Linga Purana

ध्यायते जृम्भते चैव रुदते द्रवते नमः वल्गते क्रीडते चैव लम्बोदरशरीरिणे

To the one who meditates and yawns, who weeps and melts, who leaps and plays, to the one with a large-bellied body, salutations.

नमो ऽकृत्याय कृत्याय मुण्डाय कीकटाय च नम उन्मत्तदेहाय किङ्किणीकाय वै नमः

Salutations to the uncreated and the created, to the skull-bearer, to the dark one; salutations to the one with a mad form, to the one adorned with bells.

नमो विकृतवेषाय क्रूरायामर्षणाय च अप्रमेयाय गोप्त्रे च दीप्तायानिर्गुणाय च

Salutations to the one with strange attire, to the fierce and unyielding, to the immeasurable, to the protector, to the radiant, to the one beyond qualities.

वामप्रियाय वामाय चूडामणिधराय च नमस्तोकाय तनवे गुणैरप्रमिताय च

To the beloved of the left, to the leftward one, to the wearer of the crest-jewel, salutations to the slender one, to the one of immeasurable virtues.

नमो गुण्याय गुह्याय अगम्यगमनाय च लोकधात्री त्वियं भूमिः पादौ सज्जनसेवितौ

Salutations to the virtuous, to the mysterious, to the one who moves in the unapproachable; you are the supporter of the worlds, the earth is your feet, honored by the good.

सर्वेषां सिद्धियोगानाम् अधिष्ठानं तवोदरम् मध्ये ऽन्तरिक्षं विस्तीर्णं तारागणविभूषितम्

Your belly is the foundation of all attainments and yogas; in the middle is the vast sky, adorned with clusters of stars.

स्वातेः पथ इवाभाति श्रीमान् हारस्तवोरसि दिशो दशभुजास्तुभ्यं केयूराङ्गदभूषिताः

Like the path of the star Swati, the splendid necklace shines on your chest; the ten directions are your arms, adorned with armlets and bracelets.

विस्तीर्णपरिणाहश् च नीलाञ्जनचयोपमः कण्ठस्ते शोभते श्रीमान् हेमसूत्रविभूषितः

Your neck, broad and thick, shines splendidly, resembling a mass of dark collyrium, adorned with a golden thread.

दंष्ट्राकरालं दुर्धर्षम् अनौपम्यं मुखं तथा पद्ममालाकृतोष्णीषं शिरो द्यौः शोभते ऽधिकम्

Your face is fierce with protruding fangs, unconquerable and incomparable; your head, crowned with a garland of lotuses, outshines the heavens.

दीप्तिः सूर्ये वपुश्चन्द्रे स्थैर्यं शैले ऽनिले बलम् औष्ण्यमग्नौ तथा शैत्यम् अप्सु शब्दो ऽम्बरे तथा

Radiance in the sun, form in the moon, steadfastness in the mountain, strength in the wind, heat in fire, coolness in water, and sound in the sky—

अक्षरान्तरनिष्पन्दाद् गुणानेतान्विदुर्बुधाः जपो जप्यो महादेवो महायोगोमहेश्वरः

The wise know these qualities as arising from the unmoving, imperishable source; the recitation, the object of recitation, the Great God, the supreme yogi, the great Lord.

पुरेशयो गुहावासी खेचरो रजनीचरः तपोनिधिर्गुहगुरुर् नन्दनो नन्दवर्धनः

Lord of cities, dweller in caves, mover in the sky, wanderer of the night, treasury of austerity, secret teacher, bringer of joy, increaser of delight.

हयशीर्षा पयोधाता विधाता भूतभावनः बोद्धव्यो बोधिता नेता दुर्धर्षो दुष्प्रकम्पनः

Horse-headed, ocean-born, creator, sustainer of beings, to be known, revealer, leader, unconquerable, unshakable.

बृहद्रथो भीमकर्मा बृहत्कीर्तिर् धनञ्जयः घण्टाप्रियो ध्वजी छत्त्री पिनाकी ध्वजिनीपतिः

Of mighty chariot, performer of fearsome deeds, of great fame, conqueror of wealth, lover of bells, bearer of banners, holder of umbrella, wielder of the bow Pinaka, lord of armies.

कवची पट्टिशी खड्गी धनुर्हस्तः परश्वधी अघस्मरो ऽनघः शूरो देवराजो ऽरिमर्दनः

Armored, armed with spear and sword, holding a bow and axe, destroyer of evil, sinless, heroic, king of gods, crusher of enemies.

त्वां प्रसाद्य पुरास्माभिर् द्विषन्तो निहता युधि अग्निः सदार्णवांभस्त्वं पिबन्नपि न तृप्यसे

By propitiating you in former times, we have vanquished our foes in battle; even as fire drinks up the waters of the ocean, it is never satisfied.

क्रोधाकारः प्रसन्नात्मा कामदः कामगः प्रियः ब्रह्मचारि चागाधश् च ब्रह्मण्यः शिष्टपूजितः

Formed of wrath, yet serene in spirit, granter and fulfiller of desires, beloved, celibate, unfathomable, devoted to the Veda, honored by the virtuous.

देवानाम् अक्षयः कोशस् त्वया यज्ञः प्रकल्पितः हव्यं तवेदं वहति वेदोक्तं हव्यवाहनः प्रीते त्वयि महादेव वयं प्रीता भवामहे

You are the inexhaustible treasury of the gods; sacrifice is established by you; the oblation offered according to the Veda is borne to you by the fire; when you are pleased, O Great God, we too are pleased.

भवानीशो ऽनादिमांस्त्वं च सर्वलोकानां त्वं ब्रह्मकर्तादिसर्गः सांख्याः प्रकृतेः परमं त्वां विदित्वा क्षीणध्यानास्त्वाममृत्युं विशन्ति

You are the Lord of Bhavani, beginningless, the creator of all worlds and beings; the wise, knowing you as the supreme beyond nature, having exhausted their meditation, enter into immortality.

योगाश् च त्वां ध्यायिनो नित्यसिद्धं ज्ञात्वा योगान् संत्यजन्ते पुनस्तान् ये चाप्यन्ये त्वां प्रसन्ना विशुद्धाः स्वकर्मभिस्ते दिव्यभोगा भवन्ति

Yogis, meditating on you as ever-perfect, renounce other yogic practices; and others, pure and serene, devoted to you through their own actions, attain divine enjoyments.

अप्रसंख्येयतत्त्वस्य यथा विद्मः स्वशक्तितः कीर्तितं तव माहात्म्यम् अपारस्य महात्मनः

As far as we know, according to our own ability, we have praised your greatness, O boundless Great One, whose essence is beyond reckoning.

शिवो नो भव सर्वत्र यो ऽसि सो ऽसि नमो ऽस्तु ते य इदं कीर्तयेद्भक्त्या ब्रह्मनारायणस्तवम्

May you, Shiva, be gracious to us everywhere; you are who you are—salutations to you! Whoever recites this hymn to Brahman-Narayana with devotion—

श्रावयेद्वा द्विजान् विद्वान् शृणुयाद्वा समाहितः अश्वमेधायुतं कृत्वा यत्फलं तदवाप्नुयात्

Or has it recited to learned Brahmins, or listens to it with concentration, attains the fruit equal to performing ten thousand horse sacrifices.

पापाचारो ऽपि यो मर्त्यः शृणुयाच्छिवसन्निधौ जपेद्वापि विनिर्मुक्तो ब्रह्मलोकं स गच्छति

Even a mortal of sinful conduct who listens to or recites this in the presence of Shiva is freed and goes to the world of Brahma.

श्राद्धे वा दैविके कार्ये यज्ञे वावभृथान्तिके कीर्तयेद्वा सतां मध्ये स याति ब्रह्मणो ऽन्तिकम्

Whether at a śrāddha, a divine rite, a sacrifice, or at the end of a ritual bath, whoever recites this among the virtuous attains the presence of Brahman.

अत्यन्तावनतौ दृष्ट्वा मधुपिङ्गायतेक्षणः प्रहृष्टवदनो ऽत्यर्थम् अभवत्सत्यकीर्तनात्

Seeing the utmost humility, with eyes like honey and copper, his face became exceedingly joyful because of the true praise.

उमापतिर्विरूपाक्षो दक्षयज्ञविनाशनः पिनाकी खण्डपरशुः सुप्रीतस्तु त्रिलोचनः

The lord of Umā, the three-eyed, the destroyer of Dakṣa's sacrifice, Pinākī, with the broken axe, Virūpākṣa, was greatly pleased.

ततः स भगवान्देवः श्रुत्वा वागमृतं तयोः जानन्नपि महादेवः क्रीडापूर्वमथाब्रवीत्

Then that blessed god, having heard their nectar-like words, though knowing, Mahādeva spoke playfully.

कौ भवन्तौ महात्मानौ परस्परहितैषिणौ समेतावंबुजाभक्षाव् अस्मिन् घोरे महाप्लवे

Who are you two, great souls, seeking each other's welfare, united here, lotus-eaters, in this dreadful great flood?