Chapter 22 of 43 · Rudra Samhita - Sati Khanda · Overall chapter 74 of 464
More on Sati and Shiva's Sport
Sati, uneasy at the arrival of the monsoon, asks Shiva to build them a proper home away from the clouds. Shiva offers her a choice of mountain residences in extended, loving detail, and she chooses simply to stay on the Himalayas with him - where they continue to sport together for ten thousand divine years.
Brahma said
Vrishadhvaja was on the slopes of Kailasa. Once, when the clouds came, Daksha's daughter spoke to him.
Sati said
Lord, Mahadeva, Shambhu, dear to me as my own life, protector, giver of honour, listen and act on my words. The clouds have come, a season hard to bear. Masses of clouds of many hues sing in the sky and directions. Swift gusts wash the kadamba flowers, gather drops of water and pull at the heart. The clouds roar, pour torrents and carry flags of lightning, fierce and unsettling to our minds. The sun cannot be seen and the lord of night is wrapped in cloud. The day looks like night and distresses those parted from loved ones. Pushed by the wind the clouds cannot stay in one place and scatter. Shankara, it looks as if they will fall on people's heads. Big trees struck by wind seem to dance in the sky. On seeing this cowards are frightened and desire is kindled, Hara. The clouds are like masses of blue collyrium, followed fast by flocks of cranes like foam on the Yamuna. At the end of the day a dark ring appears like the blazing Vadavamukha fire in the ocean. Virupaksha, crops have begun to sprout even in temple courtyards, to say nothing of other places. Dark, silver and red masses of cloud on the Himalayas and Mandara look like birds on the ocean of milk. Kimshuka flowers shine unmatched but have lost their scent, as if, in prosperity and adversity alike, Lakshmi has left the good and serves the crooked. Over every forest on Mandara the peacocks call again and again, their tails spread, always delighted. Chataka birds stand like travellers on the paths, calling sweetly, eager to drink the raindrops and cool their heat. See the wickedness of the clouds: they seem to touch my body with their hands, yet they also cover the peacocks and chatakas that follow them. Seeing that even the sun is conquered, peacocks and sarangas have gladly flown to far-off Lake Manasa, away from this lord of mountains. At such a time even crows and chakoras build nests. Without hope, how can one find peace? Wielder of Pinaka, let us not suffer this great fear of the clouds. Listen and quickly build us a home, on Kailasa, in the Himalayas or in great Kashi on earth. Vrishadhvaja, build a fitting home.
Brahma said
So Dakshayani spoke to Shambhu more than once. He laughed, and the moonbeams on his head seemed to smile. Great-souled, all-knowing Parameshvara, a smile quivering on his lips, comforted Devi Sati.
Ishvara said
Beautiful one, beloved, it is mine to build a home for your pleasure, one the clouds can never reach. Even in the monsoon clouds only swirl around the mountain's flanks and never come to the summit. They wash Kailasa's feet, and no higher. Nor do clouds ever rise above the top of Sumeru; Pushkara, Avarta and the others reach only the foundation of Jambu. Choose the peak of any of these lords of mountains and tell me which suits you as a home. On any of these Himalayan mountains you can roam as you like and enjoy yourself. Swarms of golden-winged bees will fan you and their humming will be like sweet songs. As you roam on the jewelled ground at will, siddha women will gladly offer you a seat and bring you fruit and whatever you want. Daughters of the serpent king, mountain maidens, naga women and kinnaras will always help and accompany you and give you joy. They will look at your unmatched beauty and lovely face and no longer bear their own beauty; though fair, they will no longer value their bodies or qualities, and will always look at you with unblinking eyes. Menaka, wife of the mountain king, famous in the three worlds for beauty and qualities, will constantly entreat you and please your mind. Many women in the mountain king's house are lovely and, pleased with your qualities, will seek you out with joy, honour you and offer you instruction, though you need none. Beloved, is that where you want to go? Spring's power is always felt there. There are wonderful groves full of cuckoo calls. In the Himalayas, lord of mountains, there are many varied waters, cool and full of hundreds of lotuses. There are green meadows and trees that give every wish, called kalpavrikshas. In the pastures you will always see flowers, horses, elephants and cows. The place is ringed with sages and even the beasts of prey are calm. Mahamaya, there are many kinds of animals and it is like a temple of gods, shining with crystal, gold and silver, adorned with Manasa and other lakes. There are golden buds and blooming lotuses with jewelled stems, and waters inhabited by countless porpoises, turtles and makaras, with gallinules and blue lotuses. Deveshi, all these give off scent and pollen. The waters are clear, sparkling and fragrant, and the shores beautiful with green moss. The trees' branches seem to dance, forgetting their nature, adorned with cranes and chakravakas drunk on love. The sweet maddening hum of bees stirs desire even in the guardians of the directions, Vasava, Kubera, Yama, Varuna, Agni, Nirriti, Vayu and Ishana. The gods' abode and these guardians' lovely cities stand on Meru's high summit, served by Rambha, Shachi, Menaka and others. Among all these mountains, do you want this one? It is very beautiful and the essence of the great mountains. There the goddess Shachi with her friends and crowds of apsaras will always attend you suitably. Or there is Kailasa, lord of mountains, my constant abode. Do you want a home there, adorned by the city of the lord of wealth? It shines like the full moon and is washed by the Ganga. In its valleys and peaks maidens constantly utter the sounds of the brahman, and there are many kinds of animals and hundreds of lotus pools. Beautiful one, Sumeru's summit has every virtue. Which region does your mind want? Tell me quickly and I will build you a home there.
Brahma said
Hearing Shankara, Dakshayani slowly told Mahadeva her own preference.
Sati said
I want to live on the Himalayas with you. Without delay, arrange a home on that great mountain.
Brahma said
Hara loved her greatly. Hearing her, he went with Dakshayani to the Himalayan peak, a lovely summit beyond the reach of birds, where many siddha women lived, with lakes and forests, wonderful lotuses and a surface variegated with jewels. Shambhu, Sati's friend, reached that place, bright as the rising sun. It was covered with crystal-like clouds, shining with grass and trees, colourful flowers and lakes, blossoms on the branch tips with bees buzzing round, clumps of lotuses and blue lotuses. It echoed with the calls of chakravakas, kadambas, swans, shankus, drunken cranes, curlews and peacocks; male cuckoos sang sweetly. Turangavadanas, siddhas, apsaras, guhyakas, vidyadhara women, goddesses and kinnaras played there. There were wives and mountain maidens playing lutes, trikamas, drums and kettledrums, and lovely apsaras dancing with zest, beautiful goddesses, ponds and scents, and groves always adorned with flowers. In that beautiful abode on the king of mountains Vrishadhvaja played with Sati for a very long time; it was like heaven. With Sati Shankara happily played for ten thousand divine years. Sometimes Hara went to another place. Sometimes he sat on Meru's summit surrounded by gods and goddesses, and sometimes he visited continents, gardens and forests on earth, but always returned and played happily with Sati. Day or night he did not sacrifice, perform austerities or think of the brahman. Only Sati gave pleasure to Shambhu's mind. Sati always looked toward Mahadeva's face, and Mahadeva always looked toward the face of Daksha's daughter. So, together, the tree of love grew, and Kali and Shiva nourished it with their feelings.
Retold in our own words from Bibek Debroy's English translation of the Shiva Purana (Penguin Classics). Names, numbers and the order of events follow the source.