॥ शिवमहिम्न स्तोत्र पुष्पदन्त
॥
Introduction, transliteration, and
translation by
Devendraray V . Bhatt and S . V .
Ganesan
Introduction:
The Shiva Mahimna Stotra is very popular among the devotees
of Lord Shiva and is considered one of the best among all Stotras (or Stutis)
offered to Lord Shiva . The legend about the circumstances leading to the
composition of this Stotra is as follows.
A king named Chitraratha had constructed a nice garden .
There were beautiful flowers in this garden . These flowers were used every day
by the king in worshipping Lord Shiva.
One day a Gandharva (Singer in the court of Indra, the Lord
of the Heaven) named Pushhpadanta being fascinated by the beautiful flowers,
began to steal them, as a consequence of which king Chitraratha could not offer
flowers to Lord Shiva . He tried very hard to capture the thief, but in vain,
because the Gandharvas have divine power to remain invisible.
Finally the king spread the Shiva Nirmaalya in his garden . Shiva Nirmaalya consists of the Bilva leaves, flowers, et
cetera which have been used in worshipping Lord Shiva . The Shiva Nirmaalya is considered
holy.
The thief Pushhpadanta, not knowing this, walked on the Shiva
Nirmaalya, and by that he incurred the wrath of Lord Shiva and lost the divine
power of invisibility . He then designed a prayer to Lord Shiva for
forgiveness. In this prayer he sung the greatness of the Lord.
This very prayer became well known as the `Shiva Mahimna
Stotra'. Lord Shiva became pleased by this StotraM, and returned Pushhpadanta's
divine powers.
The legend has some basis since the name of the author is
mentioned in verse number 38 of the stotraM . The recital of this stotra is
very beneficial, and Shri Ramakrishna, one of the famous saints of the
nineteenth century, went into samadhi just by reciting a few verses from this
hymn.
Let its recitation be beneficial to you as well!
॥
ॐ नमः शिवाय॥ ॥ अथ श्री शिवमहिम्नस्तोत्रम्॥
महिम्नः पारं ते परमविदुषो यद्यसदृशी
स्तुतिर्ब्रह्मादीनामपि तदवसन्नास्त्वयि गिरः ।
अथाऽवाच्यः सर्वः स्वमतिपरिणामावधि गृणन्
ममाप्येष स्तोत्रे हर निरपवादः परिकरः॥ १॥
O, Lord Shiva, remover of all types of miseries, what wonder
is there, if the prayer to you, chanted by one who is ignorant about your
greatness, is worthless! Because, even the utterance ( speech ) of Brahmaa and
other gods is not able to fathom your merits ( ie, greatness ). Hence, if
persons with very limited intellect ( and I am one of them ) try to offer you a
prayer, their attempt deserve your special favour . If it is so, I should not
be a exception . Hence, (thinking like this ) I begin this prayer . (1)
अतीतः पंथानं तव च महिमा वाङ्मनसयोः
अतद्व्यावृत्त्या यं चकितमभिधत्ते श्रुतिरपि।
स कस्य स्तोतव्यः कतिविधगुणः कस्य विषयः
पदे त्वर्वाचीने पतति न मनः कस्य न वचः॥ २॥
O, Great God, so great is your majesty that it cannot be
reached by speech and mind . Even the Vedas also, having become surprised,
confirm your greatness by only saying `Neti', `Neti' (not this, not this) while
describing you . Who can praise this type of greatness of yours? With how many
qualities is it composed? Whose subject of description can it be ? And yet even
then whose mind and speech are not attached to your this new Saguna form ? (2)
मधुस्फीता वाचः परमममृतं निर्मितवतः
तव ब्रह्मन् किं वागपि सुरगुरोर्विस्मयपदम्।
मम त्वेतां वाणीं गुणकथनपुण्येन भवतः
पुनामीत्यर्थेऽस्मिन् पुरमथन बुद्धिर्व्यवसिता॥ ३॥
O, Paramaatmaa (Greatest Soul), as you are the very creator
of speech of the Vedas, which is like highest type of nectar and as sweet as
honey, how can even the speech of Brahaspati (Guru, or spiritual guide of gods)
surprise you ? (ie, the speech of even Brahaspati is worthless before you). O,
Destroyer of Three Cities of the demons, thinking that my speech may become
purified by this act, my intellect (Buddhi) has become prepared to sing your
greatness .
(3)
तवैश्वर्यं यत्तज्जगदुदयरक्षाप्रलयकृत्
त्रयीवस्तु व्यस्तं तिस्रुषु गुणभिन्नासु तनुषु।
अभव्यानामस्मिन् वरद रमणीयामरमणीं
विहन्तुं व्याक्रोशीं विदधत इहैके जडधियः॥ ४॥
O, Giver of Boons, your greatness is the cause of creation,
maintenance, and destruction of the whole universe; this is supported by three
Vedas (ie, Rigveda, Yajurveda, and Saamaveda); it is distributed in the three qualities
(ie, Satva, Rajas and Tamas) and three bodies (of Brahmaa, VishhNu and
Mahesha). Such is your greatness but certain stupid persons in this world are
trying to destroy it by slander, which may be delightful to them but is really
undelightful .
(4)
किमीहः किंकायः स खलु किमुपायस्त्रिभुवनं
किमाधारो धाता सृजति किमुपादान इति च।
अतर्क्यैश्वर्ये त्वय्यनवसर दुःस्थो हतधियः
कुतर्कोऽयं कांश्चित् मुखरयति मोहाय जगतः॥ ५॥
If the Paramaatmaa (the Greatest Soul) creates the three
worlds (ie, thewhole Universe), what is his gesture ? What is his body ? What
is his plan? What is his basis (support)? What are his means
(instruments,resources) ? These are the useless questions raised by some stupid
critics, in order to mislead people, against one (i.e., you) who always remains
incompatible to senses . (5)
अजन्मानो लोकाः किमवयववन्तोऽपि जगतां
अधिष्ठातारं किं भवविधिरनादृत्य भवति।
अनीशो वा कुर्याद् भुवनजनने कः परिकरो
यतो मन्दास्त्वां प्रत्यमरवर संशेरत इमे॥ ६॥
O, Best Of The Gods, are the seven Lokas (It is believed that
there are seven worlds in this Universe,
namely, Bhooloka, Bhuvarloka, Svargaloka, Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapaloka,
and Satyaloka) unborn ? Was the birth of the Universe independent of its Lord (ie,
You) ? If it was so, then what were the means by which it was created that the
stupid critics are creating doubts about you? (ie, you are the only creater of
the whole
Universe). (6)
त्रयी साङ्ख्यं योगः पशुपतिमतं वैष्णवमिति
प्रभिन्ने प्रस्थाने परमिदमदः पथ्यमिति च।
रुचीनां वैचित्र्यादृजुकुटिल नानापथजुषां
नृणामेको गम्यस्त्वमसि पयसामर्णव इव॥ ७॥
The different practices based on the three Vedas, SaMkhya,
Yoga, Pashupata-mata, VaishhNava-mata etc . are but different paths (to reach
to the Greatest Truth) and people on account of their different aptitude choose
from them whatever they think best and deserved to be accepted . But as the sea
is the final resting place for all types of streams , You are the only reaching
place for all people whichever path,straight
or zigzag, they may accept . (7)
महोक्षः खट्वाङ्गं परशुरजिनं भस्म फणिनः
कपालं चेतीयत्तव वरद तन्त्रोपकरणम्।
सुरास्तां तामृद्धिं दधति तु भवद्भूप्रणिहितां
न हि स्वात्मारामं विषयमृगतृष्णा भ्रमयति॥ ८॥
O, Giver of the Boons, the bull, the parts of a cot, chisel,
the elephant-skin, Ashes, the serpent, the skull : these are the articles of your
house-hold . And yet gods get all their riches merely by the movement of your
eye-brows . Really, false desires for worldly things do not deceive (mislead) one who is always is
absorbed in his soul ( ie, the Yogi- in
fact You ).
(8)
ध्रुवं कश्चित् सर्वं सकलमपरस्त्वध्रुवमिदं
परो ध्रौव्याऽध्रौव्ये जगति गदति व्यस्तविषये।
समस्तेऽप्येतस्मिन् पुरमथन तैर्विस्मित इव
स्तुवन् जिह्रेमि त्वां न खलु ननु धृष्टा मुखरता॥ ९॥
O, Destroyer Of (
Three ) Cities, some persons call this Universe eternal ( ever lasting), others
call it temporary, and yet others call it both eternal and temporary . Hence,
being surprised ( perplexed ) by these contradictory
opinions on this subject, I am really becoming immodest in loquaciously
praising You . (9)
तवैश्वर्यं यत्नाद् यदुपरि विरिञ्चिर्हरिरधः
परिच्छेतुं यातावनलमनलस्कन्धवपुषः।
ततो भक्तिश्रद्धा-भरगुरु-गृणद्भ्यां गिरिश यत्
स्वयं तस्थे ताभ्यां तव किमनुवृत्तिर्न फलति॥ १०॥
Brahma and VishhNu wanted to measure your wealth
i.e.greatness . You took the form of Fire and your whole body was a column of
fire extending over space . While Brahma took the form of a swan and flew high
to see the top(head), VishhNu took the form of a boar and dug up downwards to
see the bottom (feet).Neither could succeed.(While VishhNu confessed the truth,
Brahma falsely claimed that he had found the top and persuaded the Ketaki flower
to bear false witness.Shiva punished Brahma by removing one of his 5 heads and
ordered that henceforth the Ketaki flower should not be used for his worship).When
ultimately both praised you with full devotion and faith, you stood before them
revealing your normal form . O, mountain-dweller, does not toeing your line
always bear fruit?
(10)
अयत्नादासाद्य त्रिभुवनमवैरव्यतिकरं
दशास्यो यद्बाहूनभृत रणकण्डू-परवशान्।
शिरःपद्मश्रेणी-रचितचरणाम्भोरुह-बलेः
स्थिरायास्त्वद्भक्तेस्त्रिपुरहर विस्फूर्जितमिदम्॥ ११॥
Oh,destroyer of the three cities! The effortless achievement
of the ten-headed Ravana in making the three worlds enemyless( having conquered) and
his arrant eagerness for further fight by stretching his arms,are but the
result of his constant devotion to your lotus feet at which he ever laid the
lotus garland consisting of his 10 heads! (11)
अमुष्य त्वत्सेवा-समधिगतसारं भुजवनं
बलात् कैलासेऽपि त्वदधिवसतौ विक्रमयतः।
अलभ्या पातालेऽप्यलसचलितांगुष्ठशिरसि
प्रतिष्ठा त्वय्यासीद् ध्रुवमुपचितो मुह्यति खलः॥ १२॥
Having obtained all his prowess through worshipping you,
RavaNa once dared to test the power of
his arms at your own dwelling place(
यदृद्धिं सुत्राम्णो वरद परमोच्चैरपि सतीं
अधश्चक्रे बाणः परिजनविधेयत्रिभुवनः।
न तच्चित्रं तस्मिन् वरिवसितरि त्वच्चरणयोः
न कस्याप्युन्नत्यै भवति शिरसस्त्वय्यवनतिः॥ १३॥
Oh boon-giver! BaaNa, the demon king made all the three
worlds serve him with all their attendants and even the greatest wealth of
Indra was a trifle for him . It was not a surprise at all, since he `dwelt' in
your feet; who does not rise in life by bowing his head to you? (13)
अकाण्ड-ब्रह्माण्ड-क्षयचकित-देवासुरकृपा
विधेयस्याऽऽसीद् यस्त्रिनयन विषं संहृतवतः।
स कल्माषः कण्ठे तव न कुरुते न श्रियमहो
विकारोऽपि श्लाघ्यो भुवन-भय- भङ्ग- व्यसनिनः॥ १४॥
When the ocean was being churned by the gods and demons for
`amRit.h'(nectar),various objects came forth: at one point, there emerged the
`kAlakUTa' poison which threatened to consume everything . The gods as well as
the demons were stunned at the prospect of the entire universe coming to an
end, O, three-eyed lord, who is ever compassionate and engaged in removing the
fear of the world, you took it(poison) on yourself by consuming it . (On
Parvati's holding Shiva's throat at that point, the poison froze blue there
itself and Shiva became `neelakanTha'). It is strange that this stain in your
neck, though appearing to be a deformity, actually adds to your richness and
personality . (14)
असिद्धार्था नैव क्वचिदपि सदेवासुरनरे
निवर्तन्ते नित्यं जगति जयिनो यस्य विशिखाः।
स पश्यन्नीश त्वामितरसुरसाधारणमभूत्
स्मरः स्मर्तव्यात्मा न हि वशिषु पथ्यः परिभवः॥ १५॥
The cupid's(love-god `manmatha's) (flower) arrows never
return unaccomplished whether the victims were gods or demons or men . However
O, master! he has now become just a remembered soul (without body),since he looked
upon you as any other ordinary god, shot his arrow and got burnt to ashes,in no
time . Insulting, masters (who have controlled their senses), does one no good
. (15)
मही पादाघाताद् व्रजति सहसा संशयपदं
पदं विष्णोर्भ्राम्यद् भुज-परिघ-रुग्ण-ग्रह- गणम्।
मुहुर्द्यौर्दौस्थ्यं यात्यनिभृत-जटा-ताडित-तटा
जगद्रक्षायै त्वं नटसि ननु वामैव विभुता॥ १६॥
You dance for protecting the world, but strangely, your
glorious act appears to produce the opposite result in that the earth suddenly
struck by your dancing feet doubts that it is coming to an end; even VishhNu's
domain is shaken in fear when your mace like arms bruise the planets; the godly
region feels miserable when its banks are struck by your agitated matted locks
(of hair)!
(16)
वियद्व्यापी तारा-गण-गुणित-फेनोद्गम-रुचिः
प्रवाहो वारां यः पृषतलघुदृष्टः शिरसि ते।
जगद्द्वीपाकारं जलधिवलयं तेन कृतमिति
अनेनैवोन्नेयं धृतमहिम दिव्यं तव वपुः॥ १७॥
The divine river flows extensively through the sky and its
charm is enhanced by the illumination of the foam by the groups of stars .
(Brought down to the earth by the King Bhagiratha by propitiating Lord Shiva
and known as
रथः क्षोणी यन्ता शतधृतिरगेन्द्रो धनुरथो
रथाङ्गे चन्द्रार्कौ रथ-चरण-पाणिः शर इति।
दिधक्षोस्ते कोऽयं त्रिपुरतृणमाडम्बर-विधिः
विधेयैः क्रीडन्त्यो न खलु परतन्त्राः प्रभुधियः॥ १८॥
When you wanted to burn the three cities, you had the earth
as the chariot, Brahma as the charioteer,the Meru mountain as the bow, the sun
and the moon as the parts of the chariot and VishhNu himself(who holds the chariot-wheeel in his
hand -Sudarshan chakra?), as the arrow . Why this demonstrative show when you
as the dictator of everything, could have done the job as a trifle? The Lord's
greatness is not dependent on anybody or anything . ( Incidentally there is a
view that the burning of the three
cities would refer to the burning of
three kinds of bodies of man i.e. `sthUla sharIra', `sUkshma sharIra' and `kAraNa
sharIra'). (18)