The Dialogue of Vishnu and Virabhadra

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.56.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इन्द्रोऽपि प्रहसन् विष्णुमात्मवादरतं तदा । वज्रपाणिः सुरैः सार्धं योद्धुकामोऽभवत्तदा

brahmovāca | indro'pi prahasan viṣṇumātmavādarataṁ tadā | vajrapāṇiḥ suraiḥ sārdhaṁ yoddhukāmo'bhavattadā

Brahma said: "Indra too, then laughing at Vishnu, who was intent on his own counsel, the wielder of the thunderbolt, along with the other gods, then became eager to fight."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.56.2)

तदेन्द्रो गजमारूढो बस्तारूढोऽनलस्तथा । यमो महिषमारूढो निरृतिः प्रेतमेव च

tadendro gajamārūḍho bastārūḍho'nalastathā | yamo mahiṣamārūḍho nirṛtiḥ pretameva ca

"Then Indra mounted his elephant; Agni likewise mounted his ram; Yama mounted his buffalo; and Nirriti mounted a preta."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.56.3)

पाशी च मकरारूढो मृगारूढः सदागतिः । कुबेरः पुष्पकारूढः सन्नद्धोऽभूदतन्द्रितः

pāśī ca makarārūḍho mṛgārūḍhaḥ sadāgatiḥ | kuberaḥ puṣpakārūḍhaḥ sannaddho'bhūdatandritaḥ

"Varuna, bearer of the noose, mounted his sea-monster; Vayu, ever-moving, mounted his antelope; and Kubera, mounted on the Pushpaka, armed himself, alert and unwearied."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.56.4)

तथान्ये सुरसङ्घाश्च यक्षचारणगुह्यकाः । आरुह्य वाहनान्येव स्वानि स्वानि प्रतापिनः

tathānye surasaṅghāśca yakṣacāraṇaguhyakāḥ | āruhya vāhanānyeva svāni svāni pratāpinaḥ

"So too the other hosts of gods, the yakshas, charanas, and guhyakas, those mighty ones, each mounted their own respective vehicles."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.56.5)

तेषामुद्योगमालोक्य दक्षश्चासृङ्मुखस्तथा । तदन्तिकं समागत्य सकलत्रोऽभ्यभाषत

teṣāmudyogamālokya dakṣaścāsṛṅmukhastathā | tadantikaṁ samāgatya sakalatro'bhyabhāṣata

"Seeing their eager readiness, Daksha, his face streaked with blood, came near them, together with his wife, and spoke."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.56.6)

दक्ष उवाच । युष्मद्बलेनैव मया यज्ञः प्रारम्भितो महान् । सत्कर्मसिद्धये यूयं प्रमाणाः स्युर्महाप्रभाः

dakṣa uvāca | yuṣmadbalenaiva mayā yajñaḥ prārambhito mahān | satkarmasiddhaye yūyaṁ pramāṇāḥ syurmahāprabhāḥ

Daksha said: "By your power alone did I begin this great sacrifice; for the accomplishment of righteous deeds, may you, great and mighty ones, be my very authority."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.56.7)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा दक्षवचनं सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः । निर्ययुस्त्वरितं तत्र युद्धं कर्तुं समुद्यताः

brahmovāca | tacchrutvā dakṣavacanaṁ sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ | niryayustvaritaṁ tatra yuddhaṁ kartuṁ samudyatāḥ

Brahma said: "Hearing Daksha's words, all the gods, with Vasava among them, went forth swiftly, resolved to do battle there."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.56.8)

अथ देवगणाः सर्वे युयुधुस्ते बलान्विताः । शक्रादयो लोकपाला मोहिताः शिवमायया

atha devagaṇāḥ sarve yuyudhuste balānvitāḥ | śakrādayo lokapālā mohitāḥ śivamāyayā

"Then all the hosts of gods, filled with their own strength, joined battle — Shakra and the other guardians of the directions, deluded by Shiva's own māyā."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.56.9)

देवानां च गणानां च तदासीत्समरो महान् । तीक्ष्णतोमरनाराचैर्युयुधुस्ते परस्परम्

devānāṁ ca gaṇānāṁ ca tadāsītsamaro mahān | tīkṣṇatomaranārācairyuyudhuste parasparam

"Then a great battle broke out between the gods and the ganas; they fought one another with sharp spears and iron arrows."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.56.10)

नेदुः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च तस्मिन् रणमहोत्सवे । महादुन्दुभयो नेदुः पटहा डिण्डिमादयः

neduḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca tasmin raṇamahotsave | mahādundubhayo neduḥ paṭahā ḍiṇḍimādayaḥ

"Conches and war-drums sounded in that great festival of battle; mighty kettledrums roared, along with tabors and smaller drums."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.56.11)

तेन शब्देन महता श्लाघ्यमानास्तदा सुराः । लोकपालैश्च सहिता जघ्नुस्तान् शिवकिङ्करान्

tena śabdena mahatā ślāghyamānāstadā surāḥ | lokapālaiśca sahitā jaghnustān śivakiṅkarān

"By that mighty sound, exulting in themselves, the gods, together with the guardians of the directions, then struck at Shiva's own servants."

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.56.12)

इन्द्राद्यैर्लोकपालैश्च गणाः शम्भोः पराङ्मुखाः । कृताश्च मुनिशार्दूल भृगोर्मन्त्रबलेन च

indrādyairlokapālaiśca gaṇāḥ śambhoḥ parāṅmukhāḥ | kṛtāśca muniśārdūla bhṛgormantrabalena ca

"By Indra and the other guardians, and by the power of Bhrigu's mantra, O tiger among sages, Shambhu's own ganas were made to turn back."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.56.13)

उच्चाटनं कृतं तेषां भृगुणा यज्वना तदा । यजनार्थं च देवानां तुष्ट्यर्थं दीक्षितस्य च

uccāṭanaṁ kṛtaṁ teṣāṁ bhṛguṇā yajvanā tadā | yajanārthaṁ ca devānāṁ tuṣṭyarthaṁ dīkṣitasya ca

"Bhrigu, that skilled performer of sacrifice, then worked a rite of banishment against them, for the sake of the gods' worship, and to please the one who had taken the sacrificial vow."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.56.14)

पराजितान् स्वकान् दृष्ट्वा वीरभद्रो रुषान्वितः । भूतप्रेतपिशाचांश्च कृत्वा तानेव पृष्ठतः

parājitān svakān dṛṣṭvā vīrabhadro ruṣānvitaḥ | bhūtapretapiśācāṁśca kṛtvā tāneva pṛṣṭhataḥ

"Seeing his own hosts defeated, Virabhadra, filled with rage, placed the spirits, ghosts, and demons behind him,"

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.56.15)

वृषभस्थान् पुरस्कृत्य स्वयं चैव महाबलः । महात्रिशूलमादाय पातयामास निर्जरान्

vṛṣabhasthān puraskṛtya svayaṁ caiva mahābalaḥ | mahātriśūlamādāya pātayāmāsa nirjarān

"— and setting the bull-mounted ones in front, the mighty hero himself, taking up his great trident, struck down the immortals."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.56.16)

देवान् यक्षान् साध्यगणान् गुह्यकान् चारणानपि । शूलघातैश्च ते सर्वे गणा वेगात् प्रजघ्निरे

devān yakṣān sādhyagaṇān guhyakān cāraṇānapi | śūlaghātaiśca te sarve gaṇā vegāt prajaghnire

"All those ganas, with blows of their tridents, swiftly struck down the gods, the yakshas, the Sadhya hosts, the guhyakas, and the charanas too."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.56.17)

केचिद् द्विधा कृताः खड्गैर्मुद्गरैश्च विपोथिताः । अन्यैः शस्त्रैरपि सुरा गणैर्भिन्नास्तदाभवन्

kecid dvidhā kṛtāḥ khaḍgairmudgaraiśca vipothitāḥ | anyaiḥ śastrairapi surā gaṇairbhinnāstadābhavan

"Some were cleft in two by swords, others crushed with maces; the gods were struck down and torn asunder by the ganas with other weapons besides."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.56.18)

एवं पराजिताः सर्वे पलायनपरायणाः । परस्परं परित्यज्य गता देवास्त्रिविष्टपम्

evaṁ parājitāḥ sarve palāyanaparāyaṇāḥ | parasparaṁ parityajya gatā devāstriviṣṭapam

"Thus utterly defeated, and given wholly over to flight, the gods abandoned one another and fled to heaven."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.56.19)

केवलं लोकपालास्ते शक्राद्यास्तस्थुरुत्सुकाः । सङ्ग्रामे दारुणे तस्मिन् धृत्वा धैर्यं महाबलाः

kevalaṁ lokapālāste śakrādyāstasthurutsukāḥ | saṅgrāme dāruṇe tasmin dhṛtvā dhairyaṁ mahābalāḥ

"Only the guardians of the directions, Shakra and the rest, remained standing, eager still, those mighty ones, holding firm their courage in that terrible battle."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.56.20)

सर्वे मिलित्वा शक्राद्या देवास्तत्र रणाजिरे । बृहस्पतिं च पप्रच्छुर्विनयावनतास्तदा

sarve militvā śakrādyā devāstatra raṇājire | bṛhaspatiṁ ca papracchurvinayāvanatāstadā

"All the gods, Shakra and the rest, gathering together there on that field of battle, then, bowing humbly, questioned Brihaspati."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.56.21)

लोकपाला ऊचुः । गुरो बृहस्पते तात महाप्राज्ञ दयानिधे । शीघ्रं वद पृच्छतो नः कुतोऽस्माकं जयो भवेत्

lokapālā ūcuḥ | guro bṛhaspate tāta mahāprājña dayānidhe | śīghraṁ vada pṛcchato naḥ kuto'smākaṁ jayo bhavet

The guardians of the directions said: "O Guru Brihaspati, father, greatly wise one, treasury of compassion! Tell us quickly, as we ask — from where shall our victory come?"

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.56.22)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तेषां स्मृत्वा शम्भुं प्रयत्नवान् । बृहस्पतिरुवाचेदं महेन्द्रं ज्ञानदुर्बलम्

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vacasteṣāṁ smṛtvā śambhuṁ prayatnavān | bṛhaspatiruvācedaṁ mahendraṁ jñānadurbalam

Brahma said: "Hearing their words, and diligently calling Shambhu to mind, Brihaspati then spoke these words to great Indra, weak in true understanding."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.56.23)

बृहस्पतिरुवाच । यदुक्तं विष्णुना पूर्वं तत्सर्वं जातमद्य वै । तदेव विवृणोमीन्द्र सावधानतया शृणु

bṛhaspatiruvāca | yaduktaṁ viṣṇunā pūrvaṁ tatsarvaṁ jātamadya vai | tadeva vivṛṇomīndra sāvadhānatayā śṛṇu

Brihaspati said: "All that Vishnu spoke of before has indeed now come to pass. I shall now explain it fully — listen, Indra, with full attention."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.56.24)

अस्ति यश्चेश्वरः कश्चित् फलदः सर्वकर्मणाम् । कर्तारं भजते सोऽपि न स्वकर्तुः प्रभुर्हि सः

asti yaśceśvaraḥ kaścit phaladaḥ sarvakarmaṇām | kartāraṁ bhajate so'pi na svakartuḥ prabhurhi saḥ

"There is indeed a certain Lord who grants the fruit of every action; even the doer of an act depends upon Him, for he himself is not the master of his own deed."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.56.25)

न मन्त्रौषधयः सर्वे नाभिचारा न लौकिकाः । न कर्माणि न वेदाश्च न मीमांसाद्वयं तथा

na mantrauṣadhayaḥ sarve nābhicārā na laukikāḥ | na karmāṇi na vedāśca na mīmāṁsādvayaṁ tathā

"Not all mantras and herbs, nor sorceries, nor worldly means; not rituals, nor the Vedas, nor the two schools of Mimamsa either —"

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.56.26)

अन्यान्यपि च शास्त्राणि नानावेदयुतानि च । ज्ञातुं नेशं सम्भवन्ति वदन्त्येवं पुरातनाः

anyānyapi ca śāstrāṇi nānāvedayutāni ca | jñātuṁ neśaṁ sambhavanti vadantyevaṁ purātanāḥ

"— nor other scriptures too, endowed with their various Vedic branches, are able to know the Lord: so declare the ancients."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.56.27)

न स्वज्ञेयो महेशानः सर्ववेदायुतेन सः । भक्तैरनन्यशरणैर्नान्यथेति महाश्रुतिः

na svajñeyo maheśānaḥ sarvavedāyutena saḥ | bhaktairananyaśaraṇairnānyatheti mahāśrutiḥ

"The great Lord cannot be known even by one endowed with all the Vedas by his own effort — only by devotees who take refuge in no other, and in no other way: so declares the great scripture."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.56.28)

शान्त्या च परया दृष्ट्या सर्वथा निर्विकारया । तदनुग्रहतो नूनं ज्ञातव्यो हि सदाशिवः

śāntyā ca parayā dṛṣṭyā sarvathā nirvikārayā | tadanugrahato nūnaṁ jñātavyo hi sadāśivaḥ

"Only through supreme tranquility, and through a vision utterly free of all change, and, surely, only by his own grace, is Sadashiva to be known."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.56.29)

परं तु संवदिष्यामि कार्याकार्य विवक्षितौ । सिद्धयंशं च सुरेशान तं शृणु त्वं हिताय वै

paraṁ tu saṁvadiṣyāmi kāryākārya vivakṣitau | siddhayaṁśaṁ ca sureśāna taṁ śṛṇu tvaṁ hitāya vai

"But further I shall tell you what is truly to be done and what is not, and the measure of success in it, O lord of gods — listen to it, indeed for your own good."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.56.30)

त्वमिन्द्र बालिशो भूत्वा लोकपालैः सहाद्य वै । आगतो दक्षयज्ञं हि किं करिष्यसि विक्रमम्

tvamindra bāliśo bhūtvā lokapālaiḥ sahādya vai | āgato dakṣayajñaṁ hi kiṁ kariṣyasi vikramam

"You, Indra, together with the guardians of the directions, have come here today to Daksha's sacrifice like a mere child — what feat of valor do you imagine you will achieve?"

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.56.31)

एते रुद्रसहायाश्च गणाः परमकोपनाः । आगता यज्ञविघ्नार्थं तं करिष्यन्त्यसंशयम्

ete rudrasahāyāśca gaṇāḥ paramakopanāḥ | āgatā yajñavighnārthaṁ taṁ kariṣyantyasaṁśayam

"These allies of Rudra, these ganas, utterly enraged, have come here for the very purpose of obstructing the sacrifice — and that purpose they shall achieve without doubt."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.56.32)

सर्वथा न ह्युपायोऽत्र केषाञ्चिदपि तत्त्वतः । यज्ञविघ्नविनाशार्थं सत्यं सत्यं ब्रवीम्यहम्

sarvathā na hyupāyo'tra keṣāñcidapi tattvataḥ | yajñavighnavināśārthaṁ satyaṁ satyaṁ bravīmyaham

"There is, in truth, no means whatsoever available to anyone here to undo this obstruction to the sacrifice — this I say to you truly, truly."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.56.33)

ब्रह्मोवाच । एवं बृहस्पतेर्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा ते हि दिवौकसः । चिन्तामापेदिरे सर्वे लोकपालाः सवासवाः

brahmovāca | evaṁ bṛhaspatervākyaṁ śrutvā te hi divaukasaḥ | cintāmāpedire sarve lokapālāḥ savāsavāḥ

Brahma said: "Hearing these words of Brihaspati, all those dwellers in heaven, the guardians of the directions with Indra among them, fell into deep anxiety."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.56.34)

ततोऽब्रवीद् वीरभद्रो महावीरगणैर्वृतः । इन्द्रादीन् लोकपालांस्तान् स्मृत्वा मनसि शङ्करम्

tato'bravīd vīrabhadro mahāvīragaṇairvṛtaḥ | indrādīn lokapālāṁstān smṛtvā manasi śaṅkaram

"Then Virabhadra, surrounded by his great heroic hosts, calling Shankara to mind, spoke to Indra and the other guardians of the directions."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.56.35)

वीरभद्र उवाच । सर्वे यूयं बालिशत्वादवदानार्थमागताः । अवदानं प्रयच्छामि आगच्छत ममान्तिकम्

vīrabhadra uvāca | sarve yūyaṁ bāliśatvādavadānārthamāgatāḥ | avadānaṁ prayacchāmi āgacchata mamāntikam

Virabhadra said: "All of you, out of sheer childishness, have come here seeking your sacrificial portion — very well, I shall grant you your portion; come, approach me."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.56.36)

हे शक्र हे शुचे भानो हे शशिन् हे धनाधिप । हे पाशपाणे हे वायो निरृते यम शेष हे

he śakra he śuce bhāno he śaśin he dhanādhipa | he pāśapāṇe he vāyo nirṛte yama śeṣa he

"O Shakra, O radiant Sun, O Moon, O lord of wealth! O noose-bearer, O Vayu, O Nirriti, O Yama, O Shesha!"

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.56.37)

हे सुरासुरसङ्घा हीहैत यूयं विचक्षणाः । अवदानानि दास्यामि आतृप्त्याद्यासतां वरान्

he surāsurasaṅghā hīhaita yūyaṁ vicakṣaṇāḥ | avadānāni dāsyāmi ātṛptyādyāsatāṁ varān

"O hosts of gods and demons — come here, all you who are so wise! I shall give you your portions now, until you are fully satisfied — so let the finest of you come."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.56.38)

ब्रह्मोवाच । एवमुक्त्वा सितैर्बाणैर्जघानाथ रुषान्वितः । निखिलांस्तान् सुरान् सद्यो वीरभद्रो गणाग्रणीः । तैर्बाणैर्निहताःसर्वे वासवाद्याः सुरेश्वराः

brahmovāca | evamuktvā sitairbāṇairjaghānātha ruṣānvitaḥ | nikhilāṁstān surān sadyo vīrabhadro gaṇāgraṇīḥ | tairbāṇairnihatāḥsarve vāsavādyāḥ sureśvarāḥ

Brahma said: "Having said this, Virabhadra, foremost of the ganas, filled with fury, struck down all those gods at once with his gleaming arrows — Vasava and all the other lords of the gods fell, struck by those very arrows."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.56.39)

पलायनपरा भूत्वा जग्मुस्ते च दिशो दश । गतेषु लोकपालेषु विद्रुतेषु सुरेषु च ॥ यज्ञवाटोपकण्ठे हि वीरभद्रोऽगमद् गणैः

palāyanaparā bhūtvā jagmuste ca diśo daśa | gateṣu lokapāleṣu vidruteṣu sureṣu ca || yajñavāṭopakaṇṭhe hi vīrabhadro'gamad gaṇaiḥ

"Given wholly over to flight, they scattered to the ten directions; and, once the guardians of the directions had gone and the gods had fled, Virabhadra, with his hosts, then advanced to the very edge of the sacrificial enclosure."

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.56.40)

तदा ते ऋषयः सर्वे सुभीता हि रमेश्वरम् । विज्ञप्तुकामाः सहसा शीघ्रमूचुर्नता भृशम्

tadā te ṛṣayaḥ sarve subhītā hi rameśvaram | vijñaptukāmāḥ sahasā śīghramūcurnatā bhṛśam

"Then all those sages, greatly afraid, wishing to entreat Rameshvara, at once, bowing low, spoke to him swiftly."

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.56.41)

ऋषय ऊचुः । देवदेव रमानाथ सर्वेश्वर महाप्रभो । रक्ष यज्ञं हि दक्षस्य यज्ञोऽसि त्वं न संशयः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | devadeva ramānātha sarveśvara mahāprabho | rakṣa yajñaṁ hi dakṣasya yajño'si tvaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

The sages said: "O God of gods, Lord of Rama, Lord of all, great Sovereign! Protect this sacrifice of Daksha — for you yourself are the sacrifice, without doubt."

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.56.42)

यज्ञकर्मा यज्ञरूपो यज्ञाङ्गो यज्ञरक्षकः । रक्ष यज्ञमतो रक्ष त्वत्तोऽन्यो न हि रक्षकः

yajñakarmā yajñarūpo yajñāṅgo yajñarakṣakaḥ | rakṣa yajñamato rakṣa tvatto'nyo na hi rakṣakaḥ

"You are the performer of the sacrifice, its very form, its limb, and its protector — therefore protect this sacrifice, protect it, for there is no protector other than you."

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.56.43)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तेषामृषीणां वचनं हरिः । योद्धुकामोऽभवद्विष्णुर्वीरभद्रेण तेन वै

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vacasteṣāmṛṣīṇāṁ vacanaṁ hariḥ | yoddhukāmo'bhavadviṣṇurvīrabhadreṇa tena vai

Brahma said: "Hearing these words of the sages, Hari, that is, Vishnu, then became eager to do battle with that very Virabhadra."

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.56.44)

चतुर्भुजः सुसन्नद्धो चक्रायुधधरः करैः । महाबलोऽमरगणैर्यज्ञवाटात्स निर्ययौ

caturbhujaḥ susannaddho cakrāyudhadharaḥ karaiḥ | mahābalo'maragaṇairyajñavāṭātsa niryayau

"Four-armed, well-armored, his hands bearing the discus and other weapons, that mighty one went forth from the sacrificial enclosure, together with the hosts of immortals."

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.56.45)

वीरभद्रः शूलपाणिर्नानागणसमन्वितः । ददर्श विष्णुं सन्नद्धं योद्धुकामं महाप्रभुम्

vīrabhadraḥ śūlapāṇirnānāgaṇasamanvitaḥ | dadarśa viṣṇuṁ sannaddhaṁ yoddhukāmaṁ mahāprabhum

"Virabhadra, trident in hand, accompanied by his many hosts, then saw Vishnu, that great Lord, armored and eager for battle."

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.56.46)

तं दृष्ट्वा वीरभद्रोऽभूद् भ्रुकुटीकुटिलाननः । कृतान्त इव पापिष्ठं मृगेन्द्र इव वारणम्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā vīrabhadro'bhūd bhrukuṭīkuṭilānanaḥ | kṛtānta iva pāpiṣṭhaṁ mṛgendra iva vāraṇam

"Seeing him, Virabhadra's face grew twisted with a frown — like Death himself before the wicked, or a lion before an elephant."

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.56.47)

तथाविधं हरिं दृष्ट्वा वीरभद्रोऽरिमर्दनः । अवदत्त्वरितः क्रुद्धो गणैर्वीरैः समावृतः

tathāvidhaṁ hariṁ dṛṣṭvā vīrabhadro'rimardanaḥ | avadattvaritaḥ kruddho gaṇairvīraiḥ samāvṛtaḥ

"Seeing Hari thus arrayed, Virabhadra, the crusher of foes, surrounded by his heroic hosts, spoke swiftly and in anger."

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.56.48)

वीरभद्र उवाच । रे रे हरे महादेवशपथोल्लङ्घनं त्वया । कथमद्य कृतं चित्ते गर्वः किमभवत्तव

vīrabhadra uvāca | re re hare mahādevaśapathollaṅghanaṁ tvayā | kathamadya kṛtaṁ citte garvaḥ kimabhavattava

Virabhadra said: "Ho, Hari! How have you today transgressed the very oath sworn upon Mahadeva? What pride has arisen in your heart?"

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.56.49)

तव श्रीरुद्रशपथोल्लङ्घने शक्तिरस्ति किम् । को वा त्वमसि को वा ते रक्षकोऽस्ति जगत्त्रये

tava śrīrudraśapathollaṅghane śaktirasti kim | ko vā tvamasi ko vā te rakṣako'sti jagattraye

"Do you truly have the power to transgress an oath sworn upon the glorious Rudra? Who indeed are you, and who is there to protect you in all three worlds?"

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.56.50)

अत्र त्वमागतः कस्माद्वयं तन्नैव विद्महे । दक्षस्य यज्ञपाता त्वं कथं जातोऽसि तद्वद

atra tvamāgataḥ kasmādvayaṁ tannaiva vidmahe | dakṣasya yajñapātā tvaṁ kathaṁ jāto'si tadvada

"Why you have come here, we simply do not know — how have you become the protector of Daksha's sacrifice? Tell me that."

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.56.51)

दाक्षायण्या कृतं यच्च तन्न दृष्टं किमु त्वया । प्रोक्तं यच्च दधीचेन श्रुतं तन्न किमु त्वया

dākṣāyaṇyā kṛtaṁ yacca tanna dṛṣṭaṁ kimu tvayā | proktaṁ yacca dadhīcena śrutaṁ tanna kimu tvayā

"Have you not seen what Dakshayani did? And have you not heard what Dadhichi declared?"

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.56.52)

त्वं चापि दक्षयज्ञेऽस्मिन् अवदानार्थमागतः । अवदानं प्रयच्छामि तव चापि महाभुज

tvaṁ cāpi dakṣayajñe'smin avadānārthamāgataḥ | avadānaṁ prayacchāmi tava cāpi mahābhuja

"You too, it seems, have come to this sacrifice of Daksha seeking your own portion — very well, O mighty-armed one, I shall grant your portion to you as well."

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.56.53)

वक्षो विदारयिष्यामि त्रिशूलेन हरे तव । कस्तवास्ति समायातो रक्षकोऽद्य ममान्तिकम्

vakṣo vidārayiṣyāmi triśūlena hare tava | kastavāsti samāyāto rakṣako'dya mamāntikam

"I shall tear open your very chest with my trident, O Hari — who is there who has come today to protect you from me?"

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.56.54)

पातयिष्यामि भूपृष्ठे ज्वालयिष्यामि वह्निना । दग्धं भवन्तमधुना पेषयिष्यामि सत्वरम्

pātayiṣyāmi bhūpṛṣṭhe jvālayiṣyāmi vahninā | dagdhaṁ bhavantamadhunā peṣayiṣyāmi satvaram

"I shall cast you down upon the surface of the earth; I shall set you ablaze with fire; and having burned you, I shall now swiftly grind you to dust."

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.56.55)

रे रे हरे दुराचार महेशविमुखाधम । श्रीमहारुद्रमाहात्म्यं किन्न जानासि पावनम्

re re hare durācāra maheśavimukhādhama | śrīmahārudramāhātmyaṁ kinna jānāsi pāvanam

"Ho, Hari, you of evil conduct, basest of those turned away from Mahesha! Do you not know the sacred greatness of the glorious Maharudra?"

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.56.56)

अथापि त्वं महाबाहो योद्धुकामोऽग्रतः स्थितः । नेष्यामि पुनरावृत्तिं यदि तिष्ठेस्त्वमात्मना

athāpi tvaṁ mahābāho yoddhukāmo'grataḥ sthitaḥ | neṣyāmi punarāvṛttiṁ yadi tiṣṭhestvamātmanā

"And yet, O mighty-armed one, since you stand before me eager to fight, I shall not let you turn back again, if you take your stand of your own will."

Verse 57 (shiva.rudra.56.57)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वीरभद्रस्य बुद्धिमान् । उवाच विहसन् प्रीत्या विष्णुस्तत्र सुरेश्वरः

brahmovāca | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā vīrabhadrasya buddhimān | uvāca vihasan prītyā viṣṇustatra sureśvaraḥ

Brahma said: "Hearing those words of Virabhadra, the wise Vishnu, lord of the gods, laughed there with delight and spoke."

Verse 58 (shiva.rudra.56.58)

विष्णुरुवाच । शृणु त्वं वीरभद्राद्य प्रवक्ष्यामि त्वदग्रतः । न रुद्रविमुखं मां त्वं वद शङ्करसेवकम्

viṣṇuruvāca | śṛṇu tvaṁ vīrabhadrādya pravakṣyāmi tvadagrataḥ | na rudravimukhaṁ māṁ tvaṁ vada śaṅkarasevakam

Vishnu said: "Listen, Virabhadra — I shall now speak before you. Do not call me one turned away from Rudra; call me, rather, a servant of Shankara."

Verse 59 (shiva.rudra.56.59)

अनेन प्रार्थितः पूर्वं यज्ञार्थं च पुनः पुनः । दक्षेणाविदितार्थेन कर्मनिष्ठेन मौढ्यतः

anena prārthitaḥ pūrvaṁ yajñārthaṁ ca punaḥ punaḥ | dakṣeṇāviditārthena karmaniṣṭhena mauḍhyataḥ

"I was entreated, again and again, for this sacrifice, by this Daksha, ignorant of the truth, devoted only to ritual action out of sheer folly."

Verse 60 (shiva.rudra.56.60)

अहं भक्तपराधीनस्तथा सोऽपि महेश्वरः । दक्षो भक्तो हि मे तात तस्मादत्रागतो मखे

ahaṁ bhaktaparādhīnastathā so'pi maheśvaraḥ | dakṣo bhakto hi me tāta tasmādatrāgato makhe

"I am ever subject to my devotees, and so too is that great Lord himself. Daksha, O son, is indeed my devotee — that is why I came to this sacrifice."

Verse 61 (shiva.rudra.56.61)

शृणु प्रतिज्ञां मे वीर रुद्रकोपसमुद्भव । रुद्रतेजःस्वरूपो हि सुप्रतापालय प्रभो

śṛṇu pratijñāṁ me vīra rudrakopasamudbhava | rudratejaḥsvarūpo hi supratāpālaya prabho

"Hear my resolve, O hero, born of Rudra's own wrath, you who are the very form of Rudra's splendor, O lord of mighty valor."

Verse 62 (shiva.rudra.56.62)

अहं निवारयामि त्वां त्वं च मां विनिवारय । तद्भविष्यति यद्भावि करिष्येऽहं पराक्रमम्

ahaṁ nivārayāmi tvāṁ tvaṁ ca māṁ vinivāraya | tadbhaviṣyati yadbhāvi kariṣye'haṁ parākramam

"I shall try to resist you, and you likewise try to resist me — whatever is destined shall come to pass; I too shall make my own show of valor."

Verse 63 (shiva.rudra.56.63)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्तवति गोविन्दे प्रहस्य स महाभुजः । अवदत्सुप्रसन्नोऽस्मि त्वां ज्ञात्वास्मत्प्रभोः प्रियम्

brahmovāca | ityuktavati govinde prahasya sa mahābhujaḥ | avadatsuprasanno'smi tvāṁ jñātvāsmatprabhoḥ priyam

Brahma said: "When Govinda had spoken thus, that mighty-armed one laughed and said: 'I am well pleased, now that I know you to be dear to our own Lord.'"

Verse 64 (shiva.rudra.56.64)

ततो विहस्य सुप्रीतो वीरभद्रो गणाग्रणीः । प्रश्रयावनतोऽवादीद्विष्णुं देवं हि तत्त्वतः

tato vihasya suprīto vīrabhadro gaṇāgraṇīḥ | praśrayāvanato'vādīdviṣṇuṁ devaṁ hi tattvataḥ

"Then Virabhadra, foremost of the ganas, laughing and greatly pleased, bowing in humility, spoke truthfully to the god Vishnu."

Verse 65 (shiva.rudra.56.65)

वीरभद्र उवाच । तव भावपरीक्षार्थमित्युक्तं मे महाप्रभो । इदानीं तत्त्वतो वच्मि शृणु त्वं सावधानतः

vīrabhadra uvāca | tava bhāvaparīkṣārthamityuktaṁ me mahāprabho | idānīṁ tattvato vacmi śṛṇu tvaṁ sāvadhānataḥ

Virabhadra said: "All that I said, O great Lord, was only to test your true disposition. Now I shall tell you the truth of it — listen with full attention."

Verse 66 (shiva.rudra.56.66)

यथा शिवस्तथा त्वं हि यथा त्वं च तथा शिवः । इति वेदा वर्णयन्ति शिवशासनतो हरे

yathā śivastathā tvaṁ hi yathā tvaṁ ca tathā śivaḥ | iti vedā varṇayanti śivaśāsanato hare

"As Shiva is, so indeed are you; and as you are, so is Shiva — thus do the Vedas declare, O Hari, by Shiva's own ordinance."

Verse 67 (shiva.rudra.56.67)

शिवाज्ञया वयं सर्वे सेवकाः शङ्करस्य वै । तथापि च रमानाथ प्रवादोचितमादरात्

śivājñayā vayaṁ sarve sevakāḥ śaṅkarasya vai | tathāpi ca ramānātha pravādocitamādarāt

"By Shiva's command, all of us alike are but servants of Shankara — and yet, O Lord of Rama, all this was said only as fitting show, out of due respect."

Verse 68 (shiva.rudra.56.68)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य वीरभद्रस्य सोऽच्युतः । प्रहस्य चेदं प्रोवाच वीरभद्रमिदं वचः

brahmovāca | tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya vīrabhadrasya so'cyutaḥ | prahasya cedaṁ provāca vīrabhadramidaṁ vacaḥ

Brahma said: "Hearing those words of Virabhadra, that Achyuta, laughing, then spoke these words to Virabhadra."

Verse 69 (shiva.rudra.56.69)

विष्णुरुवाच । युद्धं कुरु महावीर मया सार्धमशङ्कितः । तवास्त्रैः पूर्यमाणोऽहं गमिष्यामि स्वमाश्रमम्

viṣṇuruvāca | yuddhaṁ kuru mahāvīra mayā sārdhamaśaṅkitaḥ | tavāstraiḥ pūryamāṇo'haṁ gamiṣyāmi svamāśramam

Vishnu said: "Do battle with me then, great hero, without any hesitation — filled full by your very weapons, I shall go to my own abode."

Verse 70 (shiva.rudra.56.70)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा हि विरम्यासौ सन्नद्धोऽभूद् रणाय च । स्वगणैर्वीरभद्रोऽपि सन्नद्धोऽभून्महाबलः

brahmovāca | ityuktvā hi viramyāsau sannaddho'bhūd raṇāya ca | svagaṇairvīrabhadro'pi sannaddho'bhūnmahābalaḥ

Brahma said: "Having said this, he fell silent and armed himself for battle; and Virabhadra too, mighty as he was, armed himself together with his own hosts."