The Yatinatha and Hamsa Incarnation: The Origin of Nala and Damayanti

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.28.1)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । शृणु प्राज्ञ प्रवक्ष्यामि शिवस्य परमात्मनः । अवतारं परानन्दं यतिनाथाह्वयं मुने

nandīśvara uvāca śṛṇu prājña pravakṣyāmi śivasya paramātmanaḥ avatāraṁ parānandaṁ yatināthāhvayaṁ mune

Nandishvara said: Hear, O wise one — I shall relate, O sage, the supremely blissful incarnation of Shiva, the Supreme Self, known by the name Yatinatha.

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.28.2)

अर्बुदाचलसंज्ञे तु पर्वते भिल्लवंशजः । आहुकश्च तदभ्याशे वसति स्म मुनीश्वर

arbudācalasaṁjñe tu parvate bhillavaṁśajaḥ āhukaśca tadabhyāśe vasati sma munīśvara

O lord of sages, on the mountain called Arbudachala, near its slopes, there dwelt a man of the Bhil tribe named Ahuka.

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.28.3)

तत्पत्नी ह्याहुका नाम बभूव किल सुव्रता । उभावपि महाशैवावास्तां तौ शिवपूजकौ

tatpatnī hyāhukā nāma babhūva kila suvratā ubhāvapi mahāśaivāvāstāṁ tau śivapūjakau

His wife too, named Ahuka, was of excellent vows; both of them were great devotees of Shiva, worshippers of Shiva.

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.28.4)

कस्मिंश्चित्समये भिल्लः शिवभक्तिरतः सदा । आहारार्थं स्वपत्न्याश्च सुदूरं स गतो मुने

kasmiṁścitsamaye bhillaḥ śivabhaktirataḥ sadā āhārārthaṁ svapatnyāśca sudūraṁ sa gato mune

O sage, once, that Bhil, ever devoted to Shiva, went far away in search of food for himself and his wife.

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.28.5)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र गेहे भिल्लस्य शङ्करः । भूत्वा यतिवपुः सायं परीक्षार्थं समाययौ

etasminnantare tatra gehe bhillasya śaṅkaraḥ bhūtvā yativapuḥ sāyaṁ parīkṣārthaṁ samāyayau

Meanwhile, Shankara, taking the form of an ascetic, came in the evening to the Bhil's home, to test them.

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.28.6)

तस्मिन्नवसरे तत्राजगाम स गृहाधिपः । पूजनं च यतीशस्य चकार प्रेमतः सुधीः

tasminnavasare tatrājagāma sa gṛhādhipaḥ pūjanaṁ ca yatīśasya cakāra premataḥ sudhīḥ

At that very moment the master of the house returned, and, wise, he lovingly worshipped the lord of ascetics.

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.28.7)

तद्भावस्य परीक्षार्थं यतिरूपः स शङ्करः । महालीलातरः प्रीत्या भीतः प्रोवाच दीनगीः

tadbhāvasya parīkṣārthaṁ yatirūpaḥ sa śaṅkaraḥ mahālīlātaraḥ prītyā bhītaḥ provāca dīnagīḥ

To test the depth of his feeling, Shankara, in the form of the ascetic — that great performer of divine play — spoke with affected fear, his voice humble.

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.28.8)

यतिनाथ उवाच । अद्य स्थलं निवासार्थं देहि मे प्रातरेव हि । यास्यामि सर्वथा भिल्ल स्वस्ति स्यात्तव सर्वदा

yatinātha uvāca adya sthalaṁ nivāsārthaṁ dehi me prātareva hi yāsyāmi sarvathā bhilla svasti syāttava sarvadā

Yatinatha said: "Give me a place to stay tonight, O Bhil; at dawn I shall certainly leave. May well-being be yours always."

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.28.9)

भिल्ल उवाच । सत्यं प्रोक्तं त्वया स्वामिन् शृणु मद्वचनं च ते । अति स्वल्पं स्थलं मे हि स्यान्निवासः कथं तव

bhilla uvāca satyaṁ proktaṁ tvayā svāmin śṛṇu madvacanaṁ ca te ati svalpaṁ sthalaṁ me hi syānnivāsaḥ kathaṁ tava

The Bhil said: "What you say is true, my lord; but hear my words too — my dwelling is very small; how could you stay here?"

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.28.10)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्तः स यतिस्तेन गमनाय मतिं दधे । तावद्भिल्ल्या वचः प्रोक्तं स्वामिनं संविचार्य वै

nandīśvara uvāca ityuktaḥ sa yatistena gamanāya matiṁ dadhe tāvadbhillyā vacaḥ proktaṁ svāminaṁ saṁvicārya vai

Nandishvara said: Told this, the ascetic made up his mind to leave; but at that moment the Bhil's wife, having reflected, spoke to her husband.

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.28.11)

भिल्ल्युवाच । स्वामिन्देहि यतेः स्थानं विमुखं कुरु मातिथिम् । गृहधर्मं विचार्य त्वमन्यथा धर्मसङ्क्षयः

bhillyuvāca svāmindehi yateḥ sthānaṁ vimukhaṁ kuru mātithim gṛhadharmaṁ vicārya tvamanyathā dharmasaṅkṣayaḥ

The Bhil's wife said: "My husband, give the ascetic a place to stay; do not turn away this guest. Consider the dharma of a householder — otherwise dharma is destroyed."

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.28.12)

स्थीयतां ते गृहाभ्यन्तः सुखेन यतिना सह । अहं बहिः स्थितिं कुर्यामायुधानि बृहन्त्यपि

sthīyatāṁ te gṛhābhyantaḥ sukhena yatinā saha ahaṁ bahiḥ sthitiṁ kuryāmāyudhāni bṛhantyapi

"You stay comfortably inside the house together with the ascetic; I shall remain outside, even with our great weapons."

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.28.13)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भिल्ल्या धर्मान्वितं शिवम् । स्वपत्न्या मनसा तेन भिल्लेन च विचारितम्

nandīśvara uvāca tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā bhillyā dharmānvitaṁ śivam svapatnyā manasā tena bhillena ca vicāritam

Nandishvara said: Hearing his wife's righteous words about Shiva, the Bhil pondered in his mind together with his wife.

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.28.14)

स्त्रियं बहिश्च निष्कास्य कथं स्थेयं मया गृहे । यतेरन्यत्र गमनमधर्मकरमात्मनः

striyaṁ bahiśca niṣkāsya kathaṁ stheyaṁ mayā gṛhe yateranyatra gamanamadharmakaramātmanaḥ

"How could I remain inside the house, sending my wife out? Yet to send the ascetic elsewhere would itself be an act of unrighteousness on my part."

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.28.15)

द्वयमप्युचितं नैव सर्वथा गृहमेधिनः । यद्भावि तद्भवेदेव मया स्थेयं गृहाद् बहिः

dvayamapyucitaṁ naiva sarvathā gṛhamedhinaḥ yadbhāvi tadbhavedeva mayā stheyaṁ gṛhād bahiḥ

"Neither course is at all proper for a householder. Whatever is to happen will happen — I myself shall remain outside the house."

Verse 16 (shiva.shatarudra.28.16)

इत्याग्रहं तदा कृत्वा गृहान्तः स्थाप्य तौ मुदा । स्वायुधानि च संस्थाप्य भिल्लोऽतिष्ठद् गृहाद् बहिः

ityāgrahaṁ tadā kṛtvā gṛhāntaḥ sthāpya tau mudā svāyudhāni ca saṁsthāpya bhillo'tiṣṭhad gṛhād bahiḥ

Having thus resolved, the Bhil joyfully placed the two of them inside the house and, arming himself with his weapons, remained outside.

Verse 17 (shiva.shatarudra.28.17)

रात्रौ तं पशवः क्रूराः हिंसकाः समपीडयन् । तेनापि च यथाशक्ति कृतो यत्नो महांस्तदा

rātrau taṁ paśavaḥ krūrāḥ hiṁsakāḥ samapīḍayan tenāpi ca yathāśakti kṛto yatno mahāṁstadā

At night, cruel and predatory beasts assailed him; and he too, to the best of his strength, made a great effort against them.

Verse 18 (shiva.shatarudra.28.18)

एवं यत्नं प्रकुर्वाणः स भिल्लो बलवानपि । प्रारब्धात्प्रेरितैर्हिंस्रैर्बलादासीच्च भक्षितः

evaṁ yatnaṁ prakurvāṇaḥ sa bhillo balavānapi prārabdhātpreritairhiṁsrairbalādāsīcca bhakṣitaḥ

Though the Bhil, mighty as he was, struggled thus, still, driven by his own past destiny, he was overpowered by the predators and devoured.

Verse 19 (shiva.shatarudra.28.19)

प्रातरुत्थाय स यतिर्दृष्ट्वा हिंस्रैश्च भक्षितम् । भिल्लं वनेचरं तं वै दुःखितोऽभूदतीव हि

prātarutthāya sa yatirdṛṣṭvā hiṁsraiśca bhakṣitam bhillaṁ vanecaraṁ taṁ vai duḥkhito'bhūdatīva hi

Rising at dawn, the ascetic, seeing that forest-dwelling Bhil devoured by beasts, became exceedingly grieved.

Verse 20 (shiva.shatarudra.28.20)

दुखितं तं यतिं दृष्ट्वा भिल्ली सा दुःखितापि हि । धैर्यात्स्वदुःखं संहृत्य वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्

dukhitaṁ taṁ yatiṁ dṛṣṭvā bhillī sā duḥkhitāpi hi dhairyātsvaduḥkhaṁ saṁhṛtya vacanaṁ cedamabravīt

Seeing the ascetic grieved, the Bhil woman, herself grieved as well, restrained her own sorrow with courage and spoke these words.

Verse 21 (shiva.shatarudra.28.21)

भिल्ल्युवाच । किमर्थं क्रियते दुःखं भद्रं जातं यतेऽधुना । धन्योऽयं कृतकृत्यश्च यज्जातो मृत्युरीदृशः

bhillyuvāca kimarthaṁ kriyate duḥkhaṁ bhadraṁ jātaṁ yate'dhunā dhanyo'yaṁ kṛtakṛtyaśca yajjāto mṛtyurīdṛśaḥ

The Bhil woman said: "Why grieve, O ascetic? A good thing has now happened. Blessed and fulfilled is he, whose death has come in such a manner."

Verse 22 (shiva.shatarudra.28.22)

अहं चैनं गमिष्यामि भस्म भूत्वानले यते । चितां कारय सुप्रीत्या स्त्रीणां धर्मः सनातनः

ahaṁ cainaṁ gamiṣyāmi bhasma bhūtvānale yate citāṁ kāraya suprītyā strīṇāṁ dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

"O ascetic, I too shall go to him, becoming ash in the fire. Prepare the pyre gladly — this is the eternal dharma of women."

Verse 23 (shiva.shatarudra.28.23)

इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा हितं मत्वा स्वयं यतिः । चितां व्यरचयत्सा हि प्रविवेश स्वधर्मतः

iti tadvacanaṁ śrutvā hitaṁ matvā svayaṁ yatiḥ citāṁ vyaracayatsā hi praviveśa svadharmataḥ

Hearing these words and considering them good for her, the ascetic himself built the pyre, and she, following her own dharma, entered it.

Verse 24 (shiva.shatarudra.28.24)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे साक्षात्पुरः प्रादुरभूच्छिवः । धन्ये धन्ये इति प्रीत्या प्रशंसस्तां हरोऽब्रवीत्

etasminnantare sākṣātpuraḥ prādurabhūcchivaḥ dhanye dhanye iti prītyā praśaṁsastāṁ haro'bravīt

At that very moment, Shiva himself manifested visibly before her, and Hara, praising her with joy, said, "Blessed, blessed are you!"

Verse 25 (shiva.shatarudra.28.25)

हर उवाच । वरं ब्रूहि प्रसन्नोऽस्मि त्वदाचरणतोऽनघे । तवादेयं न वै किञ्चिद् वश्योऽहं ते विशेषतः

hara uvāca varaṁ brūhi prasanno'smi tvadācaraṇato'naghe tavādeyaṁ na vai kiñcid vaśyo'haṁ te viśeṣataḥ

Hara said: "Ask a boon, O sinless one — I am pleased by your conduct. There is nothing I would not give you; I am especially subject to you."

Verse 26 (shiva.shatarudra.28.26)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । तच्छुत्वा शम्भुवचनं परमानन्ददायकम् । सुखं प्राप्तं विशेषेण न किञ्चित्स्मरणं ययौ

nandīśvara uvāca tacchutvā śambhuvacanaṁ paramānandadāyakam sukhaṁ prāptaṁ viśeṣeṇa na kiñcitsmaraṇaṁ yayau

Nandishvara said: Hearing Shambhu's words, which bestowed supreme bliss, she attained such great happiness that no thought whatsoever arose in her mind.

Verse 27 (shiva.shatarudra.28.27)

तस्यास्तद्गतिमालक्ष्य सुप्रसन्नो हरोऽभवत् । उवाच च पुनः शम्भुर्वरं ब्रूहीति तां प्रभुः

tasyāstadgatimālakṣya suprasanno haro'bhavat uvāca ca punaḥ śambhurvaraṁ brūhīti tāṁ prabhuḥ

Observing her state, Hara became well pleased, and Shambhu, the Lord, said to her again, "Ask a boon."

Verse 28 (shiva.shatarudra.28.28)

शिव उवाच । अयं यतिश्च मद्रूपो हंसरूपो भविष्यति । परजन्मनि वां प्रीत्या संयोगं कारयिष्यति

śiva uvāca ayaṁ yatiśca madrūpo haṁsarūpo bhaviṣyati parajanmani vāṁ prītyā saṁyogaṁ kārayiṣyati

Shiva said: "This ascetic, who is a form of mine, shall become a swan; in your next birth he shall lovingly bring about the union of you both."

Verse 29 (shiva.shatarudra.28.29)

भिल्लश्च वीरसेनस्य नैषधे नगरे वरे । महान्पुत्रो नलो नाम भविष्यति न संशयः

bhillaśca vīrasenasya naiṣadhe nagare vare mahānputro nalo nāma bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

"And the Bhil shall, without doubt, become the great son of Virasena, named Nala, in the splendid city of Nishadha."

Verse 30 (shiva.shatarudra.28.30)

त्वं सुता भीमराजस्य वैदर्भे नगरेऽनघे । दमयन्ती च विख्याता भविष्यसि गुणान्विता

tvaṁ sutā bhīmarājasya vaidarbhe nagare'naghe damayantī ca vikhyātā bhaviṣyasi guṇānvitā

"O sinless one, you shall become the daughter of King Bhima, in the city of Vidarbha, renowned as Damayanti, endowed with virtues."

Verse 31 (shiva.shatarudra.28.31)

युवां चोभौ मिलित्वा च राजभोगं सुविस्तरम् । भुक्त्वा मुक्तिं च योगीन्द्रैर्लप्स्येथे दुर्लभां ध्रुवम्

yuvāṁ cobhau militvā ca rājabhogaṁ suvistaram bhuktvā muktiṁ ca yogīndrairlapsyethe durlabhāṁ dhruvam

"The two of you, having met and enjoyed the vast pleasures of royalty, shall surely attain the liberation hard to reach even for the greatest of yogis."

Verse 32 (shiva.shatarudra.28.32)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा च स्वयं शम्भुर्लिङ्गरूपोऽभवत्तदा । तस्मान्न चलितो धर्मादचलेश इति स्मृतः

nandīśvara uvāca ityuktvā ca svayaṁ śambhurliṅgarūpo'bhavattadā tasmānna calito dharmādacaleśa iti smṛtaḥ

Nandishvara said: Having said this, Shambhu himself then became a linga there; and because he never departed from dharma, he is remembered as Achalesha, "the unmoving Lord."

Verse 33 (shiva.shatarudra.28.33)

स भिल्ल आहुकश्चापि वीरसेनसुतोऽभवत् । नैषधे नगरे तात नलनामा महानृपः

sa bhilla āhukaścāpi vīrasenasuto'bhavat naiṣadhe nagare tāta nalanāmā mahānṛpaḥ

That Bhil, Ahuka, O son, became the great king named Nala, the son of Virasena, in the city of Nishadha.

Verse 34 (shiva.shatarudra.28.34)

आहुका सा महाभिल्ली भीमस्य तनयाभवत् । वैदर्भे नगरे राज्ञो दमयन्तीति विश्रुता

āhukā sā mahābhillī bhīmasya tanayābhavat vaidarbhe nagare rājño damayantīti viśrutā

That great Bhil woman, Ahuka, became the daughter of King Bhima in the city of Vidarbha, renowned as Damayanti.

Verse 35 (shiva.shatarudra.28.35)

यतिनाथाह्वयः सोऽपि हंसरूपोऽभवच्छिवः । विवाहं कारयामास दमयन्त्या नलेन वै

yatināthāhvayaḥ so'pi haṁsarūpo'bhavacchivaḥ vivāhaṁ kārayāmāsa damayantyā nalena vai

And that Shiva, called Yatinatha, took the form of a swan and brought about the marriage of Damayanti with Nala.

Verse 36 (shiva.shatarudra.28.36)

पूर्वसत्काररूपेण महापुण्येन शङ्करः । हंसरूपं विधायैव ताभ्यां सुखमदात्प्रभुः

pūrvasatkārarūpeṇa mahāpuṇyena śaṅkaraḥ haṁsarūpaṁ vidhāyaiva tābhyāṁ sukhamadātprabhuḥ

As a return for their earlier hospitality and great merit, Lord Shankara, having assumed the form of a swan, granted happiness to them both.

Verse 37 (shiva.shatarudra.28.37)

शिवो हंसावतारो हि नानावार्ताविचक्षणः । दमयन्त्या नलस्यापि परमानन्ददायकः

śivo haṁsāvatāro hi nānāvārtāvicakṣaṇaḥ damayantyā nalasyāpi paramānandadāyakaḥ

Shiva, in this swan incarnation, skilled in manifold speech, was the bestower of supreme bliss upon both Damayanti and Nala.

Verse 38 (shiva.shatarudra.28.38)

इदं चरितं परमं पवित्रं शिवावतारस्य पवित्रकीर्तेः । यतीशसंज्ञस्य महाद्भुतं हि हंसाह्वयस्यापि विमुक्तिदं हि

idaṁ caritaṁ paramaṁ pavitraṁ śivāvatārasya pavitrakīrteḥ yatīśasaṁjñasya mahādbhutaṁ hi haṁsāhvayasyāpi vimuktidaṁ hi

This story is supremely sacred, of Shiva's incarnation of pure renown named Yatisha, and also as the swan — most wondrous, and a bestower of liberation.

Verse 39 (shiva.shatarudra.28.39)

यतीशब्रह्महंसाख्यावतारचरितं शुभम् । शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेद्यो हि स लभेत परां गतिम्

yatīśabrahmahaṁsākhyāvatāracaritaṁ śubham śṛṇuyācchrāvayedyo hi sa labheta parāṁ gatim

Whoever hears, or causes to be heard, this auspicious story of the incarnation named Yatisha-Brahmahamsa attains the highest goal.

Verse 40 (shiva.shatarudra.28.40)

इदमाख्यानमनघं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् । स्वर्ग्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं भक्तिवर्धनमुत्तमम्

idamākhyānamanaghaṁ sarvakāmaphalapradam svargyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ bhaktivardhanamuttamam

This sinless account bestows the fruit of every desire; it leads to heaven, brings fame and long life, and is the finest increaser of devotion.

Verse 41 (shiva.shatarudra.28.41)

श्रुत्वैतच्चरितं शम्भोर्यतिहंसस्वरूपयोः । इह सर्वसुखं भुक्त्वा सोऽन्ते शिवपुरं व्रजेत्

śrutvaitaccaritaṁ śambhoryatihaṁsasvarūpayoḥ iha sarvasukhaṁ bhuktvā so'nte śivapuraṁ vrajet

Having heard this story of Shambhu in the forms of the ascetic and the swan, one enjoys all happiness in this world and at the end goes to the city of Shiva.