are said to be many."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.43.24)

शृणु देवि नवाङ्गानां लक्षणानि पृथक् पृथक् । मम भक्तेर्मनो दत्त्वा भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदानि हि

śṛṇu devi navāṅgānāṁ lakṣaṇāni pṛthak pṛthak | mama bhaktermano dattvā bhuktimuktipradāni hi

"O goddess, now listen with an attentive mind to the separate marks of these nine limbs of devotion to me, each bestowing both enjoyment and liberation."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.43.25)

कथादेर्नित्यसम्मानं कुर्वन्देहादिभिर्मुदा । स्थिरासनेन तत्पानं यत्तच्छ्रवणमुच्यते

kathādernityasammānaṁ kurvandehādibhirmudā | sthirāsanena tatpānaṁ yattacchravaṇamucyate

"Ever honoring the sacred story, sitting in a fixed posture with body and mind and joyfully drinking it in — that is called hearing."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.43.26)

हृदाकाशेन सम्पश्यन् जन्मकर्माणि वै मम । प्रीत्योच्चोच्चारणं तेषामेतत्कीर्तनमुच्यते

hṛdākāśena sampaśyan janmakarmāṇi vai mama | prītyoccoccāraṇaṁ teṣāmetatkīrtanamucyate

"Beholding, within the space of one's own heart, my births and deeds, and proclaiming them aloud with love — that is called kirtan."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.43.27)

व्यापकं देवि मां दृष्ट्वा नित्यं सर्वत्र सर्वदा । निर्भयत्वं सदा लोके स्मरणं तदुदाहृतम्

vyāpakaṁ devi māṁ dṛṣṭvā nityaṁ sarvatra sarvadā | nirbhayatvaṁ sadā loke smaraṇaṁ tadudāhṛtam

"O goddess, seeing me as ever pervading all things, everywhere and always, and thus remaining forever fearless in the world — that is declared to be remembrance."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.43.28)

अरुणोदयमारभ्य सेवाकालेऽञ्चिता हृदा । निर्भयत्वं सदा लोके स्मरणं तदुदाहृतम्

aruṇodayamārabhya sevākāle'ñcitā hṛdā | nirbhayatvaṁ sadā loke smaraṇaṁ tadudāhṛtam

"From the very break of dawn through the whole time of service, remaining devoted with the heart — and remaining ever fearless in the world — that too is declared to be remembrance."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.43.29)

सदा सेव्यानुकूल्येन सेवनं तद्धि गोगणैः । हृदयामृतभोगेन प्रियं दास्यमुदाहृतम्

sadā sevyānukūlyena sevanaṁ taddhi gogaṇaiḥ | hṛdayāmṛtabhogena priyaṁ dāsyamudāhṛtam

"Serving always in accord with what pleases the one served, as one tends a herd of cattle — that is called service; and dear service offered through the nectar-enjoyment of the heart is declared to be servitude."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.43.30)

सदा भृत्यानुकूल्येन विधिना मे परात्मने । अर्पणं षोडशानां वै पाद्यादीनां तदर्चनम्

sadā bhṛtyānukūlyena vidhinā me parātmane | arpaṇaṁ ṣoḍaśānāṁ vai pādyādīnāṁ tadarcanam

"Ever offering, in a spirit of humble servanthood and according to due rite, the sixteen ritual offerings such as water for the feet to me, the Supreme Self — that is called worship."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.43.31)

मन्त्रोच्चारणध्यानाभ्यां मनसा वचसा क्रमात् । यदष्टाङ्गेन भूस्पर्शं तद्वै वन्दनमुच्यते

mantroccāraṇadhyānābhyāṁ manasā vacasā kramāt | yadaṣṭāṅgena bhūsparśaṁ tadvai vandanamucyate

"Reciting the mantra and meditating, in due order with mind and speech, and touching the earth with all eight limbs of the body — that is called veneration."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.43.32)

मङ्गलामङ्गलं यद्यत्करोतीतीश्वरो हि मे । सर्वं तन्मङ्गलायेति विश्वासः सख्यलक्षणम्

maṅgalāmaṅgalaṁ yadyatkarotītīśvaro hi me | sarvaṁ tanmaṅgalāyeti viśvāsaḥ sakhyalakṣaṇam

"Whatever the Lord does, whether it appears auspicious or inauspicious, trusting that it is all for one's own good — that is the mark of friendship."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.43.33)

कृत्वा देहादिकं तस्य प्रीत्यै सर्वं तदर्पणम् । निर्वाहाय च शून्यत्वं यत्तदात्मसमर्पणम्

kṛtvā dehādikaṁ tasya prītyai sarvaṁ tadarpaṇam | nirvāhāya ca śūnyatvaṁ yattadātmasamarpaṇam

"Offering up one's body and all else entirely for his pleasure, and regarding oneself as nothing even for one's own sustenance — that is self-surrender."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.43.34)

नवाङ्गानीति मद्भक्तेर्भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदानि च । मम प्रियाणि चातीव ज्ञानोत्पत्तिकराणि च

navāṅgānīti madbhakterbhuktimuktipradāni ca | mama priyāṇi cātīva jñānotpattikarāṇi ca

"These, then, are the nine limbs of devotion to me, which grant both enjoyment and liberation, which are exceedingly dear to me, and which give rise to true wisdom."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.43.35)

उपाङ्गानि च मद्भक्तेर्बहूनि कथितानि वै । बिल्वादिसेवनादीनि समूह्यानि विचारतः

upāṅgāni ca madbhakterbahūni kathitāni vai | bilvādisevanādīni samūhyāni vicārataḥ

"Many subsidiary limbs of devotion to me have also been spoken of, such as service with bilva leaves and the like; these too are to be gathered with careful discernment."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.43.36)

इत्थं साङ्गोपाङ्गभक्तिर्मम सर्वोत्तमा प्रिये । ज्ञानवैराग्यजननी मुक्तिदासी विराजते

itthaṁ sāṅgopāṅgabhaktirmama sarvottamā priye | jñānavairāgyajananī muktidāsī virājate

"Thus, my beloved, devotion to me together with its limbs and sub-limbs is the very best of all paths; it is the mother that gives birth to knowledge and dispassion, and stands as liberation's own handmaiden."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.43.37)

सर्वकर्मफलोत्पत्तिः सर्वदा त्वत्समप्रिया । यच्चित्ते सा स्थिता नित्यं सर्वदा सोऽति मत्प्रियः

sarvakarmaphalotpattiḥ sarvadā tvatsamapriyā | yaccitte sā sthitā nityaṁ sarvadā so'ti matpriyaḥ

"The fruit of all actions arises equally dear as devotion itself; in whosesoever mind it dwells always, that person is forever most dear to me."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.43.38)

त्रैलोक्ये भक्तिसदृशः पन्था नास्ति सुखावहः । चतुर्युगेषु देवेशि कलौ तु सुविशेषतः

trailokye bhaktisadṛśaḥ panthā nāsti sukhāvahaḥ | caturyugeṣu deveśi kalau tu suviśeṣataḥ

"O goddess of the gods, in the three worlds there is no path so bringing of happiness as devotion; and among the four ages, in the Kali age most especially of all."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.43.39)

कलौ तु ज्ञानवैराग्यौ वृद्धरूपौ निरुत्सवौ । ग्राहकाभावतो देवि जातौ जर्जरतामति

kalau tu jñānavairāgyau vṛddharūpau nirutsavau | grāhakābhāvato devi jātau jarjaratāmati

"O goddess, in the Kali age both knowledge and dispassion have grown old and joyless; for want of anyone to receive them, both have fallen into utter decrepitude."

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.43.40)

कलौ प्रत्यक्षफलदा भक्तिः सर्वयुगेष्वपि । तत्प्रभावादहं नित्यं तद्वशो नात्र संशयः

kalau pratyakṣaphaladā bhaktiḥ sarvayugeṣvapi | tatprabhāvādahaṁ nityaṁ tadvaśo nātra saṁśayaḥ

"In the Kali age it is devotion alone that yields its fruit directly and visibly, though it is so in every age; by its power I remain forever under its sway — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.43.41)

यो भक्तिमान्पुमाँल्लोके सदाहं तत्सहायकृत् । विघ्नहर्ता रिपुस्तस्य दण्ड्यो नात्र च संशयः

yo bhaktimānpumā~lloke sadāhaṁ tatsahāyakṛt | vighnahartā ripustasya daṇḍyo nātra ca saṁśayaḥ

"Whatever man in this world possesses devotion, I am ever his helper and the remover of his obstacles; his enemy surely deserves punishment — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.43.42)

भक्तहेतोरहं देवि कालं क्रोधपरिप्लुतः । अदहं वह्निना नेत्रभवेन निजरक्षकः

bhaktahetorahaṁ devi kālaṁ krodhapariplutaḥ | adahaṁ vahninā netrabhavena nijarakṣakaḥ

"For the sake of a devotee, O goddess, I once burned Kala himself with the fire born of my own eye, filled with fury, so as to be the protector of my own devotee."

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.43.43)

भक्तहेतोरहं देवि रव्युपर्यभवं किल । अतिक्रोधान्वितः शूलं गृहीत्वान्वजयं पुरा

bhaktahetorahaṁ devi ravyuparyabhavaṁ kila | atikrodhānvitaḥ śūlaṁ gṛhītvānvajayaṁ purā

"For the sake of a devotee, O goddess, filled with great fury, I once took up my trident and even assailed the sun god himself."

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.43.44)

भक्तहेतोरहं देवि रावणं सगणं क्रुधा । त्यजामि स्म कृतो नैव पक्षपातो हि तस्य वै

bhaktahetorahaṁ devi rāvaṇaṁ sagaṇaṁ krudhā | tyajāmi sma kṛto naiva pakṣapāto hi tasya vai

"For the sake of a devotee, O goddess, I once cast off Ravana, together with his hosts, in anger; I showed him no favoritism at all."

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.43.45)

भक्तहेतोरहं देवि व्यासं हि कुमतिग्रहम् । काश्या न्यसारयं क्रोधाद्दण्डयित्वा च नन्दिना

bhaktahetorahaṁ devi vyāsaṁ hi kumatigraham | kāśyā nyasārayaṁ krodhāddaṇḍayitvā ca nandinā

"For the sake of a devotee, O goddess, I once had Vyasa — overcome by ill judgment — punished through Nandi in my anger, and driven out of Kashi."

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.43.46)

किं बहूक्तेन देवेशि भक्त्याधीनः सदा ह्यहम् । तत्कर्तुः पुरुषस्यातिवशगो नात्र संशयः

kiṁ bahūktena deveśi bhaktyādhīnaḥ sadā hyaham | tatkartuḥ puruṣasyātivaśago nātra saṁśayaḥ

"O goddess of the gods, what need to say more? I am ever subject to devotion; to the man who practices it I remain wholly and utterly bound — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.43.47)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्थमाकर्ण्य भक्तेस्तु महत्त्वं दक्षजा सती । जहर्षातीव मनसि प्रणनाम शिवं मुदा

brahmovāca | itthamākarṇya bhaktestu mahattvaṁ dakṣajā satī | jaharṣātīva manasi praṇanāma śivaṁ mudā

Brahma said: Hearing thus of the greatness of devotion, Daksha's daughter Sati rejoiced greatly within her heart, and joyfully bowed down to Shiva.

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.43.48)

पुनः पप्रच्छ सद्भक्त्या तत्काण्डविषयं मुने । शास्त्रं सुखकरं लोके जीवोद्धारपरायणम्

punaḥ papraccha sadbhaktyā tatkāṇḍaviṣayaṁ mune | śāstraṁ sukhakaraṁ loke jīvoddhāraparāyaṇam

O sage, she again asked, with true devotion, about the branch of scripture relating to that subject — the teaching that brings happiness in the world and is devoted to the deliverance of souls.

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.43.49)

सयन्त्रमन्त्रशास्त्रं च तन्माहात्म्यं विशेषतः । अन्यानि धर्मवस्तूनि जीवोद्धारकराणि हि

sayantramantraśāstraṁ ca tanmāhātmyaṁ viśeṣataḥ | anyāni dharmavastūni jīvoddhārakarāṇi hi

She asked too about the scripture together with its yantras and mantras, and especially about their greatness, and about other sacred matters that bring about the deliverance of souls.

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.43.50)

शङ्करोऽपि तदाकर्ण्य सतीप्रश्नं प्रहृष्टधीः । वर्णयामास सुप्रीत्या जीवोद्धाराय कृत्स्नशः

śaṅkaro'pi tadākarṇya satīpraśnaṁ prahṛṣṭadhīḥ | varṇayāmāsa suprītyā jīvoddhārāya kṛtsnaśaḥ

Shankara too, hearing Sati's question, was greatly gladdened in mind, and with deep affection expounded the whole matter fully, for the deliverance of souls.

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.43.51)

तन्त्रशास्त्रं सयन्त्रं हि सपञ्चाङ्गं महेश्वरः । बभाषे महिमानं च तत्तद्देववरस्य वै

tantraśāstraṁ sayantraṁ hi sapañcāṅgaṁ maheśvaraḥ | babhāṣe mahimānaṁ ca tattaddevavarasya vai

Maheshvara expounded the Tantra scriptures together with their yantras and five constituent parts, and also declared the greatness of each of the great gods.

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.43.52)

सेतिहासकथां तेषां भक्तमाहात्म्यमेव च । सवर्णाश्रमधर्मांश्च नृपधर्मान् मुनीश्वर

setihāsakathāṁ teṣāṁ bhaktamāhātmyameva ca | savarṇāśramadharmāṁśca nṛpadharmān munīśvara

O lord among sages, he told too their ancient legends, the greatness of their devotees, the duties of caste and stage of life, and the duties of kings.

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.43.53)

सुतस्त्रीधर्ममाहात्म्यं वर्णाश्रममनश्वरम् । वैद्यशास्त्रं तथा ज्योतिःशास्त्रं जीवसुखावहम्

sutastrīdharmamāhātmyaṁ varṇāśramamanaśvaram | vaidyaśāstraṁ tathā jyotiḥśāstraṁ jīvasukhāvaham

He told of the greatness of the duties of sons and wives, of the imperishable order of caste and life-stage, of the science of medicine, and of the science of astrology that brings happiness to living beings.

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.43.54)

सामुद्रिकं परं शास्त्रमन्यच्छास्त्राणि भूरिशः । कृपां कृत्वा महेशानो वर्णयामास तत्त्वतः

sāmudrikaṁ paraṁ śāstramanyacchāstrāṇi bhūriśaḥ | kṛpāṁ kṛtvā maheśāno varṇayāmāsa tattvataḥ

Out of his grace, the great Lord also expounded, in their true nature, the excellent science of palmistry and physiognomy, and many other branches of learning besides.

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.43.55)

इत्थं त्रिलोकसुखदौ सर्वज्ञौ च सतीशिवौ । लोकोपकारकरणधृतसद्गुणविग्रहौ

itthaṁ trilokasukhadau sarvajñau ca satīśivau | lokopakārakaraṇadhṛtasadguṇavigrahau

Thus Sati and Shiva, both all-knowing, both bestowers of happiness upon the three worlds, their very forms made of virtue and devoted to the welfare of all beings —

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.43.56)

चिक्रीडाते बहुविधं कैलासे हिमवद् गिरौ । अन्यस्थलेषु च तदा परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणौ

cikrīḍāte bahuvidhaṁ kailāse himavad girau | anyasthaleṣu ca tadā parabrahmasvarūpiṇau

— they, being themselves the very form of the Supreme Brahman, continued at that time to sport in many ways upon Kailasa, upon the Himalaya, and in other places besides.