Kurma Purana

क्षम्यतां यत्कृतं मोहात् त्वमेव शरणं हि नः

May what was done out of delusion be forgiven; you alone are our refuge.

ब्रह्मादीनां च सर्वेषां दुर्विज्ञेयो ऽसि शङ्कर

O Śaṅkara, you are difficult for all, even Brahma and the others, to comprehend.

तत्सर्वं भगवानेन कुरुते योगमायया

All this, O Lord, is accomplished by him through his yogic illusion.

ऊचुः प्रणम्य गिरिशं पश्यामस्त्वां यथा पुरा

Having bowed, they said to the Lord of the Mountain: 'May we see you as before.'

स्वमेव परमं रूपं दर्शयामास शङ्करः

Śaṅkara then revealed his own supreme form.

यथा पूर्वं स्थिता विप्राः प्रणेमुर्हृष्टमानसाः

As before, the sages stood, their minds elated, and bowed.

भृग्वङ्गिरोवसिष्ठास्तु विश्वामित्रस्तथैव च

Bhṛgu, Aṅgiras, Vasiṣṭha, and likewise Viśvāmitra.

प्रणम्य देवदेवेशमिदं वचनमब्रुवन्

Having bowed to the Lord of gods and lords, they spoke these words.

ज्ञानेन वाथ योगेन पूजयामः सदैव हि

Should we always worship by means of knowledge, or by yoga?

किं तत् सेव्यमसेव्यं वा सर्वमेतद् ब्रवीहि नः

What is to be served, and what is not to be served? Tell us all this.

ब्रह्मणे कथितं पूर्वमादावेव महर्षयः

This was previously explained to Brahmā at the beginning by the great sages.

योगेन सहितं सांख्यं पुरुषाणां विमुक्तिदम्

Sāṃkhya, united with yoga, grants liberation to persons.

ज्ञानं तु केवलं सम्यगपवर्गफलप्रदम्

But pure knowledge alone rightly bestows the fruit of final release.

विहाय सांख्यं विमलमकुर्वन्त परिश्रमम्

Abandoning pure Sāṃkhya, they exerted themselves in vain.

आगतो ऽहमिमं देशं ज्ञापयन् मोहसंभवम्

I have come to this place to make known the origin of delusion.

ज्ञातव्यं हि प्रयत्नेन श्रोतव्यं दृश्यमेव च

It must be known with effort, heard, and indeed seen.

आनन्दो निर्मलो नित्यं स्यादेतत् सांख्यदर्शनम्

This vision of Sāṃkhya is ever blissful and pure.

एतत् कैवल्यममलं ब्रह्मभावश्च वर्णितः

This is the spotless liberation, and the state of Brahman has been described.

पश्यन्ति मां महात्मानो यतयो विश्वमीश्वरम्

Great souls, ascetics, see me as the Lord of the universe.

अहं हि वेद्यो भगवान् मम मूर्तिरियं शिवा

For I am the one to be known, the Blessed Lord; this form of mine is auspicious.

तेषामभ्यधिकं ज्ञानं मामकं द्विजपुङ्गवाः

Their knowledge is superior, O best of twice-born, who are devoted to me.

ये हि मां भस्मनिरता ध्यायन्ति सततं हृदि

Those who are ever intent on me, meditating in their hearts, covered with ashes—

नाशयाम्यचिरात् तेषां घोरं संसारसागरम्

I swiftly destroy for them the dreadful ocean of worldly existence.

ब्रह्मचर्यरतो नग्नो व्रतं पाशुपतं चरेत्

Let one devoted to celibacy, unclad, observe the Pāśupata vow.

गुह्याद् गुह्यतमं सूक्ष्मं वेदसारं विमुक्तये

The most secret of secrets, subtle, the essence of the Veda, is for liberation.

वेदाभ्यासरतो विद्वान् ध्यायेत् पशुपतिं शिवम्

A learned person devoted to the study of the Vedas should meditate on Paśupati, Śiva.

भस्मच्छन्नैर्हि सततं निष्कामैरिति विश्रुतिः

It is well known that those who are always covered with ashes and free from desire are so.

बहवो ऽनेन योगेन पूता मद्भावमागताः

Many have been purified by this yoga and have attained my state.

वेदवादविरुद्धानि मयैव कथितानि तु

I have indeed spoken only those things which are not opposed to the teachings of the Vedas.