Dattātreya’s Stotra to Somanātha (Brahma Purāṇa)
Dattātreyakṛta Somanātha Stotra · dattātreya-kṛta soma-nātha stotra, “the stotra to Somanātha sung by Dattātreya”
Dattātreya’s Stotra to Somanātha is a stotra of eleven verses that Datta, the son of Atri, sang to Bhagavān Śiva as Somanātha on the bank of the Gautamī, seeking knowledge of Brahman. It is found in the Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 47 (verses 7–17), where Brahmā tells Nārada the glory of Ātmatīrtha. In it Dattātreya describes himself as fallen into the well of saṃsāra, pierced by pāpa, bound by poverty and seized by the serpent of death; he declares that these sorrows last only until one says “Namaḥ Śivāya”, and asks for no lordship of the devas, only for the lotus feet of Somanātha in his heart. Pleased, Bhagavān Śiva granted him ātma-jñāna, moksha and bhakti, and the place became Ātmatīrtha, where Śiva is called Jñāneśvara, the master of knowledge.
The setting
Brahmā tells Nārada that Ātmatīrtha gives bhukti and moksha. Atri had a son named Datta, dear to Hara, the beloved brother of Durvāsa, learned in every śāstra and vidyā. Datta went to his father, bowed and asked: “How can I realise Brahman? Whom shall I ask? Where shall I go?” Atri meditated and said: “Dear son, go to the Gautamī and praise Maheśvara there. When he is pleased you will receive jñāna from him.” Saying “So be it”, Datta went to the Gaṅgā, pure and self-controlled, and with joined palms praised Śaṅkara with bhakti.
The stotra
- “O Deveśa, by ill fortune I have fallen into the well of saṃsāra. Through moha I am sunk in the mire of misery, covered by the darkness of ajñāna. I cannot realise the supreme ātmā.”
- “I am pierced by the mighty trident of pāpas, torn by the razor of cares, scorched by the terrible heat of the five senses. I am weary. Lift me up, O Somanātha.”
- “I am bound by the fetters of poverty, burned by the flames of the fire of sickness, seized by the serpent of Death. I am greatly afraid. What shall I do, O Śambhu?”
- “I am deeply distressed by births and deaths, thirst and hunger, rajas and tamas, and overcome by old age. O Īśa, see my state today and be merciful.”
- “Again and again I have been brought into trouble by desire, anger, jealousy, arrogance, pride and other faults, and pierced by them. O Īśa, like a true leader, drive off these enemies of mine.”
- “Someone may remove the misery of some fallen person. But apart from you, O Somanātha, I have not even a kind word anywhere.”
- “Only so long as I do not say ‘Namaḥ Śivāya’ must I suffer anger, fear, delusion, misery, ignorance, poverty, sickness, desire and the other faults, and even death.”
- “I am not virtuous, not devout, not discerning, not merciful. You are the giver. So, O Īśa, refuge of all, place the word ‘Soma‘ in my mind.”
- “I do not beg for the lordship of the devas, O Somanātha. I humbly ask for the lotus feet of Śrī Somanātha in the middle of the lotus of my heart.”
- “Known to you as one who bears pāpa, hear my request: let me always be where the word ‘Śiva’ is heard.”
- “O Gaurīpati, O Śaṅkara, O Somanātha, O master of the universe, O treasury of compassion, O ātmā of all: wherever praise is offered thus, there some happy and fulfilled person surely dwells.”
The vara and Ātmatīrtha
Hearing the stotra of Dattātreya, Bhagavān Hara was pleased, and Bhava, the creator of the universe, said to that yogī: “I am the giver of varas.” Ātreya asked: “This is the vara I ask, O Īśa worshipped by the devas: knowledge of the ātmā, moksha, great bhakti for you, and the greatness of this tīrtha.” Saying “Let it be so”, Bhagavān Śiva withdrew from sight there. From then on the wise know that tīrtha as Ātmatīrtha. One who bathes there and gives dakshiṇā attains moksha.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 47
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 47