Menaka's Doubt and the Two Dreams

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.72.1)

नारद उवाच । विधे तात त्वया शैववर प्राज्ञाद्भुता कथा । वर्णिता करुणां कृत्वा प्रीतिर्मे वर्धिताधिका

nārada uvāca vidhe tāta tvayā śaivavara prājñādbhutā kathā varṇitā karuṇāṁ kṛtvā prītirme vardhitādhikā

Narada said: "O father Vidhi, foremost knower of Shiva, out of compassion you have told me this wise and wondrous tale, and it has made my love for it grow ever greater."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.72.2)

विधे गते स्वकं धाम मयि वै दिव्यदर्शने । ततः किमभवत्तात कृपया तद्वदाधुना

vidhe gate svakaṁ dhāma mayi vai divyadarśane tataḥ kimabhavattāta kṛpayā tadvadādhunā

"O Vidhi, after you departed to your own abode following that divine vision granted to me, what happened next, father? Tell me that now, out of kindness."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.72.3)

ब्रह्मोवाच गते त्वयि मुने स्वर्गे कियत्काले गते सति । मेना प्राप्यैकदा शैलनिकटं प्रणनाम सा

brahmovāca gate tvayi mune svarge kiyatkāle gate sati menā prāpyaikadā śailanikaṭaṁ praṇanāma sā

Brahma said: "O sage, after you had gone to heaven and some time had passed, Mena one day came near the mountain-lord and bowed before him."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.72.4)

स्थित्वा सविनयं प्राह स्वनाथं गिरिकामिनी । तत्र शैलाधिनाथं सा प्राणप्रियसुता सती

sthitvā savinayaṁ prāha svanāthaṁ girikāminī tatra śailādhināthaṁ sā prāṇapriyasutā satī

Standing there in humility, that mountain's consort, the loving mother of that dear daughter, spoke to her own lord, the master of the mountain.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.72.5)

मेनोवाच मुनिवाक्यं न बुद्धं मे सम्यङ्नारीस्वभावतः । विवाहं कुरु कन्यायाःसुन्दरेण वरेण ह

menovāca munivākyaṁ na buddhaṁ me samyaṅnārīsvabhāvataḥ vivāhaṁ kuru kanyāyāḥsundareṇa vareṇa ha

Mena said: "Being a woman by nature, I have not properly understood the sage's words. Arrange our daughter's marriage with some handsome bridegroom."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.72.6)

सर्वथा हि भवेत्तत्रोद्वाहोऽपूर्वसुखावहः । वरश्च गिरिजायास्तु सुलक्षणकुलोद्भवः

sarvathā hi bhavettatrodvāho'pūrvasukhāvahaḥ varaśca girijāyāstu sulakṣaṇakulodbhavaḥ

"Let that marriage in every way bring unmatched happiness, and let Girija's bridegroom be one born of a family of auspicious signs and noble lineage."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.72.7)

प्राणप्रिया सुता मे हि सुखिता स्याद्यथा प्रिया । सद्वरं प्राप्य सुप्रीता तथा कुरु नमोऽस्तु ते

prāṇapriyā sutā me hi sukhitā syādyathā priyā sadvaraṁ prāpya suprītā tathā kuru namo'stu te

"My daughter, dear as my own life, is beloved to me; let her be happy, gaining a worthy husband and greatly pleased. Do it thus — I bow to you."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.72.8)

ब्रह्मोवाच इत्युक्त्वाश्रुमुखी मेना पत्यङ्घ्र्योः पतिता तदा । तामुत्थाप्य गिरिः प्राह यथावत्प्राज्ञसत्तमः

brahmovāca ityuktvāśrumukhī menā patyaṅghryoḥ patitā tadā tāmutthāpya giriḥ prāha yathāvatprājñasattamaḥ

Brahma said: "Having spoken thus, Mena, her face streaming with tears, fell at her husband's feet. Raising her up, the mountain, wisest of the wise, spoke to her fittingly."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.72.9)

हिमालय उवाच । शृणु त्वं मेनके देवि यथार्थं वच्मि तत्त्वतः । भ्रमं त्यज मुनेर्वाक्यं वितथं न कदाचन

himālaya uvāca śṛṇu tvaṁ menake devi yathārthaṁ vacmi tattvataḥ bhramaṁ tyaja munervākyaṁ vitathaṁ na kadācana

Himalaya said: "Listen, O Devi Menaka — I speak to you the plain truth. Let go of this confusion; the sage's word is never false."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.72.10)

यदि स्नेहः सुतायास्ते सुतां शिक्षय सादरम् । तपः कुर्याच्छङ्करस्य सा भक्त्या स्थिरचेतसा

yadi snehaḥ sutāyāste sutāṁ śikṣaya sādaram tapaḥ kuryācchaṅkarasya sā bhaktyā sthiracetasā

"If you love your daughter, instruct her with care to perform austerities for Shankara with devotion and a steadfast mind."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.72.11)

चेत्प्रसन्नः शिवः काल्याः पाणिं गृह्णाति मेनके । सर्वं भूयाच्छुभं नश्येन्नारदोक्तममङ्गलम्

cetprasannaḥ śivaḥ kālyāḥ pāṇiṁ gṛhṇāti menake sarvaṁ bhūyācchubhaṁ naśyennāradoktamamaṅgalam

"If Shiva, well pleased, takes Kali's hand, O Menaka, all shall turn auspicious, and the inauspicious word spoken by Narada shall be undone."

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.72.12)

अमङ्गलानि सर्वाणि मङ्गलानि सदा शिवे । तस्मात्सुतां शिवप्राप्त्यै तपसे शिक्षय द्रुतम्

amaṅgalāni sarvāṇi maṅgalāni sadā śive tasmātsutāṁ śivaprāptyai tapase śikṣaya drutam

"In Shiva, all inauspicious things become forever auspicious. Therefore quickly instruct our daughter in austerity, that she may attain Shiva."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.72.13)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य गिरेर्वाक्यं मेना प्रीततराभवत् । सुतोपकण्ठमगमदुपदेष्टुं तपोरुचिम्

brahmovāca ityākarṇya girervākyaṁ menā prītatarābhavat sutopakaṇṭhamagamadupadeṣṭuṁ taporucim

Brahma said: "Hearing the mountain's words, Mena grew greatly pleased, and went to her daughter's side to instruct her, gladdened by the thought of austerity."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.72.14)

सुताङ्गं सुकुमारं हि दृष्ट्वातीवाथ मेनका । विव्यथे नेत्रयुग्मे चाश्रुपूर्णेऽभवतां द्रुतम्

sutāṅgaṁ sukumāraṁ hi dṛṣṭvātīvātha menakā vivyathe netrayugme cāśrupūrṇe'bhavatāṁ drutam

But seeing her daughter's tender, delicate limbs, Mena was overcome with anguish, and both her eyes at once filled with tears.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.72.15)

सुतां समुपदेष्टुं तन्न शशाक गिरिप्रिया । बुबुधे पार्वती तद्वै जननीङ्गितमाशु सा

sutāṁ samupadeṣṭuṁ tanna śaśāka giripriyā bubudhe pārvatī tadvai jananīṅgitamāśu sā

The mountain's beloved found herself unable to instruct her daughter. Parvati at once perceived her mother's unspoken intent.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.72.16)

अथ सा कालिका देवी सर्वज्ञा परमेश्वरी । उवाच जननीं सद्यः समाश्वास्य पुनः पुनः

atha sā kālikā devī sarvajñā parameśvarī uvāca jananīṁ sadyaḥ samāśvāsya punaḥ punaḥ

Then that Devi Kalika, the all-knowing supreme goddess, consoled her mother again and again, and at once spoke to her.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.72.17)

पार्वत्युवाच । मातः शृणु महाप्राज्ञेऽद्यतनेऽजमुहूर्तके । रात्रौ दृष्टो मया स्वप्नस्तं वदामि कृपां कुरु

pārvatyuvāca mātaḥ śṛṇu mahāprājñe'dyatane'jamuhūrtake rātrau dṛṣṭo mayā svapnastaṁ vadāmi kṛpāṁ kuru

Parvati said: "Listen, mother, O most wise one — in this night's last, auspicious hour before dawn I saw a dream. I shall tell it to you; be gracious and hear me."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.72.18)

विप्रश्चैव तपस्वी मां सदयः प्रीतिपूर्वकम् । उपादिदेश सुतपः कर्तुं मातः शिवस्य वै

vipraścaiva tapasvī māṁ sadayaḥ prītipūrvakam upādideśa sutapaḥ kartuṁ mātaḥ śivasya vai

"A brahmin ascetic, kindly and with affection, instructed me, mother, to perform excellent austerity for the sake of Shiva."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.72.19)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा मेनका शीघ्रं पतिमाहूय तत्र च । तत्स्वप्नं कथयामास सुतादृष्टमशेषतः

brahmovāca tacchrutvā menakā śīghraṁ patimāhūya tatra ca tatsvapnaṁ kathayāmāsa sutādṛṣṭamaśeṣataḥ

Brahma said: "Hearing this, Mena quickly summoned her husband there, and related to him in full the dream her daughter had seen."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.72.20)

सुतास्वप्नमथाकर्ण्य मेनकातो गिरीश्वरः । उवाच परमप्रीतः प्रियां सम्बोधयन्गिरा

sutāsvapnamathākarṇya menakāto girīśvaraḥ uvāca paramaprītaḥ priyāṁ sambodhayangirā

Then, hearing of his daughter's dream from Mena, the lord of the mountain, greatly delighted, spoke, addressing his beloved.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.72.21)

गिरीश्वर उवाच हे प्रियेऽपररात्रान्ते स्वप्नो दृष्टो मयापि हि । तं शृणु त्वं महाप्रीत्या वच्म्यहं तं समादरात्

girīśvara uvāca he priye'pararātrānte svapno dṛṣṭo mayāpi hi taṁ śṛṇu tvaṁ mahāprītyā vacmyahaṁ taṁ samādarāt

The mountain-lord said: "O my beloved, I too saw a dream in the last watch of the night. Hear it with great love — I shall tell it to you with due care."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.72.22)

एकस्तपस्वी परमो नारदोक्तवराङ्गधृक् । पुरोपकण्ठं सुप्रीत्या तपः कर्तुं समागतः

ekastapasvī paramo nāradoktavarāṅgadhṛk puropakaṇṭhaṁ suprītyā tapaḥ kartuṁ samāgataḥ

"A supreme ascetic, bearing that fine form Narada had described, came with great delight near our city to perform austerity."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.72.23)

गृहीत्वा स्वसुतां तत्रागमं प्रीततरोऽप्यहम् । मया ज्ञातः स वै शम्भुर्नारदोक्तवरः प्रभुः

gṛhītvā svasutāṁ tatrāgamaṁ prītataro'pyaham mayā jñātaḥ sa vai śambhurnāradoktavaraḥ prabhuḥ

"Taking our daughter with me, I too went there with great delight, and I recognized him as none other than Shambhu, the lord Narada had spoken of."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.72.24)

सेवार्थं तस्य तनयामुपदिश्य तपस्विनः । तं वै प्रार्थितवांस्तस्यां न तदाङ्गीचकार सः

sevārthaṁ tasya tanayāmupadiśya tapasvinaḥ taṁ vai prārthitavāṁstasyāṁ na tadāṅgīcakāra saḥ

"Having appointed our daughter to that ascetic's service, I entreated him concerning her, but he did not agree to it."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.72.25)

अभूद्विवादः सुमहान्साङ्ख्यवेदान्तसम्मतः । ततस्तदाज्ञया तत्र संस्थितासीत्सुता मम

abhūdvivādaḥ sumahānsāṅkhyavedāntasammataḥ tatastadājñayā tatra saṁsthitāsītsutā mama

"A great debate then arose, grounded in the doctrines of Sankhya and Vedanta. Thereafter, by his command, our daughter remained stationed there."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.72.26)

निधाय हृदि तं कामं सिषेवे भक्तितश्च सा । इति दृष्टं मया स्वप्नं प्रोक्तवांस्ते वरानने

nidhāya hṛdi taṁ kāmaṁ siṣeve bhaktitaśca sā iti dṛṣṭaṁ mayā svapnaṁ proktavāṁste varānane

"Keeping that longing in her heart, she served him with devotion. This, O fair one, is the dream I saw, and I have now told it to you."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.72.27)

ततो मेने कियत्कालं परीक्ष्यं तत्फलं प्रिये । योग्यमस्तीदमेवेह बुध्यस्व त्वं मम ध्रुवम्

tato mene kiyatkālaṁ parīkṣyaṁ tatphalaṁ priye yogyamastīdameveha budhyasva tvaṁ mama dhruvam

"So I resolved, my dear, that its fruit should be tested for a time. This alone is fitting here — take this as my firm conclusion."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.72.28)

ब्रह्मोवाच इत्युक्त्वा गिरिराजश्च मेनका वै मुनीश्वर । सन्तस्थतुः परीक्षन्तौ तत्फलं शुद्धचेतसौ

brahmovāca ityuktvā girirājaśca menakā vai munīśvara santasthatuḥ parīkṣantau tatphalaṁ śuddhacetasau

Brahma said: "Having spoken so, O lord of sages, the mountain-king and Mena, their hearts pure, remained there watching to see how that outcome would unfold."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.72.29)

इत्थं व्यतीतेऽल्पदिने परमेशः सतां गतिः । सतीविरहसुव्यग्रो भ्रमन्सर्वत्र सूतिकृत्

itthaṁ vyatīte'lpadine parameśaḥ satāṁ gatiḥ satīvirahasuvyagro bhramansarvatra sūtikṛt

Thus, as a few days passed, the Supreme Lord, refuge of the virtuous and source of all creation, greatly distressed by separation from Sati, wandered everywhere.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.72.30)

तत्राजगाम सुप्रीत्या कियद्गणयुतः प्रभुः । तपः कर्तुं सतीप्रेमविरहाकुलमानसः

tatrājagāma suprītyā kiyadgaṇayutaḥ prabhuḥ tapaḥ kartuṁ satīpremavirahākulamānasaḥ

There the Lord arrived gladly, attended by a few of his hosts, his mind troubled by longing for Sati's love, in order to perform austerity.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.72.31)

तपश्चकार स्वं तत्र पार्वती सेवने रता । सखीभ्यां सहिता नित्यं प्रसन्नार्थमभूत्तदा

tapaścakāra svaṁ tatra pārvatī sevane ratā sakhībhyāṁ sahitā nityaṁ prasannārthamabhūttadā

He performed his own austerity there, while Parvati, devoted to serving him, remained always with her two companions, intent on his pleasure.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.72.32)

विद्धोऽपि मार्गणैः शम्भुर्विकृतिं नाप स प्रभुः । प्रेषितेन सुरैः स्वात्ममोहनार्थं स्मरेण वै

viddho'pi mārgaṇaiḥ śambhurvikṛtiṁ nāpa sa prabhuḥ preṣitena suraiḥ svātmamohanārthaṁ smareṇa vai

Though pierced by the arrows of Smara, sent by the gods to bewilder him, the Lord Shambhu underwent no change at all.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.72.33)

दग्ध्वा स्मरं च तत्रैव स्ववह्निनयनेन सः । स्मृत्वा मम वचः क्रुद्धो मह्यमन्तर्दधे ततः

dagdhvā smaraṁ ca tatraiva svavahninayanena saḥ smṛtvā mama vacaḥ kruddho mahyamantardadhe tataḥ

There he burned Smara to ashes with the fire of his own eye; then, angered, and remembering my own words, he vanished from before me.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.72.34)

ततः कालेन कियता विनाश्य गिरिजामदम् । प्रसादितः सुतपसा प्रसन्नोऽभून्महेश्वरः

tataḥ kālena kiyatā vināśya girijāmadam prasāditaḥ sutapasā prasanno'bhūnmaheśvaraḥ

Then, after some time had passed, having dispelled Girija's pride, and won over by her excellent austerity, Maheshvara became pleased.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.72.35)

लौकिकाचारमाश्रित्य रुद्रो विष्णुप्रसादितः । कालीं विवाहयामास ततोऽभूद्बहुमङ्गलम्

laukikācāramāśritya rudro viṣṇuprasāditaḥ kālīṁ vivāhayāmāsa tato'bhūdbahumaṅgalam

Following worldly custom, and having been propitiated by Vishnu, Rudra then married Kali, and great auspiciousness followed from it.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.72.36)

इत्येतत्कथितं तात समासाच्चरितं विभोः । शङ्करस्य परं दिव्यं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि

ityetatkathitaṁ tāta samāsāccaritaṁ vibhoḥ śaṅkarasya paraṁ divyaṁ kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi

"Thus, O son, this supreme, divine deed of the Lord Shankara has been told to you in brief. What more do you wish to hear?"