The Death of the Brahmin Lady, in the Glory of Nandikeshvara

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.5.1)

सूत उवाच । कालञ्जरे गिरौ दिव्ये नीलकण्ठो महेश्वरः । लिङ्गरूपः सदा चैव भक्तानन्दप्रदः सदा ॥ 5.1 ॥

sūta uvāca kālañjare girau divye nīlakaṇṭho maheśvaraḥ liṅgarūpaḥ sadā caiva bhaktānandapradaḥ sadā

Suta said: On the divine mountain Kalanjara, Nilakantha Maheshvara ever abides in the form of the linga, ever the bestower of bliss to his devotees.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.5.2)

महिमा तस्य दिव्योऽस्ति श्रुतिस्मृतिप्रकीर्तितः । तीर्थं तदाख्यया तत्र स्नानात्पातकनाशकृत् ॥ 5.2 ॥

mahimā tasya divyo’sti śrutismṛtiprakīrtitaḥ tīrthaṁ tadākhyayā tatra snānātpātakanāśakṛt

His greatness is divine, proclaimed in the Shrutis and Smritis; the sacred ford there, bearing his name, destroys sin by bathing in it.

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.5.3)

रेवातीरे यानि सन्ति शिवलिङ्गानि सुव्रताः । सर्वसौख्यकराणीह तेषां सङ्ख्या न विद्यते ॥ 5.3 ॥

revātīre yāni santi śivaliṅgāni suvratāḥ sarvasaukhyakarāṇīha teṣāṁ saṅkhyā na vidyate

O ones of excellent vows, whatever Shiva-lingas exist on the bank of the Reva, bestowing every happiness — their number cannot be known.

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.5.4)

सा च रुद्रस्वरूपा हि दर्शनात्पापहारिका । तस्यां स्थिताश्च ये केचित्पाषाणाः शिवरूपिणः ॥ 5.4 ॥

sā ca rudrasvarūpā hi darśanātpāpahārikā tasyāṁ sthitāśca ye kecitpāṣāṇāḥ śivarūpiṇaḥ

That river herself is verily of the form of Rudra, remover of sin by mere sight; and whatever stones lie within her are themselves of the form of Shiva.

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.5.5)

तथापि च प्रवक्ष्यामि यथान्यानि मुनीश्वराः । प्रधानशिवलिङ्गानि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदानि च ॥ 5.5 ॥

tathāpi ca pravakṣyāmi yathānyāni munīśvarāḥ pradhānaśivaliṅgāni bhuktimuktipradāni ca

Still, O lords of sages, I shall tell of the other principal Shiva-lingas as well, granters of both enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.5.6)

आर्तेश्वरसुनामा हि वर्तते पापहारकः । परमेश्वर इति ख्यातः सिंहेश्वर इति स्मृतः ॥ 5.6 ॥

ārteśvarasunāmā hi vartate pāpahārakaḥ parameśvara iti khyātaḥ siṁheśvara iti smṛtaḥ

There stands one of the excellent name Arteshvara, remover of sin; another renowned as Parameshvara, and another remembered as Simheshvara.

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.5.7)

शर्मेशश्च तथा चात्र कुमारेश्वर एव च । पुण्डरीकेश्वरः ख्यातो मण्डपेश्वर एव च ॥ 5.7 ॥

śarmeśaśca tathā cātra kumāreśvara eva ca puṇḍarīkeśvaraḥ khyāto maṇḍapeśvara eva ca

Likewise here are Sharmesha and Kumareshvara; Pundarikeshvara is renowned, as is Mandapeshvara.

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.5.8)

तीक्ष्णेशनामा तत्रासीद्दर्शनात्पापहारकः । धुन्धुरेश्वरनामासीत्पापहा नर्मदातटे ॥ 5.8 ॥

tīkṣṇeśanāmā tatrāsīddarśanātpāpahārakaḥ dhundhureśvaranāmāsītpāpahā narmadātaṭe

There is one there by the name Tikshnesha, remover of sin by mere sight; and one by the name Dhundhureshvara, remover of sin, on the bank of the Narmada.

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.5.9)

शूलेश्वर इति ख्यातस्तथा कुम्भेश्वरः स्मृतः । कुबेरेश्वरनामापि तथा सोमेश्वरः स्मृतः ॥ 5.9 ॥

śūleśvara iti khyātastathā kumbheśvaraḥ smṛtaḥ kubereśvaranāmāpi tathā someśvaraḥ smṛtaḥ

One renowned as Shuleshvara, and likewise remembered as Kumbheshvara; also by the name Kubereshvara, and likewise remembered as Someshvara.

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.5.10)

नीलकण्ठो मङ्गलेशो मङ्गलायतनो महान् । महाकपीश्वरो देवः स्थापितो हि हनूमता ॥ 5.10 ॥

nīlakaṇṭho maṅgaleśo maṅgalāyatano mahān mahākapīśvaro devaḥ sthāpito hi hanūmatā

Nilakantha, Mangalesha, the great abode of auspiciousness; and the god Mahakapishvara, established indeed by Hanuman.

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.5.11)

ततश्च नन्दिको देवो हत्याकोटिनिवारकः । सर्वकामार्थदश्चैव मोक्षदो हि प्रकीर्तितः ॥ 5.11 ॥

tataśca nandiko devo hatyākoṭinivārakaḥ sarvakāmārthadaścaiva mokṣado hi prakīrtitaḥ

And then the god Nandika, who prevents even a crore of murders' sin, is proclaimed as the giver of all desires and aims, and indeed as the bestower of liberation.

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.5.12)

नन्दीकेशं च यश्चैव पूजयेत्परया मुदा । नित्यं तस्याखिला सिद्धिर्भविष्यति न संशयः ॥ 5.12 ॥

nandīkeśaṁ ca yaścaiva pūjayetparayā mudā nityaṁ tasyākhilā siddhirbhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

And whoever worships Nandikesha with the utmost joy — for him all accomplishment shall ever come about, without doubt.

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.5.13)

तत्र तीरे च यः स्नाति रेवायां मुनिसत्तमाः । तस्य कामाश्च सिध्यन्ति सर्वं पापं विनश्यति ॥ 5.13 ॥

tatra tīre ca yaḥ snāti revāyāṁ munisattamāḥ tasya kāmāśca sidhyanti sarvaṁ pāpaṁ vinaśyati

O best of sages, whoever bathes there on the bank, in the Reva — his desires are fulfilled and all his sin is destroyed.

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.5.14)

ऋषय ऊचुः । एवं तस्य च माहात्म्यं कथं तत्र महामते । नन्दिकेशस्य कृपया कथ्यतां च त्वयाधुना ॥ 5.14 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ evaṁ tasya ca māhātmyaṁ kathaṁ tatra mahāmate nandikeśasya kṛpayā kathyatāṁ ca tvayādhunā

The sages said: O highly wise one, tell us now, by the grace of Nandikesha, how his greatness came about there.

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.5.15)

सूत उवाच । सम्यक् पृष्टं भवद्भिश्च कथयामि यथाश्रुतम् । शौनकाद्याश्च मुनयः सर्वे हि शृणुतादरात् ॥ 5.15 ॥

sūta uvāca samyak pṛṣṭaṁ bhavadbhiśca kathayāmi yathāśrutam śaunakādyāśca munayaḥ sarve hi śṛṇutādarāt

Suta said: Well have you asked; I shall relate it as I have heard it. O sages headed by Shaunaka, all of you listen with attention.

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.5.16)

पुरा युधिष्ठिरेणैवं पृष्टश्च ऋषिसत्तमः । यथोवाच तथा वच्मि भवत्स्नेहानुसारतः ॥ 5.16 ॥

purā yudhiṣṭhireṇaivaṁ pṛṣṭaśca ṛṣisattamaḥ yathovāca tathā vacmi bhavatsnehānusārataḥ

Of old, the best of sages was asked thus by Yudhishthira; as he then spoke, so I now speak, out of affection for you.

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.5.17)

रेवायाः पश्चिमे तीरे कर्णिकी नाम वै पुरी । विराजते सुशोभाढ्या चतुर्वर्णसमाकुला ॥ 5.17 ॥

revāyāḥ paścime tīre karṇikī nāma vai purī virājate suśobhāḍhyā caturvarṇasamākulā

On the western bank of the Reva there is a city named Karnaki, resplendent with great beauty, filled with people of the four varnas.

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.5.18)

तत्र द्विजवरः कश्चिदुतथ्यकुलसम्भवः । काश्यां गतश्च पुत्राभ्यामर्पयित्वा स्वपत्निकाम् ॥ 5.18 ॥

tatra dvijavaraḥ kaścidutathyakulasambhavaḥ kāśyāṁ gataśca putrābhyāmarpayitvā svapatnikām

There a certain excellent brahmin, born of the family of Utathya, went to Kashi, having entrusted his wife to his two sons.

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.5.19)

तत्रैव स मृतो विप्रः पुत्राभ्यां च श्रुतं तदा । तदीयं चैव तत्कृत्यं चक्राते पुत्रकावुभौ ॥ 5.19 ॥

tatraiva sa mṛto vipraḥ putrābhyāṁ ca śrutaṁ tadā tadīyaṁ caiva tatkṛtyaṁ cakrāte putrakāvubhau

That brahmin died there itself; and when his two sons heard of it, both sons then performed his funeral rites.

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.5.20)

पत्नी च पालयामास पुत्रौ पुत्रहितैषिणी । किञ्चिच्च वर्जयित्वा च विभक्तं वै धनं तया ॥ 5.20 ॥

patnī ca pālayāmāsa putrau putrahitaiṣiṇī kiñcicca varjayitvā ca vibhaktaṁ vai dhanaṁ tayā

His wife, wishing well for her sons, cared for the two of them; and, setting a little aside, she divided the wealth among them.

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.5.21)

स्वीयं च रक्षितं किञ्चिद्धनं मरणहेतवे । ततश्च द्विजपत्नी हि कियत्काले गते च सा ॥ 5.21 ॥

svīyaṁ ca rakṣitaṁ kiñciddhanaṁ maraṇahetave tataśca dvijapatnī hi kiyatkāle gate ca sā

A small amount of wealth she kept back for her own death-rites; then, after some time had passed, that brahmin's wife —

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.5.22)

कदाचिन्म्रियमाणा सा विविधं पुण्यमाचरत् । न मृता दैवयोगेन द्विजपत्नी च सा द्विजाः ॥ 5.22 ॥

kadācinmriyamāṇā sā vividhaṁ puṇyamācarat na mṛtā daivayogena dvijapatnī ca sā dvijāḥ

— once, while dying, performed various pious acts; but, O brahmins, by a turn of fate, that brahmin's wife did not then die.

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.5.23)

यदा प्राणान्न मुमुचे माता दैवात्तयोश्च सा । तद् द्रुष्टवा जननीकष्टं पुत्रकावूचतुस्तदा ॥ 5.23 ॥

yadā prāṇānna mumuce mātā daivāttayośca sā tad druṣṭavā jananīkaṣṭaṁ putrakāvūcatustadā

When their mother, by fate, did not give up her life-breath, seeing their mother's distress, the two sons then said.

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.5.24)

पुत्रावूचतुः । किं न्यूनं विद्यते मातः कष्टं यद्विद्यते महत् । व्रियतां तद् द्रुतं प्रीत्या तदावां करवावहे ॥ 5.24 ॥

putrāvūcatuḥ kiṁ nyūnaṁ vidyate mātaḥ kaṣṭaṁ yadvidyate mahat vriyatāṁ tad drutaṁ prītyā tadāvāṁ karavāvahe

The sons said: 'O mother, what is it that is lacking, that causes you such great suffering? Ask for it quickly and with love, and we two shall accomplish it.'

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.5.25)

सूत उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वोक्तं तया तत्र न्यूनं मे विद्यते बहु । तदेव क्रियते चेद्वै सुखेन मरणं भवेत् ॥ 5.25 ॥

sūta uvāca tacchrutvoktaṁ tayā tatra nyūnaṁ me vidyate bahu tadeva kriyate cedvai sukhena maraṇaṁ bhavet

Suta said: Hearing this, she said there: 'Much indeed is lacking to me; if that very thing is done, my death shall be peaceful.'

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.5.26)

ज्येष्ठपुत्रश्च यस्तस्यास्तेनोक्तं कथ्यतां त्वया । करिष्यामि तदेतद्धि तया च कथितं तदा ॥ 5.26 ॥

jyeṣṭhaputraśca yastasyāstenoktaṁ kathyatāṁ tvayā kariṣyāmi tadetaddhi tayā ca kathitaṁ tadā

Her elder son said to her: 'Tell me what it is, and I shall accomplish it indeed' — and then she told him.

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.5.27)

द्विजपत्न्युवाच । शृणु पुत्र वचः प्रीत्या पुरासीन्मे मनःस्पृहा । काश्यां गन्तुं तथा नासीदिदानीं म्रियते पुनः ॥ 5.27 ॥

dvijapatnyuvāca śṛṇu putra vacaḥ prītyā purāsīnme manaḥspṛhā kāśyāṁ gantuṁ tathā nāsīdidānīṁ mriyate punaḥ

The brahmin's wife said: 'Listen, my son, with love, to my words. Formerly I had a longing in my heart to go to Kashi; that did not come to pass, and now I am dying again.'

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.5.28)

ममास्थीनि त्वया पुत्र क्षेपणीयान्यतन्द्रितम् । गङ्गाजले शुभं तेऽद्य भविष्यति न संशयः ॥ 5.28 ॥

mamāsthīni tvayā putra kṣepaṇīyānyatandritam gaṅgājale śubhaṁ te’dya bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

'My bones, my son, must be cast by you, without negligence, into the waters of the Ganga; auspicious shall be your fate today, without doubt.'

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.5.29)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्ते च तया मात्रा स ज्येष्ठतनयोऽब्रवीत् । मातरं मातृभक्त्तस्तु सुव्रतां मरणोन्मुखीम् ॥ 5.29 ॥

sūta uvāca ityukte ca tayā mātrā sa jyeṣṭhatanayo’bravīt mātaraṁ mātṛbhakttastu suvratāṁ maraṇonmukhīm

Suta said: When his mother had spoken thus, that devoted elder son answered his mother of excellent vows, who stood at the verge of death.

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.5.30)

पुत्र उवाच । मातस्त्वया सुखेनैव प्राणास्त्याज्या न संशयः । तव कार्यं पुरा कृत्वा पश्चात्कार्यं मदीयकम् ॥ 5.30 ॥

putra uvāca mātastvayā sukhenaiva prāṇāstyājyā na saṁśayaḥ tava kāryaṁ purā kṛtvā paścātkāryaṁ madīyakam

The son said: 'O mother, give up your life-breath in peace, without doubt; your task shall be accomplished first, and my own task afterward.'

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.5.31)

इति हस्ते जलं दत्त्वा यावत्पुत्रो गृहं गतः । तावत्सा च मृता तत्र हरस्मरणतत्परा ॥ 5.31 ॥

iti haste jalaṁ dattvā yāvatputro gṛhaṁ gataḥ tāvatsā ca mṛtā tatra harasmaraṇatatparā

Having said this and placed water in her hand, the son went to his house; and by the time he returned, she had died there, intent on the remembrance of Hara.

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.5.32)

तस्याश्चैव तु यत्कृत्यं तत्सर्वं संविधाय सः । मासिकं कर्म कृत्वा तु गमनाय प्रचक्रमे ॥ 5.32 ॥

tasyāścaiva tu yatkṛtyaṁ tatsarvaṁ saṁvidhāya saḥ māsikaṁ karma kṛtvā tu gamanāya pracakrame

Having duly arranged all her funeral rites, and having performed the monthly ceremony, he set out to depart.

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.5.33)

द्वयोः श्रेष्ठतरो यो वै सुवादो नाम विश्रुतः । तदस्थीनि समादाय निःसृतस्तीर्थकाम्यया ॥ 5.33 ॥

dvayoḥ śreṣṭhataro yo vai suvādo nāma viśrutaḥ tadasthīni samādāya niḥsṛtastīrthakāmyayā

He who was the elder of the two, renowned by the name Suvada, taking up her bones, set forth with the desire of visiting the sacred ford.

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.5.34)

सङ्गृह्य सेवकं कञ्चित्तेनैव सहितस्तदा । आश्वास्य भार्यां पुत्राँश्च मातुः प्रियचिकीर्षया ॥ 5.34 ॥

saṅgṛhya sevakaṁ kañcittenaiva sahitastadā āśvāsya bhāryāṁ putrā~śca mātuḥ priyacikīrṣayā

Having engaged a certain servant, and accompanied by him, having reassured his wife and sons, out of a wish to please his mother —

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.5.35)

श्राद्धदानादिकं भोज्यं कृत्वा विधिमनुत्तमम् । मङ्गलस्मरणं कृत्वा निर्जगाम गृहाद् द्विजः ॥ 5.35 ॥

śrāddhadānādikaṁ bhojyaṁ kṛtvā vidhimanuttamam maṅgalasmaraṇaṁ kṛtvā nirjagāma gṛhād dvijaḥ

— having performed the shraddha, gift-giving, feeding, and other most excellent rites, and having made an auspicious remembrance, that brahmin departed from his home.

Verse 36 (shiva.kotirudra.5.36)

तद्दिने योजनं गत्वा विंशति ग्रामके शुभे । उवासास्तं गते भानौ गृहे विप्रस्य कस्यचित् ॥ 5.36 ॥

taddine yojanaṁ gatvā viṁśati grāmake śubhe uvāsāstaṁ gate bhānau gṛhe viprasya kasyacit

Having travelled a yojana that day, when the sun had set, he lodged in the auspicious village of Vimshati, in the house of a certain brahmin.

Verse 37 (shiva.kotirudra.5.37)

चक्रे सन्ध्यादि सत्कर्म स द्विजो विधिपूर्वकम् । स्तवादि कृतवांस्तत्र शम्भोरद्भुतकर्मणः ॥ 5.37 ॥

cakre sandhyādi satkarma sa dvijo vidhipūrvakam stavādi kṛtavāṁstatra śambhoradbhutakarmaṇaḥ

That brahmin duly performed the twilight-rite and other sacred observances; there he also offered hymns of praise to Shambhu of wondrous deeds.

Verse 38 (shiva.kotirudra.5.38)

सेवकेन तदा युक्तो ब्राह्मणः संस्थितस्तदा । यामिनी च गता तत्र मुहूर्तद्वयसम्मिता ॥ 5.38 ॥

sevakena tadā yukto brāhmaṇaḥ saṁsthitastadā yāminī ca gatā tatra muhūrtadvayasammitā

That brahmin, then together with his servant, remained there; and a portion of the night, measuring two muhurtas, passed by.

Verse 39 (shiva.kotirudra.5.39)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्रैकमाश्चर्यमभूत्तदा । शृणुतादरतस्तच्च मुनयो वो वदाम्यहम् ॥ 5.39 ॥

etasminnantare tatraikamāścaryamabhūttadā śṛṇutādaratastacca munayo vo vadāmyaham

Meanwhile, one wonder occurred there then; O sages, listen to it with attention — I shall relate it to you.