The Nature of Shiva

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.9.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । अथाकर्ण्य नुतिं विष्णुकृतां स्वस्य महेश्वरः । प्रादुर्बभूव सुप्रीतः सवामः करुणानिधिः

brahmovāca | athākarṇya nutiṁ viṣṇukṛtāṁ svasya maheśvaraḥ | prādurbabhūva suprītaḥ savāmaḥ karuṇānidhiḥ

Brahma said: Then, having heard the hymn of praise Vishnu had offered him, Maheshvara, the ocean of compassion, was greatly pleased and appeared there together with his consort.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.9.2)

पञ्चवक्त्रस्त्रिनयनो भालचन्द्रो जटाधरः । गौरवर्णो विशालाक्षो भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहः

pañcavaktrastrinayano bhālacandro jaṭādharaḥ | gauravarṇo viśālākṣo bhasmoddhūlitavigrahaḥ

Five-faced, three-eyed, bearing the crescent moon on his brow, with matted locks; fair of hue, wide-eyed, his whole body smeared with sacred ash.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.9.3)

दशबाहुर्नीलगलः सर्वाभरणभूषितः । सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरो भस्मत्रिपुण्ड्राङ्कितमस्तकः

daśabāhurnīlagalaḥ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitaḥ | sarvāṅgasundaro bhasmatripuṇḍrāṅkitamastakaḥ

Ten-armed, blue-throated, adorned with every ornament; beautiful in every limb, his forehead marked with the triple stripe of sacred ash.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.9.4)

तं दृष्ट्वा तादृशं देवं सवामं परमेश्वरम् । तुष्टाव पुनरिष्टाभिर्वाग्भिर्विष्णुर्मया सह

taṁ dṛṣṭvā tādṛśaṁ devaṁ savāmaṁ parameśvaram | tuṣṭāva punariṣṭābhirvāgbhirviṣṇurmayā saha

Seeing that supreme Lord thus manifest with his consort, Vishnu, together with me, praised him again with cherished words.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.9.5)

निगमं श्वासरूपेण ददौ तस्मै ततो हरः । विष्णवे च प्रसन्नात्मा महेशः करुणाकरः

nigamaṁ śvāsarūpeṇa dadau tasmai tato haraḥ | viṣṇave ca prasannātmā maheśaḥ karuṇākaraḥ

Then Hara, Mahesha, the very fount of compassion, his heart well pleased, gave to Vishnu the Veda in the form of his own breath.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.9.6)

ततो ज्ञानमदात्तस्मै रहस्यं परमात्मने । परमात्मा पुनर्मह्यं दत्तवान्कृपया मुने

tato jñānamadāttasmai rahasyaṁ paramātmane | paramātmā punarmahyaṁ dattavānkṛpayā mune

Then the Supreme Self gave that secret knowledge to Vishnu, who is himself the Supreme Self; and, O sage, that same Supreme Self gave it again to me too, out of grace.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.9.7)

सम्प्राप्य निगमं विष्णुः पप्रच्छ पुनरेव तम् । कृतार्थः साञ्जलिर्नत्वा मया सह महेश्वरम्

samprāpya nigamaṁ viṣṇuḥ papraccha punareva tam | kṛtārthaḥ sāñjalirnatvā mayā saha maheśvaram

Having received the Veda, Vishnu, his purpose fulfilled, bowed with joined palms and, together with me, questioned Maheshvara once more.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.9.8)

विष्णुरुवाच । कथं च तुष्यसे देव मया पूज्यः कथं प्रभो । कथं ध्यानं प्रकर्तव्यं कथं व्रजसि वश्यताम्

viṣṇuruvāca | kathaṁ ca tuṣyase deva mayā pūjyaḥ kathaṁ prabho | kathaṁ dhyānaṁ prakartavyaṁ kathaṁ vrajasi vaśyatām

Vishnu said: O Lord, how are you pleased? How, O Master, should you be worshipped by me? How should meditation on you be performed? How do you come under one's control?

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.9.9)

किं कर्तव्यं महादेव ह्यावाभ्यां तव शासनात् । सदा सदाज्ञापय नौ प्रीत्यर्थं कुरु शङ्कर

kiṁ kartavyaṁ mahādeva hyāvābhyāṁ tava śāsanāt | sadā sadājñāpaya nau prītyarthaṁ kuru śaṅkara

O Mahadeva, what must we two do under your command? O Shankara, ever instruct us both, and act for our happiness.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.9.10)

एतत्सर्वं महाराज कृपां कृत्वावयोः प्रभो । कथनीयं तथान्यच्च विज्ञाय स्वानुगौ शिव

etatsarvaṁ mahārāja kṛpāṁ kṛtvāvayoḥ prabho | kathanīyaṁ tathānyacca vijñāya svānugau śiva

O great king, O Lord, showing grace upon us both, tell us all this and whatever else there may be, knowing us, O Shiva, to be your own followers.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.9.11)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्येतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रसन्नो भगवान्हरः । उवाच वचनं प्रीत्या सुप्रसन्नः कृपानिधिः

brahmovāca | ityetadvacanaṁ śrutvā prasanno bhagavānharaḥ | uvāca vacanaṁ prītyā suprasannaḥ kṛpānidhiḥ

Brahma said: Hearing this speech, the Blessed Lord Hara, well pleased, the very treasury of compassion, spoke these words with great affection.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.9.12)

श्रीशिव उवाच । भक्त्या च भवतोर्नूनं प्रीतोऽहं सुरसत्तमौ । पश्यन्तं मां महादेवं भयं सर्वं विमुञ्चताम्

śrīśiva uvāca | bhaktyā ca bhavatornūnaṁ prīto'haṁ surasattamau | paśyantaṁ māṁ mahādevaṁ bhayaṁ sarvaṁ vimuñcatām

Sri Shiva said: O best of gods, I am indeed pleased by the devotion of you both. Seeing me, Mahadeva, let all fear be abandoned.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.9.13)

मम लिङ्गं सदा पूज्यं ध्येयं चैतादृशं मम । इदानीं दृश्यते यद्वत्तथा कार्यं प्रयत्नतः

mama liṅgaṁ sadā pūjyaṁ dhyeyaṁ caitādṛśaṁ mama | idānīṁ dṛśyate yadvattathā kāryaṁ prayatnataḥ

My linga is ever to be worshipped, and this very form of mine, as it is now seen, should be meditated upon — this must be done with diligent effort.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.9.14)

पूजितो लिङ्गरूपेण प्रसन्नो विविधं फलम् । दास्यामि सर्वलोकेभ्यो मनोऽभीष्टान्यनेकशः

pūjito liṅgarūpeṇa prasanno vividhaṁ phalam | dāsyāmi sarvalokebhyo mano'bhīṣṭānyanekaśaḥ

Worshipped in the form of the linga, being pleased, I shall give manifold fruits — the desires of the heart — to all the worlds.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.9.15)

यदा दुःखं भवेत्तत्र युवयोः सुरसत्तमौ । पूजिते मम लिङ्गे च तदा स्याद् दुःखनाशनम्

yadā duḥkhaṁ bhavettatra yuvayoḥ surasattamau | pūjite mama liṅge ca tadā syād duḥkhanāśanam

O best of gods, whenever sorrow should befall you two, then, through worship of my linga, that sorrow shall be destroyed.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.9.16)

युवां प्रसूतौ प्रकृतेर्मदीयाया महाबलौ । सव्यापसव्यागात्राभ्यां मम सर्वेश्वरस्य हि

yuvāṁ prasūtau prakṛtermadīyāyā mahābalau | savyāpasavyāgātrābhyāṁ mama sarveśvarasya hi

You two, of great strength, were born of my own Prakriti — from the right and left sides of me, the Lord of all.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.9.17)

अयं मे दक्षिणात्पार्श्वाद् ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । वामपार्श्वाच्च विष्णुस्त्वं समुत्पन्नः परात्मनः

ayaṁ me dakṣiṇātpārśvād brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ | vāmapārśvācca viṣṇustvaṁ samutpannaḥ parātmanaḥ

This Brahma, the grandfather of the worlds, arose from my right side; and you, Vishnu, arose from the left side of me, the Supreme Self.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.9.18)

प्रीतोऽहं युवयोः सम्यग्वरं दद्यां यथेप्सितम् । मयि भक्तिर्दृढा भूयाद्युवयोरभ्यनुज्ञया

prīto'haṁ yuvayoḥ samyagvaraṁ dadyāṁ yathepsitam | mayi bhaktirdṛḍhā bhūyādyuvayorabhyanujñayā

I am truly pleased with you both; I shall grant a boon as you desire. By my sanction, may firm devotion to me arise in you both.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.9.19)

पार्थिवीं चैव मन्मूर्तिं विधाय कुरुतं युवाम् । सेवां च विविधां प्राज्ञौ कृत्वा सुखमवाप्स्यथः

pārthivīṁ caiva manmūrtiṁ vidhāya kurutaṁ yuvām | sevāṁ ca vividhāṁ prājñau kṛtvā sukhamavāpsyathaḥ

Fashioning an image of me in earth, O wise ones, and performing various forms of service, you two shall attain happiness.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.9.20)

ब्रह्मन्सृष्टिं कुरु त्वं हि मदाज्ञापरिपालकः । वत्स वत्स हरे त्वं च पालयैवं चराचरम्

brahmansṛṣṭiṁ kuru tvaṁ hi madājñāparipālakaḥ | vatsa vatsa hare tvaṁ ca pālayaivaṁ carācaram

O Brahma, upholding my command, perform creation; and you, O child, O Hari, likewise protect this moving and unmoving world.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.9.21)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा नौ प्रभुस्ताभ्यां पूजाविधिमदाच्छुभाम् । येनैव पूजितः शम्भुः फलं यच्छत्यनेकशः

brahmovāca | ityuktvā nau prabhustābhyāṁ pūjāvidhimadācchubhām | yenaiva pūjitaḥ śambhuḥ phalaṁ yacchatyanekaśaḥ

Brahma said: Having spoken thus to us both, the Lord gave us the auspicious mode of worship by which, when Shambhu is worshipped, he bestows manifold fruit.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.9.22)

इत्याकर्ण्य वचः शम्भोर्मया च सहितो हरिः । प्रत्युवाच महेशानं प्रणिपत्य कृताञ्जलिः

ityākarṇya vacaḥ śambhormayā ca sahito hariḥ | pratyuvāca maheśānaṁ praṇipatya kṛtāñjaliḥ

Hearing these words of Shambhu, Hari, together with me, bowed with joined palms and replied to Maheshana.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.9.23)

विष्णुरुवाच । यदि प्रीतिः समुत्पन्ना यदि देयो वरश्च नौ । भक्तिर्भवतु नौ नित्यं त्वयि चाव्यभिचारिणी

viṣṇuruvāca | yadi prītiḥ samutpannā yadi deyo varaśca nau | bhaktirbhavatu nau nityaṁ tvayi cāvyabhicāriṇī

Vishnu said: If affection has arisen in you for us, and if a boon is to be given to us two, let there be for us both ever unwavering devotion to you.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.9.24)

त्वमप्यवतरस्वाद्य लीलया निर्गुणोऽपि हि । सहायं कुरु नौ तात त्वं परः परमेश्वरः

tvamapyavatarasvādya līlayā nirguṇo'pi hi | sahāyaṁ kuru nau tāta tvaṁ paraḥ parameśvaraḥ

Though you are beyond the gunas, descend now by your own play; O Father, be helper to us both, you who are the supreme, highest Lord.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.9.25)

आवयोर्देवदेवेश विवादमपि शोभनम् । इहागतो भवान्यस्माद्विवादशमनाय नौ

āvayordevadeveśa vivādamapi śobhanam | ihāgato bhavānyasmādvivādaśamanāya nau

O Lord of gods, even our dispute has turned out well, for on its account you have come here to resolve the quarrel between us two.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.9.26)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पुनः प्राह हरो हरिम् । प्रणिपत्य स्थितं मूर्ध्ना कृताञ्जलिपुटः स्वयम्

brahmovāca | tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā punaḥ prāha haro harim | praṇipatya sthitaṁ mūrdhnā kṛtāñjalipuṭaḥ svayam

Brahma said: Hearing his words, Hara again spoke to Hari, who stood there, his head bowed, his own palms joined together.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.9.27)

श्रीमहेश उवाच । प्रलयस्थितिसर्गाणां कर्ताहं सगुणोऽगुणः । परब्रह्म निर्विकारी सच्चिदानन्दलक्षणः

śrīmaheśa uvāca | pralayasthitisargāṇāṁ kartāhaṁ saguṇo'guṇaḥ | parabrahma nirvikārī saccidānandalakṣaṇaḥ

Sri Mahesha said: I am the doer of dissolution, maintenance and creation, both with qualities and without; the changeless Supreme Brahman, whose nature is being-consciousness-bliss.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.9.28)

त्रिधा भिन्नो ह्यहं विष्णो ब्रह्मविष्णुहराख्यया । सर्गरक्षालयगुणैर्निष्कलोऽहं सदा हरे

tridhā bhinno hyahaṁ viṣṇo brahmaviṣṇuharākhyayā | sargarakṣālayaguṇairniṣkalo'haṁ sadā hare

O Vishnu, through the qualities of creation, protection and dissolution I become threefold, by the names Brahma, Vishnu and Hara; yet, O Hari, I remain ever without parts.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.9.29)

स्तुतोऽहं यत्त्वया विष्णो ब्रह्मणा मेऽवतारणे । प्रार्थनां तां करिष्यामि सत्यां यद्भक्तवत्सलः

stuto'haṁ yattvayā viṣṇo brahmaṇā me'vatāraṇe | prārthanāṁ tāṁ kariṣyāmi satyāṁ yadbhaktavatsalaḥ

O Vishnu, since I have been praised by you and by Brahma for my descent, I, being ever affectionate to my devotees, shall make that prayer come true.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.9.30)

मद्रूपं परमं ब्रह्मन्नीदृशं भवदङ्गतः । प्रकटीभविता लोके नाम्ना रुद्रः प्रकीर्तितः

madrūpaṁ paramaṁ brahmannīdṛśaṁ bhavadaṅgataḥ | prakaṭībhavitā loke nāmnā rudraḥ prakīrtitaḥ

O Brahma, a supreme form of mine such as this shall become manifest in the world through your own body, renowned by the name Rudra.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.9.31)

मदंशात्तस्य सामर्थ्यं न्यूनं नैव भविष्यति । योऽहं सोऽहं न भेदोऽस्ति पूजाविधिविधानतः

madaṁśāttasya sāmarthyaṁ nyūnaṁ naiva bhaviṣyati | yo'haṁ so'haṁ na bhedo'sti pūjāvidhividhānataḥ

Being a portion of me, his power shall never be less than mine. Who I am, he is; there is no difference between us, save as ordained by the rules of ritual worship.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.9.32)

यथा च ज्योतिषः सङ्गाज्जलादेः स्पर्शता न वै । तथा ममागुणस्यापि संयोगाद् बन्धनं न हि

yathā ca jyotiṣaḥ saṅgājjalādeḥ sparśatā na vai | tathā mamāguṇasyāpi saṁyogād bandhanaṁ na hi

Just as light, though joined with water and the like, is never truly touched by it, so too, though I unite with the guna-less state, no bondage ever comes to me from that union.

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.9.33)

शिवरूपं ममैतच्च रुद्रोऽपि शिववत्तदा । न तत्र परभेदो वै कर्तव्यश्च महामुने

śivarūpaṁ mamaitacca rudro'pi śivavattadā | na tatra parabhedo vai kartavyaśca mahāmune

This form of Shiva is my own; Rudra, too, is thus just like Shiva. O great sage, no distinction whatsoever should be made between the two.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.9.34)

वस्तुतो ह्येकरूपं हि द्विधा भिन्नं जगत्युत । अतो भेदो न विज्ञेयः शिवे रुद्रे कदाचन

vastuto hyekarūpaṁ hi dvidhā bhinnaṁ jagatyuta | ato bhedo na vijñeyaḥ śive rudre kadācana

In reality it is a single form, though it appears divided into two within this world. Therefore no difference should ever be understood between Shiva and Rudra.

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.9.35)

सुवर्णस्य यथैकस्य वस्तुत्वं नैव गच्छति । अलङ्कृतिकृते देव नामभेदो न वस्तुतः

suvarṇasya yathaikasya vastutvaṁ naiva gacchati | alaṅkṛtikṛte deva nāmabhedo na vastutaḥ

Just as the essential substance of a single piece of gold never departs when it is shaped into ornaments — O god, a difference of name made for the sake of adornment creates no real difference of substance.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.9.36)

यथैकस्या मृदो भेदो नानापात्रे न वस्तुतः । कारणस्यैव कार्ये न सन्निधानं निदर्शनम्

yathaikasyā mṛdo bhedo nānāpātre na vastutaḥ | kāraṇasyaiva kārye na sannidhānaṁ nidarśanam

Just as the division of a single lump of clay into many vessels creates no real difference in the clay — this is an illustration of how the cause itself remains present within the effect.

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.9.37)

ज्ञातव्यं बुधवर्यैश्च निर्मलज्ञानिभिः सुरौ । एवं ज्ञात्वा भवद्भ्यां तु न दृश्यं भेदकारणम्

jñātavyaṁ budhavaryaiśca nirmalajñānibhiḥ surau | evaṁ jñātvā bhavadbhyāṁ tu na dṛśyaṁ bhedakāraṇam

O gods, this should be understood by the best of the wise, by those of pure knowledge. Knowing this, you two should see no cause for making any distinction.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.9.38)

वस्तुवत् सर्वदृश्यं च शिवरूपं मतं मम । अहं भवानजश्चैव रुद्रो योऽयं भविष्यति

vastuvat sarvadṛśyaṁ ca śivarūpaṁ mataṁ mama | ahaṁ bhavānajaścaiva rudro yo'yaṁ bhaviṣyati

Whatever is seen, as though a real thing, is held by me to be none other than the form of Shiva. I myself, you the unborn one, and this Rudra who is yet to be — all are one.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.9.39)

एकरूपा न भेदस्तु भेदे वै बन्धनं भवेत् । तथापि च मदीयं हि शिवरूपं सनातनम्

ekarūpā na bhedastu bhede vai bandhanaṁ bhavet | tathāpi ca madīyaṁ hi śivarūpaṁ sanātanam

Being of a single form, there is in truth no difference; bondage arises only where difference is assumed. And yet this Shiva-form of mine remains eternal.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.9.40)

मूलीभूतं सदोक्तं च सत्यज्ञानमनन्तकम् । एवं ज्ञात्वा सदा ध्येयं मनसा चैव तत्त्वतः

mūlībhūtaṁ sadoktaṁ ca satyajñānamanantakam | evaṁ jñātvā sadā dhyeyaṁ manasā caiva tattvataḥ

It is the root-substance, ever declared in the scriptures, whose nature is truth and knowledge without end. Knowing this thus, it should always be meditated upon in the mind, in its true reality.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.9.41)

श्रूयतां चैव भो ब्रह्मन् यद्गोप्यं कथ्यते मया । भवन्तौ प्रकृतेर्यातौ नायं वै प्रकृतेः पुनः

śrūyatāṁ caiva bho brahman yadgopyaṁ kathyate mayā | bhavantau prakṛteryātau nāyaṁ vai prakṛteḥ punaḥ

O Brahma, hear now the secret thing I am telling you: you two have arisen from Prakriti, but this one, Rudra, is not born of Prakriti again.

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.9.42)

मदाज्ञा जायते तत्र ब्रह्मणो भ्रुकुटेरहम् । गुणेष्वपि यथा प्रोक्तस्तामसः प्रकृतो हरः

madājñā jāyate tatra brahmaṇo bhrukuṭeraham | guṇeṣvapi yathā proktastāmasaḥ prakṛto haraḥ

By my command he is born there from the knitted brow of Brahma — I myself — just as, among the gunas, Hara is spoken of as tamas-natured.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.9.43)

वैकारिकश्च विज्ञेयो योऽहङ्कार उदाहृतः । नामतो वस्तुतो नैव तामसः परिचक्ष्यते

vaikārikaśca vijñeyo yo'haṅkāra udāhṛtaḥ | nāmato vastuto naiva tāmasaḥ paricakṣyate

He should be understood as vaikarika, that which is spoken of as ahamkara; he is called tamasic only in name, not in reality.

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.9.44)

एतस्मात्कारणाद् बह्मन्करणीयमिदं त्वया । सृष्टिकर्ता भव ब्रह्मन्सृष्टेश्च पालको हरिः

etasmātkāraṇād bahmankaraṇīyamidaṁ tvayā | sṛṣṭikartā bhava brahmansṛṣṭeśca pālako hariḥ

For this reason, O Brahma, this is what you must do: become the creator of creation, O Brahma, and let Hari be its protector.

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.9.45)

मदीयश्च तथांशो यो लयकर्ता भविष्यति । इयं या प्रकृतिर्देवी ह्युमाख्या परमेश्वरी

madīyaśca tathāṁśo yo layakartā bhaviṣyati | iyaṁ yā prakṛtirdevī hyumākhyā parameśvarī

And that portion of mine which shall be the agent of dissolution shall likewise arise; and this Prakriti-goddess here, known by the name Uma, the supreme Ishvari —

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.9.46)

तस्यास्तु शक्तिर्वाग्देवी ब्रह्माणं सा भजिष्यति । अन्या शक्तिः पुनस्तत्र प्रकृतेः सम्भविष्यति

tasyāstu śaktirvāgdevī brahmāṇaṁ sā bhajiṣyati | anyā śaktiḥ punastatra prakṛteḥ sambhaviṣyati

her power shall become the goddess Vagdevi, and she shall take her place beside Brahma; and another power, again, shall arise there from Prakriti.

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.9.47)

समाश्रयिष्यते विष्णुं लक्ष्मीरूपेण सा तदा । पुनश्च काली नाम्ना सा मदंशं प्राप्स्यति ध्रुवम्

samāśrayiṣyate viṣṇuṁ lakṣmīrūpeṇa sā tadā | punaśca kālī nāmnā sā madaṁśaṁ prāpsyati dhruvam

She shall then take refuge in Vishnu in the form of Lakshmi; and again, by the name Kali, she shall surely come to belong to my own portion.

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.9.48)

ज्योतीरूपेण सा तत्र कार्यार्थे सम्भविष्यति । एवं देव्यास्तथा प्रोक्ताः शक्तयः परमाः शुभाः

jyotīrūpeṇa sā tatra kāryārthe sambhaviṣyati | evaṁ devyāstathā proktāḥ śaktayaḥ paramāḥ śubhāḥ

In the form of radiant light she shall arise there for the sake of the task. Thus have these supreme, auspicious powers of the Goddess been declared.

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.9.49)

सृष्टिस्थितिलयानां हि कार्यं तासां क्रमाद ध्रुवम् । एतस्याः प्रकृतेरंशा मत्प्रियायाः सुरोत्तम

sṛṣṭisthitilayānāṁ hi kāryaṁ tāsāṁ kramāda dhruvam | etasyāḥ prakṛteraṁśā matpriyāyāḥ surottama

O best of gods, the work of creation, maintenance and dissolution shall surely belong to them in due order, for they are portions of this Prakriti, my beloved.

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.9.50)

त्वं च लक्ष्मीमुपाश्रित्य कार्यं कर्तुमिहार्हसि । ब्रह्मंस्त्वं च गिरां देवीं प्रकृत्यंशामवाप्य च

tvaṁ ca lakṣmīmupāśritya kāryaṁ kartumihārhasi | brahmaṁstvaṁ ca girāṁ devīṁ prakṛtyaṁśāmavāpya ca

And you, Vishnu, taking refuge in Lakshmi, are fit to carry out your task here; and you, O Brahma, having likewise obtained Vagdevi, a portion of Prakriti —

Verse 51 (shiva.rudra.9.51)

सृष्टिकार्यं हृदा कर्तुं मन्निर्देशादिहार्हसि । अहं कालीं समाश्रित्य मत्प्रियांशां परात्पराम्

sṛṣṭikāryaṁ hṛdā kartuṁ mannirdeśādihārhasi | ahaṁ kālīṁ samāśritya matpriyāṁśāṁ parātparām

are fit, by my direction, to carry out the work of creation with your whole heart. I, for my part, taking refuge in Kali, higher than the highest, my own beloved portion —

Verse 52 (shiva.rudra.9.52)

रुद्ररूपेण प्रलयं करिष्ये कार्यमुत्तमम् । चतुर्वर्णमयं लोकं तत्सर्वैराश्रमैर्ध्रुवम्

rudrarūpeṇa pralayaṁ kariṣye kāryamuttamam | caturvarṇamayaṁ lokaṁ tatsarvairāśramairdhruvam

shall perform, in the form of Rudra, that supreme task of dissolution — of this world made of the four varnas together with all its ashramas — without fail.

Verse 53 (shiva.rudra.9.53)

तदन्यैर्विविधैः कार्यैः कृत्वा सुखमवाप्स्यथः । ज्ञानविज्ञानसंयुक्तो लोकानां हितकारकः

tadanyairvividhaiḥ kāryaiḥ kṛtvā sukhamavāpsyathaḥ | jñānavijñānasaṁyukto lokānāṁ hitakārakaḥ

Performing that and other various tasks, you two shall attain happiness — endowed with knowledge and wisdom, working for the welfare of all the worlds.

Verse 54 (shiva.rudra.9.54)

मुक्तिदोऽत्र भवानद्य भव लोके मदाज्ञया । मद्दर्शने फलं यद्वत्तदेव तव दर्शने

muktido'tra bhavānadya bhava loke madājñayā | maddarśane phalaṁ yadvattadeva tava darśane

Be henceforth, by my command, the giver of liberation in this world; whatever fruit lies in the sight of me, that same fruit shall lie in the sight of you.

Verse 55 (shiva.rudra.9.55)

इति दत्तो वरस्तेऽद्य सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः । ममैव हृदये विष्णुर्विष्णोश्च हृदये ह्यहम्

iti datto varaste'dya satyaṁ satyaṁ na saṁśayaḥ | mamaiva hṛdaye viṣṇurviṣṇośca hṛdaye hyaham

Thus a boon has today been given to you — true, true, beyond all doubt. Vishnu dwells in my very heart, and I dwell in the heart of Vishnu.

Verse 56 (shiva.rudra.9.56)

उभयोरन्तरं यो वै न जानाति मनो मम । वामाङ्गजो मम हरिर्दक्षिणाङ्गोद्भवो विधिः

ubhayorantaraṁ yo vai na jānāti mano mama | vāmāṅgajo mama harirdakṣiṇāṅgodbhavo vidhiḥ

He who knows no difference between us two knows my very mind. Hari was born of my left side; Vidhi, Brahma, arose from my right side.

Verse 57 (shiva.rudra.9.57)

महाप्रलयकृद रुद्रो विश्वात्मा हृदयोद्भवः । त्रिधा भिन्नो ह्यहं विष्णो ब्रह्मविष्णुभवाख्यया

mahāpralayakṛda rudro viśvātmā hṛdayodbhavaḥ | tridhā bhinno hyahaṁ viṣṇo brahmaviṣṇubhavākhyayā

Rudra, the doer of the great dissolution, the soul of the universe, arose from my heart. O Vishnu, I thus become threefold by the names Brahma, Vishnu, and Bhava.

Verse 58 (shiva.rudra.9.58)

सर्गरक्षालयकरस्त्रिगुणै रज आदिभिः । गुणभिन्नः शिवः साक्षात्प्रकृते पुरुषात्परः

sargarakṣālayakarastriguṇai raja ādibhiḥ | guṇabhinnaḥ śivaḥ sākṣātprakṛte puruṣātparaḥ

The doer of creation, protection and dissolution through the three gunas beginning with rajas — Shiva, distinct from the gunas, stands directly beyond both Prakriti and Purusha.

Verse 59 (shiva.rudra.9.59)

परं ब्रह्माद्वयो नित्योऽनन्तः पूर्णो निरञ्जनः । अन्तस्तमो बहिःसत्त्वस्त्रिजगत्पालको हरिः

paraṁ brahmādvayo nityo'nantaḥ pūrṇo nirañjanaḥ | antastamo bahiḥsattvastrijagatpālako hariḥ

That Supreme Brahman is non-dual, eternal, infinite, complete and stainless. Hari, tamas within and sattva without, is the protector of the three worlds.

Verse 60 (shiva.rudra.9.60)

अन्तःसत्त्वस्तमोबाह्यस्त्रिजगल्लयकृद्धरः

antaḥsattvastamobāhyastrijagallayakṛddharaḥ

Hara, sattva within and tamas without, is the one who brings about the dissolution of the three worlds.

Verse 61 (shiva.rudra.9.61)

अन्तर्बहिरजश्चैव त्रिजगत्सृष्टिकृद्विधिः । एवं गुणास्त्रिदेवेषु गुणभिन्नः शिवः स्मृतः

antarbahirajaścaiva trijagatsṛṣṭikṛdvidhiḥ | evaṁ guṇāstrideveṣu guṇabhinnaḥ śivaḥ smṛtaḥ

And Vidhi, Brahma, rajas both within and without, is the creator of the three worlds. Thus the gunas belong to the three gods, but Shiva is remembered as distinct from the gunas.

Verse 62 (shiva.rudra.9.62)

विष्णो सृष्टिकरं प्रीत्या पालयैनं पितामहम् । सम्पूज्यस्त्रिषु लोकेषु भविष्यसि मदाज्ञया

viṣṇo sṛṣṭikaraṁ prītyā pālayainaṁ pitāmaham | sampūjyastriṣu lokeṣu bhaviṣyasi madājñayā

O Vishnu, protect with love this grandfather, the doer of creation; by my command you shall become worthy of worship in the three worlds.

Verse 63 (shiva.rudra.9.63)

तव सेव्यो विधेश्चापि रुद्र एव भविष्यति । शिवपूर्णावतारो हि त्रिजगल्लयकारकः

tava sevyo vidheścāpi rudra eva bhaviṣyati | śivapūrṇāvatāro hi trijagallayakārakaḥ

Rudra alone shall be worthy of service by you and by Vidhi as well, for he is the full incarnation of Shiva and the one who brings about the dissolution of the three worlds.

Verse 64 (shiva.rudra.9.64)

पाद्मे भविष्यति सुतः कल्पे तव पितामहः । तदा द्रक्ष्यसि मां चैव सोऽपि द्रक्ष्यति पद्मजः

pādme bhaviṣyati sutaḥ kalpe tava pitāmahaḥ | tadā drakṣyasi māṁ caiva so'pi drakṣyati padmajaḥ

In the Padma Kalpa your grandfather shall become your very son; then you shall behold me, and that lotus-born one too shall behold me.

Verse 65 (shiva.rudra.9.65)

एवमुक्त्वा महेशानः कृपां कृत्वातुलां हरः । पुनः प्रोवाच सुप्रीत्या विष्णुं सर्वेश्वरः प्रभुः

evamuktvā maheśānaḥ kṛpāṁ kṛtvātulāṁ haraḥ | punaḥ provāca suprītyā viṣṇuṁ sarveśvaraḥ prabhuḥ

Having spoken thus, Maheshana Hara, showing incomparable grace, the Lord of all, spoke again to Vishnu with great affection.