The Skilled-Dancer Incarnation: Winning Menaka and Himavat

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.34.1)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । सनत्कुमार सर्वज्ञ शिवस्य परमात्मनः । अवतारं शृणु विभोः सुनर्तकनटाह्वयम्

nandīśvara uvāca sanatkumāra sarvajña śivasya paramātmanaḥ avatāraṁ śṛṇu vibhoḥ sunartakanaṭāhvayam

Nandishvara said: "O all-knowing Sanatkumara, hear now the avatara of the Lord, the Supreme Soul Shiva, called Sunartaka-Nata, the Skilled Dancer."

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.34.2)

यदा हि कालिका देवी पार्वती हिमवत्सुता । तेपे तपः सुविमलं वनं गत्वा शिवाप्तये

yadā hi kālikā devī pārvatī himavatsutā tepe tapaḥ suvimalaṁ vanaṁ gatvā śivāptaye

When Kalika Devi, Parvati, daughter of Himavat, went to the forest and performed the purest austerity in order to win Shiva —

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.34.3)

तदा शिवः प्रसन्नोऽभूत्तस्याः सुतपसो मुने । तद्वृत्तसुपरीक्षार्थं वरं दातुं मुदा ययौ

tadā śivaḥ prasanno'bhūttasyāḥ sutapaso mune tadvṛttasuparīkṣārthaṁ varaṁ dātuṁ mudā yayau

— then, O sage, Shiva, pleased by her excellent austerity, went there gladly to grant a boon, so as to fully test her conduct.

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.34.4)

स्वरूपं दर्शयामास तस्यै सुप्रीतमानसः । वरं ब्रूहीति चोवाच तां शिवां शङ्करो मुने

svarūpaṁ darśayāmāsa tasyai suprītamānasaḥ varaṁ brūhīti covāca tāṁ śivāṁ śaṅkaro mune

With a heart full of love he revealed his own form to her, and Shankara said to that Shiva (Parvati), O sage, "Ask for a boon."

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.34.5)

तच्छ्रुत्वा शम्भुवचनं दृष्ट्वा तद्रूपमुत्तमम् । सुजहर्ष शिवातीव प्राह तं सुप्रणम्य सा

tacchrutvā śambhuvacanaṁ dṛṣṭvā tadrūpamuttamam sujaharṣa śivātīva prāha taṁ supraṇamya sā

Hearing Shambhu's words and beholding that supreme form, Shiva (Parvati) rejoiced greatly and, bowing low to him, spoke.

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.34.6)

पार्वत्युवाच । यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश मह्यं देयो वरो यदि । पतिर्भव ममेशान कृपां कुरु ममोपरि

pārvatyuvāca yadi prasanno deveśa mahyaṁ deyo varo yadi patirbhava mameśāna kṛpāṁ kuru mamopari

Parvati said: "If you are pleased, Lord of gods, and if a boon is indeed to be granted me, then become my husband, O Ishana — show your grace upon me."

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.34.7)

पितुर्गृहे मया सम्यग्गम्यते त्वदनुज्ञया । गन्तव्यं भवता नाथ मत्पितुः पार्श्वतः प्रभो

piturgṛhe mayā samyaggamyate tvadanujñayā gantavyaṁ bhavatā nātha matpituḥ pārśvataḥ prabho

"With your leave I shall duly go to my father's house; and you, O Lord and Master, must come there too, to my father's side."

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.34.8)

याचस्व मां ततो भिक्षुः ख्यापयंश्च यशः शुभम् । पितुर्मे सफलं सर्वं कुरु प्रीत्या गृहाश्रमम्

yācasva māṁ tato bhikṣuḥ khyāpayaṁśca yaśaḥ śubham piturme saphalaṁ sarvaṁ kuru prītyā gṛhāśramam

"Then, as a mendicant, ask for my hand, proclaiming your own auspicious renown; and lovingly make my father's whole householder's life fruitful."

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.34.9)

ततो यथोक्तविधिना कर्तुमर्हसि भो प्रभो । विवाहं त्वं महेशान देवानां कार्यसिद्धये

tato yathoktavidhinā kartumarhasi bho prabho vivāhaṁ tvaṁ maheśāna devānāṁ kāryasiddhaye

"After that, O Lord, O Mahesha, you should perform the marriage according to due rite, for the fulfillment of the gods' purpose."

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.34.10)

कामं मे पूरय विभो निर्विकारो भवान्सदा । भक्तवत्सलनामा हि तव भक्तास्म्यहं सदा

kāmaṁ me pūraya vibho nirvikāro bhavānsadā bhaktavatsalanāmā hi tava bhaktāsmyahaṁ sadā

"Fulfil my desire, O all-pervading Lord — you are ever changeless. Your very name is 'Cherisher of Devotees,' and I am ever your devotee."

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.34.11)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्तः स तया शम्भुर्महेशो भक्तवत्सलः । तथास्त्विति वचः प्रोच्यान्तर्हितः स्वगिरिं ययौ

nandīśvara uvāca ityuktaḥ sa tayā śambhurmaheśo bhaktavatsalaḥ tathāstviti vacaḥ procyāntarhitaḥ svagiriṁ yayau

Nandishvara said: Thus addressed by her, Shambhu Mahesha, the cherisher of devotees, said "So be it," and, vanishing from sight, went to his own mountain.

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.34.12)

पार्वत्यपि ततः प्रीत्या स्वसखीभ्यां समन्विता । जगाम स्वपितुर्गेहं रूपं कृत्वा तु सार्थकम्

pārvatyapi tataḥ prītyā svasakhībhyāṁ samanvitā jagāma svapiturgehaṁ rūpaṁ kṛtvā tu sārthakam

Parvati too, gladly, together with her two companions, then assumed a fitting form and went to her father's house.

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.34.13)

पार्वत्यागमनं श्रुत्वा मेनया स हिमाचलः । परिवारयुतो द्रष्टुं स्वसुतां तां ययौ मुदा

pārvatyāgamanaṁ śrutvā menayā sa himācalaḥ parivārayuto draṣṭuṁ svasutāṁ tāṁ yayau mudā

Hearing of Parvati's arrival, Himachala, together with Mena and his whole retinue, went joyfully to see his daughter.

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.34.14)

दृष्ट्वा तां सुप्रसन्नास्यामानयामासतुर्गृहम् । कारयामासतुः प्रीत्या महानन्दौ महोत्सवम्

dṛṣṭvā tāṁ suprasannāsyāmānayāmāsaturgṛham kārayāmāsatuḥ prītyā mahānandau mahotsavam

Seeing her, their faces alight with joy, they brought her home, and with love arranged a great and joyful festival.

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.34.15)

धनं ददौ द्विजादिभ्यो मेना गिरिवरस्तथा । मङ्गलं कारयामास सवेदध्वनिमादरात्

dhanaṁ dadau dvijādibhyo menā girivarastathā maṅgalaṁ kārayāmāsa savedadhvanimādarāt

Mena and the lord of mountains gave gifts of wealth to the brahmins and others, and reverently performed auspicious rites to the sound of Vedic chanting.

Verse 16 (shiva.shatarudra.34.16)

ततः स्वकन्यया सार्धमुवास प्राङ्गणे मुदा । मेना च हिमवाञ्छैलः स्नातुं गङ्गां जगाम सः

tataḥ svakanyayā sārdhamuvāsa prāṅgaṇe mudā menā ca himavāñchailaḥ snātuṁ gaṅgāṁ jagāma saḥ

Then he dwelt happily in the courtyard together with his daughter; and Himavat, that mountain, went with Mena to bathe in the Ganga.

Verse 17 (shiva.shatarudra.34.17)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शम्भुः सुलीलो भक्तवत्सलः । सुनर्तकनटो भूत्वा मेनकासन्निधिं ययौ

etasminnantare śambhuḥ sulīlo bhaktavatsalaḥ sunartakanaṭo bhūtvā menakāsannidhiṁ yayau

Meanwhile Shambhu, ever playful, the cherisher of devotees, became a skilled dancer and drew near to Menaka's presence.

Verse 18 (shiva.shatarudra.34.18)

शृङ्गं वामे करे धृत्वा दक्षिणे डमरुं तथा । पृष्ठे कन्थां रक्तवासा नृत्यगानविशारदः

śṛṅgaṁ vāme kare dhṛtvā dakṣiṇe ḍamaruṁ tathā pṛṣṭhe kanthāṁ raktavāsā nṛtyagānaviśāradaḥ

Holding a horn in his left hand and a damaru drum in his right, a patched cloak upon his back and clad in red — skilled in both dance and song.

Verse 19 (shiva.shatarudra.34.19)

ततस्तु नटरूपोऽसौ मेनकाप्राङ्गणे मुदा । चक्रे स नृत्यं विविधं गानं चाति मनोहरम्

tatastu naṭarūpo'sau menakāprāṅgaṇe mudā cakre sa nṛtyaṁ vividhaṁ gānaṁ cāti manoharam

Then, in that dancer's form, he joyfully performed, in Menaka's courtyard, many kinds of dance and most enchanting song.

Verse 20 (shiva.shatarudra.34.20)

शृङ्गञ्च डमरुं तत्र वादयामास सुध्वनिम् । महोतिं विविधां प्रीत्या स चकार मनोहराम्

śṛṅgañca ḍamaruṁ tatra vādayāmāsa sudhvanim mahotiṁ vividhāṁ prītyā sa cakāra manoharām

There he sounded the horn and the damaru with sweet resonance, and with love put on many kinds of enchanting entertainment.

Verse 21 (shiva.shatarudra.34.21)

तं द्रष्टुं नागराः सर्वे पुरुषाश्च स्त्रियस्तथा । आजग्मुः सहसा तत्र बाला वृद्धा अपि ध्रुवम्

taṁ draṣṭuṁ nāgarāḥ sarve puruṣāśca striyastathā ājagmuḥ sahasā tatra bālā vṛddhā api dhruvam

To see him, all the townspeople — men and women alike, even children and the aged — came there at once without fail.

Verse 22 (shiva.shatarudra.34.22)

श्रुत्वा सुगीतं तं दृष्ट्वा सुनृत्यं च मनोहरम् । सहसा मुमुहुः सर्वे मेनापि च तदा मुने

śrutvā sugītaṁ taṁ dṛṣṭvā sunṛtyaṁ ca manoharam sahasā mumuhuḥ sarve menāpi ca tadā mune

Hearing that sweet song and seeing that enchanting dance, all were at once spellbound — even Mena herself, O sage.

Verse 23 (shiva.shatarudra.34.23)

ततो मेनाशु रत्नानि स्वर्णपात्रस्थितानि च । तस्मै दातुं ययौ प्रीत्या तदूतिप्रीतमानसा

tato menāśu ratnāni svarṇapātrasthitāni ca tasmai dātuṁ yayau prītyā tadūtiprītamānasā

Then Mena, her heart delighted by his performance, quickly went to offer him, with love, jewels set in a golden vessel.

Verse 24 (shiva.shatarudra.34.24)

तानि न स्वीचकारासौ भिक्षां काङ्क्षे शिवां च ताम् । पुनः सुनृत्यं गानं च कौतुकात्कर्तुमुद्यतः

tāni na svīcakārāsau bhikṣāṁ kāṅkṣe śivāṁ ca tām punaḥ sunṛtyaṁ gānaṁ ca kautukātkartumudyataḥ

He did not accept them; he desired only alms — and that Shiva (Parvati) herself — and, out of sheer playfulness, made ready once more to dance and sing.

Verse 25 (shiva.shatarudra.34.25)

मेना तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा चुकोपाति सुविस्मिता । भिक्षुकं भर्त्सयामास बहिष्कर्तुमियेष सा

menā tadvacanaṁ śrutvā cukopāti suvismitā bhikṣukaṁ bhartsayāmāsa bahiṣkartumiyeṣa sā

Hearing his words, Mena, thoroughly astonished, grew furious; she rebuked the mendicant and resolved to have him turned out.

Verse 26 (shiva.shatarudra.34.26)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र गङ्गातो गिरिराड् ययौ । ददर्श पुरतो भिक्षुं प्राङ्गणस्थं नराकृतिम्

etasminnantare tatra gaṅgāto girirāḍ yayau dadarśa purato bhikṣuṁ prāṅgaṇasthaṁ narākṛtim

Meanwhile the King of Mountains arrived there from the Ganga, and saw before him, standing in the courtyard, the mendicant in human form.

Verse 27 (shiva.shatarudra.34.27)

श्रुत्वा मेनामुखाद् वृत्तं तत्सर्वं सुचुकोप सः । आज्ञां चकारानुचरान्बहिः कर्तुं च भिक्षुकम्

śrutvā menāmukhād vṛttaṁ tatsarvaṁ sucukopa saḥ ājñāṁ cakārānucarānbahiḥ kartuṁ ca bhikṣukam

Hearing the whole account from Mena's own lips, he too grew greatly angry, and ordered his attendants to drive the mendicant out.

Verse 28 (shiva.shatarudra.34.28)

महाग्निमिव दुःस्पर्शं प्रज्वलन्तं सुतेजसम् । न शशाक बहिः कर्तुं कोऽपि तं मुनिसत्तम

mahāgnimiva duḥsparśaṁ prajvalantaṁ sutejasam na śaśāka bahiḥ kartuṁ ko'pi taṁ munisattama

But blazing like a great fire, unbearable to touch, radiant with his own splendor, no one at all, O best of sages, was able to drive him out.

Verse 29 (shiva.shatarudra.34.29)

ततः स भिक्षुकस्तात नानालीलाविशारदः । दर्शयामास शैलाय स्वप्रभावमनन्तकम्

tataḥ sa bhikṣukastāta nānālīlāviśāradaḥ darśayāmāsa śailāya svaprabhāvamanantakam

Then that mendicant, dear one, skilled in manifold divine play, revealed to the mountain his own boundless power.

Verse 30 (shiva.shatarudra.34.30)

शैलो ददर्श तं तत्र विष्णुरूपधरं द्रुतम् । ततो ब्रह्मस्वरूपं च सूर्यरूपं ततः क्षणात्

śailo dadarśa taṁ tatra viṣṇurūpadharaṁ drutam tato brahmasvarūpaṁ ca sūryarūpaṁ tataḥ kṣaṇāt

The mountain then swiftly saw him bearing the form of Vishnu; then, in the very next moment, the form of Brahma, then the form of the Sun.

Verse 31 (shiva.shatarudra.34.31)

ततो ददर्श तं तात रुद्ररूपं महाद्भुतम् । पार्वतीसहितं रम्यं विहसन्तं सुतेजसम्

tato dadarśa taṁ tāta rudrarūpaṁ mahādbhutam pārvatīsahitaṁ ramyaṁ vihasantaṁ sutejasam

Then, dear one, he saw him in the most wondrous form of Rudra — radiant, laughing, beautiful — together with Parvati.

Verse 32 (shiva.shatarudra.34.32)

एवं सुबहुरूपाणि तस्य तत्र ददर्श सः । सुविस्मितो बभूवाशु परमानन्दसम्प्लुतः

evaṁ subahurūpāṇi tasya tatra dadarśa saḥ suvismito babhūvāśu paramānandasamplutaḥ

Thus he beheld there his very many forms, and at once, utterly astonished, was flooded with the highest bliss.

Verse 33 (shiva.shatarudra.34.33)

अथासौ भिक्षुवर्यो हि तस्मात्तस्याश्च सूतिकृत् । भिक्षां ययाचे दुर्गां तां नान्यज्जग्राह किञ्चन

athāsau bhikṣuvaryo hi tasmāttasyāśca sūtikṛt bhikṣāṁ yayāce durgāṁ tāṁ nānyajjagrāha kiñcana

Then that best of mendicants, the very source of creation, asked Durga alone for alms — he would accept nothing else whatsoever.

Verse 34 (shiva.shatarudra.34.34)

ततश्चान्तर्दधे भिक्षुस्वरूपः परमेश्वरः । स्वालयं स जगामाशु दुर्गावाक्यप्रणोदितः

tataścāntardadhe bhikṣusvarūpaḥ parameśvaraḥ svālayaṁ sa jagāmāśu durgāvākyapraṇoditaḥ

Then that Supreme Lord, in the mendicant's form, moved by Durga's own words, vanished from sight and swiftly returned to his own abode.

Verse 35 (shiva.shatarudra.34.35)

तदा बभूव सुज्ञानं मेनाशैलेशयोरपि । आवां शिवो वञ्चयित्वा गतवान्स्वालयं विभुः

tadā babhūva sujñānaṁ menāśaileśayorapi āvāṁ śivo vañcayitvā gatavānsvālayaṁ vibhuḥ

Then true understanding dawned on both Mena and the Lord of Mountains: "That all-pervading Shiva has deceived the two of us, and gone away to his own abode."

Verse 36 (shiva.shatarudra.34.36)

अस्मै देया स्वकन्येयं पार्वती सुतपस्विनी । एवं विचार्य च तयोः शिवे भक्तिरभूत्परा

asmai deyā svakanyeyaṁ pārvatī sutapasvinī evaṁ vicārya ca tayoḥ śive bhaktirabhūtparā

"This daughter of ours, Parvati of pure austerity, must be given to him" — so thinking, the highest devotion to Shiva arose in both of them.

Verse 37 (shiva.shatarudra.34.37)

अतो रुद्रो महोतीश्च कृत्वा भक्तमुदावहम् । विवाहं कृतवान्प्रीत्या पार्वत्या स विधानतः

ato rudro mahotīśca kṛtvā bhaktamudāvaham vivāhaṁ kṛtavānprītyā pārvatyā sa vidhānataḥ

Therefore Rudra, having thus filled his devotee's heart with joy, then, with love, duly performed his marriage with Parvati according to the prescribed rite.

Verse 38 (shiva.shatarudra.34.38)

इति प्रोक्तस्तु ते तात सुनर्तकनटाह्वयः । शिवावतारो हि मया शिवावाक्यप्रपूरकः

iti proktastu te tāta sunartakanaṭāhvayaḥ śivāvatāro hi mayā śivāvākyaprapūrakaḥ

"Thus, dear one, I have told you of this avatara of Shiva called Sunartaka-Nata, the Dancer, by which he fulfilled Shiva's (Parvati's) own request."

Verse 39 (shiva.shatarudra.34.39)

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."