Birth of Shiva's Son

Brahma said

Mahadeva, versed in the knowledge of yoga, heard this. Though he had given up desire, afraid of Parvati, he did not give up the union. Shiva appeared at the door of the dwelling, near the gods, who suffered because of the daityas. Shankara is kind to his devotees. With all the gods Hari and I saw the lord Shiva and were glad to see the one who loves his devotees. Hearing the gods, Bhagavan Bhava was depressed at heart and troubled in mind, and replied. Delighted, the immortals lowered their shoulders and bowed. Sage, with Hari and me they all praised Shankara.

The devas said

Lord of the gods, Mahadeva, ocean of compassion, lord Shankara, you are inside everyone's heart and know everything. Lord Maheshvara, accomplish the gods' task and save the gods. Show us compassion and kill the daityas, Taraka and the other great lords.

Shiva said

Vishnu, Vidhatri, all you gods, you are the goal in everyone's mind. What is to happen is certain to happen, and no one can counter it. What has happened has happened. Immortals, listen: who can receive the semen that has now come out? Let him receive it.

Brahma said

Saying this, he flung it on the ground. Urged by all the immortals, Agni took the form of a dove and with his beak swallowed all of Shambhu's semen.

Sage, at that time, because Shiva was taking long to return, Girija came and saw the bulls among the gods. Understanding everything, Shivaa was filled with great rage and spoke to all the gods, Hari and the others.

Devi said

Host of gods, you are especially wicked. To gain your own aims you always make others suffer. For your own ends you worshipped Mahesha, the great lord. Gods, you spoiled our play and made me barren. Immortals, no one who opposes me is ever happy. Wicked residents of heaven, you will therefore suffer misery.

Brahma said

Saying this, she cursed Vishnu and all the gods. Shivaa, the mountain king's daughter, was blazing with rage.

Parvati said

From today the wives of the gods will be barren. Let all the gods who opposed me meet misery.

Brahma said

So the one who is Ishvari over everyone cursed Vishnu and the other gods. Then she spoke to Pavaka, who had swallowed Shiva's semen.

Parvati said

Pure one, you will devour everything and your atman will always suffer. Fool, you have done the gods' task and do not know Shiva's tattva. Deceitful, wicked one, you took wicked instruction from the wicked and swallowed Shiva's semen, which you should not have wished to do. Nor is it right.

Brahma said

Having cursed Vahni, the mountain's daughter went swiftly back to her own dwelling with Isha, dissatisfied at the time. Sage, after she had gone, Shivaa tried to soothe Shiva, and gave birth to another son, called Ganesha; I will tell you that whole account later.

For now I will tell you of Guha's birth; listen lovingly. The immortals eat the food offered as oblations in the fire with Vedic words, and so all the gods became pregnant. The gods could not bear the semen and suffered. Because of Shivaa, Vishnu and the others had already lost their intellect and knowledge; deluded, they were scorched and quickly took refuge with Parvati's lord. All humbly went to the gate of Shiva's dwelling, joined their hands and lovingly praised Shivaa and Shambhu.

The devas said

Lord of the gods, Mahadeva, Girija's lord, great lord, protector, what has happened now? Your maya cannot be violated. We have become pregnant and are scorched by your semen. Shambhu, take pity on us and undo this miserable plight.

Brahma said

Sage, hearing the immortals' praise, Paramesha, Shivaa's husband, came quickly to the gate where the gods stood. When Shankara reached the gate, Achyuta and all the gods bent low lovingly, bowed and praised the one who loves his devotees.

The devas said

Shambhu, Shiva, Mahesha, we bow especially to you. Save us; we have taken refuge in you. We are scorched by the semen. Hara, take away our misery, or we will certainly die. Apart from you, who can end the gods' grief?

Brahma said

The lord, king of the gods, heard these piteous words, laughed in kindness to his devotees and replied.

Shiva said

Hari, Vidhatri, all you gods, hear my words. You will be happy, but you must be careful now. All of you must quickly vomit out my semen. Radiant ones, if you heed my words you will be happy.

Brahma said

Vishnu and all the gods took this command on their heads. Remembering imperishable Shiva, they quickly vomited it out. Shambhu's semen was golden and extraordinary, as big as a mountain. It fell to the ground, blazing, and seemed to touch heaven. All the gods, Achyuta and the rest, were happy and praised Paramesha Shankara, kind to his devotees. Lord among sages, only Pavaka was not happy. Parameshvara Shankara gave him a supreme command. Sage, the disabled Vahni joined his hands and bowed. Unhappy in mind, he praised Shiva:

Agni said

Lord of the gods, Mahesha, I am foolish and your servant. Pardon my crime and end this scorching. You are kind to the distressed, lord Parameshvara Shankara.

Brahma said

Kind to the distressed, Shambhu Parameshvara heard the pure one's words, was pleased, and replied to Pavaka.

Shiva said

You did what should not be done: you swallowed my semen. For that reason, in obeying my command, your sin has grown and the scorching has not been ended. But since you have now taken refuge in me, you will be happy. I will destroy all your miseries. Carefully put my semen into the womb of an excellent woman, and then you will be happy; in particular, the burning will go away.

Brahma said

Hearing Shambhu, the pure one answered slowly, bowing with joined hands, and cheerfully spoke to Shankara, who brings welfare to his devotees.

Agni said

Lord Maheshvara, this energy of yours is impossible to bear. In the three worlds no womb but Shakti's can hold it.

Brahma said

Best of sages, when Vahni said this, you, sent by Shankara and wishing to do Agni a kindness, spoke to him.

Narada said

Vahni, hear my auspicious words, which will take away your scorching, bring you supreme bliss and counter all your miseries. Vahni, there is a way for you to be happy and for your burning to go. Son, on Shiva's command I will lovingly tell you what must be done. Pure one, at daybreak in the month of Magha, when women bathe, put Shiva's great semen into their bodies.

Brahma said

At that time the wives of the seven sages came there. Sage, in the morning of Magha they kept their niyamas and wished to bathe. Sage, having bathed, six of them were chilled and wanted to go near Vahni's flames. Arundhati saw that they were deluded. Of excellent conduct and good understanding, instructed by Girisha, she tried to stop them. Sage, but the six sages' wives, deluded and stubborn, went there to ward off their chill; they were also deluded by Shiva's maya. Sage, through the pores of their bodies drops of the semen at once entered them, and Vahni was freed from the burning. Vahni in his flame form vanished from the spot, happy; remembering Shankara, he went back to his own dwelling. Virtuous one, the women became pregnant and suffered scorching, and went to their houses. Arundhati was wretched at what Agni had done. Son, seeing what had happened to their wives, their husbands were filled with rage at once. Son, after taking counsel together, the wives cast it away. The six wives saw they had transgressed, and son, they were deeply miserable and agitated in mind. Shiva's semen was now in the form of a foetus. The sages' wives threw it on the slopes of Himachala and were freed from burning. Mount Himalaya could not bear Shiva's semen and trembled greatly. Unable to bear it and scorched, he threw it into the Ganga. Ganga also could not bear the paramatman's semen. Lord among sages, with her waves she flung it into a clump of reeds. Flung there, the semen quickly became a boy, handsome and very fortunate, prosperous and energetic, increasing delight. Lord among sages, it was the month of Margashirsha, the sixth tithi of the bright fortnight, when Shiva's son appeared on the surface of the earth. Brahmana, at that time on their own mountain the Himalaya's daughter and Girisha were delighted. In her joy milk flowed from Shivaa's breasts. Sage, everyone who went there was happier still. Son, the three worlds were auspicious, which brought joy to the virtuous. For the crooked, especially the daityas, there were obstacles. The supreme sound of drums was suddenly heard from the sky. Narada, flowers were showered and quickly fell on the boy. Supreme among sages, Vishnu and all the gods were filled with supreme bliss and there were great festivities.