The Incarnation of Nandikesha

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.6.1)

अथ नन्दीश्वरावतारमाह । सनत्कुमार उवाच । भवान्कथमनुप्राप्तो महादेवांशजः शिवम् । श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्सर्वं वक्तुमर्हसि मे प्रभो

atha nandīśvarāvatāramāha sanatkumāra uvāca bhavānkathamanuprāpto mahādevāṁśajaḥ śivam śrotumicchāmi tatsarvaṁ vaktumarhasi me prabho

Now Shiva tells of Nandishvara's incarnation. Sanatkumara said: How did you, born from a portion of Mahadeva, attain to Shiva? O Lord, I wish to hear all of that; you are worthy to tell me.

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.6.2)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । सनत्कुमार सर्वज्ञ सावधानतया शृणु । यथाऽहं च शिवं प्राप्तो महादेवांशजो मुने

nandīśvara uvāca sanatkumāra sarvajña sāvadhānatayā śṛṇu yathā’haṁ ca śivaṁ prāpto mahādevāṁśajo mune

Nandishvara said: O all-knowing Sanatkumara, listen attentively, O sage, to how I, born of a portion of Mahadeva, attained to Shiva.

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.6.3)

प्रजाकामः शिलादोऽभूदुक्तः पितृभिरादरात् । तदुद्धर्तुमना भक्त्या समुद्धारमभीप्सुभिः

prajākāmaḥ śilādo’bhūduktaḥ pitṛbhirādarāt taduddhartumanā bhaktyā samuddhāramabhīpsubhiḥ

Shilada, desirous of offspring, was addressed with reverence by his ancestors (Pitris), who, out of devotion, wished for his deliverance and sought to raise him up.

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.6.4)

अधोदृष्टिः सुधर्मात्मा शिलादो नाम वीर्यवान् । तस्यासीन्मुनिकैर्वृत्तिः शिवलोके च सोऽगमत्

adhodṛṣṭiḥ sudharmātmā śilādo nāma vīryavān tasyāsīnmunikairvṛttiḥ śivaloke ca so’gamat

There was a sage named Shilada, of downcast gaze, of righteous soul and mighty — his livelihood was that of the sages, and he went to the world of Shiva.

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.6.5)

शक्रमुद्दिश्य स मुनिस्तपस्तेपे सुदुःसहम् । निश्चलात्मा शिलादाख्यो बहुकालं दृढव्रतः

śakramuddiśya sa munistapastepe suduḥsaham niścalātmā śilādākhyo bahukālaṁ dṛḍhavrataḥ

That sage named Shilada, with a steadfast mind and firm vows, performed extremely difficult austerity for a long time, directed toward Indra (Shakra).

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.6.6)

तपतस्तस्य तपसा सन्तुष्टोऽभूच्छतक्रतुः । जगाम च वरं दातुं सर्वदेवप्रभुस्तदा

tapatastasya tapasā santuṣṭo’bhūcchatakratuḥ jagāma ca varaṁ dātuṁ sarvadevaprabhustadā

Pleased by his austerity, Shatakratu (Indra), the lord of all the gods, then went there to grant him a boon.

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.6.7)

शिलादमाह सुप्रीत्या शक्रस्तुष्टोऽस्मि तेऽनघ । तेन त्वं मुनिशार्दूल वरयस्व वरानिति

śilādamāha suprītyā śakrastuṣṭo’smi te’nagha tena tvaṁ muniśārdūla varayasva varāniti

Shakra said to Shilada with great affection: "I am pleased with you, O sinless one; therefore, O tiger among sages, choose your boons."

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.6.8)

ततः प्रणम्य देवेशं स्तुत्वा स्तुतिभिरादरात् । शिलादो मुनिशार्दूलस्तमाह सुकृताञ्जलिः

tataḥ praṇamya deveśaṁ stutvā stutibhirādarāt śilādo muniśārdūlastamāha sukṛtāñjaliḥ

Then, bowing to the Lord of gods and praising him with reverent hymns, the tiger among sages, Shilada, with respectfully folded hands, spoke to him.

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.6.9)

शिलाद उवाच । शतक्रतो सुरेशान सन्तुष्टो यदि मे प्रभो । अयोनिजं मुत्युहीनं पुत्रमिच्छामि सुव्रतम्

śilāda uvāca śatakrato sureśāna santuṣṭo yadi me prabho ayonijaṁ mutyuhīnaṁ putramicchāmi suvratam

Shilada said: O Shatakratu, lord of the gods, O Lord! If you are pleased with me, I desire a son not born of a womb, free from death, and of good vows.

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.6.10)

शक्र उवाच । पुत्रं दास्यामि पुत्रार्थिन्योनिजं मृत्युसंयुतम् । अन्यथा ते न दास्यामि मृत्युहीना न सन्ति वै

śakra uvāca putraṁ dāsyāmi putrārthinyonijaṁ mṛtyusaṁyutam anyathā te na dāsyāmi mṛtyuhīnā na santi vai

Shakra said: O seeker of a son, I can give you a womb-born son subject to death; otherwise I cannot give you one, for there exists none free from death.

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.6.11)

न दास्यामि सुतं तेऽहं मृत्युहीनमयोनिजम् । हरिर्विधिश्च भगवान्किमुतान्यो महामुने

na dāsyāmi sutaṁ te’haṁ mṛtyuhīnamayonijam harirvidhiśca bhagavānkimutānyo mahāmune

I cannot give you a son who is deathless and unborn of a womb; neither can Hari nor the Lord Brahma — how then, O great sage, could any other?

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.6.12)

तावपि त्रिपुरार्यङ्गसम्भवौ मरणान्वितौ । तयोरप्यायुषां मानं कथितं निगमे पृथक्

tāvapi tripurāryaṅgasambhavau maraṇānvitau tayorapyāyuṣāṁ mānaṁ kathitaṁ nigame pṛthak

Even those two (Hari and Vidhi) arose from the body of Tripurari (Shiva) and are subject to death; even their respective spans of life are separately declared in the scriptures.

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.6.13)

तस्मादयोनिजे पुत्रे मृत्युहीने प्रयत्नतः । परित्यजाशां विप्रेन्द्र गृहाणात्मक्षमं सुतम्

tasmādayonije putre mṛtyuhīne prayatnataḥ parityajāśāṁ viprendra gṛhāṇātmakṣamaṁ sutam

Therefore, O best of Brahmanas, wholly abandon your hope for a son who is unborn of a womb and deathless; accept instead a son suited to your capacity.

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.6.14)

किन्तु देवेश्वरो रुद्रः प्रसीदति महेश्वरः । सुदुर्लभो मृत्युहीनस्तव पुत्रो ह्ययोनिजः

kintu deveśvaro rudraḥ prasīdati maheśvaraḥ sudurlabho mṛtyuhīnastava putro hyayonijaḥ

But if the Lord of gods, Rudra Maheshvara, becomes pleased, then you may obtain that most rare son — deathless and unborn of a womb.

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.6.15)

अहं च विष्णुर्भगवान् द्रुहिणश्च महामुने । अयोनिजं मृत्युहीनं पुत्रं दातुं न शक्नुमः

ahaṁ ca viṣṇurbhagavān druhiṇaśca mahāmune ayonijaṁ mṛtyuhīnaṁ putraṁ dātuṁ na śaknumaḥ

O great sage, neither I, nor the Lord Vishnu, nor Brahma are able to grant a son who is unborn of a womb and free from death.

Verse 16 (shiva.shatarudra.6.16)

आराधय महादेवं तत्पुत्रविनिकाम्यया । सर्वेश्वरो महाशक्तः स ते पुत्रं प्रदास्यति

ārādhaya mahādevaṁ tatputravinikāmyayā sarveśvaro mahāśaktaḥ sa te putraṁ pradāsyati

Worship Mahadeva with the desire for that son; he, the lord of all, of supreme power, will grant you the son.

Verse 17 (shiva.shatarudra.6.17)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवं व्याहृत्य विप्रेन्द्रमनुगृह्य च तं घृणी । देवैर्वृतः सुरेशानः स्वलोकं समगान्मुने

nandīśvara uvāca evaṁ vyāhṛtya viprendramanugṛhya ca taṁ ghṛṇī devairvṛtaḥ sureśānaḥ svalokaṁ samagānmune

Nandishvara said: Having spoken thus, O sage, the compassionate lord of the gods, having shown grace upon that best of Brahmanas, surrounded by the gods, departed to his own realm.

Verse 18 (shiva.shatarudra.6.18)

गते तस्मिंश्च वरदे सहस्राक्षे शिलाशनः । आराधयन्महादेवं तपसाऽतोषयद्भवम्

gate tasmiṁśca varade sahasrākṣe śilāśanaḥ ārādhayanmahādevaṁ tapasā’toṣayadbhavam

When that boon-giving thousand-eyed one (Indra) had departed, Shilashana (Shilada), worshipping Mahadeva, sought through austerity to please Bhava.

Verse 19 (shiva.shatarudra.6.19)

अथ तस्यैवमनिशं तत्परस्य द्विजस्त वै । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु गतं क्षणमिवाद्भुतम्

atha tasyaivamaniśaṁ tatparasya dvijasta vai divyaṁ varṣasahasraṁ tu gataṁ kṣaṇamivādbhutam

Thus, for that Brahmana ceaselessly devoted, a divine thousand years passed wondrously as if a mere moment.

Verse 20 (shiva.shatarudra.6.20)

वल्मीकेन वृताङ्गश्च लक्षकोटगणैर्मुनिः । वज्रसूचीमुखैश्चान्यै रक्तभुग्भिश्च सर्वतः

valmīkena vṛtāṅgaśca lakṣakoṭagaṇairmuniḥ vajrasūcīmukhaiścānyai raktabhugbhiśca sarvataḥ

The sage became covered by an anthill, and was surrounded on all sides by countless myriads of blood-sucking insects with needle-sharp mouths.

Verse 21 (shiva.shatarudra.6.21)

निर्मांसरुधिरत्वग्वै बिले तस्मिन्नवस्थितः । अस्थिशेषोऽभवत्पश्चाच्छिलादो मुनिसत्तमः

nirmāṁsarudhiratvagvai bile tasminnavasthitaḥ asthiśeṣo’bhavatpaścācchilādo munisattamaḥ

Situated within that mound, stripped of flesh, blood, and skin, that best of sages, Shilada, at last remained only as bones.

Verse 22 (shiva.shatarudra.6.22)

तुष्टः प्रभुस्तदा तस्मै दर्शयामास स्वां तनुम् । दिव्यां दिव्यगुणैर्युक्तामलभ्यां वामबुद्धिभिः

tuṣṭaḥ prabhustadā tasmai darśayāmāsa svāṁ tanum divyāṁ divyaguṇairyuktāmalabhyāṁ vāmabuddhibhiḥ

Then the pleased Lord showed him his own divine form, endowed with divine qualities, unattainable to those of perverse understanding.

Verse 23 (shiva.shatarudra.6.23)

दिव्यवर्षसहस्रेण तप्यमानाय शूलधृक् । सर्वदेवाधिपस्तस्मै वरदोऽस्मीत्यभाषत

divyavarṣasahasreṇa tapyamānāya śūladhṛk sarvadevādhipastasmai varado’smītyabhāṣata

To him who had performed austerity through a thousand divine years, the trident-bearer, lord of all gods, said, "I am the giver of boons."

Verse 24 (shiva.shatarudra.6.24)

महासमाधिसंलीनः स शिलादो महामुनिः । नाशृणोत्तद्गिरं शम्भोर्भक्त्यधीनतरस्य वै

mahāsamādhisaṁlīnaḥ sa śilādo mahāmuniḥ nāśṛṇottadgiraṁ śambhorbhaktyadhīnatarasya vai

That great sage Shilada, absorbed in deep samadhi, being wholly given over to devotion, did not hear that speech of Shambhu.

Verse 25 (shiva.shatarudra.6.25)

यदा स्पृष्टो मुनिस्तेन करेण त्रिपुरारिणा । तदैव मुनिशार्दूल उत्ससर्ज तपःक्रमम्

yadā spṛṣṭo munistena kareṇa tripurāriṇā tadaiva muniśārdūla utsasarja tapaḥkramam

When Tripurari touched the sage with his hand, only then did the tiger among sages abandon his course of austerity.

Verse 26 (shiva.shatarudra.6.26)

अथोन्मील्य मुनिर्नेत्रे सोमं शम्भुं विलोकयन् । द्रुतं प्रणम्य समुदा पादयोर्न्यपतन्मुने

athonmīlya munirnetre somaṁ śambhuṁ vilokayan drutaṁ praṇamya samudā pādayornyapatanmune

Then, opening his eyes, the sage, beholding Soma-Shambhu, quickly bowed with joy and fell at his feet, O sage.

Verse 27 (shiva.shatarudra.6.27)

हर्षगद्गदया वाचा नतस्कन्धः कृताञ्जलिः । प्रसन्नात्मा शिलादः स तुष्टाव परमेश्वरम्

harṣagadgadayā vācā nataskandhaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ prasannātmā śilādaḥ sa tuṣṭāva parameśvaram

With a voice choked with joy, shoulders bowed, hands folded, that Shilada, with a joyful heart, praised the Supreme Lord.

Verse 28 (shiva.shatarudra.6.28)

ततः प्रसन्नो भगवान्देवदेवस्त्रिलोचनः । वरदोऽस्मीति तं प्राह शिलादं मुनिपुङ्गवम्

tataḥ prasanno bhagavāndevadevastrilocanaḥ varado’smīti taṁ prāha śilādaṁ munipuṅgavam

Then the pleased Lord, the God of gods, three-eyed one, said to that foremost of sages, Shilada: "I am the giver of boons."

Verse 29 (shiva.shatarudra.6.29)

तपसानेन किं कार्यं भवते हि महामते । ददामि पुत्रं सर्वज्ञं सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगम्

tapasānena kiṁ kāryaṁ bhavate hi mahāmate dadāmi putraṁ sarvajñaṁ sarvaśāstrārthapāragam

O great-minded one, what is the purpose of this austerity for you? I grant you a son who is omniscient, versed in the meaning of all the scriptures.

Verse 30 (shiva.shatarudra.6.30)

ततः प्रणम्य देवेशं तच्छ्रुत्वा च शिलाशनः । हर्षगद्गदया वाचोवाच सोमविभूषणम्

tataḥ praṇamya deveśaṁ tacchrutvā ca śilāśanaḥ harṣagadgadayā vācovāca somavibhūṣaṇam

Then, bowing to the Lord of gods and hearing this, Shilashana spoke, in a voice choked with joy, to him who is adorned with the crescent moon.

Verse 31 (shiva.shatarudra.6.31)

शिलाद उवाच । महेश यदि तुष्टोऽसि यदि वा वरदश्च मे । इच्छामि त्वत्समं पुत्रं मृत्युहीनमयोनिजम्

śilāda uvāca maheśa yadi tuṣṭo’si yadi vā varadaśca me icchāmi tvatsamaṁ putraṁ mṛtyuhīnamayonijam

Shilada said: O Mahesha, if you are pleased with me, or if you would grant me a boon, I desire a son equal to you — deathless and unborn of a womb.

Verse 32 (shiva.shatarudra.6.32)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवमुक्तस्ततो देवस्त्र्यम्बकस्तेन शङ्करः । प्रत्युवाच प्रसन्नात्मा शिलादं मुनिसत्तमम्

nandīśvara uvāca evamuktastato devastryambakastena śaṅkaraḥ pratyuvāca prasannātmā śilādaṁ munisattamam

Nandishvara said: Thus addressed, the three-eyed God Shankara, with a pleased heart, replied to that best of sages, Shilada.

Verse 33 (shiva.shatarudra.6.33)

शिव उवाच । पूर्वमाराधितो विप्र ब्रह्मणाऽहं तपोधन । तपसा चावतारार्थं मुनिभिश्च सुरोत्तमैः

śiva uvāca pūrvamārādhito vipra brahmaṇā’haṁ tapodhana tapasā cāvatārārthaṁ munibhiśca surottamaiḥ

Shiva said: O Brahmana rich in austerity! In former times I was worshipped through austerity by Brahma, and also by sages and the best of gods, for the sake of an incarnation.

Verse 34 (shiva.shatarudra.6.34)

तव पुत्रो भविष्यामि नन्दी नाम्ना त्वयोनिजः । पिता भविष्यसि मम पितुर्वै जगतां मुने

tava putro bhaviṣyāmi nandī nāmnā tvayonijaḥ pitā bhaviṣyasi mama piturvai jagatāṁ mune

I shall become your son, unborn of a womb, by the name Nandi; and you, O sage, shall become the father of me, who am the father of the worlds.

Verse 35 (shiva.shatarudra.6.35)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा मुनिं प्रेक्ष्य प्रणिपत्यास्थितं घृणी । सोमस्तूर्णं तमादिश्य तत्रैवान्तर्दधे हरः

nandīśvara uvāca evamuktvā muniṁ prekṣya praṇipatyāsthitaṁ ghṛṇī somastūrṇaṁ tamādiśya tatraivāntardadhe haraḥ

Nandishvara said: Having spoken thus, and beholding the sage standing there in prostration, the compassionate Soma-Hara, quickly instructing him, vanished right there.

Verse 36 (shiva.shatarudra.6.36)

गते तस्मिन्महादेवे स शिलादो महामुनिः । स्वमाश्रममुपागम्य ऋषिभ्योऽकथयत्ततः

gate tasminmahādeve sa śilādo mahāmuniḥ svamāśramamupāgamya ṛṣibhyo’kathayattataḥ

When that Mahadeva had departed, that great sage Shilada, returning to his own hermitage, then related all this to the sages.

Verse 37 (shiva.shatarudra.6.37)

कियता चैव कालेन तदासौ जनकः स मे । यज्ञाङ्गणं चकर्षाशु यज्ञार्थं यज्ञवित्तमः

kiyatā caiva kālena tadāsau janakaḥ sa me yajñāṅgaṇaṁ cakarṣāśu yajñārthaṁ yajñavittamaḥ

After some time, that father of mine, most skilled in sacrifice, quickly plowed the sacrificial ground for the performance of a yajna.

Verse 38 (shiva.shatarudra.6.38)

ततः क्षणादहं शम्भोस्तनुजस्तस्य चाज्ञया । स जातः पूर्वमेवाहं युगान्ताग्निसमप्रभः

tataḥ kṣaṇādahaṁ śambhostanujastasya cājñayā sa jātaḥ pūrvamevāhaṁ yugāntāgnisamaprabhaḥ

Then, in an instant, by the command of Shambhu, I, his son, was born, blazing like the fire of dissolution at the end of the age.

Verse 39 (shiva.shatarudra.6.39)

अवर्षंस्तदा पुष्करावर्तकाद्या जगुः खेचराः किन्नराः सिद्धसाध्याः । शिलादात्मजत्वं गते मय्यृषीन्द्राः समन्ताच्च वृष्टिं व्यधुः कौसुमीं ते

avarṣaṁstadā puṣkarāvartakādyā jaguḥ khecarāḥ kinnarāḥ siddhasādhyāḥ śilādātmajatvaṁ gate mayyṛṣīndrāḥ samantācca vṛṣṭiṁ vyadhuḥ kausumīṁ te

Then the clouds Pushkara, Avartaka and the rest rained down; the sky-dwellers, Kinnaras and Siddhas and Sadhyas sang; and as I became the son of Shilada, the great sages showered flowers all around.

Verse 40 (shiva.shatarudra.6.40)

अथ ब्रह्मादयो देवा देवपत्न्यश्च सर्वशः । तत्राजग्मुश्च सुप्रीत्या हरिश्चैव शिवोऽम्बिका

atha brahmādayo devā devapatnyaśca sarvaśaḥ tatrājagmuśca suprītyā hariścaiva śivo’mbikā

Then Brahma and the other gods, and the wives of the gods, and Hari, and Shiva, and Ambika, all came there with great affection.

Verse 41 (shiva.shatarudra.6.41)

तदोत्सवो महानासीन्ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः । आदृत्य मां तथालिङ्ग्य तुष्टुवुर्हर्षिताश्च ते

tadotsavo mahānāsīnnanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ ādṛtya māṁ tathāliṅgya tuṣṭuvurharṣitāśca te

Then there was a great celebration, and the Apsaras danced; honoring me and embracing me, they, filled with joy, sang my praises.

Verse 42 (shiva.shatarudra.6.42)

सुप्रशस्य शिलादं तं स्तुत्वा च सुस्तवैः शिवौ । सर्वे जग्मुश्च धामानि शिवावप्यखिलेश्वरौ

supraśasya śilādaṁ taṁ stutvā ca sustavaiḥ śivau sarve jagmuśca dhāmāni śivāvapyakhileśvarau

Having duly praised Shilada and hymned Shiva and his consort with beautiful eulogies, all departed to their respective abodes; and Shiva and his consort, lords of all, also departed.

Verse 43 (shiva.shatarudra.6.43)

शिलादोऽपि च मां दृष्ट्वा कालसूर्यानलप्रभम् । त्र्यक्षं चतुर्भुजं बालं जटामुकुटधारिणम्

śilādo’pi ca māṁ dṛṣṭvā kālasūryānalaprabham tryakṣaṁ caturbhujaṁ bālaṁ jaṭāmukuṭadhāriṇam

Shilada too beheld me — a child radiant like the fire and sun of the time of dissolution, three-eyed, four-armed, bearing a crown of matted locks.

Verse 44 (shiva.shatarudra.6.44)

त्रिशूलाद्यायुधं दीप्तं सर्वथा रुद्ररूपिणम् । महानन्दभरः प्रीत्या प्रणम्यं प्रणनाम च

triśūlādyāyudhaṁ dīptaṁ sarvathā rudrarūpiṇam mahānandabharaḥ prītyā praṇamyaṁ praṇanāma ca

Blazing with the trident and other weapons, wholly in the form of Rudra — filled with great joy and love, he bowed down to me, who was worthy of homage.

Verse 45 (shiva.shatarudra.6.45)

शिलाद उवाच । त्वयाहं नन्दितो यस्मान्नन्दी नाम्ना सुरेश्वर । तस्मात्त्वां देवमानन्दं नमामि जगदीश्वरम्

śilāda uvāca tvayāhaṁ nandito yasmānnandī nāmnā sureśvara tasmāttvāṁ devamānandaṁ namāmi jagadīśvaram

Shilada said: O lord of gods, since you have given me joy (nandana), you shall be called by the name Nandi; to you, that God who is bliss itself, the Lord of the universe, I bow.

Verse 46 (shiva.shatarudra.6.46)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । मया सह पिता हृष्टः सुप्रणम्य महेश्वरम् । उटजं स्वं जगामाशु निधिं लब्ध्वेव निर्धनः

nandīśvara uvāca mayā saha pitā hṛṣṭaḥ supraṇamya maheśvaram uṭajaṁ svaṁ jagāmāśu nidhiṁ labdhveva nirdhanaḥ

Nandishvara said: My joyful father, having duly bowed to Maheshvara, quickly went with me to his own hut, like a poor man who has found a treasure.

Verse 47 (shiva.shatarudra.6.47)

यदा गतोऽहमुटजं शिलादस्य महामुने । तदाहं तादृशं रूपं त्यक्त्वा मानुष्यमास्थितः

yadā gato’hamuṭajaṁ śilādasya mahāmune tadāhaṁ tādṛśaṁ rūpaṁ tyaktvā mānuṣyamāsthitaḥ

O great sage, when I went to Shilada's hut, then I, abandoning that form, assumed a human appearance.

Verse 48 (shiva.shatarudra.6.48)

मानुष्यमास्थितं दृष्ट्वा पिता मे लोकपूजितः । विललापातिदुःखार्त्तः स्वजनैश्च समावृतः

mānuṣyamāsthitaṁ dṛṣṭvā pitā me lokapūjitaḥ vilalāpātiduḥkhārttaḥ svajanaiśca samāvṛtaḥ

Seeing me thus in human form, my father, revered by the world, surrounded by his kinsfolk, wept, greatly stricken with grief.

Verse 49 (shiva.shatarudra.6.49)

जातकर्मादिकान्येव सर्वाण्यपि चकार मे । शालङ्कायनपुत्रो वै शिलादः पुत्रवत्सलः

jātakarmādikānyeva sarvāṇyapi cakāra me śālaṅkāyanaputro vai śilādaḥ putravatsalaḥ

Shilada, the son of Shalankayana, loving of his son, performed for me all the birth rites and other sacraments.

Verse 50 (shiva.shatarudra.6.50)

वेदानध्यापयामास साङ्गोपाङ्गानशेषतः । शास्त्राण्यन्यान्यपि तथा पञ्चवर्षे पिता च माम्

vedānadhyāpayāmāsa sāṅgopāṅgānaśeṣataḥ śāstrāṇyanyānyapi tathā pañcavarṣe pitā ca mām

At the age of five years, my father taught me the Vedas in their entirety, together with their limbs and sub-limbs, as well as other scriptures.

Verse 51 (shiva.shatarudra.6.51)

सम्पूर्णे सप्तमे वर्षे मित्रावरुणसंज्ञकौ । मुनी तस्याश्रमं प्राप्तौ द्रष्टुं मां चाज्ञया विभोः

sampūrṇe saptame varṣe mitrāvaruṇasaṁjñakau munī tasyāśramaṁ prāptau draṣṭuṁ māṁ cājñayā vibhoḥ

When my seventh year was complete, the two sages named Mitra and Varuna arrived at his hermitage, by the Lord's command, in order to see me.

Verse 52 (shiva.shatarudra.6.52)

सत्कृतौ मुनिना तेन सूपविष्टो महामुनी । ऊचतुश्च महात्मानौ मां निरीक्ष्य मुहुर्मुहुः

satkṛtau muninā tena sūpaviṣṭo mahāmunī ūcatuśca mahātmānau māṁ nirīkṣya muhurmuhuḥ

Honored by that sage, the two great sages sat comfortably, and, gazing at me again and again, those great souls spoke.

Verse 53 (shiva.shatarudra.6.53)

मित्रावरुणावूचतुः । तात नन्दी तवाल्पायुः सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगः । न दृष्टमेव चापश्यं ह्यायुर्वर्षादतः परम्

mitrāvaruṇāvūcatuḥ tāta nandī tavālpāyuḥ sarvaśāstrārthapāragaḥ na dṛṣṭameva cāpaśyaṁ hyāyurvarṣādataḥ param

Mitra and Varuna said: O father, Nandi is versed in the meaning of all the scriptures, but he is short-lived; we have not seen his life extending beyond this year.

Verse 54 (shiva.shatarudra.6.54)

विप्रयोरित्युक्तवतोः शिलादः पुत्रवत्सलः । तमालिङ्ग्य च दुःखार्तो रुरोदातीव विस्वरम्

viprayorityuktavatoḥ śilādaḥ putravatsalaḥ tamāliṅgya ca duḥkhārto rurodātīva visvaram

When those two Brahmanas had spoken thus, Shilada, loving of his son, embracing me, wept aloud in an exceedingly broken voice, stricken with grief.

Verse 55 (shiva.shatarudra.6.55)

मृतवत्पतितं दृष्ट्वा पितरं च पितामहम् । प्रत्यवोचत्प्रसन्नात्मा स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्बुजम्

mṛtavatpatitaṁ dṛṣṭvā pitaraṁ ca pitāmaham pratyavocatprasannātmā smṛtvā śivapadāmbujam

Seeing my father, fallen as if dead — he who was to me like a grandsire — I, with a calm mind, remembering the lotus feet of Shiva, replied.

Verse 56 (shiva.shatarudra.6.56)

केन त्वं तात दुःखेन वेपमानश्च रोदिषि । दुःखं ते कुत उत्पन्नं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः

kena tvaṁ tāta duḥkhena vepamānaśca rodiṣi duḥkhaṁ te kuta utpannaṁ jñātumicchāmi tattvataḥ

O father, by what sorrow do you weep, trembling so? Whence has arisen your grief? I wish to know it in truth.

Verse 57 (shiva.shatarudra.6.57)

पितोवाच । तवाल्पमृत्युदुःखेन दुःखितोऽतीव पुत्रक । को मे दुःखं हरतु वै शरणं तं प्रयामि हि

pitovāca tavālpamṛtyuduḥkhena duḥkhito’tīva putraka ko me duḥkhaṁ haratu vai śaraṇaṁ taṁ prayāmi hi

The father said: O son, I am overwhelmed with grief at the thought of your early death; who could take away this sorrow of mine? To him I would go for refuge.

Verse 58 (shiva.shatarudra.6.58)

पुत्र उवाच । देवो वा दानवो वापि यमः कालोऽथवापि हि । ऋध्येयुर्यद्यपि ह्येते मामन्येऽपि जनास्तथा

putra uvāca devo vā dānavo vāpi yamaḥ kālo’thavāpi hi ṛdhyeyuryadyapi hyete māmanye’pi janāstathā

The son said: Whether gods or demons, whether Yama or Kala, or these and other beings besides — even should they all prevail against me —

Verse 59 (shiva.shatarudra.6.59)

अथापि चाल्पमृत्युर्मे न भविष्यति मा तुदः । सत्यं ब्रवीमि जनक शपथं ते करोम्यहम्

athāpi cālpamṛtyurme na bhaviṣyati mā tudaḥ satyaṁ bravīmi janaka śapathaṁ te karomyaham

— still, an early death shall not come to me; do not grieve. O father, I speak the truth; I take an oath to you on this.

Verse 60 (shiva.shatarudra.6.60)

पितोवाच । किं तपः किं परिज्ञानं को योगश्च प्रभुश्च ते । येन त्वं दारुणं दुःखं वञ्चयिष्यसि पुत्र मे

pitovāca kiṁ tapaḥ kiṁ parijñānaṁ ko yogaśca prabhuśca te yena tvaṁ dāruṇaṁ duḥkhaṁ vañcayiṣyasi putra me

The father said: What austerity, what knowledge, what yoga, and what lord is yours, O son, by which you will avert this terrible sorrow?

Verse 61 (shiva.shatarudra.6.61)

पुत्र उवाच । न तात तपसा मृत्युं वञ्चयिष्ये न विद्यया । महादेवस्य भजनान्मृत्युं जेष्यामि नान्यथा

putra uvāca na tāta tapasā mṛtyuṁ vañcayiṣye na vidyayā mahādevasya bhajanānmṛtyuṁ jeṣyāmi nānyathā

The son said: O father, neither by austerity nor by learning shall I avert death; only through devotion to Mahadeva shall I conquer death, and by no other means.

Verse 62 (shiva.shatarudra.6.62)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वाहं पितुः पादौ प्रणम्य शिरसा मुने । प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य च तमगच्छं वनमुत्तमम्

nandīśvara uvāca ityuktvāhaṁ pituḥ pādau praṇamya śirasā mune pradakṣiṇīkṛtya ca tamagacchaṁ vanamuttamam

Nandishvara said: O sage, having said this, I bowed my head at my father's feet, circumambulated him, and departed to the excellent forest.