Shiva Purana
by J. L. Shastri | 1950 | 616,585 words
This page relates “bridegroom’s party is fed and shiva retires to bed” as found in the Shiva-purana, which, in Hinduism, represents one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. This work eulogizes Lord Shiva as the supreme deity, besides topics such as cosmology and philosophy. It is written in Sanskrit and claims to be a redaction of an original text consisting of 100,000 metrical verses.
Disclaimer: These are translations of Sanskrit texts and are not necessarily approved by everyone associated with the traditions connected to these texts. Consult the source and original scripture in case of doubt.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Chapter 52 - The bridegroom’s party is fed and Śiva retires to bed
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Brahmā said:—
1. O dear one, then the clever chief of mountains caused suitable arrangements to be made in the courtyard for feeding the visitors.
2. He caused the ground to be swept clean and scrubbed well. Different kinds of fragrant stuffs were used to make the place attractive and pleasing.
3. Then the mountain invited all the gods and others along with the lord for taking food, through his sons and others.
4. O sage, on hearing the invitation of the mountain, the lord accompanied by Viṣṇu, the gods and others went gladly to take His meal.
5. The mountain received the lord and all those duly and made them sit in good seats in the inner apartment.
6. After serving sweet and well-cooked delicious foodstuffs, he requested them to take their food with palms joined in reverence and head bent down.
7. Then duly honoured, Viṣṇu and other gods keeping Sadāśiva at the head took their food.
8. They sat in rows together, took their food simultaneously laughing (and talking).
9. Nandin, Bhṛṅgi, Vīrabhadra and his Gaṇas took their meals separately. The fortunate people took food enthusiastically.
10. The gods, with Indra, the guardians of the quarters all forunate and brilliant took their food cracking jokes and talking.
11. The sages and brahmins, Bhṛgu and other sages sat in separate rows and took their food with pleasure.
12. The Gaṇas of Caṇḍī took their meals and then cracked jokes and talked merrily.
13. After taking meals and rinsing their mouths Viṣṇu and others went to their apartments for rest.
14. At the bidding of Menā, the chaste ladies requested Śiva humbly and made Him stay in the bedchamber where great festivities were going on.
15. Seated on a gemset throne offered by Menā, Śiva surveyed the bedchamber with pleasure.
16. It was brightly illuminated with hundreds of gemset lamps. There were many gemset vessels. Pearls etc. were gorgeously displayed.
17. Gemset mirrors, white chowries, pearl necklaces and gorgeous things were richly displayed.
18. It was unequalled in its divine exquisiteness highly pleasing and richly decorated.
19. It was evincing the powerful influence of the boon granted by Śiva. It appeared to be a replica of Śiva Loka itself.
20. It was richly rendered fragrant with various sweet smelling substances. It was very bright. There was sandal paste and aguru. Beds were richly strewn with flowers.
21. Many wondrous things of variegated colours and shapes were displayed there. It had been constructed in gems by Viśvakarman[1] himself.
22. In some places replicas of Vaikuṇṭha, Brahmaloka and the cities of the guardians of the quarters were seen.
23. In a certain place the beautiful Kailāsa was represented. In another place Indra’s palace was depicted. Over all was represented the Śivaloka.
24. Seeing all these wonderful representations lord Śiva praised Himavat and was very glad.
25. In that bedchamber, in a beautiful gemset couch lord Śiva lay down with pleasure.
26. Himavat fed all his brothers and others with pleasure and attended to the subsequent duties.
27. While the supreme lord had his sleep and the lord of the mountains was engaged in these duties, the night passed away giving place to dawn.
28. In the morning the enthusiastic people began to play on different kinds of musical instruments.
29. Viṣṇu and the other gods got up with joy, remembered the lord of gods and excitedly got ready.
30. They got their vehicles ready for the departure to Kailāsa and sent Dharma to Śiva.
31. At the bidding of Viṣṇu, Dharma went near the bed chamber. The Yogin Dharma addressed Śiva, the lord of Yogins, in a manner befitting the context.
Dharma said:—
32. Get up, get up O Śiva, O lord of the Pramathas. Please come over to the audience hall. Make the assembled people gratified.
Brahmā said:—
33. On hearing these words of Dharma lord Śiva laughed. He surveyed him with sympathetic looks and got up from the bed.
34. He laughingly said to Dharma—“You go ahead. I shall come there presently. There is no doubt in this matter.
35. Thus addressed by Śiva, he returned to the audience hall. The lord Śiva too wanted to go.
36. On coming to know of it the ladies came enthusiastically. With their eyes fixed on the feet of Śiva, they sang auspicious songs.
37. Śiva then, in accordance with the worldly customs, went through his morning routine. He took leave of Menā and the mountain and went to the audience hall.
38. There was great jubilation there, O sage. Vedic mantras were recited loudly. The people played on the four kinds of musical instruments.
39. Śiva came to His apartment and bowed to the sages, Viṣṇu and me in accordance with the worldly conventions and was saluted by the gods and others.
40. Shouts of Victory and Obeisance rose up along with the auspicious sound of Vedic chants. There was great tumult.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
See Note 301 P. 401; Note 295 P. 389.