5 - Shiva's Dance - Shiva eulogised by Sages 

 This chapter describes the Cosmic dance of Shiva but takes care to emphasize the identity of Shiva and Vişhņu (V. 17). 

Vyasa said: 

1. After saying this much to the Yogins, Lord Parameshvara began to dance demonstrating his supreme divine nature. 

2. They saw Ishana, the greatest treasure-house of splendour, the sovereign lord, dancing along with Vişhnu in the clear firmament. 

3. In the firmament, they saw that lord of all living beings whom the Yogins, the knowers of the principles of Yoga who have their minds under control, realize. 

4. The sovereign Lord of the universe who impels the world into action which is the creation of his Māya, was verily seen dancing by Brahmaņas. 

5. They saw the lord of Bhūtas (creatures or elements) dancing, the lord by remembering whose lotus-like feet a man can eschew the fear originating from ignorance. 

6. Those who have conquered their sleep and controlled their breath, who are quiescent and endowed with devotion, see him as full of brilliance, that is how Shiva the Yogin was seen. 

7. In the firmament, they saw. the great Rudra, the liberator, the delighted lord, favourably disposed to his devotees and who instantaneously liberates the devotees from ignorance. 

8. They saw the lord with a thousand (i.e. innumerable) heads, a thousand feet, a thousand shapes, and a thousand arms, with matted hair and with his coronet embellished with the crescent Moon. 

9. The lord was wearing the tiger's hide; his mighty hand was holding the trident; he had a staff in his hand; he had the sun, the moon and the fire as three eyes. 

10. By his brilliance he had enveloped the whole of the cosmic egg; he was standing with a refulgence equal to that of a crore of suns; he appeared terrible due to his fearful large teeth and was unthwartable. 

11. They saw the Lord, the creator of the universe dancing and emitting flames of fire and thereby burning (as it were) the entire universe. 

12. They visualised the great God, the veritable great Yoga incarnate, the divinity of celestial beings, the lord of all Pashus (individual souls), the supreme Ruler, the imperIshable bliss and Light 

13. They saw the Pinaka-bearing Lord of large eyes: the antidote for those who ail from worldly existence (samsāra), the lord who was the soul of Kāla, the lord of Devas; the slayer of Kala. 

14. They saw the consort of Umā, the great deity of large eyes and full of Yogic bliss; the lord who is the abode of knowledge and detachment; the eternal lord of the path of knowledge. 

15-17a. The sages who were well-versed in Vedas, saw the lord of eternal prosperity and glory; the lord who is difficult to approach yet is the support of Dharma; who is bowed to by Upendra (Vişhņu) and Mahendra who is honoured by groups of great sages; who abides in the hearts of Yogins who become united with Iśhvara in a trice; and was enveloped by Yogic Māya; who was the source of the origin of the universe; who was identical with Nārāyaṇa and free from all ailments. 

17b-d. Having seen that Lordly form in which Rudra was identical with Nārāyaṇa (or which showed the identity of gods Shiva and Vişhnu), the sages who were the propounders of the Vedas felt that they had achieved their ultimate goal in life. 

18-20. Sanatkumāra, Sanaka, Bhrugu, Sanatana, Sanandana, Angiras, Vāmadeva, Shukra, Atri the great sage, Kapila and Marichi saw Rudra, the lord of the universe with his left side being occupied by Padmanabha (Vişhņu). They meditated on him who was enshrined in their hearts. With palms joined in reverence. they bent down their heads again and again. Having uttered the sacred syllable OM, they saw the lord abiding in the cavity of the heart. Their minds were filled with bliss. They eulogised the lord in the words of Vedic Sūktas. 

The Sages extolled: Eulogy of Shiva 

21. All of us bow down to you, the only supreme Ruler, the ancient Purusha, the lord of the Prāņas (vital breaths), RUDRA of infinite Yogic Power. You are stationed in the cavity of the heart, you are Prachetas (of lofty mind), holy and identical with Brahman. 

22. After meditating within their self in their (physical) bodies on the absolutely immovable or unagitated Kavi (the seer or the wise) who is supremely superior to the greatest, the quiescent sages of perfect self-control perceive you, the pure, gold-complexioned God originating from the Brahman (or the creator of God Brahma). 

23. The mother of the universe (Prakruti) is born of you; though minute like the atom, you experience (perceive) everything. You are minuter than the minute atom and greater than the greatest being. * Sages say that you alone are all. 

*Katha Up.2.20; Shvetā. Up. 3.20 

24. Hiranya-garbha, the inner soul of the universe, the ancient Purusha was born of you, even as he was being born, he was immediately enjoined by you to create everything in accordance with the injunctions. 

25. The Vedas are born of you; and ultimately they find stability in you alone. We see that you are the cause of the universe. We see that you who abide in our own hearts, are dancing. 

26. This wheel of Brahman (the creation etc. of Brahmanda) is made to revolve by you alone. You are the master of Maya and the only lord of the worlds. We seek refuge in you and bow into you; the very soul of Yoga, who dance the divine dance. 

27. We perceive you who dance in the middle of the highest firmament and we remember your grandeur. Experiencing constantly the supreme bliss of the Brahman, you who abide in the souls of all, permeate the universe on all sides. 

28. The syllable OM, the seed of liberation, is your (expressive) symbol. ImperIshable though you are, you lie concealed in the primordial Nature (Prakruti). Such as you are, saints here aver that you, the self-luminous one of such prowess are the Reality. 

29. The Vedas perpetually eulogise you. The sages whose blemishes have been wiped off, bow unto you. Ascetics engrossed in Brahman, with quiescent souls and truthful as well enter unto you, the excellent one. 

30. You are the destroyer of the earth; you are without beginning. You have the universal form. You are Brahma the Parameșhthin and Vişhnu the most excellent. Those who are not unsteady and those who are ever liberated, experience the bliss of their Ātman and enter into you, the self-luminous one. 

31. Though one as Rudra you are; you create the universe; you protect the entire universe; with all its forms; all these visible worlds) attain to you as their ultimate abode. We seek refuge in you and make obeisance unto you. 

32. The Veda which has many branches and is infinite is one. It reveals you alone who are of a single form. Those Brāhmaṇas who seek refuge in you who are worthy of being respected, cross the Maya in this very world. 

33. They call you the only poet (kavi), the Supreme Rudra, eulogising the Veda, Hari, fire and Isha; they call you the eternal Rudra, the wind-god, the consciousness, the creator, the sun-god of many forms. 

34. You are the supreme imperishable one that should be realised, you are the ultimate receptable of this universe. You are the unchanging one, protecting the eternal Law (dharma). You are the most excellent Puruşha, the eternal one. 

35. You alone are Vişhnu; you are the four-faced deity (Brahma); you alone are Rudra, the lord Isha as well; you are verily the lord of the universe; you are Prakruti, the basis of all. You are the lord of all, the supreme Ishvara. 

36. The sages say that you are the ancient Purusha, one without a second, of the brillance of the sun beyond the darkness (of ignorance). They call you, the consciousness itself the unmanifest, of infinite forms, the void, the firmament, the Brahman, the Prakruti and the Guņas (v. l. above i. e. transcendental to the Guņas). 

37. This form of yours is something that cannot be conceived of; within it all these (visible worlds) appear; it is unchanging and blemishless, but is one single form; it is beyond the ken of thought and indescribable; all that appears within it is you alone, (or: your form is so wonderfully indescribable that the Reality shines in it). 

38. Seeking refuge in you, all of us make obeisance to you, the gracious lord of Yogas, the greatest goal of infinite power, the ancient one with the body of Brahman, O Lord of Bhūtas, O Mahesha, be gracious unto us. 

39. By remembering your lotus-like feet, the seed (cause) of the entire worldly existence becomes dissolved. After controlling the body and concentrating the mind, we propitiate you, the only Supreme Lord. 

40. Obeisance to Bhava, the source of origin of the worlds; to Kala to Sharva, to you the annihilator; obeisance be to Rudra with matted hair. Obeisance to you, O Lord, who are the fire; obeisance to Shiva." 

41. Thereafter, the bull-vehicled Lord with matted hair delightedly withdrew his great cosmic form. Bhava (Shiva) manifested his normal (usual) form. 

42. On seeing Bhava, the lord of everything past and future, remaining as before and lord Nārāyaṇa (also in that state), the sages were struck with wonder and they spoke these words. 

43. "O eternal lord, O lord of the past and future, O deity marked by the emblem of the bull! On seeing your grand form, we are delighted. (v. l. attained quiescence). 

44. Thanks to your grace, there is born our unswerving devotion to you, the great Supreme lord, the blemishless one. 

45. O Shankara, now we wish to hear about your greatness as well as the eternal reality about Parameşhthin". 

46. On hearing their words the lord, the bestower of Yogic siddhi on the Yogins, glanced at Madhava and said in a majestic voice.