Mahabhagavata Purana (translation and study)
by Prabir Kumar Nanda Goswami | 1999 | 107,488 words
The English translation of the Mahabhagavata Purana including an introduction and study. Another name for this text is the Devi Purana and it represents an ancient Sanskrit text comprising 81 chapters and belonging to the Shaktism tradition (worship of the Goddess). The Shakti cult, focusing on the worship of the female principle, is a significant ...
Chapter 67 - The thousand names of Shiva (Sahasranama)
[Full title: the description of thousand names of Shiva (Sahasranama) in the story of Ganga’s arrival]
CHAPTER LXVII Bhagiratha said I salute you O the Lord of Parvati, the absolute Lord, next to Achyuta, the five terrible-faced and charming faced one. (1) O Lord the endless, wearing tiger skin, lack of family five-faced, valorous and knowledgeable. (2) Unconquerable, valorous, the Lord of the world, the supreme deity universal-souled, the Lord of the worldly beings aniversally identified. (3) The helper of the universe, the only abode of the world, rescuer of the creation, the patronage of the world ever delight universal delight, I salute you. (4) O Sarva, the all-knower, lack of ignorance unawares, the best among the gods, adorable by the gods, eulogised by gods, the best and the king of the gods, I salute you the destroyer of the enemies of the gods, the adorable by the gods, meditated by the gods, the Lord and the destroyer of the gods. (5-6) You are pure and holiness with pure soul the lord of the world, O Sambhu, born yourself, very terrible, doer of ferocious deeds and having fearful eyes, fearful power the most ferocious destroyer possessing cruel form formidable tone, Siva is calm and promoter of all sorts of peace. (7-8)
408 He is the bestower of all fortunes, the only source of happiness the conqueror of the enemies, the promoter bestower, and destroyer of auspiciousness and the Lord of the fortunes. (9) He appears in child form and youth possessing grey matted hairs, holder of Ganga, Kapardi decorated with matted locks. (10) An ascetic and adorable by the ascetics bestower of all the intoxicated-mind elevated hair, insane the lord of the frantic intoxicated eyed, three terrible eyed, innumerable eyed two red-eyed and charming eyed, large eyed, grey eyed, well lustured eyed. He is valorous with eyes like the sun, the moon, the fire, lotus, blue lotus. He is embodied with good qualities holding Sula, and Kapala. (11-14) The wicked with rolling eyes, wearing tiger skin named as Srikantha, Nilakantha, Sitikantha and charming throat. (15) His head is decorated with the moon holding moon on the corwn, the lord of the moon and possess the lusture of moon. He is strong having moon faced the bestower of boon and dazzles like the autumnal moon. The moon faced god possessing moon on the head dazzles like crores of sun and possesses eight great and terrible forms. (16-18) He causes fear and rescues from fear. He expells the evil spirit adorable by the evil spirit and embodied with the evil spirit. (19) He wears 'Kaupina' sometimes nacked the lord of the lustful women, He is terrible, physician young destroyer of the desires and bestower of fame. (20).
409 He is identified as fame and deadly poisons and promoter of family, secret lamp. (21) He is identified with Kala, Kastha, a traveller of Kasi, having curled face, resides in the creat forest and the promoter of love of Kali. (22) He is the mountain of passion, the best, among the passionate, always overpowered with passion, possessing dark lips the promoter of fame of passionate race. (23) He resembles like gold and his body dazzles like gold, possessing curve eye brows tinkling feet side glance and a passionate. (24) He is the father of Karttikeya and decorated with ornaments of snake. He is the Lord of the mountains and atmosphere warrior possessing 'Khatvanga' and sword. (25) He is the general of the Ganas, a dwarft and moves in the sky, rides on the bird adorable by the Khaga (a kind of deity) the cloud the lord of the stars. (26) You are the bestower of clouds, the Lord of the earth the destroyer of demons, the Lord and father of the Ganas, the eldest king of the Ganas. (27) He is the preceptor, superior to others, the husband of Ganga, tolerant, the lover of music, always engaged himself in music worthy to be kept secret and the nourisher of the Gopas. (28)
410 The Lord of of creation, seated on bullock, embodied as master of the cattle, the holder of the mountain, and the bestower of the earth, a riding on a bull. (29) vulture, a Garuda and sitting and He is the Lord of the Gopis, and father of the Gopis, dweller in caves, very secret, rides on eleplant, having elephant faced, the holder of elephant skin and the elder one. (30) He is the Lord of the planets, the destroyer of wicked planet. He is embodied with: music engaged in singing and very anxious of singing. (31) He is intoxicated for singing, meritorious Guliya, qualities depending upon his own behaviour. He is secret, wisdom secret image and decorated with secret feet. (32) He is Hara, the protector, the dweller of Golaka, meritorious, the best among the meritorious blue-eyed, the death, and the conquerer of death. (33) The eater of oblation, adorable by Hari, the best among the eater of oblation, the primordial, first among all gods, the bestower of boons to the gods. (34) He has endless valour in the world, the remover of sins of the people, the lord of the senses accompanied with all noble virtues learned man or pandit the absolute Brahma. (35)
411 He is the lover of virtues, the Lord of excellences, the Lord of Girija and consort of Gauri, sits upon the best among the bulls. (36) Seated on the lotus, having lotus eyed, satisfied with lotus, lotus-faced, lotus handed, placed on lotus and lotus like feet. (37) He is the lover of lotus the abode of lotus, promoter of lotus, dwells in the lotus forest and enjoyer of lotus forest. (38) He is the inhabitant of lotus forest and builds his house in the lotus forest, having face like full-blown-lotus and eyes like full blown lotus. (39) He is satisfied with full-blown lotus seated on full-blown lotus having hands like full-blown lotus jubilant the remover of sin. (40) He steals away the sins having holy soul, noble deeds, meritorious. He is worthy among the meritorious embodied with holiest soul. (41) He is the Lord of the virtues the bestower of holiness, engaged in virtues, the receptacle of good qualities, benevolent the destroyer of the wicked and sin. (42) He is ancient, primordial and lacks jealousy to others, a fat, having swelling face, large bodied and the destroyer of the pura, the holder of Pasi. (43)
412 He is the Lord of animals, possesses Pasa (net) in the hand. He is the Lord of Pasanavit an escapist, the knower of others, the discloser of animals tied with net. (44) He is the king of the animals the destroyer of the net, the splitter of the net, the holder of stone. He sleeps on stone and adorable by Varuna. (45) He rides on an animal, possessing flower bow and worshipped with flowers. He is of white colour, wearing yellow garments and the lord of Pundarikaksa (Visnu). (46) He is intoxicated an extreme drinker, possessing drinking pot in hand. He is nourisher, the best feeder the holiest, the rescuer, the lord of universe. (47) He is the promoter of Visnu and adored by Visnu. as sprout, and pitha places. (48) He stays He is the father, the grandfather bestower of the desired objects to Partha, delighter of the Pitrs. He bestower of love and worthy to be loved. (49) He is embodied with love fascinated by love, a good lover and a promoter of love. He is embodied with the heart of love, Nesoul of love above all body of love. (50) He is the abolisher of difficulties of the devotees the darling of the heart and bestower of life. He is embodied with soul very cruel and the acceptor of life. (51)
413 He is the darling of the heart always delighted, grandfather of all. He is old, very old, best among the lovers of Pretas. (52) He is the supreme god possessing supreme effugence, best eyes, supreme soul. He is the bestower of charming girl and son and the protector of son. (53) He is the lover of son, subordinate to son and a nourisher like a son. He is the best rescuer, possessing supreme abode, supreme consciousness and supreme lordship. (54) He is the master of all, nourisher all. He is a supreme killer. He is the destroyer of Pura, the subduer of Pura, the enemy of three Pura and the enemy of Pura. (55) He is a valorous and unconquerable. He is worshipped by Indira. He is adored by the wise very intelligent and old. His abode is the mountain. (56) He stays at sandy beach possessing the name Pulastya, grey eyes, decorated with snake having dark colour, furious form and bright body. (57) He is well-versed in all knowledge always embodied with all sorts of pleausre. He who carries away happiness the above of all happiness and sacred. (58) He represents evergreen forest bestower of essence, well-known, pure formed, essence, essence of the essence. He is illuminater of sun and moon. (59)
414 He beads in the orb of Soma and ocean. He possess the form of ocean. He is the eldest as well as the greatest among the gods and worshipped by gods and demons. (60) He is embodied with all dharma, saluted by all. He is embodied with all sects like Saura, Sakta and Vaisnava. (61) He is the knower of the application of all sects, the promoter of all practices, the remover of all diseases, the destroyer of all diseases. (62) He is noble souled, the great souled, a guide to the all religions, embodied with all fortune the viewer of the donation of all fortune. (63) He is all knowing, all viewer, a front speaker and witness possessing loughing face. (64) He is omniscient, capable and noble minded, adored by the charming Saivas, the abolisher and destroyer of sorrow, he is auspicious and unthinkable. (65) He is the knower of mountain, the lord of Sailaja, the lord of mountain San ischara, possessing the moon-like lusture and decorated with half moon. (66) He is the lover of noble, the best among the noble the lord of chaste woman, supernatural, formless, bodyless, and absent of mind. (67)
415 He is the mover in the atmosphere, stays at crematory ground, a good speaker. He is the destroyer of demons, having lustne like hundred suns, dazzling like the Sun, auspicious body, mind, and the sould. (68) He is embodied with auspicious form, bright form and bright lustre, bright teeth wearing white garland. (69) He is the lover of white flowers, white garments, while banner, decorated with snake, endless, sorrownded with snakes. (70) He rides on snake, sleeps on snake, decorated with snake. He is lover of Sati, impartial and profound meditator. (71) He is the friend and lover of virtuous and He is alone and lack of flowers, tolarent having supreme fortune always engaged in 'Samagana'. (72) He is knower of Sama, the husband of Syama the enjoyer of endless pleasure. He is the lord of Tarini, the lover of swift having copper like red eyes. (73) He is embodied with stars wearing dark garment, always engaged in enjoying young ladies. He is the satisfaction, the promoter of satisfaction and worshipped by the enemies of Taraka. (74) He is the Lord of Bhairavas, and Bhavani, the destroyer of the creation, the friend and the seizure of the creation, a devotee of worldly bondage. (75) 3
416 He is the perplexer of all the creatures a predominance embodied with evil spirit. He is the lord of the universe, adorable by the evil spirit, the bestower of the result of enjoyment and salvation. (76) He is kind hearted; the lord of the poor, intolerable, the destroyer of demon, the husband of the daughter of Daksa, the destroyer of sorrows and bestower of fortune. (67) He is a kind hearted, the best among the gods adorable by gods and Gandharvas, the holder of many weapons decorated with various flowers. (78) He is a dancer, a bestoer of various pleasure, embodied with various forms, eternal knowledge, eternal form of air and fire. (79) He is colourful, very dwarf and giving up the insignificance having rolling eyes worshipped by the universe embodied with charming. (80) He is decorated with various ornaments doer not stick to the dwelling. He is the lord of the Naga and worshipped by mountain. Narayana and Narada. (81) He resides at mountain. He is naked and in naked state he is delighted. He is adorable and adorable by the devotees also. (82) He is the lord of Nandi, adorable by Nandi. He remains inside various lotuses. He possesses the lustre of young cloud is satisfied with green vilva leaves. (83)
417 He is Nanda, full of pleasure. He is blissful and overwhelmed with pleasure. He is present in Nala (Nala samstha) with healthy mind and very charming. (84) He is the He has a minimum seat, terrible desires. cloud that destroy the universe. He is submerged in the sand beside, riders and sits on a bull. (85) He is free from enemity. He is a devotee the promoter of austerity, He is embodied with Brahma and knowledge, the practitioner of knowledge and the lord of the knowledge. (86) He is like the Ghanta form seated upon horse producing terrible sound like cloud, rolling eyes with unrolling soul, terrible laughter with deep wisdom. (87) He is the lord of Chandi, the terrible b formed, the terrible headed a profound speaker, He stays at the pyre and the promoter of punishment of funeral pile. (88) He is besmeared with funeral ashes always engaged in funeral dance, the lover of pyre. He is Cintamani, the witness of cit. (89) He is embodied with four Vedas as his four faces. He is adorab by the four-faced, Brahma, lived for a long time, cakora-eyed, moveable image with moveable eyes. (90) He He is adorned with moving ear-rings and ornaments. is having tremulous eyes, moving legs with jingling anklet. (91)
418 He is immoveable, fixed image. He is the lord of stationary objects, having fixed seat. He is the founder of firmness, the gross formed and his abode is on earth. (92) Hei spromoter of firmness, the steady, the lord of dry ground He is worldly and overpowered with passion and worshipped by the whole world. (93) The lover of earth, the destroyer of Minaketana (fishbannered). He is of Fish form, stays with Mina, seated on deer with dear in hand. (94) He is on the way, accompanied with girdle, adorable by the lord of Maithili (Rama), truthfu auspicious and the bestower of holiness, seated upon crocodile. (95) He is fond of fish, sweet song and engaged himself in drinking liquor. He is the lover of Saura and always overwhelmed with delight and sweet speech. (96) He is ornamented with Mundali a punisher, having terrible bright eyes, the accomplisher of inaccomplished, the abolisher of sorrows and adored by warriors. (97) He is the lord of fortune, Sripati, adored by Laksmi, the possessor of fortune, He is accompanied with fortune, possessing, handsome form, fortunate and resides in the wealthy abode. (98) He is Srinivasa, embodied with Laksmi. He is work without exhaustion, a devoted the presiding deity of Sradha and sweet tongue. (99)
419 He is accomplisher of inaccomplished, adorable by warrions and the abolisher of sorrows, is like the lustre of sun and fire of dissolution and intoxicated dazzling eyes. (100) He is embodied with universal form, fire as eyes, the saviour of the creation of universal qualities. (101) His tongue is Agni, face is Brahmin, whole universe is his face. He is the sustainer of all creatures. He is the star the lord of the stars, all mover and universal. (102) He is the father of Senani, the destroyer of the agitation in agitated ocean, the hands decorated and played with Kapala and Kamandalu. (103) He is identified as the only soul and only consciousness. He is a resident of atmosphere and identified as the large atmosphere. (104) He is of lotus-eyed. He is beyond human conception, and sleeps in the ocean. He is the supporter of friendless and identified with song. (105) He is embodied with meditation and sleep. He is the abolisher of confusion of the universe having large face, large eyes, large hands, very strong. (106) He is the destroyer of very wicked having large serpent large intoxicated strong hands, large mouth and large body. (107)
420 He is endowed with vast fortune, bestower of large amount of fortune, He is satisfied with extreme enjoyment and promoter of pleasure of great offering. (108) He is the holder of great matted locks, large garland Controlling His own senses he bewilders the and large bow. organs of all the creatures. (109) He is the sustainer and controller of all the senses. He is the promoter and the destroyer of all the distress. (110) You are the promoter of desires. You are accompanied with special desire. You are always with noble attempts and the sustainer of mercy, pleasure and auspiciousness. (111) You are earth, water and provide worldly satisfactions. You are embodied with meditation and offerings and you are satisfied with these. (112) You are the main cause of satisfaction and the accomplisher of all satisfy. satisfy. You are the discriminator between Bleda and Ablieda. You also distinguish yourself. (113) You are unconquerable for your weapons and your extreme valour. You are unthinkable by the warriors. You are not distinguishable while riding on a horse. (114) You are the promoter of various deeds, the magnatic force of the universe. You are the bestower of the objects of the devotees and the granter of all desired objects. (115)
421 You are the bestower of all desired objects, the propounder of various knowledge, possess awaken soul, and consciousness and the revealer of all. (116) You are furious with three matted locks and moving matted locks. Though you are in matted locks you utter sweet speech. (117) You are the father of Sanmatura, the best among the warriors. You are the striker of valuable weapons and valuable bows. (118) Though you are in the centre of Yonimandala, originate from the mouth without yawning. Wiite wearing, white garland you look like white coloured Himalaya. (119) You are a lover of (flower juice) nectar though your body is decorated with different flowers. (120) Though you are always engaged in six systems of meditation. The gods and demons are always present under your lotus feet desiring to serve your feet. (121) You have well-shining curved face having brighter neck dazzling like hundreds of autumnal moon, climbing Garuda, the son of Vinata. (122) With His shining and dazzling lustre you look like Yama yourself. You are very furious with loud laughter and shining like lightning. (123)
422 You are the only person in the world who is identified as the fire at disolution and you prefer the fire of dissolution. You are destroyer of creation. O the lord of the universe, the origin of the universe be merciful, I salute you. (124-125) Sri Mala deva said Thus with these thousand names Hara was eulogised by the king He (Hara) appeared before him with charming lotus-face. (126) He, beholding the only lord of three worlds having five delighted bright faces, riding on a bull adorned with snake the king, the best among the king danced and said. Today I see in my eyes all my pleasurable objects, my meditation, offerings and production and birth as human beings are derived from you. (127-128) There is none other than me in the earth or in the heaven who visited you, who is absolute healthy and inaccessible to gods and demons. (129) Then Hara the abolisher of sorrow asked him who was saying thus, "O my son what is your desired object please inform me, I will fulfill it". (130) He said due to the curse of Kapila my ancestors, the sons of Sagara very powerful and valorous like gods were reduced to ashes in the cave of Patala. (131) For their redemption I want to take Ganga to the earth, but she, the absolute power does not move to the earth without your permission. (132) That is why I want Ganga the great river to visit the
423 earth with a great speed and enter into the hole should purify all the sons of Sagara. (133) Having heard this the supreme lord said to the best among the kings, you know due to my favour your desire will be fulfilled very soon. (134) O king the people who eulogise me with these words with devotion, all their desires are fulfilled no doubt due to my favour. (135) Sri Mahadeva said Thus assured with such boon the king gladly, saluting on earth said, I am very blessed for your favour. (136) O the best among the sages, the magnanimous god disappeared within a moment. The king was delighted. (137) He, who recites the stotra of thousand names by the king with devotion attains final emancipation. (138). â—� Narada he is not afflicted with sorrow any longer. Due to the grace of Mahesa he attains prosperity. (139) He who reads this noble stotra of thousand names of Sambhu which promotes all prosperity, abolishes all terrible fears and bestows all pleasure and fortune in acute danger and terrible fear, is liberated from the great illusion due to the favour of Mahadeva. (140-141) O sage the king who worshipping the supreme deity with incense and lamp reads the stotra of thousand names at the time of drought and in the internal disturbance and agitation, does not
424 meet with such calamities further on. (142-143) It is sure that there are no other disturbances which take place there. Indra also showers rain in time. (144) Where the stotra, the abolisher of all sin is recited the land is filled with food grains no doubt. (145) Even the wicked does not meet with unnatural O sage the animals or untimely death there before time. (146) Due to the favour of Mahadeva the beast of prey does not enjure. The country flourishes and the people are fortunate enough where there is Mahesvara. (147) Worshipping the phallus one who recites the thousand names of Mahesa in the fourteenth day of dark fortnight in the month of Phalguna, is released of further birth again in this world ' and becomes as strong as Vayu, wealthy like Kuvera and charming like Kandarpa and enjoys like god and is capable enough to save the distressed. He, who worshipping Mahesvara at Ganga, Kurukseira, and Prayaga reads it, is able to get salvation. (148-151) O sage, what to speak of his merit, who reads the holy stotra at Kasi. Due to the grace of this stotra man during his life time attains salvation and becomes Siva after it. (152-153) The man who utters it regularly under a Vilva tree, attains light due to the grace of Mahadeva. (154) I tell you the truth that one who reads the stotra, the abolisher of all sins, is liberated from all great sins. (155)
425 He niether suffers from any pain due to the influence plannets nor be faces accidental death. The king never harms or is he afraid of deases. (156) One, who remembering the eternal god, the absolute, dazzles like the mountain of silver, having full blown lotus face, charming form with matted locks and buring lustre like deadly poison holding Trisula and Dambaru in the right and left hands wearing elephant's skin calon, the enticer of the three worlds in mind with devotion and reads these noble qualities enjoying the result of his next birth in the present life attains the form of Sambhu what to speak more. O sage the worldly being though he may be sinful, by reciting my favourite stotracauses the world pure and becomes holy himself. (157-162) i Here ends the sixty seventh chapter called the description of thousand names of Siva in the story of Ganga's arrival in Sri Mahabhagavata Upapurana.