Greatness of Shiva : Mahimnastava of Pushpadanta with commentary

10 MAHIMNASTAVA,

3 Oh Giver of boons ! No matter of wonder is it, That Bana! who has made the three worlds 2 his servant, Overcame the great dominion of Indra ® Since he worshiped Thy feet, What prosperity is there not for him, Whose head has bowed to Thee?

14

Oh three eyed One #

Who from mercy to Devas and Asuras

And fearful of the threatening destruction of the universe,

Did’st swallow poison *

Doth not its blue stain on Thy throat enhance Thy beauty ?

Yea! for even a dishgurement is full of grace

In Him who suffers it

When seeking to rid the world of its fears.

space to the nether worlds from which he was subsequently raised by Shiva. Though the strength of RAvaza came to him from the Supreme he forgot this through his wicked nature and assaulted the heaven of Shiva.

1 Bana was eldest son of Valiraja the Asura and had a thousand arms and with all weapons battled with Shri Krishna. Ravana also conquered Indra.

2 See note 2 p. 9.

3 Svarga (heaven) only was the conquest of Indra who was conquered by the conqueror of all the three worlds including Svarloka,

4 Shiva called Tryambaka because He had a third eye in his forehead which is that of wisdom (Jzanachakshu). An esoteric meaning of the term is that He is “the father of the three” that is Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. See my note to Ch-V., verse 210 and p. 3 of Mahanirvaza Tantra.

5 At the churning of the ocean poison issued which Shiva swallowed to save the world. This caused a blue stain on His throat whence He is called Nilakantha.

—— sain