Adhyaya 21: The Disruption of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice, the Hari–Hara Conflict, and the Establishment of Rudra’s Sacrificial Share

Verse 1

महातपा उवाच । पूर्वं प्रजापतिर्देवः सिसृक्षुर्विविधाः प्रजाः । चिन्तयामास धर्मात्मा यदा ता नाध्यगच्छत ॥ २१.२ ॥

Mahātapā said: Formerly, when the divine Prajāpati, wishing to create diverse beings, could not bring them forth, that righteous-minded one reflected deeply.

Verse 2

तदाऽस्य कोपात्संजज्ञे स च रुद्रः प्रतापवान् । रोदनात्तस्य रुद्रत्वं संजातं परमेष्ठिनः ॥ २१.३ ॥

Then, from his anger, Rudra arose, radiant with power. Because of his crying (rodana), the name and state “Rudra” came to be for him, brought forth by Parameṣṭhin, the supreme progenitor.

Verse 3

तस्य ब्रह्मा शुभां कन्यां भार्यार्थं मूर्त्तिसम्भवाम् । गौरी नाम्ना स्वयं देवी भारती तां ददौ पिता ॥ २१.४ ॥

For him, Brahmā as father gave as wife a virtuous daughter born of Mūrti. That goddess herself, named Gaurī, was bestowed by her father Bhāratī.

Verse 4

रुद्रायामितदेहाय स्वयं ब्रह्मा प्रजापतिः । स तां लब्ध्वा वरारोहां मुदा परमया युतः ॥ २१.५ ॥

Prajāpati Brahmā himself bestowed her upon Rudra of immeasurable form. Having obtained that noble, fair-limbed woman, he was filled with the highest joy.

Verse 5

सर्गकालेषु तं ब्रह्मा तपसा प्रत्युवाच ह । रुद्र प्रजाः सृजस्वेति पौनःपुन्येन चोदितः । असमर्थोऽहमिति जले निमज्जत महाबलः ॥ २१.६ ॥

At the times of creation, Brahmā addressed him by the power of austerity. Repeatedly urged, “Rudra, create the beings,” the mighty one replied, “I am not able,” and submerged into the waters.

Verse 6

तपोऽर्थित्वं तपोहीनः स्रष्टुं शक्नोति न प्रजाः । एवं चिन्त्य जले मग्नस्ततो रुद्रः प्रतापवान् ॥ २१.७ ॥

One who lacks ascetic discipline, though desiring the fruits of austerity, cannot create living beings. Reflecting thus, the powerful Rudra immersed himself in the waters.

Verse 7

तस्मिन् निमग्ने देवेशे तां ब्रह्मा कन्यकां पुनः । अन्तःशरीरगां कृत्वा गौरीं परमशोभनाम् ॥ २१.८ ॥

When the Lord of the gods had sunk into that state, Brahmā once again caused that maiden to enter within his body, making her Gaurī, supremely resplendent.

Verse 8

पुनः सिसृक्षुर्भगवानसृजत् सप्त मानसान् । दक्षं च तेषामारभ्य प्रजाः सम्यग्व्यवर्धिताः ॥ २१.९ ॥

Then, desiring to create again, the Blessed Lord produced seven mind-born beings; and beginning with Dakṣa among them, the progeny increased properly and in due order.

Verse 9

तत्र दाक्षायणीपुत्राः सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः । वसवोऽष्टौ च रुद्राश्च आदित्या मरुतस्तथा ॥ २१.१० ॥

There, all the gods—together with Indra—are described as the sons of Dakṣāyaṇī: the eight Vasus, the Rudras, the Ādityas, and likewise the Maruts.

Verse 10

सा अपि दक्षाय सुष्रोणी गौरी दत्ताथ ब्रह्मणा । दुहितृत्वे पुरा या हि रुद्रेणोढा महात्मना ॥ २१.११ ॥

She too—Gaurī, the fair-hipped one—was then given by Brahmā to Dakṣa as a daughter; she who, in former times, in the station of a daughter, had been wedded to Rudra, the great-souled.

Verse 11

सा च दाक्षायणी देवी पुनर्भूता नृपोत्तम । ततो दक्षः प्रहृष्टात्मा दौहित्रान् स्वान् स वृद्धिकृत् । दृष्ट्वा यज्ञम् अथारेभे प्रीणनाय प्रजापतिः ॥ २१.१२ ॥

And that goddess, Dakṣāyaṇī, was born again, O best of kings. Then Dakṣa, his heart delighted, seeing his own grandsons and becoming the promoter of their increase, began a sacrificial rite (yajña), the Prajāpati intending to bring satisfaction.

Verse 12

तत्र ब्रह्मसुताः सर्वे मरीच्यादय एव च । चक्रुरार्त्त्विज्यकं कर्म स्वे स्वे मार्गे व्यवस्थिताः ॥ २१.१३ ॥

There, all the sons of Brahmā—Marīci and the others as well—performed the priestly duties (ṛtvij) of the rite, each established in his own respective ritual path and discipline.

Verse 13

ब्रह्मा स्वयं मरीच्यस्तु बभूव अन्ये तथापरे । अत्रिस्तु यज्ञकर्मस्थ आग्नीध्रस्त्वङ्गिरा भवत् ॥ २१.१४ ॥

Brahmā himself was present there; Marīci likewise, and so too other eminent ones. Atri was engaged in the sacrificial work, and Aṅgiras became the Āgnīdhra, the keeper of the sacred fire.

Verse 14

होता पुलस्त्यस्त्वभवदुद्गाता पुलहोऽभवत् । क्रतौ क्रतुस् तु प्रस्तोता तदा यज्ञे महातपाः ॥ २१.१५ ॥

Pulastya served as the Hotṛ, the invoking priest, and Pulaha became the Udgātṛ, the chanter. In that sacrifice, Kratu served as the Prastotṛ, the pre-chanter; thus did those great ascetics officiate in the rite.

Verse 15

प्रतिहर्ता प्रचेतास्तु तस्मिन् क्रतुवरे बभौ । सुब्रह्मण्यो वसिष्ठस्तु सनकाद्याः सभासदः । तत्र याज्यः स्वयं ब्रह्मा स च इज्यस्तु पूज्यते ॥ २१.१६ ॥

In that excellent sacrificial rite, Pracetas appeared as the officiant who responds to the ritual summons. Vasiṣṭha served as the Subrahmaṇya priest, and Sanaka and the others were present as members of the assembly. There, Brahmā himself was the deity to whom the oblations were offered; and he, as the one worthy of worship, was duly honored.

Verse 16

पूज्या दक्षस्य दौहित्रा रुद्रादित्या ङ्गिरादयः । प्रत्यक्शपितरस्ते हि तैः प्रीतैः प्रीयते जगत् ॥ २१.१७ ॥

Worthy of honor are the grandsons of Dakṣa—the Rudras, the Ādityas, the Aṅgirases, and others. For they are indeed the manifest progenitors; when they are pleased, the world is thereby gladdened.

Verse 17

तत्र भागार्थिनो देवा आदित्या वसवस्तथा । विश्वेदेवाः सपितरो गन्धर्वाद्या मरुद्गणाः ॥ २१.१८ ॥

There, the gods seeking their allotted share—namely the Ādityas and likewise the Vasus, the Viśvedevas together with the ancestral fathers (Pitṛs), as well as the Gandharvas and other such beings, and the hosts of the Maruts—were assembled.

Verse 18

जग्रिहुर्यज्ञभागान् स्वान् यावत् ते हविषोर्पितान् । तावत्कालं जलात् सद्य उत्तस्थौ ब्रह्मणः पुनः ॥ २१.१९ ॥

They received their own allotted portions of the sacrifice as long as the oblations were offered. For that duration, Brahmā at once rose up again from the waters.

Verse 19

रुद्रः कोपोद्भवो यस्तु पूर्वं मग्नो महाजले । स सहस्रार्कसंकाशो निष्चक्राम जलात् ततः ॥ २१.२० ॥

Rudra—who arose from wrath—had earlier been submerged in the great waters; then, radiant like a thousand suns, he emerged from the water.

Verse 20

सर्वज्ञाणमयो देवः सर्वदेवमयोऽमलः । प्रत्यक्षदर्शी सर्वस्य जगतस्तपसा बभौ ॥ २१.२१ ॥

The Deity—made of all knowledge, embodying all the gods, and stainless—shone forth through the power of tapas, directly beholding the whole of the world.

Verse 21

तस्मिंस्तु काले पञ्चानां जातः सर्गो नरोत्तम । दिव्यानां पृथिवीस्थानां चतुर्णामरजातिनाम् ॥ २१.२२ ॥

At that time, O best of men, the fivefold creation (sarga) arose: that of the divine beings, that of those dwelling upon the earth, and that of four groups belonging to the ‘Ara’ lineage/class.

Verse 22

रौद्रसर्गस्य सम्भूतिस्तदा सद्योऽपि जायते । इदानीं रुद्रसर्गं त्वं शृणु पार्थिवसत्तम ॥ २१.२३ ॥

The arising of the Raudra-creation (Raudra-sarga) occurs at that time, even at once. Now, O best of earthly kings, listen to the account of the Rudra-creation (Rudra-sarga).

Verse 23

दशवर्षसहस्राणि तपश्चीर्त्वा महज्जले । प्रतिबुद्धो यदा रुद्रस्तदा चोर्वीं सकाननाम् । दृष्ट्वा सस्यवतीं रम्यां मनुष्यपशुसंकुलाम् ॥ २१.२४ ॥

After practicing tapas for ten thousand years in the great waters, when Rudra awoke, he beheld the earth with its forests—abundant in crops, beautiful, and filled with humans and animals.

Verse 24

शुश्राव च तदा शब्दानृत्विजां दक्षसद्मनि । आश्रमे यज्ञिनां चोच्चैर्योगस्थैरिति कीर्तितम् ॥ २१.२५ ॥

Then he heard the sounds of the officiating priests (ṛtvij) within Dakṣa’s residence; and in the hermitage of the sacrificers it was proclaimed aloud by those abiding in yogic composure.

Verse 25

ततः श्रुत्वा महातेजाः सर्वज्ञः परमेश्वरः । चुकोप सुभृशं देवो वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह ॥ २१.२६ ॥

Then, having heard those words, the supremely radiant one—the all-knowing, highest Lord—became intensely angered; and the god spoke this statement.

Verse 26

अहं पूर्वं तु कविना सृष्टः सर्वात्मना विभुः । प्रजाः सृजस्वेति तदा वाक्यमेतत् तथोक्तवान् ॥ २१.२७ ॥

“Formerly, I—the all-pervading lord—was brought forth by the Sage (the Poet-Creator) with his whole being; and at that time he spoke this very instruction: ‘Create the living beings.’”

Verse 27

इदानीं केन तत्कर्म कृतं सृष्ट्यादिवर्णनम् । एवमुक्त्वा भृशं कोपान्ननाद परमेश्वरः ॥ २१.२८ ॥

“By whom has that act now been carried out—this account describing creation and the beginning (of the cosmos)?” Having spoken thus, the Supreme Lord, from intense anger, roared.

Verse 28

तस्य नानदतो ज्वालाः श्रोत्रेभ्यो निर्ययुस्तदा । तत्र भूतानि वेतालाः उच्छ्रुष्माः प्रेतपूतनाः ॥ २१.२९ ॥

As he roared, flames then burst forth from his ears. There appeared there beings such as bhūtas and vetālas, along with ucchruṣmās, pretas, and pūtanās.

Verse 29

कूष्माण्डा यातुधानाश्च सर्वे प्रज्वलिताननाः । उत्तस्थुः कोटिशस्तत्र नानाप्रहरणावृताः ॥ २१.३० ॥

There, the kūṣmāṇḍas and the yātudhānas—all with blazing faces—rose up in tens of millions, equipped with weapons of many kinds.

Verse 30

ते दृिष्ट्वा भूतसङ्घाता विविधायुधपाणयः । ससर्ज वेदविद्याङ्गं रथं परमशोभनम् ॥ २१.३१ ॥

Seeing the assembled hosts of beings, bearing weapons of many kinds, he brought forth a supremely splendid chariot, furnished with Vedic knowledge and its ancillary disciplines.

Verse 31

तस्मिन्नृगादयस्त्वश्वास्त्रितत्त्वं च त्रिवेणुकम् । त्रिपूजकं त्रिषवणं धर्माक्षं मारुतध्वनिम् ॥ २१.३२ ॥

Therein are found sacred designations such as Ṛga and others; also Aśvāstri; tri-tattva (“the three principles”); tri-veṇuka (“the three streams”); tri-pūjaka (“threefold worship”); tri-savana (“thrice daily”); Dharmākṣa; and Mārutadhvani, “the sound of the wind.”

Verse 32

अहोरात्रे पताके द्वे धर्माधर्मे तु दण्डके । शकटं सर्वविद्याश्च स्वयं ब्रह्मादिसारथिः ॥ २१.३३ ॥

Day and night are the two banners; righteousness and unrighteousness are the two poles; the chariot itself is constituted of all branches of knowledge—while the charioteer is Brahmā and the other primordial beings themselves.

Verse 33

गायत्री च धनुस्तस्य ओङ्कारो गुण एव च । स्वराः सप्त शरास्तस्य देवदेवस्य सुव्रत ॥ २१.३४ ॥

Gāyatrī is his bow; Oṅkāra (Oṃ) is indeed his bowstring. The seven musical notes (svara) are his arrows—thus is the Devadeva described, O Suvratā.

Verse 34

एवं कृत्वा स सामग्रीं देवदेवः प्रतापवान् । जगाम दक्षयज्ञाय कोपाद् रुद्रः प्रतापवान् ॥ २१.३५ ॥

Thus, having prepared all the requisite materials, the mighty Lord of Lords—Rudra, blazing with power—went, out of wrath, to Dakṣa’s sacrificial rite (yajña).

Verse 35

गच्छतस्तस्य देवस्य अम्बराङ्गिरसं नयत् । ऋत्विजां मन्त्रनिचयो नष्टो रुद्रागमे तदा ॥ २१.३६ ॥

As that deity proceeded, he brought along Ambarāṅgirasa; at that time, in the Rudrāgama, the collected mantras of the officiating priests (ṛtvij) were lost.

Verse 36

विपरीतमिदं दृष्ट्वा तदा सर्वे च ऋत्विजः । ऊचुः संनह्यतां देवा महद् वो भयमागतम् ॥ २१.३७ ॥

Seeing this reversal of what was expected, all the officiating priests (ṛtvij) said: “Arm yourselves, O gods; a great danger has come upon you.”

Verse 37

कश्चिदायाति बलवानसुरो ब्रह्मनिर्मितः । यज्ञभागार्थमेतस्मिन् क्रतौ परमदुर्लभम् ॥ २१.३८ ॥

A certain powerful asura—said to have been fashioned by Brahmā—approaches, seeking a share of the sacrificial portion (yajñabhāga) in this rite, something exceedingly difficult to obtain.

Verse 38

एवमुक्तास्ततो देवाः ऊचुर्मातामहं तदा । दक्ष तात किमत्रास्मत्कार्यं ब्रूहि विवक्षितम् ॥ २१.३९ ॥

Thus addressed, the gods then said to the Grandfather (Mātāmaha): “O Dakṣa, dear father—what task is to be done here on our behalf? Tell us what is intended.”

Verse 39

दक्ष उवाच । गृह्यन्तां द्रुतमस्त्राणि संग्रामोऽत्र विधीयताम् । एवमुक्ते तदा देवैर्विविधायुधधारिभिः । रुद्रस्यानुचरैः सार्धं महद्युद्धं प्रवर्तितम् ॥ २१.४० ॥

Dakṣa said: “Take up the weapons swiftly; let battle be joined here.” When this was spoken, a great fight began between the gods bearing weapons of many kinds and the attendants of Rudra together.

Verse 40

तत्र वेतालभूतानि कूष्माण्डा ग्रहपूतनाः । युयुधुर्लोकपालैश्च नानाशस्त्रधराणि च ॥ २१.४१ ॥

There, Vetāla-like spirits, Kūṣmāṇḍas, and Graha-Pūtanās fought; and they also battled the Lokapālas, bearing weapons of many kinds.

Verse 41

देवा रौद्राणि भूतानि निरसन्तो यमालयम् । चिक्षिपुः सायकान् घोरान् असिंश्च सपरश्वधान् ॥ २१.४२ ॥

The gods, driving back the fierce beings, advanced toward Yama’s abode; they hurled dreadful arrows and wielded swords and axes.

Verse 42

भूतान्यपि मृधे घोराण्युल्मुकैरस्थिभिः शरैः । जग्मुर्देवान्मृधे रोषाद्रुद्रस्य पुरतो बलात् ॥ २१.४३ ॥

In that fierce battle, even the dreadful beings advanced against the gods, hurling firebrands, bones, and arrows; driven by wrath, they pressed forward with force before Rudra.

Verse 43

ततस्तस्मिन् महारौद्रे संग्रामे भीमरूपिणि । रुद्रो भगस्य नेत्रे तु बिभेदैकॆषुणा मृधे ॥ २१.४४ ॥

Then, in that exceedingly fierce battle of terrifying form, Rudra, in the fight, pierced Bhaga’s eyes with a single arrow.

Verse 44

रुद्रस्य शरपातेन नष्टनेत्रं भगं तदा । दृष्ट्वास्य क्रोधात् तेजस्वी पूषा रुद्रमयोद्धयत् ॥ २१.४५ ॥

Then, by Rudra’s shower of arrows, Bhaga’s eye was destroyed. Seeing this, the radiant Pūṣan, out of anger, fought against Rudra.

Verse 45

सृजन्तमिषुजालानि पूषणं तु महामृधे । दृष्ट्वा रुद्रोऽस्य दन्तांस्तु चकर्ष परवीरहा ॥ २१.४६ ॥

Seeing Pūṣan in the great battle, releasing volleys of arrows, Rudra—slayer of hostile champions—then tore out his teeth.

Verse 46

तस्य दन्तांस्तदा दृष्ट्वा पूष्णो रुद्रेण पातितान् । दुद्रुवुः वसवो दिक्षु रुद्रास्त्वेकादश द्रुतम् ॥ २१.४७ ॥

Then, seeing those teeth of Pūṣan knocked down by Rudra, the Vasus fled in the directions, and the eleven Rudras also quickly fled.

Verse 47

तान् भग्नान् सहसा दिक्षु दृष्ट्वा विष्णुः प्रतापवान् । आदित्यावरजो वाक्यमुवाच स्वबलं तदा ॥ २१.४८ ॥

Seeing them suddenly routed in all directions, the mighty Viṣṇu—born after Aditi—then addressed his own forces with a command.

Verse 48

क्व यात पौरुषं त्यक्त्वा दर्पं माहात्म्यमेव च । व्यवसायं कुलं भूतिṃ कथं न स्मर्यते द्रुतम् ॥ २१.४९ ॥

Having abandoned manly effort, pride, and even one’s own greatness, where have you gone? How is it that your enterprise, lineage, and prosperity are not quickly remembered?

Verse 49

परमेष्ठिगुणैर्युक्तो लघुवद्भीतितः पुरा । नमस्कं कुरुते मोघं पृथिव्यां पद्मजः स्वयम् ॥ २१.५० ॥

Formerly, though endowed with the qualities of the Parameṣṭhin (the supreme lord), Padmaja (Brahmā) himself, out of fear as if insignificant, offers obeisance in vain upon the Earth.

Verse 50

एवमुक्त्वा गरुत्मन्तमारुरोह हरिस्तदा । शङ्खचक्रगदापाणिः पीतवासाः जनार्दनः ॥ २१.५१ ॥

Having spoken thus, Hari then mounted Garutmān; Janārdana, clad in yellow garments, bore in his hands the conch, the discus, and the mace.

Verse 51

ततो हरिहरं युद्धमभवल्लोमहर्षणम् । रुद्रः पाशुपतास्त्रेण विव्याध हरिमोजसा । हरिर्नारायणास्त्रेण रुद्रं विव्याध कोपवान् ॥ २१.५२ ॥

Then there arose a hair-raising battle between Hari and Hara. Rudra, with the Pāśupata weapon, pierced Hari with force; and Hari, wrathful, with the Nārāyaṇa weapon, pierced Rudra.

Verse 52

नारायणं पाशुपतमुभेऽस्त्रे व्योम्नि रोषिते । युयुधाते भृशं दिव्यं परस्परजिघांसया । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु तयोर्युद्धमभूत् तदा ॥ २१.५३ ॥

Then, in the sky, the two divine weapons—Nārāyaṇa and Pāśupata—became wrathful and fought fiercely, each intent on destroying the other; and at that time their battle continued for a thousand divine years.

Verse 53

तत्रैकं मुकुटोद्बद्धं मूर्द्धन्यं जटजालकम् । एकं प्रध्मापयच्छङ्खमन्यड्डुमरुकं शुभम् ॥ २१.५४ ॥

There, one (form) had a cluster of matted locks bound up, with a diadem upon the crown of the head; one was blowing a conch; another bore an auspicious ḍamaru-drum.

Verse 54

एकं खङ्गकरं तत्र तथान्यं दण्डधारिणम् । एकं कौस्तुभदीप्ताङ्गमन्यं भूतिविभूषितम् ॥ २१.५५ ॥

There, one was holding a sword; likewise another was bearing a staff. One had a body shining with the Kaustubha jewel; another was adorned with sacred ash.

Verse 55

एकं गदां भ्रामयति द्वितीयं दण्डमेव च । एकं शोभति कण्ठस्थैर्मणिभिस्त्वस्थिभिः परम् । एकं पीताम्बरं तत्र द्वितीयं सर्पमेखलम् ॥ २१.५६ ॥

One form whirls a mace (gadā); the second holds only a staff (daṇḍa). One shines with jewels set at the throat and, supremely, with bones; in one there is the yellow garment (pītāmbara), while in the second there is a girdle of serpents (sarpa-mekhalā).

Verse 56

एवं तौ स्पर्धिनावस्त्रौ रौद्रनारायणात्मकौ । अन्योऽन्यातिशयोपेतौ तदालोक्य पितामहः ॥ २१.५७ ॥

Thus those two rival divine weapons—embodying the powers of Rudra and of Nārāyaṇa—were each endowed with superiority over the other; seeing this, Pitāmaha (Brahmā) observed the situation.

Verse 57

उवाच शम्यतामस्त्रौ स्वस्वभावेन सुव्रतौ । एवं ते ब्रह्मणा चोक्तौ शान्तभावं प्रजग्मतुः ॥ २१.५८ ॥

He said: “Let the two divine weapons be pacified, each according to its own nature, O you of excellent vow.” Thus addressed by Brahmā, those two attained a state of calm.

Verse 58

तथा विष्णुहरौ ब्रह्मा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह । उभौ हरिहरौ देवौ लोके ख्यातिं गमिष्यथः ॥ २१.५९ ॥

Then Brahmā addressed Viṣṇu and Hara with these words: “Both of you—Hari and Hara, the two deities—shall attain renown in the world.”

Verse 59

अयं च यज्ञो विध्वस्तः सम्पूर्णत्वं गमिष्यति । दक्षस्य ख्यातिमाँल्लोकः सन्तत्या अयं भविष्यति ॥ २१.६० ॥

“And this sacrifice (yajña), though disrupted, will attain completion. This world will become renowned through Dakṣa—through his lineage, the continuity of his descendants (santati).”

Verse 60

एवमुक्त्वा हरिहरौ तदा लोकपितामहः । ब्रह्मा लोकानुवाचेदं रुद्रभागोऽस्य दीयताम् ॥ २१.६१ ॥

Having spoken thus to Hari and Hara, Brahmā—the grandsire of the worlds—addressed the assembled worlds: “In this matter, let the portion belonging to Rudra be granted.”

Verse 61

रुद्रभागो ज्येष्ठभाग इतीयं वैदिकी श्रुतिः । स्तुतिं च देवाः कुरुत रुद्रस्य परमेष्ठि नः ॥ २१.६२ ॥

“Rudra’s portion is the foremost portion”—such is this Vedic revelation. Therefore, O gods, offer praise to Rudra, our Parameṣṭhin (supreme lord).

Verse 62

भगनेत्रहरं देवं पूष्णो दन्तविनाशनम् । स्तुतिं कुरुतमा शीघ्रं गीतैरेतैस्तु नामभिः । येनायं वः प्रसन्नात्मा वरदत्वं भजेत ह ॥ २१.६३ ॥

Swiftly offer praise—through these sung epithets—to the divine one who removed Bhaga’s eye and shattered Pūṣan’s teeth, so that, pleased in heart toward you, he may become a bestower of boons.

Verse 63

एवमुक्तास्तु ते देवाः स्तोत्रं शम्भोर्महात्मनः । चक्रुः परमया भक्त्या नमस्कृत्य स्वयम्भुवे ॥ २१.६४ ॥

Thus addressed, those gods composed a hymn to Śambhu, the great-souled one; and, having bowed to the Self-born (Svayambhū), they did so with supreme devotion.

Verse 64

देवा ऊचुः । नमो विषमनेत्राय नमस्ते त्र्यम्बकाय च । नमः सहस्रनेत्राय नमस्ते शूलपाणये ॥ २१.६५ ॥

The gods said: “Homage to the One with the unequal eye; homage to you, Tryambaka, the Three-eyed one. Homage to the Thousand-eyed one; homage to you, the bearer of the trident.”

Verse 65

नमः खट्वाङ्गहस्ताय नमो दण्डभृते करे । त्वं देव हुतभुग्ज्वालाकोतिभानुसमप्रभः ॥ २१.६६ ॥

Homage to the One who holds the khaṭvāṅga; homage to the One whose hand bears the staff. O Deva, Your radiance is like ten million suns and like the flames of the sacrificial fire.

Verse 66

अदर्शनेऽनयद् देव मूढविज्ञानतोऽधुना । कृतमस्माभिरेवेश तदत्र क्षम्यतां प्रभो ॥ २१.६७ ॥

O God, through misguided understanding we have now led this matter into obscurity and non-perception. Whatever has been done by us—O Lord—may it here be forgiven, O Master.

Verse 67

नमस्त्रिनेत्रार्त्तिहाराय शम्भो त्रिशूलपाणे विकृतास्यरूप । समस्तदेवेश्वर शुद्धभाव प्रसीद रुद्राच्युत सर्वभाव ॥ २१.६८ ॥

Homage to You, O Śambhu—three-eyed, remover of distress; O bearer of the trident, whose visage assumes awe-inspiring forms. O Lord of all the gods, of purified disposition—be gracious, O Rudra, O Acyuta, whose nature is all-encompassing.

Verse 68

पूष्णोऽस्य दन्तान्तक भीमरूप प्रलम्बभोगीन्द्रलुलन्तकण्ठ । विशालदेहाच्युत नीलकण्ठ प्रसीद विश्वेश्वर विश्वमूर्त्ते ॥ २१.६९ ॥

O formidable One, destroyer of Pūṣan’s tooth; O terrible in form; O long-bodied lord of serpents whose throat is adorned with hanging coils. O vast-bodied Acyuta, O Nīlakaṇṭha—be gracious, O Lord of the universe, O embodiment of the cosmos.

Verse 69

भगाक्षिसंस्फोटनदक्षकर्मा गृहाण भागं मखतः प्रधानम् । प्रसीद देवेश्वर नीलकण्ठ प्रपाहि नः सर्वगुणोपपन्न ॥ २१.७० ॥

O Lord whose efficacious deed was the striking open of Bhaga’s eyes, accept the foremost share of this sacrifice. Be gracious, O Lord of the gods, O Nīlakaṇṭha; protect us—You who are endowed with all excellences.

Verse 70

सिताङ्गरागाप्रतिपन्नमूर्ते कपालधारिं त्रिपुरघ्न देव । प्रपाहि नः सर्वभयेषु चैव उमापते पुष्करनालजन्म ॥ २१.७१ ॥

O deity who has assumed a form anointed with pale unguents, O bearer of the skull, O slayer of Tripura—protect us in all dangers. O lord of Umā, O lotus-stalk-born one, safeguard us.

Verse 71

पश्याम ते देहगतान् सुरेश सर्गादयो वेदवराननन्त । साङ्गान् सविद्यान् सपदक्रमांश्च सर्वान् निलीनांस्त्वयि देवदेव ॥ २१.७२ ॥

We behold within your very body, O Lord of the gods—O Infinite One—the excellent Vedas together with creation and the rest; with their ancillary disciplines, with their branches of knowledge, and with their word-by-word and sequential recensions—all of them absorbed within you, O God of gods.

Verse 72

भव शर्व महादेव पिनाकिन् रुद्र ते हर । नताः स्म सर्वे विश्वेश त्राहि नः परमेश्वर ॥ २१.७३ ॥

O Bhava, Śarva, Mahādeva, Pinākin, Rudra, and Hara—you; O Lord of the universe, we all bow down. Protect us, O Supreme Lord.

Verse 73

इत्थं स्तुतस्तदा देवैर्देवदेवो महेश्वरः । तुतोष सर्वदेवानां वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह ॥ २१.७४ ॥

Thus praised at that time by the gods, Maheśvara—the God of gods—was pleased; and he spoke these words to all the deities.

Verse 74

रुद्र उवाच । भगस्य नेत्रं भवतु पूष्णो दन्तास्तथा मखः । दक्षस्याच्छिद्रतां यातु यज्ञश्चाप्यदितेः सुताः । पशुभावं तथा चापि अपनेष्यामि वो सुराः ॥ २१.७५ ॥

Rudra said: “Let Bhaga regain his eye; let Pūṣan’s teeth be restored likewise; and so too Makha. Let Dakṣa become free from mutilation; and let Yajña as well be restored, along with the sons of Aditi. And I shall also remove from you, O gods, the condition of being reduced to ‘animal-state’.”

Verse 75

मद्दर्शनॆन यो जातः पशुभावो दिवौकसाम् । स मयाऽपहृतः सद्यः पतित्वं वो भविष्यति ॥ २१.७६ ॥

That brutish condition of the dwellers in heaven which arose from seeing me—this I have removed at once; for you, a fallen state will come to be.

Verse 76

अहं च सर्वविद्यानां पति॒राद्यः सनातनः । अहं वै पतिभावेन पशुमध्ये व्यवस्थितः ॥ २१.७७ ॥

I indeed am the primordial and eternal lord of all branches of knowledge; and it is I who, in the capacity of lordship, am established among living beings.

Verse 77

अतः पशुपतिर्नाम मम लोके भविष्यति । ये मां यजन्ति तेषां स्याद् दीक्षा पाशुपती भवेत् ॥ २१.७८ ॥

Therefore, in my realm the designation “Paśupati” will come to be. For those who worship me, there will be an initiation; it will be the Pāśupata initiation.

Verse 78

एवमुक्तेऽथ रुद्रेण ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । उवाच रुद्रं सस्नेहं स्मितपूर्वमिदं वचः ॥ २१.७९ ॥

When Rudra had thus spoken, Brahmā—the grandsire of the worlds—addressed Rudra with affection, first smiling, and then spoke these words.

Verse 79

ध्रुवं पाशुपतिर्देव त्वं लोके ख्यातिमेष्यति । अयं च देवस्त्वन्नाम्ना लोके ख्यातिं गमिष्यति । आराध्यश्च समस्तानां देवादीनां गमिष्यसि ॥ २१.८० ॥

Surely, O deity, you—as “Pāśupati”—will attain renown in the world. And this god, by your very name, will also attain renown in the world. And you will become one who is to be honored by all—by the gods and the rest.

Verse 80

एवमुक्त्वा तदा ब्रह्मा दक्षं प्रोवाच बुद्धिमान् । गौरीं प्रयच्छ रुद्राय पूर्वमेवोपपादिताम् ॥ २१.८१ ॥

Having spoken thus, the wise Brahmā then addressed Dakṣa: “Give Gaurī to Rudra—she who had already been promised for him beforehand.”

Verse 81

एवमुक्त्वा तदा दक्षस्तां कन्यां ब्रह्मसन्निधौ । ददौ रुद्राय महते गौरीं परमशोभनाम् ॥ २१.८२ ॥

Having spoken thus, Dakṣa—before Brahmā—gave that maiden, the supremely radiant Gaurī, to the great Rudra.

Verse 82

स तां जग्राह विधिवद् रुद्रः परमशोभनाम् । दक्षस्य च प्रियं कुर्वन् बहुमानपुरःसरम् ॥ २१.८३ ॥

Rudra accepted her in accordance with the proper rite—she of surpassing beauty—seeking to please Dakṣa, with due honor set foremost.

Verse 83

गृहीतायां तु कन्यायां दाक्षायण्यां पितामहः । ददौ रुद्रस्य निलयं कैलासं सुरसन्निधौ ॥ २१.८४ ॥

When the maiden Dākṣāyaṇī had been accepted, the Grandfather (Pitāmaha, Brahmā) bestowed upon Rudra a dwelling—Kailāsa—situated near the assembly of the gods.

Verse 84

रुद्रोऽपि प्रययौ भूतैः समं कैलासपर्वतम् । देवाś्चापि यथास्थानं स्वं स्वं जग्मुर्मुदान्विताः । ब्रह्माऽपि दक्षसहितः प्राजापत्यं पुरं ययौ ॥ २१.८५ ॥

Rudra too departed, together with the bhūtas, to Mount Kailāsa. The gods likewise, in due order, went each to his own proper abode, filled with joy. Brahmā also, accompanied by Dakṣa, went to the Prājāpatya city.

Verse 85

तत्र दाक्षायणीपुत्राः सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः । वसवोऽष्टौ च रुद्राश्च आदित्या मरुतस्तथा ॥

There, all the gods—together with Indra—were the sons of Dākṣāyaṇī: the eight Vasus, the Rudras, the Ādityas, and likewise the Maruts.