The Penance of Anasuya and Atri

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.3.1)

सूत उवाच । ब्रह्मपुर्यां चित्रकूटे लिङ्गं मत्तगजेन्द्रकम् । ब्रह्मणा स्थापितं पूर्वं सर्वकामसमृद्धिदम् ॥ 3.1 ॥

sūta uvāca brahmapuryāṁ citrakūṭe liṅgaṁ mattagajendrakam brahmaṇā sthāpitaṁ pūrvaṁ sarvakāmasamṛddhidam

Suta said: In Brahmapuri at Chitrakuta is the linga Mattagajendraka, established formerly by Brahma, bestower of the fulfilment of all desires.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.3.2)

तत्पूर्वदिशि कोटीशं लिङ्गं सर्ववरप्रदम् । गोदावर्याः पश्चिमे तल्लिङ्गं पशुपतिनामकम् ॥ 3.2 ॥

tatpūrvadiśi koṭīśaṁ liṅgaṁ sarvavarapradam godāvaryāḥ paścime talliṅgaṁ paśupatināmakam

To its east is the linga Kotisha, bestower of every boon; to the west of the Godavari is the linga named Pashupati.

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.3.3)

दक्षिणस्यां दिशि कश्चिदत्रीश्वर इति स्वयम् । लोकानामुपकारार्थमनसूयासुखाय च ॥ 3.3 ॥

dakṣiṇasyāṁ diśi kaścidatrīśvara iti svayam lokānāmupakārārthamanasūyāsukhāya ca

In the southern direction, one himself known as Atrishvara appeared, for the benefit of the worlds and for the happiness of Anasuya —

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.3.4)

प्रादुर्भूतः स्वयं देवो ह्यनावृष्ट्यामजीवयत् । स एव शङ्करः साक्षादंशेन स्वयमेव हि ॥ 3.4 ॥

prādurbhūtaḥ svayaṁ devo hyanāvṛṣṭyāmajīvayat sa eva śaṅkaraḥ sākṣādaṁśena svayameva hi

— the Lord himself manifested there and gave life during a drought; he indeed is Shankara himself, directly present there in a partial form.

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.3.5)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत सूत महाभाग कथमत्रीश्वरो हरः । उत्पन्नः परमो दिव्यस्तत्त्वं कथय सुव्रत ॥ 3.5 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta sūta mahābhāga kathamatrīśvaro haraḥ utpannaḥ paramo divyastattvaṁ kathaya suvrata

The sages said: O Suta, Suta, most fortunate one, how did Hara, supreme and divine, come to be born as Atrishvara? O one of excellent vows, tell us this truth.

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.3.6)

सूत उवाच । साधु पृष्टमृषिश्रेष्ठाः कथयामि कथां शुभाम् । यां कथां सततं श्रुत्वा पातकैर्मुच्यते ध्रुवम् ॥ 3.6 ॥

sūta uvāca sādhu pṛṣṭamṛṣiśreṣṭhāḥ kathayāmi kathāṁ śubhām yāṁ kathāṁ satataṁ śrutvā pātakairmucyate dhruvam

Suta said: Well have you asked, O best of sages; I shall tell an auspicious tale, hearing which constantly, one is surely freed from sins.

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.3.7)

दक्षिणस्यां दिशि महत् कामदं नाम यद्वनम् । चित्रकूटसमीपेऽस्ति तपसां हितदं सताम् ॥ 3.7 ॥

dakṣiṇasyāṁ diśi mahat kāmadaṁ nāma yadvanam citrakūṭasamīpe’sti tapasāṁ hitadaṁ satām

In the southern direction is a great forest named Kamada, near Chitrakuta, beneficial for the penance of the virtuous.

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.3.8)

तत्र च ब्रह्मणः पुत्रो ह्यत्रिनामा ऋषिः स्वयम् । तपस्तेपेऽतिकठिनमनसूयासमन्वितः ॥ 3.8 ॥

tatra ca brahmaṇaḥ putro hyatrināmā ṛṣiḥ svayam tapastepe’tikaṭhinamanasūyāsamanvitaḥ

There, Brahma's own son, the sage named Atri, performed extremely severe penance, accompanied by Anasuya.

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.3.9)

पूर्वं कदाचित्तत्रैव ह्यनावृष्टिरभून्मुने । दुःखदा प्राणिनां दैवाद्विकटा शतवार्षिकी ॥ 3.9 ॥

pūrvaṁ kadācittatraiva hyanāvṛṣṭirabhūnmune duḥkhadā prāṇināṁ daivādvikaṭā śatavārṣikī

O sage, once before, there occurred there a drought, by fate a terrible one lasting a hundred years, causing suffering to all beings.

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.3.10)

वृक्षाः शुष्कास्तदा सर्वे पल्लवानि फलानि च । नित्यार्थं न जलं क्वापि दृष्टमासीन्मुनीश्वराः ॥ 3.10 ॥

vṛkṣāḥ śuṣkāstadā sarve pallavāni phalāni ca nityārthaṁ na jalaṁ kvāpi dṛṣṭamāsīnmunīśvarāḥ

O lords of sages, then all the trees, their shoots and fruits, dried up; not even water for daily need was to be seen anywhere.

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.3.11)

आर्द्रीभावो न लभ्येत खरा वाता दिशो दश । हाहाकारो महानासीत्पृथिव्यां दुःखदोऽति हि ॥ 3.11 ॥

ārdrībhāvo na labhyeta kharā vātā diśo daśa hāhākāro mahānāsītpṛthivyāṁ duḥkhado’ti hi

No moisture was to be found anywhere; harsh winds blew in all ten directions; a great and most painful cry of distress arose upon the earth.

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.3.12)

संवर्तं चैव भूतानां दृष्ट्वात्रिगृहिणी प्रिया । साध्वी चैवाब्रवीदत्रिं मया दुःखं न सह्यते ॥ 3.12 ॥

saṁvartaṁ caiva bhūtānāṁ dṛṣṭvātrigṛhiṇī priyā sādhvī caivābravīdatriṁ mayā duḥkhaṁ na sahyate

Seeing the destruction of all beings, Atri's dear wife, the virtuous lady, said to Atri: 'This suffering cannot be borne by me.'

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.3.13)

समाधौ च विलीनोऽभूदासने संस्थितः स्वयम् । प्राणायामं त्रिरावृत्त्या कृत्वा मुनिवरस्तदा ॥ 3.13 ॥

samādhau ca vilīno’bhūdāsane saṁsthitaḥ svayam prāṇāyāmaṁ trirāvṛttyā kṛtvā munivarastadā

Then the excellent sage, seated of his own accord in the yogic posture, performing pranayama through three rounds, became absorbed in samadhi.

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.3.14)

ध्यायति स्म परं ज्योतिरात्मस्थमात्मना च सः । अत्रिर्मुनिवरो ज्ञानी शङ्करं निर्विकारकम् ॥ 3.14 ॥

dhyāyati sma paraṁ jyotirātmasthamātmanā ca saḥ atrirmunivaro jñānī śaṅkaraṁ nirvikārakam

He, the wise and excellent sage Atri, meditated within his own soul upon the supreme light seated in the self — Shankara, free of all change.

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.3.15)

स्वामिनि ध्यानलीने च शिष्यास्ते दूरतो गताः । अन्नं विना तदा ते तु मुक्त्वा तं स्वगुरुं मुनिम् ॥ 3.15 ॥

svāmini dhyānalīne ca śiṣyāste dūrato gatāḥ annaṁ vinā tadā te tu muktvā taṁ svaguruṁ munim

When their master became absorbed in meditation, his disciples, being without food, then left, abandoning that sage, their own teacher, and went far away.

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.3.16)

एकाकिनी तदा जाता सानसूया पतिव्रता । सिषेवे सा च सततं तं मुदा मुनिसत्तमम् ॥ 3.16 ॥

ekākinī tadā jātā sānasūyā pativratā siṣeve sā ca satataṁ taṁ mudā munisattamam

Then that devoted wife Anasuya was left alone; and she continually served that best of sages with joy.

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.3.17)

पार्थिवं सुन्दरं कृत्वा मन्त्रेण विधिपूर्वकम् । मानसैरुपचारैश्च पूजयामास शङ्करम् ॥ 3.17 ॥

pārthivaṁ sundaraṁ kṛtvā mantreṇa vidhipūrvakam mānasairupacāraiśca pūjayāmāsa śaṅkaram

Having fashioned a beautiful image of clay according to rule with mantras, she worshipped Shankara with mental offerings of service.

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.3.18)

तुष्टाव शङ्करं भक्त्या संसेवित्वा मुहुर्मुहुः । बद्धाञ्जलिपुटा भूत्वा प्रक्रम्य स्वामिनं शिवम् ॥ 3.18 ॥

tuṣṭāva śaṅkaraṁ bhaktyā saṁsevitvā muhurmuhuḥ baddhāñjalipuṭā bhūtvā prakramya svāminaṁ śivam

Having served him again and again with devotion, she praised Shankara; and with hands folded in reverence, she circled around her lord Shiva.

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.3.19)

दण्डवत्प्रणिपातेन प्रतिप्रक्रमणं तदा । चकार सुचरित्रा सानसूया मुनिकामिनी ॥ 3.19 ॥

daṇḍavatpraṇipātena pratiprakramaṇaṁ tadā cakāra sucaritrā sānasūyā munikāminī

Then that virtuous woman, the sage's wife Anasuya, prostrated herself flat like a rod, and performed the counter-circling as well.

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.3.20)

दैत्याश्च दानवाः सर्वे दृष्ट्वा तु सुन्दरीं तदा । विह्वलाश्चाभवँस्तत्र तेजसा दूरतः स्थिताः ॥ 3.20 ॥

daityāśca dānavāḥ sarve dṛṣṭvā tu sundarīṁ tadā vihvalāścābhava~statra tejasā dūrataḥ sthitāḥ

All the Daityas and Danavas, on seeing that beautiful lady, then became overwhelmed by her radiance and kept themselves far away.

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.3.21)

अग्निं दृष्ट्वा यथा दूरे वर्तन्ते तद्वदेव हि । तथैनां च तदा दृष्ट्वा नायान्तीह समीपगाः ॥ 3.21 ॥

agniṁ dṛṣṭvā yathā dūre vartante tadvadeva hi tathaināṁ ca tadā dṛṣṭvā nāyāntīha samīpagāḥ

Just as they keep away on seeing fire, so likewise, on seeing her then, they would not come near.

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.3.22)

अत्रेश्च तपसश्चैवानसूयाशिवसेवनम् । विशिष्यते स्म विप्रेन्द्रा मनोवाक्कायसंस्कृतम् ॥ 3.22 ॥

atreśca tapasaścaivānasūyāśivasevanam viśiṣyate sma viprendrā manovākkāyasaṁskṛtam

O foremost of brahmins, Anasuya's service to Shiva, purified in mind, speech and body, proved to surpass even Atri's own penance.

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.3.23)

तावत्कालं तु सा देवी परिचर्यां चकार ह । यावत्कालं मुनिवरः प्राणायामपरायणः ॥ 3.23 ॥

tāvatkālaṁ tu sā devī paricaryāṁ cakāra ha yāvatkālaṁ munivaraḥ prāṇāyāmaparāyaṇaḥ

For as long as the excellent sage remained devoted to pranayama, for that long the goddess-like lady continued her service.

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.3.24)

तौ दम्पती तदा तत्र स्वस्वकार्यपरायणौ । संस्थितौ मुनिशार्दूल नान्यः कश्चित्परः स्थितः ॥ 3.24 ॥

tau dampatī tadā tatra svasvakāryaparāyaṇau saṁsthitau muniśārdūla nānyaḥ kaścitparaḥ sthitaḥ

O tiger among sages, that couple remained there, each devoted to their own task; no one else at all was present there.

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.3.25)

एवं जाते तदा काले ह्यत्रिश्च ऋषिसत्तमः । ध्याने च परमे लीनो न व्यबुध्यत किञ्चन ॥ 3.25 ॥

evaṁ jāte tadā kāle hyatriśca ṛṣisattamaḥ dhyāne ca parame līno na vyabudhyata kiñcana

As time thus passed, Atri, best of sages, remained absorbed in supreme meditation and was not conscious of anything at all.

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.3.26)

अनसूयापि सा साध्वी स्वामिनं वै शिवं तथा । भेजे नान्यत्परं किञ्चिज्जानीते स्म च सा सती ॥ 3.26 ॥

anasūyāpi sā sādhvī svāminaṁ vai śivaṁ tathā bheje nānyatparaṁ kiñcijjānīte sma ca sā satī

And that virtuous Anasuya too devoted herself only to her husband and to Shiva; that chaste woman knew nothing else at all.

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.3.27)

तस्यैव तपसा सर्वे तस्याश्च भजनेन च । देवाश्च ऋषयश्चैव गङ्गाद्याः सरितस्तथा ॥ 3.27 ॥

tasyaiva tapasā sarve tasyāśca bhajanena ca devāśca ṛṣayaścaiva gaṅgādyāḥ saritastathā

Drawn by his penance and her worship, all the gods and sages, and the rivers headed by Ganga —

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.3.28)

दर्शनार्थं तयोः सर्वाः परप्रीत्या समाययुः । दृष्ट्वा च तत्तपः सेवां विस्मयं परमं ययुः ॥ 3.28 ॥

darśanārthaṁ tayoḥ sarvāḥ paraprītyā samāyayuḥ dṛṣṭvā ca tattapaḥ sevāṁ vismayaṁ paramaṁ yayuḥ

— all came with great joy to see the two of them; and beholding that penance and service, they were struck with the utmost wonder.

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.3.29)

तयोस्तदद्भुतं दृष्ट्वा समूचुर्भजनं वरम् । उभयोः किं विशिष्टं च तपसो भजनस्य च ॥ 3.29 ॥

tayostadadbhutaṁ dṛṣṭvā samūcurbhajanaṁ varam ubhayoḥ kiṁ viśiṣṭaṁ ca tapaso bhajanasya ca

Seeing that wonder of theirs, they said the service was the greater; they debated among themselves which of the two, the penance or the service, was superior.

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.3.30)

अत्रेश्चैव तपःप्रोक्तमनसूयानुसेवनम् । तत्सर्वमुभयोर्दृष्ट्वा समूचुर्भजनं वरम् ॥ 3.30 ॥

atreścaiva tapaḥproktamanasūyānusevanam tatsarvamubhayordṛṣṭvā samūcurbhajanaṁ varam

Having considered Atri's penance and Anasuya's continual service, and having seen the whole of both, they declared the service to be superior.

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.3.31)

पूर्वैश्च ऋषिभिश्चैव दुष्करं तु तपः कृतम् । एतादृशं तु केनापि क्व कृतं नैतदब्रुवन् ॥ 3.31 ॥

pūrvaiśca ṛṣibhiścaiva duṣkaraṁ tu tapaḥ kṛtam etādṛśaṁ tu kenāpi kva kṛtaṁ naitadabruvan

Difficult penance has indeed been performed by sages of old, they said; but such penance as this, by whom and where it has been done — this they could not say.

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.3.32)

धन्योऽयं च मुनिर्धन्या तथेयमनसूयिका । यदैताभ्यां परं प्रीत्या क्रियते सुतपः पुनः ॥ 3.32 ॥

dhanyo’yaṁ ca munirdhanyā tatheyamanasūyikā yadaitābhyāṁ paraṁ prītyā kriyate sutapaḥ punaḥ

Blessed is this sage, and equally blessed is this Anasuya, since by these two, with the greatest love, such excellent penance is performed again and again.

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.3.33)

एतादृशं शुभं चैतत्तपो दुष्करमुत्तमम् । त्रिलोक्यां क्रियते केन साम्प्रतं ज्ञायते न हि ॥ 3.33 ॥

etādṛśaṁ śubhaṁ caitattapo duṣkaramuttamam trilokyāṁ kriyate kena sāmprataṁ jñāyate na hi

Such auspicious, difficult and excellent penance as this — by whom else, now, in the three worlds it might be performed, is indeed not known.

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.3.34)

तयोरेव प्रशंसां च कृत्वा ते तु यथागतम् । गतास्ते च तदा तत्र गङ्गाञ्च गिरिशं विना ॥ 3.34 ॥

tayoreva praśaṁsāṁ ca kṛtvā te tu yathāgatam gatāste ca tadā tatra gaṅgāñca giriśaṁ vinā

Having thus praised the two of them, they departed as they had come; only Ganga and Girisha remained there then.

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.3.35)

गङ्गा मद्भजनप्रीता साध्वी धर्मविमोहिता । कृत्वोपकारमेतस्यागमिष्यामीत्युवाच सा ॥ 3.35 ॥

gaṅgā madbhajanaprītā sādhvī dharmavimohitā kṛtvopakārametasyāgamiṣyāmītyuvāca sā

Ganga said: 'Pleased at the worship offered to me, this virtuous woman is enraptured by dharma; having rendered help to her, I shall come away.'

Verse 36 (shiva.kotirudra.3.36)

शिवोऽपि ध्यानसम्बद्धो मुनेरत्रेर्मुनीश्वराः । पूर्णांशेन स्थितस्तत्र कैलासं न जगाम ह ॥ 3.36 ॥

śivo’pi dhyānasambaddho muneratrermunīśvarāḥ pūrṇāṁśena sthitastatra kailāsaṁ na jagāma ha

O lords of sages, Shiva too, bound by the sage Atri's meditation, remained established there in a full portion, and did not go to Kailasa at all.

Verse 37 (shiva.kotirudra.3.37)

पञ्चाशच्च तथा चात्र चत्वारि ऋषिसत्तमाः । वर्षाणि च गतान्यासन् वृष्टिर्नैवाभवत्तदा ॥ 3.37 ॥

pañcāśacca tathā cātra catvāri ṛṣisattamāḥ varṣāṇi ca gatānyāsan vṛṣṭirnaivābhavattadā

O best of sages, fifty-four years passed by there, and yet no rain fell at all.

Verse 38 (shiva.kotirudra.3.38)

यावच्चाप्यत्रिणा ह्येवं तपसा ध्यानमाश्रितम् । अनसूया तदा नैव गृह्णामीतीषणा कृता ॥ 3.38 ॥

yāvaccāpyatriṇā hyevaṁ tapasā dhyānamāśritam anasūyā tadā naiva gṛhṇāmītīṣaṇā kṛtā

As long as Atri remained thus absorbed in penance and meditation, Anasuya then resolved: 'I shall not take any food.'

Verse 39 (shiva.kotirudra.3.39)

एवं च क्रियमाणे हि मुनिना तपसि स्थिते । अनसूयासुभजने यज्जातं श्रूयतामिति ॥ 3.39 ॥

evaṁ ca kriyamāṇe hi muninā tapasi sthite anasūyāsubhajane yajjātaṁ śrūyatāmiti

Thus, while the sage remained engaged in penance and Anasuya continued in devoted service, hear now what came to happen.