Chapter 34 - The incarnation of Śiva as Sunartaka naṭa

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Nandīśvara said:—

I. O omniscient Sanatkumāra, listen to the incarnation of lord Śiva, the great soul, as Sunartaka naṭa.

2-3. O sage, when goddess Pārvatī, daughter of Himavat, performed the pious penance in order to attain Śiva, after going to the forest, Śiva was much delighted at her austerity. He approached to test her conduct and out of pleasure to grant her the desired boon.

4. O sage, the delighted Śiva revealed his real form to her and told Pārvatī, “Mention the boon you wish to have.”

5. On hearing the words of Śiva and on seeing his excellent form, Pārvatī was delighted. She spoke to him after paying her homage.

Pārvatī said:—

6. O lord of gods, if you are delighted, if a boon shall be granted to me, O Śiva, you be my lord and husband. Please take pity on me.

7. With your permission I shall go to my father’s abode. O lord, you shall approach my father.

8. In the form of a mendicant and making your spotless fame known, beg me of my father and make the householder’s life fruitful.

0. O lord Śiva, it behoves to marry me with due rites for the fulfilment of the task of the gods.

10. O lord, you are without aberrations. Please fulfil my desires. You are favourably disposed to the devotees. I am always your devotee.

Nandīśvara said:—

11. Thus requested by her, Śiva who is favourably disposed towards his devotees said “So be it” and vanished from there. He returned to his mountainous abode.

12. After making her beauty fruitful, Pārvatī returned to her father’s abode jealously in the company of her female friends.

13. On hearing Pārvatī’s return, Himavat accompanied by his attendants and his wife Menā joyously came to see his daughter.

14. On seeing her delighted, both of them received her suitably within the house and glad at heart celebrated the event with pleasure.

15. Menā and the lord of mountains made gifts to brahmins and others* The auspicious mantras of the Vedas were chanted.

16. Then Menā joyously stayed for a while in the yard with her daughter and Himavat went to the Ganges for a bath.

17. In the meantime Śiva, favourably disposed towards his devotees and indulging in good sports, assumed the form of a dancer and approached Menakā.

18. He held the horn in his left hand and the small drum in his right. He carried a bundle of patched garments on his back. He wore a red cloth. He appeared to be an expert in dance and music.

19. Then the lord in the form of a dancer performed various dances joyously in the yard of Menakā and sang sweetly.

20. He blew on the horn and played on Ḍamaru producing sweet notes. With great pleasure he exhibited a variety of splendid sports.

21. The citizens including men, women, children and old women gathered there suddenly to see him.

22. O sage, hearing the sweet song and witnessing the splendid dance, the people were fascinated and Menā too was highly delighted.

23. Immediately Menā whose mind was in exultation, thanks to his clever feats, went to give him potfuls of gems and jewels.

24. He did not accept those gems. He wished to have Pārvatī for his alms. Eagerly he began to dance and sing again.

25. On hearing bis words Menā was surprised. She became furious as well. She rebuked the mendicant and wanted to drive him out.

26. In the meantime the lord of the mountains returned from the Ganges. He saw the mendicant in the form of a man standing before him in the yard.

27. On hearing from Menā all the details he too was infuriated. He ordered his attendants to drive out the mendicant.

28. O excellent sage, no one could drive him out. He was blazing and brilliant like a big fire and could not be touched.

29. O dear, then that mendicant, an expert in different sports, exhibited his infinite power to the mountain.

30. Immediately the mountain saw him assuming the form of Viṣṇu, then the form of Brahmā and in a trice that of the sun.

31. O dear, then he saw him in the excessively wonderful form of Śiva accompanied by Pārvatī. He was exquisitely handsome and brilliant. He was laughing.

32. Thus he saw him in various forms. He was much surprised and extremely delighted.

38. Then the leading mendicant of good sports begged for Durgā as his alms, of her (Menā) and of him (the mountain). He did not accept anything else.

34. Then lord Śiva in the form of the mendicant, urged by Durgā’s words vanished and went away to his abode suddenly.

35. Perfect knowledge then dawned on Menā and the lord of mountains. They thought: “The lord Śiva has deceived us and returned to his abode.

36. Our Pārvatī who has performed a hard penance shall be given to him”, thinking thus they became extremely devoted to Śiva.

37. Thence after performing great sports, Śiva performed the marriage rites duly with Pārvatī delighting all devotees.

38. O dear, thus the incarnation of Śiva as Sunartaka naṭa in which the desire of Pārvatī was fulfilled has been explained to you by me.

39. Thus the pious narrative of great value has been explained by me. He who listens to this with pleasures becomes happy and attains salvation.