नामानुस्मरणात्सर्वबाधानां च विनाशनम्
'By remembering the name, all troubles are destroyed.'
विद्युत्प्रभालोचनमुग्रमीशं बालेंदुदंष्ट्रारुणशोभिताधरम् । सुनीलगात्रं च जटाकृतस्रजं दधानमंगे भसितत्रिपुंड्रकम्
'With eyes like flashes of lightning, fierce lord, lips brightened by the red of the crescent moon, body of deep blue, matted locks as a garland, and the sacred ash tripundra on his limbs.'
ब्रह्मराक्षसमुक्त्यर्थं स्मरणं त्विदमीरितम् । मंत्रे च वीरभद्रस्य सर्वमेतदुदीरितम्
'This remembrance is spoken for the release from Brahmarakshasa; all this has been declared in the mantra of Virabhadra.'
दधीच उवाच- अथैवं विदधे वीरो मुनिदेवास्तथागताः । एतत्त्रियायुषं प्रोक्तं भस्ममाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
Dadhichi said: 'Thus did the hero act, and the sages and gods departed; this has been proclaimed as the supreme glory of ash, granting threefold longevity.'
पठतः शृण्वतो वापि स्मरतोऽघविनाशनम् । शिवभक्तिप्रदं पुण्यमायुरारोग्यवर्द्धनम्
'For one who recites, hears, or remembers this, sins are destroyed; it bestows devotion to Shiva, merit, and increases lifespan and health.'
शुचिस्मितोवाच-। अहं कृतार्था धन्या च नारीणामुत्तमास्म्यहम् । हतपापा तथा चास्मि नमस्ते मुनिपुंगव
Shucismita said: 'I am fulfilled and blessed, the foremost among women; my sins are destroyed—salutations to you, O foremost of sages.'
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे शिवराघवसंवादे सप्तोत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred and seventh chapter in the dialogue between Shiva and Raghava in the Pātāla section of the glorious Padma Purāṇa.
श्रीराम उवाच- भस्मोत्पत्तिं महाभाग भस्ममाहात्म्यमेव च । भस्मसंधारणे पुण्यं भस्मदाने च तद्वद
Śrī Rāma said: O most fortunate one, tell me about the origin of sacred ash, its greatness, the merit of wearing it, and the merit of giving it to others.
शंभुरुवाच- भस्मोत्पत्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम् । स्मरणात्कीर्तनाद्राम तां शृणुष्व नराधिप
Śaṃbhu said: I will tell you about the origin of the sacred ash, which destroys all sins; listen to it, O king, by remembering and reciting it.
य एकः शाश्वतो देवो ब्रह्मवंद्यः सदाशिवः । त्रिलोचनो गुणाधारो गुणातीतोऽक्षरोव्ययः
He who is the one eternal god, always worshipped by Brahmā, the ever-auspicious one, three-eyed, the support of all qualities, beyond qualities, imperishable and unchanging—
सिसृक्षा तस्य जाताथ वीक्ष्यात्मस्थं गुणत्रयम् । वेदत्रयमिदं ज्ञेयं गुणत्रयमिदं हि यत्
In him arose the desire to create; seeing the three qualities within himself, he understood this triad of the Vedas, for what is called the three qualities is indeed this.
पृथक्कृत्वात्मनस्तात तत्रस्थानं विभज्य च । दक्षिणांगेसृजत्पुत्रं ब्रह्माणं वामतो हरिम्
Separating them from himself, and assigning them their places, he created Brahmā as his son from his right side, and Hari from his left.
पृष्ठदेशे महेशानं त्रीन्पुत्रानसृजद्विभुः । जातमात्रास्त्रयो देवा ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः
From his back he created Maheśāna; thus the mighty one produced three sons. As soon as they were born, the three gods—Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara—
इदमूचुर्वचः स्पष्टं को भवान्के वयंत्विति । तानाह च शिवः पुत्रान्यूयं पुत्रा अहं पिता
They spoke these clear words: 'Who are you, and who are we?' And Shiva said to them, 'You are my sons; I am your father.'
इदं गुणत्रयं पुत्रा भजध्वं कर्महेतुकम् । पुत्रा ऊचुः - कं वा गुणं को भजतां कियंतं कालमीश्वर
'O sons, take up these three qualities, which are the cause of action.' The sons said: 'Which quality should each of us take, and for how long, O Lord?'
कथं गुणनिवृत्तिश्च भवेदेतद्वदस्व नः । शिव उवाच- यावज्ज्ञानं हि भवतां यावदायुरथापि वा
'How does one become free from the qualities? Tell us this.' Shiva said: 'As long as you have knowledge, or as long as you have life—'
धारणं तावदेवस्यादेकैकस्य गुणस्य च । सत्वं ब्रह्मा रजोविष्णुर्भजेन्महेश्वरस्तमः
'So long must each of you uphold your respective quality. Brahmā should take up sattva, Viṣṇu rajas, and Maheśvara tamas.'
इत्युक्तमात्रे देवेशे ब्रह्मा सत्वमथाग्रहीत् । न च चालयितुं शक्तो धारणे किमु शक्तिमान्
As soon as the Lord of gods said this, Brahmā took up sattva, but he was unable to sustain it, let alone move it.
तं गुणं तु तिरस्कृत्य रजोगुणमथाग्रहीत् । न च चालयितुं शक्तो जग्राहाथ तमोगुणम्
Setting aside that quality, he then took up rajas, but was unable to move it; then he took up tamas.
न च चालयितुं शक्तो निपपात रुरोद च । विष्णुश्च वामहस्तेन रजोगुणमधारयत्
He was unable to move it and fell down, weeping; Viṣṇu then took up rajas with his left hand.
अंगुलीभ्यां महेशोऽपि तमोगुणमधारयत् । सत्वमेकोंगुलीभ्यां च सत्वं विष्णुमथादधात्
Maheśa took up tamas with his fingers, and with one finger he gave sattva to Viṣṇu.
ब्रह्माणं पादपीठे च दधार च ननर्त च
He placed Brahmā on his foot as a seat and began to dance.
नृत्यंतमत्यंतविलासरूपं गोक्षीररूपं तरुणं त्रिनेत्रम् । सर्वं दधानं कृतकौतुकं शिवं समीक्ष्य पुत्रान्वरदो बभाषे
Dancing in a form of supreme grace, youthful, with the color of cow's milk, three-eyed, bearing all things, having performed a wondrous act, Shiva looked upon his sons and spoke, ready to grant them boons.
शिव उवाच- प्रीतोऽस्मि तव पुत्राहं वरं वृणु यथेप्सितम् । अथाह पितरं पुत्रो वरमेनं ददस्व मे
Shiva said: 'I am pleased with you, my sons. Choose a boon as you desire.' Then the son said to his father, 'Grant me this boon.'
मामुद्दिश्य कृता पूजा तव पूजा भवेच्छिव । तिष्ठेर्मयि सदा त्वं च त्वमेवाहं च वाव्ययः
Worship performed for me is indeed your worship, O Shiva; you and I are ever steadfast in each other, and you and I are both imperishable.
शिव उवाच- एवमेतन्महाभाग भविष्यति न संशयः । रक्तगौराविमौ पुत्रौ ब्रह्मविष्णू ममैव तु
Shiva said: So it is, O highly fortunate one, it shall be so without doubt; these two sons, one red and one fair, Brahma and Vishnu, are indeed mine.
बाहुमूलस्थरोमौ च ममाकारौ तथानघौ । अथ ब्रह्माणमाहेदं भजत्वेकं गुणं भवान्
The hairs at the root of my arm became these two forms, flawless as they are; then I said to Brahma: You should take on one quality.
ब्रह्मोवाच- त्वन्निर्दिष्टं गुणमहं धर्तुं शक्तो न हीश्वर । धारयिष्ये रजो देव सत्वं भजतु वै हरिः
Brahma said: O Lord, I am not able to bear the quality you have assigned; O God, I will bear rajas, and let Hari take on sattva.
अवशिष्टं गुणं चायमीश्वरो धारयिष्यति । शंभुरुवाच- गुणानादायते देवा नशेकुर्नित्यधारणम्
And this remaining quality, the Lord will bear; Shambhu said: The gods, having taken the qualities, were not able to bear them eternally.
कर्तुं भरणशक्त्यर्थं शिवमित्यवदत्पुनः । गुणान्वयं सर्वकालं न च धारयितुं क्षमाः
To accomplish the power to sustain, he again said 'Shiva'; they are not able to bear the qualities at all times.