Chapter 29 - Śivā-Śiva dialogue

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Nārada said:—

1. O Brahmā, O fortunate one, what happened thereafter? I wish to hear everything. Please narrate the glory of Pārvatī to me.

Brahmā said:—

2. O celestial sage, let this be listened to. I shall resume the story joyfully, the story that quells all sins and increases devotion to Śiva.

3. O brahmin, on hearing the words of Śiva, the great Soul and on seeing His pleasant form and features Pārvatī was delighted much.

4. The highly chaste lady, goddess Pārvatī replied to the lord standing near with great pleasure and face beaming with love.

Pārvatī said:—

5. O lord, O lord of gods, you are my husband. Has it been forgotten by you why you destroyed the sacrifice of Dakṣa formerly with great tenacity?

6. Listen, O lord of gods, I am born of Menā for the achievement of the task of the gods terrified to the quick by Tāraka.

7. O lord of gods, if you are delighted, if you are sympathetic, O lord, become my husband. O lord do as I say.

8. With your permission I am going to my father’s abode. Let your pure great glory be made well known.

9. O lord, you will please go to Himavat. Clever in divine sports, be the mendicant and beg of him, me as your alms.

10. Spreading your glory in the worlds you shall make everything about my father fruitful. Thus you start your householder’s life.”

11. There is no doubt that my father with his kinsmen will accede to your request as he has already been urged by the sages lovingly.

12. Formerly as Dakṣa’s daughter I was offered to you by my father. But the marriage rites were not duly performed then.

13. The planets were not worshipped by my father. Therefore a great defect occurred in our marriage in regard to the planets.

14. Hence, O lord, you will celebrate marriage in accordance with the rules for the fulfilment of the task of the gods.

15. The customary procedures of the marriage shall certainly be followed. Let Himavat know that an auspicious penance has been performed well by his daughter.

Brahmā said:—

16. On hearing these words, Sadāśiva was highly delighted. Laughingly and lovingly He spoke to Pārvatī.

Śiva said—

17. O great Goddess, listen to my important statement. See that our marriage rites are performed in the proper manner without deficiency.

18. O sweet-faced one, all the living beings Brahmā and others are non-eternal. O beautiful lady, know all these visible things to be perishable.

19. Know that the single beings assumed manifold forms. The attributeless took over the attributes. That which is self-luminous had other lights imposed on it.

20. O gentle lady, I, the independent, have been made subservient by you. You alone are the great illusory power, the Primordial nature that creates.

21. This entire universe has been made of illusion; it is held by the supreme soul with His great intellect. It is united and enveloped by the Gaṇas of the nature of pervading souls of meritorious deeds, akin to the nature of supreme soul.

22. What are these planets? What are these sets of seasons? What are those other planets? o gentle lady, what is said by you, O fair-complexioned one.

23. We two have created the universe different in attributes and actions for the sake of the devotees and with a disposition favourable to them.

24. You are indeed the subtle primordial nature consisting of Rajas, Sattva and Tamas. You are capable of perpetual activity. You are both possessed and devoid of attributes.

25. O slender-waisted lady, of all living beings I am the soul without abberation without yearnings. I take up bodies at the requests and wishes of my devotees.

26. O daughter of the mountain, I will not go up to Himavat your father. I will not become a mendicant and beg of him for you.

27. O daughter of the lord of mountains, even a weighty person endowed with great qualities, even a noble soul, is considered base immediately after uttering the words—“Please give me”.

28. O benevolent lady, after knowing this what is it that you say is our duty? Gentle lady, do as you wish.

Brahmā said:—

29. Thus addressed, the great goddess, the chaste lady of lotus-like eyes told Śiva with devotion after bowing to Him again and again.

Pārvatī said:—

30. “You are the cosmic soul and I am the cosmic nature. There is nothing to deliberate on this. We two are independent and subservient to the devotees. We two are both possessed and devoid of attributes.

31. O lord Śiva, with effort, you will please do according to my request. O Śiva, beg of Himavat for me, You will bestow a fortune on him.

32. O great lord, be sympathetic. I am your devotee for ever. I am your wife for ever in ever birth.

33. You are Brahman, the great soul, devoid of attributes greater than primordial nature, without abberration, free from yearnings, independent, great lord.

34. Still you are possessed of attributes too and enthusiastic in the uplift of the devotees. You sport about in your own soul engrossed in it and you are clever in your different sports.

35. O great lord, I know you in every respect. O omniscient, of what avail is a detailed talk. Take pity on me.

36. Spread your glory in the world indulging in your wonderful divine sports. Singing them, O lord, people can cross the ocean of worldly existence.

Brahmā said:—

37. After saying these words to the great lord, Pārvatī stopped and bowed to Him frequently with shoulders stooping and palms joined in reverence.

38. Thus addressed by her, Śiva of the noble soul, just to follow and imitate the worldly conventions thought that it should be so. Being desirous of doing so he rejoiced.

39. Then Śiva vanished. With a great delight He went to Kailāsa but at His separation from Pārvatī his mind was distressed.

40. After reaching there He mentioned the news to Nandin and others. He was very much delighted.

41. Those Gaṇas, Bhairava and others were greatly pleased. They celebrated the occasion with great festivities.

42. O Nārada, all went on auspiciously. All misery was at an end. Śiva too was in a pleasant mood.