Shiva's Praise of Parvati

Verse 1 (skanda.1.135.1)

नंदिकेश्वर उवाच । तदा ब्रह्मा सरस्वत्या महाविष्णुश्च पद्मया । शक्रः पुलोमसुतया परे दिक्पालका अपि

naṁdikeśvara uvāca tadā brahmā sarasvatyā mahāviṣṇuśca padmayā śakraḥ pulomasutayā pare dikpālakā api

Nandikeshvara said: Then Brahma with Sarasvati, great Vishnu with Padma, Indra with Puloma's daughter, and the other guardians of the directions too—

Verse 2 (skanda.1.135.2)

गंधर्वाप्सरसां संघा वसवोऽपि सुरा अपि । त्रयस्त्रिंशत्कोटिगणाः परे मुनि गणा अपि

gaṁdharvāpsarasāṁ saṁghā vasavo'pi surā api trayastriṁśatkoṭigaṇāḥ pare muni gaṇā api

—the hosts of gandharvas and apsarases, the Vasus and other gods, the thirty-three crore hosts of gods, and other groups of sages too—

Verse 3 (skanda.1.135.3)

एकादशमहारुद्रा आदित्या द्वादशापि च । भैरवाश्च पिशाचाश्च वेतालाः कटपूतनाः

ekādaśamahārudrā ādityā dvādaśāpi ca bhairavāśca piśācāśca vetālāḥ kaṭapūtanāḥ

—the eleven great Rudras, the twelve Adityas, the Bhairavas, pishachas, vetalas, and kataputanas—

Verse 4 (skanda.1.135.4)

यक्षरक्षोरगा भूता ये चान्ये शिवकिंकराः । संतोषभाजः सर्वेऽपि विकटाकारवेष्टिताः

yakṣarakṣoragā bhūtā ye cānye śivakiṁkarāḥ saṁtoṣabhājaḥ sarve'pi vikaṭākāraveṣṭitāḥ

—yakshas, rakshasas, serpents, spirits, and other attendants of Shiva, all of them filled with joy, surrounded him in their fearsome forms.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.135.5)

परिवार्य महेशानं समाजग्मुः सहस्रशः । तद्वीराशंसनं दृष्ट्वा योगिनीदानवैः कृतम्

parivārya maheśānaṁ samājagmuḥ sahasraśaḥ tadvīrāśaṁsanaṁ dṛṣṭvā yoginīdānavaiḥ kṛtam

By the thousands they gathered, surrounding the great Lord; and beholding that heroic feat wrought against yoginis and demons—

Verse 6 (skanda.1.135.6)

अतीव विस्मयं भेजुः सर्वे कल्पांतभीषणम् । कृतसांनिध्यमालोक्य देवमानंदयंत्युमा

atīva vismayaṁ bhejuḥ sarve kalpāṁtabhīṣaṇam kṛtasāṁnidhyamālokya devamānaṁdayaṁtyumā

—all were struck with the utmost wonder at that deed as terrible as the end of the aeon; and beholding the Lord present there, Uma delighted him.

Verse 7 (skanda.1.135.7)

चिररात्रप्ररूढां च तद्वियोगव्यथां जहौ । रोमांचिता स्विन्नमुखी वेपमाना घनस्तनी

cirarātraprarūḍhāṁ ca tadviyogavyathāṁ jahau romāṁcitā svinnamukhī vepamānā ghanastanī

She cast off the pain of separation that had long grown within her; her body thrilled with joy, her face moist with sweat, her full breasts trembling.

Verse 8 (skanda.1.135.8)

पादांगुलीषु नयने विनिवेशयति स्म सा । वृषभादवरुह्याथ गृहीत्वैनां करे शिवः । स्मितशरीरकंठश्रीप्रणयेनैवमब्रवीत्

pādāṁgulīṣu nayane viniveśayati sma sā vṛṣabhādavaruhyātha gṛhītvaināṁ kare śivaḥ smitaśarīrakaṁṭhaśrīpraṇayenaivamabravīt

She fixed her gaze upon her own toes; then Shiva, descending from his bull and taking her by the hand, his body and throat radiant with a loving smile, spoke thus to her.

Verse 9 (skanda.1.135.9)

शिव उवाच । व्याकुलीक्रियते देवि किमेवं कारणं विना

śiva uvāca vyākulīkriyate devi kimevaṁ kāraṇaṁ vinā

Shiva said: O Goddess, why are you thus made agitated, without any reason at all?

Verse 10 (skanda.1.135.10)

सर्वैराराधनीयेति मयापि घटितोंजलिः । किं न वेत्स्यावयोरैक्यं ज्योत्स्नाचंद्रमसोरिव

sarvairārādhanīyeti mayāpi ghaṭitoṁjaliḥ kiṁ na vetsyāvayoraikyaṁ jyotsnācaṁdramasoriva

Knowing that you are to be worshipped by all, I too have joined my palms to you; do you not know that our oneness is like that of moonlight and the moon?

Verse 11 (skanda.1.135.11)

अनादिसिद्धं देवेशि तवेदं मौग्ध्यमीदृशम् । क्वेदं शिरीषमृद्वंगि शरीरं ते गिरीन्द्रजे

anādisiddhaṁ deveśi tavedaṁ maugdhyamīdṛśam kvedaṁ śirīṣamṛdvaṁgi śarīraṁ te girīndraje

O Queen of gods, this innocence of yours is beginningless and eternal; but where, O tender-limbed one soft as the shirisha flower, O daughter of the mountain-king, is this delicate body of yours fit for such hardship?

Verse 12 (skanda.1.135.12)

तपः समाधयश्चेति क्व कर्कशजनोचिताः । नारायणोहं लक्ष्मीस्त्वं ब्रह्मास्मि त्वं सरस्वती

tapaḥ samādhayaśceti kva karkaśajanocitāḥ nārāyaṇohaṁ lakṣmīstvaṁ brahmāsmi tvaṁ sarasvatī

Where do penance and deep meditation belong, being fit only for the hardy? I am Narayana, you are Lakshmi; I am Brahma, you are Sarasvati.

Verse 13 (skanda.1.135.13)

वारुणी त्वं फणींद्रोहं रोहिणी त्वमहं शशी । स्वाहा त्वं हव्यवाहोऽहं सूर्योऽहं त्वं सुवर्चला

vāruṇī tvaṁ phaṇīṁdrohaṁ rohiṇī tvamahaṁ śaśī svāhā tvaṁ havyavāho'haṁ sūryo'haṁ tvaṁ suvarcalā

You are Varuni, I am the serpent-lord; you are Rohini, I am the moon; you are Svaha, I am the fire; I am the sun, you are Suvarchala.

Verse 14 (skanda.1.135.14)

जाह्नवी त्वं समुद्रोऽहं मेरुरस्मि त्वमुर्वरा । पुलोमजा त्वं शक्रोहं त्वं रतिश्चित्तभूरहम्

jāhnavī tvaṁ samudro'haṁ merurasmi tvamurvarā pulomajā tvaṁ śakrohaṁ tvaṁ ratiścittabhūraham

You are the Ganga, I am the ocean; I am Meru, you are the fertile earth; you are Puloma's daughter, I am Indra; you are Rati, I am the mind-born Kama.

Verse 15 (skanda.1.135.15)

बुद्धिस्त्वं राजराजोहं त्वं शमाऽहं समीरण । पाथोधिपोऽहं वीचिस्त्वं प्रकृतिस्त्वं पुमानहम्

buddhistvaṁ rājarājohaṁ tvaṁ śamā'haṁ samīraṇa pāthodhipo'haṁ vīcistvaṁ prakṛtistvaṁ pumānaham

You are Buddhi, I am Kubera, king of kings; you are tranquility, I am the wind; I am the lord of waters, you are the wave; you are Prakriti, I am Purusha.

Verse 16 (skanda.1.135.16)

विद्या त्वं वेदितव्योऽहं वाक्त्वमर्थोपि पार्वती । ईश्वरोऽहं मदंशासि त्वयैवाज्ञास्वरूपया

vidyā tvaṁ veditavyo'haṁ vāktvamarthopi pārvatī īśvaro'haṁ madaṁśāsi tvayaivājñāsvarūpayā

You are Vidya, I am the object to be known; you, O Parvati, are speech, and its meaning too; I am Ishvara, you are my very portion, embodying my command.

Verse 17 (skanda.1.135.17)

सृष्टि स्थित्युपसंहारविधानानुग्रहेश्वरे । न भेदोऽतस्त्वया कार्यः पृथग्जनवदावयोः

sṛṣṭi sthityupasaṁhāravidhānānugraheśvare na bhedo'tastvayā kāryaḥ pṛthagjanavadāvayoḥ

In the ordaining of creation, preservation, dissolution, and grace, therefore, you should not, like an ordinary person, make any distinction between the two of us.

Verse 18 (skanda.1.135.18)

चित्प्रकाशात्मनोर्देवि स्वेच्छाधृतशरीरया । व्याकुलीकुरुषे शश्वद्वृथैवेर्ष्यायसे हि माम्

citprakāśātmanordevi svecchādhṛtaśarīrayā vyākulīkuruṣe śaśvadvṛthaiverṣyāyase hi mām

O Goddess, though our essence is one, that of conscious luminosity, you, having taken a body by your own will, uselessly keep yourself agitated and forever act jealous of me in vain.

Verse 19 (skanda.1.135.19)

दृष्टाप्रतिक्रिया तस्य क्रियते याधुना मया । इत्युक्त्वेशो निषण्णस्तां पार्श्वदेशे न्यवेशयत्

dṛṣṭāpratikriyā tasya kriyate yādhunā mayā ityuktveśo niṣaṇṇastāṁ pārśvadeśe nyaveśayat

You have witnessed the remedy for this that I am now setting in motion; so saying, the Lord sat down and seated her beside him.

Verse 20 (skanda.1.135.20)

गौरीं स्वकीय एवांगे गूहमानामिव ह्रिया । अंगद्वयं तयोरैक्यमगात्प्रेम्णा च लीनयोः

gaurīṁ svakīya evāṁge gūhamānāmiva hriyā aṁgadvayaṁ tayoraikyamagātpremṇā ca līnayoḥ

As though hiding Gauri, shy as she was, within his own body, their two forms merged into one through love, becoming completely united.

Verse 21 (skanda.1.135.21)

अर्थद्वयमिवाह्नाय संनिकर्षोपलंभतः । अर्धे कर्पूरधवलमर्धे सिंधूरपाटलम्

arthadvayamivāhnāya saṁnikarṣopalaṁbhataḥ ardhe karpūradhavalamardhe siṁdhūrapāṭalam

As though two distinct entities had merged instantly through their closeness, one half became white as camphor, the other half reddish like vermilion.

Verse 22 (skanda.1.135.22)

तद्विचित्रमभूदंगं शिवयोरेकतां गतम् । अर्धे कुंतलदामार्धहारमध्ये तु कुंचिका

tadvicitramabhūdaṁgaṁ śivayorekatāṁ gatam ardhe kuṁtaladāmārdhahāramadhye tu kuṁcikā

That form of the united couple became wondrous; on one half hung a garland of tresses, on the other a necklace, and in the middle its clasp.

Verse 23 (skanda.1.135.23)

अंगादर्धेंदुचूडस्य वपुरर्धेन्दुकूलितम् । एकनूपुरताटंकपरिहार्यमनोहरम्

aṁgādardheṁducūḍasya vapurardhendukūlitam ekanūpuratāṭaṁkaparihāryamanoharam

From the body of the crescent-crested Lord, the form was fringed on one side by the half-moon; enchanting to behold, it wore but a single anklet and a single earring.

Verse 24 (skanda.1.135.24)

एकपिंगलसध्रीचो गात्रमेकस्तनं बभौ । देव्यै दत्त्वा च धामार्थं वामदेवो जगाद ताम्

ekapiṁgalasadhrīco gātramekastanaṁ babhau devyai dattvā ca dhāmārthaṁ vāmadevo jagāda tām

The single body, tawny on one side, shone with a single breast; and Vamadeva, having granted the Goddess her rightful place, spoke to her.

Verse 25 (skanda.1.135.25)

अवकाशो रुषो देवि मा भूरतः परं तव । स्तन्यार्थिनं गुहं हित्वा यातासि तपसे यतः

avakāśo ruṣo devi mā bhūrataḥ paraṁ tava stanyārthinaṁ guhaṁ hitvā yātāsi tapase yataḥ

O Goddess, let there be no more room for anger in you henceforth, since you left behind Guha, who longed for your milk, and went off to perform penance.

Verse 26 (skanda.1.135.26)

तदपीतस्तनीनाम्ना निवसात्र ममांतिके । त्वामपीतस्तनीं देवीं शोणाद्रीशं च मामपि

tadapītastanīnāmnā nivasātra mamāṁtike tvāmapītastanīṁ devīṁ śoṇādrīśaṁ ca māmapi

Therefore, dwell here near me under the name Apitastani, she whose breast remains undrunk; worshipping you, the Goddess Apitastani, and me, the Lord of the Red Mountain—

Verse 27 (skanda.1.135.27)

जनाः सर्वे समाराध्य रमंतां भोगमोक्षयोः । इयं त्वदंशजा देवी दुर्गा महिषसूदिनी

janāḥ sarve samārādhya ramaṁtāṁ bhogamokṣayoḥ iyaṁ tvadaṁśajā devī durgā mahiṣasūdinī

—may all people, having worshipped us both, delight in enjoyment and liberation. And this Goddess Durga, slayer of Mahisha, born of your very portion—

Verse 28 (skanda.1.135.28)

अत्रैव सन्निधत्तां तु मंत्रसिद्धिप्रदा नृणाम् । खड्गतीर्थमिदं पुण्यं सकृदेव निमज्जनात्

atraiva sannidhattāṁ tu maṁtrasiddhipradā nṛṇām khaḍgatīrthamidaṁ puṇyaṁ sakṛdeva nimajjanāt

—let her too remain present here, granting mantra-siddhi to men; and this sacred Khadga-tirtha, by a single immersion in it—

Verse 29 (skanda.1.135.29)

सर्वरोगहरं पुंसामस्तु सर्वाघनाशनम् । प्रवालगिरिनाथश्च देवोऽयं पापनाशनः

sarvarogaharaṁ puṁsāmastu sarvāghanāśanam pravālagirināthaśca devo'yaṁ pāpanāśanaḥ

—may it remove all diseases and destroy all sins of men. And this deity, the Lord of the Coral Mountain, is Papanashana, the destroyer of sin.

Verse 30 (skanda.1.135.30)

भक्तिश्रद्धावतां नॄणां भूयास्तां भूतये भृशम् । अयं च गौतमो देवि त्वदनुग्रहभाजनम्

bhaktiśraddhāvatāṁ nṝṇāṁ bhūyāstāṁ bhūtaye bhṛśam ayaṁ ca gautamo devi tvadanugrahabhājanam

May these two greatly serve the prosperity of men endowed with devotion and faith. And this Gautama, O Goddess, is a vessel of your grace.

Verse 31 (skanda.1.135.31)

तपोनुरूपं भजतां लोकेष्वाचंद्रतारकम् । इमाश्च मातरः सप्त सप्तलोकैकमातरः

taponurūpaṁ bhajatāṁ lokeṣvācaṁdratārakam imāśca mātaraḥ sapta saptalokaikamātaraḥ

May those who worship according to their penance attain fame in the worlds for as long as the moon and stars endure. And these seven Mothers, the sole mothers of the seven worlds—

Verse 32 (skanda.1.135.32)

अद्यप्रभृति कुर्वंतु सान्निध्यं जगतां श्रियै । शास्तारो भैरवाः क्षेत्रपालका बटुका अपि

adyaprabhṛti kurvaṁtu sānnidhyaṁ jagatāṁ śriyai śāstāro bhairavāḥ kṣetrapālakā baṭukā api

—let them from this day forward remain present here for the prosperity of the world. May Shasta, the Bhairavas, the Kshetrapalas, and the Batukas too—

Verse 33 (skanda.1.135.33)

अरुणक्षेत्र एवात्र नित्यं कुर्वंतु संनिधिम् । अत्राहमरुणक्षेत्रे निवसाम्यरुणाह्वयः

aruṇakṣetra evātra nityaṁ kurvaṁtu saṁnidhim atrāhamaruṇakṣetre nivasāmyaruṇāhvayaḥ

—remain eternally present here in this Aruna-kshetra. Here in this Aruna-kshetra, I dwell under the name Aruna.

Verse 34 (skanda.1.135.34)

त्वयाप्यरुणया देव्या स्थातव्यं करुणार्द्रया । ईप्सिनामरुणादेवौ सान्निध्यं कुरुतो यतः

tvayāpyaruṇayā devyā sthātavyaṁ karuṇārdrayā īpsināmaruṇādevau sānnidhyaṁ kuruto yataḥ

And you too, O Goddess, compassion-melted, must dwell here as Aruna; for since Aruna and the Lord Aruna both remain present here—

Verse 35 (skanda.1.135.35)

तदस्मिन्नरुणक्षेत्रे सुलभाः सर्वसिद्धयः

tadasminnaruṇakṣetre sulabhāḥ sarvasiddhayaḥ

—all attainments become easily accessible in this Aruna-kshetra.

Verse 36 (skanda.1.135.36)

इदं कृतं पर्वतराजपुत्र्या प्रसादनं शोणगिरीश्वरस्य । शृणोति यः स द्विषतो विधूय स्वर्गापवर्गौ सुलभावुपेयात्

idaṁ kṛtaṁ parvatarājaputryā prasādanaṁ śoṇagirīśvarasya śṛṇoti yaḥ sa dviṣato vidhūya svargāpavargau sulabhāvupeyāt

Whoever hears this account of the mountain-king's daughter propitiating the Lord of the Red Mountain shall, having shaken off his enemies, easily attain both heaven and liberation.