The Greatness of the Origin of the Nageshvara Jyotirlinga

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.30.1)

सूत उवाच । कदाचित्सेवकस्तस्य राक्षसस्य दुरात्मनः । तदग्रे सुन्दरं रूपं शङ्करस्य ददर्श ह ॥ 30.1 ॥

sūta uvāca kadācitsevakastasya rākṣasasya durātmanaḥ tadagre sundaraṁ rūpaṁ śaṅkarasya dadarśa ha

Suta said: Once a servant of that evil-souled rakshasa beheld before him a beautiful form of Shankara.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.30.2)

तस्मै निवेदितं राज्ञे राक्षसानां यथार्थकम् । सर्वं तच्चरितं तेन सकौतुकमथाद्भुतम् ॥ 30.2 ॥

tasmai niveditaṁ rājñe rākṣasānāṁ yathārthakam sarvaṁ taccaritaṁ tena sakautukamathādbhutam

That truthful account was reported to the king of the rakshasas by him — that whole wondrous and astonishing event.

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.30.3)

राजापि तत्र चागत्य राक्षसानां स दारुकः । विह्वलः सबलः शीघ्रं पर्यपृच्छच्च तं शिवम् ॥ 30.3 ॥

rājāpi tatra cāgatya rākṣasānāṁ sa dārukaḥ vihvalaḥ sabalaḥ śīghraṁ paryapṛcchacca taṁ śivam

The king of the rakshasas, that Daruka, coming there himself, agitated, together with his forces, quickly questioned that Shiva.

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.30.4)

दारुक उवाच । किं ध्यायसि हि वैश्य त्वं सत्यं वद ममाग्रतः । एवं सति न मृत्युस्ते मम वाक्यं च नान्यथा ॥ 30.4 ॥

dāruka uvāca kiṁ dhyāyasi hi vaiśya tvaṁ satyaṁ vada mamāgrataḥ evaṁ sati na mṛtyuste mama vākyaṁ ca nānyathā

Daruka said: "What is it you meditate upon, O merchant? Speak the truth before me. If you do so, there shall be no death for you — this word of mine will not be otherwise."

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.30.5)

सूत उवाच । तेनोक्तं च न जानामि तच्छ्रुत्वा कुपितः स वै । राक्षसान्प्रेरयामास हन्यतां राक्षसा अयम् ॥ 30.5 ॥

sūta uvāca tenoktaṁ ca na jānāmi tacchrutvā kupitaḥ sa vai rākṣasānprerayāmāsa hanyatāṁ rākṣasā ayam

Suta said: He said, "I do not know"; hearing that, Daruka, enraged, ordered the rakshasas: "Let this man be killed, O rakshasas!"

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.30.6)

तदुक्तास्ते तदा हन्तुं नानायुधधरा गताः । द्रुतं तं वैश्यशार्दूलं शङ्करासक्तचेतसम् ॥ 30.6 ॥

taduktāste tadā hantuṁ nānāyudhadharā gatāḥ drutaṁ taṁ vaiśyaśārdūlaṁ śaṅkarāsaktacetasam

Thus commanded, they, bearing various weapons, went swiftly to kill that tiger among merchants, whose mind was fixed on Shankara.

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.30.7)

तानागतांस्तदा दृष्ट्वा भयवित्रस्तलोचनः । शिवं सस्मार सुप्रीत्या तन्नामानि जगौ मुहुः ॥ 30.7 ॥

tānāgatāṁstadā dṛṣṭvā bhayavitrastalocanaḥ śivaṁ sasmāra suprītyā tannāmāni jagau muhuḥ

Seeing them approach, his eyes trembling with fear, he remembered Shiva with great love, and repeatedly chanted his names.

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.30.8)

वैश्यपतिरुवाच । पाहि शङ्कर देवेश पाहि शम्भो शिवेति च । दुष्टादस्मात्त्रिलोकेश खलहन् भक्तवत्सल ॥ 30.8 ॥

vaiśyapatiruvāca pāhi śaṅkara deveśa pāhi śambho śiveti ca duṣṭādasmāttrilokeśa khalahan bhaktavatsala

The chief of the merchants said: "Protect me, O Shankara, Lord of gods! Protect me, O Shambhu, O Shiva! From this wicked one, O Lord of the three worlds, destroyer of the wicked, ever affectionate to your devotees."

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.30.9)

सर्वस्वं च भवानद्य मम देव त्वमेव हि । त्वदधीनस्त्वदीयोऽहं त्वत्प्राणः सर्वदा प्रभो ॥ 30.9 ॥

sarvasvaṁ ca bhavānadya mama deva tvameva hi tvadadhīnastvadīyo’haṁ tvatprāṇaḥ sarvadā prabho

"You alone are my everything today, O god; I am subject to you, I am yours, my very life is yours forever, O Lord."

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.30.10)

सूत उवाच । इति सम्प्रार्थितः शम्भुर्विवरान्निर्गतस्तदा । भवनेनोत्तमेनाथ चतुर्द्वारयुतेन च ॥ 30.10 ॥

sūta uvāca iti samprārthitaḥ śambhurvivarānnirgatastadā bhavanenottamenātha caturdvārayutena ca

Suta said: Thus entreated, Shambhu then emerged from a cavity, together with a magnificent structure furnished with four doors.

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.30.11)

मध्य ज्योतिःस्वरूपं च शिवरूपं तदद्भुतम् । परिवारसमायुक्तं दृष्ट्वा चापूजयत्स वै ॥ 30.11 ॥

madhya jyotiḥsvarūpaṁ ca śivarūpaṁ tadadbhutam parivārasamāyuktaṁ dṛṣṭvā cāpūjayatsa vai

Seeing in the middle that wondrous form of Shiva, luminous in nature, together with his retinue, he worshipped it.

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.30.12)

पूजितश्च तदा शम्भुः प्रसन्नो ह्यभवत्स्वयम् । अस्त्रं पाशुपतं नाम दत्त्वा राक्षसपुङ्गवान् ॥ 30.12 ॥

pūjitaśca tadā śambhuḥ prasanno hyabhavatsvayam astraṁ pāśupataṁ nāma dattvā rākṣasapuṅgavān

Then Shambhu, being worshipped, himself became pleased, and, having given him the weapon named Pashupata, empowered him against the foremost of the rakshasas.

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.30.13)

जघान सोपकरणांस्तान्सर्वान्सगणान्द्रुतम् । अरक्षच्च स्वभक्तं वै दुष्टहा स हि शङ्करः ॥ 30.13 ॥

jaghāna sopakaraṇāṁstānsarvānsagaṇāndrutam arakṣacca svabhaktaṁ vai duṣṭahā sa hi śaṅkaraḥ

He swiftly slew all of them, with their weapons and their hosts; and Shankara, destroyer of the wicked, protected his own devotee.

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.30.14)

सर्वांस्तांश्च तदा हत्वा वरं प्रादाद्वनस्य च । अत्यद्भुतकरः शम्भुः स्वलीलात्तसुविग्रहः ॥ 30.14 ॥

sarvāṁstāṁśca tadā hatvā varaṁ prādādvanasya ca atyadbhutakaraḥ śambhuḥ svalīlāttasuvigrahaḥ

Having thus slain them all, Shambhu, worker of the most wondrous deeds, who had assumed a beautiful form through his own divine sport, granted a boon to the forest as well.

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.30.15)

अस्मिन्वने सदा वर्णधर्मा वै सम्भवन्तु च । ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां हि तथैव च ॥ 30.15 ॥

asminvane sadā varṇadharmā vai sambhavantu ca brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṁ śūdrāṇāṁ hi tathaiva ca

"In this forest, let the duties of the varnas always prevail — of brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and likewise of shudras."

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.30.16)

भवन्त्वत्र मुनिश्रेष्ठास्तामसा न कदाचन । शिवधर्मप्रवक्तारः शिवधर्मप्रवर्तकाः ॥ 30.16 ॥

bhavantvatra muniśreṣṭhāstāmasā na kadācana śivadharmapravaktāraḥ śivadharmapravartakāḥ

"Let there be here, O best of sages, never those of a dark nature, but proclaimers of the Shaiva faith and promoters of the Shaiva faith."

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.30.17)

सूत उवाच । एतस्मिन्समये सा वै राक्षसी दारुकाह्वया । देव्याः स्तुतिं चकारासौ पार्वत्या दीनमानसा ॥ 30.17 ॥

sūta uvāca etasminsamaye sā vai rākṣasī dārukāhvayā devyāḥ stutiṁ cakārāsau pārvatyā dīnamānasā

Suta said: At this time, that rakshasi named Daruka, her mind distressed, offered praise to the goddess Parvati.

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.30.18)

प्रसन्ना च तदा देवी किं करोमीत्युवाच हि । साप्युवाच पुनस्तत्र वंशो मे रक्ष्यतां त्वया ॥ 30.18 ॥

prasannā ca tadā devī kiṁ karomītyuvāca hi sāpyuvāca punastatra vaṁśo me rakṣyatāṁ tvayā

Then the goddess, pleased, said, "What shall I do?" And she said again: "Let my lineage be protected by you."

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.30.19)

रक्षयिष्यामि ते वंशं सत्यं च कथ्यते मया । इत्युक्त्वा च शिवेनैव विग्रहं सा चकार ह ॥ 30.19 ॥

rakṣayiṣyāmi te vaṁśaṁ satyaṁ ca kathyate mayā ityuktvā ca śivenaiva vigrahaṁ sā cakāra ha

"I shall protect your lineage; this I speak in truth." Having said this, she then quarreled with Shiva himself.

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.30.20)

शिवोऽपि कुपितां देवीं दृष्ट्वा वरवशः प्रभुः । प्रत्युवाचेति सुप्रीत्या यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु ॥ 30.20 ॥

śivo’pi kupitāṁ devīṁ dṛṣṭvā varavaśaḥ prabhuḥ pratyuvāceti suprītyā yathecchasi tathā kuru

Shiva too, seeing the goddess angry, being the Lord bound by his own boon, replied lovingly: "As you wish, so do."

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.30.21)

सूत उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य स्वपतेः शङ्करस्य वै । सुप्रसन्ना विहस्याशु पार्वती वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 30.21 ॥

sūta uvāca iti śrutvā vacastasya svapateḥ śaṅkarasya vai suprasannā vihasyāśu pārvatī vākyamabravīt

Suta said: Hearing these words of her own lord Shankara, Parvati, greatly pleased, smiling, quickly spoke this word.

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.30.22)

पार्वत्युवाच । भवदीयं वचस्तथ्यं युगान्ते सम्भविष्यति । तावच्च तामसी सृष्टिर्भवत्विति मतं मम ॥ 30.22 ॥

pārvatyuvāca bhavadīyaṁ vacastathyaṁ yugānte sambhaviṣyati tāvacca tāmasī sṛṣṭirbhavatviti mataṁ mama

Parvati said: "Your word shall come true at the end of the age; until then, let there be a tamasic creation here — this is my opinion."

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.30.23)

अन्यथा प्रलयः स्याद्वै सत्यं मे व्याहृतं शिव । प्रमाणीक्रियतां नाथ त्वदीयास्मि त्वदाश्रया ॥ 30.23 ॥

anyathā pralayaḥ syādvai satyaṁ me vyāhṛtaṁ śiva pramāṇīkriyatāṁ nātha tvadīyāsmi tvadāśrayā

"Otherwise my word would come to ruin; what I have spoken, O Shiva, is true. Let it be honoured, O Lord; I am yours, dependent upon you."

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.30.24)

इयं च दारुका देवी राक्षसी शक्तिका मम । बलिष्ठा राक्षसीनां च रक्षोराज्यं प्रशास्तु च ॥ 30.24 ॥

iyaṁ ca dārukā devī rākṣasī śaktikā mama baliṣṭhā rākṣasīnāṁ ca rakṣorājyaṁ praśāstu ca

"And this Daruka, O god, a rakshasi endowed with power derived from me, most powerful among rakshasis, let her rule over the kingdom of the rakshasas."

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.30.25)

इमा राक्षसपत्न्यस्तु प्रसविष्यन्ति पुत्रकान् । ते सर्वे मिलिताश्चैव वने वासाय मे मताः ॥ 30.25 ॥

imā rākṣasapatnyastu prasaviṣyanti putrakān te sarve militāścaiva vane vāsāya me matāḥ

"These wives of the rakshasas shall bear sons; all of them together, in my view, are destined to dwell in this forest."

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.30.26)

सूत उवाच । इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा पार्वत्याः स्वस्त्रियाः प्रभुः । प्रसन्नमानसो भूत्वा शङ्करो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 30.26 ॥

sūta uvāca ityevaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā pārvatyāḥ svastriyāḥ prabhuḥ prasannamānaso bhūtvā śaṅkaro vākyamabravīt

Suta said: Hearing these words of Parvati, his own wife, the Lord Shankara, his mind pleased, spoke this word.

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.30.27)

शङ्कर उवाच । इति ब्रवीषि त्वं वै चेच्छृणु मद्वचनं प्रिये । स्थास्याम्यस्मिन्वने प्रीत्या भक्तानां पालनाय च ॥ 30.27 ॥

śaṅkara uvāca iti bravīṣi tvaṁ vai cecchṛṇu madvacanaṁ priye sthāsyāmyasminvane prītyā bhaktānāṁ pālanāya ca

Shankara said: "If you say so, then listen to my word too, O beloved: I shall remain in this forest with love, for the protection of my devotees."

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.30.28)

अत्र मे वर्णधर्मस्थो दर्शनं प्रीतिसंयुतम् । करिष्यति च यो वै स चक्रवर्ती भविष्यति ॥ 30.28 ॥

atra me varṇadharmastho darśanaṁ prītisaṁyutam kariṣyati ca yo vai sa cakravartī bhaviṣyati

"Whoever here, established in the duty of his own varna, shall have loving sight of me, he shall become a sovereign emperor."

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.30.29)

अन्यथा कलिपर्याये सत्यस्यादौ नृपेश्वरः । महासेनयुतो यो वै वीरसेनेति विश्रुतः ॥ 30.29 ॥

anyathā kaliparyāye satyasyādau nṛpeśvaraḥ mahāsenayuto yo vai vīraseneti viśrutaḥ

"Otherwise, in the course of the Kali age, at the very start of the Satya age, there shall be a lord of kings, endowed with a great army, renowned by the name Virasena."

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.30.30)

स मे भक्त्यातिविक्रान्तो दर्शनं मे करिष्यति । दर्शनं मे स कृत्वैव चक्रवर्ती भविष्यति ॥ 30.30 ॥

sa me bhaktyātivikrānto darśanaṁ me kariṣyati darśanaṁ me sa kṛtvaiva cakravartī bhaviṣyati

"He, exceedingly valiant, devoted to me, shall obtain my sight; and having obtained my sight, he alone shall become a sovereign emperor."

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.30.31)

सूत उवाच । इत्येवं दम्पती तौ च कृत्वा हास्यं परस्परम् । स्थितौ तत्र स्वयं साक्षान्महोतीकारकौ द्विजाः ॥ 30.31 ॥

sūta uvāca ityevaṁ dampatī tau ca kṛtvā hāsyaṁ parasparam sthitau tatra svayaṁ sākṣānmahotīkārakau dvijāḥ

Suta said: Thus, O brahmins, that divine couple, having shared laughter with each other, themselves remained there directly, workers of great wonders.

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.30.32)

ज्योतिर्लिङ्गस्वरूपो हि नाम्ना नागेश्वरः शिवः । नागेश्वरी शिवा देवी बभूव च सतां प्रियौ ॥ 30.32 ॥

jyotirliṅgasvarūpo hi nāmnā nāgeśvaraḥ śivaḥ nāgeśvarī śivā devī babhūva ca satāṁ priyau

Shiva, in the form of the Jyotirlinga, became known by the name Nageshvara; and the goddess Shivā became Nageshvari; and this divine pair became dear to the virtuous.

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.30.33)

ऋषय ऊचुः । वीरसेनः कथं तत्र यास्यते दारुकावने । कथमर्चिष्यति शिवं त्वं तद्वद महामते ॥ 30.33 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ vīrasenaḥ kathaṁ tatra yāsyate dārukāvane kathamarciṣyati śivaṁ tvaṁ tadvada mahāmate

The sages said: "How will Virasena go there, into Darukavana? How will he worship Shiva? Tell us that, O wise one."

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.30.34)

सूत उवाच । निषधे सुन्दरे देशे क्षत्रियाणां कुले च सः । महासेनसुतो वीरसेनश्चैव शिवप्रियः ॥ 30.34 ॥

sūta uvāca niṣadhe sundare deśe kṣatriyāṇāṁ kule ca saḥ mahāsenasuto vīrasenaścaiva śivapriyaḥ

Suta said: In the beautiful land of Nishadha, in a kshatriya lineage, that Virasena, son of Mahasena, dear to Shiva, was born.

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.30.35)

पार्थिवेशार्चनं कृत्वा तपः परमदुष्करम् । चकार वीरसेनो वै वर्षाणां द्वादशावधिः ॥ 30.35 ॥

pārthiveśārcanaṁ kṛtvā tapaḥ paramaduṣkaram cakāra vīraseno vai varṣāṇāṁ dvādaśāvadhiḥ

Having performed the worship of the clay lord, Virasena performed the most difficult austerity for a period of twelve years.

Verse 36 (shiva.kotirudra.30.36)

ततः प्रसन्नो देवेशः प्रत्यक्षं प्राह शङ्करः । काष्ठस्य मत्स्यिकां कृत्वा त्रपुधातुविलेपनाम् ॥ 30.36 ॥

tataḥ prasanno deveśaḥ pratyakṣaṁ prāha śaṅkaraḥ kāṣṭhasya matsyikāṁ kṛtvā trapudhātuvilepanām

Then the pleased Lord of gods, Shankara, appeared before him and spoke, instructing him to make a wooden fish coated with tin metal.

Verse 37 (shiva.kotirudra.30.37)

विधाय योगमायां च दास्यामि वीरसेनक । तां गृहीत्वा प्रविश्यैनं नौभिः सह व्रजाधुना ॥ 30.37 ॥

vidhāya yogamāyāṁ ca dāsyāmi vīrasenaka tāṁ gṛhītvā praviśyainaṁ naubhiḥ saha vrajādhunā

"Having fashioned it by yogic power, I shall grant it to you, O Virasena. Taking it, and entering the sea with it, along with boats, go now."

Verse 38 (shiva.kotirudra.30.38)

ततस्त्वं तत्र गत्वा च विवरे च कृते मया । प्रविश्य च तदा पूजां कृत्वा नागेश्वरस्य च ॥ 30.38 ॥

tatastvaṁ tatra gatvā ca vivare ca kṛte mayā praviśya ca tadā pūjāṁ kṛtvā nāgeśvarasya ca

"Then, having gone there, and entering the opening made by me, perform the worship of Nageshvara."

Verse 39 (shiva.kotirudra.30.39)

ततः पाशुपतं प्राप्य हत्वा च राक्षसीमुखान् । मयि दृष्टे तदा किञ्चिन्न्यूनं ते न भविष्यति ॥ 30.39 ॥

tataḥ pāśupataṁ prāpya hatvā ca rākṣasīmukhān mayi dṛṣṭe tadā kiñcinnyūnaṁ te na bhaviṣyati

"Then, having obtained the Pashupata weapon, and having slain the leaders of the rakshasas, when you have seen me, nothing whatsoever will be lacking for you."

Verse 40 (shiva.kotirudra.30.40)

पार्वत्याश्च बलं चैव सम्पूर्णं वै भविष्यति । अन्ये च म्लेच्छरूपा ये भविष्यन्ति वने शुभाः ॥ 30.40 ॥

pārvatyāśca balaṁ caiva sampūrṇaṁ vai bhaviṣyati anye ca mleccharūpā ye bhaviṣyanti vane śubhāḥ

"And the power sheltered by Parvati will be entirely subdued; and other, barbarous-formed beings that remain in the forest will become virtuous."

Verse 41 (shiva.kotirudra.30.41)

इत्युक्त्वा शङ्करस्तत्र वीरसेनं हि दुःखहा । कृत्वा कृपां च महतीं तत्रैवान्तर्दधे प्रभुः ॥ 30.41 ॥

ityuktvā śaṅkarastatra vīrasenaṁ hi duḥkhahā kṛtvā kṛpāṁ ca mahatīṁ tatraivāntardadhe prabhuḥ

Having said this, Shankara, remover of sorrow, having shown great compassion to Virasena there, the Lord vanished right there.

Verse 42 (shiva.kotirudra.30.42)

इति दत्तवरः सोऽपि शिवेन परमात्मना । शक्तः सर्वं तदा कर्तुं सम्बभूव न संशयः ॥ 30.42 ॥

iti dattavaraḥ so’pi śivena paramātmanā śaktaḥ sarvaṁ tadā kartuṁ sambabhūva na saṁśayaḥ

Thus granted a boon by Shiva, the Supreme Self, he too became then capable of doing everything — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 43 (shiva.kotirudra.30.43)

एवं नागेश्वरो देव उत्पन्नो ज्योतिषां पतिः । लिङ्गरूपस्त्रिलोकस्य सर्वकामप्रदः सदा ॥ 30.43 ॥

evaṁ nāgeśvaro deva utpanno jyotiṣāṁ patiḥ liṅgarūpastrilokasya sarvakāmapradaḥ sadā

Thus the god Nageshvara arose, the Lord of lights, in the form of a linga, ever granting all desires to the three worlds.

Verse 44 (shiva.kotirudra.30.44)

एतद्यः शृणुयान्नित्यं नागेशोद्भवमादरात् । सर्वान्कामानियाद्धीमान्महापातकनाशनान् ॥ 30.44 ॥

etadyaḥ śṛṇuyānnityaṁ nāgeśodbhavamādarāt sarvānkāmāniyāddhīmānmahāpātakanāśanān

Whoever, wise, ever hears with reverence this account of the origin of Nagesha, obtains all his desires, and even the greatest sins are destroyed.