The Yakshesvara Incarnation

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.16.1)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । यक्षेश्वरावतारं च शृणु शम्भोर्मुनीश्वर । गर्विणं गर्वहन्तारं सतां भक्तिविवर्द्धनम्

nandīśvara uvāca yakṣeśvarāvatāraṁ ca śṛṇu śambhormunīśvara garviṇaṁ garvahantāraṁ satāṁ bhaktivivarddhanam

Nandishvara said: Hear now, O lord of sages, of Shambhu's incarnation as Yakshesvara — proud in seeming, yet the destroyer of pride, the increaser of devotion among the virtuous.

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.16.2)

पुरा देवाश्च दैत्याश्च पीयूषार्थं महाबलाः । क्षीरोदधिं ममन्थुस्ते सुकृतस्वार्थसन्धयः

purā devāśca daityāśca pīyūṣārthaṁ mahābalāḥ kṣīrodadhiṁ mamanthuste sukṛtasvārthasandhayaḥ

Long ago, the gods and the Daityas, of great strength, for the sake of nectar, churned the ocean of milk, each having agreed to their own well-devised purpose.

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.16.3)

मथ्यमानेऽमृते पूर्वं क्षीराब्धेः सुरदानवैः । अग्नेः समुत्थितं तस्माद्विषं कालानलप्रभम्

mathyamāne’mṛte pūrvaṁ kṣīrābdheḥ suradānavaiḥ agneḥ samutthitaṁ tasmādviṣaṁ kālānalaprabham

As the ocean of milk was being churned for nectar by the gods and demons, before it, a poison arose from the fire, blazing like the fire of universal dissolution.

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.16.4)

तं दृष्ट्वा निखिला देवा दैत्याश्च भयविह्वलाः । विद्रुत्य तरसा तात शम्भोस्ते शरणं ययुः

taṁ dṛṣṭvā nikhilā devā daityāśca bhayavihvalāḥ vidrutya tarasā tāta śambhoste śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ

Seeing it, O child, all the gods and the Daityas, overwhelmed with fear, fled swiftly and took refuge in Shambhu.

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.16.5)

दृष्ट्वा तं शङ्करं सर्वे सर्वदेवशिखामणिम् । प्रणम्य तुष्टुवुर्भक्त्या साच्युता नतमस्तकाः

dṛṣṭvā taṁ śaṅkaraṁ sarve sarvadevaśikhāmaṇim praṇamya tuṣṭuvurbhaktyā sācyutā natamastakāḥ

Seeing Shankara, the crest-jewel of all the gods, they all, together with Achyuta, bowed their heads and praised him with devotion.

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.16.6)

ततः प्रसन्नो भगवान् शङ्करो भक्तवत्सलः । पपौ विषं महाघोरं सुरासुरगणार्दनम्

tataḥ prasanno bhagavān śaṅkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ papau viṣaṁ mahāghoraṁ surāsuragaṇārdanam

Then Lord Shankara, pleased and affectionate to his devotees, drank that most terrible poison, which was afflicting the hosts of gods and demons alike.

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.16.7)

पतिं तं विषमं कण्ठे निदधे विषमुल्बणम् । रेजे तेनाति स विभुर्नीलकण्ठो बभूव ह

patiṁ taṁ viṣamaṁ kaṇṭhe nidadhe viṣamulbaṇam reje tenāti sa vibhurnīlakaṇṭho babhūva ha

He held that fierce and terrible poison in his throat; by it that Lord shone forth exceedingly, and became Nilakantha, the blue-throated one.

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.16.8)

ततः सुरासुरगणा ममन्थुः पुनरेव तम् । विषदाहविनिर्मुक्ताः शिवानुग्रहतोऽखिलाः

tataḥ surāsuragaṇā mamanthuḥ punareva tam viṣadāhavinirmuktāḥ śivānugrahato’khilāḥ

Then the hosts of gods and demons, all freed from the burning of the poison by Shiva's grace, churned it once again.

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.16.9)

ततो बहूनि रत्नानि निस्सृतानि ततो मुने । अमृतं च पदार्थं हि सुरदानवयोर्मुने

tato bahūni ratnāni nissṛtāni tato mune amṛtaṁ ca padārthaṁ hi suradānavayormune

Then, O sage, many jewels emerged from it, and finally the very substance of nectar, sought by both gods and demons.

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.16.10)

तं पपुः केवलं देवा नासुराः कृपया हरेः । ततो बभूव सुमहद्रत्नं तेषां मिथोऽकदम्

taṁ papuḥ kevalaṁ devā nāsurāḥ kṛpayā hareḥ tato babhūva sumahadratnaṁ teṣāṁ mitho’kadam

By the grace of Hari, the gods alone drank it, and not the demons; then a very great strife arose between them.

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.16.11)

द्वन्द्वयुद्धं बभूवाथ देवदानवयोर्मुने । तत्र राहुभयाच्चन्द्रो विदुद्राव तदर्दितः

dvandvayuddhaṁ babhūvātha devadānavayormune tatra rāhubhayāccandro vidudrāva tadarditaḥ

Then, O sage, a fierce combat broke out between the gods and the demons; there, out of fear of Rahu, the Moon, tormented by him, fled in terror.

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.16.12)

जगाम सदनं शम्भोः शरण भयविह्वलः । सुप्रणम्य च तुष्टाव पाहि पाहीति संवदन्

jagāma sadanaṁ śambhoḥ śaraṇa bhayavihvalaḥ supraṇamya ca tuṣṭāva pāhi pāhīti saṁvadan

Overwhelmed with fear, he went to the abode of Shambhu for refuge; bowing low, he praised him, crying again and again, 'Save me, save me!'

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.16.13)

ततः सतामभयदः शङ्करो भक्तवत्सलः । दध्रे शिरसि चन्द्रं स विभुः शरणमागतम्

tataḥ satāmabhayadaḥ śaṅkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ dadhre śirasi candraṁ sa vibhuḥ śaraṇamāgatam

Then Shankara, the giver of fearlessness to the virtuous, affectionate to his devotees, that all-pervading Lord, bore upon his head the Moon, who had come to him for refuge.

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.16.14)

अथागतस्तदा राहुस्तुष्टाव सुप्रणम्य तम् । शङ्करं सकलाधीशं वाग्भिरिष्टाभिरादरात्

athāgatastadā rāhustuṣṭāva supraṇamya tam śaṅkaraṁ sakalādhīśaṁ vāgbhiriṣṭābhirādarāt

Then Rahu too came, and, bowing low, praised Shankara, the ruler of all, with pleasing words, respectfully.

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.16.15)

शम्भुस्तन्मतमाज्ञाय तच्छिरांस्यच्युतेन ह । पुरा छिन्नानि वै केतुसंज्ञानि निदधे गले

śambhustanmatamājñāya tacchirāṁsyacyutena ha purā chinnāni vai ketusaṁjñāni nidadhe gale

Shambhu, understanding his wish, then placed upon his own neck those heads that had, of old, been severed by Achyuta and given the name Ketu.

Verse 16 (shiva.shatarudra.16.16)

ततो युद्धेऽसुराः सर्वे देवैश्चैव पराजिताः । पीत्वामृतं सुराः सर्वे जय प्रापुर्महाबलाः

tato yuddhe’surāḥ sarve devaiścaiva parājitāḥ pītvāmṛtaṁ surāḥ sarve jaya prāpurmahābalāḥ

Then, in that battle, all the Asuras were defeated by the gods; having drunk the nectar, all the gods, now of great strength, attained victory.

Verse 17 (shiva.shatarudra.16.17)

विष्णुप्रभृतयः सर्वे बभूवुश्चातिगर्विताः । बलानि चाङ्कुरन्तोऽन्तः शिवमायाविमोहिताः

viṣṇuprabhṛtayaḥ sarve babhūvuścātigarvitāḥ balāni cāṅkuranto’ntaḥ śivamāyāvimohitāḥ

Then Vishnu and all the others became exceedingly proud, their strength swelling within them, deluded by the power of Shiva's maya.

Verse 18 (shiva.shatarudra.16.18)

ततः स शङ्करो देवः सर्वाधीशोऽथ गर्वहा । यक्षो भूत्वा जगामाशु यत्र देवाः स्थिता मुने

tataḥ sa śaṅkaro devaḥ sarvādhīśo’tha garvahā yakṣo bhūtvā jagāmāśu yatra devāḥ sthitā mune

Then that god Shankara, the Lord of all, the destroyer of pride, taking the form of a Yaksha, went swiftly, O sage, to where the gods were assembled.

Verse 19 (shiva.shatarudra.16.19)

सर्वान् दृष्ट्वाच्युतमुखान्देवान्यक्षपतिः स वै । महागर्वाढ्यमनसा महेशः प्राह गर्वहा

sarvān dṛṣṭvācyutamukhāndevānyakṣapatiḥ sa vai mahāgarvāḍhyamanasā maheśaḥ prāha garvahā

Seeing all the gods, headed by Achyuta, that Lord of Yakshas, Mahesha, the destroyer of pride, with a mind seemingly filled with great pride, spoke.

Verse 20 (shiva.shatarudra.16.20)

यक्षेश्वर उवाच । किमर्थं संस्थिता यूयमत्र सर्वे सुरा मिथः । किमु काष्ठाखिलं ब्रुत कारणं मेऽनु पृच्छते

yakṣeśvara uvāca kimarthaṁ saṁsthitā yūyamatra sarve surā mithaḥ kimu kāṣṭhākhilaṁ bruta kāraṇaṁ me’nu pṛcchate

Yakshesvara said: Why do you all, O gods, stand here together? What is the whole matter — tell it, all of it, to me, who ask the reason.

Verse 21 (shiva.shatarudra.16.21)

देवा ऊचुः । अभूदत्र महान्देव रणः परमदारुणः । असुरा नाशिताः सर्वेऽवशिष्टा विद्रुता गताः

devā ūcuḥ abhūdatra mahāndeva raṇaḥ paramadāruṇaḥ asurā nāśitāḥ sarve’vaśiṣṭā vidrutā gatāḥ

The gods said: There has been, O great god, a most terrible battle here; all the Asuras were destroyed, and the rest fled away.

Verse 22 (shiva.shatarudra.16.22)

वयं सर्वे महावीरा दैत्यघ्ना बलवत्तराः । अग्रेऽस्माकं कियन्तस्ते दैत्याः क्षुद्रबलाः सदा

vayaṁ sarve mahāvīrā daityaghnā balavattarāḥ agre’smākaṁ kiyantaste daityāḥ kṣudrabalāḥ sadā

We are all great heroes, slayers of the Daityas, of surpassing strength; before us, how much are those Daityas, ever of trifling power?

Verse 23 (shiva.shatarudra.16.23)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां सुराणां गर्वगर्भितम् । गर्वहासौ महादेवो यक्षरूपो वचोऽब्रवीत्

nandīśvara uvāca iti śrutvā vacasteṣāṁ surāṇāṁ garvagarbhitam garvahāsau mahādevo yakṣarūpo vaco’bravīt

Nandishvara said: Hearing these words of the gods, pregnant with pride, that Mahadeva, the destroyer of pride, in the form of a Yaksha, spoke these words.

Verse 24 (shiva.shatarudra.16.24)

यक्षेश्वर उवाच । हे सुरा निखिला यूयं मद्वचः शृणुतादरात् । यथार्थं वच्मि नासत्यं सर्वगर्वापहारकम्

yakṣeśvara uvāca he surā nikhilā yūyaṁ madvacaḥ śṛṇutādarāt yathārthaṁ vacmi nāsatyaṁ sarvagarvāpahārakam

Yakshesvara said: O gods, all of you, listen respectfully to my words; I speak truly, not falsely — words that take away all pride.

Verse 25 (shiva.shatarudra.16.25)

गर्वमेनं न कुरुत कर्ता हर्तापरः प्रभुः । विस्मृताश्च महेशानं कथयध्वं वृथा बलाः

garvamenaṁ na kuruta kartā hartāparaḥ prabhuḥ vismṛtāśca maheśānaṁ kathayadhvaṁ vṛthā balāḥ

Do not indulge this pride; there is another Lord who is the maker and the destroyer. Having forgotten the great Lord, you speak, in vain, of your own strength.

Verse 26 (shiva.shatarudra.16.26)

युष्माकं चेत्स हि मदो जानतां स्वबलं महत् । मत्स्थापितं तृणमिदं छिन्त स्वास्त्रैश्च तैः सुराः

yuṣmākaṁ cetsa hi mado jānatāṁ svabalaṁ mahat matsthāpitaṁ tṛṇamidaṁ chinta svāstraiśca taiḥ surāḥ

If this is indeed your pride, knowing your own great strength — then, O gods, cut with your own weapons this blade of grass which I have placed here.

Verse 27 (shiva.shatarudra.16.27)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वैकं तृणं तेषां निचिक्षेप पुरस्ततः । जह्रे सर्वमदं यक्षरूप ईशः सतां गतिः

nandīśvara uvāca ityuktvaikaṁ tṛṇaṁ teṣāṁ nicikṣepa purastataḥ jahre sarvamadaṁ yakṣarūpa īśaḥ satāṁ gatiḥ

Nandishvara said: Having said this, he cast a single blade of grass before them; and the Lord, in the form of a Yaksha, the refuge of the virtuous, took away all their pride.

Verse 28 (shiva.shatarudra.16.28)

अथ सर्वे सुरा विष्णुप्रमुखा वीरमानिनः । कृत्वा स्वपौरुषं तत्र स्वायुधानि विचिक्षिपुः

atha sarve surā viṣṇupramukhā vīramāninaḥ kṛtvā svapauruṣaṁ tatra svāyudhāni vicikṣipuḥ

Then all the gods, headed by Vishnu, thinking themselves heroic, exerting their own valor there, hurled their own weapons at it.

Verse 29 (shiva.shatarudra.16.29)

तत्रासन् विफलान्याशु तान्यस्त्राणि दिवौकसाम् । शिवप्रभावतस्तेषां मूढगर्वापहारिणः

tatrāsan viphalānyāśu tānyastrāṇi divaukasām śivaprabhāvatasteṣāṁ mūḍhagarvāpahāriṇaḥ

There, at once, the weapons of the dwellers of heaven proved useless, by the power of Shiva, who takes away the foolish pride of such beings.

Verse 30 (shiva.shatarudra.16.30)

अथासीत्तु नभोवाणी देवविस्मयहारिणी । यक्षोऽयं शङ्करो देवाः सर्वगर्वापहारकः

athāsīttu nabhovāṇī devavismayahāriṇī yakṣo’yaṁ śaṅkaro devāḥ sarvagarvāpahārakaḥ

Then there arose a voice from the sky, taking away the astonishment of the gods: 'This Yaksha is Shankara, O gods, the taker-away of all pride.'

Verse 31 (shiva.shatarudra.16.31)

कर्ता हर्ता तथा भर्तायमेव परमेश्वरः । एतद्बलेन बलिनो जीवाः सर्वेऽन्यथा न हि

kartā hartā tathā bhartāyameva parameśvaraḥ etadbalena balino jīvāḥ sarve’nyathā na hi

'He alone is the maker, the destroyer, and the sustainer, the Supreme Lord; it is by his strength that all living beings are strong, and not otherwise.'

Verse 32 (shiva.shatarudra.16.32)

अस्य मायाप्रभावाद् वै मोहिताः स्वप्रभुं शिवम् । मदतो बुबुधुर्नैवाद्यापि बोधतनुं प्रभुम्

asya māyāprabhāvād vai mohitāḥ svaprabhuṁ śivam madato bubudhurnaivādyāpi bodhatanuṁ prabhum

'Deluded by the power of his own maya, you, out of pride, have not until now recognized your own Lord Shiva, the very embodiment of knowledge.'

Verse 33 (shiva.shatarudra.16.33)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा नभोवाणीं बुबुधुस्ते गतस्मयाः । यक्षेश्वरं प्रणेमुश्च तुष्टुवुश्च तमीश्वरम्

nandīśvara uvāca iti śrutvā nabhovāṇīṁ bubudhuste gatasmayāḥ yakṣeśvaraṁ praṇemuśca tuṣṭuvuśca tamīśvaram

Nandishvara said: Hearing this voice from the sky, they understood, their pride now gone; they bowed to Yakshesvara and praised that Lord.

Verse 34 (shiva.shatarudra.16.34)

देवा ऊचुः । देवदेव महादेव सर्वगर्वापहारक । यक्षेश्वर महालील माया तेऽत्यद्भुता प्रभो

devā ūcuḥ devadeva mahādeva sarvagarvāpahāraka yakṣeśvara mahālīla māyā te’tyadbhutā prabho

The gods said: O God of gods, Mahadeva, remover of all pride! O Yakshesvara, great player of divine sport, your maya, O Lord, is exceedingly wondrous.

Verse 35 (shiva.shatarudra.16.35)

मोहिता माययाद्यापि तव यक्षस्वरूपिणः । सगर्वमभिभाषन्तस्त्वत्पुरो हि पृथङ्मयाः

mohitā māyayādyāpi tava yakṣasvarūpiṇaḥ sagarvamabhibhāṣantastvatpuro hi pṛthaṅmayāḥ

Deluded even now by your maya in the form of a Yaksha, we, made separate in our sense of self, spoke with pride in your very presence.

Verse 36 (shiva.shatarudra.16.36)

इदानीं ज्ञानमायातं तवैव कृपया प्रभो । कर्ता हर्ता च भर्ता च त्वमेवान्यो न शङ्कर

idānīṁ jñānamāyātaṁ tavaiva kṛpayā prabho kartā hartā ca bhartā ca tvamevānyo na śaṅkara

Now knowledge has come to us, O Lord, by your grace alone; you alone, O Shankara, are the maker, the destroyer, and the sustainer — there is no other.

Verse 37 (shiva.shatarudra.16.37)

त्वमेव सर्वशक्तीनां सर्वेषां हि प्रवर्तकः । निवर्तकश्च सर्वेशः परमात्माव्ययोऽद्वयः

tvameva sarvaśaktīnāṁ sarveṣāṁ hi pravartakaḥ nivartakaśca sarveśaḥ paramātmāvyayo’dvayaḥ

You alone are the setter-in-motion of all powers, of all things; and you alone are their withdrawer, the Lord of all, the Supreme Self, imperishable, without a second.

Verse 38 (shiva.shatarudra.16.38)

यक्षेश्वरस्वरूपेण सर्वेषां नो मदो हृतः । कृतो मन्यामहे तत्तेऽनुग्रहो हि कृपालुना

yakṣeśvarasvarūpeṇa sarveṣāṁ no mado hṛtaḥ kṛto manyāmahe tatte’nugraho hi kṛpālunā

In your form as Yakshesvara, the pride of us all has been taken away; we regard this as an act of grace shown by you, the compassionate one.

Verse 39 (shiva.shatarudra.16.39)

अथो स यक्षनाथोऽनुगृह्य वै सकलान् सुरान् । विबोध्य विविधैर्वाक्यैस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

atho sa yakṣanātho’nugṛhya vai sakalān surān vibodhya vividhairvākyaistatraivāntaradhīyata

Then that Lord of Yakshas, having shown grace to all the gods, and having enlightened them with various words, vanished right there.

Verse 40 (shiva.shatarudra.16.40)

इत्थं स वर्णितः शम्भोरवतारः सुखावहः । यक्षेश्वराख्यः सुखदः सतां तुष्टोऽभयङ्करः

itthaṁ sa varṇitaḥ śambhoravatāraḥ sukhāvahaḥ yakṣeśvarākhyaḥ sukhadaḥ satāṁ tuṣṭo’bhayaṅkaraḥ

Thus has been described this incarnation of Shambhu, bringing happiness, called Yakshesvara, the giver of joy, well-pleasing to the virtuous, the granter of fearlessness.

Verse 41 (shiva.shatarudra.16.41)

इदमाख्यानममलं सर्वगर्वापहारकम् । सतां सुशान्तिदं नित्यं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं नृणाम्

idamākhyānamamalaṁ sarvagarvāpahārakam satāṁ suśāntidaṁ nityaṁ bhuktimuktipradaṁ nṛṇām

This spotless narrative takes away all pride; it grants excellent peace to the virtuous forever, and grants both enjoyment and liberation to men.

Verse 42 (shiva.shatarudra.16.42)

य इदं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या श्रावयेद्वा सुधीः पुमान् । सर्वकामानवाप्नोति ततश्च लभते गतिम्

ya idaṁ śṛṇuyādbhaktyā śrāvayedvā sudhīḥ pumān sarvakāmānavāpnoti tataśca labhate gatim

Whichever wise man hears this with devotion, or causes it to be heard by others, obtains all his desires, and thereafter attains the highest goal.