82 - Hymn of purification

Sūta said: 

1-4. I shall now mention the auspicious hymn that dispels sins and bestows Siddhis. This was at first heard by the noble Kumāra from Nandin and narrated to Vyāsa and from him heard by me with great attention. 

Obeisance to Shiva, the pure, the renowned, devoid of impurities; the destroyer of the wicked. Obeisance to Sharva, to Bhava; to the great Atman. May the omniscient fivefaced,711 ten-armed712 lord possessed of fifteen organs of senses, decked in all ornaments and resembling pure crystal and accompanied by Umā713 dispel sins quickly. He is quiescent, all-pervasive stationed above all in the Padmāsana714 posture. 

711. pancha-vaktrah-five-faced, See p. 49 note 65.

 712. daśhabhujah--this epithet of Shiva seldom occurs in the Puranas. 

713. someśhaḥ-Umaya sahitaḥ somah, sa căsau Išhaś cha ST. the lord accompanied by Umā. 

714. padmāsana-See p. 35 note 47. 

5-8. May Ishana, Puruşha, Aghora, Sadya and Vämadeva dispel sin quickly. May Ananta, the lord of all learning, the omniscient lord who is the bestower of everything and who is richly endowed with meditation on Shiva dispel my sin. May the subtle lord of Devas and Asuras, the lord of the universe, worshipped by Ganas and endowed with the sole meditation on Shiva dispel my sin. May the most excellent one among auspicious ones, the great one worthy of worship, the deity engaged in auspicious meditation, the all-pervasive bestower of everything dispel my sin. 

9-12. May the single-eyed lord Isha, engrossed in auspicious worship, the lord richly endowed with meditation on Shiva dispel my sin. May lord Isha of three forms, the inducer of Shiva's devotion and richly endowed with meditation on Shiva dispel my sin. May Shrikantha thc glorious lord of fortune, always engaged in meditation and worship of Shiva, dispel my sin. May the tufted quiescent lord, smeared with ashes from the corpse and the glorious onc engaged in the worship of Shiva, dispel my sin. 

13-24. May the great goddess directly dispel my sin immediately:-the goddess bowed to by the three worlds, the ancient goddess in the form of a comet, the grcat goddess, thc daughter of Dakşha, Gauri, the splendid daughter of the Himavăn, Ekaparņā,715 Agrajā,716 the gentle one, Ekapătalā, Aparņā, the goddess who bestows boons, the goddess who is interested only in granting boons, Uma, the destroyer of Asuras, Kaushiki, Kapardini, Khațvāngadharini the Divine lady, one who plucked the sprouts by ineans of the tip of her hand, one who is surrounded by the four sons Naigameya717 and others, the daughter of Mena, goddess born of water, one whose eyes resemble lotuses, one who is the mother of the noble-souled Nandin devoid of sorrow, the companion of Shubhāvatī, Panchachūdā, the bestower of boons, the unchanging one who attained the state of Prakruti for the sake of creation of all living beings; one who pervades everything by means of the twentythree718 principles beginning with Mahat; one who is perpetually bowed to by Lakşhmi and other Shaktis; the delighter of Nanda; Manonmanī, one who is fond us embellishing Mahadeva the wielder of Mayas; one when agitates and fascinates the entire universe beginning with Brahma and consisting of the mobile and immobile beings, by means of her Mäyä, one who is stationed in the lient of the yogins; one who is stationed in the world both as one and many; one whose eves resemble the blue lotus; one who is perpetually eulogsed with great devotion by all Devas beginning with the leaders of the Gaņas, Brahmā, Indra, Yama and Kubera; the mother who on being eulogised destroys all their calamities; the destroyer of the agony of devotees; the elegant one; she who destroys worldliness; the divine deity the bestower of' enjoyment of worldly pleasures and liberation ou devotees without their effort. May that great goddess dispel my sin immediately]. 

715. eka-parnā-one who lived on a single leaf, i.e., Pårvati, Umā. better known as 'aparņā'. 

716. agrajā-the first-born. 

717. Naigameya, etc. The four brothers (sons of Uma) are named (i) Kumāra, (ii) Shakha, (iii) Vishakha, (iv) Naigameya. These appear on the gold coins of Kuvişhka in the early Kushan period. 

718. The twentythree principles consist of ten senses, five bhūtas. five tanmätras, buddhi, ahamkåra and manas. Cf. Bhäga 3.6.2 "trayovimšhati tattvānăm ganam. 

25. May Chanda the lord of all the Gaņas, who came out of the mouth of Shiva, the glorious one engaged in the worship of Shiva, dispel my sin. 

26-29. May the lord Nandin dispel all sins; Nandin the son of Shālankāyana, originating from the path of the ploughshare, the son-in-law of the Maruts, the lord of all Bhūtas, the all-pervasive, one who has eyes everywhere; the lord who is like the lord of all, may he dispcl sins. He is the lord of the three worlds eulogised by Devas including Nārāyaṇa, Indra, moon, sun, Siddhas, Yakşhas, Gandharvas, Bhūtas, the creators of Bhūtas, serpents, sages and the noble-souled Brahmā. He is stationed in the harem of the lord. He is always worshipped by all. 

30. May he who has great splendour and strength, he who is like another Mahadeva, the glorious one engaged in the worship of Shiva, dispel my sin. 

31-35. May the auspicious elephant-faced deity surrounded by hundreds and crores of Gaņas and engrossed in the meditation on Shiva dispel my sin. He splits and pierces the ridges and peaks of the Meru, Mandara and Kailāsa; he is worshipped by Airāvata and other divine elephants of the quarters. The seven Pātālas719 constitute his feet; the seven continents720 his thighs and calves; the seven oceans721 his goads; all the holy centres his belly; the firimament his body; the quarters his arms, the moon, sun and fire his eyes; the asuras like the trees are kille by him; he is great and fierce with the Vidyå of the Brahmin. He is bound to the pillar of lotus-like hearts of ????? by brahma and others who acts as divine mahouts and who are equipped with ropes of yoga.

719. seven nether regions, see p. 71 note 9o

720. See p. 140 note 247.

721. See p. 14 note 247; p. 181 note 282. 

36. May the glorious tawny-eyed lord Bhrungin who has a body that has brightened the quarters, and who is engaged in the worship of Shiva dispel my sin. 

37-41. May the Shakti-bearing commander-in-chief of the army of Devas, the glorious destroyer of Asuras by means of his four bodies [?], the quiescent peacock-vehicled leader of the armies dispel my sin. May these forms 722 of Parameşhthin dispel my sin, viz., - Bhava, Sharva, Ishām. Rudra, Pashupati, Ugra, Bhima and Mahadeva, who are always engaged in the worship of Shiva. The following parts of his body,723 viz., -Mahādeva, Shiva, Rudra, Shankara, Nīlalohita, Ishäna, Vijaya, Bhima, Bhavodbhava the lord of Devas, Kapalin and Isha, who are all engaged in doing obeisance of Shiva. May they dispel my impurity (sin). 

722. See p. 166 note 273.

723. See p. 167 note 275. 

42-43. May these twelve Adityas724 dispel my impurity - Vikartana, Vivasvin, Martanda, Bhaskara, Ravi, Lokaprakāšhaka (the illuminator of the worlds), Lokasaksin (the witness of the worlds), Trivikrama, Aditya, Sürya, Amshumān and Divakara. 

724. twelve adityas, viz., dhātri, mitra, aryaman, rudra, Varuna, sürya, bhaga, vivasvän, pūşhan, savitri, tvaştr and vişhnu. These represent the sun in the twelve months of the year. 

44-45a. The firmament, wind, fire, water, earth, moon and Atman are mentioned as his cosmic bodies.725 May thev dispel my sin. May they destroy my fear. 

725. For detail, see MP-A Study, p. 63. 

45b-47a. May Väsava, (Indra) Pāvaka (fire), Yama, Nirruti, Varuna, Väyu, Soma, Ishäna, Vişhnu and Brahmä all engaged in meditating on Shiva dispel my sin committed mentally and physically. 

47b-48. May the Maruts (wind-god) Nabhasvān, Sparśhana, Váyu, Anila, Māruta, Prāņa, Prāņeśha and Jivesha, all engaged in the worship of Shiva, dispel my impurities. 

49-50. The following are the Chäraņas highly purified by his worship-Khecharin, Vasuchărin, Brahmešha, Brahmabrahmadhi, Susena, Shāśhvata, Puşhta, Supuşhta and Mahābala. May they dispel my impuritics and all sins committed by me. 

51-52a. May all the Siddhas the worshippers of the feet of Shiva dispel my impurities-Mantrajña, Mantravid, Prājña, Mantrarāt, Siddhapujita, Siddhavatparama and Siddha. They are the bestowers of all Siddhis. 

52b-53. May these lords of Yakşhas dispel my impurities Yakşha, Yakşheśha, Dhanada, Jrumbhaka, Manibhadraka, Pūrnabhadreśhvara, Mālin, Kșhitikuņdali and Narendra. 

54-35. May these who constitute the ornaments in the body of Shiva dispel my sin and all poison mobile and immobile- Ananta, Kulika, Väsuki, Takşhaka, Karkotaka, Mahāpadma, Shankhapāla and Mahābala, all engaged in doing obeisance to Shiva. 

56-57a. May the Kinnaras, Vīņājña, Shūrasena, Pramardana, Atishaya, Saprayogin and Gitajña, all engaged in adoring Shiva dispel my impurities. 

57b-59a. May the Vidyadharas, viz., Vibudha, Vidyarashi, Vidāmvara, Vibuddha, Vibudha, Krutajña, and Mahayaśhas, all engaged in meditating on Shiva, dispel all terrible impurities through the grace of Mahadeva. 

59b-62a. May the following noble-souled heroes, all greatly devoted to Mahadeva dispel all fear and the dreadful asura tendency726: - Vāmadeva, Mahājambha, Kalanemi, Mahābala, Sugrīva, Mardaka, Pingala, Devamardana, Prahlāda, Anuhlāda, Samhláda, Kila, Başkala, Jambha, Kumbha, Māyāvin, Kärtavirya and Krutañjaya. 

726. asuram bhävam - evil thoughts created by Satan. 

62b-64. May the following Garudas the vehicles of Vişhnu, all golden in colour and adorned with various ornaments, dispel my impurity, Garutmān, Khagati, Pakşhirāț, Nägamardana, Nagashatru, Hiraṇyānga, Vainateya, Prabhañjana, Nāgāśhiḥ, Vişhanāśha and Vişhņuvāhana. 

65-66. May these sages who are sanctified by Shiva and who are engaged in His worship, dispel my impurity -Agastya, Vasişhtha, Angiras, Bhrugu, Kāśhyapa, Nārada, Dadhicha, Chyavana, Upamanyu and others. 

67-68a. May the departed fathers, grand-fathers, great grand-fathers, the Agnişhvättas, the Barhişhadas, the maternal grandfathers and others who are devoted to meditation on Shiva dispel my fear and sin. 

68b-70. May the divine mothers dispel my impurities, thanks to the grace of the lord of Devas, viz., -Lakşhmi, Dharani, Gayatri, Sarasvati, Durgā, Uşha, Shachī, and Jyeșhthā, who are all worshipped by Devas, the mothers of Devas, Ganas, Bhūtas and the mothers of the Gaņas wherever they are. 

71-73a. May the celestial damsels and the goddesses, engaged in the worship of Shiva dispel my impurities- Viz., Urvashi, Menaka, Rambhā, Rati, Tilottamă, Sumukhi, Durmukhi, Kāmuki, Kāmavardhani and other divine Apsarases in all the worlds and the goddesses who are highly purified by doing the Tändava dance for Shiva. 

73b-74. May the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rāhu and Ketu (the ascending and descending nodes) dispel all affliction from evil planets. 

75-77a. May these twelve Rāśhis (signs of zodiac), viz., Meşha, Vrusha, Mithuna, Karkataka, Simha, Kanyā, Tula, Vrushchika, Dhanus, Makara, Kumbha and Mina (i.e., froin Aries to Pisces), all engaged in the worship of Shiva, dispel fear and sin through the grace of Parameşhthin. 

77b-81a. May the goddesses of the twenty-seven lunar mansions always dispel my impurity. They are Ashvini, Bharaṇī, Kruttikā, Rohiņi, Mrugashiras, Arudrā, Punarvasu, Puşhya, Aśhleşhā, Maghã, Pūrvaphālguni, Uttaraphälgunī, Hasta, Chitrā, Svāti, Višhākhā, Anurādhā, Jyeşhthā. Mūlā, Pārvāşhādhā, Uttarāshādhā, Shravana, Shravişhthă, Shatabhişhak, Pürvabhädra, Proşhthapadā727 and Revati. 

727. proshtapada-uttarã bhädrapada. 

81b-83. May these Pramathas, viz. Jvara, Kumbhodara, Shankukarna, Mahābala, Mahākarņa, Prabhāta, Mahābhūtapramardana, Shyenajit and Shivadūta, who increase one's delight as also innumerable mothers of the Bhūtas, dispel my fear and sin through the grace of Mahadeva. 

84-85a. May Himavān dispel my sin, who is engaged in the worship of Shiva, who resembles a watery expanse, who has the colour of the Kunda flower and the moon,728 who is inimical to the submarine fire and who pierces the face of Vadavā. 

728, kumbha-kundendu-bhūşhanah omitted in translation: adorned with the moon-like kumbha and kunda flowers, kumbham-tatsanjñakam pushpan ST, a kind of flower. 

85b-87. May the lord of bulls (Nandin) dispel my sm; the bull who has four feet, who is grey in colour like the milk ocean, who is always stationed in the world of Rudra along with the Rudras and the leaders of the Ganas, who holds the universe, who is the divine father of the entire universe, who is surrounded always by Nanda and other mothers and who is the suppressor of sacrifice 

88. Vay mother Gargă,729 the mother of the universe, stationed in the world of Rudra, a delighted devotce of Shiva, dispel my sin. 

729. The river Gangå, the mother of the worlds (jaganmátá), is invoked in her various forms. 

89. May Goddess Bhadra of auspicious position stationed in the world of Shiva, the highly blessed inother of all kine, dispel my sin. 

90. May Surabhi, who is auspicious all round, who is the destroyer of all sins and who is always engaged in the worship of Rudra dispel my sin. 

91. May Sušhilā of good conduct and glorious position, sanctified by Shiva and stationed in the world of Shiva dispel my sin. 

92-95. May Senapati (Skanda) the son of the lord of Devas dispel my sin. He is conversant with the reality of the teaching in the Vedas and Shästras; he ponders over all actions, he is richly endowed with all attributes, he is the eldest and the lord of all, he is gentle, and has the body of Mahāvişhnu, he is the noble commander of the army, he is the mysterious suppressor of sacrifice; he rides on the elephant Airāvata, he has black curly hairs; his limbs are black, his eyes are red; moon and serpent constitute his ornaments; he is surrounded by goblins, ghosts, evil spirits and Kūsmāņdas and he is engaged in the worship of Shiva. 

96-97. May all these mothers accompanied by Yoginis dispel all great sins: - Brahmāni, Mäheshi, Kaumāri, Vaishnavi, Vārāhi, Māhendri, Chāmundā and Āgneyikā. They are worshipped by all the worlds and they are pure and attentive. 

98-103. Virabhadra of great splendour is the son of Rudra. He is the leader of the armies and lord of the Gaņas. May he dispel sin. He resembles the snow, the Kunda flower and the moon; he is terrible, his great hand closely clinging to the trident. He is omniscient and thousand-armed. He holds all weapons. The thrce sacrificial fires constitute his eyes. He is the lord, the bestower of fearlessness on the three worlds. He is the permanent protector of the mothers. His vehicle is the great bull. He is glorious and is bowed to by the three worlds. He is engaged in the worship of Shiva. He beheaded Yaksha ;730 he destroyed the tooth of Pūşhan;731 he removed the hand of the fire-god;732 he caused the eye of Bhaga to fall down ;733 he pounded the limbs of Soma by the big toe of his foot; he is the bodyguard of Upendra, Indra, Yama and other Devas; he cut off the nose and lips of the great goddess Sarasvati.734 May the lord of Ganas dispel my sin. 

730. The translators prefer yakşhasya to yajñasya and translate accordingly. But the legends referred to in this verse relate to Dakşha's sacrifice. Hence in "yakshasya cha shiraś chetta' "yajñasya' for 'yakşhasya' would suit the context -Editor. 

731-733. For the legends, see Purāņic Encyclopaedia.

734. This legend is not traceable. 

104. May Mahālakṣhmi the mother of the universe dispel my sin. She is the eldest, most excellent, bestower of boons and bedecked in excellent ornaments. 

105. May the highly blessed Mahåmohã (the great delusion), surrounded by the great groups of goblins and engaged in the worship of Shiva dispel my sin. 

106. May Lakşhmi who is endowed with all attributes, who has all the characteristics, who is the goddess that bestows all and who is omnipresent, dispel my sin. 

107-108. May Durgā engaged in the worship of Shiva dispel my sin. She is the great goddess riding on a lion. She is the unchanging daughter of Pārvati. She is Mahāmāyā of Vişhnu constituting his slumber. She is worshipped by Devas. She has three eyes. She is the goddess who bestows boons. She had suppressed the demon Mahişha.735 

735. Mahişha-the asura from whom the country of Mysore is said to take its name. 

109. May all the mental sons of Sati, the Rudras who sustain the Cosmic egg, and who are worshipped by all the worlds, dispel my fear. 

110. May the Bhūtas, Pretas, Küşhmandas, the leaders of Ganas and of Kuşhmāņdas dispel my sin. 

111-112. Devas eulogised the lord with this hymn and then bowed down their heads as far as the ground. O excellent brahmins, he who reads this divine hymn every month, or he who listens to this, sheds off all sins and is honoured in the world of Rudra. 

113. He who seeks a virgin obtains her; he who is desirous of victory shall attain victory; he who is desirous of wealth shall attain wealth and he who wishes for sons will obtain sons. 

114-116. He who seeks learning obtains learning; he who seeks enjoyment of pleasures will attain pleasures. By listeing to this, a man obtains immediately wh never he desires. He will be favourite of Devas. If this meritorious hymn is read on behalf of some one, the ailments arising from gas, bile, etc., do not harass him. He courts no premature death nor is he bitten by snakes. 

117-120. By repeating this hymn, a man obtains many times the merit of visiting holy centres, and doing Ajñās, giving charitable gifts and performing the vratas in particular. The slayer of cows, the ungrateful wretch, the murderer of heroes, brahmins, mother and father, the slayer of those who seek refuge, the sinner who is guilty of breach of faith towards friends, all these wretched me a lispel their sins and are honoured in the world of Shiva.