6 - The Glory of Shiva

Ishvara explains his immanence and describes the working of his KriyaŚhakti (Power of action). 

 Ishvara Said: 

1. O Ye sages, listen all of you, I shall recount the greatness of the supreme Lord (Parameshthin) precisely as it is known by those who know the Vedas. 

2. I am the sole creator of the entire universe, the sole protector of all peoples and the sole annihilator of all worlds. I am the eternal universal Ātman. 

3. I, Maheśhvara, am the Antaryāmin (the Immanent soul) of all subjects. Everything is stationed within me, but I am not everywhere in the universe. 

4. A wonderful form of mine which has been seen by you is my similitude. O. Brāhmaṇas, verily my Māyā has been demonstrated by me. 

5. Stationed within all beings, I propel the entire universe. This is my Kriyashakti (the power of action). 

6. This universe stirs and moves due to me. That follows my will. I am Kāla and I urge the entire universe consisting of the elements. * 

*According to Påśhupatas, Kāla signifies the elements of the gross or material world (vide Sarva-darshana-Sangraha) 

7. O leading sages, with one single part of mine, I create the entire universe; by another form I annihilate, neverthless, my sameness (stability) is unchanged. 

8. I am devoid of beginning, middle and the end; I am the activisor of the principle of Maya; at the beginning of creation, I make both Pradhana and Puruşha co-agitate. 2 

2. KP, subscribes to theistic Sankhya. 

9. When the pair of them become mutually united, the universe is born in the order of Mahat etc. My splendour and glory become menifested therein. 

10. Hiranya-garbha, the Sun-god, who is the witness unto all worlds and who makes the wheel of Time function, is also born of my body. 

11. O Brāhmaṇas, in the beginning of the Kalpa, I who am perfectly self-possessed, gave unto him the four Vedas, my own divine glory and the eternal path of knowledge. 

12. It is at my behest that god Brahmã who has been created out of me permanently understood (v.l. always carries) my sovereign divine glory. 

13. That self-born omniscient god, the creator of all the worlds, becomes a four-faced deity and brings forth the creation (of the universe) as per my command.1 

1. VV. 13-15 describe how creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe is due to Shiva. 

14. He who is called Narayana, the infinite one, the immutable source of all worlds and who is only another form of mine, performs the duty of protection. 

15. Lord Rudra, of the nature of Kala (Death), who is the annihilator of all living beings (is also) a manifestation of mine. At my behest, he will annihilate the universe for ever.2 

2. In the remaining portion of the Chapter, Ishvara tells that all deities function in their respective spheres due to his energy and at his behest. Nay everything that happens is at his command. 

16. It is due to his being charged with my divine energy that the Fire (god) carries (sacrificial) oblations to gods and food (Kavya) etc. to its consumers (viz. Pitrus) and carries out the function of cooking etc. 

17. At the behest of Ishvara the firegod Vaiśhvānara (the fire of digestion) digests the food eaten by day or by night. 

18. The leading god Varuna, who is the source of origin of all waters shall enliven everyone at the bidding of Iśhvara. 

19. Lord Prabhañjana (Wind god) who stays within and without the bodies of living beings, sustains the physical bodies of all living beings at my command. 

20. Soma (the Moon god) who is the enlivener of men and the storehouse of nectar for Devas, is activated through my bidding. 

21. The sun who illuminates the entire universe every where through his own refulgence, brings about the rainfall through his own rays (at the bidding) of the self-born deity. 

22. God Shakra, the lord of all immortal beings, who rules over the entire universe and who is the bestower of fruits on those who perform sacrifices, functions at my bidding. 

23. Yama, the son of Vivasvān, the god who chastises the wicked ones, abides regularly at the bidding of the Lord of Devas. 

24. Even Kubera, who is the presiding deity of all riches and who is the distributor of all wealth, behaves so at the behest of Ishvara. 

25. God Nirruti who is the lord of all Rakshasas and who is the bestower of benefits on those who are Tamasaic by nature, always behaves so at my command. 

26. Ishana who is the lord of the groups of Vetālas (ghosts) and Bhūtas (goblins) and who is the bestower of the fruits of enjoyment of pleasures on his devotees, also abides at my bidding. 

27. Vāmadeva who is the disciple of Angiras, who is the leader of groups of Rudra and who is the protector of Yogins does so far ever through my behest. 

28. Vinayaka who is worthy of the worship of all the worlds and who is the leader of obstacles (i.e. one who dispels them) is engaged in piety evidently at my instance. 

29. The self-born god Skanda who is the most excellent among the knowers of the Brahman, and who is the lord of Devasenā (Goddess of that name or the army of Devas) behaves so always, on being urged by my command. 

30. Marichi and other great sages who are progenitors of the world create different kinds of worlds, only through the bidding of the supreme Deity. 

31. Shri the Goddess of Wealth who is the spouse of Nārāyaṇa and who bestows large fortune on all living beings, behaves so through my blessings. 

32. Goddess Sarasvati who bestows amplc fluency functions, so, on being urged by the bidding of Ishvara. 

33. Såvitrī,1 who, on being remembered will redeem all men from the terrible hell, is one who carries out my behests. 

1. Known popularly as Gayatri Mantra (RV. III. 62.10). 

34. The supreme goddess Parvati who, on being specially meditated upon, is the bestower of the spiritual love (Brahma vidya) is also one who follows my utterances. 

35. Ananta, the serpent Sheșha who has infinite greatness, and is the lord of all immortal beings and who holds the worlds on his hoods does so at the bidding of the lord. 

36. The Fire-god Samvartaka (destroyer of the universe at the time of dissolution of the worlds) who is stationed in the form of submarine fire eternally drinks up the entire ocean at the order of Ishvara. 

37. The fourteen Manus whose prowess is well-known, protect all subjects at his bidding. 

38. Adityas (sons of Aditi or the sun-god), Vasus, Rudras, Maruts and two Aśhvini-Kumāras and all other divinities are created (v.l. are appointed) at my command. 

39. Gandharvas, Garuda and others, Siddhas, Sadhyas Charañas, Yakşhas, Räkşhasas and Piśhāchas are created by and established there as per order of the self-born deity. 

40. The (divisions of Time such as) Kalās, Kashthās, Nimeşhas, Muhūrtas, days, nights, seasons, fortnights and months abide by the commandment of Prajapati. 

41. The Yugas and the Manvantaras remain within my control. So also the Paras, Parardhas and other varieties of time-units. 

42. The four categories of living beings, both mobile and immobile, do abide by the bidding of the lord, the supreme Atman, 

43. All the nether worlds, the upper worlds and the Brahmāndas do follow the injunctions of the self-born deity. 

44. The innumerable universes of the past which were all over endowed with floods (multitudes) of objects functioned at my command. 

45. The future Brahmāndas, along with the Ātmans present in them,' will carry out the injunctions of the greatest Atman. 

46. The Earth, the Waters, the Fire, the Wind, the Ether, the mind, the intellect, the Ahankāra and the primordial Prakruti stay within my injunction. * 

*BG. VII. 4, 

47. Mäya which is the source of origin of the entire universe and which fascinates all embodied beings, transforms itself for ever at the bidding of Ishvara. 

48. Puruşha who is the lord of all embodied beings, and who is cited as the supreme Ātman, eternally exists and functions as per instruction of Iśhvara. 

49. The intellect too, through which one observes that region, (i.e. the supreme self), after eschewing all the confused delusions, invariably abides by the will of the great god (Mahesha). 

50. What need there is of prolixity, the entire universe is constituted of my potency (Shakti). The whole of the universe is urged on by me and in me does it dissolve in the end. 

51. I am the lord Isha, the eternal entity that is self-luminous. I am the great Ātman, the supreme Brahman. There is nothing other than I. 

52. Thus, this greatest knowledge has been communicated to you by me. After knowing this, a creature is liberated from the bondage of births and worldly existence.