Chapter 30 - Prayer to the lord of gods

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sanatkumāra said:—

1-2. O Vyāsa, starting then itself along with Brahmā, Viṣṇu, the lord of Lakṣmī, went to Śivaloka, highly divine, propless and unearthly. He was glad and his face beamed with pleasure. The region was strewn over with many gems. It was highly brilliant.

3-4. The first entrance was of variegated nature with many Gaṇas standing there. It was resplendent, lofty and and beautiful. After reaching it he saw the gatekeepers seated on gem-set thrones. They had gem-set ornaments and white garments.

5. They had five faces, three eyes and fair handsome bodies. They were trident-bearing heroes shining with Bhasma and Rudrākṣa.

6. Both Brahmā and Viṣṇu bowed to them humbly and told them that they wanted to see the lord.

7. They permitted them to enter. They saw another door very beautiful, variegated and very brilliant.

8. They informed the gatekeeper of their desire to approach the lord. Permitted by them they entered and saw another door.

9. Thus Brahmā entered through fifteen doors and reached the main threshold. He saw Nandin.

10. After bowing to and eulogising Nandin as Brahmā did before, Viṣṇu was permitted by Nandin and he entered joyously.

11. Going in, they saw the grand assembly chamber of Śiva, highly decorated and thronged by his attendants with lustrous bodies.

12. The attendants had similar forms with lord Śiva. They had ten arms, five faces, three eyes and blue necks. They had auspicious lustre and were brilliant.

13. They were bedecked in ornaments set with gems, They wore Rudrākṣas. They had smeared themselves with the ashes. The chamber was square in shape and beautiful like the lunar sphere.

14. Gems, necklaces, diamonds, etc. increased its brilliance. Valuable precious stones were used to stud them. It was brightened by lotus petals.

15. Māṇikya, Padmarāga and other valuable gems were used in the same. It was very wonderful. It was laid according to the desire of Śiva.

16. It had hundreds of steps leading to it, each made of Syamantaka stone; knotted golden threads joined them. Beautiful sprouts of sandal beautified it.

17. Columns of sapphire supported it. It was richly decorated. The wind wafted fragrance everywhere.

18. The chamber was a thousand Yojanas wide. Many servants were in attendance. Viṣṇu the lord of gods saw Śiva seated along with Pārvatī.

19. Śiva was in the midst of his attendants like the moon surrounded by stars. He was seated in a variegated throne set with valuable gems.

20. He had a crown on his head, earrings in his ears. He was embellished with gem necklaces. Ashes were smeared all over his body. He held a toy lotus.

21. He was smilingly watching the song and dance going on in front of him.

22. He was calm and delighted in the mind. He was highly brilliant. He was chewing the fragrant betel leaves offered by the goddess.

23. He was attended upon by Gaṇas with white chowries and eulogised by Siddhas with stooping shoulders with great devotion.

24-25. The great lord Śiva, the progenitor of the three deities, the lord beyond the reach of attributes, who assumes and discords his forms as he pleases and is invariable, who is free from illusion, unborn, the primordial being, the lord of illusion, greater than the greatest and greater than the Prakṛti and Puruṣa.

26. On seeing Śiva of perfect features, Viṣṇu and Brahmā eulogised him together after bowing to him with palms joined in reverence.

Viṣṇu and Brahmā said:—

27. O lord Śiva, lord of the gods, O supreme Brahman, lord of all. O quiet one that is beyond the three attributes, O lord progenitor of the three deities.

28. We have sought refuge in you. O lord, save us who are distressed. O lord Śiva, we are harassed by Śaṅkhacūḍa and so dejected and well nigh exhausted. Save us.

29. The region that is adjacent to this place is called Goloka, Lord Kṛṣṇa is its presiding deity.

30. One of his leading attendants and comrades, Sudāmā, cursed by Rādhā and led by fate, has become the Dānava Śaṅkhacūḍa.

31. O Śiva, the gods divested of all powers ousted and harassed by him roam over the Earth now.

32. Except by you he cannot be killed by any one of the gods. Please kill him and render the worlds happy.

33. You alone are devoid as well as possessed of attributes, truthful, of infinite valour, embedded in the good and greater than Prakṛti and Puruṣa.

34. At creation, O lord, you are Brahmā, the creator through Rajas. O protector of the three worlds, in the activity of protection through Sattva you are Viṣṇu.

35. In dissolution through Tamas you are Rudra the annihilator of the universe. In the state free from the three attributes you are Śiva the fourth one, of the form of brilliance.

36. At your behest, Kṛṣṇa the protector, goes to Goloka. Stationed in the middle of your cowshed he sports day and night.

37. You are the cause of all. You are the lord of all. You are Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva. You are free from aberrations. You are the constant witness. You are the supreme soul, the great Īśvara.

38. You are the redeemer of the distressed and the poor, the protector and the kinsman of the distressed, the lord of the worlds. You are favourably disposed to those who seek refuge in you.

39. O lord of Pārvatī, uplift us. O lord Śiva, be pleased. O lord, we are subservient to you. You do as you please, O lord.

Sanatkumāra said:—

40. After saying this, O Vyāsa, those two deities, Viṣṇu and Brahmā bowed to Śiva and stopped. They joined their palms in reverence and stood humbly.