I shall, therefore, at this hour, seek the protection of the puissant

Mahadeva! He will dispel this dreadful rod of divine chastisement

uplifted before me. I will take the shelter of that god, that source of

everything beneficial, the lord of Uma, otherwise called Kapardin, decked

with a garland of human skulls, that plucker of Bhaga's eyes called also

Rudra and Hara. In ascetic austerities and prowess, he far surpasses all

the gods. I shall, therefore, seek the protection of Girisha armed with

the trident."

7

Sanjaya said, "The son of Drona, O monarch, having reflected thus,

descended from the terrace of his car and stood, bending his head unto

that supreme god. And he said, "I seek the protection of Him called Ugra,

Sthanu, Shiva, Rudra, Sharva, Ishana, Ishvara, Girisha; and of that

boon-giving god who is the Creator and Lord of the universe; of Him whose

throat is blue, who is without birth, who is called Shakra, who destroyed

the sacrifice of Daksha, and who is called Hara; of Him whose form is the

universe, who hath three eyes, who is possessed of multifarious forms,

and who is the lord of Uma; of Him who resides in crematoriums, who

swells with energy, who is the lord of diverse tribes of ghostly beings,

and who is the possessor of undecaying prosperity and power; of Him who

wields the skull-topped club, who is called Rudra, who bears matted locks

on his head, and who is a brahmacari. Purifying my soul that is so

difficult to purify, and possessed as I am of small energy, I adore the

Destroyer of the triple city, and offer myself as the victim. Hymned thou

hast been, deserving art thou of hymns, and I hymn to thy glory!

Thy purposes are never baffled. Thou art robed in skins; thou hast red

hair on thy head; thou art blue-throated; thou art unbearable; thou art

irresistible! Thou art pure; thou art the Creator of Brahman; thou art

Brahma; thou art a brahmacari; thou art an observer of vows; thou art

devoted to ascetic austerities; thou art infinite; thou art the refuge of

all ascetics; thou art multiform; thou art the leader of diverse tribes

of ghostly beings; thou art three-eyed; thou art fond of those beings

called companions; thou art always seen by the Lord of treasures; thou

art dear to Gauri's heart; thou art the sire of Kumara; thou art tawny;

thou hast for thy excellent bearer a bovine bull; thou art robed in a

subtle attire; thou art most fierce; thou art eager to adorn Uma; thou

art higher than all that is high; thou art higher than everything; there

is nothing higher than thou; thou art the wielder of weapons; thou art

immeasurable, and thou art the protector of all quarters; thou art cased

in golden armour; thou art divine; thou hast the moon as an ornament on

thy brow! With concentrated attention, I seek thy protection, O god! For

success in getting over this dreadful distress that is so difficult to

get over