The Mahesha Incarnation

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.21.1)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । अथ प्रीत्या शृणु मुनेऽवतारं परमं प्रभोः । शङ्करस्यात्मभूपुत्र शृण्वतां सर्वकामदम्

nandīśvara uvāca atha prītyā śṛṇu mune'vatāraṁ paramaṁ prabhoḥ śaṅkarasyātmabhūputra śṛṇvatāṁ sarvakāmadam

Nandishvara said: Now, O sage, son of the Self-born, hear with love the supreme incarnation of Lord Shankara, which grants every desire to those who hear it.

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.21.2)

एकदा मुनिशार्दूल गिरिजाशङ्करावुभौ । विहर्तुकामौ सञ्जातौ स्वेच्छया परमेश्वरौ

ekadā muniśārdūla girijāśaṅkarāvubhau vihartukāmau sañjātau svecchayā parameśvarau

O best of sages, once both Girija and Shankara, the two Supreme Lords, became desirous of sporting together of their own free will.

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.21.3)

भैरवं द्वारपालं च कृत्वाभ्यन्तरमागतौ । नानासखिगणैः प्रीत्या सेवितौ नरशीलितौ

bhairavaṁ dvārapālaṁ ca kṛtvābhyantaramāgatau nānāsakhigaṇaiḥ prītyā sevitau naraśīlitau

Having made Bhairava the gatekeeper, the two came within in human form, and were lovingly attended by various groups of companions.

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.21.4)

चिरं विहृत्य तत्र द्वौ स्वतन्त्रौ परमेश्वरौ । बभूवतुः प्रसन्नौ तौ नानालीलाकरौ मुने

ciraṁ vihṛtya tatra dvau svatantrau parameśvarau babhūvatuḥ prasannau tau nānālīlākarau mune

O sage, having sported there a long while, those two independent Supreme Lords, performing manifold divine sports, became pleased.

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.21.5)

अथोन्मत्ताकृतिर्देवी स्वतन्त्रा लीलया शिवा । आगता द्वारि तद्रूपा प्रभोराज्ञामवाप सा

athonmattākṛtirdevī svatantrā līlayā śivā āgatā dvāri tadrūpā prabhorājñāmavāpa sā

Then the independent goddess Shiva, assuming a wild form in play, came to the door in that guise, having received the Lord's leave.

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.21.6)

तां देवीं भैरवः सोऽथ नारीदृष्ट्या विलोक्य च । निषिषेध बहिर्गन्तुं तद्रूपेण विमोहितः

tāṁ devīṁ bhairavaḥ so'tha nārīdṛṣṭyā vilokya ca niṣiṣedha bahirgantuṁ tadrūpeṇa vimohitaḥ

Beholding that goddess with the gaze of a man toward a woman, Bhairava, deluded by her form, forbade her from going out.

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.21.7)

नारीदृष्ट्या सुदृष्टा सा भैरवेण यदा मुने । क्रुद्धाभवच्छिवा देवी तं शशाप तदाऽम्बिका

nārīdṛṣṭyā sudṛṣṭā sā bhairaveṇa yadā mune kruddhābhavacchivā devī taṁ śaśāpa tadā'mbikā

O sage, when she was thus looked upon by Bhairava with such a gaze, the goddess Shiva grew angry and cursed him.

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.21.8)

शिवोवाच । नारीदृष्ट्या पश्यसि त्वं यतो मां पुरुषाधम । अतो भव धरायां हि मानुषस्त्वं च भैरव

śivovāca nārīdṛṣṭyā paśyasi tvaṁ yato māṁ puruṣādhama ato bhava dharāyāṁ hi mānuṣastvaṁ ca bhairava

Shiva (the goddess) said: Since you, O vilest of men, look upon me with such a gaze, therefore, O Bhairava, become a man upon the earth.

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.21.9)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्थं यदाभवच्छप्तो भैरवः शिवया मुने । हाहाकारो महानासीद्दुःखमाप स लीलया

nandīśvara uvāca itthaṁ yadābhavacchapto bhairavaḥ śivayā mune hāhākāro mahānāsīdduḥkhamāpa sa līlayā

Nandishvara said: O sage, when Bhairava was thus cursed by Shiva, a great outcry of dismay arose, and, through that divine play, he fell into sorrow.

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.21.10)

ततश्च शङ्करः शीघ्रं तमागत्य मुनीश्वर । आश्वासयद्भैरवं हि नानानुनयकोविदः

tataśca śaṅkaraḥ śīghraṁ tamāgatya munīśvara āśvāsayadbhairavaṁ hi nānānunayakovidaḥ

Then, O lord of sages, Shankara quickly came to him, and, being skilled in various modes of appeasement, consoled Bhairava.

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.21.11)

तच्छापाद्भैरवः सोऽथ क्षिताववतरन्मुने । मनुष्ययोन्यां वैतालसंज्ञकः शङ्ककरेच्छया

tacchāpādbhairavaḥ so'tha kṣitāvavataranmune manuṣyayonyāṁ vaitālasaṁjñakaḥ śaṅkakarecchayā

O sage, by that curse, and by Shankara's own will, Bhairava descended to earth into a human womb, known by the name Vetala.

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.21.12)

तत्स्नेहतः शिवः सोऽपि क्षिताववतरद्विभुः । शिवया सह सल्लीलो लौकिकीं गतिमाश्रितः

tatsnehataḥ śivaḥ so'pi kṣitāvavataradvibhuḥ śivayā saha sallīlo laukikīṁ gatimāśritaḥ

Out of love for him, the all-pervading Shiva himself also descended to earth together with Shiva (Parvati), and, taking on a worldly course of life, sported there with her.

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.21.13)

महेशाह्वः शिवश्चासीच्छारदा गिरिजा मुने । सुलीलां चक्रतुः प्रीत्या नानालीलाविशारदौ

maheśāhvaḥ śivaścāsīcchāradā girijā mune sulīlāṁ cakratuḥ prītyā nānālīlāviśāradau

O sage, Shiva became known by the name Mahesha, and Girija by the name Sharada; and the two, skilled in manifold divine sports, lovingly performed excellent play.

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.21.14)

इति ते कथितं तात महेशचरितं वरम् । धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं सर्वकामफलप्रदम्

iti te kathitaṁ tāta maheśacaritaṁ varam dhanyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ sarvakāmaphalapradam

O child, thus has this excellent account of Mahesha been told to you — auspicious, bringing fame and long life, and bestowing the fruit of every desire.

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.21.15)

य इदं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या श्रावयेद्वा समाहितः । स भुक्त्वेहाखिलान्भोगानन्ते मोक्षमवाप्नुयात्

ya idaṁ śṛṇuyādbhaktyā śrāvayedvā samāhitaḥ sa bhuktvehākhilānbhogānante mokṣamavāpnuyāt

Whoever, with devotion, hears this, or with a composed mind causes it to be heard, having enjoyed all pleasures here, attains liberation at the end.