How Vishnu Obtained the Sudarshana Chakra

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.34.1)

व्यास उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य सूतस्य च मुनीश्वराः । समूचुस्तं सुप्रशस्य लोकानां हितकाम्यया ॥ 34.1 ॥

vyāsa uvāca iti śrutvā vacastasya sūtasya ca munīśvarāḥ samūcustaṁ supraśasya lokānāṁ hitakāmyayā

Vyasa said: Having heard these words of Suta, the great sages, praising him warmly and desiring the welfare of the worlds, spoke to him.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.34.2)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत सर्वं विजानासि ततः पृच्छामहे वयम् । हरीश्वरस्य लिङ्गस्य महिमानं वद प्रभो ॥ 34.2 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta sarvaṁ vijānāsi tataḥ pṛcchāmahe vayam harīśvarasya liṅgasya mahimānaṁ vada prabho

The sages said: "O Suta, you know everything; so we ask you — tell us, O lord, the greatness of the Harishvara linga, worshipped by Hari."

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.34.3)

चक्रं सुदर्शनं प्राप्तं विष्णुनेति श्रुतं पुरा । तदाराधनतस्तात तत्कथां च विशेषतः ॥ 34.3 ॥

cakraṁ sudarśanaṁ prāptaṁ viṣṇuneti śrutaṁ purā tadārādhanatastāta tatkathāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ

"O venerable one, we have heard before that Vishnu obtained the Sudarshana discus through worship there — tell us that story in particular detail."

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.34.4)

सूत उवाच । श्रूयतां च ऋषिश्रेष्ठा हरीश्वरकथा शुभा । यतः सुदर्शनं लब्धं विष्णुना शङ्करात्पुरा ॥ 34.4 ॥

sūta uvāca śrūyatāṁ ca ṛṣiśreṣṭhā harīśvarakathā śubhā yataḥ sudarśanaṁ labdhaṁ viṣṇunā śaṅkarātpurā

Suta said: "Listen, O best of sages, to the auspicious story of Harishvara, through which Vishnu formerly obtained the Sudarshana discus from Shankara."

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.34.5)

कस्मिंश्चित्समये दैत्याः सञ्जाता बलवत्तराः । लोकांस्ते पीडयामासुर्धर्मलोपं च चक्रिरे ॥ 34.5 ॥

kasmiṁścitsamaye daityāḥ sañjātā balavattarāḥ lokāṁste pīḍayāmāsurdharmalopaṁ ca cakrire

At one time the demons grew exceedingly powerful; they oppressed the worlds and brought about the decline of dharma.

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.34.6)

ते देवाः पीडिता दैत्यैर्महाबलपराक्रमैः । स्वं दुःखं कथयामासुर्विष्णुं निर्जररक्षकम् ॥ 34.6 ॥

te devāḥ pīḍitā daityairmahābalaparākramaiḥ svaṁ duḥkhaṁ kathayāmāsurviṣṇuṁ nirjararakṣakam

Those gods, oppressed by demons of great strength and valor, told their sorrow to Vishnu, the protector of the immortals.

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.34.7)

देवा ऊचुः । कृपां कुरु प्रभो त्वं च दैत्यैः सम्पीडिता भृशम् । कुत्र यामश्च किं कुर्मः शरण्यं त्वां समाश्रिताः ॥ 34.7 ॥

devā ūcuḥ kṛpāṁ kuru prabho tvaṁ ca daityaiḥ sampīḍitā bhṛśam kutra yāmaśca kiṁ kurmaḥ śaraṇyaṁ tvāṁ samāśritāḥ

The gods said: "Have mercy, O Lord! We are grievously oppressed by the demons. Where shall we go, what shall we do? We have taken refuge in you, our only shelter."

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.34.8)

सूत उवाच । इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा देवानां दुःखितात्मनाम् । स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्भोजं विष्णुर्वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 34.8 ॥

sūta uvāca ityevaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā devānāṁ duḥkhitātmanām smṛtvā śivapadāmbhojaṁ viṣṇurvacanamabravīt

Suta said: Hearing these words of the sorrowing gods, Vishnu, calling to mind the lotus-feet of Shiva, spoke these words.

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.34.9)

विष्णुरुवाच । करिष्यामि च वः कार्यमाराध्य गिरिशं सुराः । बलिष्ठाः शत्रवो ह्येते विजेतव्याः प्रयत्नतः ॥ 34.9 ॥

viṣṇuruvāca kariṣyāmi ca vaḥ kāryamārādhya giriśaṁ surāḥ baliṣṭhāḥ śatravo hyete vijetavyāḥ prayatnataḥ

Vishnu said: "O gods, I shall accomplish your task by worshipping Girisha; these enemies are exceedingly strong and must be conquered with great effort."

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.34.10)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तास्ते सुराः सर्वे विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना । मत्वा दैत्यान्हतान्दुष्टान्ययुर्धाम स्वकं स्वकम् ॥ 34.10 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktāste surāḥ sarve viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā matvā daityānhatānduṣṭānyayurdhāma svakaṁ svakam

Suta said: Told thus by the mighty Vishnu, all the gods, taking the wicked demons as good as slain, went each to their own abode.

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.34.11)

विष्णुरप्यमराणां तु जयार्थमभजच्छिवम् । सर्वामराणामधिपं सर्वसाक्षिणमव्ययम् ॥ 34.11 ॥

viṣṇurapyamarāṇāṁ tu jayārthamabhajacchivam sarvāmarāṇāmadhipaṁ sarvasākṣiṇamavyayam

Vishnu, too, for the sake of the immortals' victory, took up the worship of Shiva — the lord of all the gods, the witness of all, the imperishable one.

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.34.12)

गत्वा कैलासनिकटे तपस्तेपे हरिः स्वयम् । कृत्वा कुण्डं च संस्थाप्य जातवेदसमग्रतः ॥ 34.12 ॥

gatvā kailāsanikaṭe tapastepe hariḥ svayam kṛtvā kuṇḍaṁ ca saṁsthāpya jātavedasamagrataḥ

Going near Kailasa, Hari himself performed austerities, digging a sacrificial pit and establishing the fire within it.

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.34.13)

पार्थिवेन विधानेन मन्त्रैर्नानाविधैरपि । स्तोत्रैश्चैवाप्यनेकैश्च गिरिशं चाभजन्मुदा ॥ 34.13 ॥

pārthivena vidhānena mantrairnānāvidhairapi stotraiścaivāpyanekaiśca giriśaṁ cābhajanmudā

With the rite of the clay linga, with manifold mantras, and with many hymns of praise, he worshipped Girisha with great joy.

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.34.14)

कमलैः सरसो जातैर्मानसाख्यान्मुनीश्वराः । बद्ध्वा चैवासनं तत्र न चचाल हरिः स्वयम् ॥ 34.14 ॥

kamalaiḥ saraso jātairmānasākhyānmunīśvarāḥ baddhvā caivāsanaṁ tatra na cacāla hariḥ svayam

O great sages, worshipping with lotuses grown in the Manasa lake, having taken his seat there, Hari himself did not stir from that spot.

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.34.15)

प्रसादावधि चैवात्र स्थेयं वै सर्वथा मया । इत्येवं निश्चयं कृत्वा समानर्च शिवं हरिः ॥ 34.15 ॥

prasādāvadhi caivātra stheyaṁ vai sarvathā mayā ityevaṁ niścayaṁ kṛtvā samānarca śivaṁ hariḥ

"I shall remain right here in every way until grace is won" — making this firm resolve, Hari worshipped Shiva.

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.34.16)

यदा नैव हरस्तुष्टो बभूव हरये द्विजाः । तदा स भगवान्विष्णुर्विचारे तत्परोऽभवत् ॥ 34.16 ॥

yadā naiva harastuṣṭo babhūva haraye dvijāḥ tadā sa bhagavānviṣṇurvicāre tatparo'bhavat

O brahmins, when Hara still remained unpleased with Hari, the Lord Vishnu fell into deep reflection.

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.34.17)

विचार्यैवं स्वमनसि सेवनं बहुधा कृतम् । तथापि न हरस्तुष्टो बभूवोतिकरः प्रभुः ॥ 34.17 ॥

vicāryaivaṁ svamanasi sevanaṁ bahudhā kṛtam tathāpi na harastuṣṭo babhūvotikaraḥ prabhuḥ

Reflecting in his own mind that he had rendered service in many ways, still the great Lord Hara remained unpleased.

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.34.18)

ततः सुविस्मितो विष्णुर्भक्त्या परमयान्वितः । सहस्रैर्नामभिः प्रीत्या तुष्टाव परमेश्वरम् ॥ 34.18 ॥

tataḥ suvismito viṣṇurbhaktyā paramayānvitaḥ sahasrairnāmabhiḥ prītyā tuṣṭāva parameśvaram

Then Vishnu, greatly astonished and filled with supreme devotion, lovingly praised the Supreme Lord with a thousand names.

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.34.19)

प्रत्येकं कमलं तस्मै नाममन्त्रमुदीर्य च । पूजयामास वै शम्भुं शरणागतवत्सलम् ॥ 34.19 ॥

pratyekaṁ kamalaṁ tasmai nāmamantramudīrya ca pūjayāmāsa vai śambhuṁ śaraṇāgatavatsalam

Uttering each name-mantra and offering a single lotus with each, he worshipped Shambhu, who ever cherishes those who seek his refuge.

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.34.20)

परीक्षार्थं विष्णुभक्तेस्तदा वै शङ्करेण ह । कमलानां सहस्रात्तु हृतमेकं च नीरजम् ॥ 34.20 ॥

parīkṣārthaṁ viṣṇubhaktestadā vai śaṅkareṇa ha kamalānāṁ sahasrāttu hṛtamekaṁ ca nīrajam

Then, to test Vishnu's devotion, Shankara secretly took away a single lotus from among that thousand.

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.34.21)

न ज्ञातं विष्णुना तच्च मायाकारणमद्भुतम् । न्यूनं तच्चापि संज्ञाय तदन्वेषणतत्परः ॥ 34.21 ॥

na jñātaṁ viṣṇunā tacca māyākāraṇamadbhutam nyūnaṁ taccāpi saṁjñāya tadanveṣaṇatatparaḥ

Vishnu did not perceive that wondrous working of Shiva's power of illusion; but on realizing one lotus was missing, he became intent on searching for it.

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.34.22)

बभ्राम सकलां पृथ्वीं तत्प्रीत्यै सुदृढव्रतः । तदप्राप्य विशुद्धात्मा नेत्रमेकमुदाहरत् ॥ 34.22 ॥

babhrāma sakalāṁ pṛthvīṁ tatprītyai sudṛḍhavrataḥ tadaprāpya viśuddhātmā netramekamudāharat

Firm in his vow, he roamed over the whole earth in search of it; not finding it, that pure-souled one plucked out one of his own eyes to offer instead.

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.34.23)

तं दृष्ट्वा स प्रसन्नोऽभूच्छङ्करः सर्वदुःखहा । आविर्बभूव तत्रैव जगाद वचनं हरिम् ॥ 34.23 ॥

taṁ dṛṣṭvā sa prasanno'bhūcchaṅkaraḥ sarvaduḥkhahā āvirbabhūva tatraiva jagāda vacanaṁ harim

Seeing this, Shankara, remover of all sorrow, became pleased; he appeared there at once and spoke these words to Hari.

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.34.24)

शिव उवाच । प्रसन्नोऽस्मि हरे तुभ्यं वरं ब्रूहि यथेप्सितम् । मनोऽभिलषितं दद्मि नादेयं विद्यते तव ॥ 34.24 ॥

śiva uvāca prasanno'smi hare tubhyaṁ varaṁ brūhi yathepsitam mano'bhilaṣitaṁ dadmi nādeyaṁ vidyate tava

Shiva said: "O Hari, I am pleased with you; ask a boon as you desire. I shall grant whatever your heart wishes — nothing is beyond your asking."

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.34.25)

सूत उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा शम्भुवचनं केशवः प्रीतमानसः । महाहर्षसमापन्नो ह्यब्रवीत्साञ्जलिः शिवम् ॥ 34.25 ॥

sūta uvāca tacchrutvā śambhuvacanaṁ keśavaḥ prītamānasaḥ mahāharṣasamāpanno hyabravītsāñjaliḥ śivam

Suta said: Hearing Shambhu's words, Keshava, his heart delighted and filled with great joy, spoke to Shiva with joined palms.

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.34.26)

विष्णुरुवाच । वाच्यं किं मे त्वदग्रे वै ह्यन्तर्यामी त्वमास्थितः । तथापि कथ्यते नाथ तव शासनगौरवात् ॥ 34.26 ॥

viṣṇuruvāca vācyaṁ kiṁ me tvadagre vai hyantaryāmī tvamāsthitaḥ tathāpi kathyate nātha tava śāsanagauravāt

Vishnu said: "What need is there for me to speak before you, since you dwell within all as the indweller? Yet, O Lord, I speak it out of respect for your command."

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.34.27)

दैत्यैश्च पीडितं विश्वं सुखं नो नः सदाशिव । दैत्यान् हन्तुं मम स्वामिन्स्वायुधं न प्रवर्तते ॥ 34.27 ॥

daityaiśca pīḍitaṁ viśvaṁ sukhaṁ no naḥ sadāśiva daityān hantuṁ mama svāminsvāyudhaṁ na pravartate

"The universe is oppressed by the demons, O Sadashiva, and we have no peace. O Master, my own weapons do not avail to slay these demons."

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.34.28)

किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि नान्यो मे रक्षकः परः । अतोऽहं परमेशान शरणं त्वां समागतः ॥ 34.28 ॥

kiṁ karomi kva gacchāmi nānyo me rakṣakaḥ paraḥ ato'haṁ parameśāna śaraṇaṁ tvāṁ samāgataḥ

"What shall I do, where shall I go? I have no other supreme protector. Therefore, O Supreme Lord, I have come to you for refuge."

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.34.29)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा च नमस्कृत्य शिवाय परमात्मने । स्थितश्चैवाग्रतः शम्भोः स्वयं च पुरुपीडितः ॥ 34.29 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktvā ca namaskṛtya śivāya paramātmane sthitaścaivāgrataḥ śambhoḥ svayaṁ ca purupīḍitaḥ

Suta said: Having spoken thus and bowed to Shiva, the Supreme Self, Vishnu, himself sorely afflicted, stood there before Shambhu.

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.34.30)

सूत उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचो विष्णोर्देवदेवो महेश्वरः । ददौ तस्मै स्वकं चक्रं तेजोराशिं सुदर्शनम् ॥ 34.30 ॥

sūta uvāca iti śrutvā vaco viṣṇordevadevo maheśvaraḥ dadau tasmai svakaṁ cakraṁ tejorāśiṁ sudarśanam

Suta said: Hearing these words of Vishnu, Maheshvara, the god of gods, gave him his own discus, a mass of radiance — the Sudarshana.

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.34.31)

तत्प्राप्य भगवान्विष्णुर्दैत्यांस्तान्बलवत्तरान् । जघान तेन चक्रेण द्रुतं सर्वान्विना श्रमम् ॥ 34.31 ॥

tatprāpya bhagavānviṣṇurdaityāṁstānbalavattarān jaghāna tena cakreṇa drutaṁ sarvānvinā śramam

Obtaining it, the Lord Vishnu swiftly slew all those exceedingly powerful demons with that discus, without any effort at all.

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.34.32)

जगत्स्वास्थ्यं परं लेभे बभूवुः सुखिनः सुराः । सुप्रीतः स्वायुधं प्राप्य हरिरासीन्महासुखी ॥ 34.32 ॥

jagatsvāsthyaṁ paraṁ lebhe babhūvuḥ sukhinaḥ surāḥ suprītaḥ svāyudhaṁ prāpya harirāsīnmahāsukhī

The world attained supreme well-being, the gods became happy, and Hari, delighted at receiving his own new weapon, was filled with the greatest joy.

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.34.33)

ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ किं तन्नामसहस्रं वै कथय त्वं हि शाङ्करम् । येन तुष्टो ददौ चक्रं हरये स महेश्वरः ॥ 34.33 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kiṁ tannāmasahasraṁ vai kathaya tvaṁ hi śāṅkaram yena tuṣṭo dadau cakraṁ haraye sa maheśvaraḥ

The sages said: "Tell us that thousand names of Shankara, being pleased by which Maheshvara gave the discus to Hari."

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.34.34)

तन्माहात्म्यं मम ब्रूहि शिवसंवादपूर्वकम् । कृपालुत्वं च शम्भोर्हि विष्णूपरि यथातथम् ॥ 34.34 ॥

tanmāhātmyaṁ mama brūhi śivasaṁvādapūrvakam kṛpālutvaṁ ca śambhorhi viṣṇūpari yathātatham

"Tell us its greatness together with that dialogue with Shiva, and just how Shambhu's compassion showed itself toward Vishnu."

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.34.35)

व्यास उवाच । इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् । स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्भोजं सूतो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 34.35 ॥

vyāsa uvāca iti teṣāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā munīnāṁ bhāvitātmanām smṛtvā śivapadāmbhojaṁ sūto vacanamabravīt

Vyasa said: Hearing these words of the sages of purified hearts, Suta, calling to mind the lotus-feet of Shiva, began to speak these words.