Shiva's Amusement

Brahma said

I worship Shiva, who is pleased by respect, loves to show affection and gives love; he is complete and makes others complete, the home of every prosperity, truth itself and full of truth. The three kinds of truth are his potency; Vishnu and Brahma worship him. Out of his own compassion Shankara takes on many forms.

Narada said

Shankara, who brings welfare to the worlds, married Girija and went back to his own mountain. I want to hear what happened next. Brahmana, tell me: how was a son born to Shiva the paramatman, who is content in his own atman? It was for this that the lord married Shivaa. And how did the one who brings welfare to the gods bring about Taraka's death? Show me your kindness and tell me all of it.

Suta said

Hearing Narada, the Prajapati was pleased, remembered Shankara and replied.

Brahma said

Narada, I will tell you the conduct of the moon-crested one, the divine story of Guha's birth and the slaying of Tarakasura. Let it be heard. It destroys all sins, and whoever hears it is surely freed from them. It is without blemish, secret and most wonderful, removes sins and torments and every obstacle, brings every auspiciousness, is pleasing and is the essence of the shrutis, bringing happiness and the seed of liberation, cutting the root of karma.

Having married Shivaa and gone back to Kailasa, Shiva shone even more brightly. He thought of the gods' task and of the hardships of those who would accomplish it. When Bhagavan Shiva himself returned to Kailasa, his ganas were delighted and arranged many things to please him. There were great festivities at his return, and the gods, glad and satisfied, went back to their own regions. Mahadeva Shambhu took Girija Shivaa to a lonely, agreeable, divine place. He made a bed there scented with sandal paste and flowers, wonderful and auspicious, with many pleasures added. There with Girija Bhagavan Shambhu amused himself for a thousand years of the gods, the honour-giving one. In play, the moment he touched Durga Shiva lost his senses, and the moment she touched Shiva she lost hers, not knowing day from night. Following the world's custom Hara gave himself to pleasure. A long time passed, blameless one, yet to them it seemed an instant.

Son, once all the gods met together. With Shakra in front they began to take counsel on Mount Meru. The gods said: Shambhu Ishvara married to accomplish our task. He is lord of yoga, changeless, content in his own atman and blemishless. Yet no son has been born to him and we do not know why. Why is Ishvara the divinity delaying? Meanwhile, through Narada, who has divine sight, the gods learned of the couple's endless pleasures and play. Knowing their enjoyment had lasted so long, the gods were worried. With Brahma in the lead, they went to Narayana. I bowed to him and told him everything that had happened and what we wished. All the gods stood there like painted figures. I said, "For a thousand divine years Shankara has been taking the pleasures of union. The yogi does not stop." Bhagavan answered: "Creator of the whole universe, there is nothing to worry about; all will be well. Take refuge in the great lord Shankara, lord of the gods. Lord of subjects, people who seek refuge in Mahesha with a glad heart have nothing to fear. Vidhatri, an end to the love-play will come at the right time, not now. A task succeeds at its proper time and not otherwise. If Shambhu Maheshvara wishes to enjoy himself, who can stop him? When another thousand years are over he will stop by himself. One who devises ways to separate a man and woman in union is, birth after birth, separated from wife and sons; he is cast out of knowledge and his deeds and prosperity in this world are ruined, and at death he goes to kalasutra for a hundred thousand years. When Shakra was in union with Rambha, Durvasa, the great Indra among sages, parted them, and so Shakra was parted from his own wife; he suffered separation for a thousand divine years and in the end took another woman's hand as wife. When Kama was with Ghritachi, the teacher Brihaspati stopped him, and within six months Chandra carried off Brihaspati's wife; he then worshipped Shiva, brought about the war over Tara, got back the pregnant Tara and ended his parting. The great sage Goutama stopped Chandra in union with Mohini, and so Chandra was separated from his wife. A man who ploughs was in union with a low-caste woman; Harishchandra drove him out so that he wandered in a lonely forest, and hear the result: Harishchandra was cast out of his kingdom, parted from wife and son and punished by Vishvamitra, and only after worshipping Shiva was he freed from all sins. Ajamila, best of brahmanas, kept a low-caste woman, but the gods, out of fear, did not stop it. Vidhatri, everything can be accomplished by the sprinkling of semen, which is powerful. If it will bear fruit, who can prevent it? Shambhu's union will last a thousand divine years. Lords of the gods, when those thousand years are over, go to him. See that the semen certainly falls on the ground. From that semen a son called Skanda will be born to the lord. Vidhatri, now return with all the gods to your homes. Let Shambhu take his pleasure with Parvati in a lonely spot." With these words Kamala's lord quickly went into his own city, and I, lord among sages, returned with the gods to our abodes.

As Shakti played with the mighty one, the earth shook under the load, with Shesha and Kacchapa. Under Kacchapa's weight the wind that holds everything up was stunned. The three worlds were overwhelmed with fear. With me, all the gods took refuge with Hari and told him everything in distress.

The devas said

Lord of the gods, Rama's consort, saviour of all, we have taken refuge in you; save us. Our minds are shaken with fear. The breath of life in the three worlds has been stilled and we do not know why. We, the sages and everything in the three worlds, moving and still, are shaken.

Brahma said

With me, all the gods said this and then stood in silence before Vishnu, distressed and wretched. Hari heard all the gods said, took us along and went quickly to Kailasa, loved by Shiva. With me and the gods he went to Shiva's excellent region wishing to see Shankara. Not finding Shiva there, Vishnu and the gods were amazed. They humbly asked Shiva's ganas who stood there.

Vishnu said

Ganas of Shankara, where has Shiva, lord of everything, gone? Tell us lovingly; we are wretched and ask for compassion.

Brahma said

Hearing Hari and the immortals' excellent words, Shankara's ganas replied affectionately to Rama's husband.

Shiva's ganas said

Hari, out of love for Shiva we will tell you how things stand. Brahma and immortals, we will tell you everything. Sarveshvara Mahadeva has gone to Girija's dwelling. Skilled in many pastimes, he affectionately left us here. Lord of Rama, we do not know what Shambhu Maheshvara is doing inside that cave. Many years have passed.

Brahma said

Best of sages, hearing them, Vishnu, I and the immortals were amazed. We went to Shiva's door. Sage, having gone there with me and the gods, Hari, dear to the gods, cried out loudly in distress. Best of sages, standing there, Hari, I and the immortals lovingly praised Shambhu Hara, lord of all the worlds.

Vishnu said

Mahadeva, Parameshvara, what are you doing inside? All the gods are suffering because of Taraka. We have taken refuge in you; save us.

Brahma said

So with the immortals and me he praised Shambhu in many ways. Lord among sages, suffering because of Taraka, Hari wept there, and the residents of heaven raised tumultuous cries of misery, their words, as they suffered from the asura, mixed with praise of Shiva.