12.249
sthāṇuruvāca॥
Sthāṇu (the immovable one) said.
prajāsarganimittaṃ me kāryavattāmimāṃ prabho। viddhi sṛṣṭāstvayā hīmā mā kupyāsāṃ pitāmaha ॥12-249-1॥
O lord, for the purpose of creating offspring, know that this effectiveness is mine. These beings have indeed been created by you. O grandsire, please do not be angry.
tava tejo'gninā deva prajā dahyanti sarvaśaḥ। tā dṛṣṭvā mama kāruṇyaṃ mā kupyāsāṃ jagatprabho ॥12-249-2॥
O god, all creatures are being burned by the fire of your brilliance. Seeing this, my compassion is stirred; O lord of the world, please do not be angry.
prajāpatiruvāca॥
Prajāpati said.
na kupye na ca me kāmo na bhaveranprajā iti। lāghavārthaṃ dharaṇyāstu tataḥ saṃhāra iṣyate॥12-249-3॥
I am not angry, nor do I desire it, nor would there be offspring for this reason. The destruction is sought for the sake of the earth's lightness.
iyaṃ hi māṃ sadā devī bhārārtā samacodayat। saṃhārārthaṃ mahādeva bhāreṇāpsu nimajjati ॥12-249-4॥
This goddess has always urged me, being distressed by the burden. O Mahadeva, for the sake of destruction, she is sinking in the waters due to the weight.
yadāhaṃ nādhigacchāmi buddhyā bahu vicārayan। saṃhāramāsāṃ vṛddhānāṃ tato māṃ krodha āviśat॥12-249-5॥
Whenever I, after much consideration by intellect, could not find a solution regarding the destruction of these elders, then anger seized me.
sthāṇuruvāca॥
The firm one spoke.
saṃhārāntaṃ prasīdasva mā krudhastridaśeśvara। mā prajāḥ sthāvaraṃ vaica jaṅgamaṃ ca vinīnaśaḥ ॥12-249-6॥
O lord of the gods, be gracious till the end of destruction; do not be angry. Do not destroy the creatures, both immobile and mobile.
palvalāni ca sarvāṇi sarvaṃ caiva tṛṇolapam। sthāvaraṃ jaṅgamaṃ caiva bhūtagrāmaṃ caturvidham ॥12-249-7॥
All marshes, everything including every blade of grass, all immobile and mobile beings, and the aggregate of beings of four kinds.
tadetadbhasmasādbhūtaṃ jagatsarvamupaplutam। prasīda bhagavansādho vara eṣa vṛto mayā ॥12-249-8॥
This entire world has been reduced to ashes and overwhelmed. Be gracious, O Lord, O noble one. This is the boon I have chosen.
naṣṭā na punareṣyanti prajā hyetāḥ kathaṃcana। tasmānnivartyatāmetattejaḥ svenaiva tejasā ॥12-249-9॥
These creatures, once destroyed, will not return in any way. Therefore, let this energy be withdrawn by your own energy alone.
upāyam anyaṃ sampaśya prajānāṃ hitakāmyayā। yatheme jantavaḥ sarve nivarteran parantapa ॥12-249-10॥
O scorcher of foes, consider another method for the welfare of the people, so that all these beings may desist.
abhāvam abhigaccheyur utsanna-prajanāḥ prajāḥ। adhidaiva-niyukto'smi tvayā lokeṣv iheśvara ॥12-249-11॥
O Lord, creatures whose progeny has been destroyed would fall into non-existence; I have been appointed here among the worlds by you through higher powers.
tvad-bhavaṃ hi jagannātha jagat-sthāvara-jaṅgamam। prasādya tvāṃ mahādeva yācāmy āvṛttijāḥ prajāḥ ॥12-249-12॥
O Lord of the Universe, truly the world, both immobile and mobile, has arisen from you. Having propitiated you, O great god, I request for the beings who are born again through rebirth.
nārada uvāca॥
Nārada said.
śrutvā tu vacanaṃ devaḥ sthāṇorniyatavāṅmanāḥ। tejastatsvaṃ nijagrāha punarevāntarātmanā ॥12-249-13॥
After hearing the words, the god Sthāṇu (Śiva), whose speech and mind were controlled, again seized his own energy with his inner self.
tato'gnim-upasaṅgṛhya bhagavāṁ-lokapūjitaḥ। pravṛttiṁ ca nivṛttiṁ ca kalpayāmāsa vai prabhuḥ ॥12-249-14॥
Then the venerable lord, honored by the world, having taken up the fire, established both activity and cessation.
upasaṁharatas tasya tam agniṁ roṣajaṁ tadā। prādurbabhūva viśvebhyaḥ khebhyo nārī mahātmanaḥ ॥12-249-15॥
As he was withdrawing that fire born of anger, a woman of the great-souled one appeared in the sky before all.
kṛṣṇā raktāmbaradharā raktanetratalāntarā। divyakuṇḍalasampannā divyābharaṇabhūṣitā ॥12-249-16॥
She is dark-complexioned, dressed in red garments, with the lower part of her eyes tinged red, adorned with divine earrings and decorated with divine ornaments.
sā viniḥsṛtya vai khebhyo dakṣiṇām āśritā diśam। dadṛśāte'tha tau kanyāṃ devau viśveśvarāvubhau ॥12-249-17॥
She emerged from the skies and took refuge in the southern direction; then, the two gods, the lords of the universe, both saw the maiden.
tām āhūya tadā devo lokānām ādir īśvaraḥ। mṛtyo iti mahīpāla jahi cemāḥ prajā iti ॥12-249-18॥
Then, having summoned her, the god, the origin and lord of the worlds, said: "O Death, O king, destroy these creatures."
tvaṃ hi saṃhāra-buddhyā me cintitā ruṣitena ca। tasmāt saṃhara sarvāḥ tvaṃ prajāḥ sa-jaḍa-paṇḍitāḥ ॥12-249-19॥
You have been considered by me, in anger, as one with the intention to destroy; therefore, destroy all creatures, both the dull and the wise.
aviśeṣeṇa caiva tvaṃ prajāḥ saṃhara bhāmini। mama tvaṃ hi niyogena śreyaḥ paramavāpsyasi ॥12-249-20॥
O radiant one, withdraw all beings without distinction. By my command, you will surely attain the highest good.
evamuktā tu sā devī mṛtyuḥ kamalamālinī। pradadhyau duḥkhitā bālā sāśrupātamatīva hi ॥12-249-21॥
Thus addressed, the goddess Mṛtyu, adorned with a garland of lotuses, pondered deeply; the distressed girl shed tears exceedingly.
pāṇibhyāṃ caiva jagrāha tānyaśrūṇi janeśvaraḥ। mānavānāṃ hitārthāya yayāce punareva ca ॥12-249-22॥
The lord of men took those tears with his hands; for the welfare of mankind, he again earnestly begged.
