17 - The greatness of Shiva

Sanatkumara said:

1-3. Once again, O most excellent one among Devas, let me hear the greatness of Shiva. I am not satiated by listening to the excellent greatness of Shiva. I am not satisfied fully with your present nectarine speech.

How did the lord become an embodied soul? Wherefore is Rudra powerful and strong? How is he considered the Atman of all? How is the holy rite Pashupata to be performed? How was Shankara listened to by the chiefs of Devas? How was he delighted?

Shailadi said:

Sthanu, Shiva, the great cause originated from the unmani fest.

4-5. He was a lordly sage superior to the universe. He was the sage equipped with all causes. At the outset, he saw Brahma, the first144 Deva born out of his lotus-face. He glanced at him by way of command.145 On being seen by Rudra, he, the lord of Devas, created everything.

144. davanam prathamam devam. TA. 10. 10. 3. Mahan. U. 10. 3.

145. ajnaya — paramaishvarya ST. Cf. tasyajna parameshvari-cited in ST.

6-7. The Viraj (immense Being) established the order of the castes and stages of life. For the sake of sacrifice, he created the soma juice. All these originated from the soma juice: the sacrificial offering, fire, sacrifice, lord Indra the consort of Shachi armed with the thunderbolt, Vishnu, Narayana the glorious being and the entire earth identical with soma,

8-9. Devas eulogised lord Rudra by reciting the Rudradhyaya. The lord stood in the midst of Devas with his face beaming with pleasure. It was as though the great lord took away their wisdom.

Devas then asked lord Shankara, “Sir, who are you?” 146

146. ko bhavan. Cf. deva ha vai svargam lokamagamams te deva rudram apprucchan ko bhavan-“Atharvopanisad- cited in ST.

 10. Lord Rudra said: — “O excellent Devas, I was the sole ancient Being. I continue to be the first among all beings.

11. I will be so in this world. There is nothing other than myself. There is nothing separate from me. 147 O excellent Devas, there is nothing else.

147. Read matto for bhakto.

12. I am both eternal and non-eternal. I am the sinless Brahma as also the lord of Brahma. I am the quarters as well as the intermediary direction. 1 am Prakruti as well as Purusha.

13. I am Trishtup, Jagati and Anushtup metres of prosody. I am the omnipresent Truth, the tranquil one, I am the three-fold sacrificial fire. I am the preceptor as well as preceptorhood.

14. I am the cow. I am the cavity. I am always perceptible in the impenetrable depth. I am the eldest and best of all the principles. I am the lord of the waters.

15. I am the waters; lord lsha; fiery brilliance y the sacrificial altar; I am the Rugveda, the Yajurveda the Samaveda. I am the self-born deity.148

148. atmabhuh —in the form of ether. Of. ‘tasmad va etasmad atmanah akashah sambhutah — cited in ST.

16. I am the Atharvaveda, the mantra, the most excellent among the Angiras. I am the Itihasa, the Purana; the Kalpa149 (science of Rituals) as well as the Kalpana (imagination).

149. kalpah — karma-prayogarachanah ST. — treatises dealing with the ritual. Cf. siddha-rupah prayogo yaih karmanam avagamyate te kalpah— cited in ST.

17. I am the imperishable and perishable; I am forgiveness, calmness, forbearance, the secret of all the Vedas, the most excellent and the unborn one.

18. I am die holy Pushkara. I am the middle and beyond it. I am the exterior and interior. I am the unchanging one in front.

19. I am the brilliant light as well as darkness. I am Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara. I am the cosmic intellect, ego, subtle elements and the sense-organs.

20. O excellent Devas, he who knows everything to be myself, is alone omniscient,150 Parameshvara, the soul of all.

150.  sa eva sarvavid Cf. brahmavid bramaiva bhavati— cited in ST.

21-22. O excellent Devas, by means of my brilliance, I propitiate the cow by means of the cows; the brahmins by means of the brahminical power; longevity and offerings by means of longevity; truth by means of truth 151 and Dharma by means of Dharma. I propitiate all by my own brilliance. 151. Cf. gam gobhir brahmanan brahmanyena havimshi havisha ayuh ayusha satyam satyena dharmam dharmena trpayami svena tejasa- atharvopanishad — wated in ST.

151. Cf. gam gobhir brahmanan brahmanyena havimshi havisha ayuh ayusha satyam satyena dharmam dharmena trpayami svena tejasa- atharvopanishad — wated in ST.

After saying this at the outset, the lord vanished there

23-24. Thereupon, Devas did not see lord Rudra. Including Narayana and Indra, Devas and sages meditated upon him who was the greatest Atman and the greatest cause. With their arms raised up, they praised and propitiated him.