Chapter 229 - Birth of Bhṛṅgīriṭi

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1. In the meantime, Śaṃbhu, with eyes turned red due to anger, mounted his bull and proceeded towards Amarāvatī. He was accompanied by all his Gaṇas and all the Suras beginning with Indra.

2. On seeing that the army of Devas and Mahādeva along with his Gaṇas had arrived Andhaka attained great delight.

3. Then he came out for battle along with his army consisting of four divisions. He got into his excellent chariot fitted with horses of splendid white colour.

4. Then a battle ensued between the Dānavas and the Devas as well as the Gaṇas of hideous shapes making death to the point of no return (i.e. no return from battle till death).

5. For a full thousand years the battle (war) lasted. The (strength of) Devas became dwindled day by day but not that of the Dānavas.

6. At the close of a thousand years, the infuriated Moon-crested Lord raised his trident and pierced him (Andhaka) with his own hand.

7. Though pierced with that trident, the great Asura did not meet with his death, thanks to the power of the boon of Brahmā.

8. He rose up again and fought with the great Ātman (Śiva). In his fury he killed many Gaṇas.

9. He repeatedly struck Śaṅkara with his mace.

10. Thus the terrible fight of Andhaka with the Pināka-bearing Lord continued for a thousand years. It instilled terror into all the worlds.

11-13. The Daitya did not meet with his death though pierced with the trident. The powerful demon rose up again and again and began to hit (the enemies) with his club. Śaṅkara realized that he was not to be killed (he could not be killed) by any of the Heaven-dwellers, by the power of the boon granted by Brahmā: He pierced the Daitya, with the tip of his trident and raised him up in the sky.

He lifted the trident like an umbrella even as he (Andhaka) hung with face down. Blood oozed out of his body and fell on the Ground.

14. At the close of a thousand years only three of the constituents of his body, viz. skin, bone and sinews, remained. The remaining four were lost.

15. Realizing that he had become feeble due to the wastage of the constituents of his body, he adopted conciliatory tactics with the Pināka-bearing Lord by eulogizing him.

Andhaka said:

16. I am an evil soul and defiled in speech. Hence I did not know that you have such vigour as this. Hence what is done by you is proper.

17. O excellent one among Suras, this is proper for me who have become blind due to pride and am bereft of the power of discrimination. I am over-arrogant due to my prowess and am left without discretion.

18. An impudent fellow without humility cannot stay long even after obtaining fortune, learning and prowess as in my own case. I am over-puffed up due to arrogance.

19. I am a sinner. I have been indulging in sinful activities. Even my very soul is sinful. I am born of sin. O Lord Īśāna, save me. Be the destroyer of all sins.

20. I am grief-stricken. I am a piteous creature. I am a wretched one devoid of power. O Lord, it behoves you to save me. O Lord, I have sought refuge in you.

21. I am a wicked one. O Parameśvara, I am a sinner.^[1] Hence this thought about you has risen in me, O sinless one.

22. When all the sins are destroyed, one begins to contemplate on Śiva.

23. O Three-eyed Lord, he who simply repeats your name, attains salvation. Why not then one who is engaged in your worship?

24. Days come and go in the case of those devoid of your worship. Those of the dead cannot come back to the living.

25. (Let me be) a leper, a sickly one, a lame or a deaf one. But let not (my) birth be in the family of that person to whom Śaṃbhu is not a deity.

26. Hence, O Lord, release me. Welcome me now. My demoniac nature has gone away. The kingdom has been left off by me, O Lord.

27. My sons, my grandsons and wives, along with my riches have been abandoned by me. O most excellent one among the Suras, uttering the solemn oath thrice I touch your feet.

28-30. On hearing his words, the Lord knew for certain that he had been rid of sins. He was slowly lowered down from the trident and he stood there humbly. The Lord then named him Bhṛṅgīriṭi, and said: “You will always be my favourite. O dear son, you will also be a favourite of Nandin, Mahākāla and the Elephant-faced One (Gaṇeśa). O gentle one, stay here happily. You will never remember your kinsmen.”

31. He promised, “So it shall be”. He bowed down to the Moon-crested One. He stayed there along with all the Gaṇas and took refuge in the Lord.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Evidently this is wrong. Perhaps the words Pāpayukta is a misprint for Pāpamukta. In Devanāgarī script ya (ya) and Ma (ma) are very similar.