Chapter 21 - The Greatness of Rudrādhyāya

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1. On hearing these nectar-like words uttered by the Brāhmaṇa-sage, the king became happy. With palms joined in reverence, he spoke again:

The king said:

2. How wonderful it is! The association with saintly people is destructive of all sins. It eradicates sexual urge and anger. It can yield whatever is desirable.

3. My ignorance born of Māyā has perished. The vision of knowledge has been brightened. Merely by seeing you I have become almost an excellent immortal.

4. The story of the previous life of these two boys has been heard completely. O sage, I shall ask you about the future too of my son.

5. How many years will he live? Of what nature is his fortune? Learning, reputation, power, faith and devotion—what will be the position of these?

6. O sage, it behoves you to narrate all these fully. I am your disciple, servant and a seeker of refuge in you.

Parāśara said:

7. In this regard there is something that cannot be spoken. How will I be able to speak out? On hearing that, even men of great courage may become distressed.

8. Still, as you ask sincerely without any fraudulent intention, O king, I am urged by the love unto you to speak out even those things which should not be disclosed ordinarily.

9. This your prince has passed his twelfth year. Seven days hence he will die.

10. On hearing these words of his which were like the Kālakūṭa poison, the king suddenly lost consciousness and fell on the ground with excessive grief.

11. The sage with his mind melting with pity lifted him up and consoled him. He then said: “O king, do not be afraid. I shall speak what is beneficial to you.

12. Prior to creation there was darkness everywhere, but the single, supreme, pure (unsullied) Being, the refulgence of knowledge and bliss persisted. That is the primordial Śiva himself.

13. He alone at the outset created Brahma of Rājasika form. He gave the Vedas to him who was employed in the job of creation.

14. Further the Lord gave him the Rudrādhyāya which is the sole compendium of all the principles of Ātman and the essence of all the Upaniṣads.

15. The single immutable refulgence of the Absolute, the eternal truth of the nature of Śiva, is established in Rudrādhyāya.

16. The illustrious Self-born Brahmā, in the course of his creation of the universe, breathed out the four Vedas through his four mouths for the sake of the sustenance of the worlds.

17. Out of them, amongst the Yajur Mantras, Rudrādhyāya, the sum and substance of all the Upaniṣads, came out of his right (southern) mouth.

18. The same was received and retained by all the sages including Marīci and Atri, along with the Devas. From them their disciples got it.

19. It was duly handed over through the disciples of those disciples, to their sons and their sons’ sons. This essence of the Vedas, i.e. Rudrādhyāya, was received and retained and propitiated.

20. This is the greatest Mantra, the greatest austerity. The Japa (repetition) of Rudrādhyāya is the greatest means of attaining salvation unto all men.

21. Those who are said to have committed major sins as well as those who perpetrate minor sins, attain the great goal through the Japa of Rudrādhyāya.

22. Beings with a mixture of Sat (good) and Asat (evil) were further created by Brahmā, viz. Devas, brutes, human beings etc. The universe got filled with them.

23. Their activities (and obligations) were created (were laid down) befitting their own nativity (and natural propensities). The people work thereat and experience their results.

24. At the outset, for the continuity of the creation, Prajāpati (Brahmā, the creator) wrought Dharma (piety) and Adharma (impiety) out of his chest and back respectively.

25. Those who pursue only Dharma derive merit as the fruit thereof. Those who resort to Adharma reap the fruits of sin.

26. Heavenly pleasure is the fruit of pious activities and hellish experience that of the opposite. The rulers of heaven and hell are Indra and Yama, and they are created by Brahmā.

27. Lust, anger, greed, pride, jealousy etc. are the sons of Adharma. They lead to Naraka.

28. Defiling preceptor’s bed, imbibing liquor, carnal approach to Pulkasī (a tribal woman)—these are the chief sons of Kāma (Lust).

29. Pitṛvadha (Patricide) was born of Krodha (anger) and also Mātṛvadha (Matricide). There is one daughter named Brahmahatyā (Brāhmaṇa-slaughter). These are the children of Krodha (Anger).

30. Devasvaharaṇa (Misappropriation of temple property), Brahmasvaharaṇa (Misappropriation of the assets of Brāhmaṇas) and Svarṇasteya (Stealing of gold)—these are known as the sons of Lobha (Covetousness).

31. Yama summoned all these Cāṇḍālas, the leaders of sins and ruled over Naraka in order to make it flourish.

32-34. There are nine such leaders of sins. Commanded by Yama, all these terrible leaders of sins assembled together and protected the Narakas (Hells) assisted by their servants, the Upapātakas (Minor Sins). After the advent of Rudrādhyāya on the earth as the sole and direct means of attaining salvation (Mokṣa), all these leaders of sins became frightened and fled. Approaching Yama along with the Minor Sins, they prayed to Yama:

35-40. ‘O great king, be victorious. Indeed we are your servants. For the prosperity of Narakas we have been appointed officials with rights and obligations. O lord, we are helpless and incapable of staying in the world now. By the majestic power of Rudrādhyāya, we are scorched and driven away.

How can we move about in the world when the recitation of Rudrādhyāya is sufficiently widespread in every village, on the banks of the rivers and sacred spots and shrines?

We do not at all mind a thousand expiatory rites, but we are unable to bear the very syllables of Rudrādhyāya.

We, the chiefs among Major Sins, the destroyers of the worlds, are greatly frightened by Rudrādhyāya. It is a great poison unto us.

Thus a terribly unbearable disaster has befallen us on account of Rudrādhyāya. It behoves you to ward it off.’

41. Thus directly appealed by the leaders of sins, Yama went to Brahmā and submitted to him everything:

42-45. ‘O Lord of Devas, O Lord of the universe, I seek refuge in you. I have been employed by you for the task of restraining men who perpetrate sins. Now there are no sinners among men all over the world. The entire horde of sins has been wiped off by Rudrādhyāya. Since the masses of sins have perished, the Narakas have become empty. In the event of the voidness of Narakas, my rule has become futile. Hence, O holy Sir, let the means be thought over by you alone, lest I should lose the mastery over embodied human beings.’

46. Thus informed by Yama who was extremely distressed, the Creator evolved means of preventing the popularity of Rudrajapa.

47. He let loose among human beings the two daughters of Avidyā (Ignorance), viz. Aśraddhā (Lack of faith) and Durmedhā (Silliness) intended to be the opponents of Śraddhā (Faith) and Medhā (Intellect).

48. Deluded by those two, the world became indifferent towards Rudrādhyāya. So Yama came back to his post apparently contented.

49. Due to the sins committed in previous births, people become short-lived. Those sins perish in the case of men who perform Rudrajapa.

50. When all the sins subside, longevity, strength, fortitude, health, wisdom and prosperity of all embodied beings get increased.

51. Persons who after bathing Lord Maheśvara by means of Rudrādhyāya make use of that water for their own ablution, surmount the eventuality of death.

52. No fear of death shall torment those people who bathe in waters sanctified with the Mantras of Rudrāḍhyāya. They are honoured in the world of Śiva.

53. Through Śatarudrābhiṣeka a man becomes capable of living up to the age of a hundred years. Getting himself freed of all sins, he shall become a favourite of Śiva.

54. Let this son of yours take the ablution after ten thousand Japas of Rudrādhyāya. He will live joyously on the earth like Indra for ten thousand years.

55. He will possess unobstructed strength and unmitigated prosperity. All his enemies will be killed. He shall be free from ailments. Shaking off the entire range of sins, he will rule the kingdom free from vexation.

56-57. Brāhmaṇas of very high order, fully conversant with the Vedas, quiet and confident of what they can do, of praiseworthy holy observances, established in the practice of Yajña, austerities and pursuit of knowledge and considering devotion to Śiva as their sole goal, must perform the Japa of Rudrādhyāya with purity of mind. By the power of their Japa welfare will immediately result.”

58. As the great sage said thus, the king chose him alone as the first preceptor for the requisite rite. Very soon he invited thousands of other sages devoid of greed for wealth.

59-60. Those Brāhmaṇas of quiescent minds numbering thousands placed a hundred pots filled with the exudation of holy trees. After duly bathing the prince with the Rudrādhyāya (charged holy water), they bathed him (with the exudations) on the seventh day.

61. Being bathed by the sages, that prince appeared to be frightened suddenly and fell into a swoon.

62-64. He regained consciousness suddenly and was afforded protection by sages. He spoke: “A certain man of a very huge body came to hit me with a big stick in his hand. He was excessively terrifying, but he was beaten by other heroic persons. He was bound with a big rope and it appeared as though he was taken very far away. I saw only this much and I have been saved by you all.”

65. When the prince spoke thus, the excellent Brāhmaṇas blessed him and intimated to the king how he was frightened.

66-67. The excellent king honoured all the excellent sages with monetary gifts and devoutly fed them with excellent cooked food. He then received the blessings of those sages, the expounders of Vedas. Thereafter, he came to the assembly and sat there along with his kinsmen with great devotion.

68. When the heroic king came along with the sages, the celestial sage Nārada, the great Yogin himself, came there.

69. On seeing the preceptor of all sages stepping in, the king devoutly bowed to him along with all the eminent sages assembled there. He made him seated on a pedestal offering all requisite services. Then the king spoke:

The king said:

70. O holy Sir, is there anything miraculous seen by you any where in the three worlds? Recount that to us. All of us are eager to imbibe the nectar of your speech.

Nārada said:

71. O great king, a very wonderful thing was seen by me today as I was coming down from the sky. Listen to it along with these eminent sages.

72. Mṛtyu (god of Death) who is unassailable and who always harasses the entire world had, with a staff in his hand, come today to kill your son.

73-74. Īśvara came to know that he had come to kill your son. He directed Vīrabhadra, one of his attendants, along with his assistants (towards him). He came and firmly bound Mṛtyu who had come to kill your son and angrily beat him with a stick.

75. On coming to know that he was being taken to the presence of the Lord of the universe, Lord Yama shouted words of victory to Lord Śiva with palms joined in reverence. Bowing down his head, he spoke to the Trident-bearing Lord.

Yama said:

76. O Lord of Devas, O Mahā Rudra, O Vīrabhadra, obeisance to you. How is it that you have become angry with Mṛtyu who has not committed any offence?

77. Mṛtyu was about to strike the prince whose life span had come to an end in accordance with his Karmas. O Lord, tell me, is this an offence?

Vīrabhadra said:

78. The ablution of Rudra has eradicated everything inauspicious in regard to the prince. He is now endowed with a life span of ten thousand years. What calamity can endanger his life?

79. If you have any doubt in regard to my irrefutable statement, call Citragupta presently. Let him be asked without any delay.

Nārada said:

80. On being summoned by Yama, Citragupta came there promptly. On being asked about the span of your son’s life he said:

81. First he said “twelve years”, but after reflecting and checking the records, he admitted that the boy had ten thousand years more to live.

82. Thereafter, the frightened King Yama bowed down to Vīrabhadra and somehow got Mṛtyu released from his captivity that could not have been warded off (otherwise).

83. Released by Vīrabhadra, Yama went back to his palace, Vīrabhadra to Kailāsa and I have come to your presence.

84. Hence this prince of yours has surmounted the danger of death due to Rudrajapa. He shall be happy for ten thousand years.

85. After saying this, Nārada went to heaven. The delighted Brāhmaṇas went to their respective hermitages.

86. Thus the king of Kāśmīra surmounted all miseries due to the power of Rudrādhyāya and became happy along with his son.

87. Those men who glorify this greatness of Parameśvara and imbibe it through their ears, will be rid of the numerous sins committed in the course of crores of births. They will become peaceful and attain the highest place of the Moon-crested Lord.