Linga Purana

मोक्षो धर्मस्तथार्थश् च कामश्चेति चतुष्टयम् यस्माद्वेदाश् च वेद्यं च चतुर्धा वै भविष्यति

Liberation, righteousness, wealth, and desire—these four, and because of them, the Vedas and what is to be known will also become fourfold.

भूतग्रामाश् च चत्वार आश्रमाश् च तथैव च धर्मस्य पादाश्चत्वारश् चत्वारो मम पुत्रकाः

There are four groups of beings, and likewise four stages of life; the four pillars of righteousness, and four are my sons.

तस्माच्चतुर्युगावस्थं जगद्वै सचराचरम् चतुर्धावस्थितश्चैव चतुष्पादो भविष्यति

Therefore, the world, with its moving and unmoving beings, will exist in four ages, and will be established in fourfold form, with four supports.

भूर्लोको ऽथ भुवर्लोकः स्वर्लोकश् च महस् तथा जनस्तपश् च सत्यं च विष्णुलोकस्ततः परम्

The earth world, then the atmosphere, the heaven, and also the great world; Jana, Tapas, and Satya, and beyond that, the world of Vishnu.

अष्टाक्षरस्थितो लोकः स्थाने स्थाने तदक्षरम् भूर्भुवः स्वर्महश्चैव पादाश्चत्वार एव च

The world is established in the eight-syllabled (mantra), and in each place is that syllable; earth, atmosphere, heaven, and the great world are the four supports.

भूर्लोकः प्रथमः पादो भुवर्लोकस्ततः परम् स्वर्लोको वै तृतीयश् च चतुर्थस्तु महस् तथा

The earth world is the first support, then the atmosphere is next, heaven is the third, and the great world is the fourth.

पञ्चमस्तु जनस्तत्र षष्ठश् च तप उच्यते सत्यं तु सप्तमो लोको ह्य् अपुनर्भवगामिनाम्

The fifth is Jana, the sixth is called Tapas, and Satya is the seventh world, for those who do not return to rebirth.

विष्णुलोकः स्मृतं स्थानं पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम् स्कान्दमौमं तथा स्थानं सर्वसिद्धिसमन्वितम्

Vishnu's world is known as the place where return is difficult; Skanda's and Uma's places, too, are endowed with all perfections.

रुद्रलोकः स्मृतस्तस्मात् पदं तद्योगिनां शुभम् निर्ममा निरहङ्काराः कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः

Rudra's world is known as the auspicious state for yogis—those who are free from possessiveness, egotism, desire, and anger.

द्रक्ष्यन्ति तद्द्विजा युक्ता ध्यानतत्परमानसाः यस्माच्चतुष्पदा ह्येषा त्वया दृष्टा सरस्वती

Those twice-born who are united and whose minds are intent on meditation will see that; and because this four-footed Sarasvati has been seen by you.

पादान्तं विष्णुलोकं वै कौमारं शान्तमुत्तमम् औमं माहेश्वरं चैव तस्माद्दृष्टा चतुष्पदा

The end of the feet is Vishnu's world, the peaceful and supreme Kumara's, and also the Auma, the Maheśvara; therefore, the four-footed form has been seen.

तस्मात्तु पशवः सर्वे भविष्यन्ति चतुष्पदाः ततश्चैषां भविष्यन्ति चत्वारस्ते पयोधराः

Therefore, all animals will become four-footed, and they will have four udders.

सोमश् च मन्त्रसंयुक्तो यस्मान्मम मुखाच्च्युतः जीवः प्राणभृतां ब्रह्मन् पुनः पीतस्तनाः स्मृताः

And because Soma, joined with mantra, flowed from my mouth, the living being among those who breathe, O Brahman, are called those who drink again from the breast.

तस्मात्सोममयं चैव अमृतं जीवसंज्ञितम् चतुष्पादा भविष्यन्ति श्वेतत्वं चास्य तेन तत्

Therefore, the nectar called Soma is known as life; four-footed they will become, and because of that, their color is white.

यस्माच्चैव क्रिया भूत्वा द्विपदा च महेश्वरी दृष्टा पुनस्तथैवैषा सावित्री लोकभाविनी

And because action took place, the two-footed great goddess was seen again, likewise this Sāvitrī, the bringer of worlds.

तस्माच्च द्विपदाः सर्वे द्विस्तनाश् च नराः शुभाः तस्माच्चेयमजा भूत्वा सर्ववर्णा महेश्वरी

Therefore, all humans are two-footed and have two breasts; and thus, this unborn great goddess, having become of all colors.

या वै दृष्टा महासत्त्वा सर्वभूतधरा त्वया तस्माच्च विश्वरूपत्वं प्रजानां वै भविष्यति

She who was seen by you, of great strength, sustaining all beings—therefore, the beings will have the form of the universe.

अजश्चैव महातेजा विश्वरूपो भविष्यति अमोघरेताः सर्वत्र मुखे चास्य हुताशनः

And the unborn one, of great splendor, will become the form of the universe; his seed will never fail, and in his mouth will be the fire of oblation.

तस्मात्सर्वगतो मेध्यः पशुरूपी हुताशनः तपसा भावितात्मानो ये मां द्रक्ष्यन्ति वै द्विजाः

Therefore, the all-pervading, pure one, in the form of a beast, with fire as his mouth—those twice-born who, with minds purified by austerity, see me thus—

ईशित्वे च वशित्वे च सर्वगं सर्वतः स्थितम् रजस्तमोभ्यां निर्मुक्तास् त्यक्त्वा मानुष्यकं वपुः

In lordship and mastery, present everywhere, established in all things, freed from passion and darkness, having abandoned the human form—

मत्समीपमुपेष्यन्ति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम् इत्येवमुक्तो भगवान् ब्रह्मा रुद्रेण वै द्विजाः

They will come near to me, where return is difficult. Thus did the blessed Brahmā speak to Rudra, O twice-born.

प्रणम्य प्रयतो भूत्वा पुनराह पितामहः य एवं भगवान् विद्वान् गायत्र्या वै महेश्वरम्

Having bowed, becoming intent, the grandsire again spoke: 'He who thus, O Blessed One, knows Maheśvara through the Gāyatrī—'

विश्वात्मानं हि सर्वं त्वां गायत्र्यास्तव चेश्वर तस्य देहि परं स्थानं तथास्त्विति च सो ऽब्रवीत्

'You, O Lord, are the soul of all, all indeed is you, through your Gāyatrī. Grant him the supreme state.' Thus he spoke.

तस्माद्विद्वान् हि विश्वत्वम् अस्याश्चास्य महात्मनः स याति ब्रह्मसायुज्यं वचनाद् ब्रह्मणः प्रभोः

Therefore, the wise one who knows the universality of this great soul attains union with Brahman, by the word of the Lord Brahmā.

श्रुत्वैवमखिलं ब्रह्मा रुद्रेण परिभाषितम् पुनः प्रणम्य देवेशं रुद्रमाह प्रजापतिः

Having heard all this, Brahmā, addressed by Rudra, again bowed to the Lord of the gods, and Prajāpati spoke to Rudra.

भगवन्देवदेवेश विश्वरूपं महेश्वर उमाधव महादेव नमो लोकाभिवन्दित

'O Blessed One, Lord of the gods, universal form, great Lord, consort of Umā, great god, I bow to you, honored by the worlds.'

विश्वरूप महाभाग कस्मिन्काले महेश्वर या इमास्ते महादेव तनवो लोकवन्दिताः

'O universal form, greatly fortunate one, at what time, O great Lord, do these your forms, O great god, honored by the worlds, appear?'

कस्यां वा युगसंभूत्यां द्रक्ष्यन्तीह द्विजातयः केन वा तपसा देव ध्यानयोगेन केन वा

'In which age's arising will the twice-born see them here? By what austerity, O god, or by what meditative yoga?'

नमस्ते वै महादेव शक्यो द्रष्टुं द्विजातिभिः तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शर्वः सम्प्रेक्ष्य तं पुरः

'O great god, I bow to you—are you to be seen by the twice-born?' Having heard these words, Śarva looked upon him before him.