The Avadhuteshvara Incarnation: The Birth of Jalandhara

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.30.1)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । शृणु त्वं ब्रह्मपुत्राद्यावतारं परमेशितुः । अवधूतेश्वराह्वं वै शक्रगर्वापहारकम्

nandīśvara uvāca śṛṇu tvaṁ brahmaputrādyāvatāraṁ parameśituḥ avadhūteśvarāhvaṁ vai śakragarvāpahārakam

Nandishvara said: Hear, O son of Brahma, the incarnation of the Supreme Lord known as Avadhuteshvara, which took away the pride of Indra.

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.30.2)

शक्रः पुरा हि सगुरुः सर्वदेवसमन्वितः । दर्शनं कर्तुमीशस्य कैलासमगमन्मुने

śakraḥ purā hi saguruḥ sarvadevasamanvitaḥ darśanaṁ kartumīśasya kailāsamagamanmune

O sage, long ago Indra, together with his guru and accompanied by all the gods, went to Kailasa for the sight of the Lord.

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.30.3)

अथ गुर्विन्द्रयोर्ज्ञात्वागमनं शङ्करस्तयोः । परीक्षितुं च तद्भावं स्वदर्शनरतात्मनोः

atha gurvindrayorjñātvāgamanaṁ śaṅkarastayoḥ parīkṣituṁ ca tadbhāvaṁ svadarśanaratātmanoḥ

Then Shankara, learning of the coming of the guru and Indra, and wishing to test the true feeling of those two who were intent on seeing him —

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.30.4)

अवधूतस्वरूपोऽभून्नानालीलाकरः प्रभुः । दिगम्बरो महाभीमो ज्वलदग्निसमप्रभः

avadhūtasvarūpo'bhūnnānālīlākaraḥ prabhuḥ digambaro mahābhīmo jvaladagnisamaprabhaḥ

the Lord, performer of manifold divine plays, took the form of a naked ascetic — sky-clad, greatly fearsome, radiant like blazing fire.

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.30.5)

सोऽवधूतस्वरूपो हि मार्गमारुद्ध्य सद्गतिः । लम्बमानपटः शम्भुरतिष्ठच्छोभिताकृतिः

so'vadhūtasvarūpo hi mārgamāruddhya sadgatiḥ lambamānapaṭaḥ śambhuratiṣṭhacchobhitākṛtiḥ

In that form of an avadhuta, blocking the very path they must take, Shambhu, his garment hanging loose, stood there, his form yet resplendent.

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.30.6)

अथ तौ गुरुशक्रौ च गच्छन्तौ शिव सन्निधिम् । अद्राष्टां पुरुषं भीमं मार्गमध्येऽद्भुताकृतिम्

atha tau guruśakrau ca gacchantau śiva sannidhim adrāṣṭāṁ puruṣaṁ bhīmaṁ mārgamadhye'dbhutākṛtim

Then the guru and Indra, going toward the presence of Shiva, saw in the middle of the path that fearsome person of wondrous form.

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.30.7)

अथ शक्रो मुनेऽपृच्छत्स्वाधिकारेण दुर्मदः । पुरुषं तं स्वमार्गान्तः स्थितमज्ञाय शङ्करम्

atha śakro mune'pṛcchatsvādhikāreṇa durmadaḥ puruṣaṁ taṁ svamārgāntaḥ sthitamajñāya śaṅkaram

O sage, then Indra, arrogant with his own authority and not recognizing that this person standing within his path was Shankara, questioned him.

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.30.8)

शक्र उवाच । कस्त्वं दिगम्बराकारावधूतः कुत आगतः । किन्नाम तव विख्यातं तत्त्वतो वद मेऽचिरम्

śakra uvāca kastvaṁ digambarākārāvadhūtaḥ kuta āgataḥ kinnāma tava vikhyātaṁ tattvato vada me'ciram

Indra said: "Who are you, O naked avadhuta? From where have you come? What is your renowned name? Tell me the truth of it, quickly."

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.30.9)

स्वस्थाने संस्थितः शम्भुः किं वान्यत्र गतोऽधुना । दर्शनार्थं हि तस्याहं गच्छामि सगुरुः सुरैः

svasthāne saṁsthitaḥ śambhuḥ kiṁ vānyatra gato'dhunā darśanārthaṁ hi tasyāhaṁ gacchāmi saguruḥ suraiḥ

"Is Shambhu now dwelling in his own place, or has he now gone elsewhere? For I, together with my guru and the gods, go for the sake of his darshan."

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.30.10)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । शक्रेणेत्थं स पृष्टश्च किञ्चिन्नोवाच पूरुषः । लीलागृहीतदेहः स शङ्करो मदहा प्रभुः

nandīśvara uvāca śakreṇetthaṁ sa pṛṣṭaśca kiñcinnovāca pūruṣaḥ līlāgṛhītadehaḥ sa śaṅkaro madahā prabhuḥ

Nandishvara said: Thus questioned by Indra, that person — Shankara himself, the destroyer of pride, who had taken this body through his own divine play — said nothing at all.

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.30.11)

शक्रः पुनरपृच्छत्तं नोवाच स दिगम्बरः । अविज्ञातगतिः शम्भुर्महाकौतुककारकः

śakraḥ punarapṛcchattaṁ novāca sa digambaraḥ avijñātagatiḥ śambhurmahākautukakārakaḥ

Indra questioned him again; still the naked one did not speak — Shambhu, whose ways none can fathom, the maker of great wonders.

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.30.12)

पुनः पुरन्दरोऽपृच्छ्त् त्रैलोक्याधिपतिः स्वराट् । तूष्णीमास महायोगी महालीलाकरः स वै

punaḥ purandaro'pṛccht trailokyādhipatiḥ svarāṭ tūṣṇīmāsa mahāyogī mahālīlākaraḥ sa vai

Purandara, the sovereign lord of the three worlds, questioned him yet again; but that great yogi, performer of great plays, remained silent.

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.30.13)

इत्थं पुनः पुनः पृष्टः शक्रेण स दिगम्बरः । नोवाच किञ्चिद्भगवान् शक्रदर्पजिघांसया

itthaṁ punaḥ punaḥ pṛṣṭaḥ śakreṇa sa digambaraḥ novāca kiñcidbhagavān śakradarpajighāṁsayā

Thus, questioned again and again by Indra, that naked lord said nothing at all, wishing to destroy Indra's pride.

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.30.14)

अथ चुक्रोध देवेशस्त्रैलोक्यैश्वर्यगर्वितः । उवाच वचनं क्रोधात्तं निर्भर्त्स्य जटाधरम्

atha cukrodha deveśastrailokyaiśvaryagarvitaḥ uvāca vacanaṁ krodhāttaṁ nirbhartsya jaṭādharam

Then the lord of the gods, proud of his sovereignty over the three worlds, grew angry, and in wrath, rebuking that matted-haired one, spoke these words.

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.30.15)

इन्द्र उवाच । पृच्छमानोऽपि रे मूढ नोत्तरं दत्तवानसि । अतस्त्वां हन्मि वज्रेण कस्ते त्रातास्ति दुर्मते

indra uvāca pṛcchamāno'pi re mūḍha nottaraṁ dattavānasi atastvāṁ hanmi vajreṇa kaste trātāsti durmate

Indra said: "O fool, though questioned, you have given no answer. Therefore I shall strike you with my thunderbolt — who is there to save you, O evil-minded one?"

Verse 16 (shiva.shatarudra.30.16)

इत्युदीर्य ततो वज्री सन्निरीक्ष्य क्रुधा हि तम् । हन्तुं दिगम्बरं वज्रमुद्यतं स चकार ह

ityudīrya tato vajrī sannirīkṣya krudhā hi tam hantuṁ digambaraṁ vajramudyataṁ sa cakāra ha

Having said this, the wielder of the vajra, looking at him in anger, raised his thunderbolt aloft to strike the naked ascetic.

Verse 17 (shiva.shatarudra.30.17)

वज्रहस्तं च तं दृष्ट्वा शक्रं शीघ्रं सदाशिवः । चकार स्तम्भनं तस्य वज्रपातस्य शङ्करः

vajrahastaṁ ca taṁ dṛṣṭvā śakraṁ śīghraṁ sadāśivaḥ cakāra stambhanaṁ tasya vajrapātasya śaṅkaraḥ

Seeing Indra with the vajra in hand, Sadashiva, Shankara, swiftly paralyzed the fall of that thunderbolt.

Verse 18 (shiva.shatarudra.30.18)

ततः स पुरुषः क्रुद्धः करालाक्षो भयङ्करः । द्रुतमेव प्रजज्वाल तेजसा प्रदहन्निव

tataḥ sa puruṣaḥ kruddhaḥ karālākṣo bhayaṅkaraḥ drutameva prajajvāla tejasā pradahanniva

Then that person, enraged, his eyes terrible, fearsome to behold, blazed up at once, as though consuming everything with his fire.

Verse 19 (shiva.shatarudra.30.19)

बाहुप्रतिष्टम्भभुवा मन्युनान्तः शचीपतिः । समदह्यत भोगीव मन्त्ररुद्धपराक्रमः

bāhupratiṣṭambhabhuvā manyunāntaḥ śacīpatiḥ samadahyata bhogīva mantraruddhaparākramaḥ

By the wrath born of his arm being thus held fast, the husband of Shachi (Indra) burned within, like a serpent whose power is checked by a spell.

Verse 20 (shiva.shatarudra.30.20)

दृष्ट्वा बृहस्पतिस्त्वेनं प्रज्वलन्तं स्वतेजसा । पुरुषं तं धियामास प्रणनाम हरं द्रुतम्

dṛṣṭvā bṛhaspatistvenaṁ prajvalantaṁ svatejasā puruṣaṁ taṁ dhiyāmāsa praṇanāma haraṁ drutam

Seeing that person blazing with his own fiery power, Brihaspati recognized him in his mind as Hara, and swiftly bowed down to him.

Verse 21 (shiva.shatarudra.30.21)

कृताञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा ततो गुरुरुदारधीः । दण्डवत्कौ पुनर्नत्वा प्रभुं तुष्टाव भक्तितः

kṛtāñjalipuṭo bhūtvā tato gururudāradhīḥ daṇḍavatkau punarnatvā prabhuṁ tuṣṭāva bhaktitaḥ

Joining his hands in reverence, that noble-minded guru, prostrating himself flat like a rod, again bowed to the Lord and praised him with devotion.

Verse 22 (shiva.shatarudra.30.22)

गुरुरुवाच । देवदेव महादेव शरणागतवत्सल । प्रसन्नो भव गौरीश सर्वेश्वर नमोऽस्तु ते

gururuvāca devadeva mahādeva śaraṇāgatavatsala prasanno bhava gaurīśa sarveśvara namo'stu te

The guru said: "O God of gods, Mahadeva, who cherish those who take refuge in you! Be pleased, O Lord of Gauri, Lord of all — salutations to you!"

Verse 23 (shiva.shatarudra.30.23)

मायया मोहिताः सर्वे ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादयोऽपि ते । त्वां न जानन्ति तत्त्वेन जानन्ति त्वदनुग्रहात्

māyayā mohitāḥ sarve brahmaviṣṇvādayo'pi te tvāṁ na jānanti tattvena jānanti tvadanugrahāt

"Deluded by your maya, even Brahma, Vishnu, and the others do not know you in your true nature; they know you only through your own grace."

Verse 24 (shiva.shatarudra.30.24)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । बृहस्पतिरिति स्तुत्वा स तदा शङ्करं प्रभुम् । पादयोः पातयामास तस्येशस्य पुरन्दरम्

nandīśvara uvāca bṛhaspatiriti stutvā sa tadā śaṅkaraṁ prabhum pādayoḥ pātayāmāsa tasyeśasya purandaram

Nandishvara said: Having thus praised the Lord Shankara, Brihaspati then made Purandara fall at that Lord's feet.

Verse 25 (shiva.shatarudra.30.25)

ततस्तात सुराचार्यः कृताञ्जलिरुदारधीः । बृहस्पतिरुवाचेदं प्रश्रयावनतः सुधीः

tatastāta surācāryaḥ kṛtāñjalirudāradhīḥ bṛhaspatiruvācedaṁ praśrayāvanataḥ sudhīḥ

Then, O son, that teacher of the gods, noble-minded, with joined hands, bowed low in humility, the wise Brihaspati spoke thus.

Verse 26 (shiva.shatarudra.30.26)

बृहस्पतिरुवाच । दीनानाथ महादेव प्रणतं तव पादयोः । समुद्धर च मां तत्त्वं क्रोधं न प्रणयं कुरु

bṛhaspatiruvāca dīnānātha mahādeva praṇataṁ tava pādayoḥ samuddhara ca māṁ tattvaṁ krodhaṁ na praṇayaṁ kuru

Brihaspati said: "O Mahadeva, refuge of the helpless and the destitute, I am fallen at your feet — you know the truth of this. Lift me up; show your grace, not your anger."

Verse 27 (shiva.shatarudra.30.27)

तुष्टो भव महादेव पाहीन्द्रं शरणागतम् । वह्निरेष समायाति भालनेत्रसमुद्भवः

tuṣṭo bhava mahādeva pāhīndraṁ śaraṇāgatam vahnireṣa samāyāti bhālanetrasamudbhavaḥ

"Be pleased, O Mahadeva; protect Indra, who has taken refuge in you. This fire, born from your forehead-eye, is coming upon him."

Verse 28 (shiva.shatarudra.30.28)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य गुरोर्वाक्यमवधूताकृतिः प्रभुः । उवाच करुणासिन्धुर्विहसन् स सदूतिकृत्

nandīśvara uvāca ityākarṇya gurorvākyamavadhūtākṛtiḥ prabhuḥ uvāca karuṇāsindhurvihasan sa sadūtikṛt

Nandishvara said: Hearing the guru's words, the Lord in the form of the avadhuta, that ocean of compassion, smiling, spoke as though acting as messenger of a hard truth.

Verse 29 (shiva.shatarudra.30.29)

अवधूत उवाच । क्रोधाच्च निस्सृतं तेजो धारयामि स्वनेत्रतः । कथं हि कञ्चुकीं सर्पः सन्धत्ते चोज्झितां पुनः

avadhūta uvāca krodhācca nissṛtaṁ tejo dhārayāmi svanetrataḥ kathaṁ hi kañcukīṁ sarpaḥ sandhatte cojjhitāṁ punaḥ

The avadhuta said: "How can I hold back the fire that has once issued forth in wrath from my own eye? How, indeed, does a snake ever put back on the skin it has already shed?"

Verse 30 (shiva.shatarudra.30.30)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य शङ्करस्य बृहस्पतिः । उवाच साञ्जलिर्भूयो भयव्याकुलमानसः

nandīśvara uvāca iti śrutvā vacastasya śaṅkarasya bṛhaspatiḥ uvāca sāñjalirbhūyo bhayavyākulamānasaḥ

Nandishvara said: Hearing these words of Shankara, Brihaspati, his mind troubled with fear, spoke again with joined hands.

Verse 31 (shiva.shatarudra.30.31)

बृहस्पतिरुवाच । हे देव भगवन्भक्ता अनुकम्प्याः सदैव हि । भक्तवत्सलनामेति स्वं सत्यं कुरु शङ्कर

bṛhaspatiruvāca he deva bhagavanbhaktā anukampyāḥ sadaiva hi bhaktavatsalanāmeti svaṁ satyaṁ kuru śaṅkara

Brihaspati said: "O God, O blessed one, devotees are always worthy of your compassion. Make your own name 'Cherisher of Devotees' true, O Shankara."

Verse 32 (shiva.shatarudra.30.32)

क्षेप्तुमन्यत्र देवेश स्वतेजोऽत्युग्रमर्हसि । उद्धर्ता सर्वभक्तानां समुद्धर पुरन्दरम्

kṣeptumanyatra deveśa svatejo'tyugramarhasi uddhartā sarvabhaktānāṁ samuddhara purandaram

"O Lord of gods, you are able to cast your exceedingly fierce fire elsewhere. You are the deliverer of all your devotees — deliver Purandara."

Verse 33 (shiva.shatarudra.30.33)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्तो गुरुणा रुद्रो भक्तवत्सलनामभाक् । प्रत्युवाच प्रसन्नात्मा सुरेज्यं प्रणतार्तिहा

nandīśvara uvāca ityukto guruṇā rudro bhaktavatsalanāmabhāk pratyuvāca prasannātmā surejyaṁ praṇatārtihā

Nandishvara said: Thus addressed by the guru, Rudra, who indeed bears the name Cherisher of Devotees and removes the suffering of those who bow to him, his heart pleased, replied to the teacher of the gods.

Verse 34 (shiva.shatarudra.30.34)

रुद्र उवाच । प्रीतस्तेऽहं सुराचार्य ददामि वरमुत्तमम् । इन्द्रस्य जीवदानेन जीवेति त्वं प्रथां व्रज

rudra uvāca prītaste'haṁ surācārya dadāmi varamuttamam indrasya jīvadānena jīveti tvaṁ prathāṁ vraja

Rudra said: "I am pleased with you, O teacher of the gods. I grant you an excellent boon. By this gift of Indra's life, go and spread your renown as 'Jiva' — the giver of life."

Verse 35 (shiva.shatarudra.30.35)

समुद्भूतोऽनलो योऽयं भालनेत्रात्सुरासहः । एनं त्यक्ष्याम्यहं दूरे यथेन्द्रं नैव पीडयेत्

samudbhūto'nalo yo'yaṁ bhālanetrātsurāsahaḥ enaṁ tyakṣyāmyahaṁ dūre yathendraṁ naiva pīḍayet

"This fire that has arisen from my forehead-eye, unbearable even to the gods — I shall cast it far away, so that it will not harm Indra at all."

Verse 36 (shiva.shatarudra.30.36)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा स करे धृत्वा स्वतेजोऽनलमद्भुतम् । भालनेत्रसमुद्भूतं प्राक्षिपल्लवणाम्भसि

nandīśvara uvāca ityuktvā sa kare dhṛtvā svatejo'nalamadbhutam bhālanetrasamudbhūtaṁ prākṣipallavaṇāmbhasi

Nandishvara said: Having said this, holding in his hand that wondrous fire of his own power, born from his forehead-eye, he cast it into the salt ocean.

Verse 37 (shiva.shatarudra.30.37)

अथो शिवस्य तत्तेजो भालनेत्रसमुद्भवम् । क्षिप्तं च लवणाम्भोधौ सद्यो बालो बभूव ह

atho śivasya tattejo bhālanetrasamudbhavam kṣiptaṁ ca lavaṇāmbhodhau sadyo bālo babhūva ha

Then that fiery energy of Shiva, born from his forehead-eye, once cast into the ocean of salt water, at once became an infant.

Verse 38 (shiva.shatarudra.30.38)

स जलन्धरनामाभूत्सिन्धुपुत्रोऽसुरेश्वरः । तं जघान महेशानो देवप्रार्थनया प्रभुः

sa jalandharanāmābhūtsindhuputro'sureśvaraḥ taṁ jaghāna maheśāno devaprārthanayā prabhuḥ

He became known by the name Jalandhara, the son of the ocean, lord of the asuras; and the great Lord later slew him, at the entreaty of the gods.

Verse 39 (shiva.shatarudra.30.39)

इत्थं कृत्वा सुचरितं शङ्करो लोकशङ्करः । अवधूतस्वरूपेण ततश्चान्तर्हितोऽभवत्

itthaṁ kṛtvā sucaritaṁ śaṅkaro lokaśaṅkaraḥ avadhūtasvarūpeṇa tataścāntarhito'bhavat

Having thus performed this excellent deed, Shankara, the bringer of well-being to the world, then vanished from his form as the avadhuta.

Verse 40 (shiva.shatarudra.30.40)

बभूवुः सकला देवाः सुखिनश्चातिनिर्भयाः । गुरुशक्रौ भयान्मुक्तौ जग्मतुः सुखमुत्तमम्

babhūvuḥ sakalā devāḥ sukhinaścātinirbhayāḥ guruśakrau bhayānmuktau jagmatuḥ sukhamuttamam

All the gods became happy and utterly free from fear; the guru and Indra, released from their fear, attained the highest happiness.

Verse 41 (shiva.shatarudra.30.41)

यदर्थे गमनोद्युक्तौ दर्शनं प्राप्य तस्य तौ । कृतार्थौ गुरुशक्रौ हि स्वस्थानं जग्मतुर्मुदा

yadarthe gamanodyuktau darśanaṁ prāpya tasya tau kṛtārthau guruśakrau hi svasthānaṁ jagmaturmudā

Having obtained the very darshan for whose sake they had set out, the guru and Indra, their purpose fulfilled, joyfully returned to their own abode.

Verse 42 (shiva.shatarudra.30.42)

अवधूतेश्वराह्वोऽवतारस्ते कथितो मया । परमेशस्य परमानन्ददः खलदण्डदः

avadhūteśvarāhvo'vatāraste kathito mayā parameśasya paramānandadaḥ khaladaṇḍadaḥ

Thus has this incarnation of the Supreme Lord, called Avadhuteshvara, been told to you by me — the bestower of supreme bliss and the punisher of the wicked.

Verse 43 (shiva.shatarudra.30.43)

इदमाख्यानमनघं यशस्यं स्वर्ग्यमेव च । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं दिव्यं सर्वकामफलप्रदम्

idamākhyānamanaghaṁ yaśasyaṁ svargyameva ca bhuktimuktipradaṁ divyaṁ sarvakāmaphalapradam

This sinless account brings fame and leads to heaven; it is divine, bestowing both enjoyment and liberation, and grants the fruit of every desire.

Verse 44 (shiva.shatarudra.30.44)

य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं श्रावयेद्वा समाहितः । इह सर्वसुखं भुक्त्वा सोऽन्ते शिवगतिं लभेत्

ya idaṁ śṛṇuyānnityaṁ śrāvayedvā samāhitaḥ iha sarvasukhaṁ bhuktvā so'nte śivagatiṁ labhet

Whoever daily hears this, or with a composed mind causes it to be heard, enjoys all happiness in this world and in the end attains the state of Shiva.