The Ascetic's Deceptive Words

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.90.1)

पार्वत्युवाच । शृणु द्विजेन्द्र जटिल मद्वृत्तं निखिलं खलु । सख्युक्तं मेऽद्य यत्सत्यं तत्तथैव न चान्यथा

pārvatyuvāca śṛṇu dvijendra jaṭila madvṛttaṁ nikhilaṁ khalu sakhyuktaṁ me'dya yatsatyaṁ tattathaiva na cānyathā

Parvati said: "Listen, O Jatila, lord of the twice-born: my whole story is indeed exactly as it is; what my friend has told today is true, precisely so, and not otherwise."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.90.2)

मनसा वचसा साक्षात्कर्मणा पतिभावतः । सत्यं ब्रवीमि नोऽसत्यं वृतो वै शङ्करो मया

manasā vacasā sākṣātkarmaṇā patibhāvataḥ satyaṁ bravīmi no'satyaṁ vṛto vai śaṅkaro mayā

"In mind, in speech, and directly in deed, out of a wife's devotion, I speak the truth and not falsehood: I have chosen Shankara alone."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.90.3)

जानामि दुर्लभं वस्तु कथम्प्राप्यं मया भवेत् । तथापि मन औत्सुक्यात्तप्यतेऽद्य तपो मया

jānāmi durlabhaṁ vastu kathamprāpyaṁ mayā bhavet tathāpi mana autsukyāttapyate'dya tapo mayā

"I know he is a rare thing to attain -- how could he ever be attained by me? Yet still, out of my mind's eagerness, I perform this penance today."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.90.4)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा वचनं तस्मै स्थिता सा गिरिजा तदा । उवाच ब्राह्मणस्तत्र तच्छ्रुत्वा पार्वतीवचः

brahmovāca ityuktvā vacanaṁ tasmai sthitā sā girijā tadā uvāca brāhmaṇastatra tacchrutvā pārvatīvacaḥ

Brahma said: "Having spoken this word, Girija stood there in silence; and the brahmin, having heard Parvati's words, spoke."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.90.5)

ब्राह्मण उवाच । एतावत्कालपर्यन्तं ममेच्छा महती ह्यभूत् । किं वस्तु काङ्क्षती देवी कुरुते सुमहत्तपः

brāhmaṇa uvāca etāvatkālaparyantaṁ mamecchā mahatī hyabhūt kiṁ vastu kāṅkṣatī devī kurute sumahattapaḥ

The brahmin said: "Until now it has been my great wish to know -- what thing does the goddess desire, that she performs such immense penance?"

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.90.6)

तज्ज्ञात्वा निखिलं देवि श्रुत्वा त्वन्मुखपङ्कजात् । इतो गच्छाम्यहं स्थानाद्यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु

tajjñātvā nikhilaṁ devi śrutvā tvanmukhapaṅkajāt ito gacchāmyahaṁ sthānādyathecchasi tathā kuru

"Having learned all this, O goddess, having heard it from your lotus mouth, I shall now depart from this place; do as you wish."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.90.7)

न कथ्यते त्वया मह्यं मित्रत्वं निष्फलं भवेत् । यथा कार्यं तथा भावि कथनीयं सुखेन च

na kathyate tvayā mahyaṁ mitratvaṁ niṣphalaṁ bhavet yathā kāryaṁ tathā bhāvi kathanīyaṁ sukhena ca

"If you do not tell me, our friendship will be fruitless; whatever must happen will happen -- but tell it to me freely and at ease."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.90.8)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा वचनं तस्य यावद्गन्तुमियेष सः । तावच्च पार्वती देवी प्रणम्योवाच तं द्विजम्

brahmovāca ityuktvā vacanaṁ tasya yāvadgantumiyeṣa saḥ tāvacca pārvatī devī praṇamyovāca taṁ dvijam

Brahma said: "Having said this to her, just as he was about to leave, the goddess Parvati bowed and spoke to that brahmin."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.90.9)

पार्वत्युवाच । किं गमिष्यसि विप्रेन्द्र स्थितो भव हितं वद । इत्युक्ते च तया तत्र स्थित्वोवाच स दण्डधृक्

pārvatyuvāca kiṁ gamiṣyasi viprendra sthito bhava hitaṁ vada ityukte ca tayā tatra sthitvovāca sa daṇḍadhṛk

Parvati said: "Why would you go, O lord of brahmins? Stay here, and speak what is good for me." Thus addressed, that staff-bearer remained there and spoke.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.90.10)

द्विज उवाच । यदि श्रोतुमना देवि मां स्थापयसि भक्तितः । वदामि तत्त्वं तत्सर्वं येन ते वयुनं भवेत्

dvija uvāca yadi śrotumanā devi māṁ sthāpayasi bhaktitaḥ vadāmi tattvaṁ tatsarvaṁ yena te vayunaṁ bhavet

The brahmin said: "If, O goddess, out of devotion, you wish to hear and so keep me here, I shall tell you the whole truth, by which understanding may come to you."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.90.11)

जानाम्यहं महादेवं सर्वथा गुरुधर्मतः । प्रवदामि यथार्थं हि सावधानतया शृणु

jānāmyahaṁ mahādevaṁ sarvathā gurudharmataḥ pravadāmi yathārthaṁ hi sāvadhānatayā śṛṇu

"I know Mahadeva fully, through the way of the guru's tradition; I speak the truth -- listen with attention."

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.90.12)

वृषध्वजो महादेवो भस्मदिग्धो जटाधरः । व्याघ्रचर्माम्बरधरः संवीतो गजकृत्तिना

vṛṣadhvajo mahādevo bhasmadigdho jaṭādharaḥ vyāghracarmāmbaradharaḥ saṁvīto gajakṛttinā

"Mahadeva bears the bull-banner, is smeared with ashes, wears matted locks, is clothed in a tiger skin, and wrapped in an elephant hide."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.90.13)

कपालधारी सर्पौघैः सर्वगात्रेषु वेष्टितः । विषदिग्धोऽभक्ष्यभक्षो विरूपाक्षो विभीषणः

kapāladhārī sarpaughaiḥ sarvagātreṣu veṣṭitaḥ viṣadigdho'bhakṣyabhakṣo virūpākṣo vibhīṣaṇaḥ

"He bears a skull, is wound about every limb with masses of serpents, smeared with poison, eats what should not be eaten, is deformed-eyed, and terrifying."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.90.14)

अव्यक्तजन्मा सततं गृहभोगविवर्जितः । दिगम्बरो दशभुजो भूतप्रेतान्वितस्सदा

avyaktajanmā satataṁ gṛhabhogavivarjitaḥ digambaro daśabhujo bhūtapretānvitassadā

"His birth is unmanifest, he is ever devoid of household enjoyments, sky-clad, ten-armed, and forever accompanied by ghosts and spirits."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.90.15)

केन वा कारणेन त्वं तं भर्तारं समीहसे । क्व ज्ञानं ते गतं देवि तद्वदाद्य विचारतः

kena vā kāraṇena tvaṁ taṁ bhartāraṁ samīhase kva jñānaṁ te gataṁ devi tadvadādya vicārataḥ

"For what reason do you desire him as a husband? Where has your understanding gone, O goddess? Tell me this today, after due thought."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.90.16)

पूर्वं श्रुतं मया चैव व्रतं तस्य भयङ्करम् । शृणु ते निगदाम्यद्य यदि ते श्रवणे रुचिः

pūrvaṁ śrutaṁ mayā caiva vrataṁ tasya bhayaṅkaram śṛṇu te nigadāmyadya yadi te śravaṇe ruciḥ

"I too have heard before of his terrifying vow; if you have any wish to hear it, I tell it to you now -- listen."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.90.17)

दक्षस्य दुहिता साध्वी सती वृषभवाहनम् । वव्रे पतिं पुरा दैवात्तत्सम्भोगः परिश्रुतः

dakṣasya duhitā sādhvī satī vṛṣabhavāhanam vavre patiṁ purā daivāttatsambhogaḥ pariśrutaḥ

"The virtuous Sati, daughter of Daksha, formerly chose by fate the bull-rider as her husband; their union is well known."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.90.18)

कपालिजायेति सती दक्षेण परिवर्जिता । यज्ञे भागप्रदानाय शम्भुश्चापि विवर्जितः

kapālijāyeti satī dakṣeṇa parivarjitā yajñe bhāgapradānāya śambhuścāpi vivarjitaḥ

"As 'wife of the skull-bearer', Sati was rejected by Daksha; and at the sacrifice Shambhu too was denied his portion."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.90.19)

सा तथैवापमानेन भृशं कोपाकुला सती । तत्याजासून्प्रियाँस्तत्र तया त्यक्तश्च शङ्करः

sā tathaivāpamānena bhṛśaṁ kopākulā satī tatyājāsūnpriyā~statra tayā tyaktaśca śaṅkaraḥ

"Sati, greatly agitated with anger at that insult, gave up her dear life there; and by her act Shankara too was, as it were, left behind."

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.90.20)

त्वं स्त्रीरत्नं तव पिता राजा निखिलभूभृताम् । तथाविधं पतिं कस्मादुग्रेण तपसेहसे

tvaṁ strīratnaṁ tava pitā rājā nikhilabhūbhṛtām tathāvidhaṁ patiṁ kasmādugreṇa tapasehase

"You are a jewel among women, your father is the king of all mountains -- why, through such fierce penance, do you desire such a husband as this?"

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.90.21)

दत्त्वा सुवर्णमुद्रां च ग्रहीतुं काचमिच्छसि । हित्वा च चन्दनं शुभ्रं कर्दमं लेप्तुमिच्छसि

dattvā suvarṇamudrāṁ ca grahītuṁ kācamicchasi hitvā ca candanaṁ śubhraṁ kardamaṁ leptumicchasi

"You wish to give up a gold coin to take a piece of glass; you wish to abandon pure white sandalwood to smear on mud."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.90.22)

सूर्यतेजः परित्यज्य खद्योतद्युतिमिच्छसि । चीनांशुकं विहायैव चर्माम्बरमिहेच्छसि

sūryatejaḥ parityajya khadyotadyutimicchasi cīnāṁśukaṁ vihāyaiva carmāmbaramihecchasi

"You wish to give up the sun's radiance for a firefly's glow; you wish to give up fine silk for a garment of hide."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.90.23)

गृहवासं परित्यज्य वनवासं समीहसे । लोहमिच्छसि देवेशि त्यक्त्वा शेवधिमुत्तमम्

gṛhavāsaṁ parityajya vanavāsaṁ samīhase lohamicchasi deveśi tyaktvā śevadhimuttamam

"You wish to give up household life for the forest; O goddess of gods, you desire iron, having cast aside the finest treasure."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.90.24)

इन्द्रादिलोकपालांश्च हित्वा शिवमनुव्रता । नैतत्सूक्तं हि लोकेषु विरुद्धं दृश्यतेऽधुना

indrādilokapālāṁśca hitvā śivamanuvratā naitatsūktaṁ hi lokeṣu viruddhaṁ dṛśyate'dhunā

"Having set aside Indra and the other guardians of the world, you are devoted to Shiva -- this is not counted well of in this world; it now appears simply contrary to reason."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.90.25)

क्व त्वं कमलपत्राक्षी क्वासौ वै त्रिविलोचनः । शशाङ्कवदना त्वं च पञ्चवक्त्रः शिवः स्मृतः

kva tvaṁ kamalapatrākṣī kvāsau vai trivilocanaḥ śaśāṅkavadanā tvaṁ ca pañcavaktraḥ śivaḥ smṛtaḥ

"Where are you, lotus-eyed one, and where is he, the three-eyed one? Your face is like the moon, while Shiva is remembered as five-faced."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.90.26)

वेणी शिरसि ते दिव्या सर्पिणीव विभासिता । जटाजूटं शिवस्यैव प्रसिद्धं परिचक्षते

veṇī śirasi te divyā sarpiṇīva vibhāsitā jaṭājūṭaṁ śivasyaiva prasiddhaṁ paricakṣate

"On your head your divine braid shines like a serpent; Shiva's matted locks too are famous -- but in a very different sense."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.90.27)

चन्दनं च त्वदीयाङ्गे चिताभस्म शिवस्य च । क्व दुकूलं त्वदीयं वै शाङ्करं क्व गजाजिनम्

candanaṁ ca tvadīyāṅge citābhasma śivasya ca kva dukūlaṁ tvadīyaṁ vai śāṅkaraṁ kva gajājinam

"Sandalwood is upon your limbs, while funeral-pyre ash is upon Shiva's; where is your fine silken cloth, and where Shankara's elephant hide?"

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.90.28)

क्व भूषणानि दिव्यानि क्व सर्पाः शङ्करस्य च । क्व चरा देवताःसर्वाः क्व च भूतबलिप्रियः

kva bhūṣaṇāni divyāni kva sarpāḥ śaṅkarasya ca kva carā devatāḥsarvāḥ kva ca bhūtabalipriyaḥ

"Where are divine ornaments, and where Shankara's serpents? Where all the attending gods, and where the one fond of offerings to ghosts?"

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.90.29)

क्व वा मृदङ्गवादश्च क्व च तड्डमरुस्तथा । क्व च भेरीकलापश्च क्व च शृङ्गरवोऽशुभः

kva vā mṛdaṅgavādaśca kva ca taḍḍamarustathā kva ca bherīkalāpaśca kva ca śṛṅgaravo'śubhaḥ

"Where is the sound of the mridanga drum, and where the beat of the damaru? Where the array of kettledrums, and where that inauspicious blast of the horn?"

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.90.30)

क्व च ढक्कामयः शब्दो गलनादः क्व चाशुभः । भवत्याश्च शिवस्यैव न युक्तं रूपमुत्तमम्

kva ca ḍhakkāmayaḥ śabdo galanādaḥ kva cāśubhaḥ bhavatyāśca śivasyaiva na yuktaṁ rūpamuttamam

"Where is the sound of the dhakka drum, and where that inauspicious bellow of the throat? Your supreme beauty and Shiva's form simply do not suit each other."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.90.31)

यदि द्रव्यं भवेत्तस्य कथं स्यात्स दिगम्बरः । वाहनं च बलीवर्दः सामग्री कापि तस्य न

yadi dravyaṁ bhavettasya kathaṁ syātsa digambaraḥ vāhanaṁ ca balīvardaḥ sāmagrī kāpi tasya na

"If he possessed any wealth, why would he go about sky-clad? His only vehicle is a bull, and he has no possessions of any kind."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.90.32)

वरेषु ये गुणाः प्रोक्ता नारीणां सुखदायकाः । तन्मध्ये हि विरूपाक्षे एकोऽपि न गुणः स्मृतः

vareṣu ye guṇāḥ proktā nārīṇāṁ sukhadāyakāḥ tanmadhye hi virūpākṣe eko'pi na guṇaḥ smṛtaḥ

"Among the qualities said to bring a woman happiness in a husband, this deformed-eyed one possesses not a single one."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.90.33)

तवापि कामो दयितो दग्धस्तेन हरेण च । अनादरस्तदा दृष्टो हित्वा त्वामन्यतो गतः

tavāpi kāmo dayito dagdhastena hareṇa ca anādarastadā dṛṣṭo hitvā tvāmanyato gataḥ

"Even your beloved Kama was burnt to ashes by that very Hara; and, showing disregard, he then left even you and went elsewhere -- this was seen."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.90.34)

जातिर्न दृश्यते तस्य विद्याज्ञानं तथैव च । सहायाश्च पिशाचा हि विषं कण्ठे हि दृश्यते

jātirna dṛśyate tasya vidyājñānaṁ tathaiva ca sahāyāśca piśācā hi viṣaṁ kaṇṭhe hi dṛśyate

"No lineage of his is to be seen, nor any learning or knowledge; his companions are ghosts, and poison shows upon his throat."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.90.35)

एकाकी च सदा नित्यं विरागी च विशेषतः । तस्मात्त्वं हि हरेणैव मनो योक्तुं तु चार्हसि

ekākī ca sadā nityaṁ virāgī ca viśeṣataḥ tasmāttvaṁ hi hareṇaiva mano yoktuṁ tu cārhasi

"He is ever solitary, always, and especially free of passion; therefore it is not fitting for you to fix your heart on Hara."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.90.36)

क्व च हारस्त्वदीयो वै क्व च तन्मुण्डमालिका । अङ्गरागः क्व ते दिव्यः चिताभस्म क्व तत्तनौ

kva ca hārastvadīyo vai kva ca tanmuṇḍamālikā aṅgarāgaḥ kva te divyaḥ citābhasma kva tattanau

"Where is your necklace, and where his garland of skulls? Where your divine bodily unguent, and where the funeral ash upon his body?"

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.90.37)

सर्वं विरुद्धं रूपादि तव देवि हरस्य च । मह्यं न रोचते ह्येतद्यदिच्छसि तथा कुरु

sarvaṁ viruddhaṁ rūpādi tava devi harasya ca mahyaṁ na rocate hyetadyadicchasi tathā kuru

"Everything, O goddess -- form and the rest -- stands opposite between you and Hara; this does not please me at all; do as you wish."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.90.38)

असद्वस्तु च यत्किञ्चित् तत्सर्वं स्वयमीहसे । निवर्तय मनस्तस्मान्नो चेदिच्छसि तत्कुरु

asadvastu ca yatkiñcit tatsarvaṁ svayamīhase nivartaya manastasmānno cedicchasi tatkuru

"Whatever unworthy thing exists, all of it you seem to desire of your own accord; turn your mind back from it -- if not, then do as you please."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.90.39)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा तस्य विप्रस्य पार्वती । उवाच क्रुद्धमनसा शिवनिन्दापरं द्विजम्

brahmovāca ityevaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā tasya viprasya pārvatī uvāca kruddhamanasā śivanindāparaṁ dvijam

Brahma said: "Having heard these words of that brahmin, Parvati, with an angry mind, spoke to that twice-born one who was bent on slandering Shiva."