The Voice from the Sky

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.51.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र नभोवाणी मुनीश्वर । अवोचच्छृण्वतां दक्षसुरादीनां यथार्थतः

brahmovāca | etasminnantare tatra nabhovāṇī munīśvara | avocacchṛṇvatāṁ dakṣasurādīnāṁ yathārthataḥ

Brahma said: "Meanwhile, O lord of sages, a voice from the sky then spoke there, truthfully, in the hearing of Daksha, the gods, and all present."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.51.2)

व्योमवाण्युवाच । रे रे दक्ष दुराचार दम्भाचारपरायण । किं कृतं ते महामूढ कर्म चानर्थकारकम्

vyomavāṇyuvāca | re re dakṣa durācāra dambhācāraparāyaṇa | kiṁ kṛtaṁ te mahāmūḍha karma cānarthakārakam

The voice from the sky said: "O Daksha, evil in conduct, ever devoted to hypocrisy! What is this you have done, O great fool — this deed that brings only ruin?"

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.51.3)

न कृतं शैवराजस्य दधीचेर्वचनस्य हि । प्रमाणं तत्कृते मूढ सर्वानन्दकरं शुभम्

na kṛtaṁ śaivarājasya dadhīcervacanasya hi | pramāṇaṁ tatkṛte mūḍha sarvānandakaraṁ śubham

"You gave no heed to the word of Dadhichi, that great king among Shiva's devotees — auspicious counsel, O fool, that would have brought joy to all, had you but honored it."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.51.4)

निर्गतस्ते मखाद्विप्रः शापं दत्त्वा सुदुःसहम् । ततोऽपि बुद्धं किञ्चिन्नो त्वया मूढेन चेतसि

nirgataste makhādvipraḥ śāpaṁ dattvā suduḥsaham | tato'pi buddhaṁ kiñcinno tvayā mūḍhena cetasi

"That brahmin departed from your sacrifice, pronouncing upon it a curse most unbearable — yet even then nothing entered your foolish mind."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.51.5)

ततः कृतः कथं नो वै स्वपुत्र्यास्त्वादरः परः । समागतायाः सत्याश्च मङ्गलाया गृहं स्वतः

tataḥ kṛtaḥ kathaṁ no vai svaputryāstvādaraḥ paraḥ | samāgatāyāḥ satyāśca maṅgalāyā gṛhaṁ svataḥ

"How then did you fail to show the highest honor to your own daughter, the auspicious Sati, when she came of her own will to your house?"

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.51.6)

सतीभवौ नार्चितौ हि किमिदं ज्ञानदुर्बल । ब्रह्मपुत्र इति वृथा गर्वितोऽसि विमोहितः

satībhavau nārcitau hi kimidaṁ jñānadurbala | brahmaputra iti vṛthā garvito'si vimohitaḥ

"Why were Sati and Bhava not honored by you? What is this, O feeble in wisdom? In vain you have grown proud and deluded, thinking yourself 'a son of Brahma.'"

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.51.7)

सा सत्येव सदाराध्या सर्वपुण्यफलप्रदा । त्रिलोकमाता कल्याणी शङ्करार्धाङ्गभागिनी

sā satyeva sadārādhyā sarvapuṇyaphalapradā | trilokamātā kalyāṇī śaṅkarārdhāṅgabhāginī

"That very Sati is ever to be worshipped, the giver of the fruit of every merit — the mother of the three worlds, all-auspicious, who shares half of Shankara's own body."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.51.8)

सा सत्येवार्चिता नित्यं सर्वसौभाग्यदायिनी । माहेश्वरी स्वभक्तानां सर्वमङ्गलदायिनी

sā satyevārcitā nityaṁ sarvasaubhāgyadāyinī | māheśvarī svabhaktānāṁ sarvamaṅgaladāyinī

"That very Sati, ever worshipped, bestows every good fortune — the Great Goddess who grants all auspiciousness to her own devotees."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.51.9)

सा सत्येवार्चिता नित्यं संसारभयनाशिनी । मनोऽभीष्टप्रदा देवी सर्वोपद्रवहारिणी

sā satyevārcitā nityaṁ saṁsārabhayanāśinī | mano'bhīṣṭapradā devī sarvopadravahāriṇī

"That very Sati, ever worshipped, destroys the fear of worldly existence — the goddess who grants the heart's desire and removes every calamity."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.51.10)

सा सत्येवार्चिता नित्यं कीर्तिसम्पत्प्रदायिनी । परमा परमेशानी भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनी

sā satyevārcitā nityaṁ kīrtisampatpradāyinī | paramā parameśānī bhuktimuktipradāyinī

"That very Sati, ever worshipped, bestows fame and prosperity — the supreme, the sovereign mistress of all, who grants both worldly enjoyment and liberation."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.51.11)

सा सत्येव जगद्धात्री जगद्रक्षणकारिणी । अनादिशक्तिः कल्पान्ते जगत्संहारकारिणी

sā satyeva jagaddhātrī jagadrakṣaṇakāriṇī | anādiśaktiḥ kalpānte jagatsaṁhārakāriṇī

"That very Sati sustains the world and protects it — the beginningless Power who, at the end of the age, brings about the world's dissolution."

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.51.12)

सा सत्येव जगन्माता विष्णुमाता विलासिनी । ब्रह्मेन्द्रचन्द्रवह्न्यर्कदेवादिजननी स्मृता

sā satyeva jaganmātā viṣṇumātā vilāsinī | brahmendracandravahnyarkadevādijananī smṛtā

"That very Sati is the mother of the world, the playful mother even of Vishnu — remembered as the mother of Brahma, Indra, the Moon, Fire, the Sun, and the other gods."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.51.13)

सा सत्येव तपोधर्मदानादिफलदायिनी । शम्भुशक्तिर्महादेवी दुष्टहन्त्री परात्परा

sā satyeva tapodharmadānādiphaladāyinī | śambhuśaktirmahādevī duṣṭahantrī parātparā

"That very Sati grants the fruit of austerity, righteousness, charity, and every such practice — the very Power of Shambhu, the Great Goddess, destroyer of the wicked, higher than the highest."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.51.14)

ईदृग्विधा सती देवी यस्य पत्नी सदा प्रिया । तस्यै भागो न दत्तस्ते मूढेन कुविचारिणा

īdṛgvidhā satī devī yasya patnī sadā priyā | tasyai bhāgo na dattaste mūḍhena kuvicāriṇā

"To such a goddess as Sati, the ever-beloved wife of that Lord, you, O fool of perverse judgment, gave no offering-share at all."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.51.15)

शम्भुर्हि परमेशानः सर्वस्वामी परात्परः । विष्णुब्रह्मादिसंसेव्यः सर्वकल्याणकारकः

śambhurhi parameśānaḥ sarvasvāmī parātparaḥ | viṣṇubrahmādisaṁsevyaḥ sarvakalyāṇakārakaḥ

"For Shambhu is the supreme sovereign, the lord of all, higher than the highest — served even by Vishnu and Brahma, the bringer of all auspiciousness."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.51.16)

तप्यते हि तपः सिद्धैरेतद्दर्शनकाङ्क्षिभिः । युज्यते योगिभिर्योगैरेतद्दर्शनकाङ्क्षिभिः

tapyate hi tapaḥ siddhairetaddarśanakāṅkṣibhiḥ | yujyate yogibhiryogairetaddarśanakāṅkṣibhiḥ

"It is for the sight of him that the perfected ones undertake austerity; it is for the sight of him that the yogis practice their yoga."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.51.17)

अनन्तधनधान्यानां यागादीनां तथैव च । दर्शनं शङ्करस्यैव महत्फलमुदाहृतम्

anantadhanadhānyānāṁ yāgādīnāṁ tathaiva ca | darśanaṁ śaṅkarasyaiva mahatphalamudāhṛtam

"Beyond boundless wealth and grain, and beyond sacrifices of every kind, the sight of Shankara alone is declared to be the greatest fruit of all."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.51.18)

शिव एव जगद्धाता सर्वविद्यापतिः प्रभुः । आदिविद्यावरस्वामी सर्वमङ्गलमङ्गलः

śiva eva jagaddhātā sarvavidyāpatiḥ prabhuḥ | ādividyāvarasvāmī sarvamaṅgalamaṅgalaḥ

"Shiva alone sustains the world; he is the lord of all knowledge, the master and origin of the highest wisdom, the auspiciousness of all that is auspicious."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.51.19)

तच्छक्तेर्न कृतो यस्मात्सत्करोऽद्य त्वया खल । अत एवाध्वरस्यास्य विनाशो हि भविष्यति

tacchakterna kṛto yasmātsatkaro'dya tvayā khala | ata evādhvarasyāsya vināśo hi bhaviṣyati

"Because you, O villain, have today failed to honor his very own Power, for this very reason this sacrifice shall surely be destroyed."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.51.20)

अमङ्गलं भवत्येव पूजार्हाणामपूजया । पूज्यमाना च नासौ हि यतः पूज्यतमा शिवा

amaṅgalaṁ bhavatyeva pūjārhāṇāmapūjayā | pūjyamānā ca nāsau hi yataḥ pūjyatamā śivā

"Misfortune surely follows from failing to honor those worthy of honor — and she was not honored at all, though Shiva is the most worthy of honor of all."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.51.21)

सहस्रेणापि शिरसां शेषो यत्पादजं रजः । वहत्यहरहः प्रीत्या तस्य शक्तिः शिवा सती

sahasreṇāpi śirasāṁ śeṣo yatpādajaṁ rajaḥ | vahatyaharahaḥ prītyā tasya śaktiḥ śivā satī

"Even Shesha, with his thousand heads, bears day after day, with love, the dust risen from his feet — that very Power is the auspicious Sati."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.51.22)

यत्पादपद्ममनिशं ध्यात्वा सम्पूज्य सादरम् । विष्णुर्विष्णुत्वमापन्नस्तस्य शम्भोः प्रिया सती

yatpādapadmamaniśaṁ dhyātvā sampūjya sādaram | viṣṇurviṣṇutvamāpannastasya śambhoḥ priyā satī

"By constantly meditating on and reverently worshipping whose lotus feet, Vishnu attained his very Vishnu-hood — she is that Shambhu's beloved, Sati."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.51.23)

यत्पादपद्ममनिशं ध्यात्वा सम्पूज्य सादरम् । ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मत्वमापन्नस्तस्य शम्भोः प्रिया सती

yatpādapadmamaniśaṁ dhyātvā sampūjya sādaram | brahmā brahmatvamāpannastasya śambhoḥ priyā satī

"By constantly meditating on and reverently worshipping whose lotus feet, Brahma attained his very Brahma-hood — she is that Shambhu's beloved, Sati."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.51.24)

यत्पादपद्ममनिशं ध्यात्वा सम्पूज्य सादरम् । इन्द्रादयो लोकपालाः प्रापुः स्वं स्वं परं पदम्

yatpādapadmamaniśaṁ dhyātvā sampūjya sādaram | indrādayo lokapālāḥ prāpuḥ svaṁ svaṁ paraṁ padam

"By constantly meditating on and reverently worshipping whose lotus feet, Indra and the other guardians of the directions each attained their own supreme station."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.51.25)

जगत्पिता शिवः शक्तिर्जगन्माता च सा सती । सत्कृतौ न त्वया मूढ कथं श्रेयो भविष्यति

jagatpitā śivaḥ śaktirjaganmātā ca sā satī | satkṛtau na tvayā mūḍha kathaṁ śreyo bhaviṣyati

"Shiva is the father of the world, and that Power, Sati, is the mother of the world — how, O fool, having failed to honor them, will any good ever come to you?"

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.51.26)

दौर्भाग्यं त्वयि सङ्क्रान्तं सङ्क्रान्तास्त्वयि चापदः । यौ चानाराधितौ भक्त्या भवानीशङ्करौ च तौ

daurbhāgyaṁ tvayi saṅkrāntaṁ saṅkrāntāstvayi cāpadaḥ | yau cānārādhitau bhaktyā bhavānīśaṅkarau ca tau

"Misfortune has passed into you, and calamities have passed into you — for you have failed to worship with devotion Bhavani and Shankara."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.51.27)

अनभ्यर्च्य शिवं शम्भुं कल्याणं प्राप्नुयामिति । किमस्ति गर्वो दुर्वारः स गर्वोऽद्य विनश्यति

anabhyarcya śivaṁ śambhuṁ kalyāṇaṁ prāpnuyāmiti | kimasti garvo durvāraḥ sa garvo'dya vinaśyati

"'Without worshipping Shiva Shambhu, I shall yet attain well-being' — is this the pride, unbearable, that filled you? That very pride is destroyed today."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.51.28)

सर्वेशविमुखो भूत्वा देवेष्वेतेषु कस्तव । करिष्यति सहायं तं न ते पश्यामि सर्वथा

sarveśavimukho bhūtvā deveṣveteṣu kastava | kariṣyati sahāyaṁ taṁ na te paśyāmi sarvathā

"Having turned away from the Lord of all, which among these gods here will now come to your aid? I see none at all who will help you."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.51.29)

यदि देवाः करिष्यन्ति साहाय्यमधुना तव । तदा नाशं समाप्स्यन्ति शलभा इव वह्निना

yadi devāḥ kariṣyanti sāhāyyamadhunā tava | tadā nāśaṁ samāpsyanti śalabhā iva vahninā

"If the gods now render you their help, they shall meet destruction just as moths perish in a flame."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.51.30)

ज्वलत्वद्य मुखं ते वै यज्ञध्वंसो भवत्विति । सहायास्तव यावन्तस्ते ज्वलन्त्वद्य सत्वरम्

jvalatvadya mukhaṁ te vai yajñadhvaṁso bhavatviti | sahāyāstava yāvantaste jvalantvadya satvaram

"Let your very face burn today! Let this sacrifice be utterly destroyed! And let all who stand as your helpers burn along with you, at once."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.51.31)

अमराणां च सर्वेषां शपथोऽमङ्गलाय ते । करिष्यन्त्यद्य साहाय्यं यदेतस्य दुरात्मनः

amarāṇāṁ ca sarveṣāṁ śapatho'maṅgalāya te | kariṣyantyadya sāhāyyaṁ yadetasya durātmanaḥ

"It is a solemn oath upon all the immortals — inauspicious for them — if they render aid today to this evil-souled one."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.51.32)

निर्गच्छन्त्वमराः स्वोकमेतदध्वरमण्डपात् । अन्यथा भवतो नाशो भविष्यत्यद्य सर्वथा

nirgacchantvamarāḥ svokametadadhvaramaṇḍapāt | anyathā bhavato nāśo bhaviṣyatyadya sarvathā

"Let the immortals depart at once, each to his own abode, from this sacrificial pavilion — otherwise your utter destruction shall surely come today."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.51.33)

निर्गच्छन्त्वपरे सर्वे मुनिनागादयो मखात् । अन्यथा भवतां नाशो भविष्यत्यद्य सर्वथा

nirgacchantvapare sarve munināgādayo makhāt | anyathā bhavatāṁ nāśo bhaviṣyatyadya sarvathā

"Let all the others too — sages, serpent-lords, and the rest — depart from this sacrifice — otherwise your destruction shall surely come today."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.51.34)

निर्गच्छ त्वं हरे शीघ्रमेतदध्वरमण्डपात् । अन्यथा भवतो नाशो भविष्यत्यद्य सर्वथा

nirgaccha tvaṁ hare śīghrametadadhvaramaṇḍapāt | anyathā bhavato nāśo bhaviṣyatyadya sarvathā

"Depart at once, O Hari, from this sacrificial pavilion — otherwise your destruction shall surely come today."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.51.35)

निर्गच्छ त्वं विधे शीघ्रमेतदध्वरमण्डपात् । अन्यथा भवतो नाशो भविष्यत्यद्य सर्वथा

nirgaccha tvaṁ vidhe śīghrametadadhvaramaṇḍapāt | anyathā bhavato nāśo bhaviṣyatyadya sarvathā

"Depart at once, O Vidhi, from this sacrificial pavilion — otherwise your destruction shall surely come today."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.51.36)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वाध्वरशालायामखिलायां सुसंस्थितान् ॥ व्यरमत्सा नभोवाणी सर्वकल्याणकारिणी

brahmovāca | ityuktvādhvaraśālāyāmakhilāyāṁ susaṁsthitān || vyaramatsā nabhovāṇī sarvakalyāṇakāriṇī

Brahma said: "Having thus spoken to all those assembled throughout the whole sacrificial hall, that voice from the sky, bringer of all auspiciousness, then fell silent."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.51.37)

तच्छ्रुत्वा व्योमवचनं सर्वे हर्यादयः सुराः । अकार्षुर्विस्मयं तात मुनयश्च तथापरे

tacchrutvā vyomavacanaṁ sarve haryādayaḥ surāḥ | akārṣurvismayaṁ tāta munayaśca tathāpare

"Hearing those words from the sky, O son, all the gods headed by Hari, and the sages too, were struck with wonder."