Narada's Journey to Kashi

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.5.1)

सूत उवाच । अन्तर्हिते हरौ विप्रा नारदो मुनिसत्तमः । विचचार महीं पश्यन् शिवलिङ्गानि भक्तितः

sūta uvāca antarhite harau viprā nārado munisattamaḥ vicacāra mahīṁ paśyan śivaliṅgāni bhaktitaḥ

Suta said: O brahmins, when Hari had vanished, Narada, foremost of sages, wandered over the earth, beholding Shiva-lingas with devotion.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.5.2)

पृथिव्या अटनं कृत्वा शिवरूपाण्यनेकशः । ददर्श प्रीतितो विप्रा भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदानि सः

pṛthivyā aṭanaṁ kṛtvā śivarūpāṇyanekaśaḥ dadarśa prītito viprā bhuktimuktipradāni saḥ

Roaming over the earth, O brahmins, he beheld with joy many forms of Shiva, which bestow both worldly enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.5.3)

अथ तं विचरन्तं कौ नारदं दिव्यदर्शनम् । ज्ञात्वा शम्भुगणौ तौ तु सुचित्तमुपजग्मतुः

atha taṁ vicarantaṁ kau nāradaṁ divyadarśanam jñātvā śambhugaṇau tau tu sucittamupajagmatuḥ

Then, knowing that Narada, of divine vision, was wandering upon the earth, those two attendants of Shambhu approached him with a well-disposed mind.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.5.4)

शिरसा सुप्रणम्याशु गणावूचतुरादरात् । गृहीत्वा चरणौ तस्य शापोद्धारेच्छया च तौ

śirasā supraṇamyāśu gaṇāvūcaturādarāt gṛhītvā caraṇau tasya śāpoddhārecchayā ca tau

Bowing their heads swiftly and reverently, and clasping his feet, those two attendants, desiring release from the curse, spoke to him.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.5.5)

शिवगणावूचतुः ब्रह्मपुत्र सुरर्षे हि शृणु प्रीत्यावयोर्वचः । तवापराधकर्तारावावां विप्रौ न वस्तुतः

śivagaṇāvūcatuḥ brahmaputra surarṣe hi śṛṇu prītyāvayorvacaḥ tavāparādhakartārāvāvāṁ viprau na vastutaḥ

The two attendants of Shiva said: O son of Brahma, divine sage, hear our words with love; we, though brahmins, were in truth no wrongdoers against you.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.5.6)

आवां हरगणौ विप्र तवागस्कारिणौ मुने । स्वयम्वरे राजपुत्र्या मायामोहितचेतसा

āvāṁ haragaṇau vipra tavāgaskāriṇau mune svayamvare rājaputryā māyāmohitacetasā

We are attendants of Hara, O brahmin, O sage — we who offended you at the princess's swayamvara, our minds deluded by maya.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.5.7)

त्वया दत्तश्च नौ शापः परेशप्रेरितेन ह । ज्ञात्वा कुसमयं तत्र मौनमेव हि जीवनम्

tvayā dattaśca nau śāpaḥ pareśapreritena ha jñātvā kusamayaṁ tatra maunameva hi jīvanam

The curse you gave us was itself prompted by the Supreme Lord; knowing that the time was ill-suited, silence alone was our recourse.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.5.8)

स्वकर्मणः फलं प्राप्तं कस्यापि न हि दूषणम् । सुप्रसन्नो भव विभो कुर्वनुग्रहमद्य नौ

svakarmaṇaḥ phalaṁ prāptaṁ kasyāpi na hi dūṣaṇam suprasanno bhava vibho kurvanugrahamadya nau

We have received the fruit of our own deeds — there is no fault in anyone. Be well pleased, O lord, and show us your grace this day.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.5.9)

सूत उवाच । वच आकर्ण्य गणयोरिति भक्त्युक्तमादरात् । प्रत्युवाच मुनिः प्रीत्या पश्चात्तापमवाप्य सः

sūta uvāca vaca ākarṇya gaṇayoriti bhaktyuktamādarāt pratyuvāca muniḥ prītyā paścāttāpamavāpya saḥ

Suta said: Hearing these words of the two attendants, spoken with devotion and reverence, the sage, filled with love and having felt remorse, replied.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.5.10)

नारद उवाच । शृणुतं मे महादेवगणौ मान्यतमौ सताम् । वचनं सुखदं मोहनिर्मुक्तं च यथार्थकम्

nārada uvāca śṛṇutaṁ me mahādevagaṇau mānyatamau satām vacanaṁ sukhadaṁ mohanirmuktaṁ ca yathārthakam

Narada said: Hear my words, O attendants of Mahadeva, most honored among the virtuous — words that bring happiness, free of delusion, and true.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.5.11)

पुरा मम मतिर्भ्रष्टासीच्छिवेच्छावशाद् ध्रुवम् । सर्वथा मोहमापन्नः शप्तवान्वां कुशेमुषिः

purā mama matirbhraṣṭāsīcchivecchāvaśād dhruvam sarvathā mohamāpannaḥ śaptavānvāṁ kuśemuṣiḥ

Formerly my understanding was surely lost, under the sway of Shiva's own will; utterly overcome by delusion, and of corrupted judgment, I cursed you both.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.5.12)

यदुक्तं तत्तथा भावि तथापि शृणुतां गणौ । शापोद्धारमहं वच्मि क्षमेथामघमद्य मे

yaduktaṁ tattathā bhāvi tathāpi śṛṇutāṁ gaṇau śāpoddhāramahaṁ vacmi kṣamethāmaghamadya me

What has been spoken shall surely come to pass; yet hear, O attendants, I shall speak the mitigation of that curse — forgive my fault this day.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.5.13)

वीर्यान्मुनिवरस्याप्त्वा राक्षसेशत्वमादिशम् । स्यातां विभवसंयुक्तौ बलिनौ सुप्रतापिनौ

vīryānmunivarasyāptvā rākṣaseśatvamādiśam syātāṁ vibhavasaṁyuktau balinau supratāpinau

Having received the potency of a great sage's austerity, I ordained for you the lordship of rakshasas; you shall be endowed with majesty, mighty and greatly powerful.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.5.14)

सर्वब्रह्माण्डराजानौ शिवभक्तौ जितेन्द्रियौ । शिवापरतनोर्मृत्युं प्राप्य स्वं पदमाप्स्यथः

sarvabrahmāṇḍarājānau śivabhaktau jitendriyau śivāparatanormṛtyuṁ prāpya svaṁ padamāpsyathaḥ

You shall become kings of the whole universe, yet remain devotees of Shiva, of subdued senses; and, meeting death at the hands of Shiva's other form, you shall attain your own true place once more.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.5.15)

सूत उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य मुनेर्वाक्यं नारदस्य महात्मनः । उभौ हरगणौ प्रीतौ स्वं पदं जग्मतुर्मुदा

sūta uvāca ityākarṇya munervākyaṁ nāradasya mahātmanaḥ ubhau haragaṇau prītau svaṁ padaṁ jagmaturmudā

Suta said: Hearing these words of the great-souled sage Narada, both of Hara's attendants, gladdened, joyfully went to their own abode.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.5.16)

नारदोऽपि परं प्रीतो ध्यायन् शिवमनन्यधीः । विचचार महीं पश्यन् शिवतीर्थान्यभीक्ष्णशः

nārado'pi paraṁ prīto dhyāyan śivamananyadhīḥ vicacāra mahīṁ paśyan śivatīrthānyabhīkṣṇaśaḥ

Narada too, greatly pleased, his mind fixed on Shiva alone, wandered over the earth, beholding Shiva's holy places again and again.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.5.17)

काशीं प्राप्याथ स मुनिः सर्वोपरिविराजिताम् । शिवप्रियां शम्भुसुखप्रदां शम्भुस्वरूपिणीम्

kāśīṁ prāpyātha sa muniḥ sarvoparivirājitām śivapriyāṁ śambhusukhapradāṁ śambhusvarūpiṇīm

Then that sage reached Kashi, resplendent above all places, beloved of Shiva, giver of joy to Shambhu, herself of the very nature of Shambhu.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.5.18)

दृष्ट्वा काशीं कृतार्थोऽभूत्काशीनाथं ददर्श ह । आनर्च परमप्रीत्या परमानन्दसंयुतः

dṛṣṭvā kāśīṁ kṛtārtho'bhūtkāśīnāthaṁ dadarśa ha ānarca paramaprītyā paramānandasaṁyutaḥ

Beholding Kashi, he became fulfilled, and he beheld the Lord of Kashi; he worshipped him with the greatest love, filled with supreme bliss.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.5.19)

समुदः सेव्य तां काशीं कृतार्थो मुनिसत्तमः । नमन्संवर्णयन्भक्त्या संस्मरन्प्रेमविह्वलः

samudaḥ sevya tāṁ kāśīṁ kṛtārtho munisattamaḥ namansaṁvarṇayanbhaktyā saṁsmaranpremavihvalaḥ

Joyous, having served that Kashi, that foremost of sages, fulfilled, bowing, extolling her with devotion, remembering her, overwhelmed with love —

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.5.20)

ब्रह्मलोकं जगामाथ शिवस्मरणसन्मतिः । शिवतत्त्वं विशेषेण ज्ञातुमिच्छुः स नारदः

brahmalokaṁ jagāmātha śivasmaraṇasanmatiḥ śivatattvaṁ viśeṣeṇa jñātumicchuḥ sa nāradaḥ

then, his mind fixed on the remembrance of Shiva, Narada went on to Brahmaloka, wishing to know in particular the true nature of Shiva.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.5.21)

नत्वा तत्र विधिं भक्त्या स्तुत्वा च विविधैस्तवैः । पप्रच्छ शिवसत्तत्त्वं शिवसंयुक्तमानसः

natvā tatra vidhiṁ bhaktyā stutvā ca vividhaistavaiḥ papraccha śivasattattvaṁ śivasaṁyuktamānasaḥ

There, bowing to Brahma with devotion and praising him with manifold hymns, he asked, his mind wholly fixed upon Shiva, about the true reality of Shiva.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.5.22)

नारद उवाच । ब्रह्मन्ब्रह्मस्वरूपज्ञ पितामह जगत्प्रभो । त्वत्प्रसादान्मया सर्वं विष्णोर्माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्

nārada uvāca brahmanbrahmasvarūpajña pitāmaha jagatprabho tvatprasādānmayā sarvaṁ viṣṇormāhātmyamuttamam

Narada said: O Brahma, knower of the nature of Brahman, grandsire, lord of the world! By your grace I have learned the entire supreme greatness of Vishnu.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.5.23)

भक्तिमार्गं ज्ञानमार्गं तपोमार्गं सुदुस्तरम् । दानमार्गं च तीर्थानां मार्गं च श्रुतवानहम्

bhaktimārgaṁ jñānamārgaṁ tapomārgaṁ sudustaram dānamārgaṁ ca tīrthānāṁ mārgaṁ ca śrutavānaham

I have heard of the path of devotion, the path of knowledge, the path of austerity so hard to accomplish, the path of charity, and the path of the sacred places.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.5.24)

न ज्ञातं शिवतत्त्वं च पूजाविधिमतः क्रमात् । चरित्रं विविधं तस्य निवेदय मम प्रभो

na jñātaṁ śivatattvaṁ ca pūjāvidhimataḥ kramāt caritraṁ vividhaṁ tasya nivedaya mama prabho

But I have not known the true reality of Shiva, nor the rite of his worship in due order; O Lord, relate to me his manifold deeds.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.5.25)

निर्गुणोऽपि शिवस्तात सगुणः शङ्करः कथम् । शिवतत्त्वं न जानामि मोहितः शिवमायया

nirguṇo'pi śivastāta saguṇaḥ śaṅkaraḥ katham śivatattvaṁ na jānāmi mohitaḥ śivamāyayā

O father, how does Shiva, though without qualities, become Shankara possessed of qualities? I do not know the reality of Shiva, deluded as I am by Shiva's own maya.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.5.26)

सृष्टेः पूर्वं कथं शम्भुः स्वरूपेण प्रतिष्ठितः । सृष्टिमध्ये स हि कथं क्रीडन्संवर्तते प्रभुः

sṛṣṭeḥ pūrvaṁ kathaṁ śambhuḥ svarūpeṇa pratiṣṭhitaḥ sṛṣṭimadhye sa hi kathaṁ krīḍansaṁvartate prabhuḥ

Before creation, how does Shambhu abide in his own true form? In the midst of creation, how does that Lord continue, sporting at play?

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.5.27)

तदन्ते च कथं देवः स तिष्ठति महेश्वरः । कथं प्रसन्नतां याति शङ्करो लोकशङ्करः

tadante ca kathaṁ devaḥ sa tiṣṭhati maheśvaraḥ kathaṁ prasannatāṁ yāti śaṅkaro lokaśaṅkaraḥ

And at its end, how does that God Maheshvara remain? How does Shankara, benefactor of the world, become gracious?

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.5.28)

सन्तुष्टश्च स्वभक्तेभ्यः परेभ्यश्च महेश्वरः । किं फलं यच्छति विधे तत्सर्वं कथयस्व मे

santuṣṭaśca svabhaktebhyaḥ parebhyaśca maheśvaraḥ kiṁ phalaṁ yacchati vidhe tatsarvaṁ kathayasva me

O Brahma, being pleased, what fruit does Maheshvara bestow upon his own devotees and upon others? Tell me all of this.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.5.29)

सद्यः प्रसन्नो भगवान्भवतीत्यनुसंश्रुतम् । भक्तप्रयासं स महान्न पश्यति दयापरः

sadyaḥ prasanno bhagavānbhavatītyanusaṁśrutam bhaktaprayāsaṁ sa mahānna paśyati dayāparaḥ

It is heard that the Lord becomes gracious at once; being supremely compassionate, that great one does not regard the effort of his devotee.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.5.30)

ब्रह्मा विष्णुर्महेशश्च त्रयो देवाः शिवांशजाः । महेशस्तत्र पूर्णांशः स्वयमेव शिवः परः

brahmā viṣṇurmaheśaśca trayo devāḥ śivāṁśajāḥ maheśastatra pūrṇāṁśaḥ svayameva śivaḥ paraḥ

Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha — these three gods are born of a portion of Shiva; among them Mahesha is his full portion, while Shiva himself remains yet beyond even him.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.5.31)

तस्याविर्भावमाख्याहि चरितानि विशेषतः । उमाविर्भावमाख्याहि तद्विवाहं तथा विभो

tasyāvirbhāvamākhyāhi caritāni viśeṣataḥ umāvirbhāvamākhyāhi tadvivāhaṁ tathā vibho

Tell me of his manifestation and his deeds in particular; tell me too, O lord, of Uma's manifestation and of her marriage.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.5.32)

तद्गार्हस्थ्यं विशेषेण तथा लीलाः परा अपि । एतत्सर्वं तथान्यच्च कथनीयं त्वयानघ

tadgārhasthyaṁ viśeṣeṇa tathā līlāḥ parā api etatsarvaṁ tathānyacca kathanīyaṁ tvayānagha

Tell me in particular of his householder's life, and also of his other divine sports; O sinless one, narrate to me all this and whatever else there is.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.5.33)

तदुत्पत्तिं विवाहं च शिवायास्तु विशेषतः । प्रब्रूहि मे प्रजानाथ गुहजन्म तथैव च

tadutpattiṁ vivāhaṁ ca śivāyāstu viśeṣataḥ prabrūhi me prajānātha guhajanma tathaiva ca

O lord of creatures, tell me in particular of Shiva's own origin and marriage, and likewise of the birth of Guha.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.5.34)

बहुभ्यश्च श्रुतं पूर्वं न तृप्तोऽस्मि जगत्प्रभो । अतस्त्वां शरणं प्राप्तः कृपां कुरु ममोपरि

bahubhyaśca śrutaṁ pūrvaṁ na tṛpto'smi jagatprabho atastvāṁ śaraṇaṁ prāptaḥ kṛpāṁ kuru mamopari

I have heard much from many before, O lord of the world, yet I am not satisfied; therefore I have come to you for refuge — show your grace upon me.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.5.35)

इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य नारदस्याङ्गजस्य हि । उवाच वचनं तत्र ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः

iti śrutvā vacastasya nāradasyāṅgajasya hi uvāca vacanaṁ tatra brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ

Hearing these words of Narada, his own son, Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, then spoke these words there.