Praise by Devas

Vyasa asked

Brahma's son, wise one, supreme among Shiva's devotees, you are blessed. When all Tripura was burned, what did the gods do? Where did Maya go? Where did the other lords who had been burned go? If it is a story about Shambhu, tell me all of it.

Suta said

Hearing Vyasa, Sanatkumara, the creator's illustrious son, remembered Shiva's feet and replied.

Sanatkumara replied

Vyasa, immensely intelligent son of Parashara, hear Mahesha's conduct, which destroys all sins. In play he was following the world's ways. Maheshvara burned everything in Tripura, full of daityas. The gods were especially surprised. The gods, with Indra and Upendra, said nothing. All of them looked fearfully at the immensely energetic Rudra, fierce and fear-inspiring, blazing in the ten directions like a crore suns or the fire of dissolution. All the gods stood with faces lowered. Devi, Himalaya's daughter, also looked at the divinity fearfully. Seeing the gods' army terrified, the bulls among rishis said nothing but stood all round, bowed down. Seeing Shankara's form, Brahma too was afraid. With a satisfied heart he steadied himself and with the gods praised him. Though Maheshvara is subject to his devotees, Vishnu too was afraid of the lord of the gods, Bhava Hara, destroyer of Tripura, who was with Girija.

Brahma said

Lord of the gods, Mahadeva, you favour your devotees. Paramesha, who brings welfare to all the gods, be pleased. Protector of the world, be pleased. Giver of bliss, be pleased. Shankara, lord Parameshvara, be pleased. Whose form is OUM, I bow to you. You are the one who helps a person cross over. Lord of all the gods, destroyer of Tripura, Maheshvara, be pleased. Divinity, many kinds of words are used to speak of you. Shankara, lovingly worshipped, you are without gunas and I bow to you. You are beyond Purusha and Prakriti, changeless, eternal, always content, radiant, spotless, divine, with the three gunas; I bow to you. With gunas, I bow to you. Lord of heaven, I bow to you. You are Sadashiva, serene, Mahesha, Pinaka-wielder, all-knowing, the refuge. Sadyojata, I bow to you. Vamadeva, Rudra, Tatpurusha, Aghora, well served, subject to devotees, I bow to you. Ishana, worthy of worship, bestower of bliss on devotees, save and protect us. Mahadeva, all the immortals are afraid. Now that Tripura is burned, all the immortals have succeeded in their aims.

Sanatkumara said

All the gods praised him separately and bowed to Sadashiva. Brahma and the others were extremely happy.

Brahma himself lowered his shoulders, joined his hands and bowed to the divinity Maheshvara Tripurari.

Brahma said

Bhagavan, divinity, lord of the gods, destroyer of Tripura, Mahadeva, may my great devotion to you never waver. Lord of the gods, Shankara, let me always be your charioteer. Lord Parameshvara, may you always be kindly disposed to me.

Sanatkumara said

So Vidhatri extolled Shambhu, kind to his devotees, with shoulders lowered and hands joined, and stopped. Bhagavan Vishnu also bowed to Maheshvara and lauded him with joined hands.

Vishnu said

Lord of the gods, Mahesha, friend of the distressed, compassionate, Paramesha, be pleased. Show compassion to those who bow to you lovingly. Without qualities, I bow to you. Yet you also have qualities. Prakriti is your form, and again Purusha is your form, and the gunas are your form; I bow to you. You whose atman is in the universe, I bow to you. Lover of devotion, serene Shiva, paramatman, Sadashiva, Rudra, lord of the universe, I bow to you. From now on may my devotion to you be steady and grow.

Sanatkumara said

The supreme among Shiva's excellent devotees said this and stopped. All the gods bowed and spoke to Parameshvara.

The devas said

Protector of the gods, Mahadeva, compassionate one, Shankara, lord of the universe, be pleased. Parameshvara, be pleased. Creator of the universe, be pleased. We gladly bow to you. May our devotion to you be steady and its flow increase.

Sanatkumara said

So the lord of the gods was extolled by Brahma, Hari and the immortals. Pleased in mind, Shankara, who brings welfare to the worlds, replied.

Shankara said

Vidhatri, Hari, gods, I am especially pleased with you. All of you think and ask the boon you want in your minds.

Sanatkumara said

Supreme among sages, hearing Hara, all the gods were pleased in the depths of their hearts and answered.

The devas said

Divinity, lord of the gods, Bhagavan, know that we gods are your servants. Supreme divinity, if you are pleased with us, grant us this boon: that you will appear whenever the gods face a misery, and always destroy that misery.

Sanatkumara said

Addressed together by Brahma, Hari and the immortals so, Bhagavan Rudra was pleased in mind and agreed: "This will always be so. I am pleased with this hymn. Gods, if people read or hear it, I will certainly always grant them whatever they wish." Having said this, delighted Shankara gave them everything liked by all the gods. Hara always removes the gods' miseries.