Bhairava's Play and the Absolution of Brahma-Hatya

Verse 1 (shiva.shatarudra.9.1)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । सनत्कुमार सर्वज्ञ भैरवीमपरां कथाम् । शृणु प्रीत्या महादोषसंहर्त्रीं भक्तिवर्द्धिनीम्

nandīśvara uvāca sanatkumāra sarvajña bhairavīmaparāṁ kathām śṛṇu prītyā mahādoṣasaṁhartrīṁ bhaktivarddhinīm

Nandishvara said: O all-knowing Sanatkumara, hear with love this further account of Bhairava — a tale that destroys great sins and increases devotion.

Verse 2 (shiva.shatarudra.9.2)

तत्सान्निध्यं भैरवोऽपि कालोऽभूत्कालकालनः । स देवदेववाक्येन बिभ्रत्कापालिकं व्रतम्

tatsānnidhyaṁ bhairavo’pi kālo’bhūtkālakālanaḥ sa devadevavākyena bibhratkāpālikaṁ vratam

With her ever beside him, Bhairava — who is Time itself, the very death of Death — wandered on; by his own divine word as the God of gods, he took up the Kapalika vow, the ascetic discipline of bearing a skull.

Verse 3 (shiva.shatarudra.9.3)

कपालपाणिर्विश्वात्मा चचार भुवनत्रयम् । नात्याक्षीच्चापि तं देवं ब्रह्महत्यापि दारुणा

kapālapāṇirviśvātmā cacāra bhuvanatrayam nātyākṣīccāpi taṁ devaṁ brahmahatyāpi dāruṇā

With the skull in his hand, the Soul of the universe roamed through the three worlds; yet even that terrible Brahma-hatya would not leave that god.

Verse 4 (shiva.shatarudra.9.4)

प्रतितीर्थं भ्रमन् नापि विमुक्तो ब्रह्महत्यया । अतः कामारिमहिमा सर्वोऽपि ह्यवगम्यताम्

pratitīrthaṁ bhraman nāpi vimukto brahmahatyayā ataḥ kāmārimahimā sarvo’pi hyavagamyatām

Though he wandered from one holy shrine to the next, he was still not freed from the Brahma-hatya; from this let all understand the full greatness of Kamari, the Enemy of Desire.

Verse 5 (shiva.shatarudra.9.5)

प्रमथैः सेव्यमानोऽपि ह्येकदा विहरन्हरः । कापालिको ययौ स्वैरी नारायणनिकेतनम्

pramathaiḥ sevyamāno’pi hyekadā viharanharaḥ kāpāliko yayau svairī nārāyaṇaniketanam

Though attended by his host of Pramathas, once, wandering freely at will, Hara the Kapalika went to the abode of Narayana.

Verse 6 (shiva.shatarudra.9.6)

अथायान्तं महाकालं त्रिनेत्रं सर्पकुण्डलम् । महादेवांशसम्भूतं पूर्णाकारं च भैरवम्

athāyāntaṁ mahākālaṁ trinetraṁ sarpakuṇḍalam mahādevāṁśasambhūtaṁ pūrṇākāraṁ ca bhairavam

Then Vishnu saw him approaching — Mahakala, three-eyed, wearing serpents as earrings, Bhairava, born from a portion of Mahadeva, complete in form.

Verse 7 (shiva.shatarudra.9.7)

पपात दण्डवद्भूमौ तं दृष्ट्वा गरुडध्वजः । देवाश्च मुनयश्चैव देवनार्य्यः समन्ततः

papāta daṇḍavadbhūmau taṁ dṛṣṭvā garuḍadhvajaḥ devāśca munayaścaiva devanāryyaḥ samantataḥ

Seeing him, Garudadhvaja, Vishnu, fell full-length upon the ground like a staff; and all around, the gods, the sages, and the celestial women did likewise.

Verse 8 (shiva.shatarudra.9.8)

अथ विष्णुः प्रणम्यैनं प्रयातः कमलापतिः । शिरस्यञ्जलिमाधाय तुष्टाव विविधैः स्तवैः

atha viṣṇuḥ praṇamyainaṁ prayātaḥ kamalāpatiḥ śirasyañjalimādhāya tuṣṭāva vividhaiḥ stavaiḥ

Then Vishnu, Lord of Lakshmi, having bowed and approached him, raised his joined palms to his head and praised him with many hymns.

Verse 9 (shiva.shatarudra.9.9)

सानन्दोऽथ हरिः प्राह प्रसन्नात्मा महामुने । क्षीरोदमथनोद्भूतां पद्मां पद्मालयां मुदा

sānando’tha hariḥ prāha prasannātmā mahāmune kṣīrodamathanodbhūtāṁ padmāṁ padmālayāṁ mudā

Then Hari, his heart glad and content, O great sage, spoke joyfully to Padma — Lakshmi, who dwells in the lotus and arose from the churning of the ocean of milk.

Verse 10 (shiva.shatarudra.9.10)

विष्णुरुवाच । प्रिये पश्याब्जनयने धन्यासि सुभगेऽनघे । धन्योऽहं देवि सुश्रोणि यत्पश्यावो जगत्पतिम्

viṣṇuruvāca priye paśyābjanayane dhanyāsi subhage’naghe dhanyo’haṁ devi suśroṇi yatpaśyāvo jagatpatim

Vishnu said: O beloved, lotus-eyed one, look! You are blessed, fortunate and sinless one; and I too am blessed, O beautiful goddess, that we both now behold the Lord of the universe.

Verse 11 (shiva.shatarudra.9.11)

अयं धाता विधाता च लोकानां प्रभुरीश्वरः । अनादिः शरणः शान्तः पुरः षड्विंशसम्मितः

ayaṁ dhātā vidhātā ca lokānāṁ prabhurīśvaraḥ anādiḥ śaraṇaḥ śāntaḥ puraḥ ṣaḍviṁśasammitaḥ

This is he who sustains and ordains, the Lord and Master of all the worlds — beginningless, the refuge, ever tranquil, most ancient, reckoned as the twenty-sixth principle beyond the twenty-five of the Sankhya.

Verse 12 (shiva.shatarudra.9.12)

सर्वज्ञः सर्वयोगीशः सर्वभूतैकनायकः । सर्वभूतान्तरात्माऽयं सर्वेषां सर्वदः सदा

sarvajñaḥ sarvayogīśaḥ sarvabhūtaikanāyakaḥ sarvabhūtāntarātmā’yaṁ sarveṣāṁ sarvadaḥ sadā

All-knowing, Lord of all yogis, the sole leader of every being; he is the inner Self within all creatures, and forever the giver of all things to all.

Verse 13 (shiva.shatarudra.9.13)

ये विनिद्रा विनिःश्वासाः शान्ताः ध्यानपरायणाः । धिया पश्यन्ति हृदये सोऽयं पद्मे समीक्षताम्

ye vinidrā viniḥśvāsāḥ śāntāḥ dhyānaparāyaṇāḥ dhiyā paśyanti hṛdaye so’yaṁ padme samīkṣatām

Those who, free from sleep and breath, tranquil and given to meditation, behold him with the intellect within the heart — that very one, O Padma, may now be seen directly before us!

Verse 14 (shiva.shatarudra.9.14)

यं विदुर्वेदतत्त्वज्ञा योगिनो यतमानसाः । अरूपो रूपवान्भूत्वा सोऽयमायाति सर्वगः

yaṁ vidurvedatattvajñā yogino yatamānasāḥ arūpo rūpavānbhūtvā so’yamāyāti sarvagaḥ

He whom the knowers of Vedic truth and yogis of disciplined mind know — the formless one, having taken on form, comes now before us, he who pervades all things.

Verse 15 (shiva.shatarudra.9.15)

अहो विचित्रं देवस्य चेष्टितं परमेष्ठिनः । यस्याख्यां ब्रुवतो नित्यं न देहः सोऽपि देहभृत्

aho vicitraṁ devasya ceṣṭitaṁ parameṣṭhinaḥ yasyākhyāṁ bruvato nityaṁ na dehaḥ so’pi dehabhṛt

Ah, how wondrous is the play of the Supreme Lord! One who constantly utters his name, though embodied, ceases in truth to be bound by the body — he passes beyond birth and death.

Verse 16 (shiva.shatarudra.9.16)

तं दृष्ट्वा न पुनर्जन्म लभ्यते मानवैर्भुवि । सोऽयमायाति भगवांस्त्र्यम्बकः शशिभूषणः

taṁ dṛṣṭvā na punarjanma labhyate mānavairbhuvi so’yamāyāti bhagavāṁstryambakaḥ śaśibhūṣaṇaḥ

Having beheld him, mortals on this earth attain no further birth; and now this very Lord Tryambaka, adorned with the crescent moon, comes here.

Verse 17 (shiva.shatarudra.9.17)

पुण्डरीकदलायामे धन्ये मेऽद्य विलोचने । यद् दृश्यते महादेवो ह्याभ्यां लक्ष्मि महेश्वरः

puṇḍarīkadalāyāme dhanye me’dya vilocane yad dṛśyate mahādevo hyābhyāṁ lakṣmi maheśvaraḥ

Blessed indeed today, O Lakshmi, are these two eyes of mine, long as lotus petals, for through them I now behold Mahadeva, the great Lord.

Verse 18 (shiva.shatarudra.9.18)

धिग्धिक्पदं तु देवानां परं दृष्ट्वा न शङ्करम् । लभ्यते यत्र निर्वाणं सर्वदुःखान्तकृत्तु यत्

dhigdhikpadaṁ tu devānāṁ paraṁ dṛṣṭvā na śaṅkaram labhyate yatra nirvāṇaṁ sarvaduḥkhāntakṛttu yat

Shame, shame indeed on the very rank of godhood, if it does not behold the supreme Shankara — through whom is attained that liberation which brings every sorrow to its end!

Verse 19 (shiva.shatarudra.9.19)

देवत्वादशुभं किञ्चिद्देवलोके न विद्यते । दृष्ट्वापि सर्वे देवेशं यन्मुक्तिं न लभामहे

devatvādaśubhaṁ kiñciddevaloke na vidyate dṛṣṭvāpi sarve deveśaṁ yanmuktiṁ na labhāmahe

Nothing in the world of the gods is as inauspicious as godhood itself — for even after beholding the Lord of gods, we, the gods, do not attain liberation.

Verse 20 (shiva.shatarudra.9.20)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशः सम्प्रहृष्टतनूरुहः । प्रणिपत्य महादेवमिदमाह वृषध्वजम्

nandīśvara uvāca evamuktvā hṛṣīkeśaḥ samprahṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ praṇipatya mahādevamidamāha vṛṣadhvajam

Nandishvara said: Having spoken thus, Hrishikesha, his body thrilling with joy, bowed down before Mahadeva, the Bull-bannered Lord, and spoke these words.

Verse 21 (shiva.shatarudra.9.21)

विष्णुरुवाच । किमिदं देवदेवेन सर्वज्ञेन त्वया विभो । क्रियते जगतां धात्रा सर्वपापहराव्यय

viṣṇuruvāca kimidaṁ devadevena sarvajñena tvayā vibho kriyate jagatāṁ dhātrā sarvapāpaharāvyaya

Vishnu said: O all-pervading God of gods, O all-knowing one — you who sustain the worlds, remove all sin, and are imperishable — what is this that you are doing?

Verse 22 (shiva.shatarudra.9.22)

क्रीडेयं तव देवेश त्रिलोचन महामते । किं कारणं विरूपाक्ष चेष्टितं ते स्मरार्दन

krīḍeyaṁ tava deveśa trilocana mahāmate kiṁ kāraṇaṁ virūpākṣa ceṣṭitaṁ te smarārdana

Is this merely your play, O Lord of gods, three-eyed one of great wisdom? What is the reason, O Virupaksha, for this conduct of yours, O tormentor of Kama?

Verse 23 (shiva.shatarudra.9.23)

किमर्थं भगवञ्छम्भो भिक्षां चरसि शक्तिप । संशयो मे जगन्नाथ एष त्रैलोक्यराज्यद

kimarthaṁ bhagavañchambho bhikṣāṁ carasi śaktipa saṁśayo me jagannātha eṣa trailokyarājyada

Why, O Lord Shambhu, giver of power, do you wander begging for alms? This is my doubt, O Lord of the universe, O bestower of sovereignty over the three worlds.

Verse 24 (shiva.shatarudra.9.24)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवमुक्तस्ततः शम्भुर्विष्णुना भैरवो हरः । प्रत्युवाचाद्भुतोतिः स विष्णुं हि विहसन्प्रभुः

nandīśvara uvāca evamuktastataḥ śambhurviṣṇunā bhairavo haraḥ pratyuvācādbhutotiḥ sa viṣṇuṁ hi vihasanprabhuḥ

Nandishvara said: Thus addressed by Vishnu, Shambhu — Bhairava, Hara, of wondrous glory — laughed and gave this reply to Lord Vishnu.

Verse 25 (shiva.shatarudra.9.25)

भैरव उवाच । ब्रह्मणस्तु शिरश्छिन्नमङ्गुल्याग्रनखेन ह । तदघं प्रतिहन्तुं हि चराम्येतद् व्रतं शुभम्

bhairava uvāca brahmaṇastu śiraśchinnamaṅgulyāgranakhena ha tadaghaṁ pratihantuṁ hi carāmyetad vrataṁ śubham

Bhairava said: I severed Brahma's head with the tip of my fingernail; it is to atone for that sin that I now observe this auspicious vow.

Verse 26 (shiva.shatarudra.9.26)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवमुक्तो महेशेन भैरवेण रमापतिः । स्मृत्वा किञ्चिन्नतशिराः पुनरेवमजिज्ञपत्

nandīśvara uvāca evamukto maheśena bhairaveṇa ramāpatiḥ smṛtvā kiñcinnataśirāḥ punarevamajijñapat

Nandishvara said: Thus addressed by Mahesha, by Bhairava, Ramapati, Vishnu, recalling something to mind and bowing his head a little, spoke once more.

Verse 27 (shiva.shatarudra.9.27)

विष्णुरुवाच । यथेच्छसि तथा क्रीड सर्वविघ्नापनोदक । मायया मां महादेव नाच्छादयितुमर्हसि

viṣṇuruvāca yathecchasi tathā krīḍa sarvavighnāpanodaka māyayā māṁ mahādeva nācchādayitumarhasi

Vishnu said: Play as you wish, O remover of every obstacle; but, O Mahadeva, you should not veil me with your power of illusion.

Verse 28 (shiva.shatarudra.9.28)

नाभीकमलकोशात्तु कोटिशः कमलासनाः । कल्पे कल्पे पुरा ह्यान्सस्त्वन्नियोगबलाद्विभो

nābhīkamalakośāttu koṭiśaḥ kamalāsanāḥ kalpe kalpe purā hyānsastvanniyogabalādvibho

From the calyx of the navel-lotus, crores of lotus-born Brahmas have arisen, kalpa after kalpa, O all-pervading one, of old, by the power of your own command.

Verse 29 (shiva.shatarudra.9.29)

त्यज मायामिमां देव दुस्तरामकृतात्मभिः । ब्रह्मादयो महादेव मायया तव मोहिताः

tyaja māyāmimāṁ deva dustarāmakṛtātmabhiḥ brahmādayo mahādeva māyayā tava mohitāḥ

Abandon this maya of yours, O God — a maya insurmountable for those whose souls are unrefined; even Brahma and the other gods, O Mahadeva, are deluded by your power of illusion.

Verse 30 (shiva.shatarudra.9.30)

यथावदनुगच्छामि चेष्टितं ते शिवापते । तवैवानुग्रहाच्छम्भो सर्वेश्वर सताङ्गते

yathāvadanugacchāmi ceṣṭitaṁ te śivāpate tavaivānugrahācchambho sarveśvara satāṅgate

I follow your conduct as is fitting, O Lord of Shiva, consort of the Goddess; it is by your grace alone, O Shambhu, Lord of all, the refuge of the virtuous.

Verse 31 (shiva.shatarudra.9.31)

संहारकाले सम्प्राप्ते सदेवान्निखिलान्मुनीन् । लोकान्वर्णाश्रमवतो हरिष्यसि यदा हर

saṁhārakāle samprāpte sadevānnikhilānmunīn lokānvarṇāśramavato hariṣyasi yadā hara

When the time of dissolution arrives, O Hara, you will draw back into yourself all the gods together with the sages, and all the worlds with their castes and stages of life.

Verse 32 (shiva.shatarudra.9.32)

तदा कृते महादेव पापं ब्रह्मवधादिकम् । पारतन्त्र्यं न ते शम्भो स्वैरं क्रीडत्यतो भवान्

tadā kṛte mahādeva pāpaṁ brahmavadhādikam pāratantryaṁ na te śambho svairaṁ krīḍatyato bhavān

Then, O Mahadeva, even in committing sins such as the killing of Brahma at the time of dissolution, you, O Shambhu, are subject to none — it is for this reason that you play entirely as you please.

Verse 33 (shiva.shatarudra.9.33)

अतीत ब्रह्मणां ह्यस्थ्नां स्रक्कण्ठे तव भासते । तथाप्यनुगता शम्भो ब्रह्महत्या तवानघ

atīta brahmaṇāṁ hyasthnāṁ srakkaṇṭhe tava bhāsate tathāpyanugatā śambho brahmahatyā tavānagha

The garland of bones of Brahmas past already shines upon your neck; and yet, O sinless Shambhu, this Brahma-hatya still follows after you.

Verse 34 (shiva.shatarudra.9.34)

कृत्वापि सुमहत्पापं यस्त्वां स्मरति मानवः । आधारं जगतामीश तस्य पापं विलीयते

kṛtvāpi sumahatpāpaṁ yastvāṁ smarati mānavaḥ ādhāraṁ jagatāmīśa tasya pāpaṁ vilīyate

Even one who has committed a very grave sin — whatever mortal remembers you, O Lord, the sustaining ground of all the worlds — his sin melts away.

Verse 35 (shiva.shatarudra.9.35)

यथा तमो न तिष्ठेत सन्निधावंशुमालिनः । तथैव तव यो भक्तः पापं तस्य व्रजेत्क्षयम्

yathā tamo na tiṣṭheta sannidhāvaṁśumālinaḥ tathaiva tava yo bhaktaḥ pāpaṁ tasya vrajetkṣayam

Just as darkness cannot linger in the presence of the sun, so too, for whoever is your devotee, sin goes to its utter destruction.

Verse 36 (shiva.shatarudra.9.36)

यश्चिन्तयति पुण्यात्मा तव पादाम्बुजद्वयम् । ब्रह्महत्याकृतमपि पापं तस्य व्रजेत्क्षयम्

yaścintayati puṇyātmā tava pādāmbujadvayam brahmahatyākṛtamapi pāpaṁ tasya vrajetkṣayam

Whatever virtuous soul meditates on your two lotus feet — even a sin as grave as killing a Brahmin, once committed by him, goes to its ruin.

Verse 37 (shiva.shatarudra.9.37)

तव नामानुरक्ता वाग्यस्य पुंसो जगत्पते । अप्यद्रिकूटतुलितं नैनस्तमनुबाधते

tava nāmānuraktā vāgyasya puṁso jagatpate apyadrikūṭatulitaṁ nainastamanubādhate

O Lord of the universe, whatever man's speech is devoted to your name — sin as heavy as a mountain peak does not touch him.

Verse 38 (shiva.shatarudra.9.38)

परमात्मन्परं धाम स्वेच्छाभिधृतविग्रह । कुतूहलं तवेशेदं कृपणाधीनतेश्वर

paramātmanparaṁ dhāma svecchābhidhṛtavigraha kutūhalaṁ taveśedaṁ kṛpaṇādhīnateśvara

O Supreme Self, O supreme abode, you who take on form by your own free will — what is this curious play of yours, O Lord who out of compassion places yourself at the mercy of the humble?

Verse 39 (shiva.shatarudra.9.39)

अद्य धन्योऽस्मि देवेश यन्न पश्यन्ति योगिनः । पश्यामि तं जगन्मूर्त्तिं परमेश्वरमव्ययम्

adya dhanyo’smi deveśa yanna paśyanti yoginaḥ paśyāmi taṁ jaganmūrttiṁ parameśvaramavyayam

Today I am blessed, O Lord of gods, for I behold that which even yogis cannot see — the very embodiment of the universe, the imperishable Supreme Lord.

Verse 40 (shiva.shatarudra.9.40)

अद्य मे परमो लाभस्त्वद्य मे मङ्गलं परम् । तं दृष्ट्वामृततृप्तस्य तृणं स्वर्गापवर्गकम्

adya me paramo lābhastvadya me maṅgalaṁ param taṁ dṛṣṭvāmṛtatṛptasya tṛṇaṁ svargāpavargakam

Today is my supreme gain, today my supreme blessing; having beheld him, and now sated as with nectar, even heaven and liberation seem to me but a blade of straw.

Verse 41 (shiva.shatarudra.9.41)

इत्थं वदति गोविन्दे विमला पद्मया तया । मनोरथवती नाम भिक्षा पात्रे समर्पिता

itthaṁ vadati govinde vimalā padmayā tayā manorathavatī nāma bhikṣā pātre samarpitā

As Govinda spoke thus, that spotless Padma, Lakshmi, placed in the bowl an offering called Manorathavati, the fulfiller of desires.

Verse 42 (shiva.shatarudra.9.42)

भिक्षाटनाय देवोऽपि निरगात्परया मुदा । अन्यत्रापि महादेवो भैरवश्चात्तविग्रहः

bhikṣāṭanāya devo’pi niragātparayā mudā anyatrāpi mahādevo bhairavaścāttavigrahaḥ

The Lord too went forth on his begging round with the greatest joy; and Mahadeva, as Bhairava, bearing that form, moved on elsewhere as well.

Verse 43 (shiva.shatarudra.9.43)

दृष्ट्वानुयायिनीं तां तु समाहूय जनार्दनः । सम्प्रार्थयद् ब्रह्महत्यां विमुञ्च त्वं त्रिशूलिनम्

dṛṣṭvānuyāyinīṁ tāṁ tu samāhūya janārdanaḥ samprārthayad brahmahatyāṁ vimuñca tvaṁ triśūlinam

Seeing that follower, the Brahma-hatya, behind him, Janardana, Vishnu, called her and entreated: 'Release the trident-bearer!'

Verse 44 (shiva.shatarudra.9.44)

ब्रह्महत्योवाच । अनेनापि मिषेणाहं संसेव्यामुं वृषध्वजम् । आत्मानं पावयिष्यामि त्वपुनर्भवदर्शनम्

brahmahatyovāca anenāpi miṣeṇāhaṁ saṁsevyāmuṁ vṛṣadhvajam ātmānaṁ pāvayiṣyāmi tvapunarbhavadarśanam

Brahma-hatya said: Even under this very pretext of following him, I shall serve this Bull-bannered Lord and purify myself, so that I need never again face rebirth.

Verse 45 (shiva.shatarudra.9.45)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । सा तत्याज न तत्पार्श्वं व्याहृतापि मुरारिणा । तमूचेऽथ हरिं शम्भुः स्मेरास्यो भैरवो वचः

nandīśvara uvāca sā tatyāja na tatpārśvaṁ vyāhṛtāpi murāriṇā tamūce’tha hariṁ śambhuḥ smerāsyo bhairavo vacaḥ

Nandishvara said: Even when addressed by Murari, Vishnu, she would not leave his side; then Shambhu, as Bhairava, spoke this word to Hari with a smiling face.

Verse 46 (shiva.shatarudra.9.46)

भैरव उवाच । त्वद्वाक्पीयूषपानेन तृप्तोऽस्मि बहुमानद । स्वभावोऽयं हि साधूनां यत्त्वं वदसि मापते

bhairava uvāca tvadvākpīyūṣapānena tṛpto’smi bahumānada svabhāvo’yaṁ hi sādhūnāṁ yattvaṁ vadasi māpate

Bhairava said: I am wholly satisfied, having drunk the nectar of your words, O giver of great honor; this indeed is the very nature of the virtuous, that you should speak so, O Lord of Lakshmi.

Verse 47 (shiva.shatarudra.9.47)

वरं वृणीष्व गोविन्द वरदोऽस्मि तवानघ । अग्रणीर्मम भक्तानां त्वं हरे निर्विकारवान्

varaṁ vṛṇīṣva govinda varado’smi tavānagha agraṇīrmama bhaktānāṁ tvaṁ hare nirvikāravān

Choose a boon, O Govinda; sinless one, I am ready to grant it to you. You, O Hari, unchanging one, are the foremost among my devotees.

Verse 48 (shiva.shatarudra.9.48)

नो माद्यन्ति तथा भैक्ष्यैर्भिक्षवोऽप्यतिसंस्कृतैः । यथा मानसुधापानैर्ननु भिक्षाटनज्वराः

no mādyanti tathā bhaikṣyairbhikṣavo’pyatisaṁskṛtaiḥ yathā mānasudhāpānairnanu bhikṣāṭanajvarāḥ

Mendicants are not so gladdened even by alms finely prepared, as those given to the wandering life of begging are gladdened by drinking the nectar of honor and praise.

Verse 49 (shiva.shatarudra.9.49)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचः शम्भोर्भैरवस्य परात्मनः । सुप्रसन्नतरो भूत्वा समवोचन्महेश्वरम्

nandīśvara uvāca ityākarṇya vacaḥ śambhorbhairavasya parātmanaḥ suprasannataro bhūtvā samavocanmaheśvaram

Nandishvara said: Having heard these words of Shambhu, of Bhairava the Supreme Self, Vishnu, grown exceedingly pleased, spoke thus to Maheshvara.

Verse 50 (shiva.shatarudra.9.50)

विष्णुरुवाच । एष एव वरः श्लाघ्यो यदहं देवताधिपम् । पश्यामि त्वान्देवदेव मनोवाणीपथातिगम्

viṣṇuruvāca eṣa eva varaḥ ślāghyo yadahaṁ devatādhipam paśyāmi tvāndevadeva manovāṇīpathātigam

Vishnu said: This alone is the boon most worthy of praise — that I behold you, the Lord of all gods, O God of gods, who are beyond the reach of mind and speech.

Verse 51 (shiva.shatarudra.9.51)

अदभ्रेयं सुधादृष्टिरनया मे महोत्सवः । अयत्त्ननिधिलाभोऽयं वीक्षणं हर ते सताम्

adabhreyaṁ sudhādṛṣṭiranayā me mahotsavaḥ ayattnanidhilābho’yaṁ vīkṣaṇaṁ hara te satām

This nectar-like sight of yours is no small thing — through it alone comes this great festival for me. This very gaze of yours, O Hara, is a treasure the virtuous obtain without any striving.

Verse 52 (shiva.shatarudra.9.52)

अवियोगोऽस्तु मे देव त्वदङ्घ्रियुगलेन वै । एष एव वरः शम्भो नान्यं कश्चिद् वृणे वरम्

aviyogo’stu me deva tvadaṅghriyugalena vai eṣa eva varaḥ śambho nānyaṁ kaścid vṛṇe varam

Let me, O God, never be parted from your two feet; this alone, O Shambhu, is the boon I ask — I seek no other.

Verse 53 (shiva.shatarudra.9.53)

श्रीभैरव उवाच । एवं भवतु ते तात यत्त्वयोक्तं महामते । सर्वेषामपि देवानां वरदस्त्वं भविष्यसि

śrībhairava uvāca evaṁ bhavatu te tāta yattvayoktaṁ mahāmate sarveṣāmapi devānāṁ varadastvaṁ bhaviṣyasi

Shri Bhairava said: So let it be, dear one, just as you have asked, O great-minded one; you too shall become a granter of boons to all the gods.

Verse 54 (shiva.shatarudra.9.54)

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । अनुगृह्येति दैत्यारिं केन्द्राद्रिभुवने चरन् । भेजेऽविमुक्तनगरीं नाम्ना वाराणसीं पुरीम्

nandīśvara uvāca anugṛhyeti daityāriṁ kendrādribhuvane caran bheje’vimuktanagarīṁ nāmnā vārāṇasīṁ purīm

Nandishvara said: Having thus blessed the foe of the Daityas, Vishnu, and roaming through Indra's mountain realm, he then went to the city called Avimukta, the city named Varanasi.

Verse 55 (shiva.shatarudra.9.55)

क्षेत्रे प्रविष्टमात्रेऽथ भैरवे भीषणाकृतौ । हाहेत्युक्त्वा ब्रह्महत्या पातालं चाविशत्तदा

kṣetre praviṣṭamātre’tha bhairave bhīṣaṇākṛtau hāhetyuktvā brahmahatyā pātālaṁ cāviśattadā

The very moment that terrible-formed Bhairava entered that sacred field, Brahma-hatya, crying out 'Alas!', at once sank down into the netherworld.

Verse 56 (shiva.shatarudra.9.56)

कपालं ब्राह्मणः सद्यो भैरवस्य कराम्बुजात् । पपात भुवि तत्तीर्थमभूत्कापालमोचनम्

kapālaṁ brāhmaṇaḥ sadyo bhairavasya karāmbujāt papāta bhuvi tattīrthamabhūtkāpālamocanam

Then at once the brahmin's skull fell to the ground from the lotus-hand of Bhairava; that spot became the sacred crossing called Kapalamochana, 'the release of the skull.'

Verse 57 (shiva.shatarudra.9.57)

कपालं ब्रह्मणो रुद्रः सर्वेषामेव पश्यताम् । हस्तात्पतन्तमालोक्य ननर्त परया मुदा

kapālaṁ brahmaṇo rudraḥ sarveṣāmeva paśyatām hastātpatantamālokya nanarta parayā mudā

As everyone looked on, Rudra, seeing Brahma's skull falling from his own hand, danced for very joy.

Verse 58 (shiva.shatarudra.9.58)

विधेः कपालं नामुञ्चत्करमत्यन्तदुस्सहम् । परस्य भ्रमतः क्वापि तत्काश्यां क्षणतोऽपतत्

vidheḥ kapālaṁ nāmuñcatkaramatyantadussaham parasya bhramataḥ kvāpi tatkāśyāṁ kṣaṇato’patat

Brahma's skull, most unbearable to bear, had not left the hand of the Supreme Lord as he wandered anywhere else; but the instant he reached Kashi, it fell away.

Verse 59 (shiva.shatarudra.9.59)

शूलिनो ब्रह्मणो हत्या नापैति स्म च या क्वचित् । सा काश्यां क्षणतो नष्टा तस्मात्सेव्या हि काशिका

śūlino brahmaṇo hatyā nāpaiti sma ca yā kvacit sā kāśyāṁ kṣaṇato naṣṭā tasmātsevyā hi kāśikā

The Brahma-hatya that had clung to the trident-bearer and departed nowhere else was destroyed in an instant at Kashi; therefore Kashi is indeed a place to be devotedly sought.

Verse 60 (shiva.shatarudra.9.60)

कपालमोचनं काश्यां यः स्मरेत्तीर्थमुत्तमम् । इहान्यत्रापि यत्पापं क्षिप्रं तस्य प्रणश्यति

kapālamocanaṁ kāśyāṁ yaḥ smarettīrthamuttamam ihānyatrāpi yatpāpaṁ kṣipraṁ tasya praṇaśyati

Whoever calls to mind Kapalamochana, that supreme sacred crossing at Kashi — whatever sin he has committed, here or elsewhere, is swiftly destroyed.

Verse 61 (shiva.shatarudra.9.61)

आगत्य तीर्थप्रवरे स्नानं कृत्वा विधानतः । तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्देवान्मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया

āgatya tīrthapravare snānaṁ kṛtvā vidhānataḥ tarpayitvā pitṝndevānmucyate brahmahatyayā

Coming to that foremost sacred crossing, bathing there in the prescribed manner, and offering libations to the ancestors and gods, one is freed even from the sin of killing a Brahmin.

Verse 62 (shiva.shatarudra.9.62)

कपालमोचनं तीर्थं पुरस्कृत्वा तु भैरवः । तत्रैव तस्थौ भक्तानां भक्षयन्नघसन्ततिम्

kapālamocanaṁ tīrthaṁ puraskṛtvā tu bhairavaḥ tatraiva tasthau bhaktānāṁ bhakṣayannaghasantatim

Having established the sacred crossing of Kapalamochana, Bhairava remained there itself, ever devouring the accumulated sins of his devotees.

Verse 63 (shiva.shatarudra.9.63)

कृष्णाष्टम्यां तु मार्गस्य मासस्य परमेश्वरः । आविर्बभूव सल्लीलो भैरवात्मा सतां प्रियः

kṛṣṇāṣṭamyāṁ tu mārgasya māsasya parameśvaraḥ āvirbabhūva sallīlo bhairavātmā satāṁ priyaḥ

On the eighth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Margashirsha, the Supreme Lord, ever playful and dear to the virtuous, manifested in his form as Bhairava.

Verse 64 (shiva.shatarudra.9.64)

मार्गशीर्षासिताष्टम्यां कालभैरवसन्निधौ । उपोष्य जागरं कुर्वन्महापापैः प्रमुच्यते

mārgaśīrṣāsitāṣṭamyāṁ kālabhairavasannidhau upoṣya jāgaraṁ kurvanmahāpāpaiḥ pramucyate

On the dark eighth of Margashirsha, whoever fasts and keeps vigil near Kalabhairava is freed from even the greatest of sins.

Verse 65 (shiva.shatarudra.9.65)

अन्यत्रापि नरो भक्त्या तद् व्रतं यः करिष्यति । सजागरं महापापैर्मुक्तो यास्यति सद्गतिम्

anyatrāpi naro bhaktyā tad vrataṁ yaḥ kariṣyati sajāgaraṁ mahāpāpairmukto yāsyati sadgatim

Even elsewhere, whatever man performs that vow with devotion and keeps vigil is freed from great sins and attains the true, good goal.

Verse 66 (shiva.shatarudra.9.66)

अनेकजन्मनियुतैर्यत्कृतं जन्तुभिस्त्वघम् । तत्सर्वं विलयं याति कालभैरवदर्शनात्

anekajanmaniyutairyatkṛtaṁ jantubhistvagham tatsarvaṁ vilayaṁ yāti kālabhairavadarśanāt

Whatever sin creatures have accumulated across countless millions of births, all of it is dissolved by the very sight of Kalabhairava.

Verse 67 (shiva.shatarudra.9.67)

कालभैरवभक्तानां पातकानि करोति यः । स मूढो दुःखितो भूत्वा पुनर्दुर्गतिमाप्नुयात्

kālabhairavabhaktānāṁ pātakāni karoti yaḥ sa mūḍho duḥkhito bhūtvā punardurgatimāpnuyāt

Whoever commits offenses against the devotees of Kalabhairava — that fool, plunged into suffering, falls once more into an evil state.

Verse 68 (shiva.shatarudra.9.68)

विश्वेश्वरेऽपि ये भक्ता नो भक्ताः कालभैरवे । ते लभन्ते महादुःखं काश्यां चैव विशेषतः

viśveśvare’pi ye bhaktā no bhaktāḥ kālabhairave te labhante mahāduḥkhaṁ kāśyāṁ caiva viśeṣataḥ

Those who are devotees of Vishveshvara but not of Kalabhairava obtain great suffering, especially so within Kashi.

Verse 69 (shiva.shatarudra.9.69)

वाराणस्यामुषित्वा यो भैरवं न भजेन्नरः । तस्य पापानि वर्द्धन्ते शुक्लपक्षे यथा शशी

vārāṇasyāmuṣitvā yo bhairavaṁ na bhajennaraḥ tasya pāpāni varddhante śuklapakṣe yathā śaśī

Whatever man dwells in Varanasi yet does not worship Bhairava — his sins increase, just as the moon waxes through the bright fortnight.

Verse 70 (shiva.shatarudra.9.70)

कालराजं न यः काश्यां प्रतिभूताष्टमीकुजम् । भजेत्तस्य क्षयं पुण्यं कृष्णपक्षे यथा शशी

kālarājaṁ na yaḥ kāśyāṁ pratibhūtāṣṭamīkujam bhajettasya kṣayaṁ puṇyaṁ kṛṣṇapakṣe yathā śaśī

Whoever fails to worship Kalaraja at Kashi on the eighth day that falls under Mars, the Tuesday-eighth — his merit wanes away like the moon through the dark fortnight.

Verse 71 (shiva.shatarudra.9.71)

श्रुत्वाख्यानमिदं पुण्यं ब्रह्महत्यापनोदकम् । भैरवोत्पत्तिसंज्ञं च सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

śrutvākhyānamidaṁ puṇyaṁ brahmahatyāpanodakam bhairavotpattisaṁjñaṁ ca sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Whoever hears this meritorious account — called 'The Origin of Bhairava,' which removes the sin of killing a Brahmin — is freed from all sins.

Verse 72 (shiva.shatarudra.9.72)

बन्धनागारसंस्थोऽपि प्राप्तोऽपि विपदं पराम् । प्रादुर्भावं भैरवस्य श्रुत्वा मुच्येत सङ्कटात्

bandhanāgārasaṁstho’pi prāpto’pi vipadaṁ parām prādurbhāvaṁ bhairavasya śrutvā mucyeta saṅkaṭāt

Even one confined within a prison, or one fallen into the direst calamity, upon hearing of the manifestation of Bhairava, is freed from that peril.