Chapter 7 of 59 · Rudra Samhita - Yuddha Khanda · Overall chapter 177 of 464
Praise by Devas
Parvati arrives with Skanda and Ganesha just as the devas are agreeing to arm Shiva; after a private moment with his sons, Shiva withdraws inside while the terrified gods, scattered and humiliated outside, are driven off by a gana and reduced to despair until Vishnu reassures them that the difficulty of reaching a great being's favour is itself ordinary, and teaches them a short mantra of surrender to recite a crore times.
Sanatkumara said
Hara is the refuge, kind to his devotees. Hearing the gods and others, he gladly agreed to the proposal. Sage, meanwhile Devi Shivaa came to the place where Hara and the gods were, with her two sons. Seeing Shivaa arrive, Vishnu and the others quickly lowered their heads and bowed, surprised but not alarmed. Sage, all of them cried auspicious "Victory", though not knowing why she had come they stayed silent. Devi was praised by all the gods. Full of extraordinary eagerness and pleased, she spoke to her husband, skilled in many pastimes.
Devi said
Lord, look at the six-faced one. He is like the sun. He is our son, the best of sons, adorned with the best ornaments.
Sanatkumara said
Addressed in eloquent words by the mother of the worlds, Ishana was not satisfied but drank the amrita of Skanda's face. He remembered the daityas who had come and been crushed by Skanda's own energy. Maheshvara embraced him, breathed the scent of his head and was delighted. Jagadamba stayed there and conferred with the lord. Then, skilled in many pastimes, she rose. Shambhu, who plays excellent pastimes, was honoured by all the gods. With Nandi, the six-faced one and the mountain king's daughter, the intelligent one went into his residence. All the gods stayed near the door of the lord of the gods. Sage, all their minds were troubled and they were very anxious. "What will he do? Where shall we go? What will make us happy? What exactly happened? We are doomed." Shakra and the others were extremely agitated. They looked at one another and spoke so. Their words faltered and they cursed their bad luck. "We are sinners," some said. Others said, "We are most unfortunate." Other gods said, "The Indras among daityas are fortunate." Hearing the noise, immensely energetic Kumbhodara drove the gods off with a staff. Terrified, the gods ran away, crying in lament. The sages and the rest were shaken. Indra, overcome with faintness, sank to his knees on the ground, and other gods and rishis too, overwhelmed by weakness, fell to the ground. All the sages and gods were shaken. They gathered and went to Vidhatri and Hari, who were friendly to them. Kashyapa and all the other sages spoke to Hari, who dispels the worlds' fear. "Alas, destiny is powerful." The brahmanas said, "Through our ill fortune the task has been left unfinished." Others, amazed, cried, "What has caused this obstacle?" Sage, hearing Kashyapa and the others, Hari comforted the sages and gods.
Vishnu said
Gods, sages, listen carefully. Why are you miserable? Put aside all this unhappiness. Gods, worshipping the great is not easily done. It is heard that when one worships the great there is misery at first. Gods, when he sees how firm you are he will surely be pleased. All of you think about this in your minds. How can Parameshvara Shiva, lord of all the ganas, be quickly brought under your control? Say Pranava first. Say "Namah" at the end. Say "Shivaaya", and after that "shubham" twice. Say "kuru" twice and "Shivaaya" again. Then say "Namah" and Pranava. The learned always use this mantra. If you follow this and recite it a crore times, doing japa to Shambhu, Shiva will accomplish your task.
Sanatkumara said
The powerful Hari, who enters everywhere, said this. Sage, at this the gods worshipped Hara again. To accomplish the gods' task, and the sages' especially, Hari and Vidhatri also fixed their minds on Shiva and did japa. Supreme among sages, the gods stood there, held to their fortitude and said the word "Shiva" a crore times. Then Shiva himself appeared before them in the form described, and spoke.
Shri Shiva said
Hari, Vidhatri, gods, and sages auspicious in your vows, I am pleased. You have won me by this. Ask the boon you want.
The devas said
Lord of the gods, lord of the universe, Shankara, know that the gods have been crippled. If you are pleased, let Tripura be destroyed. Paramesha, friend of the distressed, compassionate one, save us. Whenever the gods have faced calamity you have saved them again and again.
Sanatkumara said
Brahmana, hearing them, and Hari and Vidhatri, Mahesha smiled and spoke again.
Mahesha said
Hari, Vidhatri, gods, sages, listen to all my words. In my view Tripura is already destroyed. Without delay give me the chariot, the charioteer, the divine bow, the excellent arrows and all else that you pledged to give me earlier. Vishnu, Vidhatri, you are the lords of the three worlds, so see that I am made emperor in every way. The destruction of Tripura is held to be a task that will help the gods. So, since you have the rights over creation and preservation, you should make all the efforts. This mantra is very sacred and auspicious. It brings me delight and gives pleasure and liberation. For Shiva's devotees it brings everything wished for. It is blessed and gives fame, long life, heaven and all else men desire, freedom from desire in this world and the next for the liberated, and pleasure and liberation both. A man who purifies himself and always chants this mantra, and who hears it or has it heard, gains everything he wants.
Sanatkumara said
Hearing Shiva the paramatman, all the gods were delighted, more even than Hari and Brahma. At his command and for the universe's sake Vishvakarma built a divine, very beautiful chariot that had all the gods in it.
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.