Whenever any misfortune/adversity occurs to devotees

महादेव उवाच |

 

The great God said (to the Devas)

 

यदा यदा विपत्तिर्हि भक्तानां भवति क्वचित् |

तदा तदा हराम्याशु तत्क्षणात्सर्वशः सदा || 73 ||

 

Whenever any misfortune/adversity occurs to devotees, I always quickly take (it) away at that moment from all sides.

The Great God will do anything for his devotees

पार्वतीविवाहस्वीकारो नाम चतुरविंशोऽध्यायः

 

Parvati marriage acceptance Chapter 24

 

नन्दीश्वर उवाच |

 

Nandishwara said (to the Devas)

 

भक्तेर्वश्यो महादेवो न साधारणतः सुराः |

अकार्यमपि सद्भक्त्या करोति परमेश्वर || 40 ||

 

Devas, the great God can be influenced/controlled by devotion, not usually. With good devotion, the greatest God does even things which should not be done.

The name Aparna

पार्वतीतपोवर्णनं नाम द्वाविंशोऽध्यायः

 

Parvati penance description Chapter 22

 

ब्रह्मोवाच |

 

Brahma said (to Narada)

 

आहारे तयक्तपर्णाऽभूद्यस्माद्धिमवतः सुता |

तेन देवैरपर्णेति कथिता नामतः शिवा || 49 ||

 

Having become free from the diet of leaves, Shivaa, the daughter of Himavan was therefore called by the name Aparna by the Devas.

 

The supreme Goddess no longer ate anything, stood on one leg repeating the five-lettered mantra.

The king of all mantras

नारद उवाच |

 

Narada said (to Parvati)

 

मन्त्रोऽयं सर्वमन्त्राणामधिराजश्च कामदः |

भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदोऽत्यन्तं शङ्करस्य महाप्रियः || 36 ||

 

This (five-lettered) mantra is the king of all mantras, giver of all desires, enjoyments, liberation (moksha), extremely highly favourite of Shiva.

The supreme Goddess gets the five-lettered mantra

ब्रह्मोवाच |

 

Brahma said (to Narada)

 

इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्याः पार्वत्या मुनिसत्तमः |

पञ्चाक्षरं शंभुमन्त्रं विधिपूर्वमुपादिशः || 33 ||

 

Great sage, having heard her this statement from Parvati, you taught the five-lettered Shiva mantra (Namah Shivaya) with a proper procedure.

The supreme Goddess wants a mantra from Narada

नारदोपदेशो नामैकविंशोऽध्यायः

 

Narada's teaching/advice Chapter 21

 

शिवोवाच |

 

Goddess Shivaa said (to Narada)

 

त्वं तु सर्वज्ञ जगतामुपकारकर प्रभो |

रुद्रस्याराधनार्थाय मन्त्रं देहि मुने हि मे || 31 ||

न सिद्ध्यति क्रिया कापि सर्वेषां सद्गुरुं विना |

मया श्रुता पुरा सत्यं श्रुतिरेषा सनातनी || 32 ||

 

Lord (Narada), you are really omniscient who does good to the world. Sage, for praying to Rudra, give me a mantra.

No work/procedure of anyone succeeds without a good Guru, I have heard in the past this true eternal fact from Shrutis.

Kamadeva can corrupt anyone

शक्रकामसंवादवर्णनं नाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः

 

Indra-Kamadeva discussion description Chapter 17

 

काम उवाच |

 

Kamadeva said (to Indra)

 

ब्रह्माणं वा हरिं वापि भ्रष्टं कुर्यां न संशयः |

अन्येषां गणना नास्ति पातयेय हरं त्वपि || 22 ||

 

I can corrupt Brahma or Vishnu, no doubt. Others are nothing; Even Shiva can be made to fall.

Tarakasur accepts a way to die

तारकासुरतपोराज्यवर्णनं नाम पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः

 

Tarakasura penance description Chapter 15

 

तारक उवाच |

 

Tarakasura said (to Brahma)

 

शिववीर्यसमुत्पन्नः पुत्रः सेनापतिर्यदा |

भूत्वा शस्त्रं क्षिपेन्मह्यं तदा मे मरणं भवेत् || 41 ||

 

My death may occur when a son produced from the semen of Shiva, after becoming an army commander, throws a weapon at me.

God allows the supreme Goddess to do service

महादेव उवाच |

 

The great God said (to Parvati)

 

इत्येवं त्वं यदि ब्रूषे गिरिजे सांख्यधारिणि |

प्रत्यहं कुरु मे सेवामनिषिद्धां सुभाषिणि || 23 ||

 

Good speaker, an expert on Samkhya, if you just say so, do service to me everyday without being forbidden.

Saguna form of God possible only because of the supreme Goddess

मदनुग्रहतस्त्वं हि सगुणो रुपवान्मतः |

मां विना त्वं निरीहोऽसि न किंचित्कर्तुमर्हसि || 19 ||

पराधिनः सदा त्वं हि नानाकर्मकरो वशी |

निर्विकारी कथं त्वं हि न लिप्तश्च मया कथम् || 20 ||

प्रकृते परमोऽसि त्वं यदि सत्यं वचस्तव |

तर्हि त्वया न भेतव्यं समीपे मम शंकर || 21 ||

 

Because of my favour only is your Saguna form possible. Without me you would be inactive; you would not be able to do anything.

You are always dependent, doing several things. How are you without defects? How are you not affected by me?

Shiva, if it is true that you are above Prakruti then you have nothing to fear in my presence/vicinity.

God has to accept the influence of Prakriti

काल्युवाच |

 

Kali (Parvati) said (to God)

 

यदुक्तं भवता योगिन्वचनं शंकर प्रभो |

सा च किं प्रकृतिर्न स्यादतीतस्तां भवान्कथम् || 10 ||

एतद्विचार्य वक्तव्यं तत्वत्तो हि यथातथम् |

प्रकृत्या सर्वमेतच्च बद्धमस्ति निरन्तरं || 11 ||

तस्मात्त्वया न वक्तव्यं न कार्यं किंचिदेव हि |

वचनं रचनं सर्वं प्राकृतं विद्धि चेतसा || 12 ||

यच्छृणोषि यदश्नासि यत्पश्यसि करोषि यत् |

तत्सर्वं प्रकृतेः कार्यं मिथ्यावादो निरर्थकः || 13 ||

प्रकृतेः परमश्चेत्त्वं किमर्थं तप्यसे तपः |

त्वया शंभोऽधुना ह्यस्मिन्गिरौ हिमवति प्रभो || 14 ||

प्रकृत्या गिलितोऽसि त्वं न जानासि निजं हर |

निजं जानासि चेदीश किमर्थं तप्यते तपः || 15 ||

 

God Shiva, Yogi, the statement which was said by you, what is it if not Prakruti? Then how are you are beyond Prakruti?

This should be thought about before speaking in any way about the fundamentals. All this is bound by Prakruti forever/continuously.

Therefore, you should not speak nor do work of any sort. Know insightfully speech, construction, etc. - everything to be Prakruta.

Whatever you listen, eat, see, do is all because of Prakruti; no use of hypocrisy.

God Shiva, if you are superior to Prakruti, they why do you do penance here on this mountain Himalaya?

Shiva, you are swallowed by Prakruti, you do not know yourself. God, if you know yourself, then why would one do penance?

God says he destroys Prakriti by penance

महेश्वर उवाच |

 

The great God said (to Parvati)

 

तपसा परमेणैव प्रकृतिं नाशयाम्यहम् |

प्रकृत्या रहितः शंभुरहं तिष्ठामि तत्त्वतः || 7 ||

 

With the highest penance I destroy the Prakruti. Free from Prakruti, I, Shiva, remain in my element.

 

This was asking for trouble. Now God gets an earful.

The supreme Goddess responds

पार्वतीपरमेश्वरसंवादवर्णनं नाम त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः

 

Parvati - supreme God discussion description Chapter 13

 

भवान्युवाच |

 

Parvati said (to God)

 

सा शक्तिः प्रकृतिर्ज्ञेया सर्वेषामपि कर्मणाम् |

तया विरच्यते सर्वं पाल्यते च विनाश्यते || 3 ||

 

Know that energy as Prakruti which is also in all deeds (karma). With that everything is constructed, maintained and destroyed.

Ascetics should keep away from women

अतस्तपस्विना शैल न कार्या स्त्रीषु संगतिः |
महाविषयमूलं सा ज्ञानवैराग्यनाशिनी || 33 ||

Mountain, therefore, an ascetic practising austerities should not have contact with women. She (any woman) is the cause of a lot of sense attachment and a destroyer of asceticism and knowledge.

God has said all this in front of Parvati. Now God gets a response from her.

God warns Himalaya again not to bring his daughter

महेश्वर उवाच |

 

The great God said (laughing, to Himalaya)

 

इयं कुमारी सुश्रोणी तन्वी चन्द्रानना शुभा |

नानेतव्या मत्समीपे वारयामि पुनः पुनः || 28 ||

 

This thin girl (Parvati) with a nice waist and an auspicious moon-like face shall not be brought near me – I forbid/warn you again and again.

Himalaya wants to see the great God everyday

शिवहिमाचलसंवादवर्णनं नाम द्वादशोऽध्यायः

 

Shiva-Himalaya dialogue description Chapter 12

 

महेश्वर उवाच |

 

The great God (just opened the eyes and) said (to Himalaya)

 

आगन्तव्यं त्वया नित्यं दर्शनार्थं ममाचल |

कुमारीं सदने स्थाप्य नान्यथा मम दर्शनम् || 24 ||

 

Mountain, you are (welcome) to come daily to see me, keeping the girl (Parvati) at (your) home, otherwise you don't get to see me.

Mars is called Bhauma, becomes a planet

स बालो भौम इत्याख्यां प्राप्य भूत्वा युवा द्रुतम् |

तस्यां काश्यां चिरं कालं सिषेवे शङ्करं प्रभुं || 26 ||

विश्वेश्वरप्रसादेन ग्रहत्वं प्राप्य भूमिजः |

दिव्यं लोकं जगामाशु शुक्रलोकात्परं वरम् || 27 ||

 

The child got the name Bhauma (Mars) after quickly becoming a youth (because the earth in the form of a good woman had adopted it), served Lord Shiva in Kashi for a long time. Through the kindness of the God of the universe, Bhauma got planethood (became a planet), went to a divine world soon, which is better and higher than the world of Shukra (Venus).

Birth of Mars

भौमोत्पत्तिशिवलीलावर्णनं नाम दशमोऽध्यायः

 

Birth of Mars and Shiva behaviour description Chapter 10

 

ब्रह्मोवाच |

 

Brahma said (to Narada)

 

प्रभोर्ललाटदेशात्तु यत् पृषच्छ्रमसंभवम् |

पपात धरणौ तत्र स बभूव शिशुर्द्रुतम् || 14 ||

 

From the forehead region of the Lord a drop of sweat formed, which fell to the ground. There he (the drop of sweat) quickly became a child.

Narada tells Himalaya about the kind of husband Parvati will get

नारदहिमालयसम्वादवर्णनं नामाष्टोऽध्यायः

 

Narada Himalaya dialogue description Chapter 8

 

नारद उवाच |

 

Narada said (to Himalaya)

 

योगी नग्नोऽगुणोऽकामी मातृतातविवर्जितः |

अमानोऽशिववेषश्च पतिरस्याः किलेदृशः || 11 ||

 

Her husband will be a Yogi, naked, free of characteristics, free of desires, having no parents, humble, unauspiciously dressed.

ब्रह्मोवाच |

 

Brahma said (to Narada)

 

इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्ते हि सत्यं मत्वा च दम्पती |

मेना हिमाचलश्चापि दुःखितौ तौ बभूवतु || 12 ||

शिवाऽकर्ण्य वचस्ते हि तादृशं जगदम्बिका |

लक्षणैस्तं शिवं मत्वा जहार्षाति मुने हृदि || 13 ||

 

Having heard these statements, the couple really believed it to be true, (and) Mena and Himalaya also became unhappy. Sage, (on the other hand), the Mother of the universe Parvati having heard your statements, believed (figured) those characteristics to be of Shiva and became very joyous in her heart.

Parvati is named Kali

पार्वतीबाल्यलीलावर्णनं नाम सप्तमोऽध्यायः

 

Parvati's child behaviour description Chapter 7

 

ब्रह्मोवाच |

 

Brahma said (to Narada)

 

अथो मुहूर्ते सुमते हिमवान्मुनिभिः सह |

नामाकरोत्सुतायास्तु कालीत्यादि सुखप्रदम् || 11 ||

 

At an auspicious time, with good thought, Himalaya with the sages gave his daughter a happiness-giving name Kali, etc.

Mother of the universe has taken birth

पार्वतीजन्मवर्णनं नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः

 

Parvati birth description Chapter 6

 

देवा उचुः |

 

Devas said (to Goddess Parvati)

 

जगदम्ब महादेवि सर्वसिद्धिविधायिनि |

देवकार्यकरी त्वं हि सदाऽतस्त्वां नमामहे || 39 ||

सर्वथा कुरु कल्याणं देवानां भक्तवत्सले |

मेनामनोरथः पूर्णः कृतः कुरु हरस्य च || 40 ||

 

Mother of the universe, Great Goddess, the giver of all achievements (siddhis), you are the one who does the job of the Devas (particularly to get rid of Tarakasura by a son of Lord Shiva), therefore we always bow to you. (You who are) kind to the devotees, (please) do good to the Devas in all ways. After fulfilling the wish of Mena, also fulfil (the wish) of Lord Shiva.

The supreme Goddess agrees to become Mena's daughter

देव्युवाच |

 

Goddess said (smiling, to Mena)

शतपुत्राः संभवन्तु भवत्या वीर्यसंयुताः |

तत्रैको बलवान्मुख्यः प्रथमं संभविष्यति || 38 ||

सुताऽहं संभविष्यामि संतुष्टा तव भक्तितः |

देवकार्यं करिष्यामि सेविता निखिलैः सुरैः || 39 ||

 

A hundred valiant sons will be born of you, of which one main strong will be born first (called Mainaka). I will become your daughter, having been satisfied by your devotion. I will do the job of the Devas (to get rid of Tarakasura by a son of Lord Shiva), being served by all the Devas.

Mena wants the supreme Goddess to incarnate as her daughter

मेनोवाच |

 

Mena said (to the supreme Goddess Uma)

 

सुता भव मम शिवे देवकार्यार्थमेव हि |

रुद्रपत्नी भव तथा लीलां कुरु भवाम्बिके || 36 ||

 

Shivaa, become my daughter just for the purpose of the Devas (to get rid of Tarakasura by a son of Lord Shiva). Bhavambika, become the wife of Lord Rudra and act (in this world).

Mena's penance

मेनावरलाभवर्णनं नाम पञ्चमोऽध्यायः

 

Mena's boon receiving Chapter 5

 

ब्रह्मोवाच |

 

Brahma said (to Narada)

 

सप्तविंशतिवर्षान्ते जगन्माता जगन्मयी |

सुप्रीताऽभवदत्यर्थमुमा शङ्करकामिनी || 12 ||

 

At the end of 27 years (of penance of Mena), the Mother of the universe, in the form of the universe, Uma, the (future) wife of Lord Shiva, became very pleased.

Goddess agrees to incarnate for several reasons

उमोवाच |

 

Uma said (to the Devas)

 

अवतारं करिष्यामि क्षितौ पूर्णं न संशय |

बहवो हेतवोऽप्यत्र तद्वदामि महादरात् || 25 ||

 

I will take a full incarnation on the earth, no doubt, for several reasons, which I will speak here with high respect.

Devas ask the supreme Goddess to incarnate on the earth

देवसान्त्वनं नाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः

 

Consolation of the Devas – Chapter 4

 

देवा उचुः |

 

Devas said (to the Goddess)

 

पूर्णं कुरु महेशानि निर्जराणां मनोरथम् |

सनत्कुमरवचनं सफलं स्याद्यथा शिवे || 17 ||

अवतीर्य क्षितौ देवि रुद्रपत्नी पुनर्भव |

लीलां कुरु यथायोग्यं प्राप्नुयुर्निर्जराः सुखम् || 18 ||

 

Great Goddess Shivaa, (please) fulfil the wishes of the Devas such that Sanatkumar's statement/promise (also) gets fulfilled. Goddess, incarnate on the earth, become the wife of Lord Rudra again, behave/act appropriately (so that) the Devas become happy.

Devas pray to the supreme Goddess

देवा उचुः |

 

(Each of the) Devas said (praying to the supreme Goddess who is not present there)

 

देव्युमे जगताम्ब शिवलोकनिवासिनि |

सदा शिवप्रिये दुर्गे त्वां नमामि महेश्वरि || 26 ||

 

Goddess Uma, the mother of the universe, resident of Shivaloka, always favourite of Shiva, Durga, I bow to you.

Brahma, Vishnu and the Devas have come to see Himalaya

देवस्तुतिर्नाम तृतीयोऽध्यायः

 

Prayer of the Devas – Chapter 3

 

हिमालय उवाच |

 

Himalaya said (to Brahma, Vishnu and the Devas who have come to see him)

 

अद्य मे सफलं जन्म सफलं सुमहत्तपः |

अद्य मे सफलं ज्ञानमद्य मे सफलाः क्रियाः || 14 ||

 

Today my birth has become successful/fruitful, today my penance has become successful/fruitful, today my knowledge has become successful/fruitful, today my procedures have become successful/fruitful.

Parvati khand, Chapter 2

पार्वतीखण्डे पुर्वगतिवर्णनं नाम द्वितीयोऽध्यायः

 

Parvati block, Earlier history description Chapter 2

 

सनत्कुमार उवाच |

 

Sanatkumar said (to the people assembled there)

 

विष्णोरंशस्य शैलस्य हिमाधारस्य कामिनी |

ज्येष्ठा भवतु तत्कन्या भविष्यत्येव पार्वती || 28 ||

धन्या प्रिया द्वितीया तु योगिनी जनकस्य च |

तस्याः कन्या महालक्ष्मीर्नाम्ना सीता भविष्यति || 29 ||

वृषभानस्य वैश्यस्य कनिष्ठा च कलावती |

भविष्यति प्रिया राधा तत्सुता द्वापरान्ततः || 30 ||

 

The eldest will become the wife of the Himalaya, the mountain of a slight part of Vishnu. Parvati will become her daughter. Dhanya, the second will become the favourite wife of Janaka and Mahalakshmi with the name Sita will become her daughter. The youngest, Kalavati, will become the favourite wife of a Vaishya called Vrishabhan towards the end of Dwapara. Radha will be her daughter.

Chapter 43 (Continued)

विधिभक्तिं विना नैव भक्तिर्भवति वैष्णवी |

विष्णुभक्ति विना मे न भक्ति क्वापि प्रजायते || 19 ||

 

Without devotion to Brahma, devotion to Vishnu does not happen. Without devotion to Vishnu, devotion to me is never born.

Four kinds of devotees

दक्षयज्ञानुसन्धानवर्णनं नाम त्रिचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः

 

Daksha sacrifice continuation description Chapter 43

 

महादेव उवाच |

 

The great God said (to Daksha)

 

चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां जनाः सुकृतिनः सदा |

उत्तरोत्तरतः श्रेष्ठास्तेषां दक्ष प्रजापते || 4 ||

आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी चैव चतुर्थकः |

पूर्वे त्रयश्च सामान्याश्चतुर्थो हि विशिष्यते || 5 ||

तत्र ज्ञानी प्रियतरो मम रुपश्च स स्मृतः |

तस्मात्प्रियतरो नान्यः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम् || 6 ||

ज्ञानगम्योऽहमात्मज्ञो वेदान्तश्रुतिपरगैः |

विना ज्ञानेन मां प्राप्तुं यतन्ते चाल्पबुद्धयः || 7 ||

 

People who do good always worship/praise me in four ways. Father of the people Daksha, among them (the following) are consecutively the best.

One in sorrow, one who wants to know (God), one who wants something materialistic and the knowledgeable (one who knows God) are the group of four. The former three are ordinary, but the fourth one is special.

There the knowledgeable is more favourite of mine, and is said to be of my form. Nobody else is more dear. Verily, I am telling the truth.

I am attainable by knowledge to the experts of Vedanta and Shrutis, a knower of the self. Without knowledge, only people with a small intelligence try to attain me.

 

Chapter 23 of Rudra Samhita, Sati block, shloka 38 says that there is no path as comfortable as the path of devotion in the three worlds, particularly in Kaliyuga.

 

त्रैलोक्ये भक्तिसदृशः पन्था नास्ति सुखावहः |

चतुर्युगेषु देवेशि कलौ तु सुविशेषतः || 38 ||

 

Chapter 3 of Vidyeshwar Samhita, shloka 12 is

 

एष देवो महादेवः सर्वज्ञो जगदीश्वरः |
अयं तु परया भक्त्या दृश्यते नाऽन्यथा क्वचित् || 12 ||

 

This says that only by devotion can one see the great God, the omniscient God of the world, which might seem in conflict with the shloka 7 here. However, there is no conflict. Shloka 7 refers to the fourth kind of devotees. In other words, devotion cannot be circumvented; devotion is an absolute must.

 

Compare shloka 16 of chapter 7 of Bhagvad Gita

 

चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां जनाः सुकृतिनोऽर्जुन |

आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ || 16 ||

 

The message is the same.