The Dialogue of Shiva and Himavat

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.75.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । अथ शैलपतिर्हृष्टः सत्पुष्पफलसञ्चयम् । समादाय स्वतनयासहितोऽगाद्धरान्तिकम्

brahmovāca atha śailapatirhṛṣṭaḥ satpuṣpaphalasañcayam samādāya svatanayāsahito'gāddharāntikam

Brahma said: "Then the delighted lord of the mountain, having gathered together fine flowers and fruits, went with his daughter to Hara's presence."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.75.2)

स गत्वा त्रिजगन्नाथं प्रणम्य ध्यानतत्परम् । अर्पयामास तनयां कालीं तस्मै हृदाद्भुताम्

sa gatvā trijagannāthaṁ praṇamya dhyānatatparam arpayāmāsa tanayāṁ kālīṁ tasmai hṛdādbhutām

Going there, he bowed to the Lord of the three worlds, who sat absorbed in meditation, and offered to him his daughter Kali, wondrous in heart.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.75.3)

फलपुष्पादिकं सर्वं तत्तदग्रे निधाय सः । अग्रे कृत्वा सुतां शम्भुमिदमाह च शैलराट्

phalapuṣpādikaṁ sarvaṁ tattadagre nidhāya saḥ agre kṛtvā sutāṁ śambhumidamāha ca śailarāṭ

Placing all the fruits, flowers and other offerings before him, and setting his daughter forward, the mountain-king spoke these words to Shambhu.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.75.4)

हिमगिरिरुवाच । भगवंस्तनया मे त्वां सेवितुं चन्द्रशेखरम् । समुत्सुका समानीता त्वदाराधनकाङ्क्षया

himagiriruvāca bhagavaṁstanayā me tvāṁ sevituṁ candraśekharam samutsukā samānītā tvadārādhanakāṅkṣayā

Himagiri said: "O Lord, my daughter is most eager to serve you, moon-crested one; I have brought her here longing that she may worship you."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.75.5)

सखीभ्यां सह नित्यं त्वां सेवतामेव शङ्करम् । अनुजानीहि तां नाथ मयि ते यद्यनुग्रहः

sakhībhyāṁ saha nityaṁ tvāṁ sevatāmeva śaṅkaram anujānīhi tāṁ nātha mayi te yadyanugrahaḥ

"Let her, together with her two friends, ever remain in your service, Shankara. Grant her your permission, O Lord, if you bear me any grace."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.75.6)

ब्रह्मोवाच । अथ तां शङ्करोऽपश्यत्प्रथमारूढयौवनाम् । फुल्लेन्दीवरपत्राभां पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्

brahmovāca atha tāṁ śaṅkaro'paśyatprathamārūḍhayauvanām phullendīvarapatrābhāṁ pūrṇacandranibhānanām

Brahma said: "Then Shankara beheld her, just entering the first bloom of youth, her hue like a blossoming blue-lotus petal, her face like the full moon."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.75.7)

समस्तलीलासंस्थानशुभवेषविजृम्भिताम् । कम्बुग्रीवां विशालाक्षीं चारुकर्णयुगोज्ज्वलाम्

samastalīlāsaṁsthānaśubhaveṣavijṛmbhitām kambugrīvāṁ viśālākṣīṁ cārukarṇayugojjvalām

Adorned in every graceful bearing and auspicious dress, her neck like a conch shell, her eyes wide, radiant with a pair of lovely ears.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.75.8)

मृणालायतपर्यन्तबाहुयुग्ममनोहराम् । राजीवकुड्मलप्रख्यौ घनपीनौदृढौस्तनौ

mṛṇālāyataparyantabāhuyugmamanoharām rājīvakuḍmalaprakhyau ghanapīnaudṛḍhaustanau

With a pair of arms beautiful and long as lotus stems, and a bosom full, firm and rounded, like a pair of lotus buds.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.75.9)

बिभ्रतीं क्षीणमध्यां च त्रिवलीमध्यराजिताम् । स्थलपद्मप्रतीकाशपादयुग्मविराजिताम्

bibhratīṁ kṣīṇamadhyāṁ ca trivalīmadhyarājitām sthalapadmapratīkāśapādayugmavirājitām

With a slender waist marked by the three folds at its center, her two feet radiant, resembling lotuses grown on land.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.75.10)

ध्यानपञ्जरनिर्बद्धमुनिमानसमप्यलम् । दर्शनाद्भ्रंशने शक्तां योषिद्गणशिरोमणिम्

dhyānapañjaranirbaddhamunimānasamapyalam darśanādbhraṁśane śaktāṁ yoṣidgaṇaśiromaṇim

One capable, by sight alone, of unsettling even the minds of sages bound within the very cage of meditation — the crowning jewel among women.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.75.11)

दृष्ट्वा तां तादृशीं तात ध्यानिनां च मनोहराम् । विग्रहे तन्त्रमन्त्राणां वर्धिनीं कामरूपिणीम्

dṛṣṭvā tāṁ tādṛśīṁ tāta dhyānināṁ ca manoharām vigrahe tantramantrāṇāṁ vardhinīṁ kāmarūpiṇīm

Seeing her thus, O son, lovely even to those rapt in meditation, an embodiment increasing the power of tantras and mantras, herself the very form of desire —

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.75.12)

न्यमीलयदृशौ शीघ्रं दध्यौ स्वं रूपमुत्तमम् । परतत्त्वं महायोगी त्रिगुणात्परमव्ययम्

nyamīlayadṛśau śīghraṁ dadhyau svaṁ rūpamuttamam paratattvaṁ mahāyogī triguṇātparamavyayam

— he swiftly closed his eyes, and, the great yogi, meditated upon his own supreme form, the imperishable Ultimate Reality beyond the three gunas.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.75.13)

दृष्ट्वा तदानीं सकलेश्वरं विभुं तपो जुषाणं विनिमीलितेक्षणम् । कपर्दिनं चन्द्रकलाविभूषणं वेदान्तवेद्यं परमासने स्थितम्

dṛṣṭvā tadānīṁ sakaleśvaraṁ vibhuṁ tapo juṣāṇaṁ vinimīlitekṣaṇam kapardinaṁ candrakalāvibhūṣaṇaṁ vedāntavedyaṁ paramāsane sthitam

Then, beholding that all-ruling, all-pervading Lord, absorbed in austerity, his eyes shut, his hair matted, adorned with the crescent moon, knowable only through Vedanta, seated upon his supreme seat —

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.75.14)

ववन्द शीर्ष्णा च पुनर्हिमाचलः स संशयं प्रापददीनसत्त्वः । उवाच वाक्यं जगदेकबन्धुं गिरीश्वरो वाक्यविदां वरिष्ठः

vavanda śīrṣṇā ca punarhimācalaḥ sa saṁśayaṁ prāpadadīnasattvaḥ uvāca vākyaṁ jagadekabandhuṁ girīśvaro vākyavidāṁ variṣṭhaḥ

— Himachala bowed his head once more, though a doubt arose within his undaunted heart; and the lord of the mountain, foremost among speakers, addressed these words to the sole kinsman of the universe.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.75.15)

हिमाचल उवाच । देवदेव महादेव करुणाकर शङ्कर । पश्य मां शरणं प्राप्तमुन्मील्य नयने विभो

himācala uvāca devadeva mahādeva karuṇākara śaṅkara paśya māṁ śaraṇaṁ prāptamunmīlya nayane vibho

Himachala said: "O God of gods, Mahadeva, wellspring of compassion, Shankara — O Lord, open your eyes and behold me, who have taken refuge in you."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.75.16)

शिव शर्व महेशान जगदानन्दकृत्प्रभो । त्वां नतोऽहं महादेव सर्वापद्विनिवर्तकम्

śiva śarva maheśāna jagadānandakṛtprabho tvāṁ nato'haṁ mahādeva sarvāpadvinivartakam

O Shiva, O Sharva, great sovereign, O Lord who gladdens the universe — I bow to you, Mahadeva, who turns back every calamity.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.75.17)

न त्वां जानन्ति देवेश वेदाः शास्त्राणि कृत्स्नशः । अतीतो महिमाध्वानं तव वाङ्मनसोः सदा

na tvāṁ jānanti deveśa vedāḥ śāstrāṇi kṛtsnaśaḥ atīto mahimādhvānaṁ tava vāṅmanasoḥ sadā

O lord of the gods, neither the Vedas nor all the scriptures fully know you; the path of your greatness ever lies beyond speech and mind.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.75.18)

अतद्व्यावृत्तितस्त्वां वै चकितं चकितं सदा । अभिधत्ते श्रुतिः सर्वा परेषां का कथा मता

atadvyāvṛttitastvāṁ vai cakitaṁ cakitaṁ sadā abhidhatte śrutiḥ sarvā pareṣāṁ kā kathā matā

Only through negation — describing you as "not this, not this" — does the whole of Shruti, ever astonished, speak of you at all; what then is to be said of lesser beings?

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.75.19)

जानन्ति बहवो भक्तास्त्वत्कृपां प्राप्य भक्तितः । शरणागत भक्तानां न कुत्रापि भ्रमादिकम्

jānanti bahavo bhaktāstvatkṛpāṁ prāpya bhaktitaḥ śaraṇāgata bhaktānāṁ na kutrāpi bhramādikam

Many devotees, gaining your grace through devotion, come to know you; for devotees who have taken refuge in you, there is confusion nowhere.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.75.20)

विज्ञप्तिं शृणु मत्प्रीत्या स्वदासस्य ममाधुना । तव देवाज्ञया तात दीनत्वाद्वर्णयामि हि

vijñaptiṁ śṛṇu matprītyā svadāsasya mamādhunā tava devājñayā tāta dīnatvādvarṇayāmi hi

Hear now, with affection, the petition of your own servant. By your own divine leave, and out of humility, I speak it, my son.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.75.21)

सभाग्योऽहं महादेव प्रसादात्तव शङ्कर । मत्वा स्वदासं मां नाथ कृपां कुरु नमोऽस्तु ते

sabhāgyo'haṁ mahādeva prasādāttava śaṅkara matvā svadāsaṁ māṁ nātha kṛpāṁ kuru namo'stu te

I am blessed, O Mahadeva, by your grace, O Shankara. Regard me as your own servant, O Lord, and show me kindness — salutation to you.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.75.22)

प्रत्यहं चागमिष्यामि दर्शनार्थं तव प्रभो । अनया सुतया स्वामिन्निदेशं दातुमर्हसि

pratyahaṁ cāgamiṣyāmi darśanārthaṁ tava prabho anayā sutayā svāminnideśaṁ dātumarhasi

Each day I shall come, O Lord, for your darshan. With this daughter of mine, O master, you should now give your command.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.75.23)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्योन्मील्य नेत्रे महेश्वरः । त्यक्तध्यानः परामृश्य देवदेवोऽब्रवीद्वचः

brahmovāca ityākarṇya vacastasyonmīlya netre maheśvaraḥ tyaktadhyānaḥ parāmṛśya devadevo'bravīdvacaḥ

Brahma said: "Hearing these words, Maheshvara opened his eyes, set aside his meditation, and, having reflected, the God of gods spoke thus."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.75.24)

महेश्वर उवाच । आगन्तव्यं त्वया नित्यं दर्शनार्थं ममाचल । कुमारीं सदने स्थाप्य नान्यथा मम दर्शनम्

maheśvara uvāca āgantavyaṁ tvayā nityaṁ darśanārthaṁ mamācala kumārīṁ sadane sthāpya nānyathā mama darśanam

Maheshvara said: "You, O mountain, shall come daily for my darshan, but leave the maiden at home — my darshan shall not be given otherwise."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.75.25)

ब्रह्मोवाच । महेशवचनं श्रुत्वा शिवातातस्तथाविधम् । अचलः प्रत्युवाचेदं गिरिशं नतकन्धरः

brahmovāca maheśavacanaṁ śrutvā śivātātastathāvidham acalaḥ pratyuvācedaṁ giriśaṁ natakandharaḥ

Brahma said: "Hearing such words from Mahesha, Shiva's father, the mountain, bowing his neck, gave this reply to Girisha."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.75.26)

हिमाचल उवाच । कस्मान्मयानया सार्धं नागन्तव्यं तदुच्यताम् । सेवने किमयोग्येयं नाहं वेद्म्यत्र कारणम्

himācala uvāca kasmānmayānayā sārdhaṁ nāgantavyaṁ taducyatām sevane kimayogyeyaṁ nāhaṁ vedmyatra kāraṇam

Himachala said: "Why should I not come together with her? Tell me that. Is she unfit for such service? I do not know the reason for this."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.75.27)

ब्रह्मोवाच । ततोऽब्रवीद्गिरिं शम्भुः प्रहसन्वृषभध्वजः । लोकाचारं विशेषेण दर्शयन्हि कुयोगिनाम्

brahmovāca tato'bravīdgiriṁ śambhuḥ prahasanvṛṣabhadhvajaḥ lokācāraṁ viśeṣeṇa darśayanhi kuyoginām

Brahma said: "Then the bull-bannered Shambhu, laughing, spoke to the mountain, thereby demonstrating worldly conduct especially for the benefit of unskilled yogis."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.75.28)

शम्भुरुवाच । इयं कुमारी सुश्रोणी तन्वी चन्द्रानना शुभा । नानेतव्या मत्समीपे वारयामि पुनः पुनः

śambhuruvāca iyaṁ kumārī suśroṇī tanvī candrānanā śubhā nānetavyā matsamīpe vārayāmi punaḥ punaḥ

Shambhu said: "This maiden of lovely form, slender, moon-faced and auspicious, is not to be brought near me — I forbid it again and again."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.75.29)

मायारूपा स्मृता नारी विद्वद्भिर्वेदपारगैः । युवती तु विशेषेण विघ्नकर्त्री तपस्विनाम्

māyārūpā smṛtā nārī vidvadbhirvedapāragaiḥ yuvatī tu viśeṣeṇa vighnakartrī tapasvinām

Woman is held by the learned, those versed in the Vedas, to be Maya's very form; a young woman especially becomes an obstacle-maker for ascetics.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.75.30)

अहं तपस्वी योगी च निर्लिप्तो मायया सदा । प्रयोजनं न युवत्या वै स्त्रिया किं मेऽस्ति भूधर

ahaṁ tapasvī yogī ca nirlipto māyayā sadā prayojanaṁ na yuvatyā vai striyā kiṁ me'sti bhūdhara

"I am an ascetic and a yogi, ever untouched by Maya. What use, O mountain, could I possibly have for a young woman?"

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.75.31)

एवं पुनर्न वक्तव्यं तपस्विवरसंश्रित । वेदधर्मप्रवीणस्त्वं यतो ज्ञानिवरो बुधः

evaṁ punarna vaktavyaṁ tapasvivarasaṁśrita vedadharmapravīṇastvaṁ yato jñānivaro budhaḥ

"Do not propose such a thing again, O refuge of the finest ascetics, since you are versed in Vedic dharma, the wisest among the wise."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.75.32)

भवत्यचल तत्सङ्गाद्विषयोत्पत्तिराशु वै । विनश्यति च वैराग्यं ततो भ्रश्यति सत्तपः

bhavatyacala tatsaṅgādviṣayotpattirāśu vai vinaśyati ca vairāgyaṁ tato bhraśyati sattapaḥ

From such company, O mountain, sensual craving swiftly arises; renunciation is destroyed, and from that, true austerity falls away.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.75.33)

अतस्तपस्विना शैल न कार्या स्त्रीषु सङ्गतिः। महाविषयमूलं सा ज्ञानवैराग्यनाशिनी

atastapasvinā śaila na kāryā strīṣu saṅgatiḥ mahāviṣayamūlaṁ sā jñānavairāgyanāśinī

Therefore, O mountain, an ascetic should form no attachment to women; she is the root of great worldly craving, and the destroyer of both knowledge and dispassion.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.75.34)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याद्युक्त्वा बहुतरं महायोगी महेश्वरः । विरराम गिरीशं तं महायोगिवरः प्रभुः

brahmovāca ityādyuktvā bahutaraṁ mahāyogī maheśvaraḥ virarāma girīśaṁ taṁ mahāyogivaraḥ prabhuḥ

Brahma said: "Having said this and much more, the great yogi Maheshvara, foremost lord among great yogis, fell silent before that mountain-lord."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.75.35)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य शम्भो- र्निरामयं निःस्पृहं निष्ठुरं च । कालीतातश्चकितोऽभूत्सुरर्षे तद्वत्किञ्चिद्व्याकुलश्चास तूष्णीम्

etacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya śambho- rnirāmayaṁ niḥspṛhaṁ niṣṭhuraṁ ca kālītātaścakito'bhūtsurarṣe tadvatkiñcidvyākulaścāsa tūṣṇīm

Hearing Shambhu's words, free of affliction, free of desire, yet harsh, O sage among the gods, Kali's father was startled, and, likewise somewhat troubled, sat in silence.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.75.36)

तपस्विनोक्तं वचनं निशम्य तथा गिरीशं चकितं विचार्य । अतः प्रणम्यैव शिवं भवानी जगाद वाक्यं विशदन्तदानीम्

tapasvinoktaṁ vacanaṁ niśamya tathā girīśaṁ cakitaṁ vicārya ataḥ praṇamyaiva śivaṁ bhavānī jagāda vākyaṁ viśadantadānīm

Hearing the ascetic's words, and seeing the mountain-lord startled and lost in thought, Bhavani then bowed to Shiva and spoke this clear reply.