The Origin of the Bhimeshvara Jyotirlinga and Its Greatness

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.21.1)

सूत उवाच । शिवोऽपि च गणैः सार्धं जगाम हितकाम्यया । स्वभक्तनिकटं गुप्तस्तस्थौ रक्षार्थमादरात् ॥ 21.1 ॥

sūta uvāca śivo’pi ca gaṇaiḥ sārdhaṁ jagāma hitakāmyayā svabhaktanikaṭaṁ guptastasthau rakṣārthamādarāt

Suta said: Shiva too, together with his ganas, went there out of desire for the world's welfare, and, in order to protect his devotee, remained hidden nearby with reverent care.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.21.2)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र कामरूपेश्वरेण च । अत्यन्तं ध्यानमारब्धं पार्थिवस्य पुरस्तदा ॥ 21.2 ॥

etasminnantare tatra kāmarūpeśvareṇa ca atyantaṁ dhyānamārabdhaṁ pārthivasya purastadā

Meanwhile, the lord of Kamarupa began there a most intense meditation before the earthen linga.

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.21.3)

केनचित्तत्र गत्वा च राक्षसाय निवेदितम् । राजा किञ्चित्करोत्येवं त्वदर्थं ह्याभिचारिकम् ॥ 21.3 ॥

kenacittatra gatvā ca rākṣasāya niveditam rājā kiñcitkarotyevaṁ tvadarthaṁ hyābhicārikam

Someone went there and reported to the demon that the king was performing some sorcery-rite against him.

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.21.4)

सूत उवाच । राक्षसः स च तच्छ्रुत्वा क्रुद्धस्तद् हननेच्छया । गृहीत्वा करवालं च जगाम नृपतिं प्रति ॥ 21.4 ॥

sūta uvāca rākṣasaḥ sa ca tacchrutvā kruddhastad hananecchayā gṛhītvā karavālaṁ ca jagāma nṛpatiṁ prati

Suta said: Hearing this, the demon grew enraged and, wishing to kill him, seized his sword and advanced toward the king.

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.21.5)

तद् दृष्ट्वा राक्षसस्तत्र पार्थिवादि स्थितं च यत् । तदर्थं तत्स्वरूपं च दृष्ट्वा किञ्चित्करोत्यसौ ॥ 21.5 ॥

tad dṛṣṭvā rākṣasastatra pārthivādi sthitaṁ ca yat tadarthaṁ tatsvarūpaṁ ca dṛṣṭvā kiñcitkarotyasau

Seeing the earthen linga and everything established there, and seeing that very form, the demon wondered what he was doing.

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.21.6)

अत एनं बलादद्य हन्मि सोपस्करं नृपम् । विचार्येति महाक्रुद्धो राक्षसः प्राह तं नृपम् ॥ 21.6 ॥

ata enaṁ balādadya hanmi sopaskaraṁ nṛpam vicāryeti mahākruddho rākṣasaḥ prāha taṁ nṛpam

'Therefore I shall today forcibly slay this king along with all his equipment' — thinking thus, the enraged demon spoke to the king.

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.21.7)

भीम उवाच । रे रे पार्थिव दुष्टात्मन् क्रियते किं त्वयाधुना । सत्यं वद न हन्यां त्वामन्यथा हन्मि निश्चितम् ॥ 21.7 ॥

bhīma uvāca re re pārthiva duṣṭātman kriyate kiṁ tvayādhunā satyaṁ vada na hanyāṁ tvāmanyathā hanmi niścitam

Bhima said: O wicked-souled king, what are you doing now? Speak the truth — otherwise I shall surely kill you; if you speak truly, I shall not.

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.21.8)

सूत उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य कामरूपेश्वरश्च सः । मनसीति चिचिन्ताशु शिवविश्वासपूरितः ॥ 21.8 ॥

sūta uvāca iti śrutvā vacastasya kāmarūpeśvaraśca saḥ manasīti cicintāśu śivaviśvāsapūritaḥ

Suta said: Hearing his words, that lord of Kamarupa, filled with faith in Shiva, immediately reflected within his mind as follows.

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.21.9)

भविष्यं यद्भवत्येव नास्ति तस्य निवर्तकः । प्रारब्धाधीनमेवात्र प्रारब्धः स शिवः स्मृतः ॥ 21.9 ॥

bhaviṣyaṁ yadbhavatyeva nāsti tasya nivartakaḥ prārabdhādhīnamevātra prārabdhaḥ sa śivaḥ smṛtaḥ

Whatever is destined to happen must happen; none can prevent it. Here all is subject to destiny, and that very destiny is remembered as Shiva himself.

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.21.10)

कृपालुः शङ्करश्चात्र पार्थिवे वर्तते ध्रुवम् । मदर्थं न करोतीह कुतः कोऽयं च राक्षसः ॥ 21.10 ॥

kṛpāluḥ śaṅkaraścātra pārthive vartate dhruvam madarthaṁ na karotīha kutaḥ ko’yaṁ ca rākṣasaḥ

The compassionate Shankara surely dwells in this earthen image; if he does nothing for my sake — then where indeed does this demon come from at all?

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.21.11)

स्वानुरूपां प्रतिज्ञां स सत्यं चैव करिष्यति । सत्यप्रतिज्ञो भगवान् शिवश्चेति श्रुतौ श्रुतः ॥ 21.11 ॥

svānurūpāṁ pratijñāṁ sa satyaṁ caiva kariṣyati satyapratijño bhagavān śivaśceti śrutau śrutaḥ

He will surely fulfill his own promise, true to his word; the blessed Shiva is one whose vows are ever true — thus it is heard in the scriptures.

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.21.12)

मम भक्तं यदा कश्चित्पीडयत्यतिदारुणः । तदाहं तस्य रक्षार्थं दुष्टं हन्मि न संशयः ॥ 21.12 ॥

mama bhaktaṁ yadā kaścitpīḍayatyatidāruṇaḥ tadāhaṁ tasya rakṣārthaṁ duṣṭaṁ hanmi na saṁśayaḥ

(Such is Shiva's own vow:) 'Whenever some most cruel being torments my devotee, then, to protect him, I slay that wicked one — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.21.13)

एवं धैर्यं समालम्ब्य ध्यात्वा देवं च शङ्करम् । प्रार्थयामास सद्भक्त्या मनसैव रसेश्वरः ॥ 21.13 ॥

evaṁ dhairyaṁ samālambya dhyātvā devaṁ ca śaṅkaram prārthayāmāsa sadbhaktyā manasaiva raseśvaraḥ

Thus taking courage, meditating upon the god Shankara, that king prayed to him in his heart with true devotion.

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.21.14)

त्वदीयोऽस्मि महाराज यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु । सत्यं च वचनं ह्यत्र ब्रवीमि कुरु मे हितम् ॥ 21.14 ॥

tvadīyo’smi mahārāja yathecchasi tathā kuru satyaṁ ca vacanaṁ hyatra bravīmi kuru me hitam

'O great lord, I am yours alone; do as you wish. Here I speak the truth — grant me my good.'

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.21.15)

एवं मनसि स ध्यात्वा सत्यपाशेन यन्त्रितः । प्राह सत्यं वचो राजा राक्षसं चावमानयन् ॥ 21.15 ॥

evaṁ manasi sa dhyātvā satyapāśena yantritaḥ prāha satyaṁ vaco rājā rākṣasaṁ cāvamānayan

Having thus meditated in his mind, bound by the bond of truth, the king spoke true words, treating the demon with disdain.

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.21.16)

नृप उवाच । भजामि शङ्करं देवं स्वभक्तपरिपालकम् । चराचराणां सर्वेषामीश्वरं निर्विकारकम् ॥ 21.16 ॥

nṛpa uvāca bhajāmi śaṅkaraṁ devaṁ svabhaktaparipālakam carācarāṇāṁ sarveṣāmīśvaraṁ nirvikārakam

The king said: I worship the god Shankara, protector of his devotees, lord of all things moving and unmoving, and free from change.

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.21.17)

सूत उवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा कामरूपेश्वरस्य सः । क्रोधेन प्रचलद्गात्रो भीमो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 21.17 ॥

sūta uvāca iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā kāmarūpeśvarasya saḥ krodhena pracaladgātro bhīmo vacanamabravīt

Suta said: Hearing this speech of the lord of Kamarupa, Bhima, his body trembling with fury, spoke as follows.

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.21.18)

भीम उवाच । शङ्करस्ते मया ज्ञातः किं करिष्यति वै मम । यो मे पितृव्यकेनैव स्थापितः किङ्करो यथा ॥ 21.18 ॥

bhīma uvāca śaṅkaraste mayā jñātaḥ kiṁ kariṣyati vai mama yo me pitṛvyakenaiva sthāpitaḥ kiṅkaro yathā

Bhima said: I know your Shankara well — what can he do to me? He was set up like a mere servant by my own uncle.

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.21.19)

तद्बलं हि समाश्रित्य विजेतुं त्वं समीहसे । तर्हि त्वया जितं सर्वं नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ 21.19 ॥

tadbalaṁ hi samāśritya vijetuṁ tvaṁ samīhase tarhi tvayā jitaṁ sarvaṁ nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Relying on his strength alone, you hope to conquer — well then, you have conquered everything indeed!

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.21.20)

यावन्मया न दृष्टो हि शङ्करस्त्वत्प्रपालकः । तावत्त्वं स्वामिनं मत्वा सेवसे नान्यथा क्वचित् ॥ 21.20 ॥

yāvanmayā na dṛṣṭo hi śaṅkarastvatprapālakaḥ tāvattvaṁ svāminaṁ matvā sevase nānyathā kvacit

Only until I have seen this Shankara of yours, your so-called protector, can you go on regarding him as your lord and serving him — never otherwise.

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.21.21)

मया दृष्टे च तत्सर्वं स्फुटं स्यात्सर्वथा नृप । तस्मात्त्वं वै शिवस्येदं रूपं दूरतरं कुरु ॥ 21.21 ॥

mayā dṛṣṭe ca tatsarvaṁ sphuṭaṁ syātsarvathā nṛpa tasmāttvaṁ vai śivasyedaṁ rūpaṁ dūrataraṁ kuru

O king, once I have seen him, all this will become perfectly plain; therefore, remove this form of Shiva far from here.

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.21.22)

अन्यथा हि भयं तेऽद्य भविष्यति न संशयः । स्वामिनस्ते करं तीक्ष्णं दास्येऽहं भीमविक्रमः ॥ 21.22 ॥

anyathā hi bhayaṁ te’dya bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ svāminaste karaṁ tīkṣṇaṁ dāsye’haṁ bhīmavikramaḥ

Otherwise, today you shall surely have cause to fear; I, of terrible might, shall deal your so-called lord a sharp blow with my own hand.

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.21.23)

सूत उवाच । इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कामरूपेश्वरो नृपः । दृढं शङ्करविश्वासो द्रुतं वाक्यमुवाच तम् ॥ 21.23 ॥

sūta uvāca iti tadvacanaṁ śrutvā kāmarūpeśvaro nṛpaḥ dṛḍhaṁ śaṅkaraviśvāso drutaṁ vākyamuvāca tam

Suta said: Hearing these words, the king of Kamarupa, firm in his faith in Shankara, quickly spoke this reply to him.

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.21.24)

राजोवाच । अहं च पामरो दुष्टो न मोक्ष्ये शङ्करं पुनः । सर्वोत्कृष्टश्च मे स्वामी न मां मुञ्चति कर्हिचित् ॥ 21.24 ॥

rājovāca ahaṁ ca pāmaro duṣṭo na mokṣye śaṅkaraṁ punaḥ sarvotkṛṣṭaśca me svāmī na māṁ muñcati karhicit

The king said: Wretched and unworthy though I may be, I shall never abandon Shankara; and my most excellent lord likewise never forsakes me.

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.21.25)

सूत उवाच । एवं वचस्तदा श्रुत्वा तस्य राज्ञः शिवात्मनः । तं प्रहस्य द्रुतं भीमो भूपतिं राक्षसोऽब्रवीत् ॥ 21.25 ॥

sūta uvāca evaṁ vacastadā śrutvā tasya rājñaḥ śivātmanaḥ taṁ prahasya drutaṁ bhīmo bhūpatiṁ rākṣaso’bravīt

Suta said: Hearing these words of that king devoted to Shiva, the demon Bhima laughed at him and quickly spoke.

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.21.26)

भीम उवाच । मत्तो भिक्षयते नित्यं स किं जानाति स्वाकृतिम् । योगिनां का च निष्ठा वै भक्तानां प्रतिपालने ॥ 21.26 ॥

bhīma uvāca matto bhikṣayate nityaṁ sa kiṁ jānāti svākṛtim yogināṁ kā ca niṣṭhā vai bhaktānāṁ pratipālane

Bhima said: He who daily begs alms even from me — what could he know of his own true power? What steadfastness could a mere ascetic have in protecting his devotees?

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.21.27)

इति कृत्वा मतिं त्वं च दूरतो भव सर्वथा । अहं च तव स स्वामी युद्धं वै करवावहे ॥ 21.27 ॥

iti kṛtvā matiṁ tvaṁ ca dūrato bhava sarvathā ahaṁ ca tava sa svāmī yuddhaṁ vai karavāvahe

Having resolved thus, stand aside entirely; let your so-called lord and I fight it out between ourselves.

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.21.28)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तः स नृपश्रेष्ठः शम्भुभक्तो दृढव्रतः । प्रत्युवाचाभयो भीमं दुःखदं जगतां सदा ॥ 21.28 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktaḥ sa nṛpaśreṣṭhaḥ śambhubhakto dṛḍhavrataḥ pratyuvācābhayo bhīmaṁ duḥkhadaṁ jagatāṁ sadā

Suta said: Thus addressed, that excellent king, a steadfast devotee of Shambhu, replied fearlessly to Bhima, ever the bringer of sorrow to the world.

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.21.29)

राजोवाच । शृणु राक्षस दुष्टात्मन्मया कर्तुं न शक्यते । त्वया विक्रियते तर्हि कुतस्त्वं शक्तिमानसि ॥ 21.29 ॥

rājovāca śṛṇu rākṣasa duṣṭātmanmayā kartuṁ na śakyate tvayā vikriyate tarhi kutastvaṁ śaktimānasi

The king said: Listen, O wicked demon, I cannot do what you ask; if you yourself wish to remove him, then do so — but where is your power to accomplish it?

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.21.30)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तः सैन्यमादाय राजानं परिभर्त्स्य तम् । करालं करवालं च पार्थिवे प्राक्षिपत्तदा ॥ 21.30 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktaḥ sainyamādāya rājānaṁ paribhartsya tam karālaṁ karavālaṁ ca pārthive prākṣipattadā

Suta said: Thus addressed, gathering his forces and threatening the king, he then struck a fearsome blow with his sword at the earthen linga.

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.21.31)

पश्य त्वं स्वामिनोऽद्यैव बलं भक्तसुखावहम् । इत्युवाच विहस्यैव राक्षसैः स महाबलः ॥ 21.31 ॥

paśya tvaṁ svāmino’dyaiva balaṁ bhaktasukhāvaham ityuvāca vihasyaiva rākṣasaiḥ sa mahābalaḥ

'This very day, behold the strength of your so-called lord, the bringer of joy to his devotees!' — so saying, that mighty one laughed aloud along with his fellow demons.

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.21.32)

करवालः पार्थिवं च यावत्स्पृशति नो द्विजाः । तावच्च पार्थिवात्तस्मादाविरासीत्स्वयं हरः ॥ 21.32 ॥

karavālaḥ pārthivaṁ ca yāvatspṛśati no dvijāḥ tāvacca pārthivāttasmādāvirāsītsvayaṁ haraḥ

O brahmins, just as that sword was about to touch the earthen linga, at that very instant Hara himself appeared out of it.

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.21.33)

पश्य भीमेश्वरोऽहं च रक्षार्थं प्रकटोऽभवम् । मम पूर्वव्रतं ह्येतद्रक्ष्यो भक्तो मया सदा ॥ 21.33 ॥

paśya bhīmeśvaro’haṁ ca rakṣārthaṁ prakaṭo’bhavam mama pūrvavrataṁ hyetadrakṣyo bhakto mayā sadā

(Shiva declared:) Behold, I am Bhimeshvara; I have manifested here for the very purpose of protection — this is my ancient vow, that I ever protect my devotee.

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.21.34)

एतस्मात्पश्य मे शीघ्रं बलं भक्तसुखावहम् । इत्युक्त्वा स पिनाकेन करवालो द्विधा कृतः ॥ 21.34 ॥

etasmātpaśya me śīghraṁ balaṁ bhaktasukhāvaham ityuktvā sa pinākena karavālo dvidhā kṛtaḥ

'Now behold at once my strength, which brings joy to my devotees' — so saying, with his bow Pinaka he cut that sword in two.

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.21.35)

पुनश्चैव त्रिशूलं स्वं चिक्षिपे तेन रक्षसा । तच्छूलं शतधा नीतमपि दुष्टस्य शम्भुना ॥ 21.35 ॥

punaścaiva triśūlaṁ svaṁ cikṣipe tena rakṣasā tacchūlaṁ śatadhā nītamapi duṣṭasya śambhunā

Then that demon hurled his own trident, but Shambhu shattered even that wicked one's trident into a hundred pieces.

Verse 36 (shiva.kotirudra.21.36)

पुनः शक्तिश्च निःक्षिप्ता तेन शम्भूपरि द्विजाः । शम्भुना सापि बाणैः स्वैर्लक्षधा च कृता द्रुतम् ॥ 21.36 ॥

punaḥ śaktiśca niḥkṣiptā tena śambhūpari dvijāḥ śambhunā sāpi bāṇaiḥ svairlakṣadhā ca kṛtā drutam

O brahmins, then he hurled his javelin at Shambhu, but Shambhu, with his own arrows, instantly shattered that too into a hundred thousand fragments.

Verse 37 (shiva.kotirudra.21.37)

पट्टिशश्च ततस्तेन निःक्षिप्तो हि शिवोपरि । शिवेन स त्रिशूलेन तिलशश्च कृतं क्षणात् ॥ 21.37 ॥

paṭṭiśaśca tatastena niḥkṣipto hi śivopari śivena sa triśūlena tilaśaśca kṛtaṁ kṣaṇāt

Then he hurled a battle-axe at Shiva, which Shiva, with his trident, shattered instantly into pieces as small as sesame seeds.

Verse 38 (shiva.kotirudra.21.38)

ततः शिवगणानां च राक्षसानां परस्परम् । युद्धमासीत्तदा घोरं पश्यतां दुःखकावहम् ॥ 21.38 ॥

tataḥ śivagaṇānāṁ ca rākṣasānāṁ parasparam yuddhamāsīttadā ghoraṁ paśyatāṁ duḥkhakāvaham

Then between Shiva's ganas and the demons there ensued a terrible battle, distressing even to those who merely watched it.

Verse 39 (shiva.kotirudra.21.39)

ततश्च पृथिवी सर्वा व्याकुला चाभवत्क्षणात् । समुद्राश्च तदा सर्वे चुक्षुभुः समहीधराः ॥ 21.39 ॥

tataśca pṛthivī sarvā vyākulā cābhavatkṣaṇāt samudrāśca tadā sarve cukṣubhuḥ samahīdharāḥ

In that instant the whole earth grew agitated, and all the oceans, together with the mountains, were thrown into turmoil.

Verse 40 (shiva.kotirudra.21.40)

देवाश्च ऋषयः सर्वे बभूवुर्विकला अति । ऊचुः परस्परं चेति व्यर्थं वै प्रार्थितः शिवः ॥ 21.40 ॥

devāśca ṛṣayaḥ sarve babhūvurvikalā ati ūcuḥ parasparaṁ ceti vyarthaṁ vai prārthitaḥ śivaḥ

All the gods and sages became greatly distressed and said to one another that their earlier prayer to Shiva now seemed to have been in vain.

Verse 41 (shiva.kotirudra.21.41)

नारदश्च समागत्य शङ्करं दुःखदाहकम् । प्रार्थयामास तत्रैव साञ्जलिर्नतमस्तकः ॥ 21.41 ॥

nāradaśca samāgatya śaṅkaraṁ duḥkhadāhakam prārthayāmāsa tatraiva sāñjalirnatamastakaḥ

Then Narada came there and, with joined palms and bowed head, entreated Shankara, the burner of all sorrow.

Verse 42 (shiva.kotirudra.21.42)

नारद उवाच । क्षम्यतां क्षम्यतां नाथ त्वया विभ्रमकारक । तृणे कश्च कुठारो वै हन्यतां शीघ्रमेव हि ॥ 21.42 ॥

nārada uvāca kṣamyatāṁ kṣamyatāṁ nātha tvayā vibhramakāraka tṛṇe kaśca kuṭhāro vai hanyatāṁ śīghrameva hi

Narada said: O lord, forgive, forgive this troublemaker; what need is there of an axe against a mere blade of grass? Put an end to him swiftly.

Verse 43 (shiva.kotirudra.21.43)

इति सम्प्रार्थितः शम्भुः सर्वान् रक्षोगणान्प्रभुः । हुङ्कारेणैव चास्त्रेण भस्मसात्कृतवांस्तदा ॥ 21.43 ॥

iti samprārthitaḥ śambhuḥ sarvān rakṣogaṇānprabhuḥ huṅkāreṇaiva cāstreṇa bhasmasātkṛtavāṁstadā

Thus entreated, the lord Shambhu, by his weapon of mere thunderous roar alone, reduced the whole host of demons to ashes.

Verse 44 (shiva.kotirudra.21.44)

सर्वे ते राक्षसा दग्धाः शङ्करेण क्षणं मुने । बभूवुस्तत्र सर्वेषां देवानां पश्यतां द्रुतम् ॥ 21.44 ॥

sarve te rākṣasā dagdhāḥ śaṅkareṇa kṣaṇaṁ mune babhūvustatra sarveṣāṁ devānāṁ paśyatāṁ drutam

O sage, all those demons were burnt to ashes by Shankara in that very instant, swiftly, before the eyes of all the gods.

Verse 45 (shiva.kotirudra.21.45)

दावानलगतो वह्निर्यथा च वनमादहेत् । तथा शिवेन क्रुद्धेन राक्षसानां बलं क्षणात् ॥ 21.45 ॥

dāvānalagato vahniryathā ca vanamādahet tathā śivena kruddhena rākṣasānāṁ balaṁ kṣaṇāt

Just as a forest fire consumes the woodland, so did the enraged Shiva, in an instant, consume the entire army of the demons.

Verse 46 (shiva.kotirudra.21.46)

भीमस्यैव च किं भस्म न ज्ञातं केनचित्तदा । परिवारयुतो दग्धो नाम न श्रूयते क्वचित् ॥ 21.46 ॥

bhīmasyaiva ca kiṁ bhasma na jñātaṁ kenacittadā parivārayuto dagdho nāma na śrūyate kvacit

Whether even Bhima himself turned to ash, no one then could say; burnt away along with all his kin, his very name was never heard of again.

Verse 47 (shiva.kotirudra.21.47)

ततः शिवस्य कृपया शान्तिं प्राप्ता मुनीश्वराः । देवाः सर्वे च शक्राद्याः स्वास्थ्यं प्रापाखिलं जगत् ॥ 21.47 ॥

tataḥ śivasya kṛpayā śāntiṁ prāptā munīśvarāḥ devāḥ sarve ca śakrādyāḥ svāsthyaṁ prāpākhilaṁ jagat

Then, by Shiva's grace, the great sages attained peace, and all the gods headed by Indra, together with the entire world, regained their wellbeing.

Verse 48 (shiva.kotirudra.21.48)

क्रोधज्वाला महेशस्य निःससार वनाद्वनम् । राक्षसानां च तद्भस्म सर्वं व्याप्तं वनेऽखिलम् ॥ 21.48 ॥

krodhajvālā maheśasya niḥsasāra vanādvanam rākṣasānāṁ ca tadbhasma sarvaṁ vyāptaṁ vane’khilam

The flame of Mahesha's fury spread from forest to forest, and the ashes of the demons became scattered throughout the entire woodland.

Verse 49 (shiva.kotirudra.21.49)

ततश्चौषधयो जाता नानाकार्यकरास्तथा । रूपान्तरं ततो नॄणां भवेद्वेषान्तरं तथा ॥ 21.49 ॥

tataścauṣadhayo jātā nānākāryakarāstathā rūpāntaraṁ tato nṝṇāṁ bhavedveṣāntaraṁ tathā

From that ash arose herbs of many powers, capable of changing the very form and appearance of human beings.

Verse 50 (shiva.kotirudra.21.50)

भूतप्रेतपिशाचादि दूरतश्च ततो व्रजेत् । तन्न कार्यं च यच्चैव ततो न भवति द्विजाः ॥ 21.50 ॥

bhūtapretapiśācādi dūrataśca tato vrajet tanna kāryaṁ ca yaccaiva tato na bhavati dvijāḥ

O brahmins, by that ash ghosts, spirits, and demons flee far away; there is no task whatsoever that it cannot accomplish.

Verse 51 (shiva.kotirudra.21.51)

तैर्देवैः प्रार्थितः शम्भुर्मुनिभिश्च विशेषतः । स्थातव्यं स्वामिना ह्यत्र लोकानां सुखहेतवे ॥ 21.51 ॥

tairdevaiḥ prārthitaḥ śambhurmunibhiśca viśeṣataḥ sthātavyaṁ svāminā hyatra lokānāṁ sukhahetave

Those gods, and especially the sages, entreated Shambhu: O lord, remain established here, for the happiness of all beings.

Verse 52 (shiva.kotirudra.21.52)

अयं वै कुत्सितो देश अयोध्यालोकदुःखदः । भवन्तं च तदा दृष्ट्वा कल्याणं सम्भविष्यति ॥ 21.52 ॥

ayaṁ vai kutsito deśa ayodhyālokaduḥkhadaḥ bhavantaṁ ca tadā dṛṣṭvā kalyāṇaṁ sambhaviṣyati

This land has been a wretched one, a cause of suffering to its people; now, having beheld you, only good fortune shall come to it.

Verse 53 (shiva.kotirudra.21.53)

भीमशङ्करनामा त्वं भविता सर्वसाधकः । एतल्लिङ्गं सदा पूज्यं सर्वापद्विनिवारकम् ॥ 21.53 ॥

bhīmaśaṅkaranāmā tvaṁ bhavitā sarvasādhakaḥ etalliṅgaṁ sadā pūjyaṁ sarvāpadvinivārakam

You shall become known by the name Bhimashankara, accomplisher of every purpose; this linga shall be ever worthy of worship, the remover of every calamity.

Verse 54 (shiva.kotirudra.21.54)

सूत उवाच । इत्येवं प्रार्थितः शम्भुर्लोकानां हितकारकः । तत्रैवास्थितवान्प्रीत्या स्वतन्त्रो भक्तवत्सलः ॥ 21.54 ॥

sūta uvāca ityevaṁ prārthitaḥ śambhurlokānāṁ hitakārakaḥ tatraivāsthitavānprītyā svatantro bhaktavatsalaḥ

Suta said: Thus entreated, Shambhu, benefactor of the worlds, ever free and ever affectionate to his devotees, lovingly established himself there for good.