Dhanada’s Stotra to Śiva (Brahma Purāṇa)
Dhanadakṛta Śiva Stotra · dhanada-kṛta śiva stotra, “the stotra to Śiva sung by Dhanada”
Dhanada’s Stotra to Śiva is the praise that Dhanada, the eldest son of Viśravas, offered to Bhagavān Śiva on the bank of the Gautamī after his step-brother Rāvaṇa had driven him from Laṅkā. It is found in the Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 27 (verses 20–23), where Brahmā tells Nārada the glory of Paulastya tīrtha, which gives back a lost kingdom. In four verses Dhanada praises Śambhu as the sole master of the universe, who sustains all by his eight cosmic bodies, the Ashṭamūrti, and recalls two wonders of his grace: Vighnarāja born by his glance, and the bodiless Kāma given a body again at Girijā’s word. Bhagavān Śiva appeared, and at the word of a divine voice Dhanada became the protector of wealth and guardian of the northern quarter.
The setting
Dhanada, the eldest son of Viśravas, was rich in every wealth and ruled Laṅkā. His three step-brothers, Rāvaṇa, Kumbhakarṇa and Vibhīshaṇa, born of a rākshasī, were mighty and were his enemies. Stung by their mother’s words, the three performed tapas and received varas from Brahmā, and Rāvaṇa asked for Laṅkā. In the war between the brothers Rāvaṇa conquered his calm elder brother and took Laṅkā, the vimāna Pushpaka and all the rest, and he proclaimed through the three worlds that whoever gave Dhanada refuge would be slain.
Finding no support anywhere, Dhanada went to his grandfather Pulastya and asked whether he should rely on fate or on a tīrtha. Pulastya said: “Dear child, go to the Gautamī and praise Maheśvara. There, in the middle of the Gaṅgā, your wicked brother cannot reach you, and you will gain prosperity and success.” So Dhanada went to the Gautamī with his wife, his parents and the aged Pulastya, bathed in the Gaṅgā, kept all the niyamas, and praised Bhagavān Śiva, the giver of bhukti and moksha.
The stotra
- “O Śambhu, you alone are the master of this universe of moving and unmoving beings; there is no other. Whoever in delusion slights you and swaggers deserves punishment.”
- “You sustain everything by your eight cosmic bodies (ashṭamūrti). Everything exists and acts at your bidding. Yet those without knowledge never reach you, whose glory is ancient and whose radiance is splendid.”
- “From the mala of Ambā something was born, and Ambā said in play: ‘O Īśa, this is your heroic son.’ You glanced at it, and it became Vighnarāja. Oh, the power of the glance of Īśa!”
- “Seeing Kāma and Rati parted in their married life, Girijā, full of compassion, spoke of it to Īśa. So the bodiless Kāma received a body, and Rati the good fortune of married bliss, from Umāpati, the husband of Umā.”
What followed
Even as he praised, Trinetra, the three-eyed Bhagavān Śiva, appeared and asked him to choose a vara. Overwhelmed with joy, Dhanada could not say a word, and Pulastya too was silent. Bhagavān Śiva, delighted, kept saying, “Choose a vara! Choose a vara!” Then a divine voice without a body, knowing the silent wish of Pulastya and of Dhanada’s father, said to Maheśvara: “Let the post of protector of wealth be granted to Dhanada.” What the voice declared was as good as done. He who had many enemies and suffered many miseries gained lordship of a quarter, mastery of wealth, vast generosity, wives and sons. Dhanada said to Śūlapāṇi, “Let this be so,” and Bhagavān Śiva, the master of the devas, said, “May it be so.” Bhagavān Śiva honoured Pulastya, the ṛshi Viśravas and Dhanada with holy varas, and withdrew.
From then on that tīrtha is known as Paulastya tīrtha, Dhanada tīrtha and Vaiśravasa tīrtha. It is holy and splendid, fulfils every cherished desire and gives back a lost kingdom, and a bath and the other rites there give much puṇya.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 27
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 27