The Dvijeshvara Incarnation

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.27.1)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । शृणु तात प्रवक्ष्यामि शिवस्य परमात्मनः । द्विजेश्वरावतारं च सशिवं सुखदं सताम्

nandīśvara uvāca śṛṇu tāta pravakṣyāmi śivasya paramātmanaḥ dvijeśvarāvatāraṁ ca saśivaṁ sukhadaṁ satām

Nandishvara said: Hear, O son — I shall now relate the incarnation of Shiva, the Supreme Self, as Dvijeshvara together with the Goddess Shiva, bestowing happiness upon the virtuous.

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.27.2)

यः पूर्वं वर्णितस्तात भद्रायुर्नृपसत्तमः । यस्मिन्नृषभरूपेणानुग्रहं कृतवाञ्छिवः

yaḥ pūrvaṁ varṇitastāta bhadrāyurnṛpasattamaḥ yasminnṛṣabharūpeṇānugrahaṁ kṛtavāñchivaḥ

O son, that same excellent king Bhadrayu described before, upon whom Shiva had bestowed his grace in the form of a bull —

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.27.3)

तद्धर्मस्य परीक्षार्थं पुनराविर्बभूव सः । द्विजेश्वरस्वरूपेण तदेव कथयाम्यहम्

taddharmasya parīkṣārthaṁ punarāvirbabhūva saḥ dvijeśvarasvarūpeṇa tadeva kathayāmyaham

to test his dharma once again, that same Shiva appeared in the form of Dvijeshvara, Lord of Brahmins; that very story I shall now tell.

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.27.4)

ऋषभस्य प्रभावेण शत्रूञ्जित्वा रणे प्रभुः । प्राप्तसिंहासनस्तात भद्रायुः सम्बभूव ह

ṛṣabhasya prabhāveṇa śatrūñjitvā raṇe prabhuḥ prāptasiṁhāsanastāta bhadrāyuḥ sambabhūva ha

O son, by the power of that bull, having conquered his enemies in battle, King Bhadrayu obtained his throne.

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.27.5)

चन्द्राङ्गदस्य तनया सीमन्तिन्याः शुभाङ्गजा । पत्नी तस्याभवद् ब्रह्मन्सुसाध्वी कीर्तिमालिनी

candrāṅgadasya tanayā sīmantinyāḥ śubhāṅgajā patnī tasyābhavad brahmansusādhvī kīrtimālinī

O brahmin, the lovely-limbed daughter of Chandrangada and Simantini, the most virtuous Kirtimalini, became his wife.

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.27.6)

स भद्रायुः कदाचित्स्वप्रियया गहनं वनम् । प्राविशत्संविहारार्थं वसन्तसमये मुने

sa bhadrāyuḥ kadācitsvapriyayā gahanaṁ vanam prāviśatsaṁvihārārthaṁ vasantasamaye mune

O sage, once, in the season of spring, Bhadrayu entered a dense forest together with his beloved wife for the sake of recreation.

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.27.7)

अथ तस्मिन्वने रम्ये विजहार स भूपतिः । शरणागतपालिन्या तया स्वप्रियया सह

atha tasminvane ramye vijahāra sa bhūpatiḥ śaraṇāgatapālinyā tayā svapriyayā saha

In that delightful forest the king sported together with his beloved, she who was ever the protector of those who sought refuge.

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.27.8)

अथ तद्धर्मदृढतां प्रतीक्षन्परमेश्वरः । लीलां चकार तत्रैव शिवया सह शङ्करः

atha taddharmadṛḍhatāṁ pratīkṣanparameśvaraḥ līlāṁ cakāra tatraiva śivayā saha śaṅkaraḥ

Then, wishing to test the firmness of his dharma, the Supreme Lord Shankara performed a divine play there together with the Goddess Shiva.

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.27.9)

शिवा शिवश्च भूत्वोभौ तद्वने द्विजदम्पती । व्याघ्रं मायामयं कृत्वाविर्भूतौ निजलीलया

śivā śivaśca bhūtvobhau tadvane dvijadampatī vyāghraṁ māyāmayaṁ kṛtvāvirbhūtau nijalīlayā

Shiva and the Goddess Shiva, both becoming a brahmin couple in that forest, appeared there by their own divine play, having conjured an illusory tiger.

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.27.10)

अथाविदूरे तस्यैव द्रवन्तौ भयविह्वलौ । अन्वीयमानौ व्याघ्रेण रुदन्तौ तौ बभूवतुः

athāvidūre tasyaiva dravantau bhayavihvalau anvīyamānau vyāghreṇa rudantau tau babhūvatuḥ

Then, not far from him, the two of them, overwhelmed with fear, ran weeping, pursued by the tiger.

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.27.11)

अथ विद्धौ च तौ तात भद्रायुः स महीपतिः । ददर्श क्रन्दमानौ हि शरण्यः क्षत्रियर्षभः

atha viddhau ca tau tāta bhadrāyuḥ sa mahīpatiḥ dadarśa krandamānau hi śaraṇyaḥ kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ

O son, King Bhadrayu, the protector, foremost of kshatriyas, saw those two, wounded and crying out.

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.27.12)

अथ तौ मुनिशार्दूल स्वमायाद्विजदम्पती । भद्रायुषं महाराजमूचतुर्भयविह्वलौ

atha tau muniśārdūla svamāyādvijadampatī bhadrāyuṣaṁ mahārājamūcaturbhayavihvalau

O tiger among sages, then that brahmin couple, formed by his own illusion and overwhelmed with fear, spoke to great King Bhadrayu.

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.27.13)

द्विजदम्पती ऊचतुः । पाहि पाहि महाराज नावुभौ धर्मवित्तम । एष आयाति शार्दूलो जग्धुमावां महाप्रभो

dvijadampatī ūcatuḥ pāhi pāhi mahārāja nāvubhau dharmavittama eṣa āyāti śārdūlo jagdhumāvāṁ mahāprabho

The brahmin couple said: "Protect us, protect us, O great king, best knower of dharma! Here comes this tiger, O great lord, to devour us both!"

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.27.14)

एष हिंस्रः कालसमः सर्वप्राणिभयङ्करः । यावन्न खादति प्राप्य तावन्नौ रक्ष धर्मवित्

eṣa hiṁsraḥ kālasamaḥ sarvaprāṇibhayaṅkaraḥ yāvanna khādati prāpya tāvannau rakṣa dharmavit

"This ferocious beast, like death itself, terrifies every living creature. Before it reaches and devours us, protect us, O knower of dharma!"

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.27.15)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्थमाक्रन्दितं श्रुत्वा तयोश्च नृपतीश्वरः । अति शीघ्रं महावीरः स यावद्धनुराददे

nandīśvara uvāca itthamākranditaṁ śrutvā tayośca nṛpatīśvaraḥ ati śīghraṁ mahāvīraḥ sa yāvaddhanurādade

Nandishvara said: Hearing their cry thus, that lord of kings, the great hero, very swiftly took up his bow.

Verse 16 (shiva.shatarudra.27.16)

तावदभ्येत्य शार्दूलः त्वरमाणोऽतिमायिकः । स तस्य द्विजवर्यस्य मध्ये जग्राह तां वधूम्

tāvadabhyetya śārdūlaḥ tvaramāṇo'timāyikaḥ sa tasya dvijavaryasya madhye jagrāha tāṁ vadhūm

Just then the tiger, hastening and most skilled in illusion, seized the woman from right beside that excellent brahmin.

Verse 17 (shiva.shatarudra.27.17)

हे नाथ नाथ हे कान्त हा शम्भो हा जगद्गुरो । इति रोरूयमानां तां व्याघ्रो जग्रास भीषणः

he nātha nātha he kānta hā śambho hā jagadguro iti rorūyamānāṁ tāṁ vyāghro jagrāsa bhīṣaṇaḥ

"O lord, my lord! O beloved! Alas, O Shambhu! Alas, O teacher of the world!" — crying out thus, she was gripped in the jaws of the terrifying tiger.

Verse 18 (shiva.shatarudra.27.18)

तावत्स राजा निशितैर्भल्लैर्व्याघ्रमताडयत् । न स तैर्विव्यथे किञ्चिद्गिरीन्द्र इव वृष्टिभिः

tāvatsa rājā niśitairbhallairvyāghramatāḍayat na sa tairvivyathe kiñcidgirīndra iva vṛṣṭibhiḥ

At that the king struck the tiger with sharp broad-headed arrows, but it was not troubled by them at all, like a great mountain unmoved by rain.

Verse 19 (shiva.shatarudra.27.19)

स शार्दूलो महासत्त्वो राज्ञः स्वैरकृतव्यथः । बलादाकृष्य तां नारीमपाक्रमत सत्वरः

sa śārdūlo mahāsattvo rājñaḥ svairakṛtavyathaḥ balādākṛṣya tāṁ nārīmapākramata satvaraḥ

That tiger, of immense power and quite untroubled by the king's arrows, forcibly dragged the woman away and swiftly made off.

Verse 20 (shiva.shatarudra.27.20)

व्याघ्रेणापहृतां नारीं वीक्ष्य विप्रोऽतिविस्मितः । लौकिकीं गतिमाश्रित्य रुरोदाति मुहुर्मुहुः

vyāghreṇāpahṛtāṁ nārīṁ vīkṣya vipro'tivismitaḥ laukikīṁ gatimāśritya rurodāti muhurmuhuḥ

Seeing the woman carried off by the tiger, the brahmin, greatly astonished, gave himself over to worldly grief and wept again and again.

Verse 21 (shiva.shatarudra.27.21)

रुदित्वा चिरकालं च स विप्रो माययेश्वरः । भद्रायुषं महीपालं प्रोवाच मदहारकः

ruditvā cirakālaṁ ca sa vipro māyayeśvaraḥ bhadrāyuṣaṁ mahīpālaṁ provāca madahārakaḥ

Having wept for a long while, that brahmin — the Lord himself veiled in illusion, the destroyer of pride — spoke to King Bhadrayu.

Verse 22 (shiva.shatarudra.27.22)

द्विजेश्वर उवाच । राजन् क्व ते महास्त्राणि क्व ते त्राणं महद्धनुः । क्व ते द्वादशसाहस्रमहानागयुतं बलम्

dvijeśvara uvāca rājan kva te mahāstrāṇi kva te trāṇaṁ mahaddhanuḥ kva te dvādaśasāhasramahānāgayutaṁ balam

Dvijeshvara said: "O king, where are your mighty weapons? Where is your protection, your great bow? Where is your army of twelve thousand mighty elephants?"

Verse 23 (shiva.shatarudra.27.23)

किं ते खड्गेन शङ्खेन किं ते मन्त्रास्त्रविद्यया । किं सत्त्वेन महास्त्राणां किं प्रभावेण भूयसा

kiṁ te khaḍgena śaṅkhena kiṁ te mantrāstravidyayā kiṁ sattvena mahāstrāṇāṁ kiṁ prabhāveṇa bhūyasā

"What use to you is your sword, your conch? What use your knowledge of enchanted weapons? What use the power of your great weapons, what use your abundant might?"

Verse 24 (shiva.shatarudra.27.24)

तत्सर्वं विफलं जातं यच्चान्यत्त्वयि तिष्ठति । यस्त्वं वनौकसां घातं न निवारयितुं क्षमः

tatsarvaṁ viphalaṁ jātaṁ yaccānyattvayi tiṣṭhati yastvaṁ vanaukasāṁ ghātaṁ na nivārayituṁ kṣamaḥ

"All of it has proven useless, and whatever else resides in you, since you were not able to prevent the killing of one who had taken refuge in the forest."

Verse 25 (shiva.shatarudra.27.25)

क्षत्रस्यायं परो धर्मो क्षताच्च परिरक्षणम् । तस्मिन्कुलोचिते धर्मे नष्टे त्वज्जीवितेन किम्

kṣatrasyāyaṁ paro dharmo kṣatācca parirakṣaṇam tasminkulocite dharme naṣṭe tvajjīvitena kim

"This is the highest dharma of the kshatriya — protecting the wounded. When that dharma proper to your lineage is destroyed, what use is your life?"

Verse 26 (shiva.shatarudra.27.26)

आर्तानां शरणाप्तानां त्राणं कुर्वन्ति पार्थिवाः । प्राणैरर्थैश्च धर्मज्ञास्तद्विना च मृतोपमाः

ārtānāṁ śaraṇāptānāṁ trāṇaṁ kurvanti pārthivāḥ prāṇairarthaiśca dharmajñāstadvinā ca mṛtopamāḥ

"Kings who know dharma protect the afflicted who have taken refuge with them, even at the cost of their own lives and wealth; without doing so, they are as good as dead."

Verse 27 (shiva.shatarudra.27.27)

आर्तत्राणविहीनानां जीवितान्मरणं वरम् । धनिनां दानहीनानां गार्हस्थ्याद्भिक्षुता वरम्

ārtatrāṇavihīnānāṁ jīvitānmaraṇaṁ varam dhanināṁ dānahīnānāṁ gārhasthyādbhikṣutā varam

"Death is better than the life of one who fails to protect the afflicted. For the wealthy who give nothing away, a mendicant's life is better than a householder's."

Verse 28 (shiva.shatarudra.27.28)

वरं विषाशनं प्राज्ञैर्वरमग्निप्रवेशनम् । कृपणानामनाथानां दीनानामपरक्षणात्

varaṁ viṣāśanaṁ prājñairvaramagnipraveśanam kṛpaṇānāmanāthānāṁ dīnānāmaparakṣaṇāt

"The wise say it is better to eat poison, better to enter fire, than to fail in protecting the wretched, the helpless, and the poor."

Verse 29 (shiva.shatarudra.27.29)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्थं विलपितं तस्य स्ववीर्यस्य च गर्हणम् । निशम्य नृपतिः शोकादात्मन्येवमचिन्तयत्

nandīśvara uvāca itthaṁ vilapitaṁ tasya svavīryasya ca garhaṇam niśamya nṛpatiḥ śokādātmanyevamacintayat

Nandishvara said: Hearing this lament of his and this censure of his own valor, the king, in his sorrow, thought thus within himself.

Verse 30 (shiva.shatarudra.27.30)

अहो मे पौरुषं नष्टमद्य दैवविपर्ययात् । अद्य कीर्तिश्च मे नष्टा पातकं प्राप्तमुत्कटम्

aho me pauruṣaṁ naṣṭamadya daivaviparyayāt adya kīrtiśca me naṣṭā pātakaṁ prāptamutkaṭam

"Alas, today my manhood is destroyed by the reversal of fate; today my glory is destroyed, and I have incurred a terrible sin."

Verse 31 (shiva.shatarudra.27.31)

धर्मः कुलोचितो नष्टो मन्दभाग्यस्य दुर्मतेः । नूनं मे सम्पदो राज्यमायुष्यं क्षयमेष्यति

dharmaḥ kulocito naṣṭo mandabhāgyasya durmateḥ nūnaṁ me sampado rājyamāyuṣyaṁ kṣayameṣyati

"The dharma proper to my lineage is destroyed for me, ill-fated and foolish as I am. Surely my prosperity, my kingdom, and my very life will now come to ruin."

Verse 32 (shiva.shatarudra.27.32)

अद्य चैनं द्विजन्मानं हतदारं शुचार्दितम् । हतशोकं करिष्यामि दत्त्वा प्राणानतिप्रियान्

adya cainaṁ dvijanmānaṁ hatadāraṁ śucārditam hataśokaṁ kariṣyāmi dattvā prāṇānatipriyān

"This very day, I shall free this brahmin — bereft of his wife and stricken with grief — from his sorrow, by giving up my own most precious life."

Verse 33 (shiva.shatarudra.27.33)

इति निश्चित्य मनसा स भद्रायुर्नृपोत्तमः । पतित्वा पादयोस्तस्य बभाषे परिसान्त्वयन्

iti niścitya manasā sa bhadrāyurnṛpottamaḥ patitvā pādayostasya babhāṣe parisāntvayan

Thus resolved in his mind, that best of kings, Bhadrayu, fell at the brahmin's feet and spoke, seeking to console him.

Verse 34 (shiva.shatarudra.27.34)

भद्रायुरुवाच । कृपां कृत्वा मयि ब्रह्मन् क्षत्रबन्धौ हतौजसि । शोकन्त्यज महाप्राज्ञ दास्याम्यद्य तु वाञ्छितम्

bhadrāyuruvāca kṛpāṁ kṛtvā mayi brahman kṣatrabandhau hataujasi śokantyaja mahāprājña dāsyāmyadya tu vāñchitam

Bhadrayu said: "Having mercy on me, O brahmin — a mere kshatriya, my might now spent — abandon your grief, O greatly wise one. This very day I shall give you whatever you desire."

Verse 35 (shiva.shatarudra.27.35)

इदं राज्यमियं राज्ञी ममेदं च कलेवरम् । त्वदधीनमिदं सर्वं किन्तेऽभिलषितं वरम्

idaṁ rājyamiyaṁ rājñī mamedaṁ ca kalevaram tvadadhīnamidaṁ sarvaṁ kinte'bhilaṣitaṁ varam

"This kingdom, this queen, and this body of mine — all of it is at your disposal. What is the boon you desire?"

Verse 36 (shiva.shatarudra.27.36)

ब्राह्मण उवाच । किमादर्शेन चान्धस्य किं गृहेर्भैक्ष्यजीविनः । किं पुस्तकेन मूढस्य निस्त्रीकस्य धनेन किम्

brāhmaṇa uvāca kimādarśena cāndhasya kiṁ gṛherbhaikṣyajīvinaḥ kiṁ pustakena mūḍhasya nistrīkasya dhanena kim

The brahmin said: "What use is a mirror to a blind man? What use a house to one who lives on alms? What use a book to a fool, or wealth to a man without a wife?"

Verse 37 (shiva.shatarudra.27.37)

अतोऽहं हतपत्नीको भुक्तभोगो न कर्हिचित् । इमान्तवाग्रमहिषीं कामये दीयतामिति

ato'haṁ hatapatnīko bhuktabhogo na karhicit imāntavāgramahiṣīṁ kāmaye dīyatāmiti

"Therefore I, who have lost my wife and have never yet enjoyed her, desire this chief queen of yours — let her be given to me."

Verse 38 (shiva.shatarudra.27.38)

भद्रायुरुवाच दाता रसान्तवित्तस्य राज्यस्य गजवाजिनाम् । आत्मदेहस्य कस्यापि कलत्रस्य न कर्हिचित्

bhadrāyuruvāca dātā rasāntavittasya rājyasya gajavājinām ātmadehasya kasyāpi kalatrasya na karhicit

Bhadrayu said: "A man may give away the essence of his wealth, his kingdom, his elephants and horses, even his own body — but never, under any circumstances, his wife."

Verse 39 (shiva.shatarudra.27.39)

परदारोपभोगेन यत्पापं समुपार्जितम् । न तत्क्षालयितुं शक्यं प्रायश्चित्तशतैरपि

paradāropabhogena yatpāpaṁ samupārjitam na tatkṣālayituṁ śakyaṁ prāyaścittaśatairapi

"The sin acquired by enjoying another man's wife cannot be washed away even by a hundred acts of penance."

Verse 40 (shiva.shatarudra.27.40)

ब्राह्मण उवाच । आस्तां ब्रह्मवधं घोरमपि मद्यनिषेवणम् । तपसा विधमिष्यामि किं पुनः पारदारिकम्

brāhmaṇa uvāca āstāṁ brahmavadhaṁ ghoramapi madyaniṣevaṇam tapasā vidhamiṣyāmi kiṁ punaḥ pāradārikam

The brahmin said: "Let alone the terrible sin of killing a brahmin, or even of drinking liquor — I shall dispel even that by penance; how much more easily the sin of adultery!"

Verse 41 (shiva.shatarudra.27.41)

तस्मात्प्रयच्छ भार्यां स्वामियां कामो न मेऽपरः । अरक्षणाद्भयार्तानां गन्तासि निरयं ध्रुवम्

tasmātprayaccha bhāryāṁ svāmiyāṁ kāmo na me'paraḥ arakṣaṇādbhayārtānāṁ gantāsi nirayaṁ dhruvam

"Therefore give me this wife of yours; I desire nothing else. By failing to protect those stricken with fear, you shall surely go to hell."

Verse 42 (shiva.shatarudra.27.42)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति विप्रगिरा भीतश्चिन्तयामास पार्थिवः । अरक्षणान्महापापं पत्नीदानं ततो वरम्

nandīśvara uvāca iti vipragirā bhītaścintayāmāsa pārthivaḥ arakṣaṇānmahāpāpaṁ patnīdānaṁ tato varam

Nandishvara said: Frightened by the brahmin's words, the king thought: "Failing to protect him is a great sin; giving him my wife is the lesser evil."

Verse 43 (shiva.shatarudra.27.43)

अतः पत्नीं द्विजाग्र्याय दत्त्वा निर्मुक्तकिल्बिषः । सद्यो वह्निं प्रवेक्ष्यामि कीर्तिश्च विदिता भवेत्

ataḥ patnīṁ dvijāgryāya dattvā nirmuktakilbiṣaḥ sadyo vahniṁ pravekṣyāmi kīrtiśca viditā bhavet

"Therefore, having given my wife to this excellent brahmin and thus freed of sin, I shall at once enter the fire, and my glory shall become known."

Verse 44 (shiva.shatarudra.27.44)

इति निश्चित्य मनसा समुज्ज्वाल्य हुताशनम् । तमाहूय द्विजं चक्रे पत्नीदानं सहोदकम्

iti niścitya manasā samujjvālya hutāśanam tamāhūya dvijaṁ cakre patnīdānaṁ sahodakam

Having resolved this in his mind, he kindled a fire, called the brahmin to him, and performed the gift of his wife with a libation of water.

Verse 45 (shiva.shatarudra.27.45)

स्वयं स्नातः शुचिर्भूत्वा प्रणम्य विबुधेश्वरान् । तमग्निं त्रिः परिक्रम्य शिवं दध्यौ समाहितः

svayaṁ snātaḥ śucirbhūtvā praṇamya vibudheśvarān tamagniṁ triḥ parikramya śivaṁ dadhyau samāhitaḥ

Then, having bathed and become pure, he bowed to the lords of the gods, circled that fire three times, and, with a composed mind, meditated upon Shiva.

Verse 46 (shiva.shatarudra.27.46)

तमथाग्निं पतिष्यन्तं स्वपदासक्तचेतसम् । प्रत्यषेधत विश्वेशः प्रादुर्भूतो द्विजेश्वरः

tamathāgniṁ patiṣyantaṁ svapadāsaktacetasam pratyaṣedhata viśveśaḥ prādurbhūto dvijeśvaraḥ

As he, his mind fixed upon Shiva's feet, was about to fall into that fire, the Lord of the universe, Dvijeshvara, manifested and stopped him.

Verse 47 (shiva.shatarudra.27.47)

तमीश्वरं पञ्चमुखं त्रिनेत्रं पिनाकिनं चन्द्रकलावतंसम् । प्रलम्बपिङ्गांशुजटाकलापं मध्याह्नसद्भास्करकोटितेजसम्

tamīśvaraṁ pañcamukhaṁ trinetraṁ pinākinaṁ candrakalāvataṁsam pralambapiṅgāṁśujaṭākalāpaṁ madhyāhnasadbhāskarakoṭitejasam

He saw before him the Lord, five-faced, three-eyed, bearer of the Pinaka bow, crowned with the crescent moon, his tawny matted locks flowing, blazing with the splendor of a million midday suns.

Verse 48 (shiva.shatarudra.27.48)

मृणालगौरं गजचर्मवाससं गङ्गातरङ्गोक्षितमौलिदेशकम् । नागेन्द्रहारावलिकण्ठभूषणं किरीटकाञ्च्यङ्गदकङ्कणोज्ज्वलम्

mṛṇālagauraṁ gajacarmavāsasaṁ gaṅgātaraṅgokṣitamaulideśakam nāgendrahārāvalikaṇṭhabhūṣaṇaṁ kirīṭakāñcyaṅgadakaṅkaṇojjvalam

Fair as a lotus-stalk, clothed in an elephant's hide, his crown wetted by the waves of the Ganga, his throat adorned with a garland of great serpents, radiant with crown, girdle, armlets, and bracelets.

Verse 49 (shiva.shatarudra.27.49)

शूलासिखट्वाङ्गकुठारचर्ममृगाभयाष्टाङ्गपिनाकहस्तम् । वृषोपरिस्थं शितिकण्ठभूषणं प्रोद्भूतमग्रे स नृपो ददर्श

śūlāsikhaṭvāṅgakuṭhāracarmamṛgābhayāṣṭāṅgapinākahastam vṛṣoparisthaṁ śitikaṇṭhabhūṣaṇaṁ prodbhūtamagre sa nṛpo dadarśa

Bearing in his eight hands the trident, sword, skull-staff, axe, shield, deer, the gesture of fearlessness, and the Pinaka bow, seated upon his bull, his throat dark blue — thus did the king behold him appear before him.

Verse 50 (shiva.shatarudra.27.50)

ततोऽम्बराद् द्रुतं पेतुर्दिव्याः कुसुमवृष्टयः । प्रणेदुर्देवतूर्य्याणि देव्यश्च ननृतुर्जगुः

tato'mbarād drutaṁ peturdivyāḥ kusumavṛṣṭayaḥ praṇedurdevatūryyāṇi devyaśca nanṛturjaguḥ

Then swiftly from the sky fell showers of divine flowers; the drums of the gods resounded, and the celestial women danced and sang.

Verse 51 (shiva.shatarudra.27.51)

तत्राजग्मुः स्तूयमाना हरिर्ब्रह्मा तथासुराः । इन्द्रादयो नारदाद्या मुनयश्चापरेऽपि च

tatrājagmuḥ stūyamānā harirbrahmā tathāsurāḥ indrādayo nāradādyā munayaścāpare'pi ca

There came, offering praise, Vishnu and Brahma and the gods, Indra and the rest, Narada and other sages, and many others besides.

Verse 52 (shiva.shatarudra.27.52)

तदोत्सवो महानासीत्तत्र भक्तिप्रवर्धनः । सति पश्यति भूपाले भक्तिनम्रीकृताञ्जलौ

tadotsavo mahānāsīttatra bhaktipravardhanaḥ sati paśyati bhūpāle bhaktinamrīkṛtāñjalau

Then a great festival arose there, increasing devotion, as the king looked on with folded hands, bowed low in devotion.

Verse 53 (shiva.shatarudra.27.53)

तद्दर्शनानन्दविजृम्भिताशयः प्रवृद्धबाष्पाम्बुविलिप्तगात्रः । प्रहृष्टरोमा स हि गद्गदाक्षरस्तुष्टाव गीर्भिर्मुकुलीकृताञ्जलिः

taddarśanānandavijṛmbhitāśayaḥ pravṛddhabāṣpāmbuviliptagātraḥ prahṛṣṭaromā sa hi gadgadākṣarastuṣṭāva gīrbhirmukulīkṛtāñjaliḥ

His heart swelling with the joy of that vision, his body wet with streaming tears, his hair standing on end in rapture, his words choked with emotion, with hands joined like a folded bud, he praised the Lord.

Verse 54 (shiva.shatarudra.27.54)

ततस्स भगवान् राज्ञा संस्तुतः परमेश्वरः । प्रसन्नः सह पार्वत्या तमुवाच दयानिधिः

tatassa bhagavān rājñā saṁstutaḥ parameśvaraḥ prasannaḥ saha pārvatyā tamuvāca dayānidhiḥ

Then that blessed Supreme Lord, praised by the king, pleased and together with Parvati, that ocean of compassion, spoke to him.

Verse 55 (shiva.shatarudra.27.55)

राजंस्ते परितुष्टोऽहं भक्त्या त्वद्धर्मतोऽधिकम् । वरं ब्रूहि सपत्नीकम्प्रयच्छामि न संशयः

rājaṁste parituṣṭo'haṁ bhaktyā tvaddharmato'dhikam varaṁ brūhi sapatnīkamprayacchāmi na saṁśayaḥ

"O king, I am well pleased with your devotion, more than with your dharma itself. Ask a boon, together with your wife — I shall grant it, without doubt."

Verse 56 (shiva.shatarudra.27.56)

तव भावपरीक्षार्थं द्विजो भूत्वाहमागतः । व्याघ्रेण या परिग्रस्ता साक्षाद्देवी शिवा हि सा

tava bhāvaparīkṣārthaṁ dvijo bhūtvāhamāgataḥ vyāghreṇa yā parigrastā sākṣāddevī śivā hi sā

"To test the depth of your feeling, I came having become a brahmin. She who was seized by the tiger was none other than the Goddess Shiva herself."

Verse 57 (shiva.shatarudra.27.57)

व्याघ्रो मायामयो यस्ते शरैरक्षत विग्रहः । धीरतान् द्रष्टुकामस्ते पत्नीं याचितवानहम्

vyāghro māyāmayo yaste śarairakṣata vigrahaḥ dhīratān draṣṭukāmaste patnīṁ yācitavānaham

"The tiger which your arrows could not wound was made of illusion. Wishing to see your steadfastness, I asked for your wife."

Verse 58 (shiva.shatarudra.27.58)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य प्रभोर्वाक्यं स भद्रायुर्महीपतिः । पुनः प्रणम्य संस्तूय स्वामिनं नतकोऽब्रवीत्

nandīśvara uvāca ityākarṇya prabhorvākyaṁ sa bhadrāyurmahīpatiḥ punaḥ praṇamya saṁstūya svāminaṁ natako'bravīt

Nandishvara said: Hearing the Lord's words, King Bhadrayu bowed once again, praised him, and with head bent low, spoke.

Verse 59 (shiva.shatarudra.27.59)

भद्रायुरुवाच । एक एव वरो नाथ यद्भवान्परमेश्वरः । भवतापप्रतप्तस्य मम प्रत्यक्षतां गतः

bhadrāyuruvāca eka eva varo nātha yadbhavānparameśvaraḥ bhavatāpaprataptasya mama pratyakṣatāṁ gataḥ

Bhadrayu said: "This alone is boon enough for me, O Lord — that you, the Supreme Lord, have appeared visibly before me, tormented as I was by the fire of worldly existence."

Verse 60 (shiva.shatarudra.27.60)

यद्ददासि पुनर्नाथ वरं स्वकृपया प्रभो । वृणेऽहं परमं त्वत्तो वरं हि वरदर्षभात्

yaddadāsi punarnātha varaṁ svakṛpayā prabho vṛṇe'haṁ paramaṁ tvatto varaṁ hi varadarṣabhāt

"Yet, my Lord, since out of your own grace you grant me a boon again, I shall ask a supreme boon from you, the foremost of boon-givers."

Verse 61 (shiva.shatarudra.27.61)

वज्रबाहुः पिता मे हि सपत्नीको महेश्वर । सपत्नीकस्त्वहं नाथ सदा त्वत्पादसेवकः

vajrabāhuḥ pitā me hi sapatnīko maheśvara sapatnīkastvahaṁ nātha sadā tvatpādasevakaḥ

"Vajrabahu, my father, together with his wife, O Maheshvara — and I too, together with my wife, O Lord — may we ever be servants of your feet."

Verse 62 (shiva.shatarudra.27.62)

वैश्यः पद्माकरो नाम तत्पुत्रः सनयाभिधः । सर्वानेतान्महेशान सदा त्वं पार्श्वगान्कुरु

vaiśyaḥ padmākaro nāma tatputraḥ sanayābhidhaḥ sarvānetānmaheśāna sadā tvaṁ pārśvagānkuru

"And the merchant named Padmakara, and his son named Sanaya — O great Lord, keep all of these ever at your side."

Verse 63 (shiva.shatarudra.27.63)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । अथ राज्ञी च तत्पत्नी प्रमत्ता कीर्तिमालिनी । भक्त्या प्रसाद्य गिरिशं ययाचे वरमुत्तमम्

nandīśvara uvāca atha rājñī ca tatpatnī pramattā kīrtimālinī bhaktyā prasādya giriśaṁ yayāce varamuttamam

Nandishvara said: Then the queen, his delighted wife Kirtimalini, having pleased Girisha with devotion, asked for a supreme boon.

Verse 64 (shiva.shatarudra.27.64)

राज्ञ्युवाच । चन्द्राङ्गदो मम पिता माता सीमन्तिनी च मे । तयोर्याचे महादेव त्वत्पाश्वे सन्निधिं मुदा

rājñyuvāca candrāṅgado mama pitā mātā sīmantinī ca me tayoryāce mahādeva tvatpāśve sannidhiṁ mudā

The queen said: "Chandrangada is my father, and Simantini my mother. For them, O Mahadeva, I joyfully ask for a place at your side."

Verse 65 (shiva.shatarudra.27.65)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवमस्त्विति गौरीशः प्रसन्नो भक्तवत्सलः । तयोः कामवरान्दत्त्वा क्षणादन्तर्हितोऽभवत्

nandīśvara uvāca evamastviti gaurīśaḥ prasanno bhaktavatsalaḥ tayoḥ kāmavarāndattvā kṣaṇādantarhito'bhavat

Nandishvara said: "So be it," said Gaurisha, pleased and cherishing his devotees, and having granted them the boons they desired, he vanished in an instant.

Verse 66 (shiva.shatarudra.27.66)

भद्रायुरपि सुप्रीत्या प्रसादं प्राप्य शूलिनः । सहितः कीर्तिमालिन्या बुभुजे विषयान्बहून्

bhadrāyurapi suprītyā prasādaṁ prāpya śūlinaḥ sahitaḥ kīrtimālinyā bubhuje viṣayānbahūn

Bhadrayu too, having received the grace of the trident-bearer with great joy, together with Kirtimalini, enjoyed many worldly pleasures.

Verse 67 (shiva.shatarudra.27.67)

कृत्वा वर्षायुतं राज्यमव्याहतपराक्रमः । राज्यं विक्षिप्य तनये जगाम शिवसन्निधिम्

kṛtvā varṣāyutaṁ rājyamavyāhataparākramaḥ rājyaṁ vikṣipya tanaye jagāma śivasannidhim

Having ruled the kingdom for ten thousand years, his valor unimpeded, he then handed the kingdom to his son and went to the presence of Shiva.

Verse 68 (shiva.shatarudra.27.68)

चन्द्राङ्गदोऽपि राजेन्द्रो राज्ञी सीमन्तिनी च सा । भक्त्या सम्पूज्य गिरिशं जग्मतुः शाम्भवं पदम्

candrāṅgado'pi rājendro rājñī sīmantinī ca sā bhaktyā sampūjya giriśaṁ jagmatuḥ śāmbhavaṁ padam

King Chandrangada too, and Queen Simantini, having worshipped Girisha with devotion, went to the abode of Shambhu.

Verse 69 (shiva.shatarudra.27.69)

द्विजेश्वरावतारस्ते वर्णितः परमो मया । महेश्वरस्य भद्रायुपरमानन्ददः प्रभो

dvijeśvarāvatāraste varṇitaḥ paramo mayā maheśvarasya bhadrāyuparamānandadaḥ prabho

Thus has the supreme Dvijeshvara incarnation of Maheshvara been described by me to you — the bestower of supreme bliss upon Bhadrayu.

Verse 70 (shiva.shatarudra.27.70)

इदं चरित्रं परमं पवित्रं शिवावतारस्य पवित्रकीर्त्तेः । द्विजेशसंज्ञस्य महाद्भुतं हि शृण्वन्पठन् शम्भुपदं प्रयाति

idaṁ caritraṁ paramaṁ pavitraṁ śivāvatārasya pavitrakīrtteḥ dvijeśasaṁjñasya mahādbhutaṁ hi śṛṇvanpaṭhan śambhupadaṁ prayāti

This story is supremely sacred, the most wondrous tale of Shiva's incarnation of pure renown named Dvijesha; whoever hears or reads it attains the feet of Shambhu.

Verse 71 (shiva.shatarudra.27.71)

य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं श्रावयेद्वा समाहितः । न श्चोतति स्वधर्मात्स परत्र लभते गतिम्

ya idaṁ śṛṇuyānnityaṁ śrāvayedvā samāhitaḥ na ścotati svadharmātsa paratra labhate gatim

Whoever daily hears this, or with a composed mind causes it to be heard, does not fall away from his own dharma and attains the highest goal in the world beyond.