The Greatness of the Mahakala Jyotirlinga, Part One

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.16.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत सर्वं विजानासि वस्तु व्यासप्रसादतः । ज्योतिषां च कथां श्रुत्वा तृप्तिर्नैव प्रजायते ॥ 16.1 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta sarvaṁ vijānāsi vastu vyāsaprasādataḥ jyotiṣāṁ ca kathāṁ śrutvā tṛptirnaiva prajāyate

The sages said: O Suta, by Vyasa's grace you know everything; hearing the story of the Jyotirlingas, no satisfaction ever arises in us.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.16.2)

तस्मात्त्वं हि विशेषेण कृपां कृत्वातुलां प्रभो । ज्योतिर्लिङ्गं तृतीयं च कथय त्वं हि नोऽधुना ॥ 16.2 ॥

tasmāttvaṁ hi viśeṣeṇa kṛpāṁ kṛtvātulāṁ prabho jyotirliṅgaṁ tṛtīyaṁ ca kathaya tvaṁ hi no’dhunā

Therefore, O lord, showing us your especial, incomparable grace, tell us now the third Jyotirlinga.

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.16.3)

सूत उवाच । धन्योऽहं कृतकृत्योऽहं श्रीमतां भवतां यदि । गतश्च सङ्गमं विप्रा धन्या वै साधुसङ्गतिः ॥ 16.3 ॥

sūta uvāca dhanyo’haṁ kṛtakṛtyo’haṁ śrīmatāṁ bhavatāṁ yadi gataśca saṅgamaṁ viprā dhanyā vai sādhusaṅgatiḥ

Suta said: Blessed am I, fulfilled am I, since I have come into the company of you illustrious ones, O brahmins; blessed indeed is the company of the virtuous.

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.16.4)

अतो मत्वा स्वभाग्यं हि कथयिष्यामि पावनीम् । पापप्रणाशिनीं दिव्यां कथां च शृणुतादरात् ॥ 16.4 ॥

ato matvā svabhāgyaṁ hi kathayiṣyāmi pāvanīm pāpapraṇāśinīṁ divyāṁ kathāṁ ca śṛṇutādarāt

Considering this my own good fortune, I shall tell this purifying, sin-destroying, divine story; listen to it with reverence.

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.16.5)

अवन्ती नगरी रम्या मुक्तिदा सर्वदेहिनाम् । शिवप्रिया महापुण्या वर्तते लोकपावनी ॥ 16.5 ॥

avantī nagarī ramyā muktidā sarvadehinām śivapriyā mahāpuṇyā vartate lokapāvanī

There exists the beautiful city of Avanti, giver of liberation to all embodied beings, dear to Shiva, of great merit, purifier of the world.

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.16.6)

तत्रासीद् ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठः शुभकर्मपरायणः । वेदाध्ययनकर्ता च वेदकर्मरतः सदा ॥ 16.6 ॥

tatrāsīd brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhaḥ śubhakarmaparāyaṇaḥ vedādhyayanakartā ca vedakarmarataḥ sadā

There lived an excellent brahmin, devoted to auspicious deeds, a student of the Vedas, and always engaged in Vedic rites.

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.16.7)

अग्न्याधानसमायुक्तः शिवपूजारतः सदा । पार्थिवीं प्रत्यहं मूर्तिं पूजयामास वै द्विजः ॥ 16.7 ॥

agnyādhānasamāyuktaḥ śivapūjārataḥ sadā pārthivīṁ pratyahaṁ mūrtiṁ pūjayāmāsa vai dvijaḥ

Together with the maintenance of the sacred fire, he was always devoted to Shiva-worship; that brahmin daily worshipped an earthen image of Shiva.

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.16.8)

सर्वकर्मफलं प्राप्य द्विजो वेदप्रियः सदा । सतां गतिं समालेभे सम्यज्ज्ञानपरायणः ॥ 16.8 ॥

sarvakarmaphalaṁ prāpya dvijo vedapriyaḥ sadā satāṁ gatiṁ samālebhe samyajjñānaparāyaṇaḥ

That brahmin, ever fond of the Vedas, having obtained the fruit of all his rites, and wholly devoted to right knowledge, attained the destiny of the virtuous.

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.16.9)

तत्पुत्रास्तादृशाश्चासंश्चत्वारो मुनिसत्तमाः । शिवपूजारता नित्यं पित्रोरनवमाः सदा ॥ 16.9 ॥

tatputrāstādṛśāścāsaṁścatvāro munisattamāḥ śivapūjāratā nityaṁ pitroranavamāḥ sadā

O foremost sages, his sons were four, of like nature, ever devoted to Shiva-worship, in no way inferior to their parents.

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.16.10)

देवप्रियश्च तज्ज्येष्ठः प्रियमेधास्ततः परम् । तृतीयः सुकृतो नाम धर्मवाही च सुव्रतः ॥ 16.10 ॥

devapriyaśca tajjyeṣṭhaḥ priyamedhāstataḥ param tṛtīyaḥ sukṛto nāma dharmavāhī ca suvrataḥ

Devapriya was the eldest of them; next came Priyamedha; the third was named Sukrita, an upholder of dharma, of good vows.

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.16.11)

तेषां पुण्यप्रतापाच्च पृथिव्यां सुखमैधत । शुक्लपक्षे यथा चन्द्रो वर्धते च निरन्तरम् ॥ 16.11 ॥

teṣāṁ puṇyapratāpācca pṛthivyāṁ sukhamaidhata śuklapakṣe yathā candro vardhate ca nirantaram

By the power of their merit, happiness increased upon the earth, just as the moon continually waxes in the bright fortnight.

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.16.12)

तथा तेषां गुणास्तत्र वर्धन्ते स्म सुखावहाः । ब्रह्मतेजोमयी सा वै नगरी चाभवत्तदा ॥ 16.12 ॥

tathā teṣāṁ guṇāstatra vardhante sma sukhāvahāḥ brahmatejomayī sā vai nagarī cābhavattadā

Likewise, their happiness-bringing virtues increased there; and that city then became filled with the splendour of Brahminical power.

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.16.13)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र यज्जातं वृत्तमुत्तमम् । श्रूयतां तद् द्विजश्रेष्ठाः कथयामि यथाश्रुतम् ॥ 16.13 ॥

etasminnantare tatra yajjātaṁ vṛttamuttamam śrūyatāṁ tad dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ kathayāmi yathāśrutam

Meanwhile, O foremost brahmins, hear the excellent event that occurred there; I shall tell it as I have heard it.

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.16.14)

पर्वते रत्नमाले च दूषणाख्यो महासुरः । बलवान्दैत्यराजश्च धर्मद्वेषी निरन्तरम् ॥ 16.14 ॥

parvate ratnamāle ca dūṣaṇākhyo mahāsuraḥ balavāndaityarājaśca dharmadveṣī nirantaram

On Mount Ratnamala there was a great demon named Dushana, a powerful king of the demons, ceaselessly hostile to dharma.

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.16.15)

ब्रह्मणो वरदानाच्च जगत्तुच्छीचकार ह । देवाः पराजितास्तेन स्थानान्निःसारितास्तथा ॥ 16.15 ॥

brahmaṇo varadānācca jagattucchīcakāra ha devāḥ parājitāstena sthānānniḥsāritāstathā

By virtue of a boon granted by Brahma, he treated the whole world with contempt; the gods were defeated by him and driven out from their abodes.

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.16.16)

पृथिव्यां वेदधर्माश्च स्मृतिधर्माश्च सर्वशः । स्फोटितास्तेन दुष्टेन सिंहेनेव शशाः खलु ॥ 16.16 ॥

pṛthivyāṁ vedadharmāśca smṛtidharmāśca sarvaśaḥ sphoṭitāstena duṣṭena siṁheneva śaśāḥ khalu

On earth, the practices of Vedic and Smriti dharma were everywhere shattered by that wicked one — like hares indeed by a lion.

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.16.17)

यावन्तो वेदधर्माश्च तावन्तो दूरतः कृताः । तीर्थे तीर्थे तथा क्षेत्रे धर्मो नीतश्च दूरतः ॥ 16.17 ॥

yāvanto vedadharmāśca tāvanto dūrataḥ kṛtāḥ tīrthe tīrthe tathā kṣetre dharmo nītaśca dūrataḥ

Every single Vedic practice, all of them, were driven far away; likewise, at every holy ford and every holy place, dharma was carried far off.

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.16.18)

अवन्ती नगरी रम्या तत्रैका दृश्यते पुनः । इत्थं विचार्य तेनैव यत्कृतं श्रूयतां हि तत् ॥ 16.18 ॥

avantī nagarī ramyā tatraikā dṛśyate punaḥ itthaṁ vicārya tenaiva yatkṛtaṁ śrūyatāṁ hi tat

Only the beautiful city of Avanti was still seen, alone, remaining as it was; considering this, hear what that demon then did.

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.16.19)

बहुसैन्यसमायुक्तो दूषणः स महासुरः । तत्रस्थान्ब्राह्मणान्सर्वानुद्दिश्य समुपाययौ ॥ 16.19 ॥

bahusainyasamāyukto dūṣaṇaḥ sa mahāsuraḥ tatrasthānbrāhmaṇānsarvānuddiśya samupāyayau

That great demon Dushana, accompanied by a vast army, set out, targeting all the brahmins residing there.

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.16.20)

तत्रागत्य स दैत्येन्द्रश्चतुरो दैत्यसत्तमान् । प्रोवाचाहूय वचनं विप्रद्रोही महाखलः ॥ 16.20 ॥

tatrāgatya sa daityendraścaturo daityasattamān provācāhūya vacanaṁ vipradrohī mahākhalaḥ

Coming there, that lord of demons, a great villain hostile to the brahmins, summoned four excellent demons and spoke this word to them.

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.16.21)

दैत्य उवाच । किमेते ब्राह्मणा दुष्टा न कुर्वन्ति वचो मम । वेदधर्मरता एते सर्वे दण्ड्या मते मम ॥ 16.21 ॥

daitya uvāca kimete brāhmaṇā duṣṭā na kurvanti vaco mama vedadharmaratā ete sarve daṇḍyā mate mama

The demon said: Why do these wicked brahmins not obey my word? All these people devoted to Vedic dharma deserve punishment, in my view.

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.16.22)

सर्वे देवा मया लोके राजानश्च पराजिताः । वशे किं ब्राह्मणाः शक्या न कर्तुं दैत्यसत्तमाः ॥ 16.22 ॥

sarve devā mayā loke rājānaśca parājitāḥ vaśe kiṁ brāhmaṇāḥ śakyā na kartuṁ daityasattamāḥ

By me, all the gods and kings in the world have been defeated; O excellent demons, are brahmins alone not able to be brought under control?

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.16.23)

यदि जीवितुमिच्छा स्यात्तदा धर्मं शिवस्य च । वेदानां परमं धर्मं त्यक्त्वा सुखसुभागिनः ॥ 16.23 ॥

yadi jīvitumicchā syāttadā dharmaṁ śivasya ca vedānāṁ paramaṁ dharmaṁ tyaktvā sukhasubhāginaḥ

If they wish to live, then, abandoning the dharma of Shiva and the supreme dharma of the Vedas, let them become sharers in happiness by submitting to me.

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.16.24)

अन्यथा जीवने तेषां संशयश्च भविष्यति । इति सत्यं मया प्रोक्तं तत्कुरुध्वं विशङ्किताः ॥ 16.24 ॥

anyathā jīvane teṣāṁ saṁśayaśca bhaviṣyati iti satyaṁ mayā proktaṁ tatkurudhvaṁ viśaṅkitāḥ

Otherwise, their very lives shall be in doubt. This truth I have declared; go and act on it, without hesitation.

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.16.25)

सूत उवाच । इति निश्चित्य ते दैत्याश्चत्वारः पावका इव । चतुर्दिक्षु तदा जाताः प्रलये च यथा पुरा ॥ 16.25 ॥

sūta uvāca iti niścitya te daityāścatvāraḥ pāvakā iva caturdikṣu tadā jātāḥ pralaye ca yathā purā

Suta said: Having resolved thus, those four demons, like blazing fires, then appeared in the four directions, as at the time of the primordial deluge.

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.16.26)

ते ब्राह्मणास्तदा श्रुत्वा दैत्यानामुद्यमं तदा । न दुःखं लेभिरे तत्र शिवध्यानपरायणाः ॥ 16.26 ॥

te brāhmaṇāstadā śrutvā daityānāmudyamaṁ tadā na duḥkhaṁ lebhire tatra śivadhyānaparāyaṇāḥ

Those brahmins, hearing then of the demons' assault, felt no distress there, wholly absorbed in meditation upon Shiva.

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.16.27)

धैर्यं समाश्रितास्ते च रेखामात्रं तदा द्विजाः । न चेलुः परमध्यानाद्वराकाः के शिवाग्रतः ॥ 16.27 ॥

dhairyaṁ samāśritāste ca rekhāmātraṁ tadā dvijāḥ na celuḥ paramadhyānādvarākāḥ ke śivāgrataḥ

Taking refuge in courage, those brahmins did not move even a hairsbreadth from their supreme meditation — for who are the wretched demons before Shiva?

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.16.28)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तैस्तु व्याप्तासीन्नगरी शुभा । लोकाश्च पीडितास्तैस्तु ब्राह्मणान्समुपाययुः ॥ 16.28 ॥

etasminnantare taistu vyāptāsīnnagarī śubhā lokāśca pīḍitāstaistu brāhmaṇānsamupāyayuḥ

Meanwhile, that fair city became overrun by them, and the people, tormented by them, came to the brahmins for help.

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.16.29)

लोका ऊचुः । स्वामिनः किं च कर्तव्यं दुष्टाश्च समुपागताः । हिंसिता बहवो लोका आगताश्च समीपतः ॥ 16.29 ॥

lokā ūcuḥ svāminaḥ kiṁ ca kartavyaṁ duṣṭāśca samupāgatāḥ hiṁsitā bahavo lokā āgatāśca samīpataḥ

The people said: O lords, what is to be done? Wicked ones have arrived; many people have been slain, and they are drawing near.

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.16.30)

सूत उवाच । तेषामिति वचः श्रुत्वा वेदप्रियसुताश्च ते । समूचुर्ब्राह्मणाँस्तान्वै विश्वस्ताः शङ्करे सदा ॥ 16.30 ॥

sūta uvāca teṣāmiti vacaḥ śrutvā vedapriyasutāśca te samūcurbrāhmaṇā~stānvai viśvastāḥ śaṅkare sadā

Suta said: Hearing these words of theirs, those sons of Devapriya, ever trusting in Shankara, spoke thus to those brahmins.

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.16.31)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः । श्रूयतां विद्यते नैव बलं दुष्टभयावहम् । न शस्त्राणि तथा सन्ति यच्च ते विमुखाः पुनः ॥ 16.31 ॥

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ śrūyatāṁ vidyate naiva balaṁ duṣṭabhayāvaham na śastrāṇi tathā santi yacca te vimukhāḥ punaḥ

The brahmins said: Listen — we have no strength to bring fear upon the wicked, nor do we have weapons, that they should turn away again in fear.

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.16.32)

सामान्यस्यापमानो नो ह्याश्रयस्य भवेदिह । पुनश्च किं समर्थस्य शिवस्येह भविष्यति ॥ 16.32 ॥

sāmānyasyāpamāno no hyāśrayasya bhavediha punaśca kiṁ samarthasya śivasyeha bhaviṣyati

The dishonour of even an ordinary protector does not go unanswered here — how much more so, then, of the all-capable Shiva?

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.16.33)

शिवो रक्षां करोत्वद्यासुराणां भयतः प्रभुः । नान्यथा शरणं लोके भक्तवत्सलतः शिवात् ॥ 16.33 ॥

śivo rakṣāṁ karotvadyāsurāṇāṁ bhayataḥ prabhuḥ nānyathā śaraṇaṁ loke bhaktavatsalataḥ śivāt

Let the Lord Shiva today protect us from fear of these demons; in this world there is no other refuge than Shiva, so affectionate to his devotees.

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.16.34)

सूत उवाच । इति धैर्यं समास्थाय समर्चां पार्थिवस्य च । कृत्वा ते च द्विजाः सम्यक् स्थिता ध्यानपरायणाः । दृष्टा दैत्येन तावच्च ते विप्राः सबलेन हि ॥ 16.34 ॥

sūta uvāca iti dhairyaṁ samāsthāya samarcāṁ pārthivasya ca kṛtvā te ca dvijāḥ samyak sthitā dhyānaparāyaṇāḥ dṛṣṭā daityena tāvacca te viprāḥ sabalena hi

Suta said: Thus taking courage, and duly performing worship of the earthen linga, those brahmins remained absorbed in meditation; and just then those brahmins were seen by the demon and his forces.

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.16.35)

दूषणेन वचः प्रोक्तं हन्यतां वध्यतामिति । तच्छ्रुतं तैस्तदा नैव दैत्यप्रोक्तं वचो द्विजैः । वेदप्रियसुतैः शम्भोर्ध्यानमार्गपरायणैः ॥ 16.35 ॥

dūṣaṇena vacaḥ proktaṁ hanyatāṁ vadhyatāmiti tacchrutaṁ taistadā naiva daityaproktaṁ vaco dvijaiḥ vedapriyasutaiḥ śambhordhyānamārgaparāyaṇaiḥ

Dushana gave the order, "Let them be slain, let them be killed!" But those sons of Devapriya, wholly absorbed in the path of meditation on Shambhu, did not hear that word spoken by the demon at all.

Verse 36 (shiva.kotirudra.16.36)

अथ यावत्स दुष्टात्मा हन्तुमैच्छद् द्विजांश्च तान् । तावच्च प्रार्थिवस्थाने गर्त आसीत्सशब्दकः ॥ 16.36 ॥

atha yāvatsa duṣṭātmā hantumaicchad dvijāṁśca tān tāvacca prārthivasthāne garta āsītsaśabdakaḥ

Then, just as that wicked-souled one wished to slay those brahmins, at that very moment, in the place of the earthen linga, a pit appeared, with a great roaring sound.

Verse 37 (shiva.kotirudra.16.37)

गर्तात्ततः समुत्पन्नः शिवो विकटरूपधृक् । महाकाल इति ख्यातो दुष्टहन्ता सतां गतिः ॥ 16.37 ॥

gartāttataḥ samutpannaḥ śivo vikaṭarūpadhṛk mahākāla iti khyāto duṣṭahantā satāṁ gatiḥ

From that pit then arose Shiva, bearing a terrifying form, known as Mahakala, slayer of the wicked, refuge of the virtuous.

Verse 38 (shiva.kotirudra.16.38)

महाकालः समुत्पन्नो दुष्टानां त्वादृशामहम् । खल त्वं ब्राह्मणानां हि समीपाद् दूरतो व्रज ॥ 16.38 ॥

mahākālaḥ samutpanno duṣṭānāṁ tvādṛśāmaham khala tvaṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ hi samīpād dūrato vraja

"I, Mahakala, have arisen for the destruction of the wicked like you. O villain, go far away from the presence of these brahmins!"

Verse 39 (shiva.kotirudra.16.39)

इत्युक्त्वा हुङ्कृतेनैव भस्मसात्कृतवांस्तदा । दूषणं च महाकालः शङ्करः सबलं द्रुतम् ॥ 16.39 ॥

ityuktvā huṅkṛtenaiva bhasmasātkṛtavāṁstadā dūṣaṇaṁ ca mahākālaḥ śaṅkaraḥ sabalaṁ drutam

Saying this, Mahakala Shankara, with a mere roar of "Hum," instantly reduced Dushana, along with his forces, to ashes.

Verse 40 (shiva.kotirudra.16.40)

कियत्सैन्यं हतं तेन किञ्चित्सैन्यं पलायितम् । दूषणश्च हतस्तेन शिवेनेह परात्मना ॥ 16.40 ॥

kiyatsainyaṁ hataṁ tena kiñcitsainyaṁ palāyitam dūṣaṇaśca hatastena śiveneha parātmanā

Some of the army was slain by him, some of the army fled; and Dushana himself was slain here by that Shiva, the Supreme Self.

Verse 41 (shiva.kotirudra.16.41)

सूर्यं दृष्ट्वा यथा याति सङ्क्षयं सर्वशस्तमः । तथैव च शिवं दृष्ट्वा तत्सैन्यं विननाश ह ॥ 16.41 ॥

sūryaṁ dṛṣṭvā yathā yāti saṅkṣayaṁ sarvaśastamaḥ tathaiva ca śivaṁ dṛṣṭvā tatsainyaṁ vinanāśa ha

Just as, on seeing the sun, all darkness completely vanishes, so too, on seeing Shiva, that army was utterly destroyed.

Verse 42 (shiva.kotirudra.16.42)

देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुः पुष्पवृष्टिः पपात ह । देवः समाययुः सर्वे हरिब्रह्मादयस्तथा ॥ 16.42 ॥

devadundubhayo neduḥ puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ papāta ha devaḥ samāyayuḥ sarve haribrahmādayastathā

The divine drums resounded, and a shower of flowers fell; all the gods, including Hari, Brahma, and the rest, came there.

Verse 43 (shiva.kotirudra.16.43)

भक्त्या प्रणम्य तं देवं शङ्करं लोकशङ्करम् । तुष्टुवुर्विविधैः स्तोत्रैः कृताञ्जलिपुटा द्विजाः ॥ 16.43 ॥

bhaktyā praṇamya taṁ devaṁ śaṅkaraṁ lokaśaṅkaram tuṣṭuvurvividhaiḥ stotraiḥ kṛtāñjalipuṭā dvijāḥ

Bowing with devotion to that god Shankara, the benefactor of the world, the brahmins, with hands folded in reverence, praised him with various hymns.

Verse 44 (shiva.kotirudra.16.44)

ब्राह्मणांश्च समाश्वास्य सुप्रसन्नः शिवः स्वयम् । वरं ब्रूतेति चोवाच महाकालो महेश्वरः ॥ 16.44 ॥

brāhmaṇāṁśca samāśvāsya suprasannaḥ śivaḥ svayam varaṁ brūteti covāca mahākālo maheśvaraḥ

Consoling the brahmins, Shiva himself, well pleased, that Maheshvara Mahakala, said, "Ask a boon."

Verse 45 (shiva.kotirudra.16.45)

तच्छ्रुत्वा ते द्विजाः सर्वे कृताञ्जलिपुटास्तदा । सुप्रणम्य शिवं भक्त्या प्रोचुः सन्नतमस्तकाः ॥ 16.45 ॥

tacchrutvā te dvijāḥ sarve kṛtāñjalipuṭāstadā supraṇamya śivaṁ bhaktyā procuḥ sannatamastakāḥ

Hearing this, all those brahmins, hands folded in reverence, having duly bowed to Shiva with devotion, spoke with heads lowered.

Verse 46 (shiva.kotirudra.16.46)

द्विजा ऊचुः । महाकाल महादेव दुष्टदण्डकर प्रभो । मुक्तिं प्रयच्छ नः शम्भो संसाराम्बुधितः शिव ॥ 16.46 ॥

dvijā ūcuḥ mahākāla mahādeva duṣṭadaṇḍakara prabho muktiṁ prayaccha naḥ śambho saṁsārāmbudhitaḥ śiva

The brahmins said: O Mahakala, Mahadeva, O lord who punishes the wicked, grant us liberation, O Shambhu, from the ocean of worldly existence, O Shiva.

Verse 47 (shiva.kotirudra.16.47)

अत्रैव लोकरक्षार्थं स्थातव्यं हि त्वया शिव । स्वदर्शकान्नरान् शम्भो तारय त्वं सदा प्रभो ॥ 16.47 ॥

atraiva lokarakṣārthaṁ sthātavyaṁ hi tvayā śiva svadarśakānnarān śambho tāraya tvaṁ sadā prabho

You must remain here itself, O Shiva, for the protection of the world; O Shambhu, O lord, always deliver those people who behold you.

Verse 48 (shiva.kotirudra.16.48)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तस्तैः शिवस्तत्र तस्थौ गर्ते सुशोभने । भक्तानां चैव रक्षार्थं दत्त्वा तेभ्यश्च सद्गतिम् ॥ 16.48 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktastaiḥ śivastatra tasthau garte suśobhane bhaktānāṁ caiva rakṣārthaṁ dattvā tebhyaśca sadgatim

Suta said: Thus addressed by them, Shiva remained there in that beautiful pit, for the protection of his devotees, having granted them a good end.

Verse 49 (shiva.kotirudra.16.49)

द्विजास्ते मुक्तिमापन्नाश्चतुर्द्दिक्षु शिवास्पदम् । क्रोशमात्रं तदा जातं लिङ्गरूपिण एव च ॥ 16.49 ॥

dvijāste muktimāpannāścaturddikṣu śivāspadam krośamātraṁ tadā jātaṁ liṅgarūpiṇa eva ca

Those brahmins attained liberation; Shiva's abode extended a full krosha in the four directions, having taken linga-form itself.

Verse 50 (shiva.kotirudra.16.50)

महाकालेश्वरो नाम शिवः ख्यातश्च भूतले । तं दृष्ट्वा न भवेत्स्वप्ने किञ्चिद्दुःखमपि द्विजाः ॥ 16.50 ॥

mahākāleśvaro nāma śivaḥ khyātaśca bhūtale taṁ dṛṣṭvā na bhavetsvapne kiñcidduḥkhamapi dvijāḥ

Shiva became renowned on earth by the name Mahakaleshvara; O brahmins, having beheld him, no sorrow whatsoever comes, even in a dream.

Verse 51 (shiva.kotirudra.16.51)

यं यं काममपेक्ष्यैव तल्लिङ्गं भजते तु यः । तं तं काममवाप्नोति लभेन्मोक्षं परत्र च ॥ 16.51 ॥

yaṁ yaṁ kāmamapekṣyaiva talliṅgaṁ bhajate tu yaḥ taṁ taṁ kāmamavāpnoti labhenmokṣaṁ paratra ca

Whoever worships that linga, desiring this or that particular wish, obtains that very desire, and attains liberation in the world beyond.

Verse 52 (shiva.kotirudra.16.52)

एतत्सर्वं समाख्यातं महाकालस्य सुव्रताः । समुद्भवश्च माहात्म्यं किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छथ ॥ 16.52 ॥

etatsarvaṁ samākhyātaṁ mahākālasya suvratāḥ samudbhavaśca māhātmyaṁ kimanyacchrotumicchatha

O men of good vows, all this has been told — the origin and greatness of Mahakala. What else do you wish to hear?