The Brahmachari Incarnation: The Testing of Parvati's Devotion

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.33.1)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । सनत्कुमार सुप्रीत्या शिवस्य परमात्मनः । अवतारं शृणु विभोर्जटिलाह्वं सुपावनम्

nandīśvara uvāca sanatkumāra suprītyā śivasya paramātmanaḥ avatāraṁ śṛṇu vibhorjaṭilāhvaṁ supāvanam

Nandishvara said: "O Sanatkumara, with deep affection hear now the most purifying avatara of the Lord, the Supreme Soul Shiva, known as Jatila, the matted-haired ascetic."

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.33.2)

पुरा सती दक्षकन्या त्यक्त्वा देहं पितुर्मखे । स्वपित्रानादृता जज्ञे मेनायां हिमभूधरात्

purā satī dakṣakanyā tyaktvā dehaṁ piturmakhe svapitrānādṛtā jajñe menāyāṁ himabhūdharāt

Long ago, Sati, the daughter of Daksha, gave up her body at her father's sacrifice; dishonored by her own father, she was born again — from the Lord of the Snowy Mountain, to Mena.

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.33.3)

सा गत्वा गहनेऽरण्ये तेपे सुविमलं तपः । शङ्करं पतिमिच्छन्ती सखीभ्यां संयुता शिवा

sā gatvā gahane'raṇye tepe suvimalaṁ tapaḥ śaṅkaraṁ patimicchantī sakhībhyāṁ saṁyutā śivā

She went to a dense forest and, together with her two companions, performed the purest austerity, Shiva (Parvati) desiring Shankara alone as her husband.

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.33.4)

तत्तपः सुपरीक्षार्थं सप्तर्षीन्प्रैषयच्छिवः । तपःस्थानं तु पार्वत्या नानालीलाविशारदः

tattapaḥ suparīkṣārthaṁ saptarṣīnpraiṣayacchivaḥ tapaḥsthānaṁ tu pārvatyā nānālīlāviśāradaḥ

To thoroughly test that austerity, Shiva, skilled in manifold divine play, sent the Seven Sages to Parvati's place of penance.

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.33.5)

ते गत्वा तत्र मुनयः परीक्षां चक्रुरादरात् । तस्याः सुयत्नतो नैव समर्था ह्यभवंश्च ते

te gatvā tatra munayaḥ parīkṣāṁ cakrurādarāt tasyāḥ suyatnato naiva samarthā hyabhavaṁśca te

Going there, those sages respectfully tested her; yet for all their careful effort, they proved unable to shake her.

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.33.6)

तत्रागत्य शिवं नत्वा वृत्तान्तं च निवेद्य तत् । तदाज्ञां समनुप्राप्य स्वर्लोकं जग्मुरादरात्

tatrāgatya śivaṁ natvā vṛttāntaṁ ca nivedya tat tadājñāṁ samanuprāpya svarlokaṁ jagmurādarāt

Coming to him, bowing to Shiva, and reporting that whole account, they received his command and respectfully returned to the world of the gods.

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.33.7)

गतेषु तेषु मुनिषु स्वस्थानं शङ्करः स्वयम् । परीक्षितुं शिवावृत्तमैच्छत्सूतिकरः प्रभुः

gateṣu teṣu muniṣu svasthānaṁ śaṅkaraḥ svayam parīkṣituṁ śivāvṛttamaicchatsūtikaraḥ prabhuḥ

When those sages had gone back to their own abode, Shankara himself, the Lord and source of all creation, resolved to test Parvati's own conduct.

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.33.8)

सुप्रसन्नस्तपस्वीच्छाशमनादयमीश्वरः । ब्रह्मचर्यस्वरूपोऽभूत्तदाद्भुततरः प्रभुः

suprasannastapasvīcchāśamanādayamīśvaraḥ brahmacaryasvarūpo'bhūttadādbhutataraḥ prabhuḥ

So as to put the ascetic woman's longing to the test, the greatly pleased Lord then took the wondrous form of a celibate student.

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.33.9)

अतीव स्थविरो विप्रदेहधारी स्वतेजसा । प्रज्वलन्मनसा हृष्टो दण्डी छत्री महोज्जलः

atīva sthaviro vipradehadhārī svatejasā prajvalanmanasā hṛṣṭo daṇḍī chatrī mahojjalaḥ

He took the body of an extremely aged brahmin, blazing with his own inner radiance, glad at heart, carrying staff and umbrella, magnificently resplendent.

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.33.10)

धृत्वैवं जाटिलं रूपं जगाम गिरिजावनम् । अतिप्रीतियुतः शम्भुः शङ्करो भक्तवत्सलः

dhṛtvaivaṁ jāṭilaṁ rūpaṁ jagāma girijāvanam atiprītiyutaḥ śambhuḥ śaṅkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ

Having taken up this matted-haired form, Shambhu Shankara, overflowing with love, the cherisher of his devotees, went to Girija's forest.

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.33.11)

तत्रापश्यत् स्थितां देवीं सखीभिः परिवारिताम् । वेदिकोपरि शुद्धान्तां शिवामिव विधोः कलाम्

tatrāpaśyat sthitāṁ devīṁ sakhībhiḥ parivāritām vedikopari śuddhāntāṁ śivāmiva vidhoḥ kalām

There he saw the Goddess seated, surrounded by her companions, upon the sacred altar within her pure retreat, shining like a digit of the moon.

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.33.12)

शम्भुर्निरीक्ष्य तां देवीं ब्रह्मचारिस्वरूपवान् । उपकण्ठं ययौ प्रीत्या चोत्सुकी भक्तवत्सलः

śambhurnirīkṣya tāṁ devīṁ brahmacārisvarūpavān upakaṇṭhaṁ yayau prītyā cotsukī bhaktavatsalaḥ

Seeing that Goddess, Shambhu, in the guise of a Brahmachari, approached her with love and eagerness — for he is ever the cherisher of his devotees.

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.33.13)

आगतं सा तदा दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणं तेजसाद्भुतम् । अङ्गेषु लोमशं शान्तं दण्डचर्मसमन्वितम्

āgataṁ sā tadā dṛṣṭvā brāhmaṇaṁ tejasādbhutam aṅgeṣu lomaśaṁ śāntaṁ daṇḍacarmasamanvitam

She then saw that brahmin arriving, wondrous in radiance, his limbs covered with hair, serene, equipped with staff and deerskin —

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.33.14)

ब्रह्मचर्यधरं वृद्धं जटिलं सकमण्डलुम् । अपूजयत्परप्रीत्या सर्वपूजोपहारकैः

brahmacaryadharaṁ vṛddhaṁ jaṭilaṁ sakamaṇḍalum apūjayatparaprītyā sarvapūjopahārakaiḥ

— an aged keeper of the celibate vow, matted-haired, carrying a water-pot. She worshipped him with the deepest love, offering him every rite of hospitality.

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.33.15)

ततः सा पार्वती देवी पूजितं परया मुदा । कुशलं पर्यपृच्छत्तं ब्रह्मचारिणमादरात्

tataḥ sā pārvatī devī pūjitaṁ parayā mudā kuśalaṁ paryapṛcchattaṁ brahmacāriṇamādarāt

Then the Goddess Parvati, having worshipped him with the greatest delight, respectfully asked that Brahmachari of his well-being.

Verse 16 (shiva.shatarudra.33.16)

ब्रह्मचारिस्वरूपेण कस्त्वं हि कुत आगतः । इद्ं वनं भासयसि वद वेदविदां वर

brahmacārisvarūpeṇa kastvaṁ hi kuta āgataḥ idṁ vanaṁ bhāsayasi vada vedavidāṁ vara

"Who are you, in this form of a Brahmachari, and whence have you come? You light up this whole forest — tell me, O best among knowers of the Veda."

Verse 17 (shiva.shatarudra.33.17)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति पृष्टस्तु पार्वत्या ब्रह्मचारी स वै द्विजः । प्रत्युवाच द्रुतं प्रीत्या शिवाभावपरीक्षया

nandīśvara uvāca iti pṛṣṭastu pārvatyā brahmacārī sa vai dvijaḥ pratyuvāca drutaṁ prītyā śivābhāvaparīkṣayā

Nandishvara said: Thus questioned by Parvati, that brahmin Brahmachari answered swiftly and lovingly, so as to test the true state of Parvati's heart.

Verse 18 (shiva.shatarudra.33.18)

ब्रह्मचार्युवाच । अहमिच्छाभिगामी च ब्रह्मचारी द्विजोऽस्मि वै । तपस्वी सुखदोऽन्येषामुपकारी न संशयः

brahmacāryuvāca ahamicchābhigāmī ca brahmacārī dvijo'smi vai tapasvī sukhado'nyeṣāmupakārī na saṁśayaḥ

The Brahmachari said: "I am a celibate brahmin who wanders as he wishes, an ascetic — one who, without doubt, brings happiness and benefit to others."

Verse 19 (shiva.shatarudra.33.19)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा ब्रह्मचारी स शङ्करो भक्तवत्सलः । तस्थिवानुपकण्ठं स गोपायन् रूपमात्मनः

nandīśvara uvāca ityuktvā brahmacārī sa śaṅkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ tasthivānupakaṇṭhaṁ sa gopāyan rūpamātmanaḥ

Nandishvara said: Having said this, that Brahmachari — Shankara, the cherisher of devotees — stood there close by, concealing his own true form.

Verse 20 (shiva.shatarudra.33.20)

ब्रह्मचार्युवाच । किं ब्रवीमि महादेवि कथनीयं न विद्यते । महानर्थकरं वृत्तं दृश्यते विकृतं महत्

brahmacāryuvāca kiṁ bravīmi mahādevi kathanīyaṁ na vidyate mahānarthakaraṁ vṛttaṁ dṛśyate vikṛtaṁ mahat

The Brahmachari said: "What am I to say, great Goddess? There is nothing here worth telling — except that I see before me conduct that is greatly harmful and deeply distorted."

Verse 21 (shiva.shatarudra.33.21)

नवे वयसि सद्भोगसाधने सुखकारणे । महोपचारसद्भोगैर्वृथैव त्वं तपस्यसि

nave vayasi sadbhogasādhane sukhakāraṇe mahopacārasadbhogairvṛthaiva tvaṁ tapasyasi

"In the bloom of youth, with every means of rightful pleasure and every cause of happiness at hand — with rich comforts and enjoyments available to you — you practice austerity in vain."

Verse 22 (shiva.shatarudra.33.22)

का त्वं कस्यासि तनया किमर्थं विजने वने । तपश्चरसि दुर्धर्षं मुनिभिः प्रयतात्मभिः

kā tvaṁ kasyāsi tanayā kimarthaṁ vijane vane tapaścarasi durdharṣaṁ munibhiḥ prayatātmabhiḥ

"Who are you, whose daughter are you, and why do you practice, in this lonely forest, an austerity so formidable that even disciplined sages would find it hard to match?"

Verse 23 (shiva.shatarudra.33.23)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य परमेश्वरी । उवाच वचनं प्रीत्या ब्रह्मचारिणमुत्तमम्

nandīśvara uvāca iti tadvacanaṁ śrutvā prahasya parameśvarī uvāca vacanaṁ prītyā brahmacāriṇamuttamam

Nandishvara said: Hearing these words, the Supreme Goddess smiled, and spoke lovingly to that excellent Brahmachari.

Verse 24 (shiva.shatarudra.33.24)

पार्वत्युवाच । शृणु विप्र ब्रह्मचारिन् मद्वृत्तमखिलं मुने । जन्म मे भारते वर्षे साम्प्रतं हिमवद्गृहे

pārvatyuvāca śṛṇu vipra brahmacārin madvṛttamakhilaṁ mune janma me bhārate varṣe sāmprataṁ himavadgṛhe

Parvati said: "Listen, O brahmin sage, Brahmachari, to my whole history. My present birth has been in Bharatavarsha, in the house of Himavat."

Verse 25 (shiva.shatarudra.33.25)

पूर्वं दक्षगृहे जन्म सती शङ्करकामिनी । योगेन त्यक्तदेहाहं तातेन पतिनिन्दिना

pūrvaṁ dakṣagṛhe janma satī śaṅkarakāminī yogena tyaktadehāhaṁ tātena patinindinā

"In an earlier birth I was born in Daksha's house as Sati, the beloved of Shankara; I gave up that body by the power of yoga, because my own father reviled my husband."

Verse 26 (shiva.shatarudra.33.26)

अत्र जन्मनि सम्प्राप्तः सुपुण्येन शिवो द्विज । मां त्यक्त्वा भस्मसात्कृत्वा मन्मथं स जगाम ह

atra janmani samprāptaḥ supuṇyena śivo dvija māṁ tyaktvā bhasmasātkṛtvā manmathaṁ sa jagāma ha

"In this birth, O brahmin, through great merit I attained Shiva; but he left me, reduced Manmatha, the god of love, to ashes, and departed."

Verse 27 (shiva.shatarudra.33.27)

प्रयाते शङ्करे तापाद् व्रीडिताहं पितुर्गृहात् । आगच्छमत्र तपसे गुरुवाक्येन संयता

prayāte śaṅkare tāpād vrīḍitāhaṁ piturgṛhāt āgacchamatra tapase guruvākyena saṁyatā

"When Shankara had gone, stung with grief and shame, I left my father's house and came here to perform austerity, disciplined by my teacher's counsel."

Verse 28 (shiva.shatarudra.33.28)

मनसा वचसा साक्षात्कर्मणा पतिभावतः । सत्यं ब्रवीमि नोऽसत्यं संवृतः शङ्करो मया

manasā vacasā sākṣātkarmaṇā patibhāvataḥ satyaṁ bravīmi no'satyaṁ saṁvṛtaḥ śaṅkaro mayā

"In thought, in word, and in very deed, I have taken Shankara alone as my husband — I speak the truth, not falsehood; it is Shankara I have chosen."

Verse 29 (shiva.shatarudra.33.29)

जानामि दुर्लभं वस्तु कथं प्राप्यं मया भवेत् । तथापि मनसौत्सुक्यात्तप्यते मे तपोऽधुना

jānāmi durlabhaṁ vastu kathaṁ prāpyaṁ mayā bhavet tathāpi manasautsukyāttapyate me tapo'dhunā

"I know he is a thing hard to obtain — how could I ever attain him? And yet, from the eagerness of my own heart, I now perform this penance."

Verse 30 (shiva.shatarudra.33.30)

हित्वेन्द्रप्रमुखान्देवान्विष्णुं ब्रह्माणमप्यहम् । पतिं पिनाकपाणिं वै प्राप्तुमिच्छामि सत्यतः

hitvendrapramukhāndevānviṣṇuṁ brahmāṇamapyaham patiṁ pinākapāṇiṁ vai prāptumicchāmi satyataḥ

"Setting aside the gods headed by Indra, and even Vishnu and Brahma, I truly desire only him who wields the Pinaka bow as my husband."

Verse 31 (shiva.shatarudra.33.31)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा पार्वत्या हि सुनिश्चितम् । मुने स जटिलो रुद्रो विहसन्वाक्यमब्रवीत्

nandīśvara uvāca ityevaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā pārvatyā hi suniścitam mune sa jaṭilo rudro vihasanvākyamabravīt

Nandishvara said: O sage, hearing Parvati's so firmly resolved words, that matted-haired Rudra laughed and spoke thus.

Verse 32 (shiva.shatarudra.33.32)

जटिल उवाच । हिमाचलसुते देवि का बुद्धिः स्वीकृता त्वया । रुद्रार्थं विबुधान्हित्वा करोषि विपुलं तपः

jaṭila uvāca himācalasute devi kā buddhiḥ svīkṛtā tvayā rudrārthaṁ vibudhānhitvā karoṣi vipulaṁ tapaḥ

The Matted-Haired One said: "O daughter of the Himalaya, what resolve is this you have taken up, that you forsake the gods and perform such vast austerity for the sake of Rudra?"

Verse 33 (shiva.shatarudra.33.33)

जानाम्यहं च तं रुद्रं शृणु त्वं प्रवदामि ते । वृषध्वजः स रुद्रो हि विकृतात्मा जटाधरः

jānāmyahaṁ ca taṁ rudraṁ śṛṇu tvaṁ pravadāmi te vṛṣadhvajaḥ sa rudro hi vikṛtātmā jaṭādharaḥ

"I myself know that Rudra — listen, I will tell you of him. That Rudra, bearer of the bull-banner, is grotesque in form, matted-haired —"

Verse 34 (shiva.shatarudra.33.34)

एकाकी च सदा नित्यं विरागी च विशेषतः । तस्मात्त्वं तेन रुद्रेण मनो योक्तुं न चार्हसि

ekākī ca sadā nityaṁ virāgī ca viśeṣataḥ tasmāttvaṁ tena rudreṇa mano yoktuṁ na cārhasi

"— ever alone, and especially given to dispassion at all times. Therefore you should not fasten your mind upon that Rudra."

Verse 35 (shiva.shatarudra.33.35)

सर्वं विरुद्धं रूपादि तव देवि हरस्य च । मह्यं न रोचते ह्येतद्यदीच्छसि तथा कुरु

sarvaṁ viruddhaṁ rūpādi tava devi harasya ca mahyaṁ na rocate hyetadyadīcchasi tathā kuru

"Everything about him, O Goddess — his form and the rest — stands entirely opposed to you. None of this pleases me; yet if this is truly your wish, then do as you will."

Verse 36 (shiva.shatarudra.33.36)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा च पुना रुद्रो ब्रह्मचारिस्वरूपवान् । निनिन्द बहुधात्मानं तदग्रे तां परीक्षितुम्

nandīśvara uvāca ityuktvā ca punā rudro brahmacārisvarūpavān nininda bahudhātmānaṁ tadagre tāṁ parīkṣitum

Nandishvara said: Having said this, Rudra, still in the Brahmachari's form, went on to revile himself at length before her, so as to test her further.

Verse 37 (shiva.shatarudra.33.37)

तच्छ्रुत्वा पार्वती देवी विप्रवाक्यं दुरासदम् । प्रत्युवाच महाक्रुद्धा शिवनिन्दापरं च तम्

tacchrutvā pārvatī devī vipravākyaṁ durāsadam pratyuvāca mahākruddhā śivanindāparaṁ ca tam

Hearing that brahmin's unbearable words, the Goddess Parvati, now greatly enraged, answered that man so intent on reviling Shiva.

Verse 38 (shiva.shatarudra.33.38)

एतावद्धि मया ज्ञातं कश्चिद् धन्यो भविष्यति । परन्तु सकलं ज्ञातमवध्यो दृश्यतेऽधुना

etāvaddhi mayā jñātaṁ kaścid dhanyo bhaviṣyati parantu sakalaṁ jñātamavadhyo dṛśyate'dhunā

"This much I had guessed — that someone of merit would come. But now, knowing everything, I see that you appear to be one who cannot rightly be slain, being a brahmin."

Verse 39 (shiva.shatarudra.33.39)

ब्रह्मचारिस्वरूपेण कश्चित्त्वं धूर्त आगतः । शिवनिन्दा कृता मूढ त्वया मन्युरभून्मम

brahmacārisvarūpeṇa kaścittvaṁ dhūrta āgataḥ śivanindā kṛtā mūḍha tvayā manyurabhūnmama

"In the disguise of a Brahmachari, some rogue, you have come here. Fool, you have reviled Shiva, and by that my anger has been roused."

Verse 40 (shiva.shatarudra.33.40)

शिवं त्वं च न जानासि शिवात्त्वं हि बहिर्मुखः । त्वत्पूजा च कृता यन्मे तस्मात्तापयुताभवम्

śivaṁ tvaṁ ca na jānāsi śivāttvaṁ hi bahirmukhaḥ tvatpūjā ca kṛtā yanme tasmāttāpayutābhavam

"You do not know Shiva — indeed you are averse to Shiva himself. Because I paid you worship, I have now been filled with anguish."

Verse 41 (shiva.shatarudra.33.41)

शिवनिन्दां करोतीह तत्त्वमज्ञाय यः पुमान् । आजन्मसञ्चितं पुण्यं तस्य भस्मीभवत्युत

śivanindāṁ karotīha tattvamajñāya yaḥ pumān ājanmasañcitaṁ puṇyaṁ tasya bhasmībhavatyuta

"Whatever man, ignorant of the truth, reviles Shiva in this world — all the merit he has amassed since birth is burnt to ashes."

Verse 42 (shiva.shatarudra.33.42)

शिवविद्वेषिणं स्पृष्ट्वा प्रायश्चित्तं समाचरेत्

śivavidveṣiṇaṁ spṛṣṭvā prāyaścittaṁ samācaret

"Should one even touch a hater of Shiva, one must perform expiation for it."

Verse 43 (shiva.shatarudra.33.43)

रे रे दुष्ट त्वया प्रोक्तमहं जानामि शङ्करम् । निश्चयेन न विज्ञातः शिव एव परः प्रभुः

re re duṣṭa tvayā proktamahaṁ jānāmi śaṅkaram niścayena na vijñātaḥ śiva eva paraḥ prabhuḥ

"You wretch! You claimed, 'I know Shankara' — but you have certainly failed to understand that Shiva alone is the Supreme Lord."

Verse 44 (shiva.shatarudra.33.44)

यथा तथा भवेद्रुद्रो मायया बहुरूपवान् । ममाभीष्टप्रदोऽत्यन्तं निर्विकारः सतां प्रियः

yathā tathā bhavedrudro māyayā bahurūpavān mamābhīṣṭaprado'tyantaṁ nirvikāraḥ satāṁ priyaḥ

"However Rudra may appear, taking many forms through his maya, he alone grants my heart's desire, ever unchanging, and beloved of the good."

Verse 45 (shiva.shatarudra.33.45)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा तं शिवा देवी शिवतत्त्वं जगाद सा । यत्र ब्रह्मतया रुद्रः कथ्यते निर्गुणोऽव्ययः

nandīśvara uvāca ityuktvā taṁ śivā devī śivatattvaṁ jagāda sā yatra brahmatayā rudraḥ kathyate nirguṇo'vyayaḥ

Nandishvara said: Having said this to him, the Goddess Shiva (Parvati) expounded to him the very truth of Shiva, wherein Rudra is described as Brahman itself — attributeless and imperishable.

Verse 46 (shiva.shatarudra.33.46)

तदाकर्ण्य वचो देव्या ब्रह्मचारी स वै द्विजः । पुनर्वचनमादातुं यावदेव प्रचक्रमे

tadākarṇya vaco devyā brahmacārī sa vai dvijaḥ punarvacanamādātuṁ yāvadeva pracakrame

Hearing the Goddess's words, that same brahmin Brahmachari, just as he was setting out to speak once more —

Verse 47 (shiva.shatarudra.33.47)

प्रोवाच गिरिजा तावत्स्वसखीं विजयां द्रुतम् । शिवासक्तमनोवृत्तिः शिवनिन्दापराङ्मुखी

provāca girijā tāvatsvasakhīṁ vijayāṁ drutam śivāsaktamanovṛttiḥ śivanindāparāṅmukhī

— Girija, her whole mind bound to Shiva and averse to any word against him, at once spoke swiftly to her friend Vijaya.

Verse 48 (shiva.shatarudra.33.48)

गिरिजोवाच । वारणीयः प्रयत्नेन सख्ययं हि द्विजाधमः । पुनर्वक्तुमनाश्चायं शिवनिन्दां करिष्यति

girijovāca vāraṇīyaḥ prayatnena sakhyayaṁ hi dvijādhamaḥ punarvaktumanāścāyaṁ śivanindāṁ kariṣyati

Girija said: "O friend, this lowest of brahmins must be stopped by every effort — for he is set on speaking again, and will surely revile Shiva once more."

Verse 49 (shiva.shatarudra.33.49)

न केवलं भवेत्पापं निन्दाकर्तुः शिवस्य हि । यो वै शृणोति तन्निन्दां पापभाक्स भवेदिह

na kevalaṁ bhavetpāpaṁ nindākartuḥ śivasya hi yo vai śṛṇoti tannindāṁ pāpabhāksa bhavediha

"The sin of reviling Shiva belongs not to the reviler alone; whoever merely hears that slander also becomes, in this world, a partaker of that same sin."

Verse 50 (shiva.shatarudra.33.50)

शिवनिन्दाकरो वध्यः सर्वथा शिवकिङ्करैः । ब्राह्मणश्चेत्स वै त्याज्यो गन्तव्यं तत्स्थलाद्द्रुतम्

śivanindākaro vadhyaḥ sarvathā śivakiṅkaraiḥ brāhmaṇaścetsa vai tyājyo gantavyaṁ tatsthalāddrutam

"A reviler of Shiva deserves death at the hands of Shiva's attendants in every other case; but if he is a brahmin, he is instead to be shunned — one must swiftly quit that place."

Verse 51 (shiva.shatarudra.33.51)

अयं दुष्टः पुनर्निन्दां करिष्यति शिवस्य हि । ब्राह्मणत्वादवध्यश्च त्याज्योऽदृश्यश्च सर्वथा

ayaṁ duṣṭaḥ punarnindāṁ kariṣyati śivasya hi brāhmaṇatvādavadhyaśca tyājyo'dṛśyaśca sarvathā

"This wicked one will only revile Shiva again; yet, being a brahmin, he cannot be killed — he is to be wholly shunned, and never even looked upon."

Verse 52 (shiva.shatarudra.33.52)

स्थलमेतद् द्रुतं हित्वा यास्यामोऽन्यत्र मा चिरम् । यथा सम्भाषणं न स्यादनेनाविदुषा पुनः

sthalametad drutaṁ hitvā yāsyāmo'nyatra mā ciram yathā sambhāṣaṇaṁ na syādanenāviduṣā punaḥ

"Let us leave this place at once, without delay, and go elsewhere, so that we need never speak with this ignorant man again."

Verse 53 (shiva.shatarudra.33.53)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा चोमया यावत्पदमुत्क्षिप्यते मुने । असौ तावच्छिवः साक्षादाललम्बे पटं स्वयम्

nandīśvara uvāca ityuktvā comayā yāvatpadamutkṣipyate mune asau tāvacchivaḥ sākṣādālalambe paṭaṁ svayam

Nandishvara said: O sage, no sooner had Uma said this and begun to lift her foot to leave than Shiva himself, in that very moment, caught hold of her garment.

Verse 54 (shiva.shatarudra.33.54)

कृत्वा स्वरूपं दिव्यं च शिवाध्यानं यथा तथा । दर्शयित्वा शिवायै तामुवाचावाङ्मुखीं शिवः

kṛtvā svarūpaṁ divyaṁ ca śivādhyānaṁ yathā tathā darśayitvā śivāyai tāmuvācāvāṅmukhīṁ śivaḥ

Assuming his own divine form, just as devotees meditate upon it, and revealing it to Shiva (Parvati), the Lord spoke to her as she stood there with her face lowered in shyness.

Verse 55 (shiva.shatarudra.33.55)

शिव उवाच । कुत्र त्वं यासि मां हित्वा न त्वं त्याज्या मया शिवे । मया परीक्षितासि त्वं दृढभक्तासि मेऽनघे

śiva uvāca kutra tvaṁ yāsi māṁ hitvā na tvaṁ tyājyā mayā śive mayā parīkṣitāsi tvaṁ dṛḍhabhaktāsi me'naghe

Shiva said: "Where are you going, leaving me behind? You are never to be forsaken by me, O Shiva! I have tested you, sinless one, and you have proven a devotee of unshakeable faith."

Verse 56 (shiva.shatarudra.33.56)

ब्रह्मचारिस्वरूपेण भावमिच्छुस्त्वदीयकम् । तवोपकण्ठमागत्य प्रावोचं विविधं वचः

brahmacārisvarūpeṇa bhāvamicchustvadīyakam tavopakaṇṭhamāgatya prāvocaṁ vividhaṁ vacaḥ

"Wishing to know your true heart, I came near you in the guise of a Brahmachari and spoke to you in so many different ways."

Verse 57 (shiva.shatarudra.33.57)

प्रसन्नोऽस्मि दृढं भक्त्या शिवे तव विशेषतः । चित्तेप्सितं वरं ब्रूहि नादेयं विद्यते तव

prasanno'smi dṛḍhaṁ bhaktyā śive tava viśeṣataḥ cittepsitaṁ varaṁ brūhi nādeyaṁ vidyate tava

"O Shiva, I am truly delighted, above all, by your unwavering devotion. Ask for the boon your heart desires — there is nothing I would withhold from you."

Verse 58 (shiva.shatarudra.33.58)

अद्यप्रभृति ते दासस्तपोभिः प्रेमनिर्भरे । कृतोऽस्मि तव सौन्दर्यात्क्षण एको युगायते

adyaprabhṛti te dāsastapobhiḥ premanirbhare kṛto'smi tava saundaryātkṣaṇa eko yugāyate

"From this day I am made your servant by your penance, O you brimming with love; because of your beauty a single moment now feels to me like an age."

Verse 59 (shiva.shatarudra.33.59)

त्यज्यतां च त्वया लज्जा मम पत्नी सनातनी । एहि प्रिये त्वया साकं द्रुतं यामि स्वकं गिरिम्

tyajyatāṁ ca tvayā lajjā mama patnī sanātanī ehi priye tvayā sākaṁ drutaṁ yāmi svakaṁ girim

"Set aside your shyness now, my eternal consort. Come, beloved — together with you I shall go at once to my own mountain."

Verse 60 (shiva.shatarudra.33.60)

इत्युक्तवति देवेशे शिवातिमुदमाप सा । तपोदुःखं तु यत्सर्वं तज्जहौ द्रुतमेव हि

ityuktavati deveśe śivātimudamāpa sā tapoduḥkhaṁ tu yatsarvaṁ tajjahau drutameva hi

When the Lord of the gods had spoken so, Shiva was filled with the greatest joy, and all the suffering of her penance vanished at once.

Verse 61 (shiva.shatarudra.33.61)

ततः प्रहृष्टा सा दृष्ट्वा दिव्यरूपं शिवस्य तत् । प्रत्युवाच प्रभुं प्रीत्या लज्जयाधोमुखी शिवा

tataḥ prahṛṣṭā sā dṛṣṭvā divyarūpaṁ śivasya tat pratyuvāca prabhuṁ prītyā lajjayādhomukhī śivā

Then, overjoyed at the sight of Shiva's divine form, Shiva (Parvati), her face bowed in shyness, answered the Lord with love.

Verse 62 (shiva.shatarudra.33.62)

शिवोवाच । यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश करोषि च कृपां मयि । पतिर्मे भव देवेश इत्युक्तः शिवया शिवः

śivovāca yadi prasanno deveśa karoṣi ca kṛpāṁ mayi patirme bhava deveśa ityuktaḥ śivayā śivaḥ

Shiva (Parvati) said: "If you are pleased, Lord of gods, and show grace to me, then become my husband, O Lord" — thus addressed by Shiva, the Lord was well pleased.

Verse 63 (shiva.shatarudra.33.63)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच गृहीत्वा विधिवत्पाणिं कैलासं स तया ययौ । पतिं तं गिरिजा प्राप्य देवकार्यं चकार सा

nandīśvara uvāca gṛhītvā vidhivatpāṇiṁ kailāsaṁ sa tayā yayau patiṁ taṁ girijā prāpya devakāryaṁ cakāra sā

Nandishvara said: Having duly taken her hand, Shiva went together with her to Kailasa; and Girija, having thus won him as her husband, accomplished the work of the gods.

Verse 64 (shiva.shatarudra.33.64)

इति प्रोक्तस्तु ते तात ब्रह्मचारिस्वरूपकः । शिवावतारो हि मया शिवाभावपरीक्षकः

iti proktastu te tāta brahmacārisvarūpakaḥ śivāvatāro hi mayā śivābhāvaparīkṣakaḥ

"Thus, dear one, I have told you of this avatara of Shiva in the form of a Brahmachari — by which the true state of Shiva's (Parvati's) heart was put to the test."

Verse 65 (shiva.shatarudra.33.65)

इदमाख्यानमनघं परमं व्याहृतं मया । य एतच्छृणुयात्प्रीत्या स सुखी गतिमाप्नुयात्

idamākhyānamanaghaṁ paramaṁ vyāhṛtaṁ mayā ya etacchṛṇuyātprītyā sa sukhī gatimāpnuyāt

"This sinless and supreme account I have declared. Whoever hears it with love shall become happy and attain the highest state."