The Gods' Hymn to the Goddess

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.66.1)

नारद उवाच । विधे प्राज्ञ महाधीमन्वद मे वदतां वर । ततः परं किमभवच्चरितं विष्णुसद्गुरोः

nārada uvāca vidhe prājña mahādhīmanvada me vadatāṁ vara tataḥ paraṁ kimabhavaccaritaṁ viṣṇusadguroḥ

Narada said: "O wise Creator, of great intellect, best of speakers — tell me what happened next in this account, O truest of teachers."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.66.2)

अद्भुतेयं कथा प्रोक्ता मेनापूर्वगतिः शुभा । विवाहश्च श्रुतः सम्यक् परमं चरितं वद

adbhuteyaṁ kathā proktā menāpūrvagatiḥ śubhā vivāhaśca śrutaḥ samyak paramaṁ caritaṁ vada

"This wondrous and auspicious account of Mena's former life has been told, and the marriage too I have heard in full — now tell me the supreme account that follows."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.66.3)

मेनां विवाह्य स गिरिः कृतवान् किं ततः परम् । पार्वती कथमुत्पन्ना तस्यां वै जगदम्बिका

menāṁ vivāhya sa giriḥ kṛtavān kiṁ tataḥ param pārvatī kathamutpannā tasyāṁ vai jagadambikā

"Having married Mena, what did that mountain do thereafter? How was Parvati, the Mother of the universe, born to her?"

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.66.4)

तपः सुदुस्सहं कृत्वा कथं प्राप पतिं हरम् । एतत्सर्वं समाचक्ष्व विस्तराच्छाङ्करं यशः

tapaḥ sudussahaṁ kṛtvā kathaṁ prāpa patiṁ haram etatsarvaṁ samācakṣva vistarācchāṅkaraṁ yaśaḥ

"And by performing what unbearable austerity did she obtain Hara as her husband? Relate all this, the glory of Shankara, in full detail."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.66.5)

ब्रह्मोवाच । मुने त्वं शृणु सुप्रीत्या शाङ्करं सुयशः शुभम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा ब्रह्महा शुद्ध्येत्सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्

brahmovāca mune tvaṁ śṛṇu suprītyā śāṅkaraṁ suyaśaḥ śubham yacchrutvā brahmahā śuddhyetsarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt

Brahma said: "O sage, listen with delight to this fine and auspicious glory of Shankara, hearing which even a slayer of a brahmin would be purified and obtain all desires.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.66.6)

यदा मेनाविवाहं तु कृत्वागच्छद्गिरिर्गृहम् । तदा समुत्सवो जातस्त्रिषु लोकेषु नारद

yadā menāvivāhaṁ tu kṛtvāgacchadgirirgṛham tadā samutsavo jātastriṣu lokeṣu nārada

"When, having married Mena, the mountain returned home, then, O Narada, a great festival arose in the three worlds.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.66.7)

हिमाचलोऽपि सुप्रीतश्चकार परमोत्सवम् । भूसुरान् बन्धुवर्गांश्च परानानर्च सद्धिया

himācalo'pi suprītaścakāra paramotsavam bhūsurān bandhuvargāṁśca parānānarca saddhiyā

"Himachal too, greatly delighted, held a supreme festival; with a virtuous mind he honored the brahmins, his kinsfolk, and others.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.66.8)

सर्वे द्विजाश्च सन्तुष्टा दत्त्वाशीर्वचनं वरम् । ययुस्तस्मै स्वस्वधाम बन्धुवर्गास्तथापरे

sarve dvijāśca santuṣṭā dattvāśīrvacanaṁ varam yayustasmai svasvadhāma bandhuvargāstathāpare

"All the brahmins, well satisfied, having given their choicest blessings, departed to their own homes, as did the kinsfolk and others.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.66.9)

हिमाचलोऽपि सुप्रीतो मेनया सुखदे गृहे । रेमेऽन्यत्र च सुस्थाने नन्दनादिवनेष्वपि

himācalo'pi suprīto menayā sukhade gṛhe reme'nyatra ca susthāne nandanādivaneṣvapi

"Himachal, greatly delighted, sported with Mena in his joyous home, and also elsewhere in fair places, even in gardens like Nandana.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.66.10)

तस्मिन्नवसरे देवा मुने विष्ण्वादयोऽखिलाः । मुनयश्च महात्मानः प्रजग्मुर्भूधरान्तिके

tasminnavasare devā mune viṣṇvādayo'khilāḥ munayaśca mahātmānaḥ prajagmurbhūdharāntike

"At that time, O sage, all the gods beginning with Vishnu, and the great-souled sages, went near to the mountain.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.66.11)

दृष्ट्वा तानागतान्देवान्प्रणनाम मुदा गिरिः । सम्मानं कृतवान् भक्त्या प्रशंसन् स्वविधिं महान्

dṛṣṭvā tānāgatāndevānpraṇanāma mudā giriḥ sammānaṁ kṛtavān bhaktyā praśaṁsan svavidhiṁ mahān

"Seeing those gods arrive, the mountain bowed to them with joy; the great one honored them with devotion, praising his own good fortune.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.66.12)

साञ्जलिर्नतशीर्षो हि स तुष्टाव सुभक्तितः । रोमोद्गमो महानासीद्गिरेः प्रेमाश्रवोऽपतन्

sāñjalirnataśīrṣo hi sa tuṣṭāva subhaktitaḥ romodgamo mahānāsīdgireḥ premāśravo'patan

"With joined palms and bowed head, he praised them with deep devotion; a great horripilation came over the mountain, and tears of love fell from him.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.66.13)

ततः प्रणम्य सुप्रीतो हिमशैलः प्रसन्नधीः । उवाच प्रणतो भूत्वा मुने विष्ण्वादिकान्सुरान्

tataḥ praṇamya suprīto himaśailaḥ prasannadhīḥ uvāca praṇato bhūtvā mune viṣṇvādikānsurān

"Then, having bowed, the snow-mountain, delighted and clear of mind, having become humble, O sage, spoke to the gods beginning with Vishnu.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.66.14)

हिमाचल उवाच । अद्य मे सफलं जन्म सफलं सुमहत्तपः । अद्य मे सफलं ज्ञानमद्य मे सफलाः क्रियाः

himācala uvāca adya me saphalaṁ janma saphalaṁ sumahattapaḥ adya me saphalaṁ jñānamadya me saphalāḥ kriyāḥ

Himachal said: "Today my birth is fruitful, my great austerity is fruitful; today my knowledge is fruitful, today my rites are fruitful.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.66.15)

धन्योऽहमद्य सञ्जातो धन्या मे सकला क्षितिः । धन्यं कुलं तथा दाराः सर्वं धन्यं न संशयः

dhanyo'hamadya sañjāto dhanyā me sakalā kṣitiḥ dhanyaṁ kulaṁ tathā dārāḥ sarvaṁ dhanyaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

"Today I have become blessed, my whole land is blessed; my lineage and my wife are blessed — everything is blessed, without doubt.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.66.16)

यतः समागता यूयं मिलित्वा सर्व एकदा । मां निदेशयत प्रीत्योचितं मत्वा स्वसेवकम्

yataḥ samāgatā yūyaṁ militvā sarva ekadā māṁ nideśayata prītyocitaṁ matvā svasevakam

"Since you have all come together at once, command me lovingly, considering me your own fitting servant.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.66.17)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति श्रुत्वा महीध्रस्य वचनं ते सुरास्तदा । ऊचुर्हर्यादयः प्रीताः सिद्धिं मत्वा स्वकार्यतः

brahmovāca iti śrutvā mahīdhrasya vacanaṁ te surāstadā ūcurharyādayaḥ prītāḥ siddhiṁ matvā svakāryataḥ

Brahma said: "Hearing the mountain's words, those gods beginning with Hari, pleased, and reckoning the success of their own purpose, then spoke.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.66.18)

देवा ऊचुः । हिमाचल महाप्राज्ञ शृण्वस्मद्वचनं हितम् । यदर्थमागताः सर्वे तद् ब्रूमः प्रीतितो वयम्

devā ūcuḥ himācala mahāprājña śṛṇvasmadvacanaṁ hitam yadarthamāgatāḥ sarve tad brūmaḥ prītito vayam

The gods said: "O Himachal, greatly wise one, hear our beneficial word; we shall tell you, with affection, the purpose for which we have all come.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.66.19)

या पुरा जगदम्बोमा दक्षकन्याभवद्गिरे । रुद्रपत्नी हि सा भूत्वा चिक्रीडे सुचिरं भुवि

yā purā jagadambomā dakṣakanyābhavadgire rudrapatnī hi sā bhūtvā cikrīḍe suciraṁ bhuvi

"O mountain, she who was formerly the world-Mother, Uma, born as Daksha's daughter, having become Rudra's wife, sported for a long time on this earth.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.66.20)

पितृतोऽनादरं प्राप्य संस्मृत्य स्वपणं सती । जगाम स्वपदं त्यक्त्वा तच्छरीरं तदाम्बिका

pitṛto'nādaraṁ prāpya saṁsmṛtya svapaṇaṁ satī jagāma svapadaṁ tyaktvā taccharīraṁ tadāmbikā

"Having received dishonor from her father, and calling to mind her own vow, Sati, the Mother, abandoning that body, went to her own supreme state.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.66.21)

सा कथा विदिता लोके तवापि हिमभूधर । एवं सति महालाभो भवेद्देवगणस्य हि

sā kathā viditā loke tavāpi himabhūdhara evaṁ sati mahālābho bhaveddevagaṇasya hi

"That story is known throughout the world, O mountain of snow, to you as well; if this is so, a great benefit shall come to the assembly of the gods.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.66.22)

सर्वस्य भवतश्चापि स्युः सर्वे ते वशाः सुराः

sarvasya bhavataścāpi syuḥ sarve te vaśāḥ surāḥ

"— and, for your own sake too, all the gods shall become subject to your wishes."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.66.23)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तेषां हर्यादीनां गिरीश्वरः । तथास्त्विति प्रसन्नात्मा प्रोवाच न च आदरात्

brahmovāca ityākarṇya vacasteṣāṁ haryādīnāṁ girīśvaraḥ tathāstviti prasannātmā provāca na ca ādarāt

Brahma said: "Hearing the words of those gods beginning with Hari, the lord of mountains, his mind gladdened, said 'so be it' with great reverence.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.66.24)

अथ ते च समादिश्य तद्विधिं परमादरात् । स्वयं जग्मुश्च शरणमुमायाः शङ्करस्त्रियः

atha te ca samādiśya tadvidhiṁ paramādarāt svayaṁ jagmuśca śaraṇamumāyāḥ śaṅkarastriyaḥ

"Then, having instructed him in that rite with the utmost reverence, they themselves went for refuge to Uma, the wife of Shankara.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.66.25)

सुस्थले मनसा स्थित्वा सस्मरुर्जगदम्बिकाम् । प्रणम्य बहुशस्तत्र तुष्टुवुः श्रद्धया सुराः

susthale manasā sthitvā sasmarurjagadambikām praṇamya bahuśastatra tuṣṭuvuḥ śraddhayā surāḥ

"Standing with steady mind in a fair place, they called to mind the Mother of the universe; bowing to her again and again, the gods there praised her with faith."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.66.26)

देवा ऊचुः । देव्युमे जगतामम्ब शिवलोकनिवासिनि । सदाशिवप्रिये दुर्गे त्वां नमामो महेश्वरि

devā ūcuḥ devyume jagatāmamba śivalokanivāsini sadāśivapriye durge tvāṁ namāmo maheśvari

The gods said: "O goddess Uma, Mother of the worlds, dweller in Shiva's realm, beloved of Sadashiva, O Durga — we bow to you, Maheshvari.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.66.27)

श्रीशक्तिं पावनां शान्तां पुष्टिं परमपावनीम् । वयं नमामहे भक्त्या महदव्यक्तरूपिणीम्

śrīśaktiṁ pāvanāṁ śāntāṁ puṣṭiṁ paramapāvanīm vayaṁ namāmahe bhaktyā mahadavyaktarūpiṇīm

"We bow with devotion to you who are Shri, Shakti, the sacred and tranquil one, Pushti, the most sacred one, whose form is the great Unmanifest.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.66.28)

शिवां शिवकरां शुद्धां स्थूलां सूक्ष्मां परायणाम् । अन्तर्विद्यासुविद्याभ्यां सुप्रीतां त्वां नमामहे

śivāṁ śivakarāṁ śuddhāṁ sthūlāṁ sūkṣmāṁ parāyaṇām antarvidyāsuvidyābhyāṁ suprītāṁ tvāṁ namāmahe

"We bow to you, the auspicious one, the bestower of auspiciousness, the pure one, both gross and subtle, the supreme refuge, who delight in both inner wisdom and right knowledge.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.66.29)

त्वं श्रद्धा त्वं धृतिस्त्वं श्रीस्त्वमेव सर्वगोचरा । त्वं दीधितिस्सूर्यगता स्वप्रपञ्चप्रकाशिनी

tvaṁ śraddhā tvaṁ dhṛtistvaṁ śrīstvameva sarvagocarā tvaṁ dīdhitissūryagatā svaprapañcaprakāśinī

"You are Faith, you are Fortitude, you are Fortune; you are known through all things; you are the radiance dwelling in the sun, illuminating your own creation.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.66.30)

या च ब्रह्माण्डसंस्थाने जगज्जीवेषु या जगत् । आप्याययति ब्रह्मादितृणान्तं तां नमामहे

yā ca brahmāṇḍasaṁsthāne jagajjīveṣu yā jagat āpyāyayati brahmāditṛṇāntaṁ tāṁ namāmahe

"We bow to her who, abiding within the cosmic egg, nourishes the world in all its living beings, from Brahma down to the blade of grass.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.66.31)

गायत्री त्वं वेदमाता त्वं सावित्री सरस्वती । त्वं वार्ता सर्वजगतां त्वं त्रयी धर्मरूपिणी

gāyatrī tvaṁ vedamātā tvaṁ sāvitrī sarasvatī tvaṁ vārtā sarvajagatāṁ tvaṁ trayī dharmarūpiṇī

"You are Gayatri, the Mother of the Vedas; you are Savitri, Sarasvati; you are the very livelihood of all worlds; you are the triple Veda, the form of dharma.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.66.32)

निद्रा त्वं सर्वभूतेषु क्षुधा तृप्तिस्त्वमेव हि । तृष्णा कान्तिश्छविस्तुष्टिः सर्वानन्दकरी सदा

nidrā tvaṁ sarvabhūteṣu kṣudhā tṛptistvameva hi tṛṣṇā kāntiśchavistuṣṭiḥ sarvānandakarī sadā

"You are Sleep in all beings, you are indeed Hunger and Satisfaction; you are Thirst, Radiance, Complexion, and Contentment — ever the giver of all joy.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.66.33)

त्वं लक्ष्मीः पुण्यकर्तॄणां त्वं ज्येष्ठा पापिनां सदा । त्वं शान्तिः सर्वजगतां त्वं धात्री प्राणपोषिणी

tvaṁ lakṣmīḥ puṇyakartṝṇāṁ tvaṁ jyeṣṭhā pāpināṁ sadā tvaṁ śāntiḥ sarvajagatāṁ tvaṁ dhātrī prāṇapoṣiṇī

"You are Lakshmi to those of merit, and you are ever Jyeshtha, misfortune, to sinners; you are the peace of all worlds, the nurse who sustains all life.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.66.34)

त्वं तत्त्वरूपा भूतानां पञ्चानामपि सारकृत् । त्वं हि नीतिभृतां नीतिर्व्यवसायस्वरूपिणी

tvaṁ tattvarūpā bhūtānāṁ pañcānāmapi sārakṛt tvaṁ hi nītibhṛtāṁ nītirvyavasāyasvarūpiṇī

"You are the very essence-form of the five elements, giving them their substance; you are indeed the policy of the wise, the very form of resolute effort.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.66.35)

गीतिस्त्वं सामवेदस्य ग्रन्थिस्त्वं यजुषां हुतिः । ऋग्वेदस्य तथा मात्राथर्वणस्य परा गतिः

gītistvaṁ sāmavedasya granthistvaṁ yajuṣāṁ hutiḥ ṛgvedasya tathā mātrātharvaṇasya parā gatiḥ

"You are the melody of the Sama Veda, the very structure and oblation of the Yajus; likewise you are the syllable of the Rig Veda and the supreme goal of the Atharva.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.66.36)

समस्तगीर्वाणगणस्य शक्ति- स्तमोमयी धातृगुणैकदृश्या । रजः प्रपञ्चात्तु भवैकरूपा या नः श्रुता भव्यकरी स्तुतेह

samastagīrvāṇagaṇasya śakti- stamomayī dhātṛguṇaikadṛśyā rajaḥ prapañcāttu bhavaikarūpā yā naḥ śrutā bhavyakarī stuteha

"You, the very power of the entire host of gods, of the nature of Tamas, visible only through the qualities of the Creator; who, through Rajas, take the sole form of manifest existence — you, whom we have heard of, bestower of well-being, are praised here.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.66.37)

संसारसागरकरालभवाङ्गदुःख- निस्तारकारितरणिं च निवीतहीनाम् । अष्टाङ्गयोगपरिपालनकेलिदक्षां विन्ध्यागवासनिरतां प्रणमाम तां वै

saṁsārasāgarakarālabhavāṅgaduḥkha- nistārakāritaraṇiṁ ca nivītahīnām aṣṭāṅgayogaparipālanakelidakṣāṁ vindhyāgavāsaniratāṁ praṇamāma tāṁ vai

"We bow indeed to her, the very ferry that carries one across the terrible sufferings born of the ocean of worldly existence, who wears no sacred thread, skilled in the practice and preservation of the eight-limbed yoga, and delighting in dwelling upon the Vindhya mountains.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.66.38)

नासाक्षिवक्त्रभुजवक्षसि मानसे च धृत्या सुखानि वितनोति सदैव जन्तोः । निद्रेति याति सुभगा जगती भवानां सा नः प्रसीदतु भवस्थितिपालनाय

nāsākṣivaktrabhujavakṣasi mānase ca dhṛtyā sukhāni vitanoti sadaiva jantoḥ nidreti yāti subhagā jagatī bhavānāṁ sā naḥ prasīdatu bhavasthitipālanāya

"She who, ever with steadiness, spreads happiness through the nose, eyes, mouth, arms, chest and mind of every creature, and who, fortunate one, moves through the world of beings as Sleep — may she be gracious to us, for the protection and continuance of the world."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.66.39)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति स्तुत्वा महेशानीं जगदम्बामुमां सतीम् । सुप्रेममनसः सर्वे तस्थुस्ते दर्शनेप्सवः

brahmovāca iti stutvā maheśānīṁ jagadambāmumāṁ satīm supremamanasaḥ sarve tasthuste darśanepsavaḥ

Brahma said: "Having thus praised Maheshani, the Mother of the universe, Uma, the ever-virtuous, all of them, their hearts full of love, remained there, longing for her sight."