The Salvation of the Chandala Woman

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.9.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत सूत महाभाग धन्यस्त्वं शैवसत्तमः । चाण्डाली का समाख्याता तत्कथां कथय प्रभो ॥ 9.1 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta sūta mahābhāga dhanyastvaṁ śaivasattamaḥ cāṇḍālī kā samākhyātā tatkathāṁ kathaya prabho

The sages said: O Suta, Suta, most fortunate one! Blessed are you, foremost among Shiva's devotees. Who was this Chandali woman who was mentioned? Tell us her story, O lord.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.9.2)

सूत उवाच । द्विजाः शृणुत सद्भक्त्या तां कथां परमाद्भुताम् । शिवप्रभावसम्मिश्रां शृण्वतां भक्तिवर्धिनीम् ॥ 9.2 ॥

sūta uvāca dvijāḥ śṛṇuta sadbhaktyā tāṁ kathāṁ paramādbhutām śivaprabhāvasammiśrāṁ śṛṇvatāṁ bhaktivardhinīm

Suta said: O brahmins, listen with true devotion to this most wondrous story, mingled with Shiva's power, which increases the devotion of all who hear it.

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.9.3)

चाण्डाली सा पूर्वभवेऽभवद् ब्राह्मणकन्यका । सौमिनी नाम चन्द्रास्या सर्वलक्षणसंयुता ॥ 9.3 ॥

cāṇḍālī sā pūrvabhave’bhavad brāhmaṇakanyakā sauminī nāma candrāsyā sarvalakṣaṇasaṁyutā

That Chandali woman had, in her previous birth, been a brahmin's daughter named Saumini, moon-faced, and endowed with every auspicious mark.

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.9.4)

अथ सा समये कन्या युवतिः सौमिनी द्विजाः । पित्रा दत्ता च कस्मैचिद्विधिना द्विजसूनवे ॥ 9.4 ॥

atha sā samaye kanyā yuvatiḥ sauminī dvijāḥ pitrā dattā ca kasmaicidvidhinā dvijasūnave

O brahmins, when the maiden Saumini came of age, her father gave her, according to due rite, in marriage to a certain brahmin's son.

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.9.5)

सा भर्तारमनुप्राप्य किञ्चित्कालं शुभव्रता । रेमे तेन द्विजश्रेष्ठा नवयौवनशालिनी ॥ 9.5 ॥

sā bhartāramanuprāpya kiñcitkālaṁ śubhavratā reme tena dvijaśreṣṭhā navayauvanaśālinī

O foremost brahmins, having obtained a husband, that woman of good vows, radiant in her new youth, lived happily with him for some time.

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.9.6)

अथ तस्याः पतिर्विप्रस्तरुणः सुरुजार्दितः । सौमिन्याः कालयोगात्तु पञ्चत्वमगमद् द्विजाः ॥ 9.6 ॥

atha tasyāḥ patirviprastaruṇaḥ surujārditaḥ sauminyāḥ kālayogāttu pañcatvamagamad dvijāḥ

O brahmins, then Saumini's young brahmin husband, afflicted by a severe illness, met his death by the working of fate.

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.9.7)

मृते भर्तरि सा नारी दुःखितातिविषण्णधीः । किञ्चित्कालं शुभाचारा सुशीलोवास सद्मनि ॥ 9.7 ॥

mṛte bhartari sā nārī duḥkhitātiviṣaṇṇadhīḥ kiñcitkālaṁ śubhācārā suśīlovāsa sadmani

With her husband dead, that woman, grieving and utterly dejected in mind, lived for some time in her house, of good conduct and gentle character.

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.9.8)

ततः सा मन्मथाविष्टहृदया विधवापि च । युवावस्थाविशेषेण बभूव व्यभिचारिणी ॥ 9.8 ॥

tataḥ sā manmathāviṣṭahṛdayā vidhavāpi ca yuvāvasthāviśeṣeṇa babhūva vyabhicāriṇī

Then, her heart seized by desire, though a widow, on account of the special force of her youth, she became unchaste.

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.9.9)

तज्ज्ञात्वा गोत्रिणस्तस्या दुष्कर्म कुलदूषणम् । समेतास्तत्यजुर्दूरं नीत्वा तां सकचग्रहाम् ॥ 9.9 ॥

tajjñātvā gotriṇastasyā duṣkarma kuladūṣaṇam sametāstatyajurdūraṁ nītvā tāṁ sakacagrahām

Learning of this evil deed that disgraced the family, her kinsmen gathered together, seized her by the hair, and abandoned her far away.

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.9.10)

कश्चिच्छूद्रवरस्तां वै विचरन्तीं निजेच्छया । दृष्ट्वा वने स्त्रियं चक्रे निनाय स्वगृहं ततः ॥ 9.10 ॥

kaścicchūdravarastāṁ vai vicarantīṁ nijecchayā dṛṣṭvā vane striyaṁ cakre nināya svagṛhaṁ tataḥ

A certain worthy shudra, seeing that woman wandering at will in the forest, made her his own and took her to his home.

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.9.11)

अथ सा पिशिताहारा नित्यमापीतवारुणी । अजीजनत्सुतां तेन शूद्रेण सुरतप्रिया ॥ 9.11 ॥

atha sā piśitāhārā nityamāpītavāruṇī ajījanatsutāṁ tena śūdreṇa suratapriyā

Then she, a flesh-eater, ever drinking liquor and fond of pleasure, bore a daughter by that shudra.

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.9.12)

कदाचिद्भर्तरि क्वापि याते पीतसुराथ सा । इयेष पिशिताहारं सौमिनी व्यभिचारिणी ॥ 9.12 ॥

kadācidbhartari kvāpi yāte pītasurātha sā iyeṣa piśitāhāraṁ sauminī vyabhicāriṇī

Once, when her husband had gone somewhere, that unchaste Saumini, having drunk liquor, craved a meal of flesh.

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.9.13)

ततो मेषेषु बद्धेषु गोभिः सह बहिर्व्रजे । निशामुखे तमोऽन्धे हि खड्गमादाय सा ययौ ॥ 9.13 ॥

tato meṣeṣu baddheṣu gobhiḥ saha bahirvraje niśāmukhe tamo’ndhe hi khaḍgamādāya sā yayau

Then, since the sheep were tethered together with the cows in the outer pen, at nightfall, in the blinding darkness, she took up a sword and went there.

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.9.14)

अविमृश्य मदावेशान्मेषबुद्ध्यामिषप्रिया । एकं जघान गोवत्सं क्रोशन्तमतिदुर्भगा ॥ 9.14 ॥

avimṛśya madāveśānmeṣabuddhyāmiṣapriyā ekaṁ jaghāna govatsaṁ krośantamatidurbhagā

Without thinking, overcome by intoxication and craving meat, that most ill-fated woman, mistaking it for a sheep, struck down a calf that was crying out.

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.9.15)

हतं तं गृहमानीय ज्ञात्वा गोवत्समङ्गना । भीता शिव शिवेत्याह केनचित्पुण्यकर्मणा ॥ 9.15 ॥

hataṁ taṁ gṛhamānīya jñātvā govatsamaṅganā bhītā śiva śivetyāha kenacitpuṇyakarmaṇā

Bringing the slain creature home, when the woman realized it was a calf, she grew frightened and cried out, "Shiva, Shiva!" — by the force of some past merit.

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.9.16)

सा मुहूर्तं शिवं ध्यात्वामिषभोजनलालसा । छित्त्वा तमेव गोवत्सं चकाराहारमीप्सितम् ॥ 9.16 ॥

sā muhūrtaṁ śivaṁ dhyātvāmiṣabhojanalālasā chittvā tameva govatsaṁ cakārāhāramīpsitam

Yet, having meditated on Shiva for but a moment, that woman, still craving meat, cut up that same calf and made of it the meal she desired.

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.9.17)

एवं बहुतिथे काले गते सा सौमिनी द्विजाः । कालस्य वशमापन्ना जगाम यमसङ्क्षयम् ॥ 9.17 ॥

evaṁ bahutithe kāle gate sā sauminī dvijāḥ kālasya vaśamāpannā jagāma yamasaṅkṣayam

O brahmins, thus after a long time had passed, that Saumini, falling under the sway of time, went to the abode of Yama.

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.9.18)

यमोऽपि धर्ममालोक्य तस्याः कर्म च पौर्विकम् । निवर्त्य निरयावासाच्चक्रे चाण्डालजातिकाम् ॥ 9.18 ॥

yamo’pi dharmamālokya tasyāḥ karma ca paurvikam nivartya nirayāvāsāccakre cāṇḍālajātikām

Yama too, weighing her righteousness against her former deed, released her from a dwelling in hell and gave her birth into a Chandala family.

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.9.19)

साथ भ्रष्टा यमपुराच्चाण्डालीगर्भमाश्रिता । ततो बभूव जन्मान्धा प्रशान्ताङ्गारमेचका ॥ 9.19 ॥

sātha bhraṣṭā yamapurāccāṇḍālīgarbhamāśritā tato babhūva janmāndhā praśāntāṅgāramecakā

Falling from Yama's city, she took refuge in the womb of a Chandala woman, and was thence born blind, dark as a spent, cooling coal.

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.9.20)

जन्मान्धा साथ बाल्येऽपि विध्वस्तपितृमातृका । ऊढा न केनचिद्दुष्टा महाकुष्ठरुजार्दिता ॥ 9.20 ॥

janmāndhā sātha bālye’pi vidhvastapitṛmātṛkā ūḍhā na kenacidduṣṭā mahākuṣṭharujārditā

Blind from birth, she was bereft of father and mother already in childhood; unlovely and afflicted by a terrible leprous disease, she was wedded by no one.

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.9.21)

ततः क्षुधार्दिता दीना यष्टिपाणिर्गतेक्षणा । चाण्डालोच्छिष्टपिण्डेन जठराग्निमतर्पयत् ॥ 9.21 ॥

tataḥ kṣudhārditā dīnā yaṣṭipāṇirgatekṣaṇā cāṇḍālocchiṣṭapiṇḍena jaṭharāgnimatarpayat

Then, tormented by hunger, wretched, staff in hand and sightless, she would quiet the fire of her belly with the leftover food of the Chandalas.

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.9.22)

एवं कृच्छ्रेण महता नीत्वा स्वविपुलं वयः । जरया ग्रस्तसर्वाङ्गी दुःखमाप दुरत्ययम् ॥ 9.22 ॥

evaṁ kṛcchreṇa mahatā nītvā svavipulaṁ vayaḥ jarayā grastasarvāṅgī duḥkhamāpa duratyayam

Thus, having spent her long life in great hardship, her whole body now seized by old age, she came to unbearable suffering.

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.9.23)

कदाचित्साथ चाण्डाली गोकर्णं तं महाजनान् । आयास्यन्त्यां शिवतिथौ गच्छतो बुबुधेऽध्वगान् ॥ 9.23 ॥

kadācitsātha cāṇḍālī gokarṇaṁ taṁ mahājanān āyāsyantyāṁ śivatithau gacchato bubudhe’dhvagān

Once, as Shiva's sacred day approached, that Chandali woman became aware that great crowds of travelers were going along the road toward Gokarna.

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.9.24)

अथासावपि चाण्डाली वसनाशनतृष्णया । महाजनान् याचयितुं सञ्चचार शनैः शनैः ॥ 9.24 ॥

athāsāvapi cāṇḍālī vasanāśanatṛṣṇayā mahājanān yācayituṁ sañcacāra śanaiḥ śanaiḥ

Then that Chandali woman too, craving clothing and food, went about slowly, slowly, to beg from those great crowds.

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.9.25)

गत्वा तत्राथ चाण्डाली प्रार्थयन्ती महाजनान् । यत्र तत्र चचारासौ दीनवाक्प्रसृताञ्जलिः ॥ 9.25 ॥

gatvā tatrātha cāṇḍālī prārthayantī mahājanān yatra tatra cacārāsau dīnavākprasṛtāñjaliḥ

Going there, that Chandali woman, entreating the great crowds, wandered here and there, her voice pitiful, her cupped hands outstretched.

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.9.26)

एवमभ्यर्थयन्त्यास्तु चाण्डाल्याः प्रसृताञ्जलौ । एकः पुण्यतमः पान्थः प्राक्षिपद्विल्वमञ्जरीम् ॥ 9.26 ॥

evamabhyarthayantyāstu cāṇḍālyāḥ prasṛtāñjalau ekaḥ puṇyatamaḥ pānthaḥ prākṣipadvilvamañjarīm

As that Chandali woman thus begged, one most meritorious traveler cast a cluster of bilva leaves into her outstretched, cupped hands.

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.9.27)

तामञ्जलौ निपतितां सा विमृश्य पुनः पुनः । अभक्ष्यमिति मत्वाथ दूरे प्राक्षिपदातुरा ॥ 9.27 ॥

tāmañjalau nipatitāṁ sā vimṛśya punaḥ punaḥ abhakṣyamiti matvātha dūre prākṣipadāturā

Feeling out, again and again, that thing which had fallen into her cupped hands, and deciding it was inedible, that suffering woman flung it far away.

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.9.28)

तस्याः कराद्विनिर्मुक्ता रात्रौ सा बिल्वमञ्जरी । पपात कस्यचिद्दिष्ट्या शिवलिङ्गस्य मस्तके ॥ 9.28 ॥

tasyāḥ karādvinirmuktā rātrau sā bilvamañjarī papāta kasyaciddiṣṭyā śivaliṅgasya mastake

Released from her hand, that cluster of bilva leaves fell at night, by some fortunate chance, upon the head of a Shiva-linga.

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.9.29)

सैवं शिवचतुर्दश्यां रात्रौ पान्थजनान् मुहुः । याचमानापि यत्किञ्चिन्न लेभे दैवयोगतः ॥ 9.29 ॥

saivaṁ śivacaturdaśyāṁ rātrau pānthajanān muhuḥ yācamānāpi yatkiñcinna lebhe daivayogataḥ

Thus, on the night of Shiva's fourteenth, though she begged repeatedly from the travelers, by the workings of fate she obtained nothing at all.

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.9.30)

एवं शिवचतुर्दश्या व्रतं जातं च निर्मलम् । अज्ञानतो जागरणं परमानन्ददायकम् ॥ 9.30 ॥

evaṁ śivacaturdaśyā vrataṁ jātaṁ ca nirmalam ajñānato jāgaraṇaṁ paramānandadāyakam

Thus, unknowingly, the pure vow of Shiva's fourteenth night came to be observed by her — the night-vigil that bestows supreme bliss.

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.9.31)

ततः प्रभाते सा नारी शोकेन महतावृता । शनैर्निववृते दीना स्वदेशायैव केवलम् ॥ 9.31 ॥

tataḥ prabhāte sā nārī śokena mahatāvṛtā śanairnivavṛte dīnā svadeśāyaiva kevalam

Then at dawn, that woman, overcome by great sorrow, wretched, turned back slowly and alone toward her own place.

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.9.32)

श्रान्ता चिरोपवासेन निपतन्ती पदे पदे । अतीत्य तावतीं भूमिं निपपात विचेतना ॥ 9.32 ॥

śrāntā ciropavāsena nipatantī pade pade atītya tāvatīṁ bhūmiṁ nipapāta vicetanā

Exhausted by her long fast, stumbling at every step, having crossed a certain distance, she fell down senseless.

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.9.33)

अथ सा शम्भुकृपया जगाम परमं पदम् । आरुह्य सुविमानं च नीतं शिवगणैर्द्रुतम् ॥ 9.33 ॥

atha sā śambhukṛpayā jagāma paramaṁ padam āruhya suvimānaṁ ca nītaṁ śivagaṇairdrutam

Then, by Shambhu's grace, she went to the supreme abode, mounting a beautiful celestial chariot, swiftly borne there by Shiva's own attendants.

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.9.34)

आदौ यदेषा शिवनाम नारी प्रमादतो वाप्यसती जगाद । तेनेह भूयः सुकृतेन विप्रा महाबलस्थानमवाप दिव्यम् ॥ 9.34 ॥

ādau yadeṣā śivanāma nārī pramādato vāpyasatī jagāda teneha bhūyaḥ sukṛtena viprā mahābalasthānamavāpa divyam

Because at the very outset this unchaste woman had, even inadvertently, uttered Shiva's name — by that merit alone, O brahmins, she thereafter attained the divine abode of Mahabala.

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.9.35)

श्रीगोकर्णे शिवतिथावुपोष्य शिवमस्तके । कृत्वा जागरणं सा हि चक्रे बिल्वार्चनं निशि ॥ 9.35 ॥

śrīgokarṇe śivatithāvupoṣya śivamastake kṛtvā jāgaraṇaṁ sā hi cakre bilvārcanaṁ niśi

At holy Gokarna, having fasted on Shiva's sacred day and kept the night-vigil, she indeed performed worship with bilva leaves upon Shiva's head, at night.

Verse 36 (shiva.kotirudra.9.36)

अकामतः कृतस्यास्य पुण्यस्यैव च तत्फलम् । भुनक्त्यद्यापि सा चैव महाबलप्रसादतः ॥ 9.36 ॥

akāmataḥ kṛtasyāsya puṇyasyaiva ca tatphalam bhunaktyadyāpi sā caiva mahābalaprasādataḥ

This alone is the fruit of that merit performed without any desire — even today she enjoys it, by the grace of Mahabala.

Verse 37 (shiva.kotirudra.9.37)

एवंविधं महालिङ्गं शङ्करस्य महाबलम् । सर्वपापहरं सद्यः परमानन्ददायकम् ॥ 9.37 ॥

evaṁvidhaṁ mahāliṅgaṁ śaṅkarasya mahābalam sarvapāpaharaṁ sadyaḥ paramānandadāyakam

Such indeed is Shankara's great linga called Mahabala — remover of all sins at once, bestower of supreme bliss.

Verse 38 (shiva.kotirudra.9.38)

एवं वः कथितं विप्रा माहात्म्यं परमं मया । महाबलाभिधानस्य शिवलिङ्गवरस्य हि ॥ 9.38 ॥

evaṁ vaḥ kathitaṁ viprā māhātmyaṁ paramaṁ mayā mahābalābhidhānasya śivaliṅgavarasya hi

O brahmins, thus have I told you the supreme greatness of that excellent Shiva-linga named Mahabala.

Verse 39 (shiva.kotirudra.9.39)

अथान्यदपि वक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं तस्य चाद्भुतम् । श्रुतमात्रेण येनाशु शिवे भक्तिः प्रजायते ॥ 9.39 ॥

athānyadapi vakṣyāmi māhātmyaṁ tasya cādbhutam śrutamātreṇa yenāśu śive bhaktiḥ prajāyate

Now I shall relate yet another wondrous greatness of it, by merely hearing which devotion to Shiva swiftly arises.