The Sharabha Incarnation, Part 2

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.12.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । नन्दीश्वर महाप्राज्ञ विज्ञातं तदनन्तरम् । ममोपरि कृपां कृत्वा प्रीत्या त्वं तद्वदाधुना

sanatkumāra uvāca nandīśvara mahāprājña vijñātaṁ tadanantaram mamopari kṛpāṁ kṛtvā prītyā tvaṁ tadvadādhunā

Sanatkumara said: O greatly wise Nandishvara, what happened after that I wish to know; showing compassion to me, tell it now with affection.

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.12.2)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्तो वीरभद्रेण नृसिंहः क्रोधविह्वलः । निनदन्ननुवेगेन तं ग्रहीतुं प्रचक्रमे

nandīśvara uvāca ityukto vīrabhadreṇa nṛsiṁhaḥ krodhavihvalaḥ ninadannanuvegena taṁ grahītuṁ pracakrame

Nandishvara said: Thus addressed by Virabhadra, Narasimha, overwhelmed with rage, roaring, rushed forward swiftly to seize him.

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.12.3)

अत्रान्तरे महाघोरं प्रत्यक्षभयकारणम् । गगनव्यापि दुर्धर्षं शैवतेजः समुद्भवम्

atrāntare mahāghoraṁ pratyakṣabhayakāraṇam gaganavyāpi durdharṣaṁ śaivatejaḥ samudbhavam

In that very moment, a most terrible, visibly fearsome, sky-pervading, unassailable radiance, born of Shiva, arose.

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.12.4)

वीरभद्रस्य तद्रूमदृश्यं तु ततः क्षणात् । तद्वै हिरण्मयं सौम्यं न सौरं नाग्निसम्भवम्

vīrabhadrasya tadrūmadṛśyaṁ tu tataḥ kṣaṇāt tadvai hiraṇmayaṁ saumyaṁ na sauraṁ nāgnisambhavam

And in that instant, Virabhadra's form became invisible; that radiance was golden and gentle, neither solar nor born of fire.

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.12.5)

न तडिच्चन्द्रसदृशमनौपम्यं महेश्वरम् । तदा तेजांसि सर्वाणि तस्मिंल्लीनानि शङ्करे

na taḍiccandrasadṛśamanaupamyaṁ maheśvaram tadā tejāṁsi sarvāṇi tasmiṁllīnāni śaṅkare

It did not resemble lightning or the moon — incomparable was that great Lord; then all radiances became dissolved into that Shankara.

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.12.6)

न तद्व्योमं महत्तेजो व्यक्तान्तश्चाभवत्ततः । रुद्रसाधारणं चैव चिह्नितं विकृताकृति

na tadvyomaṁ mahattejo vyaktāntaścābhavattataḥ rudrasādhāraṇaṁ caiva cihnitaṁ vikṛtākṛti

That great effulgence was not merely the sky; it then took on a manifest form at last — marked as belonging to Rudra alone, of a strange and transformed shape.

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.12.7)

ततस्संहाररूपेण सुव्यक्तं परमेश्वरः । पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां जयशब्दादिमङ्गलैः

tatassaṁhārarūpeṇa suvyaktaṁ parameśvaraḥ paśyatāṁ sarvadevānāṁ jayaśabdādimaṅgalaiḥ

Then, in his form as the Destroyer, the Supreme Lord became clearly manifest before the eyes of all the gods, amid cries of 'Victory!' and other auspicious sounds.

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.12.8)

सहस्रबाहुर्जटिलश्चन्द्रार्द्धकृतशेखरः । समृद्धोग्रशरीरेण पक्षाभ्यां चञ्चुना द्विजः

sahasrabāhurjaṭilaścandrārddhakṛtaśekharaḥ samṛddhograśarīreṇa pakṣābhyāṁ cañcunā dvijaḥ

Thousand-armed, matted-locked, wearing the half-moon as his crest; his body abundant and terrible, twice-born - a bird, with wings and a beak;

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.12.9)

अतितीक्ष्णो महादंष्ट्रो वज्रतुल्यनखायुधः । कण्ठे कालो महाबाहुश्चतुष्पाद्वह्निसन्निभः

atitīkṣṇo mahādaṁṣṭro vajratulyanakhāyudhaḥ kaṇṭhe kālo mahābāhuścatuṣpādvahnisannibhaḥ

Extremely sharp, with great fangs, his claws weapons like the thunderbolt; dark at the throat, mighty-armed, four-footed, resembling fire.

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.12.10)

युगान्तोद्यतजीमूतभीमगम्भीरनिःस्वनः । महाकुपितकृत्याग्निव्यावृत्तनयनत्रयः

yugāntodyatajīmūtabhīmagambhīraniḥsvanaḥ mahākupitakṛtyāgnivyāvṛttanayanatrayaḥ

His terrible, deep roar was like the clouds risen at the end of an age; his three eyes rolled about like the fire of a great enraged, destructive spirit.

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.12.11)

स्पष्टदंष्ट्राधरोष्ठश्च हुङ्कारैः संयुतो हरः । ईदृग्विधस्वरूपश्च ह्युग्र आविर्बभूव ह

spaṣṭadaṁṣṭrādharoṣṭhaśca huṅkāraiḥ saṁyuto haraḥ īdṛgvidhasvarūpaśca hyugra āvirbabhūva ha

With fangs visible upon his lower lip, and accompanied by roars, Hara, in a form of such fearsome kind, manifested.

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.12.12)

हरिस्तद्दर्शनादेव विनष्टबलविक्रमः । बिभ्रद्धामसहस्रांशोरधः खद्योतविभ्रमम्

haristaddarśanādeva vinaṣṭabalavikramaḥ bibhraddhāmasahasrāṁśoradhaḥ khadyotavibhramam

Hari, at the very sight of him, lost all his strength and prowess, appearing beneath that thousand-rayed splendor like a mere firefly.

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.12.13)

अथ विभ्रम्य पक्षाभ्यां नाभिपादान्विदारयन् । पादान्बबन्ध पुच्छेन बाहुभ्यां बाहुमण्डलम्

atha vibhramya pakṣābhyāṁ nābhipādānvidārayan pādānbabandha pucchena bāhubhyāṁ bāhumaṇḍalam

Then, wheeling about with his wings, tearing at his navel and feet, he bound his feet with his tail and his circle of arms with his own arms.

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.12.14)

भिन्दन्नुरसि बाहुभ्यां निजग्राह हरो हरिम् । ततो जगाम गगनं देवैस्सह महर्षिभिः

bhindannurasi bāhubhyāṁ nijagrāha haro harim tato jagāma gaganaṁ devaissaha maharṣibhiḥ

Piercing his chest with his arms, Hara seized Hari; then he rose into the sky, together with the gods and the great sages.

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.12.15)

सहसैवाभयाद्विष्णुं स हि श्येन इवोरगम् । उत्क्षिप्योत्क्षिप्य सङ्गृह्य निपात्य च निपात्य च

sahasaivābhayādviṣṇuṁ sa hi śyena ivoragam utkṣipyotkṣipya saṅgṛhya nipātya ca nipātya ca

Suddenly, without fear, like a hawk seizing a serpent, he tossed Vishnu up again and again, gripping him, and dashing him down again and again.

Verse 16 (shiva.shatarudra.12.16)

उड्डीयोड्डीय भगवान्पक्षघातविमोहितम् । हरीं हरस्तं वृषभं विवेशानन्त ईश्वरः

uḍḍīyoḍḍīya bhagavānpakṣaghātavimohitam harīṁ harastaṁ vṛṣabhaṁ viveśānanta īśvaraḥ

Soaring up and up, the boundless Lord, having stunned Hari senseless with the beating of his wings, bore him toward the Bull-bannered God.

Verse 17 (shiva.shatarudra.12.17)

अनुयान्तं सुराः सर्वे नमोवाक्येन तुष्टुवुः । प्रणेमुः सादरं प्रीत्या ब्रह्माद्याश्च मुनीश्वराः

anuyāntaṁ surāḥ sarve namovākyena tuṣṭuvuḥ praṇemuḥ sādaraṁ prītyā brahmādyāśca munīśvarāḥ

As he followed along, all the gods praised him with words of homage; and Brahma and the other gods, and the lords of sages, bowed to him with reverence and love.

Verse 18 (shiva.shatarudra.12.18)

नीयमानः परवशो दीनवक्त्रः कृताञ्जलिः । तुष्टाव परमेशानं हरिस्तं ललिताक्षरैः

nīyamānaḥ paravaśo dīnavaktraḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ tuṣṭāva parameśānaṁ haristaṁ lalitākṣaraiḥ

Being carried off, helpless, his face wretched, with joined palms, Hari praised that Supreme Lord with graceful words.

Verse 19 (shiva.shatarudra.12.19)

नाम्नामष्टशतेनैव स्तुत्वा तं मृडमेव च । पुनश्च प्रार्थयामास नृसिंहः शरभेश्वरम्

nāmnāmaṣṭaśatenaiva stutvā taṁ mṛḍameva ca punaśca prārthayāmāsa nṛsiṁhaḥ śarabheśvaram

Having praised that gracious one, Shiva, with the hundred and eight names, Narasimha once again entreated the Lord of Sharabha.

Verse 20 (shiva.shatarudra.12.20)

यदा यदा ममाज्ञेयं मतिः स्याद्गर्वदूषिता । तदा तदाऽपनेतव्या त्वयैव परमेश्वर

yadā yadā mamājñeyaṁ matiḥ syādgarvadūṣitā tadā tadā’panetavyā tvayaiva parameśvara

Whenever my understanding, unaware of your supremacy, becomes tainted by pride, then it is you alone, O Supreme Lord, who must remove it.

Verse 21 (shiva.shatarudra.12.21)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवं विज्ञापयन्प्रीत्या शङ्करं नरकेसरी । नत्वाशक्तोऽभवद्विष्णुर्जीवितान्तपराजितः

nandīśvara uvāca evaṁ vijñāpayanprītyā śaṅkaraṁ narakesarī natvāśakto’bhavadviṣṇurjīvitāntaparājitaḥ

Nandishvara said: Thus entreating Shankara with affection, the man-lion bowed and Vishnu became powerless, defeated to the very brink of his life.

Verse 22 (shiva.shatarudra.12.22)

तद्वक्त्रं शेषगात्रान्तं कृत्वा सर्वस्वविग्रहम् । शक्तियुक्तं तदीयाङ्गं वीरभद्रः क्षणात्ततः

tadvaktraṁ śeṣagātrāntaṁ kṛtvā sarvasvavigraham śaktiyuktaṁ tadīyāṅgaṁ vīrabhadraḥ kṣaṇāttataḥ

Then, in that very instant, Virabhadra fixed Narasimha's face as an ornament upon the remainder of his own limb, that limb now charged with power.

Verse 23 (shiva.shatarudra.12.23)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । अथ ब्रह्मादयो देवाः शारभं रूपमास्थितम् । तुष्टुवुः शङ्करं देवं सर्वलोकैकशङ्करम्

nandīśvara uvāca atha brahmādayo devāḥ śārabhaṁ rūpamāsthitam tuṣṭuvuḥ śaṅkaraṁ devaṁ sarvalokaikaśaṅkaram

Nandishvara said: Then Brahma and the other gods praised Shankara, established in his Sharabha form, the one bestower of well-being to all the worlds.

Verse 24 (shiva.shatarudra.12.24)

॥ देवा ऊचुः । ब्रह्मविष्ण्विन्द्रचन्द्रादिसुराः सर्वे महर्षयः । दितिजाद्याः सम्प्रसूताः त्वत्तः सर्वे महेश्वर

devā ūcuḥ brahmaviṣṇvindracandrādisurāḥ sarve maharṣayaḥ ditijādyāḥ samprasūtāḥ tvattaḥ sarve maheśvara

The gods said: Brahma, Vishnu, Indra, Chandra and the other gods, all the great sages, and the sons of Diti and others, have all been brought forth from you, O Maheshvara.

Verse 25 (shiva.shatarudra.12.25)

ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेन्द्रांश्च सूर्याद्यानसुरान्सुरान् । त्वं वै सृजसि पास्यत्सि त्वमेव सकलेश्वरः

brahmaviṣṇumahendrāṁśca sūryādyānasurānsurān tvaṁ vai sṛjasi pāsyatsi tvameva sakaleśvaraḥ

You alone create and sustain Brahma, Vishnu, Mahendra, the Sun and the other gods and demons; you alone are the Lord of all.

Verse 26 (shiva.shatarudra.12.26)

यतो हरसि संसारं हर इत्युच्यते बुधैः । निगृहीतो हरिर्यस्माद्धर इत्युच्यते बुधैः

yato harasi saṁsāraṁ hara ityucyate budhaiḥ nigṛhīto hariryasmāddhara ityucyate budhaiḥ

Because you take away the sorrow of worldly existence, the wise call you Hara; and because Hari has been subdued by you, for this reason too the wise call you Hara.

Verse 27 (shiva.shatarudra.12.27)

यतो बिभर्षि सकलं विभज्य तनुमष्टधा । अतोऽस्मान्पाहि भगवन् सुरान् दानैरभीप्सितैः

yato bibharṣi sakalaṁ vibhajya tanumaṣṭadhā ato’smānpāhi bhagavan surān dānairabhīpsitaiḥ

Because you sustain everything, having divided your body eightfold, therefore, O Lord, protect us gods with the gifts we desire.

Verse 28 (shiva.shatarudra.12.28)

त्वं महापुरुषः शम्भुः सर्वेशः सुरनायकः । निःस्वात्मा निर्विकारात्मा परब्रह्म सतां गतिः

tvaṁ mahāpuruṣaḥ śambhuḥ sarveśaḥ suranāyakaḥ niḥsvātmā nirvikārātmā parabrahma satāṁ gatiḥ

You are the great Purusha, Shambhu, Lord of all, leader of the gods; possessionless in nature, unchanging in nature, the supreme Brahman, the refuge of the virtuous.

Verse 29 (shiva.shatarudra.12.29)

दीनबन्धुर्दयासिन्धुरद्भुतोतिः परात्मदृक् । प्राज्ञो विराट् विभुः सत्यः सच्चिदानन्दलक्षणः

dīnabandhurdayāsindhuradbhutotiḥ parātmadṛk prājño virāṭ vibhuḥ satyaḥ saccidānandalakṣaṇaḥ

Friend of the humble, ocean of compassion, of wondrous glory, the seer of the supreme Self; the all-knowing, the cosmic form, the all-pervading, the true, characterized by being-consciousness-bliss.

Verse 30 (shiva.shatarudra.12.30)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचः शम्भुर्देवानां परमेश्वरः । उवाच तान् सुरान्देवामहर्षींश्च पुरातनान्

nandīśvara uvāca ityākarṇya vacaḥ śambhurdevānāṁ parameśvaraḥ uvāca tān surāndevāmaharṣīṁśca purātanān

Nandishvara said: Having heard these words, Shambhu, the Supreme Lord of the gods, spoke to those gods and the ancient great sages.

Verse 31 (shiva.shatarudra.12.31)

यथा जलं जले क्षिप्तं क्षीरे क्षीरं घृते घृतम् । एक एव तदा विष्णुः शिवे लीनो न चान्यथा

yathā jalaṁ jale kṣiptaṁ kṣīre kṣīraṁ ghṛte ghṛtam eka eva tadā viṣṇuḥ śive līno na cānyathā

Just as water poured into water, milk into milk, or ghee into ghee becomes one, so too Vishnu, being ultimately one with him, became dissolved in Shiva, and not otherwise.

Verse 32 (shiva.shatarudra.12.32)

एको विष्णुर्नृसिंहात्मा सदर्पश्च महाबलः । जगत्संहारकरणे प्रवृत्तो नरकेसरी

eko viṣṇurnṛsiṁhātmā sadarpaśca mahābalaḥ jagatsaṁhārakaraṇe pravṛtto narakesarī

Vishnu, alone in his form as Narasimha, proud and of great strength, had set out, as the man-lion, to accomplish the destruction of the world.

Verse 33 (shiva.shatarudra.12.33)

प्रार्थनीयो नमस्तस्मै मद्भक्तैः सिद्धिकारिभिः । मद्भक्तप्रवरश्चैव मद्भक्तवरदायकः

prārthanīyo namastasmai madbhaktaiḥ siddhikāribhiḥ madbhaktapravaraścaiva madbhaktavaradāyakaḥ

He is to be entreated and saluted by my devotees who wish for accomplishment; he is indeed the foremost of my devotees, and a bestower of boons upon my devotees.

Verse 34 (shiva.shatarudra.12.34)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एतावदुक्त्वा भगवान् पक्षिराजो महाबलः । पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

nandīśvara uvāca etāvaduktvā bhagavān pakṣirājo mahābalaḥ paśyatāṁ sarvadevānāṁ tatraivāntaradhīyata

Nandishvara said: Having said this much, the mighty Lord, the king of birds, vanished right there before the eyes of all the gods.

Verse 35 (shiva.shatarudra.12.35)

वीरभद्रोऽपि भगवान्गणाध्यक्षो महाबलः । नृसिंहकृत्तिं निष्कृष्य समादाय ययौ गिरिम्

vīrabhadro’pi bhagavāngaṇādhyakṣo mahābalaḥ nṛsiṁhakṛttiṁ niṣkṛṣya samādāya yayau girim

And the mighty Lord Virabhadra, the leader of the ganas, having flayed off the skin of Narasimha, took it and went to the mountain, Kailasa.

Verse 36 (shiva.shatarudra.12.36)

नृसिंहकृत्तिवसनस्तदाप्रभृति शङ्करः । तद्वक्त्रं मुण्डमालायां नायकत्वेन कल्पितम्

nṛsiṁhakṛttivasanastadāprabhṛti śaṅkaraḥ tadvaktraṁ muṇḍamālāyāṁ nāyakatvena kalpitam

From that time onward, Shankara has worn the skin of Narasimha as a garment; and that face was fashioned as the chief ornament amid his garland of skulls.

Verse 37 (shiva.shatarudra.12.37)

ततो देवा निरातङ्काः कीर्तयन्तः कथामिमाम् । विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयना जग्मुः सर्वे यथागतम्

tato devā nirātaṅkāḥ kīrtayantaḥ kathāmimām vismayotphullanayanā jagmuḥ sarve yathāgatam

Then the gods, free of fear, their eyes wide with wonder, praising this story, all departed as they had come.

Verse 38 (shiva.shatarudra.12.38)

य इदं परमाख्यानं पुण्यं वेदरसान्वितम् । पठति शृणुयाच्चैव सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्

ya idaṁ paramākhyānaṁ puṇyaṁ vedarasānvitam paṭhati śṛṇuyāccaiva sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt

Whoever reads or hears this supreme, meritorious account, filled with the essence of the Vedas, obtains all desires.

Verse 39 (shiva.shatarudra.12.39)

धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यमारोग्यम्पुष्टिवर्द्धनम् । सर्वविघ्नप्रशमनं सर्वव्याधिविनाशनम्

dhanyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyamārogyampuṣṭivarddhanam sarvavighnapraśamanaṁ sarvavyādhivināśanam

It brings blessing, fame, long life, and health, increases nourishment; it pacifies all obstacles and destroys all disease.

Verse 40 (shiva.shatarudra.12.40)

दुःखप्रशमनं वाञ्छासिद्धिदं मङ्गलालयम् । अपमृत्युहरं बुद्धिप्रदं शत्रुविनाशनम्

duḥkhapraśamanaṁ vāñchāsiddhidaṁ maṅgalālayam apamṛtyuharaṁ buddhipradaṁ śatruvināśanam

It pacifies sorrow, grants the fulfillment of desires, is an abode of auspiciousness; it removes untimely death, grants wisdom, and destroys enemies.

Verse 41 (shiva.shatarudra.12.41)

इदं तु शरभाकारं परं रूपं पिनाकिनः । प्रकाशनीयं भक्तेषु शङ्करस्य चरेषु वै

idaṁ tu śarabhākāraṁ paraṁ rūpaṁ pinākinaḥ prakāśanīyaṁ bhakteṣu śaṅkarasya careṣu vai

This supreme form of the wielder of the Pinaka in the shape of Sharabha is indeed to be revealed among the devotees, among those who walk in Shankara's service.

Verse 42 (shiva.shatarudra.12.42)

तैरेव पठितव्यं च श्रोतव्यं च शिवात्मभिः । नवधाभक्तिदं दिव्यमन्तःकरणबुद्धिदम्

taireva paṭhitavyaṁ ca śrotavyaṁ ca śivātmabhiḥ navadhābhaktidaṁ divyamantaḥkaraṇabuddhidam

It is to be read and heard by those very devotees whose souls belong to Shiva; it grants the nine forms of devotion, being divine, and it grants purity of the inner faculties and intellect.

Verse 43 (shiva.shatarudra.12.43)

शिवोत्सवेषु सर्वेषु चतुर्दश्यष्टमीषु च । पठेत्प्रतिष्ठाकाले तु शिवसन्निधिकारणम्

śivotsaveṣu sarveṣu caturdaśyaṣṭamīṣu ca paṭhetpratiṣṭhākāle tu śivasannidhikāraṇam

It should be recited at all festivals of Shiva, on the fourteenth and eighth tithis, and at the time of consecration, as a means of bringing Shiva's presence near.

Verse 44 (shiva.shatarudra.12.44)

चौरव्याघ्रनृसिंहात्मकृतराजभयेषु च । अन्येषूत्पातभूकम्पदस्य्वादिपांसुवृष्टिषु

cauravyāghranṛsiṁhātmakṛtarājabhayeṣu ca anyeṣūtpātabhūkampadasyvādipāṁsuvṛṣṭiṣu

It should be recited in fears caused by thieves, tigers, lions, or kings, and in other calamities — earthquakes, dust-storms, and rains of dust and the like.

Verse 45 (shiva.shatarudra.12.45)

उल्कापाते महावाते विनावृष्ट्यतिवृष्टिषु । पठेद्यः प्रयतो विद्वान् शिवभक्तो दृढव्रतः

ulkāpāte mahāvāte vināvṛṣṭyativṛṣṭiṣu paṭhedyaḥ prayato vidvān śivabhakto dṛḍhavrataḥ

Whichever disciplined, learned devotee of Shiva, firm in his vow, recites it at the fall of meteors, in great storms, in drought, or in excessive rain—

Verse 46 (shiva.shatarudra.12.46)

यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि निष्कामो व्रतमैश्वरम् । रुद्रलोकं समासाद्य रुद्रस्यानुचरो भवेत्

yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādvāpi niṣkāmo vratamaiśvaram rudralokaṁ samāsādya rudrasyānucaro bhavet

—whoever reads or hears this divine vow of the Lord without desire attains the world of Rudra and becomes an attendant of Rudra.

Verse 47 (shiva.shatarudra.12.47)

रुद्रलोकमनुप्राप्य रुद्रेण सह मोदते । ततः सायुज्यमाप्नोति शिवस्य कृपया मुने

rudralokamanuprāpya rudreṇa saha modate tataḥ sāyujyamāpnoti śivasya kṛpayā mune

Having reached the world of Rudra, he rejoices there together with Rudra; and then, O sage, by the grace of Shiva, he attains sayujya, union with him.