Shakra Gets His Life Back

Vyasa said

Brahmana, illustrious son of Brahma, I have heard before that lord Shankara killed the great daitya Jalandhara. Wise one, tell me in detail of that conduct of the moon-crested one. Who can be content after hearing his unblemished fame?

Suta said

Asked this by Vyasa, the great sage, Brahma's son, skilled in speech, calmly spoke words full of meaning.

Sanatkumara said

Sage, once Jiva and Shakra, filled with great devotion and longing to see Isha, went to Kailasa. Lord Shankara learned that the guru and Indra had arrived. To test their knowledge, the goal of the virtuous chose to show himself in a certain way. Completely naked, he blocked their path, his matted hair knotted and his face beaming. The guru and Shakra were walking along happily and saw this terrible being in the middle of the road, extraordinary in appearance, greatly energetic yet serene, with knotted matted hair, long arms and a broad chest, fair yet terrible to look at. Purandara was very insolent because of his rank. Not knowing that the one blocking his path was Shankara, he questioned him: who was he, where had he come from, what was his name, let him speak the truth; was Shambhu in his place, or had the lord gone elsewhere? Asked by Shakra, the ascetic said nothing. Shakra asked again and the naked one did not reply; Purandara, lord and king of the worlds, asked again. But the lord plays pastimes. The great yogi had taken this form and kept silent. Though asked repeatedly by Shakra, the naked one gave no answer. Bhagavan wished to test Shakra's knowledge. Insolent with the prosperity of the three worlds, the lord of the gods grew angry and scolded the matted-haired one in harsh words.

Indra said

Though I asked, you gave me no answer. Evil-minded one, therefore I will slay you with the vajra. Who will save you?

Sanatkumara said

Saying this, the wielder of the vajra glared at him in anger, and to kill the naked one he raised the vajra. The divinity Sadashiva saw that Purandara had raised the vajra in his hand. Before he could hurl it, Shankara paralysed him. Rudra was overcome with rage, his eyes fierce and terrible. He suddenly blazed with energy as if to burn him up. So great was Rudra's rage and valour that Shachi's husband could not move his arm. He was like a snake burned by a mantra.

While he blazed with his own energy, Brihaspati used his intelligence to realise at once that this was the lord Hara. He bowed, pervasive in understanding, joined his hands, lay on the ground like a rod and praised the lord in a hymn. The guru hailed him as the divinity supreme over the gods, Mahadeva, paramatman, Maheshvara, Tryambaka, Kapardin, protector of the distressed, slayer of Andhaka, destroyer of Tripura, Sharva, brahman, Parameshthi, Virupaksha, Rudra of many forms, Shambhu, the malformed one with extreme forms who is also beyond form, the one who arranged the sacrifice's destruction and gives the fruit of sacrifices, whose form is the sacrifice and who begins supreme karma, destroyer of Kala and Kala himself, wearer of terrible serpents, Paramesha, all-pervading, the one who severed Brahma's head, lauded by Brahma and Chandra, lover of brahmanas. He is fire, wind, space, water and earth, the radiance of sun, moon and the circle of stars, he is Vishnu and Brahma, praised by them, by Sanaka and the other sages and by Narada, a store of austerity, lord of all the worlds, his atman in the universe, everything yet distinct from everything, beyond Prakriti. With rajas he takes Vidhatri's name and makes the worlds; with sattva he becomes Hari and protects the universe; with tamas he becomes Hara and in play reduces the whole universe to the five elements. By strength drawn from him the sun heats, the moon rains amrita on the world, the wind blows, the clouds shower water, and Shakra protects the three worlds as if they were sons. By strength from him the clouds, all the gods and lords among sages carry out their own rights, afraid of him. Men on earth serve his lotus feet and so enjoy a prosperity in the worlds that even the gods cannot get, and, intent on serving them, reach a destination very rare for anyone, one that even those rich in yoga cannot reach. So Brihaspati praised Shankara, who brings welfare to the worlds.

He made Purandara fall at Isha's feet. With head lowered, Indra, lord of the gods, fell at his feet. Bent in humility, Brihaspati spoke to Shiva.

Brihaspati said

Protector of the distressed, Mahadeva, he has fallen at your feet; save him. Quiet the rage in your eyes. Mahadeva, be pleased. Save Indra, who has taken refuge in you. Quiet the fire that has risen from the eye in your forehead.

Sanatkumara said

Maheshvara, lord of the gods, heard the guru. The ocean of compassion replied in words that rumbled like clouds.

Maheshvara said

Brihaspati, the fire has already come out of my eye; how can I hold it back? A snake cannot put on again the skin it has cast.

Sanatkumara said

Hearing Shankara, Brihaspati was dejected and his mind shook with fear.

Brihaspati said

Divinity, Bhagavan, compassion must always be shown to devotees. You are known as kind to your devotees. Shankara, make that come true. Lord of the gods, fling your own fierce energy elsewhere. You save all your devotees; save Purandara.

Sanatkumara said

So the guru spoke to Rudra, known as kind to his devotees, who destroys the afflictions of those who bow to him. Pleased, he answered the gods' priest.

Shiva said

Son, I am pleased with your praise and give you an excellent boon. Since you have given Indra his life, from now on you will be famous as Jiva. This fire that arose from the eye in my forehead was meant to destroy the king of the gods. I will fling it far away so that Indra does not suffer.

Sanatkumara said

Saying this, he took the wonderful fire that had risen from his own energy in his hand. Coming out of the eye in his forehead, it was flung into the waters of the salt ocean. The lord Rudra, who plays great pastimes, vanished from the spot. Freed from fear, the guru and Shakra were very glad. They had seen the one they went to meet, and, their aim achieved, returned happily to their own abodes.