Adhyaya 35

Verse 1

इति श्रीकूर्मपुराणे षट्साहस्त्र्यां संहितायामुपरिविभागे चतुस्त्रिंशो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच अन्यत् पवित्रं विपुलं तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् / रुद्रकोटिरिति ख्यातं रुद्रस्य परमेष्ठिनः

Thus, in the Śrī Kūrma Purāṇa—within the six-thousand-verse compendium, in the latter division—ends the thirty-fourth chapter. Sūta said: “There is yet another sacred and expansive tīrtha, renowned throughout the three worlds, known as Rudrakoṭi, belonging to Rudra, the supreme Lord.”

Verse 2

पुरा पुण्यतमे काले देवदर्शनतत्पराः / कोटिब्रह्मर्षयो दान्तास्तं देशमगमन् परम्

In ancient times, during a most sacred age, countless crores of Brahmarishis—self-controlled and disciplined, intent upon the vision of the Gods—went to that supreme holy region.

Verse 3

अहं द्रक्ष्यामि गिरिशं पूर्वमेव पिनाकिनम् / अन्यो ऽन्यं भक्तियुक्तानां व्याघातो जायते किल

“I shall behold Girīśa—Pinākin (Śiva who bears the bow Pināka)—first of all. For it is said that, among those devoted in bhakti, one may obstruct another in their eager approach.”

Verse 4

तेषां भक्तिं तदा दृष्ट्वा गिरिशो योगिनां गुरुः / कोटिरूपो ऽभवद् रुद्रो रुद्रकोटिस्ततः स्मृतः

Seeing their devotion at that time, Girīśa—Rudra, the guru of yogins—assumed a form of a koṭi, innumerable manifestations. Therefore he is remembered as “Rudra-koṭi,” the Rudra of countless forms.

Verse 5

ते स्म सर्वे महादेवं हरं गिरिगुहाशयम् / पश्यन्तः पार्वतीनाथं हृष्टपुष्टधियो ऽभवन्

Then all of them, beholding Mahādeva—Hara, the dweller in the mountain-cave, the Lord of Pārvatī—became inwardly delighted, their minds uplifted and strengthened.

Verse 6

अनाद्यन्तं महादेवं पूर्वमेवाहमीश्वरम् / दृष्टवानिति भक्त्या ते रुद्रन्यस्तधियो ऽभवन्

“I have already beheld the beginningless and endless Mahādeva—the Lord, Īśvara.” Thus, through devotion, they became those whose minds were wholly entrusted to Rudra.

Verse 7

अथान्तरिक्षे विमलं पश्यन्ति स्म महत्तरम् / ज्योतिस्तत्रैव ते सर्वे ऽभिलषन्तः परं पदम्

Then, in the mid-space, they beheld a vast, stainless radiance; and there itself, all of them—longing for the Supreme State—fixed their aspiration upon that highest abode.

Verse 8

एतत् सदेशाध्युषितं तीर्थं पुण्यतमं शुभम् / दृष्ट्वा रुद्रं समभ्यर्च्य रुद्रसामीप्यमाप्नुयात्

This holy ford—dwelt in by the good and the virtuous—is most sacred and auspicious. Having beheld Rudra here and worshipped him with due reverence, one attains proximity to Rudra (Rudra-sāmīpya).

Verse 9

अन्यच्च तीर्थप्रवरं नाम्ना मधुवनं स्मृतम् / तत्र गत्वा नियमवानिन्द्रस्यार्धासनं लभेत्

And there is yet another foremost sacred ford known as Madhuvana. Having gone there, a disciplined pilgrim who observes the prescribed restraints attains half the seat of Indra—that is, a share of heavenly dignity.

Verse 10

अथान्यत्पुष्पनगरी देशः पुण्यतमः शुभः / तत्र गत्वा पितॄन् पूज्य कुलानां तारयेच्छतम्

Next, there is another holy region called Puṣpanagarī—most meritorious and auspicious. By going there and worshipping the Pitṛs (ancestral spirits), one may deliver a hundred generations of one’s lineage.

Verse 11

कालञ्जरं महातीर्थं लोके रुद्रो महेश्वरः / कालं जरितवान् देवो यत्र भक्तिप्रियो हरः

Kālañjara is famed in the world as a great tīrtha, a mighty sacred ford; there Rudra—Maheśvara, the Great Lord—wore down and overcame Kāla, Time itself. In that place the divine Hara, who is dear to bhakti, is especially pleased with devotees.

Verse 12

श्वेतो नाम शिवे भक्तो राजर्षिप्रवरः पुरा / तदाशीस्तन्नमस्कारः पूजयामास शूलिनम्

In ancient times there was a foremost royal sage named Śveta, devoted to Śiva. With blessings and reverent salutations, he worshipped Śūlin, the Trident-bearing Lord.

Verse 13

संस्थाप्य विधिना लिङ्गं भक्तियोगपुरः सरः / जजाप रुद्रमनिशं तत्र संन्यस्तमानसः

Having duly installed the liṅga according to the prescribed rite, beside that lake made eminent by bhakti‑yoga, he ceaselessly recited the Rudra‑mantra there, his mind wholly surrendered and fixed in the Lord.

Verse 14

स तं कालो ऽथ दीप्तात्मा शूलमादाय भीषणम् / नेतुमभ्यागतो देशं स राजा यत्र तिष्ठति

Then Kāla—Time itself, radiant in power—took up a dreadful spear and came to the place where that king was staying, intending to carry him away.

Verse 15

वीक्ष्य राजा भयाविष्टः शूलहस्तं समागतम् / कालं कालकरं घोरं भीषणं चण्डदीधितिम्

Seeing him arrive—Kāla, Time‑Death, dreadful and death‑dealing, with a trident in his hand and blazing with fierce radiance—the king was seized by fear.

Verse 16

उबाभ्यामथ हस्ताभ्यां स्पृट्वासौ लिङ्गमैश्वरम् / ननाम शिरसा रुद्रं जजाप शतरुद्रियम्

Then, touching with both hands the sovereign liṅga of Īśvara, he bowed his head to Rudra and recited the sacred Śatarudrīya hymn.

Verse 17

जपन्तमाह राजानं नमन्तमसकृद् भवम् / एह्येहीति पुरः स्थित्वा कृतान्तः प्रहसन्निव

As the king kept reciting and repeatedly bowing to Bhava (Śiva), Kṛtānta—Death himself—stood before him and, as if with a mocking smile, said, “Come, come!”

Verse 18

तमुवाच भयाविष्टो राजा रुद्रपरायणः / एकमीशार्चनरतं विहायान्यं निषूदय

Gripped by fear, the king—wholly devoted to Rudra—said: “Spare the one absorbed in the Lord’s worship; strike down the other.”

Verse 19

इत्युक्तवन्तं भगवानब्रवीद् भीतमानसम् / रुद्रार्चनरतो वान्यो मद्वशे को न तिष्ठति

Thus addressed, the Blessed Lord spoke to him whose mind was afraid: “Whether one is devoted to Rudra’s worship or to anything else—who does not remain under My governance?”

Verse 20

एवमुक्त्वा स राजानं कालो लोकप्रकालनः / बबन्ध पाशै राजापि जजाप शतरुद्रियम्

Having spoken thus, Kāla—the regulator of the worlds—bound the king with his nooses; yet the king even then continued to recite the Śatarudrīya.

Verse 21

अथान्तरिक्षे विमलं दीप्यमानं तेजोराशिं भूतभर्तुः पुराणम् / ज्वालामालासंवृतं व्याप्य विश्वं प्रादुर्भूतं संस्थितं संददर्श

Then, in the mid-sky, he beheld a pure, blazing mass of radiance—the primordial splendor of the Sustainer of beings—encircled by garlands of flame, pervading the universe, suddenly manifested and standing firm.

Verse 22

तन्मध्ये ऽसौ पुरुषं रुक्मवर्णं देव्या देवं चन्द्रलेखोज्ज्वलाङ्गम् / तेजोरूपं पश्यति स्मातिहृष्टो मेने चास्मन्नाथ आगच्छतीति

There, in the midst of it, he beheld a Person of golden hue—the God together with the Goddess—whose limbs shone like a streak of moonlight. Seeing that luminous form, he became exceedingly delighted and thought, “Surely our Lord is coming (to us).”

Verse 23

आगच्छन्तं नातिदूरे ऽथ दृष्ट्वा कालो रुद्रं देवदेव्या महेशम् / व्यपेतभीरखिलेशैकनाथं राजर्षिस्तं नेतुमभ्याजगाम

Then Kāla, seeing Rudra—Maheśa, the great Lord and consort of the Goddess of gods—approaching not far away, fearless and the sole sovereign of all rulers, the royal sage went forward to escort him.

Verse 24

आलोक्यासौ भगवानुग्रकर्मा देवो रुद्रो भूतभर्ता पुराणः / एकं भक्तं मत्परं मां स्मरन्तं देहीतीमं कालमूचे ममेति

Beholding him, that Blessed Lord—Rudra, of awe-inspiring deeds, the ancient supporter of all beings—spoke at that very moment: “Give him to me—this single devotee, wholly devoted to me, who remembers me.”

Verse 25

श्रुत्वा वाख्यं गोपतेरुग्रभावः कालात्मासौ मन्यमानः स्वभावम् / बद्ध्वा भक्तं पुनरेवाथ पाशैः क्रुद्धो रुद्रमभिदुद्राव वेगात्

Hearing the words of the Lord of beings (Gopati), that fierce one—whose very essence was Time—deemed his own nature to be supreme. Then, binding the devotee once again with his nooses, he rushed in anger toward Rudra with great speed.

Verse 26

प्रेक्ष्यायान्तं शैलपुत्रीमथेशः सो ऽन्वीक्ष्यान्ते विश्वमायाविधिज्ञः / सावज्ञं वै वामपादेन मृत्युं श्वेतस्यैनं पश्यतो व्याजघान

Then Īśa (Śiva)—knower of the workings of the world’s māyā—beheld Śailaputrī (Pārvatī) drawing near. Casting his glance, he disdainfully struck down Death itself (Mṛtyu) with his left foot, as Śveta looked on.

Verse 27

ममार सो ऽतिभीषणो महेशपादघातितः / रराज देवतापतिः सहोमया पिनाकधृक्

Struck by the blow of Mahādeva’s foot, that exceedingly dreadful one perished. Then the Lord of the gods—Śiva, bearer of the Pināka—shone forth in splendor together with Umā.

Verse 28

निरीक्ष्य देवमीश्वरं प्रहृष्टमानसो हरम् / ननाम साम्बमव्ययं स राजपुङ्गवस्तदा

Beholding Hara—God, the sovereign Īśvara—the foremost of kings, his heart filled with joy, then bowed down to Sāmbā, the imperishable One.

Verse 29

नमो भवाय हेतवे हराय विश्वसंभवे / नमः शिवाय धीमते नमो ऽपवर्गदायिने

Salutations to Bhava, the primal Cause; to Hara, the source from whom the universe arises. Salutations to Śiva, the wise and radiant One; salutations to the giver of apavarga—final liberation.

Verse 30

नमो नमो नमो ऽस्तु ते महाविभूतये नमः / विभागहीनरूपिणे नमो नराधिपाय ते

Salutations, salutations, salutations to You; salutations to Your boundless majesty. Salutations to You whose form is beyond all divisions; salutations to You, the Sovereign Lord of all beings.

Verse 31

नमो ऽस्तु ते गणेश्वर प्रपन्नदुः खनाशन / अनादिनित्यभूतये वराहशृङ्गधारिणे

Salutations to You, O Lord of the Gaṇas, destroyer of the sorrow of those who take refuge. Salutations to You whose being is beginningless and eternal, who bears the boar’s horn (Varāha) as a sacred emblem.

Verse 32

नमो वृषध्वजाय ते कपालमालिने नमः / नमो महानटाय ते नमो वृषध्वजाय ते

Salutations to You, O Bull-bannered Lord; salutations to You, wearer of a garland of skulls. Salutations to You, the Great Cosmic Dancer; salutations again to You, O Bull-bannered One.

Verse 33

अथानुगृह्य शङ्करः प्रणामतत्परं नृपम् / स्वगाणपत्यमव्ययं सरूपतामथो ददौ

Then Śaṅkara, having shown favor, granted that king—intent on prostration—imperishable membership in his own gaṇas, and also likeness of form to himself.

Verse 34

सहोमया सपार्षदः सराजपुङ्गवो हरः / मुनीशसिद्धवन्दितः क्षणाददृश्यतामगात्

Accompanied by Umā and attended by his retinue, Hara—foremost among kings—having been revered by great sages and siddhas, vanished from sight in an instant.

Verse 35

काले महेशाभिहते लोकनाथः पितामहः / अयाचत वरं रुद्रं सजीवो ऽयं भवत्विति

When Mahādeva had struck down Kāla, the Grandfather Brahmā—the Lord of the worlds—requested a boon from Rudra: “May this one become living again.”

Verse 36

नास्ति कश्चिदपीशान दोषलेशो वृषध्वज / कृतान्तस्यैव भवता तत्कार्ये विनियोजितः

O Īśāna, O Lord whose banner is the Bull—there is not even the slightest taint of fault in you. Kṛtānta (Time/Death) Himself has appointed you to carry out His work.

Verse 37

स देवदेववचनाद् देवदेवेश्वरो हरः / तथास्त्वित्याह विश्वात्मा सो ऽपि तादृग्विधो ऽभवत्

At the word of the gods, Hara—Lord of the lords of the gods—was moved to act. The All-Self replied, “So be it,” and he too became of that very form (as intended).

Verse 38

इत्येतत् परमं तीर्थं कालञ्जरमिति श्रुतम् / गत्वाभ्यर्च्य महादेवं गाणपत्यं स विन्दति

Thus it is heard that this is the supreme sacred ford called Kālañjara. Having gone there and worshipped Mahādeva, one attains the status of being among Śiva’s attendants, the Gaṇas.