Shiva's Grace upon Bhadrayu

Verse 1 (skanda.3.106.1)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ प्राप्तसिंहासनो वीरो भद्रायुः स महीपतिः ॥ प्रविवेश वनं रम्यं कदाचिद्भार्यया सह

sūta uvāca prāptasiṁhāsano vīro bhadrāyuḥ sa mahīpatiḥ praviveśa vanaṁ ramyaṁ kadācidbhāryayā saha

Suta said: Bhadrayu, that heroic king, having obtained the throne, once entered a lovely forest together with his wife.

Verse 2 (skanda.3.106.2)

तस्मिन्विकसिताशोकप्रसूननवपल्लवे॥ प्रोत्फुल्लमल्लिकाखंडकूजद्भ्रमरसंकुले

tasminvikasitāśokaprasūnanavapallave protphullamallikākhaṁḍakūjadbhramarasaṁkule

In that forest, with fresh sprouts and blossoming ashoka flowers, filled with the humming of bees swarming over blooming jasmine clusters,

Verse 3 (skanda.3.106.3)

नवकेसरसौरभ्यबद्धरागिजनोत्सवे॥ सद्यः कोरकिताशोकतमालगहनांतरे

navakesarasaurabhyabaddharāgijanotsave sadyaḥ korakitāśokatamālagahanāṁtare

filled with the fragrance of fresh pollen, a delight binding the affection of people, amid the dense ashoka and tamala trees just budding,

Verse 4 (skanda.3.106.4)

प्रसूनप्रकरानम्र माधवीवनमंडपे॥ प्रवालकुसुमोद्द्योतचूतशाखिभिरञ्चिते

prasūnaprakarānamra mādhavīvanamaṁḍape pravālakusumoddyotacūtaśākhibhirañcite

in the bowers of madhavi-vine forest bent low with clusters of blossoms, adorned with mango trees glowing with new shoots and flowers,

Verse 5 (skanda.3.106.5)

पुन्नागवनविभ्रांतपुंस्कोकिलविराविणि॥ वसन्तसमये रम्ये विजहार स्त्रिया सह

punnāgavanavibhrāṁtapuṁskokilavirāviṇi vasantasamaye ramye vijahāra striyā saha

resounding with the calls of male cuckoos wandering among the punnaga groves, in that lovely season of spring, he sported together with his wife.

Verse 6 (skanda.3.106.6)

अथाविदूरे क्रोशंतौ धावंतौ द्विजदंपती ॥ अन्वीयमानौ व्याघ्रेण ददर्श नृपसत्तमः

athāvidūre krośaṁtau dhāvaṁtau dvijadaṁpatī anvīyamānau vyāghreṇa dadarśa nṛpasattamaḥ

Then, not far off, that best of kings saw a brahmin couple, running and crying out, being pursued by a tiger.

Verse 7 (skanda.3.106.7)

पाहि पाहि महाराज हा राजन्करुणानिधे ॥ एष धावति शार्दूलो जग्धुमावां महारयः

pāhi pāhi mahārāja hā rājankaruṇānidhe eṣa dhāvati śārdūlo jagdhumāvāṁ mahārayaḥ

"Save us, save us, great king! Alas, O king, ocean of compassion! This tiger runs to devour us both, with great speed!

Verse 8 (skanda.3.106.8)

एष पर्वतसंकाशः सर्वप्राणिभयंकरः ॥ यावन्न खादति प्राप्य तावन्नौ रक्ष भूपते

eṣa parvatasaṁkāśaḥ sarvaprāṇibhayaṁkaraḥ yāvanna khādati prāpya tāvannau rakṣa bhūpate

"This one, like a mountain, terrifying to all living beings, before it catches and devours us, protect us, O lord of the earth!"

Verse 9 (skanda.3.106.9)

इत्थमाक्रंदितं श्रुत्वा स राजा धनुराददे ॥ तावदागत्य शार्दूलो मध्ये जग्राह तां वधूम्

itthamākraṁditaṁ śrutvā sa rājā dhanurādade tāvadāgatya śārdūlo madhye jagrāha tāṁ vadhūm

Hearing this cry, that king took up his bow; meanwhile the tiger arrived and seized that young woman in their midst.

Verse 10 (skanda.3.106.10)

हा नाथ नाथ हा कांत हा शंभो जगतः पते ॥ इति रोरूयमाणां तां यावज्जग्राह भीषणः

hā nātha nātha hā kāṁta hā śaṁbho jagataḥ pate iti rorūyamāṇāṁ tāṁ yāvajjagrāha bhīṣaṇaḥ

"Alas, lord, lord! Alas, beloved! Alas, Shambhu, lord of the world!" thus wailing, she was seized by that terrifying beast.

Verse 11 (skanda.3.106.11)

तावत्स राजा निशितैर्भल्लैर्व्याघ्रमताडयत् ॥ न च तैर्विव्यथे किंचिद्गिरींद्र इव वृष्टिभिः

tāvatsa rājā niśitairbhallairvyāghramatāḍayat na ca tairvivyathe kiṁcidgirīṁdra iva vṛṣṭibhiḥ

At that, the king struck the tiger with sharp arrows, but it was not troubled by them at all, like a mountain-king by rain-showers.

Verse 12 (skanda.3.106.12)

स शार्दूलो महासत्त्वो राज्ञोस्त्रैरकृतव्यथः ॥ बलादाकृष्य तां नारीमपाक्रामत सत्वरः

sa śārdūlo mahāsattvo rājñostrairakṛtavyathaḥ balādākṛṣya tāṁ nārīmapākrāmata satvaraḥ

That tiger, of great might, unafraid of the king's weapons, forcibly dragging off that woman, swiftly made off.

Verse 13 (skanda.3.106.13)

व्याघ्रेणापहृतां पत्नीं वीक्ष्य विप्रोऽतिदुःखितः ॥ रुरोद हा प्रिये बाले हा कांते हा पतिव्रते

vyāghreṇāpahṛtāṁ patnīṁ vīkṣya vipro'tiduḥkhitaḥ ruroda hā priye bāle hā kāṁte hā pativrate

Seeing his wife carried off by the tiger, the brahmin, greatly distressed, wailed: "Alas, dear one! Alas, girl! Alas, beloved! Alas, faithful wife!

Verse 14 (skanda.3.106.14)

एकं मामिह संत्यज्य कथं लोकांतरं गता ॥ प्राणेभ्योपि प्रियां त्यक्त्वा कथं जीवितुमुत्सहे

ekaṁ māmiha saṁtyajya kathaṁ lokāṁtaraṁ gatā prāṇebhyopi priyāṁ tyaktvā kathaṁ jīvitumutsahe

"Abandoning me alone here, how have you gone to another world? Having lost my beloved, dearer than my very life, how can I bear to live?

Verse 15 (skanda.3.106.15)

राजन्क्व ते महास्त्राणि क्व ते श्लाघ्यं महद्धनुः ॥ क्व ते द्वादशसाहस्रमहानागातिगं बलम्

rājankva te mahāstrāṇi kva te ślāghyaṁ mahaddhanuḥ kva te dvādaśasāhasramahānāgātigaṁ balam

"O king, where are your mighty weapons? Where is your celebrated great bow? Where is your strength surpassing twelve thousand mighty elephants?

Verse 16 (skanda.3.106.16)

किं ते शंखेन खङ्गेन किं ते मंत्रास्त्रविद्यया ॥ किं च तेन प्रयत्नेन किं प्रभावेण भूयसा

kiṁ te śaṁkhena khaṅgena kiṁ te maṁtrāstravidyayā kiṁ ca tena prayatnena kiṁ prabhāveṇa bhūyasā

"What use to you is your conch, your sword, what use your knowledge of mantra-weapons? What use that effort, what use that vast power?

Verse 17 (skanda.3.106.17)

तत्सर्वं विफलं जातं यच्चान्यत्त्वयि तिष्ठति ॥ यस्त्वं वनौकसं जंतुं निवारयितुमक्षमः

tatsarvaṁ viphalaṁ jātaṁ yaccānyattvayi tiṣṭhati yastvaṁ vanaukasaṁ jaṁtuṁ nivārayitumakṣamaḥ

"All of it has proven fruitless, and whatever else resides in you, since you were unable to stop this creature of the forest.

Verse 18 (skanda.3.106.18)

क्षात्त्रस्यायं परो धर्मः क्षताद्यत्परिरक्षणम् ॥ तस्मात्कुलोचिते धर्मे नष्टे त्वज्जीवितेन किम्

kṣāttrasyāyaṁ paro dharmaḥ kṣatādyatparirakṣaṇam tasmātkulocite dharme naṣṭe tvajjīvitena kim

"This is the supreme duty of a kshatriya: the protection of those who are afflicted. Therefore, if the dharma proper to your lineage has failed, what use is your life?

Verse 19 (skanda.3.106.19)

आर्तानां शरणार्तानां त्राणं कुर्वंति पार्थिवाः ॥ प्राणैरर्थैश्च धर्मज्ञास्तद्विहीना मृतोपमाः

ārtānāṁ śaraṇārtānāṁ trāṇaṁ kurvaṁti pārthivāḥ prāṇairarthaiśca dharmajñāstadvihīnā mṛtopamāḥ

"Kings who know dharma give protection to the afflicted and to those who seek refuge, with their lives and their wealth; those without it are as good as dead.

Verse 20 (skanda.3.106.20)

धनिनां दानहीनानां गार्हस्थ्याद्भिक्षुता वरा ॥ आर्तत्राणविहीनानां जीवितान्मरणं वरम्

dhanināṁ dānahīnānāṁ gārhasthyādbhikṣutā varā ārtatrāṇavihīnānāṁ jīvitānmaraṇaṁ varam

"For the wealthy who lack charity, better is a mendicant's householdless life; for those without protection for the afflicted, death is better than life.

Verse 21 (skanda.3.106.21)

वरं विषादनं राज्ञो वरमग्नौ प्रवेशनम् ॥ अनाथानां प्रपन्नानां कृपणानामरक्षणात्

varaṁ viṣādanaṁ rājño varamagnau praveśanam anāthānāṁ prapannānāṁ kṛpaṇānāmarakṣaṇāt

"Better is a king's despair, better his entry into fire, than the failure to protect the helpless, the refugees, the wretched."

Verse 22 (skanda.3.106.22)

इत्थं विलपितं तस्य स्ववीर्यस्य च गर्हणम् ॥ निशम्य नृपतिः शोकादात्मन्येवमचिंतयत्

itthaṁ vilapitaṁ tasya svavīryasya ca garhaṇam niśamya nṛpatiḥ śokādātmanyevamaciṁtayat

Hearing this lament, and this censure of his own valor, the king, out of grief, thought thus within himself:

Verse 23 (skanda.3.106.23)

अहो मे पौरुषं नष्टमद्य दैवविपर्ययात् ॥ अद्य कीर्तिश्च मे नष्टा पातकं प्राप्तमुत्क टम्

aho me pauruṣaṁ naṣṭamadya daivaviparyayāt adya kīrtiśca me naṣṭā pātakaṁ prāptamutka ṭam

"Alas, my manhood is destroyed today, by the reversal of fate! Today my fame too is destroyed; a terrible sin has befallen me.

Verse 24 (skanda.3.106.24)

धर्मः कालोचितो नष्टो मन्दभाग्यस्य दुर्मतेः ॥ नूनं मे संपदो राज्यमायुष्यं क्षयमेष्यति

dharmaḥ kālocito naṣṭo mandabhāgyasya durmateḥ nūnaṁ me saṁpado rājyamāyuṣyaṁ kṣayameṣyati

"The dharma proper to the occasion is destroyed, for one so ill-fated and foolish as I; surely my fortune, my kingdom, my very life shall come to ruin.

Verse 25 (skanda.3.106.25)

अपुंसां संपदो भोगाः पुत्रदारधनानि च ॥ दैवेन क्षणमुद्यंति क्षणादस्तं व्रजंति च

apuṁsāṁ saṁpado bhogāḥ putradāradhanāni ca daivena kṣaṇamudyaṁti kṣaṇādastaṁ vrajaṁti ca

"For those without true manhood, fortunes, pleasures, sons, wives, and wealth arise for a moment by fate, and in a moment pass away.

Verse 26 (skanda.3.106.26)

अत एनं द्विजन्मानं हतदारं शुचार्दितम् ॥ गतशोकं करिष्यामि दत्त्वा प्राणानपि प्रियान्

ata enaṁ dvijanmānaṁ hatadāraṁ śucārditam gataśokaṁ kariṣyāmi dattvā prāṇānapi priyān

"Therefore I shall free this brahmin, bereft of his wife and afflicted with grief, from his sorrow, even by giving up my own dear life."

Verse 27 (skanda.3.106.27)

इति निश्चित्य मनसा भद्रायुर्नृपसत्तमः ॥ पतित्वा पादयोस्त्वस्य बभाषे परिसांत्वयन्

iti niścitya manasā bhadrāyurnṛpasattamaḥ patitvā pādayostvasya babhāṣe parisāṁtvayan

Having thus resolved in his mind, Bhadrayu, that best of kings, fell at his feet and spoke, comforting him:

Verse 28 (skanda.3.106.28)

कृपां कुरु मयि ब्रह्मन्क्षत्रबंधौ हतौजसि ॥ शोकं त्यज महाबुद्धे दास्याम्यर्थं तवेप्सितम्

kṛpāṁ kuru mayi brahmankṣatrabaṁdhau hataujasi śokaṁ tyaja mahābuddhe dāsyāmyarthaṁ tavepsitam

"Have mercy on me, O brahmin, a kshatriya whose valor has failed; abandon your grief, O great-minded one, I shall give you whatever wealth you desire.

Verse 29 (skanda.3.106.29)

इदं राज्यमियं राज्ञी ममेदं च कलेवरम् ॥ त्वधीनमिदं सर्वं किं तेऽभिलषितं वद

idaṁ rājyamiyaṁ rājñī mamedaṁ ca kalevaram tvadhīnamidaṁ sarvaṁ kiṁ te'bhilaṣitaṁ vada

"This kingdom, this queen, this body of mine, all of this is subject to you; tell me, what do you desire?"

Verse 30 (skanda.3.106.30)

ब्राह्मण उवाच ॥ किमादर्शेन चांधस्य किं गृहैर्भैक्ष्यजीविनः ॥ किं पुस्तकेन मूर्खस्य ह्यस्त्रीकस्य धनेन किम्

brāhmaṇa uvāca kimādarśena cāṁdhasya kiṁ gṛhairbhaikṣyajīvinaḥ kiṁ pustakena mūrkhasya hyastrīkasya dhanena kim

The brahmin said: "What use is a mirror to a blind man? What use a house to one who lives on alms? What use a book to a fool, or wealth to one without a wife?

Verse 31 (skanda.3.106.31)

अतोऽहं गतपत्नीको भुक्तभोगो न कर्हिचित् ॥ इमां तवाग्रमहिषीं कामार्थं दीयतां मम

ato'haṁ gatapatnīko bhuktabhogo na karhicit imāṁ tavāgramahiṣīṁ kāmārthaṁ dīyatāṁ mama

"Therefore, I, now bereft of my wife, having never yet enjoyed pleasures, let this chief queen of yours be given to me for the sake of desire."

Verse 32 (skanda.3.106.32)

राजोवाच ॥ ब्रह्मन्किमेष धर्मस्ते किमेतद्गुरुशासनम् ॥ अस्वर्ग्यमयशस्यं च परदाराभिमर्शनम्

rājovāca brahmankimeṣa dharmaste kimetadguruśāsanam asvargyamayaśasyaṁ ca paradārābhimarśanam

The king said: "O brahmin, is this your dharma, is this the teaching of your guru, the violation of another's wife, which leads neither to heaven nor to good repute?

Verse 33 (skanda.3.106.33)

दातारः संति वित्तस्य राज्यस्य गजवाजिनाम् ॥ आत्मदेहस्य वा क्वापि न कलत्रस्य कर्हिचित्

dātāraḥ saṁti vittasya rājyasya gajavājinām ātmadehasya vā kvāpi na kalatrasya karhicit

"There are givers of wealth, of kingdoms, of elephants and horses, even of their own body somewhere, but never, ever, of a wife.

Verse 34 (skanda.3.106.34)

परदारोपभोगेन यत्पापं समुपार्जितम् ॥ न तत्क्षालयितुं शक्यं प्रायश्चित्तशतैरपि

paradāropabhogena yatpāpaṁ samupārjitam na tatkṣālayituṁ śakyaṁ prāyaścittaśatairapi

"The sin accumulated through the enjoyment of another's wife cannot be washed away even by a hundred expiations."

Verse 35 (skanda.3.106.35)

ब्राह्मण उवाच ॥ अपि ब्रह्मवधं घोरमपि मद्यनिषेवणम् ॥ तपसा नाशयिष्यामि कि पुनः पारदारिकम् ॥ तस्मात्प्रयच्छ मे भार्यामिमां त्वं ध्रुवमन्यथा

brāhmaṇa uvāca api brahmavadhaṁ ghoramapi madyaniṣevaṇam tapasā nāśayiṣyāmi ki punaḥ pāradārikam tasmātprayaccha me bhāryāmimāṁ tvaṁ dhruvamanyathā

The brahmin said: "Even the terrible sin of killing a brahmin, even the sin of drinking liquor, I shall destroy by austerity, how much more the sin of adultery! Therefore give me your wife; otherwise, surely,

Verse 36 (skanda.3.106.36)

अरक्षणाद्भयार्तानां गंतासि निरयं ध्रुवम् ॥ इति विप्रगिरा भीतश्चिंतयामास पार्थिवः ॥ अरक्षणान्महत्पापं पत्नीदानं ततो वरम्

arakṣaṇādbhayārtānāṁ gaṁtāsi nirayaṁ dhruvam iti vipragirā bhītaściṁtayāmāsa pārthivaḥ arakṣaṇānmahatpāpaṁ patnīdānaṁ tato varam

"for failing to protect those afflicted with fear, you shall surely go to hell." Thus frightened by the brahmin's words, the king thought: "The sin of not protecting is greater; the giving of my wife is therefore the lesser evil.

Verse 37 (skanda.3.106.37)

अतः पत्नीं द्विजाग्र्याय दत्त्वा निर्मुक्तकिल्विषः ॥ सद्यो वह्निं प्रवेक्ष्यामि कीर्तिश्च निहिता भवेत्

ataḥ patnīṁ dvijāgryāya dattvā nirmuktakilviṣaḥ sadyo vahniṁ pravekṣyāmi kīrtiśca nihitā bhavet

"Therefore, having given my wife to this excellent brahmin, freed from sin, I shall at once enter the fire, so that my fame too shall be preserved."

Verse 38 (skanda.3.106.38)

इति निश्चित्य मनसा समुज्ज्वाल्य हुताशनम् ॥ तं ब्राह्मणं समाहूय ददौ पत्नीं सहोदकाम्

iti niścitya manasā samujjvālya hutāśanam taṁ brāhmaṇaṁ samāhūya dadau patnīṁ sahodakām

Having thus resolved in his mind, having kindled the sacrificial fire, he summoned that brahmin and gave him his wife, with a libation of water.

Verse 39 (skanda.3.106.39)

स्वयं स्नातः शुचिर्भूत्वा प्रणम्य विबुधेश्वरान् ॥ तमग्निं द्विः परिक्रम्य शिवं दध्यौ समाहितः

svayaṁ snātaḥ śucirbhūtvā praṇamya vibudheśvarān tamagniṁ dviḥ parikramya śivaṁ dadhyau samāhitaḥ

Having himself bathed and become pure, having bowed to the lords of the gods, having circumambulated that fire twice, he meditated on Shiva, composed in mind.

Verse 40 (skanda.3.106.40)

तमथाग्नौ पतिष्यंतं स्वपदासक्तचेतसम् ॥ प्रत्यदृश्यत विश्वेशः प्रादुर्भूतो जगत्पतिः

tamathāgnau patiṣyaṁtaṁ svapadāsaktacetasam pratyadṛśyata viśveśaḥ prādurbhūto jagatpatiḥ

Then, as he was about to fall into the fire, his mind fixed upon Shiva's feet, the Lord of the universe, the master of the world, appeared before him, manifest.

Verse 41 (skanda.3.106.41)

तमीश्वरं पंचवक्त्रं त्रिनेत्रं पिनाकिनं चन्द्रकलावतंसम् ॥ आलंबितापिंगजटाकलापं मध्यंगतं भास्करकोटितेजसम्

tamīśvaraṁ paṁcavaktraṁ trinetraṁ pinākinaṁ candrakalāvataṁsam ālaṁbitāpiṁgajaṭākalāpaṁ madhyaṁgataṁ bhāskarakoṭitejasam

That king beheld that Lord, five-faced, three-eyed, wielder of the Pinaka bow, crowned with the crescent moon, his tawny matted locks hanging down, standing in their midst, radiant with the splendor of a myriad suns,

Verse 42 (skanda.3.106.42)

मृणालगौरं गजचर्मवाससं गंगातरंगो क्षितमौलिदेशम् ॥ नागेंद्रहारावलिकंकणोर्मिकाकिरीटकोट्यंगदकुंडलोज्ज्वलम्

mṛṇālagauraṁ gajacarmavāsasaṁ gaṁgātaraṁgo kṣitamaulideśam nāgeṁdrahārāvalikaṁkaṇormikākirīṭakoṭyaṁgadakuṁḍalojjvalam

fair as a lotus-stalk, clad in an elephant's hide, the region of his crown touched by the waves of the Ganga, resplendent with a garland, bracelets and armlets of serpent-kings, and a crown blazing with countless jewels and earrings,

Verse 43 (skanda.3.106.43)

त्रिशूलखट्वांगकुठारचर्ममृगाभयेष्टार्थपिनाकहस्तम् ॥ वृषोपरिस्थं शितिकंठमीशं प्रोद्भूतमग्रे नृपतिर्ददर्श

triśūlakhaṭvāṁgakuṭhāracarmamṛgābhayeṣṭārthapinākahastam vṛṣoparisthaṁ śitikaṁṭhamīśaṁ prodbhūtamagre nṛpatirdadarśa

holding in his hands the trident, the skull-staff, the axe, the shield, the deer, the gestures of fearlessness and of granting desires, and the Pinaka bow, dark-throated, standing upon his bull, thus manifest before him, the king beheld the Lord.

Verse 44 (skanda.3.106.44)

अथांबराद्द्रुतं पेतुर्दिव्याः कुसुमवृष्टयः ॥ प्रणेदुर्देवतूर्याणि देवाश्च ननृतुर्जगुः

athāṁbarāddrutaṁ peturdivyāḥ kusumavṛṣṭayaḥ praṇedurdevatūryāṇi devāśca nanṛturjaguḥ

Then, swiftly, divine showers of flowers fell from the sky; the instruments of the gods resounded, and the gods danced and sang.

Verse 45 (skanda.3.106.45)

तत्राजग्मुर्नारदाद्याः सनकाद्या सुरर्षयः ॥ इन्द्रादयश्च लोकेशास्तथाब्रह्मर्षयोऽमलाः

tatrājagmurnāradādyāḥ sanakādyā surarṣayaḥ indrādayaśca lokeśāstathābrahmarṣayo'malāḥ

There came Narada and the other divine sages, Sanaka and the other perfected ones, Indra and the other guardians of the worlds, and the stainless brahmarshis.

Verse 46 (skanda.3.106.46)

तेषां मध्ये समासीनो महादेवः सहोमया ॥ ववर्ष करुणासारं भक्तिनम्रे महीपतौ

teṣāṁ madhye samāsīno mahādevaḥ sahomayā vavarṣa karuṇāsāraṁ bhaktinamre mahīpatau

Seated in their midst, Mahadeva, together with Uma, rained down a shower of compassion upon the king, bowed in devotion.

Verse 47 (skanda.3.106.47)

तद्दर्शनानंदविजृंभिताशयः प्रवृद्धबाष्पांबुपरिप्लुतांगः ॥ प्रहृष्टरोमा गलगद्गदाक्षरं तुष्टाव गीर्भिर्मुकुलीकृतांजलिः

taddarśanānaṁdavijṛṁbhitāśayaḥ pravṛddhabāṣpāṁbupariplutāṁgaḥ prahṛṣṭaromā galagadgadākṣaraṁ tuṣṭāva gīrbhirmukulīkṛtāṁjaliḥ

His heart swelling with the bliss of that vision, his whole body drenched with streaming tears, his hair standing on end with joy, his voice choked, his palms folded like a closed lotus-bud, he praised him with these words.

Verse 48 (skanda.3.106.48)

राजोवाच ॥ नतोस्म्यहं देवमनाथमव्ययं प्रधानमव्यक्तगुणं महांतम् ॥ अकारणं कारणकारणं परं शिवं चिदानंदमयं प्रशांतम्

rājovāca natosmyahaṁ devamanāthamavyayaṁ pradhānamavyaktaguṇaṁ mahāṁtam akāraṇaṁ kāraṇakāraṇaṁ paraṁ śivaṁ cidānaṁdamayaṁ praśāṁtam

The king said: "I bow to the god, without a lord, imperishable, the primal one, of unmanifest qualities, the great one, without cause, the cause of causes, the supreme Shiva, full of consciousness and bliss, utterly tranquil.

Verse 49 (skanda.3.106.49)

त्वं विश्वसाक्षी जगतोऽस्यकर्त्ता विरूढधामा हृदि सन्निविष्टः ॥ अतो विचिन्वंति विधौ विपश्चितो योगैरनेकैः कृतचित्तरोधैः

tvaṁ viśvasākṣī jagato'syakarttā virūḍhadhāmā hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ ato vicinvaṁti vidhau vipaścito yogairanekaiḥ kṛtacittarodhaiḥ

"You are the witness of the universe, the creator of this world, of manifest splendor, seated within the heart; therefore the wise seek you out in various ways, through many disciplines, restraining their minds.

Verse 50 (skanda.3.106.50)

एकात्मतां भावयतां त्वमेको नानाधियां यस्त्वमनेकरूपः ॥ अतींद्रियं साक्ष्युदयास्तविभ्रमं मनःपथात्संह्रियते पदं ते

ekātmatāṁ bhāvayatāṁ tvameko nānādhiyāṁ yastvamanekarūpaḥ atīṁdriyaṁ sākṣyudayāstavibhramaṁ manaḥpathātsaṁhriyate padaṁ te

"You are the one, for those who contemplate oneness of self; you appear in many forms to those of many perceptions; beyond the senses, the witness of rising and setting illusion, your true state withdraws from the path of the mind.

Verse 51 (skanda.3.106.51)

तं त्वां दुरापं वचसो धियाश्च व्यपेतमोहं परमात्मरूपम् ॥ गुणैकनिष्ठाः प्रकृतौ विलीनाः कथं वपुः स्तोतुमलंगिरो मे

taṁ tvāṁ durāpaṁ vacaso dhiyāśca vyapetamohaṁ paramātmarūpam guṇaikaniṣṭhāḥ prakṛtau vilīnāḥ kathaṁ vapuḥ stotumalaṁgiro me

"You, hard to attain by speech or by intellect, free from delusion, of the form of the supreme self, how could my poor words, devoted only to the qualities, dissolved in nature, ever praise your form?

Verse 52 (skanda.3.106.52)

तथापि भक्त्याश्रयतामुपेयुस्तवांघ्रिपद्मं प्रणतार्तिभंजनम् ॥ सुघोरसंसारदवाग्निपीडितो भजामि नित्यं भवभीतिशांतये

tathāpi bhaktyāśrayatāmupeyustavāṁghripadmaṁ praṇatārtibhaṁjanam sughorasaṁsāradavāgnipīḍito bhajāmi nityaṁ bhavabhītiśāṁtaye

"Yet still, through devotion, they who take refuge attain your lotus feet, which destroy the suffering of those who bow to you; afflicted by the terrible forest-fire of worldly existence, I worship you ever, for the pacifying of the fear of becoming.

Verse 53 (skanda.3.106.53)

नमस्ते देव देवाय महादेवाय शंभवे ॥ नमस्त्रिमूर्तिरूपाय सर्गस्थित्यंतकारिणे

namaste deva devāya mahādevāya śaṁbhave namastrimūrtirūpāya sargasthityaṁtakāriṇe

"Salutation to you, O god of gods, O Mahadeva, O Shambhu! Salutation to you of the threefold form, who cause creation, preservation, and dissolution.

Verse 54 (skanda.3.106.54)

नमो विश्वादिरूपाय विश्वप्रथमसाक्षिणे ॥ नमः सन्मात्रतत्त्वाय बोधानंदघनाय च

namo viśvādirūpāya viśvaprathamasākṣiṇe namaḥ sanmātratattvāya bodhānaṁdaghanāya ca

"Salutation to you, of the form that is the origin of the universe, the first witness of the universe; salutation to you, the reality that is pure existence, the mass of awareness and bliss.

Verse 55 (skanda.3.106.55)

सर्वक्षेत्रनिवासाय क्षेत्रभिन्नात्मशक्तये ॥ अशक्ताय नमस्तुभ्यं शक्ताभासाय भूयसे

sarvakṣetranivāsāya kṣetrabhinnātmaśaktaye aśaktāya namastubhyaṁ śaktābhāsāya bhūyase

"Salutation to you, dwelling in all fields, whose own power is distinct from the field; salutation to you, powerless, and yet abounding in the semblance of power.

Verse 56 (skanda.3.106.56)

निराभासाय नित्याय सत्यज्ञानांतरात्मने ॥ विशुद्धाय विदूराय विमुक्ताशेषकर्मणे

nirābhāsāya nityāya satyajñānāṁtarātmane viśuddhāya vidūrāya vimuktāśeṣakarmaṇe

"Salutation to you, without semblance, eternal, the inner self of true knowledge; pure, remote, freed from all karma.

Verse 57 (skanda.3.106.57)

नमो वेदांतवेद्याय वेदमूलनिवासिने ॥ नमो विविक्तचेष्टाय निवृत्तगुण वृत्तये

namo vedāṁtavedyāya vedamūlanivāsine namo viviktaceṣṭāya nivṛttaguṇa vṛttaye

"Salutation to you, known through the Vedanta, dwelling at the root of the Veda; salutation to you, of distinct activity, whose nature has ceased from the qualities.

Verse 58 (skanda.3.106.58)

नमः कल्याणवीर्याय कल्याणफलदायिने ॥ नमोऽनंताय महते शांताय शिवरूपिणे

namaḥ kalyāṇavīryāya kalyāṇaphaladāyine namo'naṁtāya mahate śāṁtāya śivarūpiṇe

"Salutation to you, of auspicious power, giver of auspicious fruit; salutation to you, the endless, the great, the tranquil, of Shiva's form.

Verse 59 (skanda.3.106.59)

अघोराय सुघोराय घोराघौघ विदारिणे ॥ भर्गाय भवबीजानां भंजनाय गरीयसे ॥ नमो विध्वस्तमोहाय विशदात्मगुणाय च

aghorāya sughorāya ghorāghaugha vidāriṇe bhargāya bhavabījānāṁ bhaṁjanāya garīyase namo vidhvastamohāya viśadātmaguṇāya ca

"Aghora and Sughora, render of the mass of terrible sins, Bharga, the destroyer of the very seeds of worldly existence, the greatest of all; salutation to you who have shattered delusion, of pure, luminous nature.

Verse 60 (skanda.3.106.60)

पाहि मां जगतां नाथ पाहि शंकर शाश्वत ॥ पाहि रुद्र विरूपाक्ष पाहि मृत्युंजयाव्यय

pāhi māṁ jagatāṁ nātha pāhi śaṁkara śāśvata pāhi rudra virūpākṣa pāhi mṛtyuṁjayāvyaya

"Protect me, O lord of the worlds! Protect me, O eternal Shankara! Protect me, O Rudra of the strange eyes! Protect me, O imperishable conqueror of death!

Verse 61 (skanda.3.106.61)

शम्भो शशांककृतशेखर शांतमूर्ते गौरीश गोपतिनिशापहुताशनेत्र ॥ गंगाधरांधकविदारण पुण्यकीर्ते भूतेश भूधरनिवास सदा नमस्ते

śambho śaśāṁkakṛtaśekhara śāṁtamūrte gaurīśa gopatiniśāpahutāśanetra gaṁgādharāṁdhakavidāraṇa puṇyakīrte bhūteśa bhūdharanivāsa sadā namaste

"O Shambhu, crowned with the crescent moon, of tranquil form, lord of Gauri, lord of cattle, whose eye is the fire that consumes the night, render of Andhaka, bearer of the Ganga, of sacred renown, lord of beings, dweller on the mountain, salutation to you always."

Verse 62 (skanda.3.106.62)

सूत उवाच ॥ एवं स्तुतः स भगवान्राज्ञा देवो महेश्वरः ॥ प्रसन्नः सह पार्वत्या प्रत्युवाच दयानिधिः

sūta uvāca evaṁ stutaḥ sa bhagavānrājñā devo maheśvaraḥ prasannaḥ saha pārvatyā pratyuvāca dayānidhiḥ

Suta said: Thus praised by the king, that blessed god Maheshvara, pleased, together with Parvati, that ocean of compassion, replied.

Verse 63 (skanda.3.106.63)

ईश्वर उवाच ॥ राजंस्ते परितुष्टोऽस्मि भक्त्या पुण्यस्तवेन च ॥ अनन्यचेता यो नित्यं सदा मां पर्यपूजयः

īśvara uvāca rājaṁste parituṣṭo'smi bhaktyā puṇyastavena ca ananyacetā yo nityaṁ sadā māṁ paryapūjayaḥ

The Lord said: "O king, I am well pleased with your devotion and with this sacred hymn of praise, since you, single-minded, have ever worshipped me constantly.

Verse 64 (skanda.3.106.64)

तव भावपरीक्षार्थं द्विजो भूत्वाहमागतः ॥ व्याघ्रेण या परिग्रस्ता सैषा दैवी गिरींद्रजा

tava bhāvaparīkṣārthaṁ dvijo bhūtvāhamāgataḥ vyāghreṇa yā parigrastā saiṣā daivī girīṁdrajā

"In order to test your disposition, I came here as a brahmin; this one seized by the tiger is that divine daughter of the mountain herself.

Verse 65 (skanda.3.106.65)

व्याघ्रो मायामयो यस्ते शरैरक्षतविग्रहः ॥ धीरतां द्रष्टुकामस्ते पत्नीं याचितवानहम्

vyāghro māyāmayo yaste śarairakṣatavigrahaḥ dhīratāṁ draṣṭukāmaste patnīṁ yācitavānaham

"The tiger too was but an illusion of mine; your body remains unwounded by the arrows; wishing to see your steadfastness, I asked you for your wife.

Verse 66 (skanda.3.106.66)

अस्याश्च कीर्तिमालिन्यास्तव भक्त्या च मानद ॥ तुष्टोऽहं संप्रयच्छामि वरं वरय दुर्लभम्

asyāśca kīrtimālinyāstava bhaktyā ca mānada tuṣṭo'haṁ saṁprayacchāmi varaṁ varaya durlabham

"By your devotion to her, Kirtimalini, and to me, O honorer, I am pleased, and grant you a boon; choose a boon, however hard to obtain."

Verse 67 (skanda.3.106.67)

राजोवाच ॥ एष एव वरो देव यद्भवान्परमेश्वरः ॥ भवतापपरीतस्य मम प्रत्यक्षतां गतः

rājovāca eṣa eva varo deva yadbhavānparameśvaraḥ bhavatāpaparītasya mama pratyakṣatāṁ gataḥ

The king said: "This alone is the boon I seek, O god: that you, the Supreme Lord, afflicted by my suffering, have become visible to me directly.

Verse 68 (skanda.3.106.68)

नान्यं वरं वृणे देव भवतो वरदर्षभात् ॥ अहं च सेयं सा राज्ञी मम माता च मत्पिता

nānyaṁ varaṁ vṛṇe deva bhavato varadarṣabhāt ahaṁ ca seyaṁ sā rājñī mama mātā ca matpitā

"I choose no other boon, O god, than this, O bull among boon-givers: that I, and this my queen, and my mother, and my father,

Verse 69 (skanda.3.106.69)

वैश्यः पद्माकरो नाम तत्पुत्रः सुनयाभिधः ॥ सर्वानेतान्महादेव सदा त्वत्पार्श्वगान्कुरु

vaiśyaḥ padmākaro nāma tatputraḥ sunayābhidhaḥ sarvānetānmahādeva sadā tvatpārśvagānkuru

"the merchant Padmakara, and his son named Sunaya, all these, O Mahadeva, may you keep ever by your side."

Verse 70 (skanda.3.106.70)

सूत उवाच ॥ अथ राज्ञी महाभागा प्रणता कीर्तिमालिनी ॥ भक्त्या प्रसाद्य गिरिशं ययाचे वरमुत्तमम्

sūta uvāca atha rājñī mahābhāgā praṇatā kīrtimālinī bhaktyā prasādya giriśaṁ yayāce varamuttamam

Suta said: Then that blessed queen Kirtimalini, bowing down, having pleased Girisha with devotion, asked for a supreme boon.

Verse 71 (skanda.3.106.71)

राज्ञ्युवाच ॥ चंद्रांगदो मम पिता माता सीमंतिनी च मे ॥ तयोर्याचे महादेव त्वत्पार्श्वे सन्निधिं सदा

rājñyuvāca caṁdrāṁgado mama pitā mātā sīmaṁtinī ca me tayoryāce mahādeva tvatpārśve sannidhiṁ sadā

The queen said: "Chandrangada is my father, and Simantini is my mother; I ask, O Mahadeva, that they too remain always in your presence."

Verse 72 (skanda.3.106.72)

एवमस्त्विति गौरीशः प्रसन्नो भक्तवत्सलः ॥ तयोः कामवरं दत्त्वा क्षणादंतर्हितोऽभवत्

evamastviti gaurīśaḥ prasanno bhaktavatsalaḥ tayoḥ kāmavaraṁ dattvā kṣaṇādaṁtarhito'bhavat

"So be it," said the Lord of Gauri, pleased, ever fond of his devotees; having granted them the boon of their desire, in an instant he vanished from sight.

Verse 73 (skanda.3.106.73)

सोपि राजा सुरैः सार्धं प्रसादं प्राप्य शूलिनः ॥ सहितः कीर्तिमालिन्या बुभुजे विषयान्प्रियान्

sopi rājā suraiḥ sārdhaṁ prasādaṁ prāpya śūlinaḥ sahitaḥ kīrtimālinyā bubhuje viṣayānpriyān

That king too, having obtained the grace of the trident-bearer, together with the gods, enjoyed pleasant worldly things, together with Kirtimalini.

Verse 74 (skanda.3.106.74)

कृत्वा वर्षायुतं राज्यमव्याहतबलोन्नतिः ॥ राज्यं पुत्रेषु विन्यस्य भेजे शंभोः परं पदम्

kṛtvā varṣāyutaṁ rājyamavyāhatabalonnatiḥ rājyaṁ putreṣu vinyasya bheje śaṁbhoḥ paraṁ padam

Having ruled the kingdom for ten thousand years, his strength and power unopposed, having established his sons in the kingdom, he attained the supreme abode of Shambhu.

Verse 75 (skanda.3.106.75)

चंद्रांगदोपि राजेंद्रो राज्ञी सीमंतिनी च सा ॥ भक्त्या संपूज्य गिरिशं जग्मतुः शांभवं पदम्

caṁdrāṁgadopi rājeṁdro rājñī sīmaṁtinī ca sā bhaktyā saṁpūjya giriśaṁ jagmatuḥ śāṁbhavaṁ padam

Chandrangada too, that lord of kings, and that queen Simantini, having worshipped Girisha with devotion, went to the abode of Shambhu.

Verse 76 (skanda.3.106.76)

एतत्पवित्रमघनाशकरं विचित्रं शम्भोर्गुणानुकथनं परमं रहस्यम् ॥ यः श्रावयेद्बुधजनान्प्रयतः पठेद्वा संप्राप्य भोगविभवं शिव मेति सोंते

etatpavitramaghanāśakaraṁ vicitraṁ śambhorguṇānukathanaṁ paramaṁ rahasyam yaḥ śrāvayedbudhajanānprayataḥ paṭhedvā saṁprāpya bhogavibhavaṁ śiva meti soṁte

This sacred, sin-destroying, wondrous recounting of Shambhu's virtues, the supreme secret, whoever, with self-control, recites it to the wise, or reads it himself, having obtained worldly enjoyment and prosperity, attains Shiva at the end.