The Brahmin Lady Attains Heaven, in the Glory of the Nandikeshvara Linga

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.6.1)

सूत उवाच । गौश्चैकाप्यभवत्तत्र ह्यङ्गणे बन्धिता शुभा । तदैव ब्राह्मणो रात्रावाजगाम बहिर्गतः ॥ 6.1 ॥

sūta uvāca gauścaikāpyabhavattatra hyaṅgaṇe bandhitā śubhā tadaiva brāhmaṇo rātrāvājagāma bahirgataḥ

Suta said: There was, in that courtyard, one fine cow tethered; just then the brahmin, who had gone out, returned at night.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.6.2)

स उवाच प्रियां स्वीयां दृष्ट्वा गामङ्गणे स्थिताम् । अदुग्धां खेदनिर्विण्णो दोग्धुकामो मुनीश्वराः ॥ 6.2 ॥

sa uvāca priyāṁ svīyāṁ dṛṣṭvā gāmaṅgaṇe sthitām adugdhāṁ khedanirviṇṇo dogdhukāmo munīśvarāḥ

O lords of sages, seeing his own cow standing in the courtyard unmilked, he, wearied and troubled, wishing to milk her, spoke to his beloved wife.

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.6.3)

गौः प्रिये नैव दुग्धा ते सेत्युक्ता वत्समानयत् । दोहनार्थं समाहूय स्त्रियं शीघ्रतरं तदा ॥ 6.3 ॥

gauḥ priye naiva dugdhā te setyuktā vatsamānayat dohanārthaṁ samāhūya striyaṁ śīghrataraṁ tadā

'My dear, the cow has not been milked by you' — thus addressed, she, quickly called for milking, brought the calf.

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.6.4)

वत्सं कीले स्वयं बद्धुं यत्नं चैवाकरोत्तदा । ब्राह्मणः स गृहस्वामी मुनयो दुग्धलालसः ॥ 6.4 ॥

vatsaṁ kīle svayaṁ baddhuṁ yatnaṁ caivākarottadā brāhmaṇaḥ sa gṛhasvāmī munayo dugdhalālasaḥ

O sages, that brahmin, master of the house, eager for milk, then himself made an effort to tie the calf to the post.

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.6.5)

वत्सोऽपि कर्षमाणश्च पादे वै पादपीडनम् । चकार ब्राह्मणश्चैव कष्टं प्राप्तश्च सुव्रताः ॥ 6.5 ॥

vatso’pi karṣamāṇaśca pāde vai pādapīḍanam cakāra brāhmaṇaścaiva kaṣṭaṁ prāptaśca suvratāḥ

O ones of excellent vows, the calf, being dragged, struck his foot with its own; and the brahmin was thereby put to pain.

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.6.6)

तेन पादप्रहारेण स द्विजः क्रोधमूर्छितः । वत्सं च ताडयामास कूपैर्दृढतरं तदा ॥ 6.6 ॥

tena pādaprahāreṇa sa dvijaḥ krodhamūrchitaḥ vatsaṁ ca tāḍayāmāsa kūpairdṛḍhataraṁ tadā

By that blow of the foot, the brahmin, overcome with anger, then struck the calf severely with sticks of firewood.

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.6.7)

वत्सोऽपि पीडितस्तेन श्रान्तश्चैवाभवत्तदा । दुग्धा गौर्मोचितो वत्सो न क्रोधेन द्विजन्मना ॥ 6.7 ॥

vatso’pi pīḍitastena śrāntaścaivābhavattadā dugdhā gaurmocito vatso na krodhena dvijanmanā

The calf, hurt by him, became utterly exhausted; and, out of anger, neither was the cow milked nor was the calf released by the brahmin.

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.6.8)

गौर्दोग्धुं च महत्प्रीत्या रोदनं चाकरोत्तदा । दृष्ट्वा च रोदनं तस्या वत्सो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ॥ 6.8 ॥

gaurdogdhuṁ ca mahatprītyā rodanaṁ cākarottadā dṛṣṭvā ca rodanaṁ tasyā vatso vākyamathābravīt

The cow, longing greatly to be milked, then began to weep; and seeing her weeping, the calf then spoke this word.

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.6.9)

वत्स उवाच । कथं च रुद्यते मातः किं ते दुःखमुपस्थितम् । तन्निवेदय मे प्रीत्या तच्छ्रुत्वा गौरवोचत ॥ 6.9 ॥

vatsa uvāca kathaṁ ca rudyate mātaḥ kiṁ te duḥkhamupasthitam tannivedaya me prītyā tacchrutvā gauravocata

The calf said: 'Mother, why do you weep? What sorrow has come upon you? Tell me lovingly.' Hearing this, the cow spoke.

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.6.10)

श्रूयतां पुत्र मे दुःखं वक्तुं शक्नोम्यहं न हि । दुष्टेन ताडितस्त्वं च तेन दुःखं ममाप्यभूत् ॥ 6.10 ॥

śrūyatāṁ putra me duḥkhaṁ vaktuṁ śaknomyahaṁ na hi duṣṭena tāḍitastvaṁ ca tena duḥkhaṁ mamāpyabhūt

'Hear, my son, my sorrow, though I am scarcely able to speak it: you were struck by that wicked man, and thereby my sorrow too arose.'

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.6.11)

सूत उवाच । स्वमातुर्वचनं श्रुत्वा स वत्सः प्रत्यबोधयत् । प्रत्युवाच स्वजननीं प्रारब्धपरिनिष्ठितः ॥ 6.11 ॥

sūta uvāca svamāturvacanaṁ śrutvā sa vatsaḥ pratyabodhayat pratyuvāca svajananīṁ prārabdhapariniṣṭhitaḥ

Suta said: Hearing his mother's words, that calf, established firmly in the doctrine of destiny, sought to enlighten her, and replied to his own mother.

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.6.12)

किं कर्त्तव्यं क्व गन्तव्यं कर्मबद्धा वयं यतः । कृतं चैव यथा पूर्वं भुज्यते च तथाधुना ॥ 6.12 ॥

kiṁ karttavyaṁ kva gantavyaṁ karmabaddhā vayaṁ yataḥ kṛtaṁ caiva yathā pūrvaṁ bhujyate ca tathādhunā

'What is there to do, where is there to go, since we are bound by our own karma? As it was done before, so now it is being experienced.'

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.6.13)

हसता क्रियते कर्म रुदता परिभुज्यते । दुःखदाता न कोऽप्यस्ति सुखदाता न कश्चन ॥ 6.13 ॥

hasatā kriyate karma rudatā paribhujyate duḥkhadātā na ko’pyasti sukhadātā na kaścana

'With laughter the deed is done; with weeping it is experienced. There is no one at all who gives sorrow, and none who gives happiness.'

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.6.14)

सुखदुःखे परो दत्त इत्येषा कुमतिर्मता । अहं चापि करोम्यत्र मिथ्याज्ञानं तदोच्यते ॥ 6.14 ॥

sukhaduḥkhe paro datta ityeṣā kumatirmatā ahaṁ cāpi karomyatra mithyājñānaṁ tadocyate

'That happiness and sorrow are given by another — this is regarded as a wrong notion; and likewise, "it is I who do this" — that too is called false knowledge.'

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.6.15)

स्वकर्मणा भवेद्दुःखं सुखं तेनैव कर्मणा । तस्माच्च पूज्यते कर्म सर्वं कर्मणि संस्थितम् ॥ 6.15 ॥

svakarmaṇā bhavedduḥkhaṁ sukhaṁ tenaiva karmaṇā tasmācca pūjyate karma sarvaṁ karmaṇi saṁsthitam

'By one's own action sorrow comes, and by that same action happiness; therefore karma alone is to be revered — everything rests upon karma.'

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.6.16)

त्वं चैवाहं च जननी इमे जीवादयश्च ये । ते सर्वे कर्मणा बद्धा न शोच्याः कर्हिचित्त्वया ॥ 6.16 ॥

tvaṁ caivāhaṁ ca jananī ime jīvādayaśca ye te sarve karmaṇā baddhā na śocyāḥ karhicittvayā

'You, and I, O mother, and all these other living beings — all of them are bound by karma; they are never to be grieved over by you.'

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.6.17)

सूत उवाच । एवं श्रुत्वा स्वपुत्रस्य वचनं ज्ञानगर्भितम् । पुत्रशोकान्विता दीना सा च गौरब्रवीदिदम् ॥ 6.17 ॥

sūta uvāca evaṁ śrutvā svaputrasya vacanaṁ jñānagarbhitam putraśokānvitā dīnā sā ca gaurabravīdidam

Suta said: Hearing thus her son's words, laden with wisdom, that cow, wretched and grieving for her son, spoke this.

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.6.18)

गौरुवाच । वत्स सर्वं विजानासि कर्माधीनाः प्रजा इति । तथापि मायया ग्रस्ता दुःखं प्राप्नोम्यहं पुनः ॥ 6.18 ॥

gauruvāca vatsa sarvaṁ vijānāsi karmādhīnāḥ prajā iti tathāpi māyayā grastā duḥkhaṁ prāpnomyahaṁ punaḥ

The cow said: 'My son, you know fully that all beings are subject to karma; yet, seized by Maya, I again fall into sorrow.'

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.6.19)

रोदनं च कृतं भूरि दुःखशान्तिर्भवेन्न हि । इत्येतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रसूं वत्सोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥ 6.19 ॥

rodanaṁ ca kṛtaṁ bhūri duḥkhaśāntirbhavenna hi ityetadvacanaṁ śrutvā prasūṁ vatso’bravīdidam

'Much have I wept, yet my sorrow does not subside.' Hearing these words, the calf spoke this to his mother.

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.6.20)

वत्स उवाच । यद्येवं च विजानासि पुनश्च रुदनं कुतः । कृत्वा च साध्यते किञ्चित्तस्माद्दुःखं त्यजाधुना ॥ 6.20 ॥

vatsa uvāca yadyevaṁ ca vijānāsi punaśca rudanaṁ kutaḥ kṛtvā ca sādhyate kiñcittasmādduḥkhaṁ tyajādhunā

The calf said: 'If you know all this, then why do you weep again? What is achieved by weeping? Therefore give up your sorrow now.'

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.6.21)

सूत उवाच । एवं पुत्रवचः श्रुत्वा तन्माता दुःखसंयुता । निःश्वस्याति तदा धेनुर्वत्सं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 6.21 ॥

sūta uvāca evaṁ putravacaḥ śrutvā tanmātā duḥkhasaṁyutā niḥśvasyāti tadā dhenurvatsaṁ vacanamabravīt

Suta said: Hearing these words of her son, that mother, filled with sorrow, sighed deeply, and the cow spoke this word to her calf.

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.6.22)

गौरुवाच । मम दुःखं तदा गच्छेद्यदा दुःखं तथाविधम् । भवेद्धि ब्राह्मणस्यापि सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम् ॥ 6.22 ॥

gauruvāca mama duḥkhaṁ tadā gacchedyadā duḥkhaṁ tathāvidham bhaveddhi brāhmaṇasyāpi satyametadbravīmyaham

The cow said: 'My sorrow shall depart only when a like sorrow befalls the brahmin too — this is the truth I speak.'

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.6.23)

प्रातश्चैव मया पुत्र शृङ्गाभ्यां हि हनिष्यते । हतस्य जीवितं सद्यो यास्यत्यस्य न संशयः ॥ 6.23 ॥

prātaścaiva mayā putra śṛṅgābhyāṁ hi haniṣyate hatasya jīvitaṁ sadyo yāsyatyasya na saṁśayaḥ

'Tomorrow morning, my son, I shall strike him with my two horns; struck, his life shall depart at once — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.6.24)

वत्स उवाच । प्रथमं यत्कृतं कर्म तत्फलं भुज्यतेऽधुना । अस्याश्च ब्रह्महत्याया मातः किं फलमाप्स्यसे ॥ 6.24 ॥

vatsa uvāca prathamaṁ yatkṛtaṁ karma tatphalaṁ bhujyate’dhunā asyāśca brahmahatyāyā mātaḥ kiṁ phalamāpsyase

The calf said: 'The fruit of a deed done previously is being experienced now; O mother, and what fruit will you obtain from this sin of killing a brahmin?'

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.6.25)

समाभ्यां पुण्यपापाभ्यां भवेज्जन्म च भारते । तयोः क्षये च भोगेन मातर्मुक्तिरवाप्यते ॥ 6.25 ॥

samābhyāṁ puṇyapāpābhyāṁ bhavejjanma ca bhārate tayoḥ kṣaye ca bhogena mātarmuktiravāpyate

'When merit and demerit are equal, birth occurs in Bharata-varsha; and when both are exhausted through experience, O mother, liberation is attained.'

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.6.26)

कदापि कर्मणो नाशः कदा भोगः प्रजायते । तस्माच्च पुनरेवं त्वं कर्म मा कर्तुमुद्यता ॥ 6.26 ॥

kadāpi karmaṇo nāśaḥ kadā bhogaḥ prajāyate tasmācca punarevaṁ tvaṁ karma mā kartumudyatā

'Sometimes karma is destroyed, and sometimes it must be experienced; therefore do not again resolve to commit such a deed.'

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.6.27)

अहं कुतस्ते पुत्रोऽद्य त्वं माता कुत एव च । वृथाभिमानः पुत्रत्वे मातृत्वे च विचार्यताम् ॥ 6.27 ॥

ahaṁ kutaste putro’dya tvaṁ mātā kuta eva ca vṛthābhimānaḥ putratve mātṛtve ca vicāryatām

'How am I your son today, and how indeed are you my mother? This attachment to the notion of sonship and motherhood is vain — reflect upon it.'

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.6.28)

क्व माता क्व पिता विद्धि क्व स्वामी क्व कलत्रकम् । न कोऽपि कस्य चास्तीह सर्वेऽपि स्वकृतम्भुजः ॥ 6.28 ॥

kva mātā kva pitā viddhi kva svāmī kva kalatrakam na ko’pi kasya cāstīha sarve’pi svakṛtambhujaḥ

'Where is mother, where is father — know this — where is husband, where is wife? No one belongs to anyone here; all reap only the fruits of their own deeds.'

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.6.29)

एवं ज्ञात्वा त्वया मातर्दुःखं त्याज्यं सुयत्नतः । सुभगाचरणं कार्यं परलोकसुखेप्सया ॥ 6.29 ॥

evaṁ jñātvā tvayā mātarduḥkhaṁ tyājyaṁ suyatnataḥ subhagācaraṇaṁ kāryaṁ paralokasukhepsayā

'Knowing this, O mother, sorrow should be renounced with great effort; and good conduct should be practised, out of desire for happiness in the other world.'

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.6.30)

गौरुवाच । एवं जानाम्यहं पुत्र माया मां न जहात्यसौ । त्वद्दुःखेन समं दुःखं तस्मै दास्ये तदेव हि ॥ 6.30 ॥

gauruvāca evaṁ jānāmyahaṁ putra māyā māṁ na jahātyasau tvadduḥkhena samaṁ duḥkhaṁ tasmai dāsye tadeva hi

The cow said: 'I know all this, my son, yet this Maya does not release me; I shall indeed give him a sorrow equal to your own sorrow.'

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.6.31)

पुनश्च ब्रह्महत्याया नाशो यत्र भवेदिह । तत्स्थलं च मया दृष्टं हत्या मे हि गमिष्यति ॥ 6.31 ॥

punaśca brahmahatyāyā nāśo yatra bhavediha tatsthalaṁ ca mayā dṛṣṭaṁ hatyā me hi gamiṣyati

'And moreover, that place where the sin of killing a brahmin is destroyed — that place I have seen; my sin of killing will surely depart there.'

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.6.32)

सूत उवाच । इत्येतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स्वमातुर्गोर्द्विजोत्तमाः । मौनत्वं स्वीकृतं तत्र वत्सेनोक्तं न किञ्चन ॥ 6.32 ॥

sūta uvāca ityetadvacanaṁ śrutvā svamāturgordvijottamāḥ maunatvaṁ svīkṛtaṁ tatra vatsenoktaṁ na kiñcana

Suta said: O best of brahmins, hearing this word of his mother the cow, the calf adopted silence and said nothing more.

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.6.33)

तयोस्तदद्भुतं वृत्तं श्रुत्वा पान्थो द्विजस्तदा । हृदा विचारयामास विस्मितो हि मुनीश्वराः ॥ 6.33 ॥

tayostadadbhutaṁ vṛttaṁ śrutvā pāntho dvijastadā hṛdā vicārayāmāsa vismito hi munīśvarāḥ

O lords of sages, hearing that wondrous exchange between the two, the traveling brahmin, filled with wonder, reflected within his heart.

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.6.34)

इदमत्यद्भुतं वृत्तं दृष्ट्वा प्रातर्मया खलु । गन्तव्यं पुनरेवातो गन्तव्यं तत्स्थलं पुनः ॥ 6.34 ॥

idamatyadbhutaṁ vṛttaṁ dṛṣṭvā prātarmayā khalu gantavyaṁ punarevāto gantavyaṁ tatsthalaṁ punaḥ

'Having witnessed this most wondrous event, I shall in the morning depart only after this; and I too must go again to that place.'

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.6.35)

सूत उवाच । विचार्येति हृदा विप्रः स द्विजाः सेवकेन च । सुष्वाप तत्र जननीभक्तः परमविस्मितः ॥ 6.35 ॥

sūta uvāca vicāryeti hṛdā vipraḥ sa dvijāḥ sevakena ca suṣvāpa tatra jananībhaktaḥ paramavismitaḥ

Suta said: O brahmins, having thus deliberated in his heart, that brahmin, devoted to his mother and utterly astonished, went to sleep there with his servant.

Verse 36 (shiva.kotirudra.6.36)

प्रातःकाले तदा जाते गृहस्वामी समुत्थितः । बोधयामास तं पान्थं वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥ 6.36 ॥

prātaḥkāle tadā jāte gṛhasvāmī samutthitaḥ bodhayāmāsa taṁ pānthaṁ vacanaṁ cedamabravīt

When morning came, the master of the house arose; he woke that traveler and spoke this word.

Verse 37 (shiva.kotirudra.6.37)

द्विज उवाच । स्वपिषि त्वं किमर्थं हि प्रातःकालो भवत्यलम् । स्वयात्रां कुरु तं देशं गमनेच्छा च यत्र ह ॥ 6.37 ॥

dvija uvāca svapiṣi tvaṁ kimarthaṁ hi prātaḥkālo bhavatyalam svayātrāṁ kuru taṁ deśaṁ gamanecchā ca yatra ha

The brahmin said: 'Why do you still sleep? It is quite morning now. Continue your journey to that place where you desire to go.'

Verse 38 (shiva.kotirudra.6.38)

तेनोक्तं श्रूयतां ब्रह्मन् शरीरे सेवकस्य मे । वर्तते हि व्यथा स्थित्वा मुहूर्तं गम्यते ततः ॥ 6.38 ॥

tenoktaṁ śrūyatāṁ brahman śarīre sevakasya me vartate hi vyathā sthitvā muhūrtaṁ gamyate tataḥ

He replied: 'Listen, O brahmin, my servant's body is afflicted with pain; having stayed a while longer, we shall then depart.'

Verse 39 (shiva.kotirudra.6.39)

सूत उवाच । इत्येवं च मिषं कृत्वा सुष्वाप पुरुषस्तदा । तद्वृत्तमखिलं ज्ञातुमद्भुतं विस्मयावहम् ॥ 6.39 ॥

sūta uvāca ityevaṁ ca miṣaṁ kṛtvā suṣvāpa puruṣastadā tadvṛttamakhilaṁ jñātumadbhutaṁ vismayāvaham

Suta said: Having thus made a pretext, that man then lay there, wishing to know the whole of that wondrous, astonishing happening.

Verse 40 (shiva.kotirudra.6.40)

दोहनस्य तदा काले ब्राह्मणः स्वसुतं प्रति । उवाच गन्तुकामश्च कार्यार्थं कुत्रचिच्च सः ॥ 6.40 ॥

dohanasya tadā kāle brāhmaṇaḥ svasutaṁ prati uvāca gantukāmaśca kāryārthaṁ kutracicca saḥ

At the time of milking, the brahmin, wishing to go somewhere on some business, spoke to his own son.

Verse 41 (shiva.kotirudra.6.41)

पितोवाच । मया तु गम्यते पुत्र कार्यार्थं कुत्रचित्पुनः । धेनुर्दोह्या त्वया वत्स सावधानादियं निजा ॥ 6.41 ॥

pitovāca mayā tu gamyate putra kāryārthaṁ kutracitpunaḥ dhenurdohyā tvayā vatsa sāvadhānādiyaṁ nijā

The father said: 'I am going, my son, somewhere for some business; you must carefully milk this our own cow, my child.'

Verse 42 (shiva.kotirudra.6.42)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा ब्राह्मणवरः स जगाम च कुत्रचित् । पुत्रः समुत्थितस्तत्र वत्सं च मुक्तवांस्तदा ॥ 6.42 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktvā brāhmaṇavaraḥ sa jagāma ca kutracit putraḥ samutthitastatra vatsaṁ ca muktavāṁstadā

Suta said: Having said this, that excellent brahmin went off somewhere; then the son rose and released the calf.

Verse 43 (shiva.kotirudra.6.43)

माता च तस्य दोहार्थमाजगाम स्वयं तदा । द्विजपुत्रस्तदा वत्सं खिन्नं कीलेन ताडितम् ॥ 6.43 ॥

mātā ca tasya dohārthamājagāma svayaṁ tadā dvijaputrastadā vatsaṁ khinnaṁ kīlena tāḍitam

His mother, the cow, herself then came to be milked; and the brahmin's son then took the exhausted calf, that had been beaten at the post —

Verse 44 (shiva.kotirudra.6.44)

बन्धनार्थं हि गोः पार्श्वमनयद्दुग्धलालसः । पुनर्गौश्च तदा क्रुद्धा शृङ्गेनाताडयच्च तम् ॥ 6.44 ॥

bandhanārthaṁ hi goḥ pārśvamanayaddugdhalālasaḥ punargauśca tadā kruddhā śṛṅgenātāḍayacca tam

— eager for the milk, he led it to the cow's side to bind it; but the cow, then enraged, struck him with her horn.

Verse 45 (shiva.kotirudra.6.45)

पपात मूर्च्छां सम्प्राप्य सोऽपि मर्मणि ताडितः । लोकाश्च मिलितास्तत्र गवा बालो विहिंसितः ॥ 6.45 ॥

papāta mūrcchāṁ samprāpya so’pi marmaṇi tāḍitaḥ lokāśca militāstatra gavā bālo vihiṁsitaḥ

Struck in a vital spot, he fell down unconscious; and people gathered there, crying: 'the boy has been struck by the cow!'

Verse 46 (shiva.kotirudra.6.46)

जलं जलं वदन्तस्ते पित्राद्या यत्र संस्थिताः । यत्नश्च क्रियते यावत्तावद् बालो मृतस्तदा ॥ 6.46 ॥

jalaṁ jalaṁ vadantaste pitrādyā yatra saṁsthitāḥ yatnaśca kriyate yāvattāvad bālo mṛtastadā

Those present, calling 'water, water,' where the father and others stood, made every effort; but by the time it was done, the boy had already died.

Verse 47 (shiva.kotirudra.6.47)

मृते च बालके तत्र हाहाकारो महानभूत् । तन्माता दुःखिता ह्यासीद् रुरोद च पुनः पुनः ॥ 6.47 ॥

mṛte ca bālake tatra hāhākāro mahānabhūt tanmātā duḥkhitā hyāsīd ruroda ca punaḥ punaḥ

When the boy died there, a great cry of woe arose; his mother was overcome with grief and wept again and again.

Verse 48 (shiva.kotirudra.6.48)

किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि को मे दुःखं व्यपोहयेत् । रुदित्वेति तदा गां च ताडयित्वा व्यमोचयत् ॥ 6.48 ॥

kiṁ karomi kva gacchāmi ko me duḥkhaṁ vyapohayet ruditveti tadā gāṁ ca tāḍayitvā vyamocayat

'What shall I do, where shall I go, who shall remove my sorrow?' — weeping thus, she struck the cow and then let her loose.

Verse 49 (shiva.kotirudra.6.49)

श्वेतवर्णा तदा सा गौर्द्रुतं श्यामा व्यदृश्यत । अहो च दृश्यतां लोकाश्चुक्रुशुश्च परस्परम् ॥ 6.49 ॥

śvetavarṇā tadā sā gaurdrutaṁ śyāmā vyadṛśyata aho ca dṛśyatāṁ lokāścukruśuśca parasparam

That cow, till then white in colour, was suddenly seen to turn black; and the people cried out to one another: 'Ah, look, look!'

Verse 50 (shiva.kotirudra.6.50)

ब्राह्मणश्च तदा पान्थो दृष्ट्वाश्चर्यं विनिर्गतः । यत्र गौश्च गता तत्र तामनु ब्राह्मणो गतः ॥ 6.50 ॥

brāhmaṇaśca tadā pāntho dṛṣṭvāścaryaṁ vinirgataḥ yatra gauśca gatā tatra tāmanu brāhmaṇo gataḥ

Then the traveling brahmin, seeing this marvel, set out; and to wherever the cow went, the brahmin followed after her.

Verse 51 (shiva.kotirudra.6.51)

ऊर्ध्वपुच्छं तदा कृत्वा शीघ्रं गौर्नर्मदां प्रति । आगत्य नन्दिकस्यास्य समीपे नर्मदाजले ॥ 6.51 ॥

ūrdhvapucchaṁ tadā kṛtvā śīghraṁ gaurnarmadāṁ prati āgatya nandikasyāsya samīpe narmadājale

With her tail raised, the cow swiftly ran toward the Narmada; and, arriving near this Nandika, into the waters of the Narmada —

Verse 52 (shiva.kotirudra.6.52)

सन्निमज्य त्रिवारं तु श्वेतत्वं च गता हि सा । यथागतं गता सा च ब्राह्मणो विस्मयं गतः ॥ 6.52 ॥

sannimajya trivāraṁ tu śvetatvaṁ ca gatā hi sā yathāgataṁ gatā sā ca brāhmaṇo vismayaṁ gataḥ

— having dipped herself three times, she indeed regained her whiteness; and, as she had come, she went away, and the brahmin was filled with amazement.

Verse 53 (shiva.kotirudra.6.53)

अहो धन्यतमं तीर्थं ब्रह्महत्यानिवारणम् । स्वयं ममज्ज तत्रासौ ब्राह्मणः सेवकस्तथा ॥ 6.53 ॥

aho dhanyatamaṁ tīrthaṁ brahmahatyānivāraṇam svayaṁ mamajja tatrāsau brāhmaṇaḥ sevakastathā

'Ah, most blessed indeed is this sacred ford, remover of the sin of killing a brahmin!' There he himself bathed, and his servant likewise.

Verse 54 (shiva.kotirudra.6.54)

निमज्ज्य हि गतौ तौ च प्रशंसन्तौ नदीं च ताम् । मार्गे च मिलिता काचित्सुन्दरी भूषणान्विता ॥ 6.54 ॥

nimajjya hi gatau tau ca praśaṁsantau nadīṁ ca tām mārge ca militā kācitsundarī bhūṣaṇānvitā

Having bathed, the two of them went on, praising that river; and on the way, they met a certain beautiful woman, adorned with ornaments.

Verse 55 (shiva.kotirudra.6.55)

तयोक्तं तं च भोः पान्थ कुतो यासि सुविस्मितः । सत्यं ब्रूहि च्छलं त्यक्त्वा विप्रवर्य ममाग्रतः ॥ 6.55 ॥

tayoktaṁ taṁ ca bhoḥ pāntha kuto yāsi suvismitaḥ satyaṁ brūhi cchalaṁ tyaktvā vipravarya mamāgrataḥ

She said to him: 'O traveler, where are you going, so greatly astonished? Speak the truth before me, O excellent brahmin, setting deceit aside.'

Verse 56 (shiva.kotirudra.6.56)

सूत उवाच । एवं वचस्तदा श्रुत्वा द्विजेनोक्तं यथातथम् । पुनश्चायं द्विजस्तत्र स्त्रियोक्तः स्थीयतां त्वया ॥ 6.56 ॥

sūta uvāca evaṁ vacastadā śrutvā dvijenoktaṁ yathātatham punaścāyaṁ dvijastatra striyoktaḥ sthīyatāṁ tvayā

Suta said: Hearing these words, the brahmin then told her everything just as it was; and again that brahmin was told by the woman there, 'You must stay.'

Verse 57 (shiva.kotirudra.6.57)

तयोक्तं च समाकर्ण्य स्थितः स ब्राह्मणस्ततः । प्रत्युवाच विनीतात्मा कथ्यते किं वदेति च ॥ 6.57 ॥

tayoktaṁ ca samākarṇya sthitaḥ sa brāhmaṇastataḥ pratyuvāca vinītātmā kathyate kiṁ vadeti ca

Hearing what she said, that brahmin then stopped, and, humble of spirit, replied, 'What is it you wish to tell me? Speak.'

Verse 58 (shiva.kotirudra.6.58)

सा चाह पुनरेवात्र त्वया दृष्टं स्थलं च यत् । तत्राधुना क्षिपास्थीनि मातुः किं गम्यतेऽन्यतः ॥ 6.58 ॥

sā cāha punarevātra tvayā dṛṣṭaṁ sthalaṁ ca yat tatrādhunā kṣipāsthīni mātuḥ kiṁ gamyate’nyataḥ

She then said again: 'This very place that you have just seen — cast your mother's bones there now; why go elsewhere?'

Verse 59 (shiva.kotirudra.6.59)

तव माता पान्थवर्य साक्षाद्दिव्यमयं वरम् । देहं धृत्वा द्रुतं साक्षाच्छम्भोर्यास्यति सद्गतिम् ॥ 6.59 ॥

tava mātā pānthavarya sākṣāddivyamayaṁ varam dehaṁ dhṛtvā drutaṁ sākṣācchambhoryāsyati sadgatim

'O excellent traveler, your mother, assuming directly a supreme, divine body, shall swiftly go directly to the good state of Shambhu.'

Verse 60 (shiva.kotirudra.6.60)

वैशाखे चैव सम्प्राप्ते सप्तम्याश्च दिने शुभे । सिते पक्षे सदा गङ्गा ह्यायाति द्विजसत्तम ॥ 6.60 ॥

vaiśākhe caiva samprāpte saptamyāśca dine śubhe site pakṣe sadā gaṅgā hyāyāti dvijasattama

'And when the month of Vaishakha comes, on the auspicious seventh day of the bright fortnight, O best of brahmins, Ganga ever comes here.'

Verse 61 (shiva.kotirudra.6.61)

अद्यैव सप्तमी या सा गन्गाऽहं यामि तत्र वै । इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे देवी सा गङ्गा मुनिसत्तमाः ॥ 6.61 ॥

adyaiva saptamī yā sā gangā’haṁ yāmi tatra vai ityuktvāntardadhe devī sā gaṅgā munisattamāḥ

'This very day is that seventh — I am Ganga, and I go there indeed.' Having said this, that goddess Ganga, O best of sages, vanished.

Verse 62 (shiva.kotirudra.6.62)

निवृत्तश्च द्विजः सोऽपि मात्रस्थ्यर्द्धं स्ववस्त्रतः । क्षिपेद्यावत्तत्र तीर्थे तावच्चित्रमभूत्तदा ॥ 6.62 ॥

nivṛttaśca dvijaḥ so’pi mātrasthyarddhaṁ svavastrataḥ kṣipedyāvattatra tīrthe tāvaccitramabhūttadā

That brahmin turned back, and as he was casting half of his mother's bones from his cloth into that sacred ford, a wondrous thing then occurred.

Verse 63 (shiva.kotirudra.6.63)

दिव्यदेहत्वमापन्ना स्वमाता च व्यदृश्यत । धन्योऽसि कृतकृत्योऽसि पवित्रं च कुलं त्वया ॥ 6.63 ॥

divyadehatvamāpannā svamātā ca vyadṛśyata dhanyo’si kṛtakṛtyo’si pavitraṁ ca kulaṁ tvayā

His own mother was seen, having attained a divine body: 'Blessed are you, your purpose is fulfilled, and by you the family has been made pure.'

Verse 64 (shiva.kotirudra.6.64)

धनं धान्यं तथा चायुर्वंशो वै वर्धतां तव । इत्याशिषं मुहुर्दत्त्वा स्वपुत्राय दिवं गता ॥ 6.64 ॥

dhanaṁ dhānyaṁ tathā cāyurvaṁśo vai vardhatāṁ tava ityāśiṣaṁ muhurdattvā svaputrāya divaṁ gatā

'May your wealth, your grain, your lifespan, and your lineage prosper' — giving this blessing again and again to her own son, she departed to heaven.

Verse 65 (shiva.kotirudra.6.65)

तत्र भुक्त्वा सुखं भूरि चिरकालं महोत्तमम् । शङ्करस्य प्रसादेन गता सा ह्युत्तमां गतिम् ॥ 6.65 ॥

tatra bhuktvā sukhaṁ bhūri cirakālaṁ mahottamam śaṅkarasya prasādena gatā sā hyuttamāṁ gatim

Having enjoyed abundant, most excellent happiness there for a long time, she indeed attained, by the grace of Shankara, the supreme goal.

Verse 66 (shiva.kotirudra.6.66)

ब्राह्मणश्च सुतस्तस्याः क्षिप्त्वास्थीनि पुनस्ततः । प्रसन्नमानसोऽभूत्स शुद्धात्मा स्वगृहं गतः ॥ 6.66 ॥

brāhmaṇaśca sutastasyāḥ kṣiptvāsthīni punastataḥ prasannamānaso’bhūtsa śuddhātmā svagṛhaṁ gataḥ

And that brahmin, her son, having then cast the remaining bones as well, became glad in mind; his soul purified, he returned to his own home.