The Story of King Anaranya

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.97.1)

वसिष्ठ उवाच । मनोर्वंशोद्भवो राजा सोऽनरण्यो नृपेश्वरः । इन्द्रसावर्णिसंज्ञस्य चतुर्दशमितस्य हि

vasiṣṭha uvāca manorvaṁśodbhavo rājā so'naraṇyo nṛpeśvaraḥ indrasāvarṇisaṁjñasya caturdaśamitasya hi

Vasishtha said: "That King Anaranya, lord of kings, was born in the lineage of Manu -- of the Manu known as Indra-savarni, the fourteenth of that name."

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.97.2)

अनरण्यो नृपश्रेष्ठः सप्तद्वीपमहीपतिः । शम्भुभक्तो विशेषेण मङ्गलारण्यजो बली

anaraṇyo nṛpaśreṣṭhaḥ saptadvīpamahīpatiḥ śambhubhakto viśeṣeṇa maṅgalāraṇyajo balī

"Anaranya, foremost of kings, was lord of the earth with its seven continents; a mighty king born in Mangalaranya, and especially devoted to Shambhu."

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.97.3)

भृगुं पुरोधसं कृत्वा शतं यज्ञांश्चकार सः । न स्वीचकार शक्रत्वं दीयमानं सुरैरपि

bhṛguṁ purodhasaṁ kṛtvā śataṁ yajñāṁścakāra saḥ na svīcakāra śakratvaṁ dīyamānaṁ surairapi

"Making Bhrigu his family priest, he performed a hundred sacrifices; yet even when the gods themselves offered him the rank of Indra, he did not accept it."

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.97.4)

बभूवुः शतपुत्राश्च राज्ञस्तस्य हिमालय । कन्यैका सुन्दरी नाम्ना पद्मा पद्मालया समा

babhūvuḥ śataputrāśca rājñastasya himālaya kanyaikā sundarī nāmnā padmā padmālayā samā

"O Himalaya, that king had a hundred sons, and one beautiful daughter, named Padma, equal to Padma, the lotus-dwelling goddess."

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.97.5)

यः स्नेहः पुत्रशतके कन्यायाञ्च ततोऽधिकः । नृपस्य तस्य तस्यां हि बभूव नगसत्तम

yaḥ snehaḥ putraśatake kanyāyāñca tato'dhikaḥ nṛpasya tasya tasyāṁ hi babhūva nagasattama

"O best of mountains, whatever love the king bore for his hundred sons, his love for that daughter alone was even greater still."

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.97.6)

प्राणाधिका प्रियतमा महिष्यः सर्वयोषितः । नृपस्य पत्न्यः पञ्चासन् सर्वाः सौभाग्यसंयुताः

prāṇādhikā priyatamā mahiṣyaḥ sarvayoṣitaḥ nṛpasya patnyaḥ pañcāsan sarvāḥ saubhāgyasaṁyutāḥ

"She was dearer to him than his own life, more beloved than all his other women. The king had five queens, all of them blessed with good fortune."

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.97.7)

सा कन्या यौवनस्था च बभूव स्वपितुर्गृहे । पत्रं प्रस्थापयामास सुवरानयनाय सः

sā kanyā yauvanasthā ca babhūva svapiturgṛhe patraṁ prasthāpayāmāsa suvarānayanāya saḥ

"That daughter, having reached womanhood, remained in her father's house; he sent out letters seeking to bring a suitable groom."

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.97.8)

एकदा पिप्पलादर्षिर्गन्तुं स्वाश्रममुत्सुकः । तपःस्थाने निर्जने च गन्धर्वं स ददर्श ह

ekadā pippalādarṣirgantuṁ svāśramamutsukaḥ tapaḥsthāne nirjane ca gandharvaṁ sa dadarśa ha

"Once, the sage Pippalada, eager to reach his own hermitage, came upon a Gandharva in a solitary place of penance."

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.97.9)

स्त्रीयुतं मग्नचित्तं च शृङ्गारे रससागरे । विहरन्तं महाप्रेम्णा कामशास्त्रविशारदम्

strīyutaṁ magnacittaṁ ca śṛṅgāre rasasāgare viharantaṁ mahāpremṇā kāmaśāstraviśāradam

"-- that Gandharva, with a woman beside him, his mind wholly immersed in the ocean of erotic sentiment, was disporting himself with great passion, and was well versed in the science of love."

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.97.10)

दृष्ट्वा तं मुनिशार्दूलः सकामः सम्बभूव सः । तपःस्वदत्तचित्तश्चाचिन्तयद्दारसङ्ग्रहम्

dṛṣṭvā taṁ muniśārdūlaḥ sakāmaḥ sambabhūva saḥ tapaḥsvadattacittaścācintayaddārasaṅgraham

"Seeing him, that tiger among sages himself grew filled with desire; his mind, once wholly devoted to austerity, now began to dwell on taking a wife."

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.97.11)

एवंवृत्तस्य तस्यैव पिप्पलादस्य सन्मुनेः । कियत्कालो गतस्तत्र कामोन्मथितचेतसः

evaṁvṛttasya tasyaiva pippalādasya sanmuneḥ kiyatkālo gatastatra kāmonmathitacetasaḥ

"Some while thus passed for that good sage Pippalada, his mind now stirred and afflicted by desire."

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.97.12)

एकदा पुष्पभद्रायां स्नातुं गच्छन्मुनीश्वरः । ददर्श पद्मां युवतीं पद्मामिव मनोरमाम्

ekadā puṣpabhadrāyāṁ snātuṁ gacchanmunīśvaraḥ dadarśa padmāṁ yuvatīṁ padmāmiva manoramām

"One day, going to bathe in the Pushpabhadra river, that lord of sages beheld the young woman Padma, lovely as the lotus-goddess herself."

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.97.13)

केयं कन्येति पप्रच्छ समीपस्थाञ्जनान्मुनिः । जना निवेदयाञ्चक्रुर्नत्वा शापनियन्त्रिताः

keyaṁ kanyeti papraccha samīpasthāñjanānmuniḥ janā nivedayāñcakrurnatvā śāpaniyantritāḥ

"'Who is this maiden?' the sage asked the people standing nearby. Restrained by fear of his curse, the people bowed and told him."

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.97.14)

जना ऊचुः । अनरण्यसुतेयं वै पद्मा नाम रमापरा । वरारोहा प्रार्थ्यमाना नृपश्रेष्ठैर्गुणालया

janā ūcuḥ anaraṇyasuteyaṁ vai padmā nāma ramāparā varārohā prārthyamānā nṛpaśreṣṭhairguṇālayā

The people said: "This is indeed the daughter of Anaranya, named Padma, a second Rama; of beautiful form, an abode of virtues, sought in marriage by the finest of kings."

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.97.15)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा स मुनिर्वाक्यं जनानां तथ्यवादिनाम् । चुक्षोभातीव मनसि तल्लिप्सुरभवच्च सः

brahmovāca tacchrutvā sa munirvākyaṁ janānāṁ tathyavādinām cukṣobhātīva manasi tallipsurabhavacca saḥ

Brahma said: "Hearing these truthful words of the people, the sage's mind became greatly agitated, and he grew desirous of obtaining her."

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.97.16)

मुनिः स्नात्वाभीष्टदेवं सम्पूज्य विधिवच्छिवम् । जगाम कामी भिक्षार्थमनरण्यसभां गिरे

muniḥ snātvābhīṣṭadevaṁ sampūjya vidhivacchivam jagāma kāmī bhikṣārthamanaraṇyasabhāṁ gire

"O mountain, having bathed and duly worshipped Shiva, his chosen deity, that sage, now overcome with desire, went to beg at Anaranya's court."

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.97.17)

राजा शीघ्रं मुनिं दृष्ट्वा प्रणनाम भयाकुलः । मधुपर्कादिकं दत्त्वा पूजयामास भक्तितः

rājā śīghraṁ muniṁ dṛṣṭvā praṇanāma bhayākulaḥ madhuparkādikaṁ dattvā pūjayāmāsa bhaktitaḥ

"The king, seeing the sage, quickly bowed to him, filled with apprehension; offering madhuparka and other honors, he worshipped him with devotion."

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.97.18)

कामात्सर्वं गृहीत्वा च ययाचे कन्यकां मुनिः । मौनी बभूव नृपतिः किञ्चिन्निर्वक्तुमक्षमः

kāmātsarvaṁ gṛhītvā ca yayāce kanyakāṁ muniḥ maunī babhūva nṛpatiḥ kiñcinnirvaktumakṣamaḥ

"Out of desire, having accepted all that was offered, the sage then asked for the maiden. The king, unable to utter anything, fell silent."

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.97.19)

मुनिर्ययाचे कन्यां स तां देहीति नृपेश्वर । अन्यथा भस्मसात्सर्वं करिष्यामि क्षणेन च

muniryayāce kanyāṁ sa tāṁ dehīti nṛpeśvara anyathā bhasmasātsarvaṁ kariṣyāmi kṣaṇena ca

"The sage demanded the maiden once more: 'O lord of kings, give her to me; otherwise, in an instant, I shall reduce everything to ashes.'"

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.97.20)

सर्वे बभूवुराच्छन्ना गणास्तत्तेजसा मुने । रुदोद राजा सगणो दृष्ट्वा विप्रं जरातुरम्

sarve babhūvurācchannā gaṇāstattejasā mune rudoda rājā sagaṇo dṛṣṭvā vipraṁ jarāturam

"O sage, the entire assembly was overwhelmed by that fiery splendor; the king, together with his court, wept at the sight of the brahmin, worn with age yet so terrible."

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.97.21)

महिष्यो रुरुदुस्सर्वा इतिकर्तव्यताक्षमाः । मूर्च्छामाप महाराज्ञी कन्यामाता शुचाकुला

mahiṣyo rurudussarvā itikartavyatākṣamāḥ mūrcchāmāpa mahārājñī kanyāmātā śucākulā

"All the queens, at a loss for what ought to be done, wept aloud; the great queen, mother of the maiden, overwhelmed with grief, fell into a swoon."

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.97.22)

बभूवुस्तनयाः सर्वे शोकाकुलितमानसाः । सर्वं शोकाकुलं जातं नृपसम्बन्धि शैलप

babhūvustanayāḥ sarve śokākulitamānasāḥ sarvaṁ śokākulaṁ jātaṁ nṛpasambandhi śailapa

"All the sons became stricken with grief; O lord of mountains, everything connected with the king was plunged into sorrow."

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.97.23)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे प्राज्ञो द्विजो गुरुरनुत्तमः । पुरोहितश्च मतिमान् आगतो नृपसन्निधिम्

etasminnantare prājño dvijo gururanuttamaḥ purohitaśca matimān āgato nṛpasannidhim

"Meanwhile a wise brahmin -- the king's own unsurpassed guru -- and the sagacious family priest came into the king's presence."

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.97.24)

राजा प्रणम्य सम्पूज्य रुदोद च तयोः पुरः । सर्वं निवेदयाञ्चक्रे पप्रच्छोचितमाशु तत्

rājā praṇamya sampūjya rudoda ca tayoḥ puraḥ sarvaṁ nivedayāñcakre papracchocitamāśu tat

"The king, bowing to them and honoring them, wept before them, told them all that had happened, and swiftly asked what course was proper."

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.97.25)

अथ राज्ञो गुरुर्विप्रः पण्डितश्च पुरोहितः । अपि द्वौ शास्त्रनीतिज्ञौ बोधयामासतुर्नृपम्

atha rājño gururvipraḥ paṇḍitaśca purohitaḥ api dvau śāstranītijñau bodhayāmāsaturnṛpam

"Then the king's guru, a learned brahmin, and the scholarly family priest -- both versed in the ethics of the scriptures -- began to instruct the king."

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.97.26)

शोकाकुलांश्च महिषीर्नृपबालांश्च कन्यकाम् । उत्तमां नीतिमादृत्य सर्वेषां हितकारिणीम्

śokākulāṁśca mahiṣīrnṛpabālāṁśca kanyakām uttamāṁ nītimādṛtya sarveṣāṁ hitakāriṇīm

"They likewise comforted the grief-stricken queens, the king's children, and the maiden herself, offering the highest counsel, one beneficial to them all."

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.97.27)

गुरुपुरोधसावूचतुः शृणु राजन्महाप्राज्ञ वचो नौ सद्धितावहम् । मा शुचः सपरीवारः शास्त्रे कुरु मतिं सतीम्

gurupurodhasāvūcatuḥ śṛṇu rājanmahāprājña vaco nau saddhitāvaham mā śucaḥ saparīvāraḥ śāstre kuru matiṁ satīm

The guru and the family priest said together: "Hear our words, O most wise king, words that bring true good. Grieve not, you and your household; fix your mind rightly upon the teaching of the scriptures."

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.97.28)

अद्य वाब्ददिनान्ते वा दातव्या कन्यका नृप । पात्राय विप्रायान्यस्मै कस्मैचिद्वा विशेषतः

adya vābdadinānte vā dātavyā kanyakā nṛpa pātrāya viprāyānyasmai kasmaicidvā viśeṣataḥ

"O king, this maiden must be given, whether today or at the end of a year, to some worthy brahmin -- to this one in particular, or to some other."

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.97.29)

सत्पात्रं ब्राह्मणादन्यं न पश्यावो जगत्त्रये । सुतां दत्त्वा च मुनये रक्ष स्वां सर्वसम्पदम्

satpātraṁ brāhmaṇādanyaṁ na paśyāvo jagattraye sutāṁ dattvā ca munaye rakṣa svāṁ sarvasampadam

"In all three worlds we see no worthier recipient than a brahmin. Give your daughter to the sage, and so protect the whole of your own wealth."

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.97.30)

राजन्नेकनिमित्तेन सर्वसम्पद्विनश्यति । सर्वं रक्षति तं त्यक्त्वा विना तं शरणागतम्

rājannekanimittena sarvasampadvinaśyati sarvaṁ rakṣati taṁ tyaktvā vinā taṁ śaraṇāgatam

"O king, for the sake of one single thing all of one's wealth may be lost; but by giving up that one thing, one who has taken refuge protects everything else."

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.97.31)

वसिष्ठ उवाच । राजा प्राज्ञवचः श्रुत्वा विलप्य च मुहुर्मुहुः । कन्यां सालङ्कृतां कृत्वा मुनीन्द्राय ददौ किल

vasiṣṭha uvāca rājā prājñavacaḥ śrutvā vilapya ca muhurmuhuḥ kanyāṁ sālaṅkṛtāṁ kṛtvā munīndrāya dadau kila

Vasishtha said: "Hearing the words of the wise, and lamenting again and again, the king adorned his daughter with ornaments and gave her indeed to that foremost of sages."

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.97.32)

कान्तां गृहीत्वा स मुनिर्विवाह्य विधिवद्गिरे । पद्मां पद्मोपमां तां वै मुदितःस्वालयं ययौ

kāntāṁ gṛhītvā sa munirvivāhya vidhivadgire padmāṁ padmopamāṁ tāṁ vai muditaḥsvālayaṁ yayau

"O mountain, that sage, having taken his beloved and duly married Padma, lovely as the lotus-goddess, went joyfully to his own abode."

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.97.33)

राजा सर्वान्परित्यज्य दत्त्वा वृद्धाय चात्मजाम् । ग्लानिं चित्ते समाधाय जगाम तपसे वनम्

rājā sarvānparityajya dattvā vṛddhāya cātmajām glāniṁ citte samādhāya jagāma tapase vanam

"The king, renouncing everything, having given his own daughter to the aged sage, and bearing sorrow in his heart, went to the forest to perform penance."

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.97.34)

तद्भार्यापि वनं याते प्राणनाथे तदा गिरे । भर्तुश्च दुहितुः शोकात्प्राणांस्तत्याज सुन्दरी

tadbhāryāpi vanaṁ yāte prāṇanāthe tadā gire bhartuśca duhituḥ śokātprāṇāṁstatyāja sundarī

"O mountain, when her beloved lord had gone to the forest, that lovely queen, from grief for her husband and her daughter, gave up her life."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.97.35)

पूज्याः पुत्राश्च भृत्याश्च मूर्च्छामापुर्नृपं विना । शुशुचुः श्वाससंयुक्ता ज्ञात्वा सर्वेऽपरे जनाः

pūjyāḥ putrāśca bhṛtyāśca mūrcchāmāpurnṛpaṁ vinā śuśucuḥ śvāsasaṁyuktā jñātvā sarve'pare janāḥ

"The venerable sons and the servants, bereft of the king, fell into a swoon; and all the other people, learning of it, grieved, heaving deep sighs."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.97.36)

अनरण्यो वनं गत्वा तपस्तप्त्वाति शङ्करम् । समाराध्य ययौ भक्त्या शिवलोकमनामयम्

anaraṇyo vanaṁ gatvā tapastaptvāti śaṅkaram samārādhya yayau bhaktyā śivalokamanāmayam

"Anaranya, going to the forest and performing the most intense austerity, and worshipping Shankara with devotion, attained the untroubled world of Shiva."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.97.37)

नृपस्य कीर्तिमान्नाम्ना ज्येष्ठपुत्रोऽथ धार्मिकः । पुत्रवत्पालयामास प्रजा राज्यं चकार ह

nṛpasya kīrtimānnāmnā jyeṣṭhaputro'tha dhārmikaḥ putravatpālayāmāsa prajā rājyaṁ cakāra ha

"Then the king's eldest son, named Kirtimaan, a righteous prince, ruled the kingdom and cherished his subjects as though they were his own children."

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.97.38)

इति ते कथितं शैलानरण्यचरितं शुभम् । कन्यां दत्त्वा यथारक्षद्वंशं चाप्यखिलं धनम्

iti te kathitaṁ śailānaraṇyacaritaṁ śubham kanyāṁ dattvā yathārakṣadvaṁśaṁ cāpyakhilaṁ dhanam

"Thus, O mountain, has this auspicious story of Anaranya been told to you -- how, by giving away his daughter, he preserved his lineage and the whole of his wealth."

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.97.39)

शैलराज त्वमप्येवं सुतां दत्त्वा शिवाय च । रक्ष सर्वकुलं सर्वान्वशान्कुरु सुरानपि

śailarāja tvamapyevaṁ sutāṁ dattvā śivāya ca rakṣa sarvakulaṁ sarvānvaśānkuru surānapi

"O king of the mountains, in just the same way, by giving your daughter to Shiva, protect your entire family, and bring even all the gods under your sway."