Parvati Beholds Shiva's True Form

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.91.1)

पार्वत्युवाच । एतावद्धि मया ज्ञातं कश्चिदन्योऽयमागतः । इदानीं सकलं ज्ञातमवध्यस्त्वं विशेषतः

pārvatyuvāca etāvaddhi mayā jñātaṁ kaścidanyo'yamāgataḥ idānīṁ sakalaṁ jñātamavadhyastvaṁ viśeṣataḥ

Parvati said: "This much I have understood -- that someone else has come here in disguise; now everything has become known to me in particular -- you are one not to be slain."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.91.2)

त्वयोक्तं विदितं देव तदलीकं न चान्यथा । यदि त्वयोदितं स्याद्वै विरुद्धं नोच्यते त्वया

tvayoktaṁ viditaṁ deva tadalīkaṁ na cānyathā yadi tvayoditaṁ syādvai viruddhaṁ nocyate tvayā

"What you have said, O god, is known to be false, and not otherwise; had it been true, your own words would not have contradicted themselves."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.91.3)

कदाचिद्दृश्यते तादृक् वेषधारी महेश्वरः । स्वलीलया परब्रह्म स्वरागोपात्तविग्रहः

kadāciddṛśyate tādṛk veṣadhārī maheśvaraḥ svalīlayā parabrahma svarāgopāttavigrahaḥ

"Sometimes Maheshvara is seen wearing just such a disguise -- the Supreme Brahman, by his own play, taking on a form out of his own fondness."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.91.4)

ब्रह्मचारिस्वरूपेण प्रतारयितुमुद्यतः । आगतश्छलसंयुक्तं वचोऽवादीः कुयुक्तितः

brahmacārisvarūpeṇa pratārayitumudyataḥ āgataśchalasaṁyuktaṁ vaco'vādīḥ kuyuktitaḥ

"In the guise of a celibate student, ready to deceive me, you have come, and, joined to trickery, you have spoken words through crooked reasoning."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.91.5)

शङ्करस्य स्वरूपं तु जानामि सुविशेषतः । शिवतत्त्वमतो वच्मि सुविचार्य यथार्हतः

śaṅkarasya svarūpaṁ tu jānāmi suviśeṣataḥ śivatattvamato vacmi suvicārya yathārhataḥ

"I know Shankara's true nature especially well; therefore I now speak the truth of Shiva, having well considered it, as is fitting."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.91.6)

वस्तुतो निर्गुणो ब्रह्म सगुणः कारणेन सः । कुतो जातिर्भवेत्तस्य निर्गुणस्य गुणात्मनः

vastuto nirguṇo brahma saguṇaḥ kāraṇena saḥ kuto jātirbhavettasya nirguṇasya guṇātmanaḥ

"In essence he is qualityless Brahman; he becomes possessed of qualities only for a purpose -- how then could there be any birth or caste in him, who is qualityless yet the very self of all qualities?"

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.91.7)

स सर्वासां हि विद्यानामधिष्ठानं सदाशिवः । किं तस्य विद्यया कार्यं पूर्णस्य परमात्मनः

sa sarvāsāṁ hi vidyānāmadhiṣṭhānaṁ sadāśivaḥ kiṁ tasya vidyayā kāryaṁ pūrṇasya paramātmanaḥ

"Sadashiva himself is the very foundation of every form of knowledge; what need has that perfect Supreme Self of knowledge?"

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.91.8)

वेदा उच्छ्वासरूपेण पुरा दत्ताश्च विष्णवे । शम्भुना तेन कल्पादौ तत्समः कोऽस्ति सुप्रभुः

vedā ucchvāsarūpeṇa purā dattāśca viṣṇave śambhunā tena kalpādau tatsamaḥ ko'sti suprabhuḥ

"At the beginning of creation, the Vedas were given to Vishnu by Shambhu in the very form of his own breath; who else is there, a lord as great as he?"

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.91.9)

सर्वेषामादिभूतस्य वयोमानं कुतस्ततः । प्रकृतिस्तु ततो जाता किं शक्तेस्तस्य कारणम्

sarveṣāmādibhūtasya vayomānaṁ kutastataḥ prakṛtistu tato jātā kiṁ śaktestasya kāraṇam

"He is the primal source of all -- from where, then, could his age be measured? From him alone did Prakriti arise -- what then could be the cause of his own Shakti?"

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.91.10)

ये भजन्ति च तं प्रीत्या शक्तीशं शङ्करं सदा । तस्मै शक्तित्रयं शम्भुः स ददाति सदाव्ययम्

ye bhajanti ca taṁ prītyā śaktīśaṁ śaṅkaraṁ sadā tasmai śaktitrayaṁ śambhuḥ sa dadāti sadāvyayam

"To those who ever worship, with love, Shankara, the Lord of all powers, that Shambhu ever grants the threefold, imperishable power."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.91.11)

तस्यैव भजनाज्जीवो मृत्युं जयति निर्भयः । तस्मान्मृत्युञ्जयन्नाम प्रसिद्धं भुवनत्रये

tasyaiva bhajanājjīvo mṛtyuṁ jayati nirbhayaḥ tasmānmṛtyuñjayannāma prasiddhaṁ bhuvanatraye

"By worshipping him alone, the fearless soul conquers death; therefore he is famed throughout the three worlds by the name Mrityunjaya, Conqueror of Death."

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.91.12)

तस्यैव पक्षपातेन विष्णुर्विष्णुत्वमाप्नुयात् । ब्रह्मत्वं च यथा ब्रह्मा देवा देवत्वमेव च

tasyaiva pakṣapātena viṣṇurviṣṇutvamāpnuyāt brahmatvaṁ ca yathā brahmā devā devatvameva ca

"By his favor alone Vishnu attains his very Vishnu-hood, Brahma his Brahma-hood, and the gods their own godhood."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.91.13)

दर्शनार्थं शिवस्यादौ यथा गच्छति देवराट् । भूतादयस्तत्परस्य द्वारपालाः शिवस्य तु

darśanārthaṁ śivasyādau yathā gacchati devarāṭ bhūtādayastatparasya dvārapālāḥ śivasya tu

"As the king of the gods himself first goes for the sight of Shiva, so ghosts and other such beings stand as doorkeepers to that Supreme Shiva."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.91.14)

दण्डैश्च मुकुटं विद्धं मृष्टं भवति सर्वतः । किं तस्य बहुपक्षेण स्वयमेव महाप्रभुः

daṇḍaiśca mukuṭaṁ viddhaṁ mṛṣṭaṁ bhavati sarvataḥ kiṁ tasya bahupakṣeṇa svayameva mahāprabhuḥ

"His crown is polished bright on every side by the bowed sceptres of kings; what need has he of many followers, he who is himself the great Lord?"

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.91.15)

कल्याणरूपिणस्तस्य सेवयेह न किं भवेत् । किं न्यूनं तस्य देवस्य मामिच्छति सदाशिवः

kalyāṇarūpiṇastasya sevayeha na kiṁ bhavet kiṁ nyūnaṁ tasya devasya māmicchati sadāśivaḥ

"What would not come from serving him, who is auspiciousness itself? What is lacking in that god, that Sadashiva should desire me?"

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.91.16)

सप्तजन्मदरिद्रः स्यात्सेवेद्यो यदि शङ्करम् । तस्यैतत्सेवनाल्लोके लक्ष्मीः स्यादनपायिनी

saptajanmadaridraḥ syātsevedyo yadi śaṅkaram tasyaitatsevanālloke lakṣmīḥ syādanapāyinī

"One who serves Shankara -- even if poor across seven births -- by that very service alone gains, in this world, an unfading fortune."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.91.17)

यदग्रे सिद्धयोऽष्टौ च नित्यं नृत्यन्ति तोषितुम् । अवाङ्मुखाः सदा तत्र तद्धितं दुर्लभं कुतः

yadagre siddhayo'ṣṭau ca nityaṁ nṛtyanti toṣitum avāṅmukhāḥ sadā tatra taddhitaṁ durlabhaṁ kutaḥ

"Before whom the eight Siddhis ever dance to please him, their faces bowed low always -- how could his favor ever be hard to attain?"

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.91.18)

यद्यस्य मङ्गलानीह सेवते शङ्करस्य न । यथापि मङ्गलं तस्य स्मरणादेव जायते

yadyasya maṅgalānīha sevate śaṅkarasya na yathāpi maṅgalaṁ tasya smaraṇādeva jāyate

"Whether or not one here attends to Shankara's auspicious deeds, still auspiciousness arises for him from mere remembrance of Shiva."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.91.19)

यस्य पूजाप्रभावेण कामाः सिद्ध्यन्ति सर्वशः । कुतो विकारस्तस्यास्ति निर्विकारस्य सर्वदा

yasya pūjāprabhāveṇa kāmāḥ siddhyanti sarvaśaḥ kuto vikārastasyāsti nirvikārasya sarvadā

"By the power of whose worship all desires are wholly fulfilled -- how could change ever touch him, who is ever unchanging?"

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.91.20)

शिवेति मङ्गलं नाम मुखे यस्य निरन्तरम् । तस्यैव दर्शनादन्ये पवित्राः सन्ति सर्वदा

śiveti maṅgalaṁ nāma mukhe yasya nirantaram tasyaiva darśanādanye pavitrāḥ santi sarvadā

"He on whose lips the auspicious name 'Shiva' ever dwells -- by the mere sight of that person, others too become pure at all times."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.91.21)

यद्यपूतं भवेद्भस्म चितायाश्च त्वयोदितम् । नित्यमस्याङ्गगं देवैः शिरोभिर्धार्यते कथम्

yadyapūtaṁ bhavedbhasma citāyāśca tvayoditam nityamasyāṅgagaṁ devaiḥ śirobhirdhāryate katham

"If, as you have said, the ash of the funeral pyre were impure, how could the gods themselves ever bear it constantly upon their own heads and bodies?"

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.91.22)

यो देवो जगतां कर्ता भर्ता हर्ता गुणान्वितः । निर्गुणः शिवसंज्ञश्च स विज्ञेयः कथं भवेत्

yo devo jagatāṁ kartā bhartā hartā guṇānvitaḥ nirguṇaḥ śivasaṁjñaśca sa vijñeyaḥ kathaṁ bhavet

"That God who is creator, sustainer, and destroyer of the worlds, possessed of qualities, and yet, named Shiva, is also the qualityless -- how could such a one ever be fully known?"

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.91.23)

अगुणं ब्रह्मणो रूपं शिवस्य परमात्मनः । तत्कथं हि विजानन्ति त्वादृशास्तद्बहिर्मुखाः

aguṇaṁ brahmaṇo rūpaṁ śivasya paramātmanaḥ tatkathaṁ hi vijānanti tvādṛśāstadbahirmukhāḥ

"That qualityless form of Brahman, of Shiva the Supreme Self -- how could people such as you, turned away from him, ever come to know it?"

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.91.24)

दुराचाराश्च पापाश्च वेभ्यस्ते विनिर्गताः । तत्त्वं ते नैव जानन्ति शिवस्यागुणरूपिणः

durācārāśca pāpāśca vebhyaste vinirgatāḥ tattvaṁ te naiva jānanti śivasyāguṇarūpiṇaḥ

"Those who are wicked in conduct and sinful have fallen away from the Vedas; they never come to know the truth of Shiva's qualityless nature."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.91.25)

शिवनिन्दां करोतीह तत्त्वमज्ञाय यः पुमान् । आजन्मसञ्चितं पुण्यं भस्मीभवति तस्य तत्

śivanindāṁ karotīha tattvamajñāya yaḥ pumān ājanmasañcitaṁ puṇyaṁ bhasmībhavati tasya tat

"Whatever man, not knowing the truth, slanders Shiva here -- all the merit he has gathered since his birth turns to ash."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.91.26)

त्वया निन्दा कृता यात्र हरस्यामिततेजसः । त्वत्पूजा च कृता यन्मे तस्मात्पापं भजाम्यहम्

tvayā nindā kṛtā yātra harasyāmitatejasaḥ tvatpūjā ca kṛtā yanme tasmātpāpaṁ bhajāmyaham

"Since you have here slandered Hara, of boundless splendor, and since I have worshipped him -- because of this, I too now incur sin, for having listened."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.91.27)

शिवविद्वेषिणं दृष्ट्वा सचैलं स्नानमाचरेत् । शिवविद्वेषिणं दृष्ट्वा प्रायश्चितं समाचरेत्

śivavidveṣiṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā sacailaṁ snānamācaret śivavidveṣiṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā prāyaścitaṁ samācaret

"Having seen a hater of Shiva, one should bathe with one's clothes on; having seen a hater of Shiva, one should perform expiation."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.91.28)

रे रे दुष्ट त्वया चोक्तमहं जानामि शङ्करम् । निश्चयेन न विज्ञातश्शिव एव सनातनः

re re duṣṭa tvayā coktamahaṁ jānāmi śaṅkaram niścayena na vijñātaśśiva eva sanātanaḥ

"O wicked one! What you claimed -- 'I know Shankara' -- is certainly false; eternal Shiva has not truly been known by you."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.91.29)

यथा तथा भवेद्रुद्रो यथा वा बहुरूपवान् । ममाभीष्टतमो नित्यं निर्विकारी सतां प्रियः

yathā tathā bhavedrudro yathā vā bahurūpavān mamābhīṣṭatamo nityaṁ nirvikārī satāṁ priyaḥ

"Whatever form Rudra may take, however many forms he may assume, he -- ever unchanging, dear to the virtuous -- remains forever my supreme desire."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.91.30)

विष्णुर्ब्रह्मापि न समः तस्य क्वापि महात्मनः । कुतोऽन्ये निर्जराद्याश्च कालाधीनाः सदैव ते

viṣṇurbrahmāpi na samaḥ tasya kvāpi mahātmanaḥ kuto'nye nirjarādyāśca kālādhīnāḥ sadaiva te

"Neither Vishnu nor Brahma is ever equal to that great soul; how then could the other gods, ageless yet ever subject to time, be his equal?"

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.91.31)

इति बुद्ध्या समालोक्य स्वया सत्या सुतत्त्वतः । शिवार्थं वनमागत्य करोमि विपुलं तपः

iti buddhyā samālokya svayā satyā sutattvataḥ śivārthaṁ vanamāgatya karomi vipulaṁ tapaḥ

"Having thus reflected with my own true and sound understanding, I have come to this forest for Shiva's sake and perform this vast penance."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.91.32)

स एव परमेशानः सर्वेशो भक्तवत्सलः । सम्प्राप्तुं मेऽभिलाषो हि दीनानुग्रहकारकम्

sa eva parameśānaḥ sarveśo bhaktavatsalaḥ samprāptuṁ me'bhilāṣo hi dīnānugrahakārakam

"He alone is the Supreme Lord, ruler of all, ever fond of his devotees; my longing is to attain him, who shows grace to the humble."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.91.33)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा गिरिजा सा हि गिरीश्वरसुता मुने । विरराम शिवं दध्यौ निर्विकारेण चेतसा

brahmovāca ityuktvā girijā sā hi girīśvarasutā mune virarāma śivaṁ dadhyau nirvikāreṇa cetasā

Brahma said: "Having said this, O sage, Girija, daughter of the lord of mountains, fell silent, and meditated on Shiva with an unwavering mind."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.91.34)

तदाकर्ण्य वचो देव्या ब्रह्मचारी स वै द्विजः । पुनर्वचनमाख्यातुं यावदेव प्रचक्रमे

tadākarṇya vaco devyā brahmacārī sa vai dvijaḥ punarvacanamākhyātuṁ yāvadeva pracakrame

"Hearing the goddess's words, that brahmin, the celibate student, just as he was about to speak again in reply --"

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.91.35)

उवाच गिरिजा तावत्स्वसखीं विजयां द्रुतम् । शिवसक्तमनोवृत्तिः शिवनिन्दापराङ्मुखी

uvāca girijā tāvatsvasakhīṁ vijayāṁ drutam śivasaktamanovṛttiḥ śivanindāparāṅmukhī

"at that very moment Girija, her mind wholly fixed on Shiva and turned away from his slander, quickly spoke to her friend Vijaya."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.91.36)

गिरिजोवाच । वारणीयः प्रयत्नेन सख्ययं हि द्विजाधमः । पुनर्वक्तुमनाश्चैव शिवनिन्दां करिष्यति

girijovāca vāraṇīyaḥ prayatnena sakhyayaṁ hi dvijādhamaḥ punarvaktumanāścaiva śivanindāṁ kariṣyati

Girija said: "This lowest of brahmins must be stopped with all effort, O friend; for he means to speak again, and will only slander Shiva."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.91.37)

न केवलं भवेत्पापं निन्दां कर्तुश्शिवस्य हि । यो वै शृणोति तन्निन्दां पापभाक् स भवेदिह

na kevalaṁ bhavetpāpaṁ nindāṁ kartuśśivasya hi yo vai śṛṇoti tannindāṁ pāpabhāk sa bhavediha

"It is not the slanderer of Shiva alone who incurs sin; whoever listens to that slander also becomes a sharer in it here."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.91.38)

शिवनिन्दाकरो वध्यः सर्वथा शिवकिङ्करैः । ब्राह्मणश्चेत्स वै त्याज्यो गन्तव्यं तत्स्थलाद्द्रुतम्

śivanindākaro vadhyaḥ sarvathā śivakiṅkaraiḥ brāhmaṇaścetsa vai tyājyo gantavyaṁ tatsthalāddrutam

"One who slanders Shiva deserves in every way to be slain by Shiva's own attendants; if he is a brahmin, he should be shunned, and one should quickly leave that place."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.91.39)

अयं दुष्टः पुनर्निन्दां करिष्यति शिवस्य हि । ब्राह्मणत्वादवध्यश्चेत्त्याज्योऽदृश्यश्च सर्वथा

ayaṁ duṣṭaḥ punarnindāṁ kariṣyati śivasya hi brāhmaṇatvādavadhyaścettyājyo'dṛśyaśca sarvathā

"This wicked one will again slander Shiva; though by his brahminhood he is not to be slain, he should be shunned and put wholly out of sight."

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.91.40)

हित्वैतत्स्थलमद्यैव यास्यामोऽन्यत्र मा चिरम् । अथ सम्भाषणं न स्यादनेनाऽविदुषा पुनः

hitvaitatsthalamadyaiva yāsyāmo'nyatra mā ciram atha sambhāṣaṇaṁ na syādanenā'viduṣā punaḥ

"Let us leave this place this very moment and go elsewhere without delay; let there be no further conversation at all with this ignorant one."

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.91.41)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा चोमया यावत्पादमुत्क्षिप्यते मुने । असौ तावच्छिवः साक्षादालम्बे प्रियया स्वयम्

brahmovāca ityuktvā comayā yāvatpādamutkṣipyate mune asau tāvacchivaḥ sākṣādālambe priyayā svayam

Brahma said: "Having said this, O sage, just as Uma was about to lift her foot to leave, Shiva himself, in person, embraced his beloved."

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.91.42)

कृत्वा स्वरूपं सुभगं शिवाध्यानं यथा तथा । दर्शयित्वा शिवायै तामुवाचावाङ्मुखीं शिवः

kṛtvā svarūpaṁ subhagaṁ śivādhyānaṁ yathā tathā darśayitvā śivāyai tāmuvācāvāṅmukhīṁ śivaḥ

"Assuming his own beautiful form, exactly as it is meditated upon, Shiva showed himself to Shiva (Parvati), who stood there with face turned away, and spoke to her."

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.91.43)

शिव उवाच । कुत्र यास्यसि मां हित्वा न त्वं त्याज्या मया पुनः । प्रसन्नोऽस्मि वरं ब्रूहि नादेयं विद्यते तव

śiva uvāca kutra yāsyasi māṁ hitvā na tvaṁ tyājyā mayā punaḥ prasanno'smi varaṁ brūhi nādeyaṁ vidyate tava

Shiva said: "Where will you go, leaving me behind? You shall never again be forsaken by me. I am pleased -- ask a boon; there is nothing that cannot be given to you."

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.91.44)

अद्यप्रभृति ते दासः तपोभिः क्रीत एव ते । क्रीतोऽस्मि तव सौन्दर्यात्क्षणमेकं युगाय ते

adyaprabhṛti te dāsaḥ tapobhiḥ krīta eva te krīto'smi tava saundaryātkṣaṇamekaṁ yugāya te

"From this day I am your servant, bought outright by your penance; I have been won over by your beauty -- even a single moment must have felt to you like an age."

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.91.45)

त्यज्यतां च त्वया लज्जा मम पत्नी सनातनी । गिरिजे त्वं हि सद्बुध्या विचारय महेश्वरि

tyajyatāṁ ca tvayā lajjā mama patnī sanātanī girije tvaṁ hi sadbudhyā vicāraya maheśvari

"Set aside your shame, O Girija; you are, and shall remain, my eternal wife. Consider this well with your good understanding, O great goddess."

Verse 46 (shiva.rudra.91.46)

मया परीक्षितासि त्वं बहुधा दृढमानसे । तत्क्षमस्वापराधं मे लोकलीलानुसारिणः

mayā parīkṣitāsi tvaṁ bahudhā dṛḍhamānase tatkṣamasvāparādhaṁ me lokalīlānusāriṇaḥ

"O firm of mind, I have tested you in many ways; forgive this fault of mine, who only follows the play of the world."

Verse 47 (shiva.rudra.91.47)

न त्वादृशीं प्रणयिनीं पश्यामि च त्रिलोकके । सर्वथाहं तवाधीनः स्वकामः पूर्यतां शिवे

na tvādṛśīṁ praṇayinīṁ paśyāmi ca trilokake sarvathāhaṁ tavādhīnaḥ svakāmaḥ pūryatāṁ śive

"I see no beloved like you in all three worlds; I am wholly subject to you -- let your own desire now be fulfilled, O Shiva."

Verse 48 (shiva.rudra.91.48)

एहि प्रिये मत्सकाशं पत्नी त्वं मे वरस्तव । त्वया साकं द्रुतं यास्ये स्वगृहं पर्वतोत्तमम्

ehi priye matsakāśaṁ patnī tvaṁ me varastava tvayā sākaṁ drutaṁ yāsye svagṛhaṁ parvatottamam

"Come, beloved, to me; you are my wife, and I am your chosen husband. With you I shall swiftly go to my own home, that greatest of mountains."

Verse 49 (shiva.rudra.91.49)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्ते देवदेवेन पार्वती मुदमाप सा । तपोजातं तु यत्कष्टं तज्जहौ च पुरातनम्

brahmovāca ityukte devadevena pārvatī mudamāpa sā tapojātaṁ tu yatkaṣṭaṁ tajjahau ca purātanam

Brahma said: "When the God of gods had spoken thus, Parvati attained great joy, and gave up all the old hardship born of her penance."

Verse 50 (shiva.rudra.91.50)

सर्वः श्रमो विनष्टोऽभूत्सत्यास्तु मुनिसत्तम । फले जाते श्रमः पूर्वो जन्तोर्नाशमवाप्नुयात्

sarvaḥ śramo vinaṣṭo'bhūtsatyāstu munisattama phale jāte śramaḥ pūrvo jantornāśamavāpnuyāt

"All her weariness vanished at once, O best of sages; for when the fruit is finally attained, a creature's former toil comes indeed to nothing."