The Origin of the Eleven Rudras

Verse 1 (skanda.6.276.1)

सूत उवाच तथान्येऽपि वसन्तीह रुद्रा एकादशैव तु सञ्जाता ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठा मुनीनां हितकाम्यया

sūta uvāca tathānye'pi vasantīha rudrā ekādaśaiva tu sañjātā brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhā munīnāṁ hitakāmyayā

Suta said: There likewise dwell here, O foremost of brahmins, eleven Rudras as well, who came into being for the welfare of the sages.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.276.2)

यैर्दृष्टैः पूजितै र्वापि स्तुतैर्वाथ नमस्कृतैः विपाप्मा जायते मर्त्यः सर्वदोषविवर्जितः

yairdṛṣṭaiḥ pūjitai rvāpi stutairvātha namaskṛtaiḥ vipāpmā jāyate martyaḥ sarvadoṣavivarjitaḥ

By seeing, worshipping, praising, or bowing to whom, a mortal becomes sinless, freed from every fault.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.276.3)

ऋषय ऊचुः एक एव श्रुतो रुद्रो न द्वितीयः कथंचन गौरी भार्याप्रिया यस्य स्कन्दः पुत्रः प्रकीर्तितः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ eka eva śruto rudro na dvitīyaḥ kathaṁcana gaurī bhāryāpriyā yasya skandaḥ putraḥ prakīrtitaḥ

The sages said: We have heard of only a single Rudra, never a second in any way, whose beloved wife is Gauri, and whose son is declared to be Skanda.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.276.4)

तेनैकं विद्महे रुद्रं नान्यमीशं कथंचन तस्माद्ब्रूहि महाभाग सर्वानेतान्सुविस्तरात्

tenaikaṁ vidmahe rudraṁ nānyamīśaṁ kathaṁcana tasmādbrūhi mahābhāga sarvānetānsuvistarāt

Therefore we know of only one Rudra, no other lord in any way; so tell us, O most fortunate one, of all these, in full detail.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.276.5)

सूत उवाच सत्यमेतन्महाभागा यद्भवद्भिरुदाहृतम् एक एव स्थितो रुद्रो न द्वितीयः कथंचन

sūta uvāca satyametanmahābhāgā yadbhavadbhirudāhṛtam eka eva sthito rudro na dvitīyaḥ kathaṁcana

Suta said: True is this, O most fortunate ones, which you have declared — there stands but a single Rudra, never a second.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.276.6)

परं यथा च सञ्जाता रुद्रा एकादशात्र भोः तथाहं कीर्तयिष्यामि शृणुध्वं सुसमाहिताः

paraṁ yathā ca sañjātā rudrā ekādaśātra bhoḥ tathāhaṁ kīrtayiṣyāmi śṛṇudhvaṁ susamāhitāḥ

But how eleven Rudras came to be here, good sirs, I shall now declare — listen with attentive minds.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.276.7)

वाराणस्यां पुरा संस्था मुनयः शंसितव्रताः हाटकेश्वरदेवस्य दर्शनार्थं समुत्सुकाः

vārāṇasyāṁ purā saṁsthā munayaḥ śaṁsitavratāḥ hāṭakeśvaradevasya darśanārthaṁ samutsukāḥ

Once, sages of praised vows, dwelling in Varanasi, became eager for the sight of the god Hatakeshvara.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.276.8)

प्रस्थिताः समयं कृत्वा स्पर्धमानाः परस्परम् अहंपूर्वमहं पूर्वं वीक्षयिष्यामि तं विभुम्

prasthitāḥ samayaṁ kṛtvā spardhamānāḥ parasparam ahaṁpūrvamahaṁ pūrvaṁ vīkṣayiṣyāmi taṁ vibhum

Setting out, having made a pact, competing with one another — 'I first! I first shall behold that lord!' — each declared.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.276.9)

सर्वेषामग्रतो भूत्वा पाताले हाटकेश्वरम् यश्चादौ तत्र गत्वा च नेक्षयिष्यति तं हरम् सर्वेषां श्रमजं पापं तस्यैकस्य भविष्यति

sarveṣāmagrato bhūtvā pātāle hāṭakeśvaram yaścādau tatra gatvā ca nekṣayiṣyati taṁ haram sarveṣāṁ śramajaṁ pāpaṁ tasyaikasya bhaviṣyati

'Whoever goes first, ahead of all, into the netherworld, and having gone there first, does not behold Hara — upon him alone shall fall the sin born of the effort of all the rest.'

Verse 10 (skanda.6.276.10)

एवमुक्त्वा ततः सर्वे वाराणस्यां ततः परम् प्रस्थिता धावमानाश्च वेगेन महता ततः

evamuktvā tataḥ sarve vārāṇasyāṁ tataḥ param prasthitā dhāvamānāśca vegena mahatā tataḥ

Having said this, all of them then set out from Varanasi, and ran onward with great speed.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.276.11)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे देवो हाटकेश्वरसंज्ञितः ज्ञात्वा तेषामभिप्रायं मिथः स्पर्द्धासमुद्भवम् आत्मनो दर्शनार्थाय बहुभक्तिपुरस्कृतम्

etasminnantare devo hāṭakeśvarasaṁjñitaḥ jñātvā teṣāmabhiprāyaṁ mithaḥ sparddhāsamudbhavam ātmano darśanārthāya bahubhaktipuraskṛtam

Meanwhile, the god called Hatakeshvara, knowing their intention, born of mutual rivalry over seeing him, though motivated by great devotion...

Verse 12 (skanda.6.276.12)

लघुना रक्ष्यमाणेन सर्वेषां च महात्मनाम् नागरंध्रेण निष्क्रम्य पातालाच्चैव तत्क्षणात्

laghunā rakṣyamāṇena sarveṣāṁ ca mahātmanām nāgaraṁdhreṇa niṣkramya pātālāccaiva tatkṣaṇāt

...protected by his subtlety, for the sake of all those great souls, emerged at once from the netherworld through a serpent's burrow.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.276.13)

एकादशप्रकारं स कृत्वा रूपं मनोहरम् त्रिशूलभृत्त्रिनेत्रं च कपर्देन विभूषितम्

ekādaśaprakāraṁ sa kṛtvā rūpaṁ manoharam triśūlabhṛttrinetraṁ ca kapardena vibhūṣitam

He, having made himself into eleven-fold beautiful forms, each bearing the trident, three-eyed, adorned with matted locks...

Verse 14 (skanda.6.276.14)

शशिखंडधरं चैव रुण्डमालाप्रधारकम् समं चैव स्थितस्तेषां दर्शने शंकरः प्रभुः

śaśikhaṁḍadharaṁ caiva ruṇḍamālāpradhārakam samaṁ caiva sthitasteṣāṁ darśane śaṁkaraḥ prabhuḥ

...wearing the crescent moon, bearing a garland of skulls — lord Shankara stood, all at once, equally before each of them for their sight.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.276.15)

ततस्ते वै समालोक्य पुरस्थं वृषभध्वजम् जानुभ्यां धरणीं गत्वा स्तुतिं चक्रुस्ततस्ततः

tataste vai samālokya purasthaṁ vṛṣabhadhvajam jānubhyāṁ dharaṇīṁ gatvā stutiṁ cakrustatastataḥ

Then, seeing that bull-bannered god standing before each of them, they fell upon their knees to the ground and each began to praise him.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.276.16)

एको जानाति देवोऽयं मम संदर्शनं गतः देवदेवो महादेवः प्रथमं भक्तवत्सलः

eko jānāti devo'yaṁ mama saṁdarśanaṁ gataḥ devadevo mahādevaḥ prathamaṁ bhaktavatsalaḥ

One thought: 'This god has come into my own sight — the god of gods, Mahadeva, ever loving toward his devotees, has come to me first.'

Verse 17 (skanda.6.276.17)

अन्यो जानाति मे पूर्वं जातस्ते तापसोत्तमः स्तुतिं चक्रुश्च विप्रेंद्रा जानुभ्यामवनिं गताः

anyo jānāti me pūrvaṁ jātaste tāpasottamaḥ stutiṁ cakruśca vipreṁdrā jānubhyāmavaniṁ gatāḥ

Another thought: 'He appeared to me first.' O foremost of brahmins, thus each of those excellent ascetics, having knelt to the earth, offered praise.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.276.18)

तापसा ऊचुः नमो देवाधिदेवाय सर्वदेवमयाय च नमः शांताय सूक्ष्माय नमश्चांधकभेदिने

tāpasā ūcuḥ namo devādhidevāya sarvadevamayāya ca namaḥ śāṁtāya sūkṣmāya namaścāṁdhakabhedine

The ascetics said: 'Salutation to the god of gods, and to him who is the essence of all gods; salutation to the peaceful one, the subtle one; salutation to the slayer of Andhaka.'

Verse 19 (skanda.6.276.19)

नमोऽस्तु सर्वरुद्रेभ्यो ये दिवं संश्रिताः सदा जीवापयंति जगतीं वायुभिश्च पृथग्विधैः

namo'stu sarvarudrebhyo ye divaṁ saṁśritāḥ sadā jīvāpayaṁti jagatīṁ vāyubhiśca pṛthagvidhaiḥ

'Salutation to all the Rudras who ever dwell in the sky, who sustain the life of the world through the various winds.'

Verse 20 (skanda.6.276.20)

नमोऽस्तु सर्वरुद्रेभ्यो ये स्थिता वारुणीं दिशम् रक्षंति सर्वलोकांश्च पिशाचानां दुरात्मनाम्

namo'stu sarvarudrebhyo ye sthitā vāruṇīṁ diśam rakṣaṁti sarvalokāṁśca piśācānāṁ durātmanām

'Salutation to all the Rudras who dwell in the direction of Varuna, who protect all the worlds from the wicked pishachas.'

Verse 21 (skanda.6.276.21)

नमोऽस्तु सर्वरुद्रेभ्यो दिशमूर्ध्वं समाश्रिताः रक्षंति सकलांल्लोकान्भूतार्नां जंभकाद्भयात्

namo'stu sarvarudrebhyo diśamūrdhvaṁ samāśritāḥ rakṣaṁti sakalāṁllokānbhūtārnāṁ jaṁbhakādbhayāt

'Salutation to all the Rudras who dwell in the upward direction, who protect all the worlds from the fear of the Jambhaka spirits among the bhutas.'

Verse 22 (skanda.6.276.22)

नमोऽस्तु सर्वरुद्रेभ्यो येऽध ऊर्ध्वं समाश्रिताः रक्षंति सकलांल्लोकान्कूष्मांडानां भयात्सदा

namo'stu sarvarudrebhyo ye'dha ūrdhvaṁ samāśritāḥ rakṣaṁti sakalāṁllokānkūṣmāṁḍānāṁ bhayātsadā

'Salutation to all the Rudras who dwell both below and above, who ever protect all the worlds from the fear of the Kushmandas.'

Verse 23 (skanda.6.276.23)

असंख्याताः सहस्राणि ये रुद्रा भूमिमाश्रिताः नमस्तेभ्योऽपि सर्वेभ्यस्तेषां रक्षंति ये रुजः

asaṁkhyātāḥ sahasrāṇi ye rudrā bhūmimāśritāḥ namastebhyo'pi sarvebhyasteṣāṁ rakṣaṁti ye rujaḥ

'To the countless thousands of Rudras who dwell upon the earth, salutation to all of them too, who guard against every disease.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.276.24)

एवं स्तुतास्तु ते रुद्रा एकादशतपस्विभिः एकादशापि तान्प्रोचुर्भक्तिनम्रांस्तु तापसान्

evaṁ stutāstu te rudrā ekādaśatapasvibhiḥ ekādaśāpi tānprocurbhaktinamrāṁstu tāpasān

Thus praised by the eleven ascetics, those eleven Rudras spoke to those ascetics, bowed low in devotion.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.276.25)

रुद्रा ऊचुः एकादशप्रकारोऽहं तुष्टो वस्तापसोत्तमाः बहुभक्त्यतिरेकेण व्रियतां च यथेप्सितम्

rudrā ūcuḥ ekādaśaprakāro'haṁ tuṣṭo vastāpasottamāḥ bahubhaktyatirekeṇa vriyatāṁ ca yathepsitam

The Rudras said: 'I, in this eleven-fold form, am pleased with you, O best of ascetics, by your abundance of devotion; choose whatever you desire.'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.276.26)

तापसा ऊचुः यदि तुष्टोसि नो देव यदि यच्छसि वांछितम् एकादशप्रकारैस्तु सदा स्थेयमिहैव तु

tāpasā ūcuḥ yadi tuṣṭosi no deva yadi yacchasi vāṁchitam ekādaśaprakāraistu sadā stheyamihaiva tu

The ascetics said: 'If you are pleased with us, O god, and if you would grant our desire — then remain always, right here, in these very eleven forms.'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.276.27)

हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे सर्वतीर्थमये शुभे आराधनं प्रकुर्वाणा वसामो येन वै वयम्

hāṭakeśvaraje kṣetre sarvatīrthamaye śubhe ārādhanaṁ prakurvāṇā vasāmo yena vai vayam

'...here in the auspicious field of Hatakeshvara, comprising every sacred tirtha, so that we ourselves may dwell here, performing your worship.'

Verse 28 (skanda.6.276.28)

श्रीभगवानुवाच एकादशप्रकारा या मूर्तयो निर्मिता मया एताभिरेव सर्वाभिः स्थास्याम्यत्र सदैव हि

śrībhagavānuvāca ekādaśaprakārā yā mūrtayo nirmitā mayā etābhireva sarvābhiḥ sthāsyāmyatra sadaiva hi

Glorious lord said: 'These eleven-fold forms which I have made — in all of them together I shall abide here forever.'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.276.29)

आद्या तु मम या मूर्तिः सा कैलासं समाश्रिता संतिष्ठति सदैवात्र कैलासे पर्वतोत्तमे

ādyā tu mama yā mūrtiḥ sā kailāsaṁ samāśritā saṁtiṣṭhati sadaivātra kailāse parvatottame

'My first form dwells upon Kailasa, remaining forever there, on Kailasa, the best of mountains.'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.276.30)

एतास्तु मूर्तयोऽस्माकं स्थास्यंत्यत्रैव सर्वदा सर्वेषामेव लोकानां हिताय द्विजसत्तमाः

etāstu mūrtayo'smākaṁ sthāsyaṁtyatraiva sarvadā sarveṣāmeva lokānāṁ hitāya dvijasattamāḥ

'O foremost of brahmins, these forms of mine shall remain here forever, for the welfare of all the worlds.'

Verse 31 (skanda.6.276.31)

नामभिश्च क्रमेणैव युष्मदीयैः स्वयं द्विजाः विश्वामित्रह्रदे स्नात्वा एता मूर्तीर्ममात्र वै पूजयिष्यंति ये मर्त्यास्ते यास्यंति परां गतिम्

nāmabhiśca krameṇaiva yuṣmadīyaiḥ svayaṁ dvijāḥ viśvāmitrahrade snātvā etā mūrtīrmamātra vai pūjayiṣyaṁti ye martyāste yāsyaṁti parāṁ gatim

'O brahmins, in due order, by your own very names — whatever mortals, having bathed in the Vishvamitra pool, shall worship these forms of mine here, they shall attain the supreme goal.'

Verse 32 (skanda.6.276.32)

किं वाचा बहुनोक्तेन भूयोभूयो द्विजोत्तमाः या तासां क्रियते पूजा एकादशगुणा भवेत्

kiṁ vācā bahunoktena bhūyobhūyo dvijottamāḥ yā tāsāṁ kriyate pūjā ekādaśaguṇā bhavet

'O best of brahmins, what use is much repeated speech? Whatever worship is performed to them becomes elevenfold in its fruit.'

Verse 33 (skanda.6.276.33)

एवमुक्त्वा त्रिनेत्रस्तु तत्रैवादर्शनं गतः तेऽपि तत्राश्रमं कृत्वा श्रद्धया परया युताः मूर्तीश्च ताः समाराध्य संप्राप्ताः परमं पदम्

evamuktvā trinetrastu tatraivādarśanaṁ gataḥ te'pi tatrāśramaṁ kṛtvā śraddhayā parayā yutāḥ mūrtīśca tāḥ samārādhya saṁprāptāḥ paramaṁ padam

Having said this, the three-eyed god vanished from sight right there. They too, having made their hermitages there, filled with supreme faith, worshipped those forms and attained the supreme state.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.276.34)

अन्योऽपि यः पुमांस्ताश्च आराधयति श्रद्धया स याति परमं स्थानं यत्र देवो महेश्वरः

anyo'pi yaḥ pumāṁstāśca ārādhayati śraddhayā sa yāti paramaṁ sthānaṁ yatra devo maheśvaraḥ

Whatever other man too worships those forms with faith, he goes to that supreme abode where the god Maheshvara dwells.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.276.35)

ततः प्रभृति ते जाता रुद्रा एकादशैव तु संख्यया देवदेवस्य महेश्वरवपुर्धराः

tataḥ prabhṛti te jātā rudrā ekādaśaiva tu saṁkhyayā devadevasya maheśvaravapurdharāḥ

From that time onward, those eleven Rudras came to be — in number eleven, bearing the very form of the great god of gods.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.276.36)

तेजोत्तमास्ते संयुक्तास्त्रिनेत्राः शूलपाणयः एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽस्मि द्विजोत्तमाः

tejottamāste saṁyuktāstrinetrāḥ śūlapāṇayaḥ etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ yatpṛṣṭo'smi dvijottamāḥ

O foremost of brahmins, endowed with supreme radiance, three-eyed, trident-bearing — thus all has been told to you, what you had asked me.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.276.37)

एकादशप्रकारस्तु यथा जातो महेश्वरः चैत्रे मासि सिते पक्षे चतुर्दश्यां दिने स्थिते

ekādaśaprakārastu yathā jāto maheśvaraḥ caitre māsi site pakṣe caturdaśyāṁ dine sthite

Just as the great lord came to be in this elevenfold form, so too, on the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra...

Verse 38 (skanda.6.276.38)

यस्तान्पूजयते भक्त्या स याति परमां गतिम् अधनो धनमाप्नोति ह्यपुत्रः पुत्रवान्भवेत्

yastānpūjayate bhaktyā sa yāti paramāṁ gatim adhano dhanamāpnoti hyaputraḥ putravānbhavet

...whoever worships them with devotion attains the supreme destination; the poor man gains wealth, the sonless man gains a son.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.276.39)

सरोगो रोगमुक्तस्तु पराभूतो रिपुक्षयम् तत्समाराधनादेव कामानंत्यमवाप्नुयात्

sarogo rogamuktastu parābhūto ripukṣayam tatsamārādhanādeva kāmānaṁtyamavāpnuyāt

The diseased man becomes free of disease; the defeated man achieves the destruction of his enemies; by that very worship, one attains endless desires.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.276.40)

यः पुनः शिवदीक्षाढ्यो भस्मस्नानपरायणः तत्समाराधनं कुर्याच्छृणु तस्यापि यत्फलम्

yaḥ punaḥ śivadīkṣāḍhyo bhasmasnānaparāyaṇaḥ tatsamārādhanaṁ kuryācchṛṇu tasyāpi yatphalam

And whoever, endowed with Shiva-initiation and devoted to bathing in ash, performs that worship — hear what fruit is his as well.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.276.41)

यदन्यः प्राप्नुयान्मर्त्यस्तत्पूजासंभवं फलम् षडक्षरेण मंत्रेण पुष्पेणैकेन तत्फलम्

yadanyaḥ prāpnuyānmartyastatpūjāsaṁbhavaṁ phalam ṣaḍakṣareṇa maṁtreṇa puṣpeṇaikena tatphalam

Whatever fruit an ordinary mortal obtains from that worship, that same fruit comes from a single flower offered with the six-syllable mantra.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.276.42)

शिवदीक्षाधरो यस्तु शतघ्नं लभते फलम् तस्माच्छतघ्नमाप्नोति शैवात्पाशुपतश्च यः तस्मात्कालमुखो यश्च महाव्रतधरश्च यः

śivadīkṣādharo yastu śataghnaṁ labhate phalam tasmācchataghnamāpnoti śaivātpāśupataśca yaḥ tasmātkālamukho yaśca mahāvratadharaśca yaḥ

Whoever holds Shiva-initiation obtains a hundredfold fruit; beyond that, the Pashupata devotee obtains a hundredfold more than the ordinary Shaiva; beyond that, the Kalamukha; and beyond that, the one who bears the great vow.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.276.43)

मूर्तीर्यास्ताश्च ये भक्त्या विनताः पूजयंति च सर्वेषामेव तेषां तु फलं शतगुणं भवेत्

mūrtīryāstāśca ye bhaktyā vinatāḥ pūjayaṁti ca sarveṣāmeva teṣāṁ tu phalaṁ śataguṇaṁ bhavet

And whoever, bowed down in devotion, worships those forms — for all of them, the fruit becomes a hundredfold.