The Narasimha Incarnation

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.10.1)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । विध्वंसी दक्षयज्ञस्य वीरभद्राह्वयः प्रभोः । अवतारश्च विज्ञेयः शिवस्य परमात्मनः

nandīśvara uvāca vidhvaṁsī dakṣayajñasya vīrabhadrāhvayaḥ prabhoḥ avatāraśca vijñeyaḥ śivasya paramātmanaḥ

Nandishvara said: The destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, named Virabhadra, should be known as an incarnation of the Supreme Lord Shiva.

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.10.2)

सतीचरित्रे कथितं चरितं तस्य कृत्स्नशः । श्रुतं त्वयापि बहुधा नातः प्रोक्तं सुविस्तरात्

satīcaritre kathitaṁ caritaṁ tasya kṛtsnaśaḥ śrutaṁ tvayāpi bahudhā nātaḥ proktaṁ suvistarāt

His story was told in full in the account of Sati; you too have heard it many times, hence it is not repeated here at length.

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.10.3)

अतः परं मुनिश्रेष्ठ भवत्स्नेहाद् ब्रवीमि तत् । शार्दूलाख्यावतारं च शङ्करस्य प्रभोः शृणु

ataḥ paraṁ muniśreṣṭha bhavatsnehād bravīmi tat śārdūlākhyāvatāraṁ ca śaṅkarasya prabhoḥ śṛṇu

Beyond this, O best of sages, out of affection for you I shall now tell it; hear of the incarnation of Lord Shankara called Sharabha.

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.10.4)

सदाशिवेन देवानां हितार्थं रूपमद्भुतम् । शारभं च धृतं दिव्यं ज्वलज्ज्वालासमप्रभम्

sadāśivena devānāṁ hitārthaṁ rūpamadbhutam śārabhaṁ ca dhṛtaṁ divyaṁ jvalajjvālāsamaprabham

For the welfare of the gods, Sadashiva assumed the wondrous, divine Sharabha form, radiant like a blazing flame.

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.10.5)

शिवावतारा अमिताः सद्भक्तहितकारकाः । सङ्ख्या न शक्यते कर्तुं तेषां च मुनिसत्तमाः

śivāvatārā amitāḥ sadbhaktahitakārakāḥ saṅkhyā na śakyate kartuṁ teṣāṁ ca munisattamāḥ

The incarnations of Shiva are boundless, working for the welfare of the virtuous devotees; their number cannot be counted, O best of sages.

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.10.6)

आकाशस्य च ताराणां रेणुकानां क्षितेस्तथा । आसाराणां च वृद्धेन बहुकल्पैः कदापि हि

ākāśasya ca tārāṇāṁ reṇukānāṁ kṣitestathā āsārāṇāṁ ca vṛddhena bahukalpaiḥ kadāpi hi

Of the stars of the sky, of the grains of dust of the earth, and of the raindrops — even one grown old across many kalpas—

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.10.7)

सङ्ख्या विशक्यते कर्तुं सुप्राज्ञैर्बहुजन्मभिः । न वै शिवावताराणां सत्यं जानीहि मद्वचः

saṅkhyā viśakyate kartuṁ suprājñairbahujanmabhiḥ na vai śivāvatārāṇāṁ satyaṁ jānīhi madvacaḥ

—might somehow, across many births, be counted by the very wise; but truly, of Shiva's incarnations it cannot be. Know my word to be true.

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.10.8)

तथापि च यथाबुद्ध्या कथयामि यथाश्रुतम् । चरित्रं शारभं दिव्यं परमैश्वर्यसूचकम्

tathāpi ca yathābuddhyā kathayāmi yathāśrutam caritraṁ śārabhaṁ divyaṁ paramaiśvaryasūcakam

Nevertheless, according to my understanding, I shall tell, as I have heard it, the divine story of Sharabha, which reveals supreme sovereignty.

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.10.9)

जयश्च विजयश्चैव भवद्भिः शापितौ यदा । तदा दितिसुतौ द्वौ तावभूतां कश्यपान्मुने

jayaśca vijayaścaiva bhavadbhiḥ śāpitau yadā tadā ditisutau dvau tāvabhūtāṁ kaśyapānmune

When Jaya and Vijaya were cursed by you sages, O muni, they became the two sons of Diti, born of Kashyapa.

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.10.10)

हिरण्यकशिपुश्चाद्यो हिरण्याक्षोऽनुजो बली । देवर्षिपार्षदौ जातौ तौ द्वावपि दितेः सुतौ

hiraṇyakaśipuścādyo hiraṇyākṣo’nujo balī devarṣipārṣadau jātau tau dvāvapi diteḥ sutau

Hiranyakashipu was the elder, and mighty Hiranyaksha the younger; both, though born as attendants of the divine sages, became the two sons of Diti.

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.10.11)

पृथ्व्युद्धारे विधात्रा व प्रार्थितो हि पुरा प्रभुः । हिरण्याक्षं जघानासौ विष्णुर्वाराहरूपधृक्

pṛthvyuddhāre vidhātrā va prārthito hi purā prabhuḥ hiraṇyākṣaṁ jaghānāsau viṣṇurvārāharūpadhṛk

Long ago, entreated by the Creator Brahma for the rescue of the earth, Lord Vishnu, assuming the form of a boar, slew Hiranyaksha.

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.10.12)

तं श्रुत्वा भ्रातरं वीरं निहतं प्राणसन्निभम् । चुकोप हरयेऽतीव हिरण्यकशिपुर्मुने

taṁ śrutvā bhrātaraṁ vīraṁ nihataṁ prāṇasannibham cukopa haraye’tīva hiraṇyakaśipurmune

Hearing that his heroic brother, dear to him as his own life, had been slain, Hiranyakashipu, O sage, became furiously angry at Hari.

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.10.13)

वर्षाणामयुतं तप्त्वा ब्रह्मणो वरमाप सः । न कश्चिन्मारयेन्मां वै त्वत्सृष्टाविति तुष्टतः

varṣāṇāmayutaṁ taptvā brahmaṇo varamāpa saḥ na kaścinmārayenmāṁ vai tvatsṛṣṭāviti tuṣṭataḥ

Practicing austerity for ten thousand years, he obtained from Brahma the boon: 'Let none in your creation be able to kill me' — and Brahma, well pleased, granted it.

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.10.14)

शोणिताख्यपुरं गत्वा देवानाहूय सर्वतः । त्रिलोकीं स्ववशे कृत्वा चक्रे राज्यमकण्टकम्

śoṇitākhyapuraṁ gatvā devānāhūya sarvataḥ trilokīṁ svavaśe kṛtvā cakre rājyamakaṇṭakam

Going to the city called Shonitapura, and summoning the gods from every side, he brought the three worlds under his control and ruled a kingdom free of every rival.

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.10.15)

देवर्षिकदनं चक्रे सर्वधर्मविलोपकः । द्विजपीडाकरः पापी हिरण्यकशिपुर्मुने

devarṣikadanaṁ cakre sarvadharmavilopakaḥ dvijapīḍākaraḥ pāpī hiraṇyakaśipurmune

He wrought havoc on the gods and sages, destroying all dharma; that sinful Hiranyakashipu, O sage, became an oppressor of the twice-born.

Verse 16 (shiva.shatarudra.10.16)

प्रह्लादेन स्वपुत्रेण हरिभक्तेन दैत्यराट् । यदा विद्वेषमकरोद्धरिर्वैरी विशेषतः

prahlādena svaputreṇa haribhaktena daityarāṭ yadā vidveṣamakaroddharirvairī viśeṣataḥ

When the king of the Daityas began to hate his own son Prahlada, a devotee of Hari, regarding him as an enemy especially on account of Hari—

Verse 17 (shiva.shatarudra.10.17)

सभास्तम्भात्तदा विष्णुरभूदाविर्द्रुतं मने । सन्ध्यायां क्रोधमापन्नो नृसिंहवपुषा ततः

sabhāstambhāttadā viṣṇurabhūdāvirdrutaṁ mane sandhyāyāṁ krodhamāpanno nṛsiṁhavapuṣā tataḥ

—then, from the pillar in the assembly hall, Vishnu suddenly manifested; and at twilight, having grown enraged, he then took the form of Narasimha.

Verse 18 (shiva.shatarudra.10.18)

सर्वथा मुनिशार्दूल करालं नृहरेर्वपुः । प्रजज्वालातिभयदं त्रासयन्दैत्यसत्तमान्

sarvathā muniśārdūla karālaṁ nṛharervapuḥ prajajvālātibhayadaṁ trāsayandaityasattamān

In every way, O tiger among sages, the terrible form of Nrihari blazed forth, most fearsome, terrifying even the foremost of the Daityas.

Verse 19 (shiva.shatarudra.10.19)

नृसिंहेन तदा दैत्या निहताश्चैव तत्क्षणम् । हिरण्यकशिपुश्चाथ युद्धं चक्रे सुदारुणम्

nṛsiṁhena tadā daityā nihatāścaiva tatkṣaṇam hiraṇyakaśipuścātha yuddhaṁ cakre sudāruṇam

Then the Daityas were slain by Narasimha in that very instant; and Hiranyakashipu then waged a most terrible battle.

Verse 20 (shiva.shatarudra.10.20)

महायुद्धं तयोरासीन्मुहूर्त्तं मुनिसत्तमाः । विकरालं च भयदं सर्वेषां रोमहर्षणम्

mahāyuddhaṁ tayorāsīnmuhūrttaṁ munisattamāḥ vikarālaṁ ca bhayadaṁ sarveṣāṁ romaharṣaṇam

A great battle took place between the two for a while, O best of sages — terrible and fearsome, making the hair of all stand on end.

Verse 21 (shiva.shatarudra.10.21)

सायं चकर्ष देवेशो देहल्यां दैत्यपुङ्गवम् । व्योम्नि देवेषु पश्यत्सु नृसिंहश्च रमेश्वरः

sāyaṁ cakarṣa deveśo dehalyāṁ daityapuṅgavam vyomni deveṣu paśyatsu nṛsiṁhaśca rameśvaraḥ

At evening, the Lord of gods, Narasimha, Lord of Lakshmi, dragged the foremost of the Daityas onto the threshold, while the gods watched from the sky.

Verse 22 (shiva.shatarudra.10.22)

अथोत्सङ्गे च तं कृत्वा नखैस्तदुदरं द्रुतम् । विदार्य मारयामास पश्यतां त्रिदिवौकसाम्

athotsaṅge ca taṁ kṛtvā nakhaistadudaraṁ drutam vidārya mārayāmāsa paśyatāṁ tridivaukasām

Then, placing him upon his lap, he swiftly tore open his belly with his claws and killed him, before the eyes of the dwellers of heaven.

Verse 23 (shiva.shatarudra.10.23)

हते हिरण्यकशिपौ नृसिंहेनैव विष्णुना । जगत्स्वास्थ्यं तदा लेभे न वै देवा विशेषतः

hate hiraṇyakaśipau nṛsiṁhenaiva viṣṇunā jagatsvāsthyaṁ tadā lebhe na vai devā viśeṣataḥ

When Hiranyakashipu had been slain by Vishnu as Narasimha, the world gained composure — yet the gods, especially, did not.

Verse 24 (shiva.shatarudra.10.24)

देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुः प्रह्लादो विस्मयं गतः । लक्ष्मीश्च विस्मयं प्राप्ता रूपं दृष्ट्वाऽद्भुतं हरेः

devadundubhayo neduḥ prahlādo vismayaṁ gataḥ lakṣmīśca vismayaṁ prāptā rūpaṁ dṛṣṭvā’dbhutaṁ hareḥ

The divine kettledrums resounded; Prahlada was struck with wonder; and Lakshmi too was filled with astonishment on seeing that wondrous form of Hari.

Verse 25 (shiva.shatarudra.10.25)

हतो यद्यपि दैत्येन्द्रस्तथापि न परं सुखम् । ययुर्देवा नृसिंहस्य ज्वाला सा न निवर्तिता

hato yadyapi daityendrastathāpi na paraṁ sukham yayurdevā nṛsiṁhasya jvālā sā na nivartitā

Although the lord of the Daityas had been slain, still the gods did not attain supreme happiness, for the fiery fury of Narasimha did not subside.

Verse 26 (shiva.shatarudra.10.26)

तया च व्याकुलं जातं सर्वं चैव जगत्पुनः । देवाश्च दुःखमापन्नाः किं भविष्यति वा पुनः

tayā ca vyākulaṁ jātaṁ sarvaṁ caiva jagatpunaḥ devāśca duḥkhamāpannāḥ kiṁ bhaviṣyati vā punaḥ

By that fury the whole world again became distressed; and the gods too fell into anguish, wondering what would happen next.

Verse 27 (shiva.shatarudra.10.27)

इत्येवं च वदन्तस्ते भयादू दूरमुपस्थिताः । नृसिंहक्रोधजज्वालाव्याकुलाः पद्मभूमुखाः

ityevaṁ ca vadantaste bhayādū dūramupasthitāḥ nṛsiṁhakrodhajajvālāvyākulāḥ padmabhūmukhāḥ

Speaking thus among themselves, distressed by the fire born of Narasimha's wrath, they stood far off out of fear, with Brahma, the lotus-born, at their head.

Verse 28 (shiva.shatarudra.10.28)

प्रह्रादं प्रेषयामासुस्तच्छान्त्यै निकटं हरेः । सर्वान्मिलित्वा प्रह्लादः प्रार्थितो गतवांस्तदा

prahrādaṁ preṣayāmāsustacchāntyai nikaṭaṁ hareḥ sarvānmilitvā prahlādaḥ prārthito gatavāṁstadā

They sent Prahlada near to Hari to pacify him; all having gathered and entreated him, Prahlada then went.

Verse 29 (shiva.shatarudra.10.29)

उरसाऽऽलिङ्गयामास तं नृसिंहः कृपानिधिः । हृदयं शीतलं जातं रुड्ज्वाला न निवर्त्तिता

urasā’’liṅgayāmāsa taṁ nṛsiṁhaḥ kṛpānidhiḥ hṛdayaṁ śītalaṁ jātaṁ ruḍjvālā na nivarttitā

Narasimha, the treasury of compassion, embraced him to his chest; his heart grew cool, yet the fire of his rage did not subside.

Verse 30 (shiva.shatarudra.10.30)

तथापि न निवृता रुड्ज्वाला नरहरेर्यदा । दुःखं प्राप्तास्ततो देवाः शङ्कर शरणं ययुः

tathāpi na nivṛtā ruḍjvālā narahareryadā duḥkhaṁ prāptāstato devāḥ śaṅkara śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ

Even so, when the fiery rage of Narahari did not cease, the gods, falling into distress, then took refuge in Shankara.

Verse 31 (shiva.shatarudra.10.31)

तत्र गत्वा सुराः सर्वे ब्रह्माद्या मुनयस्तथा । शङ्करं स्तवयामासुर्लोकानां सुखहेतवे

tatra gatvā surāḥ sarve brahmādyā munayastathā śaṅkaraṁ stavayāmāsurlokānāṁ sukhahetave

Going there, all the gods headed by Brahma, and the sages too, praised Shankara, for the sake of the happiness of the worlds.

Verse 32 (shiva.shatarudra.10.32)

देवा ऊचुः । देवदेव महादेव शरणागतवत्सल । पाहि नः शरणापन्नान्सर्वान्देवाञ्जगन्ति च

devā ūcuḥ devadeva mahādeva śaraṇāgatavatsala pāhi naḥ śaraṇāpannānsarvāndevāñjaganti ca

The gods said: O God of gods, Mahadeva, affectionate to those who take refuge in you! Protect us, all the gods and all the worlds, who have come to you for refuge.

Verse 33 (shiva.shatarudra.10.33)

नमस्तेऽस्तु नमस्तेऽस्तु नमस्तेऽस्तु सदाशिव । पूर्वं दुःखं यदा जातं तदा ते रक्षिता वयम्

namaste’stu namaste’stu namaste’stu sadāśiva pūrvaṁ duḥkhaṁ yadā jātaṁ tadā te rakṣitā vayam

Salutations to you, salutations to you, salutations to you, O Sadashiva! Whenever affliction arose in the past, it was you who protected us.

Verse 34 (shiva.shatarudra.10.34)

समुद्रो मथितश्चैव रत्नानां च विभागशः । कृते देवैस्तदा शम्भो गृहीतं गरलं त्वया

samudro mathitaścaiva ratnānāṁ ca vibhāgaśaḥ kṛte devaistadā śambho gṛhītaṁ garalaṁ tvayā

When the ocean was churned and the jewels divided among the gods, then, O Shambhu, it was you who took the poison upon yourself.

Verse 35 (shiva.shatarudra.10.35)

रक्षिताः स्म तदा नाथ नीलकण्ठ इति श्रुतः । विषं पास्यसि नो चेत्त्वं भस्मीभूतास्तदाखिलाः

rakṣitāḥ sma tadā nātha nīlakaṇṭha iti śrutaḥ viṣaṁ pāsyasi no cettvaṁ bhasmībhūtāstadākhilāḥ

We were protected then, O Lord, and you became renowned as Nilakantha; had you not drunk that poison, all of us would have been reduced to ashes.

Verse 36 (shiva.shatarudra.10.36)

प्रसिद्धं च यदा यस्य दुःखं च जायते प्रभो । तदा त्वन्नाममात्रेण सर्वं दुःखं विलीयते

prasiddhaṁ ca yadā yasya duḥkhaṁ ca jāyate prabho tadā tvannāmamātreṇa sarvaṁ duḥkhaṁ vilīyate

It is well known, O Lord, that whenever anyone's sorrow arises, by your name alone all sorrow dissolves away.

Verse 37 (shiva.shatarudra.10.37)

इदानीं नृहरिज्वालापीडितान्नः सदाशिव । तां त्वं शमयितुं देव शक्तोऽसीति सुनिश्चितम्

idānīṁ nṛharijvālāpīḍitānnaḥ sadāśiva tāṁ tvaṁ śamayituṁ deva śakto’sīti suniścitam

Now, O Sadashiva, we are afflicted by the fire of Nrihari; it is certain, O God, that you alone are able to pacify it.

Verse 38 (shiva.shatarudra.10.38)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति स्तुतस्तदा देवैः शङ्करो भक्तवत्सलः । प्रत्युवाच प्रसन्नात्माऽभयं दत्त्वा परं प्रभुः

nandīśvara uvāca iti stutastadā devaiḥ śaṅkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ pratyuvāca prasannātmā’bhayaṁ dattvā paraṁ prabhuḥ

Nandishvara said: Thus praised by the gods, Shankara, affectionate to his devotees, his heart pleased, granting them supreme fearlessness, the Lord replied.

Verse 39 (shiva.shatarudra.10.39)

शङ्कर उवाच । स्वस्थानं गच्छत सुराः सर्वे ब्रह्मादयोऽभयाः । शमयिष्यामि यद्दुःखं सर्वथा हि व्रतं मम

śaṅkara uvāca svasthānaṁ gacchata surāḥ sarve brahmādayo’bhayāḥ śamayiṣyāmi yadduḥkhaṁ sarvathā hi vrataṁ mama

Shankara said: Go to your own abodes, all you gods headed by Brahma, free from fear; I shall pacify this affliction, for it is entirely my vow to do so.

Verse 40 (shiva.shatarudra.10.40)

गतो मच्छरणं यस्तु तस्य दुःखं क्षयं गतम् । मत्प्रियः शरणापन्नः प्राणेभ्योऽपि न संशयः

gato maccharaṇaṁ yastu tasya duḥkhaṁ kṣayaṁ gatam matpriyaḥ śaraṇāpannaḥ prāṇebhyo’pi na saṁśayaḥ

Whoever has taken refuge in me, his sorrow has already come to its end; one who takes refuge in me is dearer to me than my very life — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 41 (shiva.shatarudra.10.41)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा तदा देवा ह्यानन्दम्परमं गताः । यथागतं तथा जग्मुः स्मरन्तः शङ्करं मुदा

nandīśvara uvāca iti śrutvā tadā devā hyānandamparamaṁ gatāḥ yathāgataṁ tathā jagmuḥ smarantaḥ śaṅkaraṁ mudā

Nandishvara said: Hearing this, the gods attained supreme joy; and as they had come, so they departed, joyfully remembering Shankara.