Śiva’s Stotra to Kṛshṇa

This is the stotra that Bhagavān Śiva sang to Bhagavān Kṛshṇa when he came out of Kṛshṇa’s left side at the beginning of creation. Śiva praises Kṛshṇa as the supreme victor, the one who holds up the universe, and the endless source of all tejas (shining power). It is found in the Brahma Khaṇḍa of the Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purāṇa, in Chapter 3.

The setting

Mahādeva, Bhagavān Śiva, came out of the left side of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa. He had five heads, golden matted locks, three eyes and a crescent moon on his forehead.

He stood before Bhagavān Kṛshṇa with tears of devotion flowing from his eyes and his body thrilled with joy. In a voice choked with feeling (gadgada), he praised Kṛshṇa.

After the stotra, Bhagavān Śiva greeted Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa, who stood nearby, and took his seat on a jewelled throne.

The stotra

Mahādeva praised Bhagavān Kṛshṇa with these names and epithets:

  • Jaya-svarūpa: whose very nature is victory.
  • Jaya-kāra: the one who brings victory.
  • Jayeśa: the master of victory.
  • Jaya-kāraka: the cause of victory.
  • Jaya-kārakāṇāṃ śreshṭha: the greatest among all who bring victory.
  • Viśva-svarūpa: whose form is the universe.
  • Viśveśvarāṇāṃ Īśvara: the ruler of the rulers of the universe.
  • Viśva-sṛshṭi-kāraka: the one who causes the creation of the universe.
  • Viśvādhārabhūta: the support and foundation of the universe.
  • Viśva-kāraṇa-kāraṇa: the cause of the cause of the universe.
  • Viśva-rakshaka: the protector of the universe.
  • Pralaya-kāraka: the cause of dissolution.
  • Viśva-janman: born in and as the universe.
  • Phala-kāraka: the one who brings fruits and results.
  • Phala-ādhārabhūta: the support of all fruits.
  • Phala-svarūpa: whose nature is the result itself.
  • Āya-phala-pradāyaka: the giver of those fruits.
  • Tejaḥ-svarūpa: whose nature is shining power.
  • Teja-kārin: the one who causes tejas.
  • Sarva-tejovatāṃ śreshṭha: the greatest among all who have tejas.
  • Aparājita: the unconquered one.

The phalaśruti

Whoever reads this stotra with niyama (discipline):

  • attains all siddhis (perfections);
  • always gains vijaya (victory);
  • obtains friends (snehitāḥ), wealth (dhana) and aiśvarya (rulership);
  • sees enemies and their armies destroyed;
  • is freed from duḥkha (suffering) and pāpa (sin).

Sources

  • Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 3