ईश्वर उवाच-। भृगुर्नाम द्विजश्रेष्ठ ऋषीणां प्रवरो मुनिः । ध्यायते मां समाधिस्थो वरं प्रार्थयते प्रिये
Īśvara said: 'This is Bhṛgu by name, the best of twice-born, foremost among sages; absorbed in meditation, he contemplates me and seeks a boon, dear one.'
तत्र प्रहसिता देवी ईश्वरं प्रत्यभाषत । धूमावर्तशिखा जाता ततोऽद्यापि न तुष्यसि । दुराराध्योऽसि तेन त्वं नात्र कार्या विचारणा
Thereupon the goddess, smiling, addressed Īśvara: 'A column of smoke has arisen, yet even now you are not satisfied; therefore you are difficult to please—there is no need to consider further.'
देव उवाच-। न ज्ञायसे महादेवि अयं क्रोधेन चेष्टितः । दर्शयामि यथातथ्यं प्रियं ते च करोम्यहम्
The god said: 'You do not understand, O great goddess; this is done out of anger. I will show you the truth and do what pleases you.'
स्मारितो देवदेवेन धर्मरूपो वृषस्तदा । स्मरणादेव देवस्य वृषः शीघ्रमुपस्थितः
Then, at the remembrance of the god of gods, the bull, embodiment of dharma, appeared; by merely being remembered by the god, the bull quickly arrived.
प्राहासौ मानुषीं वाचमादेशो दीयतां प्रभो । वल्मीकैश्छादितो विप्र एनं भूमौ निपातय
He spoke human words: 'Give the command, O Lord; this Brāhmaṇa, covered by anthills, cast him down to the ground.'
योगस्थस्तु ततो ध्यायंस्ततस्तेन निपातितः । तत्क्षणात्क्रोधसंतप्तो हस्तमुत्क्षिप्तवान्वृषम्
Then, absorbed in yoga and meditating, he was cast down by him; at that moment, inflamed with anger, Bhṛgu raised his hand against the bull.
एवं संभाषमाणस्तु कुत्र गच्छसि भो वृष । अद्य त्वामथ पाप्मानं प्रत्यक्षं हन्म्यहं वृष
Thus, as he was speaking, he said, 'Where are you going, O bull? Today I will destroy you, evil one, right before my eyes.'
धर्षितस्तु तदा विप्रो ह्यंतरिक्षं गतं वृषम् । आकाशे प्रेक्षते भूय एतदद्भुतमुत्तमम्
Then, when the bull was attacked, the Brahmin saw the bull ascend into the sky; he gazed upward and beheld this most wondrous marvel.
ततः प्रहसिते रुद्रे ऋषिरग्रे व्यवस्थितः । तृतीयं लोचनं दृष्ट्वा वैलक्ष्यात्पतितो भुवि
Thereupon, as Rudra laughed, the sage stood before him; seeing the third eye, he was overcome with embarrassment and fell to the ground.
प्रणम्य दंडवद्भूमौ स्तुवते परमेश्वरम् । प्रणिपत्य भूतनाथं भवोद्भवं त्वामहं दिव्यरूपम् । भवभीतो भुवनपते भूतं विज्ञापये किंचित्
Prostrating himself flat on the earth, he praised the Supreme Lord: 'Having bowed to you, Lord of beings, source of the world, you of divine form, I, fearful of worldly existence, O Lord of the universe, wish to confess something to you.'
त्वद्गुणनिकरान्वक्तुं कः शक्तो भवति मानुषो नाथ । वासुकिरयं हि कदाचिद्वदनसहस्रं भवेद्यस्य
Who among humans, O Lord, is able to speak of your countless virtues? Even Vāsuki, if he ever had a thousand mouths, could not do so.
भक्त्या तवापि शंकरभुवनपते त्वत्स्तुतौ तु मुखरस्य । वंद्य क्षमस्व भवन्प्रसीद मे तव चरणपतितस्य
Yet, O Śaṅkara, Lord of the worlds, even if I am talkative, let my devotion be accepted in your praise; forgive me, be gracious to me, as I have fallen at your feet.
सत्वं रजस्तमस्त्वं स्थित्युत्पत्तौ विनाशने देव । त्वां मुक्त्वा भुवनपते भुवनेश्वर नैव दैवतं किंचित्
You are sattva, rajas, and tamas; you are creation, preservation, and destruction, O God. Apart from you, Lord of the worlds, there is truly no other deity.
यमनियमयज्ञदानैर्वेदाभ्यासावधारणोद्योगात् । त्वद्भक्तेः सर्वमिदं नार्हति कलासहस्रांशेन
By yama, niyama, sacrifice, charity, study and diligent practice of the Vedas—none of this equals even a thousandth part of devotion to you.
उत्कृष्टरसरसायनखड्गांजनपादुकादि सिद्धिर्वा । चिह्नानि भवत्प्रणतानां दृश्यंत इह जन्मनि प्रकटम्
The highest elixirs, swords, collyrium, sandals, and other attainments—these are the visible marks in this very life of those who bow to you.
शाठ्येन नमति यद्यपि ददासि त्वं धर्ममिच्छतां देव । भक्तिर्भवच्छेदकरी मोक्षाय विनिर्मिता नाथ
Even if someone bows with deceit, you grant righteousness to those who desire it, O God; but devotion, which severs the bonds of existence, is made for liberation, O Lord.
परदारपरस्वरतं परिभवपरिदुःखशोकसंतप्तम् । परवदनवीक्षणपरं परमेश्वर मां परित्राहि
I am attached to others' wives and wealth, scorched by humiliation, pain, and sorrow, intent on not seeing others' faces—O Supreme Lord, save me.
अलीकाभिमानदग्धं क्षणभंगुरविभवविलसितं देव । क्रूरं कुपथाभिमुखं पतितं मां त्राहि देवेश
Burned by false pride, delighting in fleeting, fragile prosperity, cruel, inclined to evil ways, fallen—save me, O Lord of gods.
दीनेंद्रियगणसार्थैर्बंधुजनैरेव पूरिता आशा । तुच्छा तथापि शंकर किं मूढं मां विडंबयसि
My hopes are filled only with the pursuit of sense pleasures and kin; yet they are empty. Still, O Śaṅkara, why do you mock me, who am so deluded?
तृष्णां हरस्व शीघ्रं लक्ष्मीं मां देहि हृदयवासिनीं नित्याम् । छिंधि मदमोहपाशानुत्तारय मां महादेव
Quickly remove my craving; grant me Lakṣmī, who always dwells in the heart. Cut the bonds of pride and delusion; rescue me, O great Lord.
करुणाभ्युदयं नाम स्तोत्रमिदं सिद्धिदं दिव्यम् । यः पठति भक्तियुक्तस्तस्य तु तुष्येद्भृगोर्यथाहि शिवः
This hymn named 'The Rising of Compassion' is divine and grants success; whoever recites it with devotion, to him Śiva will be pleased, just as he was with Bhṛgu.
ईश्वर उवाच-। अहं तुष्टोस्मि ते विप्र वरं प्रार्थय स्वेप्सितम् । उमया सहितो देवो वरं तस्य हि दापयेत्
Īśvara said: 'I am pleased with you, O Brahmin. Ask for whatever boon you desire. The god, together with Umā, will grant you the boon you seek.'
भृगुरुवाच-। यदि तुष्टोसि देवेश यदि देयो वरो मम । रुद्रवेदी भवेदेवमेतत्संपादयस्व मे
Bhṛgu said: 'If you are pleased, O Lord of gods, and if I am to receive a boon, then let there be a Rudra altar—grant me this as I request.'
ईश्वर उवाच-। एवं भवतु विप्रेंद्र क्रोधस्थानं भविष्यति । न पिता पुत्रयोश्चैव एकवाक्यं भविष्यति
Īśvara said: 'So be it, O best of Brahmins. It will become the place of wrath. Father and sons will not speak with one voice there.'
तदाप्रभृति ब्रह्माद्याः सर्वे देवाः सकिन्नराः । उपासंतो भृगोस्तीर्थं तुष्टो यत्र महेश्वरः
From that time onward, all the gods beginning with Brahma, along with the Kinnaras, worship the sacred site of Bhrigu, where Maheshvara is pleased.
दर्शनात्तस्य तीर्थस्य सद्यः पापात्प्रमुच्यते । अवशाः स्ववशाश्चापि म्रियंते तत्र जंतवः
By merely seeing that holy place, one is immediately freed from sin; creatures there die either by their own will or without it.
गुह्यातिगुह्यस्य गतिस्तेषां निःसंशया भवेत् । एतत्क्षेत्रं सुविपुलं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
The destination of those beings is certainly the most secret of secrets; this field is vast and destroys all sins.
तत्र स्नात्वा दिवं यांति ये मृतास्तेऽपुनर्भवाः । औपानहं तदा छत्रं देयमन्नं च कांचनम्
Those who bathe there ascend to heaven, and those who die there do not return to rebirth; at that time, one should offer footwear, an umbrella, food, and gold.
भोजनं च यथाशक्त्या अक्षयं तस्य तद्भवेत् । सूर्योपरागे यो दद्याद्दानं चैव यथेच्छया
Whatever food is given there according to one's ability becomes inexhaustible for the giver; whoever gives charity as they wish during a solar eclipse,
तीर्थस्नानं तु यद्दानमक्षयं तस्य तद्भवेत् । चंद्रसूर्योपरागेषु वृषोत्सर्गमनुत्तमम्
The charity given after bathing at the holy site becomes inexhaustible for the giver; and the release of a bull during lunar or solar eclipses is unsurpassed.