Chapter 30 - The Story of Sage Śveta

Nandin said:

1. On being thus urged by Brahmā, the leading brahmins, the great sages asked him about the sacred story of Śveta.

Brahmā said:

2-6. O brahmins, there was a certain sage named Śveta in the cave of a mountain. His span of life was nearing its end. Hence he worshipped and eulogised the great lord with devotion. He repeated the Mantras of the holy hymn Rudrādhyāya beginning with “Namaste” (Obeisance so Thee).^[1] Then the god of Death, of great splendour thought at the time of death had arrived^[2] for the excellent brahmin. O leading brahmins, thinking of taking him away he approached the sage. Śveta saw Kāla and though the time of his death was imminent he meditated upon the three-eyed lord Rudra and worshipped him:

“I worship the three-eyed lord^[3] of great fragrance, who increases prosperity. What will god of Death do for me? Since I am Death of Death.”^[4]

Looking at Śveta, the god of death terrifying to the worlds said smilingly:

7-11. “Come, O Śveta. What fruit do you gain by this means? O excellent brahmin, who can save one caught in my clutches even if he be Rudra, or Viṣṇu or Brahmā the lord of the universe? O brahmin, how does this procedure pertaining to Rudra affect me. I am bent upon taking you to my world O sage, since your span of life has come to an end.”

On hearing these terrible words though mingled with virtuous thoughts, the leading sage cried out “Hā Rudra, Rudra, Rudra.” Glancing at Kala he spoke with eyes full of tears, excitedly, in dejected mood:

Śveta said:

12. O Kala, what can be done by you if our bull-emblemed lord, Rudra, the source of origin of all Devas, is present in this Liṅga?

13. O lord of great arms, of what avail is this behest (of yours) to persons like me who are extremely devoted to Rudra? I ask you to go away, the way you have come.

14-15. On hearing this Kala of sharp fangs and terrible to look at, became infuriated. The terrible god with the noose in his hands roared like a lion and clapped his hands again and again. He then bound the sage whose time of death had arrived and addressed him thus:

16. “O brahmin sage, O Śveta, you have been bound by me for being taken to my abode. What has been done now by your Rudra the lord of Devas?

17. Where is Rudra and where your devotion? Where is your worship and where the fruit thereof? Where am I and whence have I to fear? O ŚVeta, you have been bound by me.

18. O Śveta, is your Rudra stationed in this Liṅga? If so, he is utterly inactive. How can he be worshipped?”

19-20. Then Rudra, the destroyer of Kāma and sacrifice, the three-eyed lord came hurriedly with a laugh, accompanied by Umā, Nandin and the leading gaṇas in order to slay Yama who had come to kill the brahmin.

21. O brahmins, then on seeing Rudra, the mighty Yama^[5] abandoned the brahmin, out of fear and fell down near the sage.

22-23 On looking at lord Rudra, the destroyer of death, as also at Yama who fell instantaneously at the sight of the lord, Śveta roared loudly.^[6] O leading brahmins, the gods too cried loudly, and bowed to the lord as well as Umā. The leading sages were delighted much.

24. Over the heads of the sage and Rudra, the sky-roving gods showered cool and splendid flowers from the firmament.

25-26. On seeing Yama dead, Nandin bowed to lord Rudra. He the leader of the gaṇas and the follower of lord Rudra, spoke to the lord in great astonishment. “This Yama of puerile intelligence^[7] is dead. Now, be favourable to the sage.”

27. On seeing Yama destroyed in a trice, the iord blessed the excellent brahmin and disappeared.^[8]

28. Hence, O brahmins, One should devoutly worship the lord, the conqueror of the god of Death. He is the bestower of liberation as well as of worldly pleasures. He is the benefactor of all.

29. Of what avail is much talk? After renouncing and worshipping Rudra with great devotion you will ail become free from grief.

Nandin said:

30-31. On being addressed thus by Brahmā, the sages, the expounders of Brahman said once again:—O lord, be pleased. By what penance or sacrifice or holy rites can devotion to Rudra, the Pināka-bearing lord, be acquired? How will the twice-born become the devotee of Rudra?

Brahmā said:

32-34. Neither by charitable gifts, nor by learning, can, O excellent sages devotion to Śiva, the great cause (of the universe) be acquired. It cannot be acquired by long or sessional sacrifice, holy rites, vedic texts, yogic treatises or by restraints. It is acquired only by God’s grace.

On hearing these words the anxious sages bowed to Brahmā along with their wives and sons. Hence, devotion to lord Rudra bestows virtue, love and wealth. It yields victory to the sage. It grants him victory over death.

35-37. Formerly, by means of devotion, Dadhīca conquered lord Viṣṇu and his associate Devas. He killed Kṣupa with the tip of his foot. He acquired adamantine bones. By glorifying the lord, I too conquered death. Even by the great sage Śveta who had fallen into the jaws of death, death was conquered by the grace of the lord, in the manner it was conquered by me.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Namaste rudra manyave. Tattirīya Saṃhitā. 4.5.1.1.

[2]:

Kālaprāpta [Kālaprāptam]—gatāyus [gatāyuṣam] i.e. dead.

[3]:

Cf. tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhim puṣṭivardhanam. Tattirīya Saṃhitā. I.8.6.2.

[4]:

mṛtyor mṛtyuḥ—destroyer of death. Cf.—Having fed on death that feeds on men, Death being dead there is no dying then.

[5]:

bali—valorous (Yama).

[6]:

uccadhī [uccadhīḥ]—uccā dhīr yasya Śivatoṣiṇī.—the intelligent (Śvtea).

[7]:

Bāladhi [Bāladhiḥ]—the stupid (Yama).

[8]:

Gūdḥa-śarīra [gūdḥa-śarīram]—the invisible form. Construe: kṣaṇād gūḍhaśarīraṃ viveśa.