Chapter 45 - Śiva’s comely form and the Jubilation of the Citizens

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Brahmā said:—

1. In the meantime, O sage, urged by Viṣṇu you went immediately to Śiva to conciliate Him.

2. After reaching there, with a desire to get the task of the gods fulfilled, you pleaded with Śiva after eulogising Him with different kinds of hymns.

3. On hearing your words Śiva joyously assumed a wonderfully excellent and divine form and showed His mercifulness.

4. O sage, on seeing the comely form of Śiva, the receptacle of exquisite beauty, far better than that of the cupid, you were greatly delighted.

5. Highly delighted you eulogised Him again and again with different kinds of hymns and returned to the place where Mena was seated along with other gods.

6. Reaching there, O sage, with great affection and delight, you spoke to the great pleasure of Mena, the wife of Himavat.

Nārada said:—

7. O Mena of wide eyes, see the excellent features of Śiva. The merciful Śiva has taken great pity on us.

Brahmā said:—

8. Extremely surprised on hearing your words, Menā the beloved wife of the mountain, saw Śiva’s form that afforded great bliss.

9-12. It was as refulgent as that of a thousand suns. Every part of the body was exquisite. The garments were of variegated colours. He was embellished with different ornaments. He was smiling with great delight. His comeliness was highly pleasing. He was fair-complexioned and lustrous. The crescent moon added to his beauty. Viṣṇu and other gods lovingly served Him. The sun acted as His royal umbrella. The moon embellished Him. In every way He was extremely handsome bedecked in ornaments. It was impossible to describe adequately the great beauty of His vehicle.

13. The Gaṅgā and the Yamunā were waving the Chowries. The eight Siddhis^[1] danced in front of Him.

14. Viṣṇu, I, Indra and the other gods bedecked their bodies and dress and accompanied Śiva.

15. The Gaṇas of various forms and features shouted cries of “Victory” “Victory” and walked in front of Śiva.

16. The Siddhas, the secondary gods, the extremely delighted sages went in company of Śiva. The others too were equally delighted.

17. Thus the fully decorated gods, were very jubilant and in the company of their wives they eulogised Śiva, the Supreme Brahman.

18. Viśvāvasu^[2] and others along with the celestial damsels sang songs of Śiva’s glory.

19. O excellent sage, when Śiva was nearing the threshold of the palace of Himavat, there was much jubilation there.

20. O excellent sage, who can describe the exquisite splendour of the supreme lord at that time.

21. On seeing Him in that form Menā stood stunned as though drawn in a picture for a moment, O sage, and spoke these words.

Menā said:—

22. O great lord, my daughter is indeed blessed, she by whom the great penance was performed. It is by virtue of that penance that you have come to my threshold.

23. O lord of Pārvatī, be pleased now. Pardon me for the heap of repulsive words I showered on Śiva.

Brahmā said:—

24. After saying thus and eulogising the moon-crested lord, Menā, the beloved of the mountain, bowed to Him with palms joined in reverence and stood shy.

25. By that time the ladies of the town left the work they were engaged in, in their eagerness to see Śiva.

26. A certain lady in the midst of her bath and toilet was overwhelmed with the desire to see Śiva, the bridegroom of Pārvatī. She came out with the shampoo powder still held in her hands.

27. A certain lady engaged in fanning her husband in the company of her maid left that job and came out to see Śiva with the fan still in her hands.

28. Another lady engaged in suckling her babe at her breast left him dissatisfied and came out eagerly to see the lord.

29. Another lady engaged in trying her waist girdle came out with it. Another lady came out with garments worn inside out

30. Another lady left her husband who had sat down to dine and came out athirsting and enthusiastic to see the bridegroom.

31. A certain lady holding the collyrium in her hand after applying it to one of her eyes came out to see the bridegroom of the daughter of the mountain with the salve stick still in her hand.

32. Another damsel engaged in applying the red lac juice to her feet heard the tumult outside and so left it in the middle and came out to see the procession.

33. Thus the ladies forsook their activities, left their houses and came out. On seeing the exquisite form of Śiva they were greatly fascinated.

34. Delighted on seeing Śiva and overwhelmed by affection they cherished the comely form in their hearts and spoke as follows:—

The ladies said:—

35. The eyes of the residents of this town have become fruitful. The life of the persons who have seen this comely form has become meaningful.

36. The life is fruitful and the rites are fruitful only of the person who has seen Śiva, the destroyer of all sins.

37. Pārvatī has accomplished everything inasmuch as she performed penance for Śiva. She is blessed, she is contented in securing Śiva as her husband.

38. If Brahmā had not joined this pair, Śiva and Śivā, his endeavour of creation would have entirely become fruitless.

39. This is well done. The excellent pair has been united. Everything has become meaningful in every activity.

40. A vision of Śiva is inaccessible to men without penance. All of us have now become contented by seeing Śiva.

41. Just as Lakṣmī was blessed by securing Viṣṇu as her lord, formerly, so also the gentle lady Pārvatī has become embellished on securing Śiva.

42. Just as Sarasvatī was blessed by securing Brahmā as her husband, so also the gentle lady Pārvatī has become embellished on getting Śiva as her husband.

43. All of us, men and women, are blessed—we who see Śiva, the lord of all, the husband of Pārvatī.

Brahmā said:—

44. Saying thus they worshipped Śiva with sandal paste and raw rice grains. They showered Him with fried grains respectfully.

45. The ladies standing near Menā were enthusiastically praising the good luck of Menā and the mountain.

46. Hearing the auspicious stores and anecdotes of the ladies, the lord became delighted, O sage, along with Viṣṇu and others.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The eightfold Siddhis are personified here. For details see Note 203 P. 235.

[2]:

Viśvāvasu is the chief of the Gandharvas in Indra’s heaven. He is a famous musician and is said to possess all girls from the advent of their youth and transfer them to Agni from whom the bridegrooms obtain them for producing wealth and sons.