The Story of Rishabha

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.4.1)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । सनत्कुमार सर्वज्ञ चरितं शाङ्करं मुदा । रुद्रेण कथितं प्रीत्या ब्रह्मणे सुखदं सदा

nandīśvara uvāca sanatkumāra sarvajña caritaṁ śāṅkaraṁ mudā rudreṇa kathitaṁ prītyā brahmaṇe sukhadaṁ sadā

Nandishvara said: O all-knowing Sanatkumara! The story of Shankara, ever a source of joy, which Rudra related to Brahma with delight and affection —

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.4.2)

शिव उवाच । सप्तमे चैव वाराहे कल्पे मन्वन्तराभिधे । कल्पेश्वरोऽथ भगवान्सर्वलोकप्रकाशनः

śiva uvāca saptame caiva vārāhe kalpe manvantarābhidhe kalpeśvaro’tha bhagavānsarvalokaprakāśanaḥ

Shiva said: In the seventh kalpa called Varaha, known by the name Manvantara, the Lord, ruler of that kalpa, illuminator of all the worlds —

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.4.3)

मनोर्वैवस्वतस्यैव ते प्रपुत्रो भविष्यति । तदा चतुर्युगाश्चैव तस्मिन्मन्वन्तरे विधे

manorvaivasvatasyaiva te praputro bhaviṣyati tadā caturyugāścaiva tasminmanvantare vidhe

O Vidhe (Brahma)! In that Manvantara I shall become the great-grandson of Vaivasvata Manu; and in that Manvantara there shall be the four Yugas.

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.4.4)

अनुग्रहार्थं लोकानां ब्राह्मणानां हिताय च । उत्पत्स्यामि विधे ब्रह्मन्द्वापराख्ययुगान्तिके

anugrahārthaṁ lokānāṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ hitāya ca utpatsyāmi vidhe brahmandvāparākhyayugāntike

O Brahman Vidhe! For the grace of the worlds and for the welfare of the Brahmanas, I shall be born at the end of the age called Dvapara.

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.4.5)

युगप्रवृत्त्या च तदा तस्मिंश्च प्रथमे युगे । द्वापरे प्रथमे ब्रह्मन्यदा व्यासः स्वयम्प्रभुः

yugapravṛttyā ca tadā tasmiṁśca prathame yuge dvāpare prathame brahmanyadā vyāsaḥ svayamprabhuḥ

And then, by the course of the ages, O Brahman, in that first Yuga, in the first Dvapara, when the self-effulgent Vyasa appears —

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.4.6)

तदाहं ब्राह्मणार्थाय कलौ तस्मिन्युगान्तिके । भविष्यामि शिवायुक्तः श्वेतो नाम महामुनिः

tadāhaṁ brāhmaṇārthāya kalau tasminyugāntike bhaviṣyāmi śivāyuktaḥ śveto nāma mahāmuniḥ

— then, for the sake of the Brahmanas, at the end of that age in the Kali portion, I shall become, endowed with the power of Shiva, a great sage named Shveta.

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.4.7)

हिमवच्छिखरे रम्ये छागले पर्वतोत्तमे । तदा शिष्याः शिखायुक्ता भविष्यन्ति विधे मम

himavacchikhare ramye chāgale parvatottame tadā śiṣyāḥ śikhāyuktā bhaviṣyanti vidhe mama

On the beautiful peak of the Himalayas, on the excellent mountain Chagala, O Vidhe, there my topknotted disciples shall be.

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.4.8)

श्वेतः श्वेतशिखश्चैव श्वेताश्वः श्वेतलोहितः । चत्वारो ध्यानयोगात्ते गमिष्यन्ति पुरं मम

śvetaḥ śvetaśikhaścaiva śvetāśvaḥ śvetalohitaḥ catvāro dhyānayogātte gamiṣyanti puraṁ mama

Shveta, Shvetashikha, Shvetashva and Shvetalohita — these four, through the yoga of meditation, will attain my abode.

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.4.9)

ततो भक्ता भविष्यन्ति ज्ञात्वा मां तत्त्वतोऽव्ययम् । जन्ममृत्युजराहीनाः परब्रह्मसमाधयः

tato bhaktā bhaviṣyanti jñātvā māṁ tattvato’vyayam janmamṛtyujarāhīnāḥ parabrahmasamādhayaḥ

Thereafter, knowing me in truth as the imperishable one, they will become devotees, free from birth, death and old age, absorbed in samadhi upon the Supreme Brahman.

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.4.10)

द्रष्टुं शक्यो नरैर्नाहमृते ध्यानात्पितामह । दानधर्मादिभिर्वत्स साधनैः कर्महेतुभिः

draṣṭuṁ śakyo narairnāhamṛte dhyānātpitāmaha dānadharmādibhirvatsa sādhanaiḥ karmahetubhiḥ

O grandsire, I cannot be seen by men except through meditation; O child, nor through charity, righteous conduct, and other action-based means.

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.4.11)

द्वितीये द्वापरे व्यासः सत्यो नाम प्रजापतिः । यदा तदा भविष्यामि सुतारो नामतः कलौ

dvitīye dvāpare vyāsaḥ satyo nāma prajāpatiḥ yadā tadā bhaviṣyāmi sutāro nāmataḥ kalau

In the second Dvapara, when the Vyasa will be the Prajapati named Satya, then in that Kali I shall be born by the name Sutara.

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.4.12)

तत्रापि मे भविष्यन्ति शिष्या वेदविदो द्विजाः । दुन्दुभिः शतरूपश्च हृषीकः केतुमांस्तथा

tatrāpi me bhaviṣyanti śiṣyā vedavido dvijāḥ dundubhiḥ śatarūpaśca hṛṣīkaḥ ketumāṁstathā

There too, Veda-knowing brahmins shall be my disciples — Dundubhi, Shatarupa, Hrishika, and Ketuman.

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.4.13)

चत्वारो ध्यानयोगात्ते गमिष्यन्ति पुरं मम । ततो मुक्ता भविष्यन्ति ज्ञात्वा मां तत्त्वतोऽव्ययम्

catvāro dhyānayogātte gamiṣyanti puraṁ mama tato muktā bhaviṣyanti jñātvā māṁ tattvato’vyayam

These four, through the yoga of meditation, will attain my abode; thereafter, knowing me in truth as the imperishable, they will be liberated.

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.4.14)

तृतीये द्वापरे चैव यदा व्यासस्तु भार्गवः । तदाप्यहं भविष्यामि दमनस्तु युगान्तिके

tṛtīye dvāpare caiva yadā vyāsastu bhārgavaḥ tadāpyahaṁ bhaviṣyāmi damanastu yugāntike

In the third Dvapara, when the Vyasa will be a descendant of Bhrigu, then, at the end of that age, I shall become one named Damana.

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.4.15)

तत्रापि च भविष्यन्ति चत्वारो मम पुत्रकाः । विशोकश्च विशेषश्च विपापः पापनाशनः

tatrāpi ca bhaviṣyanti catvāro mama putrakāḥ viśokaśca viśeṣaśca vipāpaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ

There too, I shall have four sons — Vishoka, Vishesha, Vipapa, and Papanashana.

Verse 16 (shiva.shatarudra.4.16)

शिष्यैः साहायं व्यासस्य करिष्ये चतुरानन । निवृत्तिमार्गं सुदृढं वर्त्तयिष्ये कलाविह

śiṣyaiḥ sāhāyaṁ vyāsasya kariṣye caturānana nivṛttimārgaṁ sudṛḍhaṁ varttayiṣye kalāviha

O four-faced one! With my disciples I shall assist the Vyasa, and in this Kali age I shall firmly establish the path of Nivritti (renunciation).

Verse 17 (shiva.shatarudra.4.17)

चतुर्थे द्वापरे चैव यदा व्यासोंऽगिरा स्मृतः । तदाप्यहं भविष्यामि सुहोत्रो नाम नामतः

caturthe dvāpare caiva yadā vyāsoṁ’girā smṛtaḥ tadāpyahaṁ bhaviṣyāmi suhotro nāma nāmataḥ

In the fourth Dvapara, when the Vyasa is remembered as Angira, then I shall become one named Suhotra.

Verse 18 (shiva.shatarudra.4.18)

तत्रापि मम ते पुत्राश्चत्वारो योगसाधकाः । भविष्यन्ति महात्मानस्तन्नामानि ब्रुवे विधे

tatrāpi mama te putrāścatvāro yogasādhakāḥ bhaviṣyanti mahātmānastannāmāni bruve vidhe

There too, I shall have four sons, great-souled practitioners of yoga; O Vidhe, I shall tell you their names.

Verse 19 (shiva.shatarudra.4.19)

सुमुखो दुर्मुखश्चैव दुर्दमो दुरतिक्रमः । शिष्यैः साहायं व्यासस्य करिष्येऽहं तदा विधे

sumukho durmukhaścaiva durdamo duratikramaḥ śiṣyaiḥ sāhāyaṁ vyāsasya kariṣye’haṁ tadā vidhe

Sumukha, Durmukha, Durdama and Duratikrama — O Vidhe, then with my disciples I shall assist the Vyasa.

Verse 20 (shiva.shatarudra.4.20)

पञ्चमे द्वापरे चैव व्यासस्तु सविता स्मृतः । तदा योगी भविष्यामि कङ्को नाम महातपाः

pañcame dvāpare caiva vyāsastu savitā smṛtaḥ tadā yogī bhaviṣyāmi kaṅko nāma mahātapāḥ

In the fifth Dvapara the Vyasa is remembered as Savita; then I shall become a yogi of great austerity named Kanka.

Verse 21 (shiva.shatarudra.4.21)

तत्रापि मम ते पुत्राश्चत्वारो योगसाधकाः । भविष्यन्ति महात्मानस्तन्नामानि शृणुष्व मे

tatrāpi mama te putrāścatvāro yogasādhakāḥ bhaviṣyanti mahātmānastannāmāni śṛṇuṣva me

There too, I shall have four great-souled sons, practitioners of yoga; hear their names from me.

Verse 22 (shiva.shatarudra.4.22)

सनकः सनातनश्चैव प्रभुर्यश्च सनन्दनः । विभुः सनत्कुमारश्च निर्मलो निरहङ्कृतिः

sanakaḥ sanātanaścaiva prabhuryaśca sanandanaḥ vibhuḥ sanatkumāraśca nirmalo nirahaṅkṛtiḥ

Sanaka, Sanatana, and the glorious lord Sanandana, and the mighty Sanatkumara — stainless and free of ego.

Verse 23 (shiva.shatarudra.4.23)

तत्रापि कङ्कनामाहं साहाय्यं सवितुर्विधे । व्यासस्य हि करिष्यामि निवृत्तिपथवर्द्धकः

tatrāpi kaṅkanāmāhaṁ sāhāyyaṁ saviturvidhe vyāsasya hi kariṣyāmi nivṛttipathavarddhakaḥ

There too, O Vidhe, under the name Kanka, I shall assist the Vyasa Savita and further the path of Nivritti.

Verse 24 (shiva.shatarudra.4.24)

परिवर्त्ते पुनः षष्ठे द्वापरे लोककारकः । कर्ता वेदविभागस्य मृत्युर्व्यासो भविष्यति

parivartte punaḥ ṣaṣṭhe dvāpare lokakārakaḥ kartā vedavibhāgasya mṛtyurvyāso bhaviṣyati

Again, in the sixth cycle, the Vyasa who is the maker of the worlds and the divider of the Vedas will be named Mrityu.

Verse 25 (shiva.shatarudra.4.25)

तदाऽप्यहं भविष्यामि लोकाक्षिर्नाम नामतः । व्यासस्य सुसहायार्थं निवृत्तिपथवर्द्धनः

tadā’pyahaṁ bhaviṣyāmi lokākṣirnāma nāmataḥ vyāsasya susahāyārthaṁ nivṛttipathavarddhanaḥ

Then too I shall be born under the name Lokakshi, for the good assistance of the Vyasa, and as a furtherer of the path of Nivritti.

Verse 26 (shiva.shatarudra.4.26)

तत्रापि शिष्याश्चत्वारो भविष्यन्ति दृढव्रताः । सुधामा विरजाश्चैव सञ्जयो विजयस्तथा

tatrāpi śiṣyāścatvāro bhaviṣyanti dṛḍhavratāḥ sudhāmā virajāścaiva sañjayo vijayastathā

There too, four disciples of firm vows will be there — Sudhama, Viraja, Sanjaya, and Vijaya.

Verse 27 (shiva.shatarudra.4.27)

सप्तमे परिवर्त्ते तु यदा व्यासः शतक्रतुः । तदाप्यहं भविष्यामि जैगीषव्यो विभुर्विधे

saptame parivartte tu yadā vyāsaḥ śatakratuḥ tadāpyahaṁ bhaviṣyāmi jaigīṣavyo vibhurvidhe

In the seventh cycle, when the Vyasa will be Shatakratu, then, O Vidhe, I shall become the mighty one named Jaigishavya.

Verse 28 (shiva.shatarudra.4.28)

योगं सन्द्रढयिष्यामि महायोगविचक्षणः । काश्यां गुहान्तरे संस्थो दिव्यदेशे कुशास्तरिः

yogaṁ sandraḍhayiṣyāmi mahāyogavicakṣaṇaḥ kāśyāṁ guhāntare saṁstho divyadeśe kuśāstariḥ

Skilled in the great yoga, I shall firmly establish the practice of yoga, seated within a cave at Kashi, in a divine place, upon a seat of kusha grass.

Verse 29 (shiva.shatarudra.4.29)

साहाय्यं च करिष्यामि व्यासस्य हि शतक्रतोः । उद्धरिष्यामि भक्तांश्च संसारभयतो विधे

sāhāyyaṁ ca kariṣyāmi vyāsasya hi śatakratoḥ uddhariṣyāmi bhaktāṁśca saṁsārabhayato vidhe

And I shall assist the Vyasa Shatakratu, and, O Vidhe, I shall deliver my devotees from the fear of worldly existence.

Verse 30 (shiva.shatarudra.4.30)

तत्रापि मम चत्वारो भविष्यन्ति सुता युगे । सारस्वतश्च योगीशो मेघवाहः सुवाहनः

tatrāpi mama catvāro bhaviṣyanti sutā yuge sārasvataśca yogīśo meghavāhaḥ suvāhanaḥ

In that age too I shall have four sons — Sarasvata, Yogisha, Meghavaha and Suvahana.

Verse 31 (shiva.shatarudra.4.31)

अष्टमे परिवर्त्ते हि वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः । कर्त्ता वेदविभागस्य वेदव्यासो भविष्यति

aṣṭame parivartte hi vasiṣṭho munisattamaḥ karttā vedavibhāgasya vedavyāso bhaviṣyati

In the eighth cycle, the best of sages Vasishtha himself will become the Veda-Vyasa, the divider of the Vedas.

Verse 32 (shiva.shatarudra.4.32)

तत्राप्यहं भविष्यामि नामतो दधिवाहनः । व्यासस्य हि करिष्यामि साहाय्यं योगवित्तम

tatrāpyahaṁ bhaviṣyāmi nāmato dadhivāhanaḥ vyāsasya hi kariṣyāmi sāhāyyaṁ yogavittama

There too I shall be born under the name Dadhivahana; O most excellent knower of yoga, I shall render assistance to the Vyasa.

Verse 33 (shiva.shatarudra.4.33)

कपिलश्चासुरिः पञ्चशिखः शाल्वलपूर्वकः । चत्वारो योगिनः पुत्रा भविष्यन्ति समा मम

kapilaścāsuriḥ pañcaśikhaḥ śālvalapūrvakaḥ catvāro yoginaḥ putrā bhaviṣyanti samā mama

Kapila, Asuri, Panchashikha and Shalvalapurvaka — these four yogis, equal to me, shall be my sons.

Verse 34 (shiva.shatarudra.4.34)

नवमे परिवर्त्ते तु तस्मिन्नेव युगे विधे । भविष्यति मुनिश्रेष्ठो व्यासः सारस्वताह्वयः

navame parivartte tu tasminneva yuge vidhe bhaviṣyati muniśreṣṭho vyāsaḥ sārasvatāhvayaḥ

In the ninth cycle, in that same age, O Vidhe, the best of sages, the Vyasa named Sarasvata, will appear.

Verse 35 (shiva.shatarudra.4.35)

व्यासस्य ध्यायतस्तस्य निवृत्तिपथवृद्धये । तदाप्यहं भविष्यामि ऋषभो नामतः स्मृतः

vyāsasya dhyāyatastasya nivṛttipathavṛddhaye tadāpyahaṁ bhaviṣyāmi ṛṣabho nāmataḥ smṛtaḥ

For the increase of the path of Nivritti in that meditating Vyasa, then I shall be born, remembered by the name Rishabha.

Verse 36 (shiva.shatarudra.4.36)

पराशरश्च गर्गश्च भार्गवो गिरिशस्तथा । चत्वारस्तत्र शिष्या मे भविष्यन्ति सुयोगिनः

parāśaraśca gargaśca bhārgavo giriśastathā catvārastatra śiṣyā me bhaviṣyanti suyoginaḥ

Parashara, Garga, Bhargava and Girisha — these four excellent yogis shall there be my disciples.

Verse 37 (shiva.shatarudra.4.37)

तैः साकं द्रढयिष्यामि योगमार्गं प्रजापते । करिष्यामि सहायं वै वेदव्यासस्य सन्मुने

taiḥ sākaṁ draḍhayiṣyāmi yogamārgaṁ prajāpate kariṣyāmi sahāyaṁ vai vedavyāsasya sanmune

O Prajapati! Along with them, I shall consolidate the path of yoga; O good sage, I shall give assistance to Veda-Vyasa.

Verse 38 (shiva.shatarudra.4.38)

तेन रूपेण भक्तानां बहूनां दुःखिनां विधे । उद्धारं भवतोऽहं वै करिष्यामि दयाकरः

tena rūpeṇa bhaktānāṁ bahūnāṁ duḥkhināṁ vidhe uddhāraṁ bhavato’haṁ vai kariṣyāmi dayākaraḥ

O Vidhe! In that form, compassionate, I shall deliver from worldly existence the many sorrowing devotees.

Verse 39 (shiva.shatarudra.4.39)

सोऽवतारो विधे मे हि ऋषभाख्यः सुयोगकृत् । सारस्वतव्यासमनःकर्त्ता नानोतिकारकः

so’vatāro vidhe me hi ṛṣabhākhyaḥ suyogakṛt sārasvatavyāsamanaḥkarttā nānotikārakaḥ

O Vidhe! That incarnation of mine called Rishabha is the accomplisher of true yoga, the one who composes the mind of the Vyasa Sarasvata, and the doer of manifold benefit.

Verse 40 (shiva.shatarudra.4.40)

अवतारेण मे येन भद्रायुर्नृपबालकः । जीवितो हि मृतः क्ष्वेडदोषतो जनकोज्झितः

avatāreṇa me yena bhadrāyurnṛpabālakaḥ jīvito hi mṛtaḥ kṣveḍadoṣato janakojjhitaḥ

By this very incarnation, the royal child Bhadrayu, who had died from the venom of poison and had been abandoned by his father, was restored to life.

Verse 41 (shiva.shatarudra.4.41)

प्राप्तेऽथ षोडशे वर्षे तस्य राजशिशोः पुनः । ययौ तद्वेश्म सहसा ऋषभः स मदात्मकः

prāpte’tha ṣoḍaśe varṣe tasya rājaśiśoḥ punaḥ yayau tadveśma sahasā ṛṣabhaḥ sa madātmakaḥ

When that royal child reached his sixteenth year, Rishabha, who is myself in essence, again suddenly went to his house.

Verse 42 (shiva.shatarudra.4.42)

पूजितस्तेन स मुनिः सद्रूपश्च कृपानिधिः । उपादिदेश तद्धर्मान् राजयोगान्प्रजापते

pūjitastena sa muniḥ sadrūpaśca kṛpānidhiḥ upādideśa taddharmān rājayogānprajāpate

O Prajapati! Being worshipped by him, that sage, of true form, the treasury of compassion, taught him the duties of a king and the royal yoga.

Verse 43 (shiva.shatarudra.4.43)

ततः स कवचं दिव्यं शङ्खं खङ्गं च भास्वरम् । ददौ तस्मै प्रसन्नात्मा सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम्

tataḥ sa kavacaṁ divyaṁ śaṅkhaṁ khaṅgaṁ ca bhāsvaram dadau tasmai prasannātmā sarvaśatruvināśanam

Then, with a pleased mind, he gave him a divine armor, a conch, and a shining sword, destroyer of all enemies.

Verse 44 (shiva.shatarudra.4.44)

तदङ्ग भस्मनामृश्य कृपया दीनवत्सलः । स द्वादशसहस्रस्य गजानां च बलं ददौ

tadaṅga bhasmanāmṛśya kṛpayā dīnavatsalaḥ sa dvādaśasahasrasya gajānāṁ ca balaṁ dadau

The one who loves the humble, touching his limbs with sacred ash out of compassion, gave him the strength of twelve thousand elephants.

Verse 45 (shiva.shatarudra.4.45)

इति भद्रायुषं सम्यगनुश्वास्य समातृकम् । ययौ स्वैरगतिस्ताभ्यां पूजितस्त्वृषभः प्रभुः

iti bhadrāyuṣaṁ samyaganuśvāsya samātṛkam yayau svairagatistābhyāṁ pūjitastvṛṣabhaḥ prabhuḥ

Thus, having properly reassured Bhadrayu together with his mother, Lord Rishabha, worshipped by both of them, departed at his own will.

Verse 46 (shiva.shatarudra.4.46)

भद्रायुरपि राजर्षिर्जित्वा रिपुगणान्विधे । राज्यं चकार धर्मेण विवाह्य कीर्त्तिमालिनीम्

bhadrāyurapi rājarṣirjitvā ripugaṇānvidhe rājyaṁ cakāra dharmeṇa vivāhya kīrttimālinīm

O Vidhe! Bhadrayu too, becoming a royal sage, conquering his host of enemies, and marrying Kirtimalini, ruled his kingdom righteously.

Verse 47 (shiva.shatarudra.4.47)

इत्थम्प्रभावं ऋषभोऽवतारः शङ्करस्य मे । सतां गतिर्दीनबन्धुर्नवमः कथितस्तव

itthamprabhāvaṁ ṛṣabho’vatāraḥ śaṅkarasya me satāṁ gatirdīnabandhurnavamaḥ kathitastava

Thus has this powerful incarnation of Shankara, myself, named Rishabha — the refuge of the virtuous and the friend of the humble — been told to you as the ninth.

Verse 48 (shiva.shatarudra.4.48)

ऋषभस्य चरित्रं हि परमं पावनं महत् । स्वर्ग्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं श्रोतव्यं च प्रयत्नतः

ṛṣabhasya caritraṁ hi paramaṁ pāvanaṁ mahat svargyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ śrotavyaṁ ca prayatnataḥ

This life-story of Rishabha is supremely purifying, great, conducive to heaven, fame, and long life, and worthy of being heard with diligence.