The Birth of Taraka and Vajranga and Their Austerities

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.77.1)

नारद उवाच । विष्णुशिष्य महाशैव सम्यगुक्तं त्वया विधे । चरितं परमं ह्येतच्छिवायाश्च शिवस्य च

nārada uvāca viṣṇuśiṣya mahāśaiva samyaguktaṁ tvayā vidhe caritaṁ paramaṁ hyetacchivāyāśca śivasya ca

Narada said: "O disciple of Vishnu, great knower of Shiva, O Vidhi, you have well told this supreme deed of Shiva (Parvati) and of Shiva himself."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.77.2)

कस्तारकासुरो ब्रह्मन्येन देवाः प्रपीडिताः । कस्य पुत्रस्य वै ब्रूहि तत्कथां च शिवाश्रयाम्

kastārakāsuro brahmanyena devāḥ prapīḍitāḥ kasya putrasya vai brūhi tatkathāṁ ca śivāśrayām

"Who is this demon Taraka, O Brahman, by whom the gods were tormented? Whose son is he — tell me — along with that story which rests upon Shiva."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.77.3)

भस्मीचकार स कथं शङ्करश्च स्मरं वशी । तदपि ब्रूहि सुप्रीत्याऽद्भुतं तच्चरितं विभोः

bhasmīcakāra sa kathaṁ śaṅkaraśca smaraṁ vaśī tadapi brūhi suprītyā'dbhutaṁ taccaritaṁ vibhoḥ

"How did the self-mastered Shankara burn Smara to ashes? Tell me that too, with delight — that wondrous deed of the Lord."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.77.4)

कथं शिवा तपोऽत्युग्रं चकार सुखहेतवे । कथं प्राप पतिं शम्भुमादिशक्तिर्जगत्परा

kathaṁ śivā tapo'tyugraṁ cakāra sukhahetave kathaṁ prāpa patiṁ śambhumādiśaktirjagatparā

"How did Shiva (Parvati) perform such fierce austerity for the sake of that happiness? How did the primal Shakti, supreme over the universe, come to attain Shambhu as her husband?"

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.77.5)

एतत्सर्वमशेषेण विशेषेण महाबुध । ब्रूहि मे श्रद्दधानाय स्वपुत्राय शिवात्मने

etatsarvamaśeṣeṇa viśeṣeṇa mahābudha brūhi me śraddadhānāya svaputrāya śivātmane

"All of this, in full and in particular detail, O greatly wise one — tell it to me, your own faithful son, whose very soul rests in Shiva."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.77.6)

ब्रह्मोवाच पुत्रवर्य महाप्राज्ञ सुरर्षे शंसितव्रत । वच्म्यहं शङ्करं स्मृत्वा सर्वं तच्चरितं शृणु

brahmovāca putravarya mahāprājña surarṣe śaṁsitavrata vacmyahaṁ śaṅkaraṁ smṛtvā sarvaṁ taccaritaṁ śṛṇu

Brahma said: "O best of sons, greatly wise sage among gods, of celebrated vows — calling Shankara to mind, I shall speak; hear that whole story now."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.77.7)

प्रथमं तारकस्यैव भवं संशृणु नारद । यद्वधार्थं महायत्नः कृतो देवैः शिवाश्रयैः

prathamaṁ tārakasyaiva bhavaṁ saṁśṛṇu nārada yadvadhārthaṁ mahāyatnaḥ kṛto devaiḥ śivāśrayaiḥ

"First, O Narada, hear of Taraka's own origin, for whose destruction the gods, taking refuge in Shiva, made a great effort."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.77.8)

मम पुत्रो मरीचिर्यः कश्यपस्तस्य चात्मजः । त्रयोदशमितास्तस्य स्त्रियो दक्षसुताश्च याः

mama putro marīciryaḥ kaśyapastasya cātmajaḥ trayodaśamitāstasya striyo dakṣasutāśca yāḥ

"My son is Marichi, and Kashyapa is his son. His wives, thirteen in number, were the daughters of Daksha."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.77.9)

दितिर्ज्येष्ठा च तत्स्त्री हि सुषुवे सा सुतद्वयम् । हिरण्यकशिपुर्ज्येष्ठो हिरण्याक्षोऽनुजस्ततः

ditirjyeṣṭhā ca tatstrī hi suṣuve sā sutadvayam hiraṇyakaśipurjyeṣṭho hiraṇyākṣo'nujastataḥ

Diti, the eldest of those wives, gave birth to two sons — Hiranyakashipu, the elder, and Hiranyaksha, the younger.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.77.10)

तौ हतौ विष्णुना दैत्यौ नृसिंहक्रोडरूपतः । सुदुःखदौ ततो देवाः सुखमापुश्च निर्भयाः

tau hatau viṣṇunā daityau nṛsiṁhakroḍarūpataḥ suduḥkhadau tato devāḥ sukhamāpuśca nirbhayāḥ

Those two demons, sources of great sorrow, were slain by Vishnu in his Man-Lion and Boar forms; thereupon the gods attained happiness, freed from fear.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.77.11)

दितिश्च दुःखितासीत्सा कश्यपं शरणं गता । पुनःसंसेव्य तं भक्त्या गर्भमाधत्त सुव्रता

ditiśca duḥkhitāsītsā kaśyapaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatā punaḥsaṁsevya taṁ bhaktyā garbhamādhatta suvratā

Diti, grief-stricken, took refuge with Kashyapa; serving him once more with devotion, that woman of noble vows conceived.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.77.12)

तद्विज्ञाय महेन्द्रोऽपि लब्धच्छिद्रो महोद्यमी । तद्गर्भं व्यच्छिनत्तत्र प्रविश्य पविना मुहुः

tadvijñāya mahendro'pi labdhacchidro mahodyamī tadgarbhaṁ vyacchinattatra praviśya pavinā muhuḥ

Learning of this, mighty Indra, ever enterprising, seized his opportunity, entered that womb, and repeatedly cleft it with his thunderbolt.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.77.13)

तद्व्रतस्य प्रभावेण न तद्गर्भो ममार ह । स्वपन्त्या दैवयोगेन सप्त सप्ताभवन्सुताः

tadvratasya prabhāveṇa na tadgarbho mamāra ha svapantyā daivayogena sapta saptābhavansutāḥ

Yet, by the power of her vow, that womb did not perish; and, through a turn of fate, while she slept, it became forty-nine sons, seven times seven.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.77.14)

देवा आसन्सुतास्ते च नामतो मरुतोऽखिलाः । स्वर्गं ययुस्तदेन्द्रेण देवराजात्मसात्कृताः

devā āsansutāste ca nāmato maruto'khilāḥ svargaṁ yayustadendreṇa devarājātmasātkṛtāḥ

Those sons became gods, all bearing the name of the Maruts, and, adopted as his own by Indra, king of the gods, they went to heaven.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.77.15)

पुनर्दितिः पतिं भेजेऽनुतप्ता निजकर्मतः । चकार सुप्रसन्नं तं मुनिं परमसेवया

punarditiḥ patiṁ bheje'nutaptā nijakarmataḥ cakāra suprasannaṁ taṁ muniṁ paramasevayā

Diti, repenting of her own action, once more turned to her husband, and through supreme service made that sage greatly pleased.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.77.16)

कश्यप उवाच तपः कुरु शुचिर्भूत्वा ब्रह्मणश्चायुतं समाः । चेद्भविष्यति तत्पूर्वं भविता ते सुतस्तदा

kaśyapa uvāca tapaḥ kuru śucirbhūtvā brahmaṇaścāyutaṁ samāḥ cedbhaviṣyati tatpūrvaṁ bhavitā te sutastadā

Kashyapa said: "Become pure, and perform austerity for ten thousand years of Brahma. If that is fulfilled first, then a son shall be born to you."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.77.17)

तथा दित्या कृतं पूर्णं तत्तपः श्रद्धया मुने । ततः पत्युः प्राप्य गर्भं सुषुवे तादृशं सुतम्

tathā dityā kṛtaṁ pūrṇaṁ tattapaḥ śraddhayā mune tataḥ patyuḥ prāpya garbhaṁ suṣuve tādṛśaṁ sutam

Thus, O sage, that austerity was completed in full by Diti, with faith; then, receiving her husband's seed, she gave birth to just such a son.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.77.18)

वज्राङ्गनामा सोऽभूद्वै दितिपुत्रोऽमरोपमः । नामतुल्यतनुर्वीरः सुप्रताप्युद्भवाद्बली

vajrāṅganāmā so'bhūdvai ditiputro'maropamaḥ nāmatulyatanurvīraḥ supratāpyudbhavādbalī

He became known by the name Vajranga, Diti's son, equal to the immortals — a hero whose body matched his very name, of great valor and mighty from birth.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.77.19)

जननीशासनात्सद्यः स सुतो निर्जराधिपम् । बलाद्धृत्वा ददौ दण्डं विविधं निर्जरानपि

jananīśāsanātsadyaḥ sa suto nirjarādhipam balāddhṛtvā dadau daṇḍaṁ vividhaṁ nirjarānapi

At his mother's command, that son at once seized the lord of the immortals by force, and inflicted manifold punishments upon the gods as well.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.77.20)

दितिः सुखमतीवाप दृष्ट्वा शक्रादिदुर्दशाम् । अमरा अपि शक्राद्या जग्मुर्दुःखं स्वकर्मतः

ditiḥ sukhamatīvāpa dṛṣṭvā śakrādidurdaśām amarā api śakrādyā jagmurduḥkhaṁ svakarmataḥ

Diti found great joy in seeing the wretched state of Shakra and the others; and the immortals, headed by Shakra, fell into misery through the fruit of their own past deeds.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.77.21)

तदाहं कश्यपेनाशु तत्रागत्य सुसामगीः । देवानत्याजयंस्तस्मात्सदा देवहिते रतः

tadāhaṁ kaśyapenāśu tatrāgatya susāmagīḥ devānatyājayaṁstasmātsadā devahite rataḥ

Then I, together with Kashyapa, going there at once with conciliatory words, freed the gods from that plight, ever devoted as I am to their welfare.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.77.22)

देवान्मुक्त्वा स वज्राङ्गस्ततः प्रोवाच सादरम् । शिवभक्तोऽतिशुद्धात्मा निर्विकारः प्रसन्नधीः

devānmuktvā sa vajrāṅgastataḥ provāca sādaram śivabhakto'tiśuddhātmā nirvikāraḥ prasannadhīḥ

Releasing the gods, that Vajranga — a devotee of Shiva, of utterly pure soul, changeless, and of tranquil mind — then spoke to me with reverence.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.77.23)

वज्राङ्ग उवाच इन्द्रो दुष्टः प्रजाघाती मातुर्मे स्वार्थसाधकः । स फलं प्राप्तवानद्य स्वराज्यं हि करोतु सः

vajrāṅga uvāca indro duṣṭaḥ prajāghātī māturme svārthasādhakaḥ sa phalaṁ prāptavānadya svarājyaṁ hi karotu saḥ

Vajranga said: "Indra is wicked, a destroyer of my mother's people, seeking only his own advantage. He has received his due today; let him now govern his own kingdom."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.77.24)

मातुराज्ञावशाद्ब्रह्मन्कृतमेतन्मयाखिलम् । न मे भोगाभिलाषो वै कस्यचिद्भुवनस्य हि

māturājñāvaśādbrahmankṛtametanmayākhilam na me bhogābhilāṣo vai kasyacidbhuvanasya hi

"By my mother's command alone, O Brahman, all this was done by me; I have no desire whatsoever for the enjoyment of any world."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.77.25)

तत्त्वसारं विधे ब्रूहि मह्यं वेदविदांवर । येन स्यां सुसुखी नित्यं निर्विकारः प्रसन्नधीः

tattvasāraṁ vidhe brūhi mahyaṁ vedavidāṁvara yena syāṁ susukhī nityaṁ nirvikāraḥ prasannadhīḥ

"Tell me, O Vidhi, foremost among knowers of the Veda, the very essence of truth, by which I may become ever truly happy, changeless, and tranquil in mind."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.77.26)

तच्छ्रुत्वाहं मुनेऽवोचं सात्त्विको भाव उच्यते । तत्त्वसार इति प्रीत्या सृजाम्येकां वरां स्त्रियम्

tacchrutvāhaṁ mune'vocaṁ sāttviko bhāva ucyate tattvasāra iti prītyā sṛjāmyekāṁ varāṁ striyam

Hearing that, O sage, I said: "The sattvic disposition alone is called the essence of truth." And, saying this, with delight I created an excellent woman.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.77.27)

वराङ्गीं नाम तां दत्त्वा तस्मै दितिसुताय वै । अयां स्वधाम सुप्रीतः कश्यपस्तत्पितापि च

varāṅgīṁ nāma tāṁ dattvā tasmai ditisutāya vai ayāṁ svadhāma suprītaḥ kaśyapastatpitāpi ca

Giving that woman, named Varangi, to Diti's son, I, and Kashyapa his father as well, greatly pleased, returned to our own abodes.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.77.28)

ततो दैत्यः स वज्राङ्गः सात्त्विकं भावमाश्रितः । आसुरं भावमुत्सृज्य निर्वैरः सुखमाप्तवान्

tato daityaḥ sa vajrāṅgaḥ sāttvikaṁ bhāvamāśritaḥ āsuraṁ bhāvamutsṛjya nirvairaḥ sukhamāptavān

Then that demon Vajranga, having taken refuge in the sattvic disposition and cast off his demonic nature, became free of enmity and attained happiness.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.77.29)

न बभूव वराङ्ग्या हि हृदि भावोऽथ सात्त्विकः । सकामा स्वपतिं भेजे श्रद्धया विविधं सती

na babhūva varāṅgyā hi hṛdi bhāvo'tha sāttvikaḥ sakāmā svapatiṁ bheje śraddhayā vividhaṁ satī

But in Varangi's heart no such sattvic disposition arose; filled with desire, that faithful wife served her husband in many ways, though still with devotion.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.77.30)

अथ तत्सेवनादाशु सन्तुष्टोऽभून्महाप्रभुः । स वज्राङ्गः पतिस्तस्या उवाच वचनं तदा

atha tatsevanādāśu santuṣṭo'bhūnmahāprabhuḥ sa vajrāṅgaḥ patistasyā uvāca vacanaṁ tadā

Then, soon pleased by her service, that great lord Vajranga, her husband, spoke these words to her.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.77.31)

वज्राङ्ग्युवाच । किमिच्छसि प्रिये ब्रूहि किं ते मनसि वर्तते । तच्छ्रुत्वानम्य तं प्राह सा पतिं स्वमनोरथम्

vajrāṅgyuvāca kimicchasi priye brūhi kiṁ te manasi vartate tacchrutvānamya taṁ prāha sā patiṁ svamanoratham

Vajranga said: "What do you wish, my beloved? Tell me — what is in your heart?" Hearing this, she bowed and told her husband her own desire.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.77.32)

वराङ्ग्युवाच । चेत् प्रसन्नोऽभवस्त्वं वै सुतं मे देहि सत्पते । महाबलं त्रिलोकस्य जेतारं हरिदुःखदम्

varāṅgyuvāca cet prasanno'bhavastvaṁ vai sutaṁ me dehi satpate mahābalaṁ trilokasya jetāraṁ hariduḥkhadam

Varangi said: "If you are pleased with me, O righteous lord, grant me a son — one of great strength, a conqueror of the three worlds, one who brings sorrow to Hari."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.77.33)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति श्रुत्वा प्रियावाक्यं विस्मितोऽभूत्स आकुलः । उवाच हृदि स ज्ञानी सात्त्विको वैरवर्जितः

brahmovāca iti śrutvā priyāvākyaṁ vismito'bhūtsa ākulaḥ uvāca hṛdi sa jñānī sāttviko vairavarjitaḥ

Brahma said: "Hearing his beloved's words, he grew astonished and troubled; that wise, sattvic man, free of all enmity, spoke thus within his own heart."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.77.34)

प्रियेच्छति विरोधं वै सुरैर्मे न हि रोचते । किं कुर्यां हि क्व गच्छेयं कथं नश्येन्न मे पणः

priyecchati virodhaṁ vai surairme na hi rocate kiṁ kuryāṁ hi kva gaccheyaṁ kathaṁ naśyenna me paṇaḥ

"My beloved desires conflict, yet enmity with the gods does not please me. What am I to do? Where shall I turn? How may my given word remain unbroken?"

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.77.35)

प्रियामनोरथश्चैव पूर्णः स्यात्त्रिजगद्भवेत् । क्लेशयुङ्नितरां भूयो देवाश्च मुनयस्तथा

priyāmanorathaścaiva pūrṇaḥ syāttrijagadbhavet kleśayuṅnitarāṁ bhūyo devāśca munayastathā

"If my beloved's wish is fulfilled, the three worlds would fall into ever deeper distress — the gods, and the sages as well."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.77.36)

न पूर्णः स्यात्प्रियाकामस्तदा मे नरको भवेत् । द्विधापि धर्महानिर्वै भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुवान्

na pūrṇaḥ syātpriyākāmastadā me narako bhavet dvidhāpi dharmahānirvai bhavatītyanuśuśruvān

"If my beloved's desire remains unfulfilled, then hell would be my fate; for I have heard that either way there is loss of dharma."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.77.37)

वज्राङ्ग इत्थं बभ्राम स मुने धर्मसङ्कटे । बलाबलं द्वयोस्तत्र विचिचिन्त च बुद्धितः

vajrāṅga itthaṁ babhrāma sa mune dharmasaṅkaṭe balābalaṁ dvayostatra vicicinta ca buddhitaḥ

Thus, O sage, Vajranga wandered in this dilemma of dharma, weighing with his own mind the strength and weakness of both paths.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.77.38)

शिवेच्छया स हि मुने वाक्यं मेने स्त्रियो बुधः । तथास्त्विति वचः प्राह प्रियां प्रति स दैत्यराट्

śivecchayā sa hi mune vākyaṁ mene striyo budhaḥ tathāstviti vacaḥ prāha priyāṁ prati sa daityarāṭ

By Shiva's will, O sage, that wise one accepted his wife's word, and the lord of the demons said "so be it" to his beloved.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.77.39)

तदर्थमकरोत्तीव्रं तपोऽन्यद्दुष्करं स तु । मां समुद्दिश्य सुप्रीत्या बहुवर्षं जितेन्द्रियः

tadarthamakarottīvraṁ tapo'nyadduṣkaraṁ sa tu māṁ samuddiśya suprītyā bahuvarṣaṁ jitendriyaḥ

For that purpose, having conquered his senses, he performed a fierce and most difficult austerity directed toward me, with great devotion, for many years.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.77.40)

वरं दातुमगां तस्मै दृष्ट्वाहं तत्तपो महत् । वरं ब्रूहि ह्यवोचं तं सुप्रसन्नेन चेतसा

varaṁ dātumagāṁ tasmai dṛṣṭvāhaṁ tattapo mahat varaṁ brūhi hyavocaṁ taṁ suprasannena cetasā

Beholding that great austerity, I went to him to grant a boon; with a heart well pleased, I said to him, "Ask your boon."

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.77.41)

वज्राङ्गस्तु तदा प्रीतं मां दृष्ट्वा खे स्थितं विभुम् । सुप्रणम्य बहुस्तुत्वा वरं वव्रे प्रियाहितम्

vajrāṅgastu tadā prītaṁ māṁ dṛṣṭvā khe sthitaṁ vibhum supraṇamya bahustutvā varaṁ vavre priyāhitam

Then Vajranga, seeing me, the pleased Lord standing there in the sky, bowed low, praised me at length, and chose the boon dear to his wife.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.77.42)

वज्राङ्ग उवाच । सुतं देहि स्वमातुर्मे महाहितकरं प्रभो । महाबलं सुप्रतापं सुसमर्थं तपोनिधिम्

vajrāṅga uvāca sutaṁ dehi svamāturme mahāhitakaraṁ prabho mahābalaṁ supratāpaṁ susamarthaṁ taponidhim

Vajranga said: "O Lord, grant me a son who will bring great benefit to his mother — one of great strength, great valor, great capability, a very treasury of austerity."

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.77.43)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य च तद्वाक्यं तथास्त्वित्यब्रवं मुने । अयां स्वधाम तद्दत्त्वा विमनाः संस्मरच्छिवम्

brahmovāca ityākarṇya ca tadvākyaṁ tathāstvityabravaṁ mune ayāṁ svadhāma taddattvā vimanāḥ saṁsmaracchivam

Brahma said: "Hearing that word, O sage, I said, 'so be it,' and, having granted it, returned to my own abode; while he, downcast at heart, called Shiva to mind."