Kalki’s Stotra to Śiva

This is a stotra of seven verses to Bhagavān Śiva. Bhagavān Kalki made it and sang it at the shrine of Bilvodeśvara Śiva, soon after he finished his studies under Paraśurāma at Mahendra Parvata. It is found in the Kalki Purāṇa, Prathamāṃśa, chapter 3.

When Śiva heard it, he was pleased at once. He came before Kalki with Pārvatī and gave him three divine gifts: the divine horse, the all-knowing Śuka (parrot) and a sword set with jewels. Śiva also said that whoever recites this stotra on earth will get all that they desire.

The setting

Kalki had finished all his Vedic, martial and artistic studies under Paraśurāma at Mahendra Parvata, and had given his teacher the gift due to a guru (guru-dakshiṇā). Then, as Paraśurāma had told him, he went to the shrine of Bilvodeśvara, that is, Śiva at the Bilva-udaka temple.

He worshipped Śiva with a steady mind and devotion. He thought of Mahādeva in his heart and sang the stotra below. Śiva is known as āśutosha, one who is quickly pleased by true praise.

The stotra

Verse 1

Gauranāthāya viśvanāthāya śaraṇyāya sarva-bhūta-rakshakāya
Vāsuki-kaṇṭhābharaṇāya trinayanāya pañca-mukhāya
deva-śreshṭhāya nitya-ānanda-sthitāya
bhaktānāṃ ānanda-pradāna-dakshāya śaṃkarāya namaḥ

Obeisance to Śaṃkara, the master of Gaurī and of the universe, the refuge and protector of all beings. He wears Vāsuki as an ornament on his neck. He has three eyes and five faces. He is the best of the devas, he stays always in bliss, and he is able to give bliss to his devotees.

Verse 2

Yogeśvarāya kāma-nāśanāya pāpibhyaḥ bhayadāyakāya
sadā śirassu gaṅgājala-dhāriṇe jaṭājūṭa-dhāriṇe
mahākālāya candra-śiraḥ-dhāriṇe śaṃkarāya namaḥ

Obeisance to Śaṃkara, Yogeśvara, the master of all yogis, who destroyed Kāmadeva. He brings fear to those who do pāpa (sin). He always carries the water of the Gaṅgā on his head. He has matted hair in a knot (jaṭājūṭa). He is Mahākāla, and he bears the crescent moon on his head.

Verse 3

Śmaśāna-vāsine bhūta-preta-sāhacaryāya
khaḍga-śūlādi-dhāriṇe kopa-agninā loka-bhasma-kāriṇe
śivāya namaḥ

Obeisance to Śiva, who lives in the cremation ground (śmaśāna) and moves in the company of bhūtas and pretas. He carries the sword, the trident and other weapons. He is able to turn all creation to ash with the fire of his anger.

Verse 4

Baddha-jīvānāṃ pañcabhūtānāṃ ca kāraṇabhūtāya
kāla-karma-svabhāvāya brahma-ānanda-ramakāya
śaṃkarāya namaḥ

Obeisance to Śaṃkara, the cause of all bound jīvas (living beings) and of the five great elements. He is of the nature of time, of karma and of inborn disposition (svabhāva). He always delights in the bliss of Brahman.

Verse 5

Sarvaṃ jitvā devānām ātmabhūtāya
sthiti-kāle vishṇurūpeṇa sarva-lokān pālayate
sādhūnāṃ iha-para-loka-moksha-setubhūtaṃ dharmaṃ rakshakāya
guṇātmane pareśāya namaḥ

Obeisance to Pareśa, the highest Īśvara. Having won over all, he is the very ātmā of the devas. In the time of keeping the worlds, as Vishṇu, he protects all the worlds. He guards dharma, which is the bridge to this world, to the next, and to moksha for good people (sādhus). He is Guṇātmā, the one who has the guṇas.

Verse 6

Yasya ājñayā loke vāyuḥ vahati agniḥ jvalati
sūryaḥ prakāśate candraḥ nakshatra-graha-sametaḥ
svakarmaṃ sādhayati tasmai parameśvarāya namaḥ

Obeisance to that Parameśvara, by whose command the wind blows in the world, the fire burns and the sun shines, and the moon, with the nakshatras and the planets, does its own work.

Verse 7

Yasya abhayena bhūmiḥ sarvaṃ dhārayati
devāḥ sva-kāle varshaṃ varshayanti
meruḥ madhye sthitvā viśvaṃ dhārayati
tasmai viśvarūpāya īśānāya namaḥ

Obeisance to that Viśvarūpa Īśāna, by whose protection the earth bears all things, the devas send rain at the right time, and Meru stands in the middle and holds up the universe.

Śiva’s answer and the gifts

When the stotra ended, Parameśvara, who knows all and is quickly pleased, was fully satisfied. He came before Kalki with Pārvatī. He smiled with gentle joy and touched Kalki’s limbs with his hand. He said: “Ask for the vara (gift) you wish. And whoever recites this stotra on earth, whether as the reciter or as the one who listens, will get everything they desire.”

Then Śiva gave Kalki three gifts, without waiting for him to ask.

  1. The divine horse. It has the speed of Garuḍa, can take many forms, and can reach any place it wishes.
  2. The divine Śuka. This is the all-knowing parrot. It knows all the śāstras and is honoured in all assemblies of devas and kings. It is free to go anywhere.
  3. The Ratna-khacita Khaḍga. This is a fearsome sword set with jewels, to remove the weight of the wicked that presses on the earth.

The phalaśruti

Śiva said: “Whoever recites this stotra on earth with a true heart will get all the desires of their heart.” So reciting Kalki’s seven verses to Śiva with devotion gives the fulfilment of all that one desires.

Sources

  • Kalki Purāṇa, Prathamāṃśa, chapter 3