Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita — Chapter 24

SiP 4 24.1

सूत उवाच ।। श्रूयतामृषयः श्रेष्ठाः कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम्।। कथयामि यथा व्यासात्सद्गुरोश्च श्रुता मया

sūta uvāca || śrūyatāmṛṣayaḥ śreṣṭhāḥ kathāṃ pāpapraṇāśinīm|| kathayāmi yathā vyāsātsadgurośca śrutā mayā

Sūta said: Hear, O best of sages, the story that destroys sin; I tell it as it was heard by me from Vyāsa, my true teacher.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.2

पुरा ऋषिवरश्चासीद्गौतमो नाम विश्रुतः ।। अहल्या नाम तस्यासीत्पत्नी परमधार्मिकी

purā ṛṣivaraścāsīdgautamo nāma viśrutaḥ || ahalyā nāma tasyāsītpatnī paramadhārmikī

Formerly there was a best of sages, renowned by the name of Gautama; he had a wife named Ahalyā, exceedingly righteous.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.3

दक्षिणस्यां दिशि हि यो गिरिर्ब्रह्मेति संज्ञकः ।। तत्र तेन तपस्तप्तं वर्षाणाम युतं तथा

dakṣiṇasyāṃ diśi hi yo girirbrahmeti saṃjñakaḥ || tatra tena tapastaptaṃ varṣāṇāma yutaṃ tathā

In the southern direction there is a mountain called Brahmā; there austerity was practised by him for ten thousand years.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.4

कदाचिच्च ह्यनावृष्टिरभवत्तत्र सुव्रताः ।। वर्षाणां च शतं रौद्री लोका दुःखमुपागताः ततश्च गौतमस्तं वै वृष्टिं च प्रार्थयत्तदा ।। ततस्स वरुणस्तं वै प्रत्युवाच मुनिं द्विजाः सूत उवाच।। इत्युक्तांतर्द्दधे देवस्स्तुतस्तेन महर्षिणा।। गौतमोऽपि सुखं प्राप कृत्वान्योपकृतिं मुनिः तच्छुत्वा ऋषयश्चान्ये तत्राया तास्सहस्रशः ।। पशवः पक्षिणश्चान्ये जीवाश्च बहवोऽगमन्

kadācicca hyanāvṛṣṭirabhavattatra suvratāḥ || varṣāṇāṃ ca śataṃ raudrī lokā duḥkhamupāgatāḥ tataśca gautamastaṃ vai vṛṣṭiṃ ca prārthayattadā || tatassa varuṇastaṃ vai pratyuvāca muniṃ dvijāḥ sūta uvāca|| ityuktāṃtarddadhe devasstutastena maharṣiṇā|| gautamo'pi sukhaṃ prāpa kṛtvānyopakṛtiṃ muniḥ tacchutvā ṛṣayaścānye tatrāyā tāssahasraśaḥ || paśavaḥ pakṣiṇaścānye jīvāśca bahavo'gaman

And once there was a drought there, O you of good vows, terrible, for a hundred years, and the people came to misery. Then Gautama prayed to him for rain; then that Varuṇa replied to that sage, O twice-born ones. Sūta said: Having spoken thus the god vanished, praised by that great sage; and Gautama the sage too obtained happiness, having done benefit to others. Hearing that, other sages came there by the thousands, and beasts and birds and many other living creatures came.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.5

आर्द्रं च पल्लवं न स्म दृश्यते पृथिवीतले ।। कुतो जलं विदृश्येत जीवानां प्राणधारकम्

ārdraṃ ca pallavaṃ na sma dṛśyate pṛthivītale || kuto jalaṃ vidṛśyeta jīvānāṃ prāṇadhārakam

Not (even) a moist shoot was to be seen on the face of the earth; whence could water be seen, which sustains the life-breath of living beings?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.6

तदा ते मुनयश्चैव मनुष्याः पशवस्तथा ।। पक्षिणश्च मृगास्तत्र गताश्चैव दिशो दश गौतमोऽपि स्वयं तत्र वरुणार्थे तपश्शुभम् ।। चकार चैव षण्मासं प्राणायामपरायणः

tadā te munayaścaiva manuṣyāḥ paśavastathā || pakṣiṇaśca mṛgāstatra gatāścaiva diśo daśa gautamo'pi svayaṃ tatra varuṇārthe tapaśśubham || cakāra caiva ṣaṇmāsaṃ prāṇāyāmaparāyaṇaḥ

Then those sages and men and beasts, and the birds and deer there, went off in the ten directions. Gautama himself there performed auspicious austerity for the sake of Varuṇa for six months, devoted to breath-control.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.7

तां दृष्ट्वा चर्षयो विप्राः प्राणायामपरायणाः ।। ध्यानेन च तदा केचित्कालं निन्युस्सुदारुणम्

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā carṣayo viprāḥ prāṇāyāmaparāyaṇāḥ || dhyānena ca tadā kecitkālaṃ ninyussudāruṇam

Seeing that, the seers, the brahmins, devoted to breath-control — and some by meditation — then passed that most terrible time.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.9

ततश्च वरुणस्तस्मै वरं दातुं समागताः ।। प्रसन्नोऽस्मि वरं ब्रूहि ददामि च वचोऽब्रवीत्

tataśca varuṇastasmai varaṃ dātuṃ samāgatāḥ || prasanno'smi varaṃ brūhi dadāmi ca vaco'bravīt

Then Varuṇa came to give him a boon, and spoke these words: "I am pleased; ask a boon and I shall grant it."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.11

वरुण उवाच ।। देवाज्ञां च समुल्लंघ्य कथं कुर्यामहं च ताम् ।। अन्यत्प्रार्थय सुज्ञोऽसि यदहं करवाणि ते

varuṇa uvāca || devājñāṃ ca samullaṃghya kathaṃ kuryāmahaṃ ca tām || anyatprārthaya sujño'si yadahaṃ karavāṇi te

Varuṇa said: Having overstepped the gods' command, how could I do that? Ask for something else — you are well-informed — that I may do for you.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.12

सूत उवाच ।। इत्येतद्वचनं तस्य वरुणस्य महात्मनः ।। परोपकारी तच्छुत्वा गोतमो वाक्यमब्रवीत

sūta uvāca || ityetadvacanaṃ tasya varuṇasya mahātmanaḥ || paropakārī tacchutvā gotamo vākyamabravīta

The Sūta said: Hearing this speech of that great-souled Varuṇa, Gotama, the benefactor of others, spoke these words.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.13

गौतम उवाच ।। यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश यदि देयो वरो मम ।। यदहं प्रार्थयाम्यद्य कर्तव्यं हि त्वया तथा

gautama uvāca || yadi prasanno deveśa yadi deyo varo mama || yadahaṃ prārthayāmyadya kartavyaṃ hi tvayā tathā

Gautama said: If you are pleased, O lord of the gods, if a boon is to be given to me, then what I ask for today must indeed be done by you.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.14

यतस्त्वं जलराशीशस्तस्माद्देयं जलं मम ।। अक्षयं सर्वदेवेश दिव्यं नित्यफलप्रदम्

yatastvaṃ jalarāśīśastasmāddeyaṃ jalaṃ mama || akṣayaṃ sarvadeveśa divyaṃ nityaphalapradam

Since you are the lord of the mass of waters, therefore water should be given to me — inexhaustible, O lord of all the gods, divine, and ever yielding fruit.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.15

सूत उवाच ।। इति संप्रार्थितस्तेन वरुणो गौतमेन वै ।। उवाच वचनं तस्मै गर्तश्च क्रियतां त्वया

sūta uvāca || iti saṃprārthitastena varuṇo gautamena vai || uvāca vacanaṃ tasmai gartaśca kriyatāṃ tvayā

The Sūta said: Thus entreated by Gautama, Varuṇa spoke these words to him: "And let a pit be made by you."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.16

इत्युक्ते च कृतस्तेन गर्त्तो हस्तप्रमाणतः ।। जलेन पूरितस्तेन दिव्येन वरुणेन सः

ityukte ca kṛtastena gartto hastapramāṇataḥ || jalena pūritastena divyena varuṇena saḥ

When this had been said, a pit of a hand's measure was made by him; and it was filled with divine water by that Varuṇa.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.17

अथोवाच मुनिं देवो वरुणो हि जलाधिपः ।। गौतमं मुनिशार्दूलं परोपकृतिशालिनम्

athovāca muniṃ devo varuṇo hi jalādhipaḥ || gautamaṃ muniśārdūlaṃ paropakṛtiśālinam

Then the god Varuṇa, the lord of waters, spoke to the sage Gautama, the tiger among sages, who excelled in doing good to others.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.18

वरुण उवाच ।। अक्षय्यं च जलं तेऽस्तु तीर्थभूतं महामुने ।। तव नाम्ना च विख्यातं क्षितावेतद्भविष्यति

varuṇa uvāca || akṣayyaṃ ca jalaṃ te'stu tīrthabhūtaṃ mahāmune || tava nāmnā ca vikhyātaṃ kṣitāvetadbhaviṣyati

Varuṇa said: Let this water of yours be inexhaustible, having become a sacred bathing-place, O great sage; and it will become renowned on earth by your name.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.19

अत्र दत्तं हुतं तप्तं सुराणां यजनं कृतम् ।। पितॄणां च कृतं श्राद्धं सर्वमेवाक्षयं भवेत्

atra dattaṃ hutaṃ taptaṃ surāṇāṃ yajanaṃ kṛtam || pitṝṇāṃ ca kṛtaṃ śrāddhaṃ sarvamevākṣayaṃ bhavet

Whatever is given here, offered in fire, (whatever) austerity practised, sacrifice made to the gods, and the śrāddha performed for the ancestors — all of it shall become inexhaustible.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.21

मद्दत्तो ह्याश्रयः पुंसां महत्त्वायोपजायते ।। महांतस्तत्स्वरूपं च पश्यंति नेतरेऽशुभाः

maddatto hyāśrayaḥ puṃsāṃ mahattvāyopajāyate || mahāṃtastatsvarūpaṃ ca paśyaṃti netare'śubhāḥ

For a refuge given by me becomes (a means) to greatness for men; and the great perceive its true nature, but not the others, the impure.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

SiP 4 24.22

यादृङ्नरं च सेवेत तादृशं फलमश्नुते।। महतस्सेवयोच्च त्वं क्षुद्रस्य क्षुद्रतां तथा

yādṛṅnaraṃ ca seveta tādṛśaṃ phalamaśnute|| mahatassevayocca tvaṃ kṣudrasya kṣudratāṃ tathā

Whatever sort of man one serves, of that sort is the fruit one enjoys: from serving a great one, elevation; from (serving) a mean one, meanness likewise.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.23

सिंहस्य मंदिरे सेवा मुक्ताफलकरी मता ।। शृगालमंदिरे सेवा त्वस्थिलाभकरी स्मृता

siṃhasya maṃdire sevā muktāphalakarī matā || śṛgālamaṃdire sevā tvasthilābhakarī smṛtā

Service in the lion's den is held to yield pearls; but service in the jackal's den is reckoned to yield the gain of bones.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.24

उत्तमानां स्वभावोयं परदुःखासहिष्णुता ।। स्वयं दुखं च संप्राप्तं मन्यतेन्यस्य वार्यते

uttamānāṃ svabhāvoyaṃ paraduḥkhāsahiṣṇutā || svayaṃ dukhaṃ ca saṃprāptaṃ manyatenyasya vāryate

This is the nature of the best: an inability to endure another's suffering. They regard the suffering that has come upon another as their own, and it is warded off.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.25

वृक्षाश्च हाटकं चैव चंदनं चेक्षुकस्तथा ।। एते भुवि परार्थे च दक्षा एवं न केचन

vṛkṣāśca hāṭakaṃ caiva caṃdanaṃ cekṣukastathā || ete bhuvi parārthe ca dakṣā evaṃ na kecana

Trees, and gold, and sandalwood, and the sugarcane — these on earth are skilled in (serving) another's purpose; none (else) are so.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.26

दयालुरमदस्पर्श उपकारी जितेन्द्रियः ।। एतैश्च पुण्यस्तम्भैस्तु चतुर्भिर्धार्य्यते मही

dayāluramadasparśa upakārī jitendriyaḥ || etaiśca puṇyastambhaistu caturbhirdhāryyate mahī

The compassionate one, the one untouched by pride, the benefactor, the one who has conquered his senses — by these four pillars of merit the earth is upheld.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.27

ततश्च गौतमस्तत्र जलं प्राप्य सुदुर्लभम् ।। नित्यनैमित्तिकं कर्म चकार विधिवत्तदा

tataśca gautamastatra jalaṃ prāpya sudurlabham || nityanaimittikaṃ karma cakāra vidhivattadā

Then Gautama, having obtained there that most hard-to-get water, performed the regular and occasional rites according to rule.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.28

ततो व्रीहीन्यवांश्चैव नीवारानप्यनेकधा।। वापयामास तत्रैव हवनार्थं मुनीश्वरः

tato vrīhīnyavāṃścaiva nīvārānapyanekadhā|| vāpayāmāsa tatraiva havanārthaṃ munīśvaraḥ

Then that lord of sages had rice and barley and also wild rice sown there in many kinds, for the purpose of oblations.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.29

धान्यानि विविधानीह वृक्षाश्च विविधास्तथा ।। पुष्पाणि च फलान्येव ह्यासंस्तत्रायनेकशः

dhānyāni vividhānīha vṛkṣāśca vividhāstathā || puṣpāṇi ca phalānyeva hyāsaṃstatrāyanekaśaḥ

Grains of various kinds here, and trees of various kinds likewise, and flowers and fruits too — there were many of them there.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.31

तद्वनं सुन्दरं ह्यासीत्पृथिव्यां मंडले परम् ।। तदक्षयकरायोगादनावृष्टिर्न दुःखदा

tadvanaṃ sundaraṃ hyāsītpṛthivyāṃ maṃḍale param || tadakṣayakarāyogādanāvṛṣṭirna duḥkhadā

That forest was beautiful, the finest in the circle of the earth; because of its connection with that inexhaustible pond, drought caused no distress.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

SiP 4 24.32

ऋषयोऽपि वने तत्र शुभकर्मपरायणाः ।। वासं चक्रुरनेके च शिष्यभार्य्यासुतान्विताः

ṛṣayo'pi vane tatra śubhakarmaparāyaṇāḥ || vāsaṃ cakruraneke ca śiṣyabhāryyāsutānvitāḥ

Sages too, devoted to auspicious rites, many of them, made their dwelling in that forest, together with pupils, wives and sons.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

SiP 4 24.33

धान्या नि वापयामासुः कालक्रमणहेतवे।। आनंदस्तद्वने ह्यासीत्प्रभावाद्गौतमस्य च

dhānyā ni vāpayāmāsuḥ kālakramaṇahetave|| ānaṃdastadvane hyāsītprabhāvādgautamasya ca

They sowed grains for the sake of passing the time; and there was joy in that forest, through Gautama's power.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition