Linga Purana

आदौ वेदानधीत्यैव श्रद्धया च गुरोः सदा विचार्यार्थं मुनेर्धर्मान् प्रतिज्ञाय द्विजोत्तमाः

First, having studied the Vedas with faith under a teacher, always reflecting on their meaning, and having vowed to follow the duties of a sage, O best of twice-born,

ग्रहणान्तं हि वा विद्वान् अथ द्वादशवार्षिकम् स्नात्वाहृत्य च दारान्वै पुत्रानुत्पाद्य सुव्रतान्

Or, after completing the period of Vedic study, or after twelve years, having bathed, taken a wife, and begotten virtuous sons,

वृत्तिभिश्चानुरूपाभिस् तान् विभज्य सुतान्मुनिः अग्निष्टोमादिभिश्चेष्ट्वा यज्ञैर्यज्ञेश्वरं विभुम्

The sage, dividing his property among his sons according to their proper means of livelihood, and having performed sacrifices such as Agniṣṭoma to the Lord of sacrifice,

पूजयेत् परमात्मानं प्राप्यारण्यं विभावसौ मुनिर्द्वादशवर्षं वा वर्षमात्रम् अथापि वा

Having reached the forest, the sage should worship the Supreme Self, living there for twelve years, or even for a single year, sustained by fire.

पक्षद्वादशकं वापि दिनद्वादशकं तु वा क्षीरभुक् संयुतः शान्तः सर्वान् सम्पूजयेत्सुरान्

Or for twelve fortnights, or even for twelve days, subsisting on milk, remaining peaceful, he should worship all the gods.

इष्ट्वैवं जुहुयादग्नौ यज्ञपात्राणि मन्त्रतः अप्सु वै पार्थिवं न्यस्य गुरवे तैजसानि तु

Having thus performed sacrifices, he should offer the sacrificial vessels into the fire with mantras, place the earthen ones in water, and give the metallic ones to the teacher.

स्वधनं सकलं चैव ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशङ्कया प्रणिपत्य गुरुं भूमौ विरक्तः संन्यसेद्यतिः

Giving all his wealth to the Brāhmaṇas without reservation, bowing to his teacher on the ground, detached, the ascetic should renounce.

निकृत्य केशान् सशिखान् उपवीतं विसृज्य च पञ्चभिर् जुहुयाद् अप्सु भूः स्वाहेति विचक्षणः

Cutting off his hair with the tuft, discarding the sacred thread, the wise one should offer five oblations into water, saying 'bhūḥ svāhā.'

ततश्चोर्ध्वं चरेदेवं यतिः शिवविमुक्तये व्रतेनानशनेनापि तोयवृत्त्यापि वा पुनः

Thereafter, the ascetic should live in this way for liberation by Śiva, by vows, by fasting, or even subsisting on water.

पर्णवृत्त्या पयोवृत्त्या फलवृत्त्यापि वा यतिः एवं जीवन्मृतो नो चेत् षण्मासाद्वत्सरात्तु वा

Or by living on leaves, on milk, or on fruit, the ascetic thus becomes as if dead while alive; if not, then after six months or a year.

प्रस्थानादिकमायासं स्वदेहस्य चरेद्यतिः शिवसायुज्यमाप्नोति कर्मणाप्येवमाचरन्

The ascetic should endure the hardships of departure and the like for his own body; by acting thus, he attains union with Śiva, even through action.

सद्यो ऽपि लभते मुक्तिं भक्तियुक्तो दृढव्रताः

Even immediately, one endowed with devotion and firm vows attains liberation.

त्यागेन वा किं विधिनाप्य् अनेन भक्तस्य रुद्रस्य शुभैर्व्रतैश्च यज्ञैश् च दानैर्विविधैश् च होमैर् लब्धैश्चशास्त्रैर्विविधैश् च वेदैः

Or by renunciation, or by this very method, the devotee of Rudra attains liberation through auspicious vows, sacrifices, various gifts, oblations, and through the various scriptures and Vedas obtained.

श्वेतेनैवं जितो मृत्युर् भवभक्त्या महात्मना वो ऽस्तु भक्तिर्महादेवे शङ्करे परमात्मनि

Thus, by Śveta, death was conquered through devotion to existence by the great-souled one. May you have devotion to Mahādeva, Śaṅkara, the Supreme Self.

एवमुक्तास्तदा तेन ब्रह्मणा ब्राह्मणर्षभाः श्वेतस्य च कथां पुण्याम् अपृच्छन् परमर्षयः

When addressed in this way by Brahmā, the foremost of Brāhmaṇas, the exalted sages inquired about the sacred story of Śveta.

श्वेतो नाम मुनिः श्रीमान् गतायुर्गिरिगह्वरे सक्तो ह्यभ्यर्च्य यद्भक्त्या तुष्टाव च महेश्वरम्

There was a sage named Śveta, illustrious, whose lifespan had ended, dwelling in a mountain cave, who, absorbed in worship, praised Maheśvara with devotion.

रुद्राध्यायेन पुण्येन नमस्तेत्यादिना द्विजाः ततः कालो महातेजाः कालप्राप्तं द्विजोत्तमम्

With the sacred Rudrādhyāya, beginning with 'namas', O twice-born, then Time, of great brilliance, approached the foremost of Brāhmaṇas whose time had come.

नेतुं संचिन्त्य विप्रेन्द्राः सान्निध्यमकरोन्मुनेः श्वेतो ऽपि दृष्ट्वा तं कालं कालप्राप्तो ऽपि शङ्करम्

Intending to take him, the best of Brāhmaṇas, the presence of Time appeared before the sage. Śveta, seeing Time, though his time had come, remembered Śaṅkara.

पूजयामास पुण्यात्मा त्रियंबकमनुस्मरन् त्रियंबकं यजेदेवं सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्

That virtuous soul began to worship Tryambaka, remembering him—the divine Tryambaka, fragrant, who increases nourishment.

किं करिष्यति मे मृत्युर् मृत्योर्मृत्युरहं यतः तं दृष्ट्वा सस्मितं प्राह श्वेतं लोकभयंकरः

'What can death do to me, since I am the death of death?' Seeing him, the terror of the worlds spoke to Śveta with a smile.

एह्येहि श्वेत चानेन विधिना किं फलं तव रुद्रो वा भगवान् विष्णुर् ब्रह्मा वा जगदीश्वरः

'Come, come, Śveta! What fruit is there for you from this rite? Is it Rudra, the Blessed Lord, Viṣṇu, or Brahmā, the Lord of the world?'

कः समर्थः परित्रातुं मया ग्रस्तं द्विजोत्तम अनेन मम किं विप्र रौद्रेण विधिना प्रभोः

'Who is capable of saving one seized by me, O best of Brāhmaṇas? What use is this fierce rite of yours to the Lord, O Brāhmaṇa?'

नेतुं यस्योत्थितश्चाहं यमलोकं क्षणेन वै यस्माद्गतायुस्त्वं तस्मान् मुने नेतुमिहोद्यतः

'To take you, I have arisen—within a moment, to the realm of Yama. Since your lifespan is ended, O sage, I am here, ready to take you.'

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भैरवं धर्ममिश्रितम् हा रुद्र रुद्र रुद्रेति ललाप मुनिपुङ्गवः

Hearing those words of Bhairava, mingled with righteousness, the eminent sage cried out, 'Alas, Rudra! Rudra! Rudra!'

तं प्राह च महादेवं कालं सम्प्रेक्ष्य वै दृशा नेत्रेण बाष्पमिश्रेण संभ्रान्तेन समाकुलः

He gazed at Mahādeva, looking at Time with his eyes, his eyes filled with tears, agitated and distressed.

त्वया किं काल नो नाथश् चास्ति चेद्धि वृषध्वजः लिङ्गे ऽस्मिन् शङ्करो रुद्रः सर्वदेवभवोद्भवः

'What can you do, O Time, if the Lord, Vṛṣadhvaja, is present? In this liṅga is Śaṅkara, Rudra, the source of all the gods.'

अतीव भवभक्तानां मद्विधानां महात्मनाम् विधिना किं महाबाहो गच्छ गच्छ यथागतम्

'For those devoted to existence, great-souled ones like me, what use is this, O mighty-armed one? Go, go as you have come.'

ततो निशम्य कुपितस् तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रो भयङ्करः श्रुत्वा श्वेतस्य तद्वाक्यं पाशहस्तो भयावहः

Hearing Śveta's words, the enraged, sharp-toothed, terrifying, noose-bearing, fearsome Time, made a great lion's roar, clapped repeatedly, and bound the sage whose time had come.

सिंहनादं महत्कृत्वा चास्फाट्य च मुहुर्मुहुः बबन्ध च मुनिं कालः कालप्राप्तं तमाह च

After making a great lion's roar and clapping again and again, Time bound the sage whose time had come and spoke to him.