Rudra's Arrival in Kashi

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.22.1)

सूत उवाच । अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतामृषिसत्तमाः । विश्वेश्वरस्य माहात्म्यं महापातकनाशनम् ॥ 22.1 ॥

sūta uvāca ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi śrūyatāmṛṣisattamāḥ viśveśvarasya māhātmyaṁ mahāpātakanāśanam

Suta said: Now, after this, I shall relate the greatness of Vishveshvara, which destroys even the gravest sins; listen, O foremost of sages.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.22.2)

यदिदं दृश्यते किञ्चिज्जगत्यां वस्तुमात्रकम् । चिदानन्दस्वरूपं च निर्विकारं सनातनम् ॥ 22.2 ॥

yadidaṁ dṛśyate kiñcijjagatyāṁ vastumātrakam cidānandasvarūpaṁ ca nirvikāraṁ sanātanam

Whatever mere thing is seen in this world is, in truth, nothing but that consciousness-and-bliss nature, changeless and eternal.

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.22.3)

तस्यैव कैवल्यरतेर्द्वितीयेच्छा ततोऽभवत् । स एव सगुणो जातः शिव इत्यभिधीयते ॥ 22.3 ॥

tasyaiva kaivalyaraterdvitīyecchā tato’bhavat sa eva saguṇo jātaḥ śiva ityabhidhīyate

In that very reality, delighting in absolute oneness, there then arose the desire for a second; that same reality, becoming endowed with attributes, came to be called Shiva.

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.22.4)

स एव हि द्विधा जातः पुंस्त्रीरूपप्रभेदतः । यः पुमान्स शिवः ख्यातः स्त्री शक्तिः सा हि कथ्यते ॥ 22.4 ॥

sa eva hi dvidhā jātaḥ puṁstrīrūpaprabhedataḥ yaḥ pumānsa śivaḥ khyātaḥ strī śaktiḥ sā hi kathyate

That same reality became divided into two forms, distinguished as male and female; the male form is known as Shiva, and the female is called Shakti.

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.22.5)

चिदानन्दस्वरूपाभ्यां पुरुषावपि निर्मितौ ॥ 22.5 ॥

cidānandasvarūpābhyāṁ puruṣāvapi nirmitau

From those two beings of consciousness-and-bliss nature, two further persons were then fashioned.

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.22.6)

अदृष्टाभ्यां तदा ताभ्यां स्वभावान्मुनिसत्तमाः । तावदृष्ट्वा तदा तौ च स्वमातृपितरौ द्विजाः ॥ 22.6 ॥

adṛṣṭābhyāṁ tadā tābhyāṁ svabhāvānmunisattamāḥ tāvadṛṣṭvā tadā tau ca svamātṛpitarau dvijāḥ

O foremost of sages, from those two — by nature unseen — those two new beings arose; O brahmins, they then beheld their own parents.

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.22.7)

महासंशयमापन्नौ प्रकृतिः पुरुषश्च तौ । तदा वाणी समुत्पन्ना निर्गुणात्परमात्मनः । तपश्चैव प्रकर्तव्यं ततः सृष्टिरनुत्तमा ॥ 22.7 ॥

mahāsaṁśayamāpannau prakṛtiḥ puruṣaśca tau tadā vāṇī samutpannā nirguṇātparamātmanaḥ tapaścaiva prakartavyaṁ tataḥ sṛṣṭiranuttamā

Those two, Prakriti and Purusha, fell into deep uncertainty; then a voice arose from the attributeless Supreme Self: 'Austerity alone must be performed; only thereafter shall the excellent creation come to be.'

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.22.8)

प्रकृतिपुरुषावूचतुः । तपसस्तु स्थलं नास्ति कुत्रावाभ्यां प्रभोऽधुना । स्थित्वा तपः प्रकर्तव्यं तव शासनतः शिव ॥ 22.8 ॥

prakṛtipuruṣāvūcatuḥ tapasastu sthalaṁ nāsti kutrāvābhyāṁ prabho’dhunā sthitvā tapaḥ prakartavyaṁ tava śāsanataḥ śiva

Prakriti and Purusha said: O lord, there is as yet no place for austerity; O Shiva, where, by your command, shall we two remain to perform it?

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.22.9)

ततश्च तेजसः सारं पञ्चक्रोशात्मकं शुभम् । सर्वोपकरणैर्युक्तं सुन्दरं नगरं तथा ॥ 22.9 ॥

tataśca tejasaḥ sāraṁ pañcakrośātmakaṁ śubham sarvopakaraṇairyuktaṁ sundaraṁ nagaraṁ tathā

Then, from the essence of light, there was fashioned an auspicious and beautiful city, five kroshas in extent, furnished with every requisite.

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.22.10)

निर्माय प्रेषितं तत्स्वं निर्गुणेन शिवेन च । अन्तरिक्षे स्थितं तच्च पुरुषस्य समीपतः ॥ 22.10 ॥

nirmāya preṣitaṁ tatsvaṁ nirguṇena śivena ca antarikṣe sthitaṁ tacca puruṣasya samīpataḥ

Having fashioned it, the attributeless Shiva sent it forth himself, and it came to rest in the sky near Purusha.

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.22.11)

तदधिष्ठाय हरिणा सृष्टिकामनया ततः । बहुकालं तपस्तप्तं तद्ध्यानमवलम्ब्य च ॥ 22.11 ॥

tadadhiṣṭhāya hariṇā sṛṣṭikāmanayā tataḥ bahukālaṁ tapastaptaṁ taddhyānamavalambya ca

Established there, Hari, desiring creation, performed austerity for a long time, resorting to meditation upon Shiva.

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.22.12)

श्रमेण जलधाराश्च विविधाश्चाभवंस्तदा । ताभिर्व्याप्तं च तच्छून्यं नान्यत्किञ्चिददृश्यत ॥ 22.12 ॥

śrameṇa jaladhārāśca vividhāścābhavaṁstadā tābhirvyāptaṁ ca tacchūnyaṁ nānyatkiñcidadṛśyata

From that effort various streams of water then arose, filling that void, so that nothing else whatsoever could be seen there.

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.22.13)

ततश्च विष्णुना दृष्टं किमेतद् दृश्यतेऽद्भुतम् । इत्याश्चर्यं तदा दृष्ट्वा शिरसः कम्पनं कृतम् ॥ 22.13 ॥

tataśca viṣṇunā dṛṣṭaṁ kimetad dṛśyate’dbhutam ityāścaryaṁ tadā dṛṣṭvā śirasaḥ kampanaṁ kṛtam

Then Vishnu observed: 'What is this wondrous thing that appears?' In astonishment, he then shook his head.

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.22.14)

ततश्च पतितः कर्णान्मणिश्च पुरतः प्रभोः । तद् बभूव महत्तीर्थं नामतो मणिकर्णिका ॥ 22.14 ॥

tataśca patitaḥ karṇānmaṇiśca purataḥ prabhoḥ tad babhūva mahattīrthaṁ nāmato maṇikarṇikā

At that a jewel fell from his ear, right before the lord; that place became a great sacred site, known by the name Manikarnika.

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.22.15)

जलौघे प्लाव्यमाना सा पञ्चक्रोशी यदाभवत् । निर्गुणेन शिवेनाशु त्रिशूलेन धृता तदा ॥ 22.15 ॥

jalaughe plāvyamānā sā pañcakrośī yadābhavat nirguṇena śivenāśu triśūlena dhṛtā tadā

When that five-krosha city began to be submerged by the rising flood, the attributeless Shiva at once caught it upon his trident.

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.22.16)

विष्णुस्तत्रैव सुष्वाप प्रकृत्या स्वस्त्रिया सह । तन्नाभिकमलाज्जातो ब्रह्मा शङ्करशासनात् ॥ 22.16 ॥

viṣṇustatraiva suṣvāpa prakṛtyā svastriyā saha tannābhikamalājjāto brahmā śaṅkaraśāsanāt

Vishnu then lay there asleep, together with his consort Prakriti; from the lotus of his navel, by Shankara's command, Brahma was born.

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.22.17)

शिवाज्ञां स समासाद्य सृष्टिं चक्रेऽद्भुतां तदा । चतुर्द्दशमिता लोका ब्रह्माण्डे यत्र निर्मिताः ॥ 22.17 ॥

śivājñāṁ sa samāsādya sṛṣṭiṁ cakre’dbhutāṁ tadā caturddaśamitā lokā brahmāṇḍe yatra nirmitāḥ

Having received Shiva's command, he then wrought that wondrous creation, in which the fourteen worlds were fashioned within the cosmic egg.

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.22.18)

योजनानां च पञ्चाशत्कोटिसङ्ख्याप्रमाणतः । ब्रह्माण्डस्यैव विस्तारो मुनिभिः परिकीर्तितः ॥ 22.18 ॥

yojanānāṁ ca pañcāśatkoṭisaṅkhyāpramāṇataḥ brahmāṇḍasyaiva vistāro munibhiḥ parikīrtitaḥ

The sages have declared the extent of the cosmic egg to measure fifty crore yojanas.

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.22.19)

ब्रह्माण्डे कर्मणा बद्धाः प्राणिनो मां कथं पुनः । प्राप्स्यन्तीति विचिन्त्यैतत्पञ्चक्रोशी विमोचिता ॥ 22.19 ॥

brahmāṇḍe karmaṇā baddhāḥ prāṇino māṁ kathaṁ punaḥ prāpsyantīti vicintyaitatpañcakrośī vimocitā

Thinking, 'How then shall beings, bound by their own deeds within this cosmic egg, ever attain me again?' — this five-krosha city, Kashi, was set free.

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.22.20)

इयं च शुभदा लोके कर्मनाशकरी मता । मोक्षप्रकाशिका काशी ज्ञानदा मम सुप्रिया ॥ 22.20 ॥

iyaṁ ca śubhadā loke karmanāśakarī matā mokṣaprakāśikā kāśī jñānadā mama supriyā

This city is held to bestow blessing in the world and to destroy the fruits of one's deeds; this Kashi illumines the path of liberation, grants knowledge, and is exceedingly dear to me.

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.22.21)

अविमुक्तं स्वयं लिङ्गं स्थापितं परमात्मना । न कदापि त्वया त्याज्यमिदं क्षेत्रं ममांशक ॥ 22.21 ॥

avimuktaṁ svayaṁ liṅgaṁ sthāpitaṁ paramātmanā na kadāpi tvayā tyājyamidaṁ kṣetraṁ mamāṁśaka

The Supreme Self himself established here the linga called Avimukta; O portion of myself, this sacred field is never to be abandoned by you.

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.22.22)

इत्युक्त्वा च त्रिशूलात्स्वादवतार्य हरः स्वयम् । मोचयामास भुवने मर्त्यलोके हि काशिकाम् ॥ 22.22 ॥

ityuktvā ca triśūlātsvādavatārya haraḥ svayam mocayāmāsa bhuvane martyaloke hi kāśikām

Having said this, Hara himself brought it down from his own trident and set Kashi free in this world of mortals, upon the earth.

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.22.23)

ब्रह्मणश्च दिने सा हि न विनश्यति निश्चितम् । तदा शिवस्त्रिशूलेन दधाति मुनयश्च ताम् ॥ 22.23 ॥

brahmaṇaśca dine sā hi na vinaśyati niścitam tadā śivastriśūlena dadhāti munayaśca tām

Within a single day of Brahma it surely never perishes; at the time of dissolution, Shiva holds it upon his trident — so the sages declare.

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.22.24)

पुनश्च ब्रह्मणा सृष्टौ कृतायां स्थाप्यते द्विजाः । कर्मणां कर्षणाच्चैव काशीति परिपठ्यते ॥ 22.24 ॥

punaśca brahmaṇā sṛṣṭau kṛtāyāṁ sthāpyate dvijāḥ karmaṇāṁ karṣaṇāccaiva kāśīti paripaṭhyate

O brahmins, when Brahma performs creation anew, it is established once more; and because it draws away one's karmas, it is called by the name Kashi.

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.22.25)

अविमुक्तेश्वरं लिङ्गं काश्यां तिष्ठति सर्वदा । मुक्तिदातृ च लोकानां महापातकिनामपि ॥ 22.25 ॥

avimukteśvaraṁ liṅgaṁ kāśyāṁ tiṣṭhati sarvadā muktidātṛ ca lokānāṁ mahāpātakināmapi

The Avimukteshvara linga ever dwells in Kashi, granting liberation to people — even to the greatest of sinners.

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.22.26)

अन्यत्र प्राप्यते मुक्तिः सारूप्यादिर्मुनीश्वराः । अत्रैव प्राप्यते जीवैः सायुज्या मुक्तिरुत्तमा ॥ 22.26 ॥

anyatra prāpyate muktiḥ sārūpyādirmunīśvarāḥ atraiva prāpyate jīvaiḥ sāyujyā muktiruttamā

O lords of sages, elsewhere one attains liberations such as sarupya; but here alone do souls attain sayujya, the supreme liberation of union.

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.22.27)

येषां क्वापि गतिर्नास्ति तेषां वाराणसी पुरी । पञ्चक्रोशी महापुण्या हत्याकोटिविनाशनी ॥ 22.27 ॥

yeṣāṁ kvāpi gatirnāsti teṣāṁ vārāṇasī purī pañcakrośī mahāpuṇyā hatyākoṭivināśanī

For those who have no refuge anywhere else, the city of Varanasi is their refuge; this most sacred five-krosha city destroys the sin of even ten million killings.

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.22.28)

अमरा मरणं सर्वे वाञ्छन्तीह परे च के । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदा चैषा सर्वदा शङ्करप्रिया ॥ 22.28 ॥

amarā maraṇaṁ sarve vāñchantīha pare ca ke bhuktimuktipradā caiṣā sarvadā śaṅkarapriyā

Even the immortal gods long to die here — what then of others? This city ever grants both enjoyment and liberation, and is ever dear to Shankara.

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.22.29)

ब्रह्मा च श्लाघते चामुं विष्णुः सिद्धाश्च योगिनः । मुनयश्च तथैवान्ये त्रिलोकस्था जनाः सदा ॥ 22.29 ॥

brahmā ca ślāghate cāmuṁ viṣṇuḥ siddhāśca yoginaḥ munayaśca tathaivānye trilokasthā janāḥ sadā

Brahma and Vishnu praise it, as do the siddhas and yogis, the sages, and all other beings dwelling in the three worlds, ever and always.

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.22.30)

काश्याश्च महिमानं वै वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि । शक्नोम्यहं न सर्वं हि यथाशक्ति ब्रुवे ततः ॥ 22.30 ॥

kāśyāśca mahimānaṁ vai vaktuṁ varṣaśatairapi śaknomyahaṁ na sarvaṁ hi yathāśakti bruve tataḥ

I am unable to describe the full greatness of Kashi even in a hundred years; therefore I speak of it only as far as my ability allows.

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.22.31)

कैलासस्य पतिर्यो वै ह्यन्तः सत्त्वो बहिस्तमाः । कालाग्निर्नामतः ख्यातो निर्गुणो गुणवान्भवः । प्रणिपातैरनेकैश्च वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥ 22.31 ॥

kailāsasya patiryo vai hyantaḥ sattvo bahistamāḥ kālāgnirnāmataḥ khyāto nirguṇo guṇavānbhavaḥ praṇipātairanekaiśca vacanaṁ cedamabravīt

He who is lord of Kailasa, who within is pure being and without is veiled in darkness, renowned by the name Kalagni, who though attributeless is called Bhava the possessor of all qualities — he, with many prostrations, spoke these words.

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.22.32)

रुद्र उवाच । विश्वेश्वर महेशान त्वदीयोऽस्मि न संशयः । कृपां कुरु महादेव मयि त्वं साम्ब आत्मजे ॥ 22.32 ॥

rudra uvāca viśveśvara maheśāna tvadīyo’smi na saṁśayaḥ kṛpāṁ kuru mahādeva mayi tvaṁ sāmba ātmaje

Rudra said: O Vishveshvara, O great lord, I am yours alone, without doubt; O Mahadeva, O lord together with Amba, show grace to me, your own child.

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.22.33)

स्थातव्यं च सदात्रैव लोकानां हितकाम्यया । तारयस्व जगन्नाथ प्रार्थयामि जगत्पते ॥ 22.33 ॥

sthātavyaṁ ca sadātraiva lokānāṁ hitakāmyayā tārayasva jagannātha prārthayāmi jagatpate

Remain established here forever, out of desire for the world's welfare; O lord of the universe, grant deliverance to all — this alone I entreat you, O master of the world.

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.22.34)

सूत उवाच । अविमुक्तोऽपि दान्तात्मा तं सम्प्रार्थ्य पुनः पुनः । नेत्राश्रूणि प्रमुच्यैव प्रीतः प्रोवाच शङ्करम् ॥ 22.34 ॥

sūta uvāca avimukto’pi dāntātmā taṁ samprārthya punaḥ punaḥ netrāśrūṇi pramucyaiva prītaḥ provāca śaṅkaram

Suta said: Avimukta too, of tranquil soul, hearing that repeated entreaty, and shedding tears from his eyes, spoke with pleasure to Shankara.

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.22.35)

अविमुक्त उवाच । देवदेव महादेव कालामयसुभेषज । त्वं त्रिलोकपतिः सत्यं सेव्यो ब्रह्माच्युतादिभिः ॥ 22.35 ॥

avimukta uvāca devadeva mahādeva kālāmayasubheṣaja tvaṁ trilokapatiḥ satyaṁ sevyo brahmācyutādibhiḥ

Avimukta said: O god of gods, O Mahadeva, O supreme remedy for the disease of time and death, truly you are lord of the three worlds, worthy of service even by Brahma, Achyuta, and the rest.

Verse 36 (shiva.kotirudra.22.36)

काश्यां पुर्यां त्वया देव राजधानी प्रगृह्यताम् । मया ध्यानितया स्थेयमचिन्त्यसुखहेतवे ॥ 22.36 ॥

kāśyāṁ puryāṁ tvayā deva rājadhānī pragṛhyatām mayā dhyānitayā stheyamacintyasukhahetave

O god, accept the city of Kashi as your own capital; I, absorbed in meditation upon you, shall remain here for the sake of unimaginable bliss.

Verse 37 (shiva.kotirudra.22.37)

मुक्तिदाता भवानेह कामदश्च न चापरः । तस्मात्त्वमुपकाराय तिष्ठोमासहितः सदा ॥ 22.37 ॥

muktidātā bhavāneha kāmadaśca na cāparaḥ tasmāttvamupakārāya tiṣṭhomāsahitaḥ sadā

You alone are the giver of liberation and every desire here, none other; therefore, together with Uma, remain here always for the sake of blessing all.

Verse 38 (shiva.kotirudra.22.38)

जीवान्भवाब्धेरखिलांस्तारय त्वं सदाशिव । भक्तकार्यं कुरु हर प्रार्थयामि पुनःपुनः ॥ 22.38 ॥

jīvānbhavābdherakhilāṁstāraya tvaṁ sadāśiva bhaktakāryaṁ kuru hara prārthayāmi punaḥpunaḥ

O Sadashiva, ferry all beings across the ocean of worldly existence; O Hara, accomplish the purpose of your devotees — this I entreat you again and again.

Verse 39 (shiva.kotirudra.22.39)

सूत उवाच । इत्येवं प्रार्थितस्तेन विश्वनाथेन शङ्करः । लोकानामुपकारार्थं तस्थौ तत्रापि सर्वराट् ॥ 22.39 ॥

sūta uvāca ityevaṁ prārthitastena viśvanāthena śaṅkaraḥ lokānāmupakārārthaṁ tasthau tatrāpi sarvarāṭ

Suta said: Thus entreated by Vishvanatha, Shankara, sovereign of all, likewise established himself there for the benefit of all beings.

Verse 40 (shiva.kotirudra.22.40)

यद्दिनं हि समारभ्य हरः काश्यामुपागतः । तदारभ्य च सा काशी सर्वश्रेष्ठतराभवत् ॥ 22.40 ॥

yaddinaṁ hi samārabhya haraḥ kāśyāmupāgataḥ tadārabhya ca sā kāśī sarvaśreṣṭhatarābhavat

From the very day that Hara came to Kashi, that city became the most excellent of all.