The Ten Incarnations of Shiva

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.17.1)

शृण्वथो गिरिशस्याद्यावतारान् दशसङ्ख्यकान् । महाकालमुखान् भक्त्योपासनाकाण्डसेवितान्

śṛṇvatho giriśasyādyāvatārān daśasaṅkhyakān mahākālamukhān bhaktyopāsanākāṇḍasevitān

Now hear of Girisha's (Shiva's) first ten incarnations, ten in number, headed by Mahakala, who are worshipped through devoted ritual practice.

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.17.2)

तत्राद्यो हि महाकालो भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदः सताम् । शक्तिस्तत्र महाकाली भक्तेप्सितफलप्रदा

tatrādyo hi mahākālo bhuktimuktipradaḥ satām śaktistatra mahākālī bhaktepsitaphalapradā

Among them the first is Mahakala, who grants both enjoyment and liberation to the virtuous; his Shakti there is Mahakali, who gives devotees the fruit they desire.

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.17.3)

तारनामा द्वितीयश्च ताराशक्तिस्तथैव सा । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदौ चोभौ स्वसेवकसुखप्रदौ

tāranāmā dvitīyaśca tārāśaktistathaiva sā bhuktimuktipradau cobhau svasevakasukhapradau

The second is named Tara, and likewise his Shakti is Tara-shakti; both bestow enjoyment and liberation and give happiness to their own servants.

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.17.4)

भुवनेशो हि बालाह्वस्तृतीयः परिकीर्तितः । भुवनेशी शिवा तत्र बालाह्वा सुखदा सताम्

bhuvaneśo hi bālāhvastṛtīyaḥ parikīrtitaḥ bhuvaneśī śivā tatra bālāhvā sukhadā satām

Bhuvanesha, also called Bala, is proclaimed the third; his Shakti there is Bhuvaneshi, called Bala, who gives happiness to the virtuous.

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.17.5)

श्रीविद्येशः षोडशाह्वः श्रीर्विद्या षोडशी शिवा । चतुर्थो भक्तसुखदो भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदः

śrīvidyeśaḥ ṣoḍaśāhvaḥ śrīrvidyā ṣoḍaśī śivā caturtho bhaktasukhado bhuktimuktiphalapradaḥ

Shri Vidyesha, called the Sixteen-fold, is the fourth, giving happiness to devotees and bestowing the fruit of enjoyment and liberation; his auspicious Shakti is Shri Vidya, the Sixteen-fold.

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.17.6)

पञ्चमो भैरवः ख्यातः सर्वदा भक्तकामदः । भैरवी गिरिजा तत्र सदुपासककामदा

pañcamo bhairavaḥ khyātaḥ sarvadā bhaktakāmadaḥ bhairavī girijā tatra sadupāsakakāmadā

The fifth, known as Bhairava, ever fulfills the desires of his devotees; his Shakti there, Girija as Bhairavi, fulfills the desires of true worshippers.

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.17.7)

छिन्नमस्तकनामासौ शिवः षष्ठः प्रकीर्तितः । भक्तकामप्रदा चैव गिरिजा छिन्नमस्तका

chinnamastakanāmāsau śivaḥ ṣaṣṭhaḥ prakīrtitaḥ bhaktakāmapradā caiva girijā chinnamastakā

That Shiva named Chhinnamastaka is proclaimed the sixth; and Girija as Chhinnamastaka likewise fulfills the desires of devotees.

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.17.8)

धूमवान् सप्तमः शम्भुः सर्वकामफलप्रदः । धूमवती शिवा तत्र सदुपासककामदा

dhūmavān saptamaḥ śambhuḥ sarvakāmaphalapradaḥ dhūmavatī śivā tatra sadupāsakakāmadā

Shambhu as Dhumavan, the seventh, bestows the fruit of every desire; his auspicious Shakti there, Dhumavati, fulfills the desires of true worshippers.

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.17.9)

शिवावतारः सुखदो ह्यष्टमो बगलामुखः । शक्तिस्तत्र महानन्दा विख्याता बगलामुखी

śivāvatāraḥ sukhado hyaṣṭamo bagalāmukhaḥ śaktistatra mahānandā vikhyātā bagalāmukhī

The eighth incarnation of Shiva, the giver of happiness, is Bagalamukha; his Shakti there, greatly blissful, is renowned as Bagalamukhi.

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.17.10)

शिवावतारो मातङ्गो नवमः परिकीर्तितः । मातङ्गी तत्र शर्वाणी सर्वकामफलप्रदा

śivāvatāro mātaṅgo navamaḥ parikīrtitaḥ mātaṅgī tatra śarvāṇī sarvakāmaphalapradā

Shiva's incarnation as Matanga is proclaimed the ninth; his Shakti there, Sharvani as Matangi, bestows the fruit of every desire.

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.17.11)

दशमः कमलः शम्भुर्भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदः । कमला गिरिजा तत्र स्वभक्तपरिपालिनी

daśamaḥ kamalaḥ śambhurbhuktimuktiphalapradaḥ kamalā girijā tatra svabhaktaparipālinī

The tenth is Shambhu as Kamala, bestowing the fruit of enjoyment and liberation; his Shakti there, Girija as Kamala, ever protects her own devotees.

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.17.12)

एते दशमिताः शैवा अवताराः सुखप्रदाः । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदाश्चैव भक्तानां सर्वदा सताम्

ete daśamitāḥ śaivā avatārāḥ sukhapradāḥ bhuktimuktipradāścaiva bhaktānāṁ sarvadā satām

These ten enumerated Shaiva incarnations, givers of happiness, forever bestow enjoyment and liberation upon their virtuous devotees.

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.17.13)

एते दशावतारा हि शङ्करस्य महात्मनः । नानासुखप्रदा नित्यं सेवतां निर्विकारतः

ete daśāvatārā hi śaṅkarasya mahātmanaḥ nānāsukhapradā nityaṁ sevatāṁ nirvikārataḥ

These are the ten incarnations of the great-souled Shankara, who ever grant manifold happiness to those who serve him without wavering.

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.17.14)

एतद्दशावताराणां माहात्म्यं वर्णितं मुने । सर्वकामप्रदं ज्ञेयं तन्त्रशास्त्रादिगर्भितम्

etaddaśāvatārāṇāṁ māhātmyaṁ varṇitaṁ mune sarvakāmapradaṁ jñeyaṁ tantraśāstrādigarbhitam

O sage, thus has the greatness of these ten incarnations been described, to be known as granting every desire and as containing within it the essence of the Tantra scriptures and the like.

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.17.15)

एतासामादिशक्तीनामद्भुतो महिमा मुने । सर्वकामप्रदो ज्ञेयस्तत्रंशास्त्रादिगर्भितः

etāsāmādiśaktīnāmadbhuto mahimā mune sarvakāmaprado jñeyastatraṁśāstrādigarbhitaḥ

O sage, wondrous too is the glory of these primal Shaktis, to be known as granting every desire and as containing the essence of those same scriptures.

Verse 16 (shiva.shatarudra.17.16)

शत्रुमारणकार्यादौ तत्तच्छक्तिः परा मता । खलदण्डकरी नित्यं ब्रह्मतेजोविवर्द्धिनी

śatrumāraṇakāryādau tattacchaktiḥ parā matā khaladaṇḍakarī nityaṁ brahmatejovivarddhinī

In tasks such as the destruction of enemies, each of these Shaktis is held supreme, ever chastising the wicked and increasing the splendor of Brahman.

Verse 17 (shiva.shatarudra.17.17)

इत्युक्तास्ते मया ब्रह्मन्नवतारा महेशितुः । सशक्तिका दशमिता महाकालमुखाः शुभाः

ityuktāste mayā brahmannavatārā maheśituḥ saśaktikā daśamitā mahākālamukhāḥ śubhāḥ

Thus, O Brahmin, have I told you these ten auspicious incarnations of the Great Lord, headed by Mahakala, together with their respective Shaktis.

Verse 18 (shiva.shatarudra.17.18)

शैवपर्वेसु सर्वेषु योऽधीते भक्तितत्परः । एतदाख्यानममलं सोऽतिशम्भुप्रियो भवेत्

śaivaparvesu sarveṣu yo'dhīte bhaktitatparaḥ etadākhyānamamalaṁ so'tiśambhupriyo bhavet

Whoever, devoted with faith, studies this pure account at every Shaiva festival becomes exceedingly dear to Shambhu.

Verse 19 (shiva.shatarudra.17.19)

ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मवर्चस्वी क्षत्रियो विजयी भवेत् । धनाधिपो हि वैश्यः स्याच्छूद्रः सुखमवाप्नुयात्

brāhmaṇo brahmavarcasvī kṣatriyo vijayī bhavet dhanādhipo hi vaiśyaḥ syācchūdraḥ sukhamavāpnuyāt

A brahmin attains the splendor of sacred learning, a kshatriya becomes victorious, a vaishya becomes lord of wealth, and a shudra obtains happiness.

Verse 20 (shiva.shatarudra.17.20)

शाङ्करा निजधर्मस्थाः शृण्वन्तश्चरितं त्विदम् । सुखिनः स्युर्विशेषेण शिवभक्ता भवन्तु च

śāṅkarā nijadharmasthāḥ śṛṇvantaścaritaṁ tvidam sukhinaḥ syurviśeṣeṇa śivabhaktā bhavantu ca

Devotees of Shankara, established in their own duty, who hear this account become especially happy and remain devoted to Shiva.