Pippalada incarnation

पिप्पलादावतारवर्णनं नाम चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः
Pippalada incarnation description Chapter 24



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



पिप्पलादेति तन्नाम चक्रे ब्रह्मा प्रसन्नधीः |
प्रसन्नो भव देवेश इत्यूचे हरिणा सुरैः || 61 ||
Brahma gave him (Rudra incarnation in the form of a child) the name Pippalada, with a highly pleased intellect (mind). Lord Vishnu and the Devas said "Be pleased, God of the Devas" (to that child).



अथ रुद्रः पिप्पलादोऽश्वत्थमूले महाप्रभुः |
तताप सुचिरं कालं लोकानां हितकाम्यया || 63 ||
The great Lord Rudra, Pippalada, under a peepal tree practised penance for a very long time, for the purpose of good of the worlds.

Lord Shiva is worshipped not only by humans in the mortal world, but also by demons, and beings in other worlds. God, therefore, continuously works in favour of all the worlds.

Pippalada incarnation - Sky voice says

पिप्पलादावतारवर्णनं नाम चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः
Pippalada incarnation description Chapter 24



आकाशवाण्युवाच |
Voice from the sky said (to Suvarcha)



सगर्भा न दहेद्गात्रमिति ब्रह्मनिदेशनम् || 43 ||
A pregnant woman shall not burn (her) body – is the instruction from Brahma.

Pippalada incarnation

पिप्पलादावतारवर्णनं नाम चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः
Pippalada incarnation description Chapter 24



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



अहो सुरा दुष्टतराश्च सर्वे स्वकार्यदक्षा ह्यबुधाश्च लुब्धाः |
तस्माच्च सर्वे पशवो भवन्तु सेन्द्राश्च मेऽद्यप्रभृतीत्युवाच || 38 ||
"O Devas, all (of you) highly evil, bothered about own work (selfish), really unwise, greedy, therefore may (you) all become animals and including Indra, right from now" – so (Suvarcha, the great Sadhvi, wife of sage Dadhici) said.

Pippalada incarnation

पिप्पलादावतारवर्णनं नाम चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः
Pippalada incarnation description Chapter 24



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



इत्युक्तस्तेन स मुनिः परोपकरणे रतः |
ध्यात्वा शिवं स्वनाथं हि विससर्ज कलेवरम् || 25 ||
Having been told (asked by Indra to give his bones as hard as diamond, to make weapons) so, the sage (Dadhichi) bent on doing good to others, discarded his body only after meditating on Shiva, his Lord.

Mahesha Incarnation

महेशावतारवर्णनं नाम नामैकविंशोऽध्यायः
Mahesha incarnation description Chapter 21



शिवोवाच |
Goddess Shivaa cursed (Lord Bhairava under the influence of Maya)



नारीदृष्ट्या पश्यसि त्वं यतो मां पुरुषाधम |
अतो भव धरायां हि मानुषस्त्वं च भैरव || 8 ||
Bhairava, lowest of men, since you see me as a woman, become a human really on the earth.

Hanuman Incarnation

हनुमदावतारचरित्रवर्णनं नाम विंशोऽध्यायः
Hanuman incarnation's character description Chapter 20



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



स्थापयामास भूलोके रामभक्तिं कपीश्वरः |
स्वयं भक्तवरो भूत्वा सीतारामसुखप्रदः || 36 ||
God in the form of a monkey established devotion to Rama in the mortal world, by himself becoming a great devotee, giver of happiness to Sita and Rama.

Krishna

दुर्वासश्चरित्रवर्णनं नामैकोनविंशोऽध्यायः
Durvasa character description Chapter 19



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



ब्रह्मप्रार्थनया विष्णुर्वसुदेवसुतोऽभवत् |
धराभारावतारार्थं साधूनां रक्षणाय च || 57 ||
हत्वा दुष्टान्महापापान्ब्रह्मद्रोहकरान्खलान् |
ररक्ष निखिलान्साधून्ब्राह्मणान्कृष्णनामभाक् || 58 ||
By the prayer of Brahma, Lord Vishnu became the son of Vasudeva, in order to reduce the burden of the earth and to protect the good people.
Having killed evil people, people with large sins, bad people who hate Brahmins, (he) bearing the name Krishna protected all the good people and Brahmins.

Eleven Rudra Incarnations

एकादशावतारवर्णनं नामाष्टादशोऽध्यायः 
Eleven incarnation description Chapter 18



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



कपाली पिङ्गलो भीमो विरूपाक्षो विलोहितः |
शास्ताऽजपादहिर्बुध्न्यः शम्भुश्चन्डो भवस्तथा || 26 ||
Kapali, Pingala, Bhima, Virupaksha, Vilohita, Shasta, Ajapada, Ahirbudhnya, Shambhu, Chanda and Bhava (are the 11 Rudra incarnations born to sage Kashyapa).

Yaksheshwara incarnation

यक्षेश्वरावतरवर्णनं नाम षोडशोऽध्यायः
Yaksheshwara incarnation description Chapter 16



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



तत्रासन् विफलान्याशु तान्यस्त्राणि दिवौकसाम् |
शिवप्रभावतस्तेषां मूढगर्वापहारिणः || 29 ||
The weapons of the Devas who were there failed (to cut the blade of grass) quickly because of the influence of Shiva, which was to take away the foolish pride (which the Devas got after defeating the demons and drinking the nectar which came out as a result of churning the ocean).



अथासीत्तु नभोवाणी देवविस्मयहारिणी |
यक्षोऽयं शङ्करो देवाः सर्वगर्वापहारकः || 30 ||
Then a voice from the sky removing the perplexity of the Devas said "Devas, this Yaksha is Lord Shiva, who takes away everyone's pride.

Yaksheshwara incarnation

यक्षेश्वरावतरवर्णनं नाम षोडशोऽध्यायः
Yaksheshwara incarnation description Chapter 16



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



ततः स शङ्करो देवः सर्वाधीशोऽथ गर्वहा |
यक्षो भूत्वा जगामाशु यत्र देवाः स्थिता मुने || 18 ||
Sage, then that Lord Shankara, the lord of everything and destroyer of pride, after becoming a Yaksha went where the Devas were.

Agni

गृह्पत्यावतारवर्णनं नाम पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः
Grihapati avatara description Chapter 15



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



अनाथस्याग्निसंस्कारं यः कुर्याच्छ्रद्धयान्वितः |
अशक्तः प्रेरयेदन्यं सोऽग्निलोके महीयते || 63 ||
One who cremates an orphan with faith, or makes someone else do so if himself incapable, (goes to and) lives in Agniloka.



अपावनानि सर्वाणि वह्निसंसर्गतः क्षणात् |
पावनानि भवन्त्येव तस्माद्यः पावकः स्मृतः || 65 ||
Everything impure/unholy in contact with fire for an instant becomes pure/holy. That is why (it is) called Paavaka.

Agnishwara

गृह्पत्यावतारवर्णनं नाम पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः
Grihapati avatara description Chapter 15



शिव उवाच |
Lord Shiva said (to Grihapati)



त्वयेदं स्थापितं लिङ्गं तव नाम्ना भविष्यति |
अग्नीश्वर इति ख्यातं सर्वतेजोविबृंहणम् || 54 ||
अग्नीश्वरस्य भक्तानां न भयं विद्युदग्निभिः |
अग्निमाद्यभयं नैव नाकालमरणं क्वचित् || 55 ||
This Linga established by you will bear your name. It will be known as Agnishwara, which will increase all brilliance.
The devotees of Agnishwara will have no fear of electricity or fire. (They will have) fearlessness from fire, etc. and neither (will they encounter) death at a wrong time (like in childhood) ever.

Grihapati avatara

गृह्पत्यावतारवर्णनं नाम पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः
Grihapati avatara description Chapter 15



इन्द्र उवाच |
Indra said (to Grihapati avatar of Lord Shiva)



न मत्तः शङ्करस्त्वन्यो देवदेवोऽस्म्यहं शिशो |
विहाय बालिशत्वं त्वं वरं याचस्व मा चिरम् || 39 ||
There is no Shiva other than me, child, I am the God of the Gods. Give up your childishness and quickly ask for a boon.

Grihapati said he will take a boon only from Shiva. This was Indra's reply. The response to Indra's profanity is sophisticated abuse from Grihapati avatara.

Hara

शरभावतारवर्णनं नाम द्वादशोऽध्यायः 
Sharabha incarnation description Chapter 12



देवा उचुः |
Devas said (to Lord Shiva in the form of Sharabha incarnation)



यतो हरसि संसारं हर इत्युच्यते बुधैः | 26
Since you take away (destroy) the material world, wise people call you Hara.

Sharabha incarnation

शरभावतारवर्णनं नामैकादशोऽध्यायः 
Sharabha incarnation description Chapter 11



वीरभद्र उवाच |
Virabhadra said (smiling to Narsimha incarnation)



त्वत्संहारे नियुक्तोऽस्मि विनयेन बलेन च |
देवदेवेन रुद्रेण सकलप्रभुणा हरे || 43 ||
Lord Hari, I have been appointed to destroy you by humility/politeness and (if necessary, by) force, by the God of the Gods, Rudra, the God of everything/everyone.



उपकारो हि साधूनां सुखाय किल संमतः |
उपकारो ह्यसाधूनामपकाराय केवलम् || 45 ||
It is generally agreed that doing good to good people leads to happiness. Doing good to bad people (is possible) only by doing harm/offense.

Sharabha Incarnation

शरभावतारवर्णनं नामैकादशोऽध्यायः 
Sharabha incarnation description Chapter 11



वीरभद्र उवाच |
Virabhadra said (to Narsimha incarnation)



अतीव घोरं भगवन्नरसिंह वपुस्तव |
उपसंहर विश्वात्मंस्त्वमेव मम संनिधौ || 24 ||
God Narsimha, your body is extremely terrifying. Soul of the world, you yourself destroy (it) near me (in my presence).



नृसिंह उवाच |
Narsimha incarnation said (angrily to Virabhadra, showing frightening teeth)



आगतोऽसि यतस्तत्र गच्छ त्वं मा हितं वद |
इदानीं संहरिष्यामि जगदेतच्चराचरम् || 27 ||
Go back to where you have come from. Don't tell me what is good for me. Now (itself) I will destroy the universe, living and non-living things.

Sharabha Incarnation

शरभावतारवर्णनं नामैकादशोऽध्यायः 
Sharabha incarnation description Chapter 11



वीरभद्र उवाच |
Virabhadra said (to Narsimha incarnation)



यदा यदा हि लोकस्य दुःखं किञ्चित्प्रजायते |
तदा तदाऽवतीर्णस्त्वं करिष्यसि निरामयम् || 21 ||
Whenever any unhappiness arises to the world, you will make it healthy (free of trouble) through (your) incarnation. (However, now you have killed Hiranyakashipu, and Prahlada is safe. This is what you incarnated for. Now your work is done.)

Sharabha Incarnation

शरभावतारवर्णनं नामैकादशोऽध्यायः 
Sharabha incarnation description Chapter 11



शिव उवाच |
Lord Shiva said (to Virabhadra)



सूक्ष्मं संहृत्य सूक्ष्मेण स्थूलं स्थूलेन तेजसा |
वक्त्रमानय कृत्तिं च वीरभद्र ममाज्ञया || 14 ||
Subtle should be destroyed by subtle, gross by gross with brilliance/fire. Virabhadra, bring the head and skin (of Narsimha incarnation) by my order.

Shiva's assurance

नृसिंहचरितवर्णनं नाम दशमोऽध्यायः 
Narsimha (incarnation of Vishnu) characteristics description Chapter 10



शिव उवाच |
Lord Shiva said (to the Devas)



स्वस्थानं गच्छत सुराः सर्वे ब्रह्मादयोऽभयाः |
शमयिष्यामि यद्दुःखं सर्वथा हि व्रतं मम || 39 ||
गतो मच्छरणं यस्तु तस्य दुःखं क्षयं गतम् |
मत्प्रियः शरणापन्नः प्राणेभ्योऽपि न संशयः || 40 ||
Go to your own place without fear, Brahma and all Devas. Whatever unhappiness (you have, Lord Vishnu as Narsimha incarnation is still burning with anger even after killing Hiranyakashipu), I will extinguish in all ways. This is my vow.
Once someone comes to me for refuge, his unhappiness/sorrow disappears. One who takes refuge (in me is) my favourite, no doubt, more (dear to me) than even (my) life.

Narsimha (incarnation of Vishnu) characteristics

नृसिंहचरितवर्णनं नाम दशमोऽध्यायः
Narsimha (incarnation of Vishnu) characteristics description Chapter 10



देवा उचुः |
Devas said (to God)



प्रसिद्धं च यदा यस्य दुःखं च जायते प्रभो |
तदा त्वन्नाममात्रेण सर्वं दुःखं विलीयते || 36 ||
It is well known that when someone gets unhappiness, all unhappiness disappears simply by (chanting) your name.

Shiva Incarnations

नृसिंहचरितवर्णनं नाम दशमोऽध्यायः 
Narsimha (incarnation of Vishnu) characteristics description Chapter 10



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



शिवावतारा अमिताः सद्भक्तहितकारकाः |
संख्या न शक्यते कर्तुं तेषां च मुनिसत्तमाः || 5 ||
There are an innumerable Shiva incarnations, which do good to good devotees.  And great sages cannot count them.

Kapalamochana

भैरवावतारलीलावर्णनं नाम नवमोऽध्यायः 
Bhairava incarnation and behaviour description Chapter 9



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



कपालं ब्रह्मणः सद्यो भैरवस्य करांबुजात् |
पपात भुवि तत्तीर्थमभूत्कापालमोचनम् || 56 ||
Brahma's skull then fell to the ground from the lotus like hand of Bhairava. That tirtha (place of pilgrimage) became Kapalamochana (in Varanasi).



कपालमोचनं काश्यां यः स्मरेत्तीर्थमुत्तमम् |
इहान्यत्रापि यत्पापं क्षिप्रं तस्य प्रणश्यति || 60 ||
One who remembers the wonderful tirtha (place of pilgrimage) Kapalamochanam in Varanasi in this world or other worlds, his sins quickly get destroyed.

Bhairava incarnation and behaviour

भैरवावतारलीलावर्णनं नाम नवमोऽध्यायः 
Bhairava incarnation and behaviour description Chapter 9



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



इत्थं वदति गोविन्दे विमला पद्मया तया |
मनोरथवती नाम भिक्षा पात्रे समर्पिता || 41 ||
On Govinda/Vishnu saying so, by immaculate Lakshmi, (a siddhi) named Manorathavati (desire fulfilling capability) was submitted to the begging bowl (skull carried by Lord Kalabhairava).

KalaBhairava cuts a head of Lord Brahma

भैरवावतारवर्णनं नामाष्टमोऽध्यायः 
Bhairava incarnation Chapter 8



नन्दीश्वर उवाच |
Nandishwara said (to Sanatkumara)



एतान्वरान्प्रगृह्याथ तत्क्षणात्कालभैरवः |
वामाङ्गुलिनखाग्रेण चकर्त च विधेः शिरः || 52 ||
Having accepted these boons, Lord Kalabhairava from that moment, cut a head (out of five heads) of Lord Brahma with the front of the nail of a left hand finger.

Bhairava Incarnation

भैरवावतारवर्णनं नामाष्टमोऽध्यायः 
Bhairava incarnation Chapter 8



ब्रह्मोवाच |
Lord Brahma said (in arrogance to Lord Rudra)



रोदनाद्रुद्रनामापि योजितोऽसि मया पुरा |
मामेव शरणं याहि पुत्र रक्षां करोमि ते || 43 ||
In the past, the name Rudra was arranged by me out of (your) crying. Come to my refuge, son, I will protect you.

Nandikeshwara averting death by penance

नन्दीकेश्वरावतारवर्णनं नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः 
Nandikeshwara incarnation Chapter 6



पुत्र उवाच |
The son (Nandishwara) said to (his father Shilada)



हे तात तपसा मृत्युं वञ्चयिष्ये न विद्यया |
महादेवस्य भजनान्मृत्युं जेष्यामि नान्यथा || 61 ||
Father, I will avert death by penance, not by knowledge. I will win over death by singing praises of Lord Mahadeva, not in any other way.