Linga Purana

इन्द्रियैरजितैर्नग्नो दुकूलेनापि संवृतः तैरेव संवृतैर्गुप्तो न वस्त्रं कारणं स्मृतम्

One whose senses are not mastered is naked even if covered with cloth; but one who is guarded by self-control is truly protected—clothing is not considered the cause.

क्षमा धृतिरहिंसा च वैराग्यं चैव सर्वशः तुल्यौ मानावमानौ च तदावरणमुत्तमम्

Patience, steadfastness, nonviolence, and complete detachment, as well as equal regard for honor and dishonor—these are the supreme coverings.

भस्मस्नानेन दिग्धाङ्गो ध्यायते मनसा भवम् यद्यकार्यसहस्राणि कृत्वा यः स्नाति भस्मना

Anointed with ashes and meditating on Bhava in mind, even if one has committed thousands of improper acts, whoever bathes with ashes—

तत्सर्वं दहते भस्म यथाग्निस्तेजसा वनम् तस्माद् यत्नपरो भूत्वा त्रिकालमपि यः सदा

Ash burns all that, just as fire with its brilliance burns a forest; therefore, being diligent, whoever always bathes with ashes three times a day—

भस्मना कुरुते स्नानं गाणपत्यं स गच्छति समाहृत्य क्रतून् सर्वान् गृहीत्वा व्रतमुत्तमम्

He who bathes with ashes attains the path of Ganesha, having gathered all sacrifices and undertaken the supreme vow.

ध्यायन्ति ये महादेवं लीलासद्भावभाविताः उत्तरेणार्यपन्थानं ते ऽमृतत्वमवाप्नुयुः

Those who meditate on Mahadeva, absorbed in the reality of his play, attain immortality by the northern, noble path.

दक्षिणेन च पन्थानं ये श्मशानानि भेजिरे अणिमा गरिमा चैव लघिमा प्राप्तिरेव च

And those who took the southern path, who frequented cremation grounds, attain the powers of minuteness, heaviness, lightness, and attainment.

इच्छा कामावसायित्वं तथा प्राकाम्यमेव च ईक्षणेन च पन्थानं ये श्मशानानि भेजिरे अणिमा गरिमा चैव लघिमा प्राप्तिरेव च

The powers of will, desire, determination, and also the ability to attain anything by mere intention—these are the paths traversed by those who entered the cremation grounds; likewise, the perfections of minuteness, heaviness, lightness, and attainment.

इन्द्रादयस् तथा देवाः कामिकव्रतमास्थिताः ऐश्वर्यं परमं प्राप्य सर्वे प्रथिततेजसः

Thus, Indra and the other gods, having undertaken the Kāmika vow, all attained supreme lordship, their brilliance widely renowned.

व्यपगतमदमोहमुक्तरागस् तमोरजोदोषविवर्जितस्वभावः परिभवमिदमुत्तमं विदित्वा पशुपतियोगपरो भवेत्सदैव

One whose nature is free from pride, delusion, attachment, and the faults born of darkness, knowing this supreme path, should always be devoted to the yoga of Paśupati.

इमं पाशुपतं ध्यायन् सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् यः पठेच्च शुचिर्भूत्वा श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः

Whoever, having become pure, self-controlled, and faithful, meditates on this Pāśupata (vow) and recites it, destroys all sins.

सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति ते सर्वे मुनयः श्रुत्वा वसिष्ठाद्या द्विजोत्तमाः

With their souls purified of all sin, they attain the world of Rudra; all those sages, having heard this—Vasiṣṭha and the foremost twice-born—

भस्मपाण्डुरदिग्धाङ्गा बभूवुर्विगतस्पृहाः रुद्रलोकाय कल्पान्ते संस्थिताः शिवतेजसा

Smeared with white ash, their bodies anointed, free from desire, they remained at the end of the age, established in the world of Rudra by the power of Śiva.

तस्मान्न निन्द्याः पूज्याश्च विकृता मलिना अपि रूपान्विताश् च विप्रेन्द्राः सदा योगीन्द्रशङ्कया

Therefore, even those who are deformed or impure in appearance, if they are endowed with form, should never be reviled but always honored, O best of Brāhmins, as if they were great yogis.

बहुना किं प्रलापेन भवभक्ता द्विजोत्तमाः संपूज्याः सर्वयत्नेन शिववन्नात्र संशयः

Why speak at length? O best of twice-born, devotees of Bhava should be worshipped with every effort, just as Śiva—of this there is no doubt.

मलिनाश्चैव विप्रेन्द्रा भवभक्ता दृढव्रताः दधीचस्तु यथा देवदेवं जित्वा व्यवस्थितः

Even Brāhmins who are impure, but are steadfast devotees of Bhava, should be honored, just as Dadhīca, having conquered the Lord of gods, stood firm.

नारायणं तथा लोके रुद्रभक्त्या न संशयः तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन भस्मदिग्धतनूरुहाः

In the same way, Nārāyaṇa in this world, by devotion to Rudra—there is no doubt—therefore, with all effort, those whose bodies are smeared with ash—

जटिनो मुण्डिनश्चैव नग्ना नानाप्रकारिणः संपूज्याः शिववन्नित्यं मनसा कर्मणा गिरा

Those with matted hair, those who are shaven, naked, or of various forms, should always be honored like Śiva, in thought, word, and deed.

कथं जघान राजानं क्षुपं पादेन सुव्रत दधीचः समरे जित्वा देवदेवं जनार्दनम्

How did Dadhīca, O virtuous one, strike down the king Kṣupa with his foot, having conquered Janārdana, the Lord of gods, in battle?

वज्रास्थित्वं कथं लेभे महादेवान्महातपाः वक्तुमर्हसि शैलादे जितो मृत्युस्त्वया यथा

How did the great ascetic Dadhīca obtain the state of the thunderbolt from Mahādeva? You ought to tell this, O Śailādi, just as you conquered death.

ब्रह्मपुत्रो महातेजा राजा क्षुप इति स्मृतः अभून्मित्रो दधीचस्य मुनीन्द्रस्य जनेश्वरः

The king named Kṣupa, remembered as the son of Brahmā and possessing great brilliance, became a friend of Dadhīca, the lord of sages.

चिरात्तयोः प्रसंगाद्वै वादः क्षुपदधीचयोः अभवत् क्षत्रियश्रेष्ठो विप्र एवेति विश्रुतः

After a long time, a dispute arose between Kṣupa and Dadhīca, concerning whether the best among kṣatriyas or brāhmins was superior—it became widely known.

अष्टानां लोकपालानां वपुर्धारयते नृपः तस्मादिन्द्रो ह्ययं वह्निर् यमश् च निरृतिस् तथा

The king assumed the forms of the eight guardians of the world; therefore, he is Indra, Agni, Yama, and also Nirṛti.

वरुणश्चैव वायुश् च सोमो धनद एव च ईश्वरो ऽहं न संदेहो नावमन्तव्य एव च

And also Varuṇa, Vāyu, Soma, and Dhanada; I am the Lord—there is no doubt—and must never be disrespected.

महती देवता या सा महतश्चापि सुव्रत तस्मात्त्वया महाभाग च्यावनेय सदा ह्यहम्

That great deity, O virtuous one, is even greater; therefore, O highly fortunate one, I am always to be regarded as descended from Cyavana.

नावमन्तव्य एवेह पूजनीयश् च सर्वथा श्रुत्वा तथा मतं तस्य क्षुपस्य मुनिसत्तमः

One should never disregard him here; he is always to be worshipped. Having heard thus, the sage regarded the tree accordingly.

दधीचश् च्यावनिश् चोग्रो गौरवादात्मनो द्विजः अताडयत्क्षुपं मूर्ध्नि दधीचो वाममुष्टिना चिछेद वज्रेण च तं दधीचं बलवान् क्षुपः

Dadhīca, Cyāvani, and Ugra, all brahmins of great dignity, struck the tree on its head; Dadhīca struck it with his left fist, and with the thunderbolt, the powerful Kṣupa cut down Dadhīca.

ब्रह्मलोके पुरासौ हि ब्रह्मणः क्षुतसंभवः लब्धं वज्रं च कार्यार्थं वज्रिणा चोदितः प्रभुः

In former times, in Brahma's world, he was born from Brahma's hunger; he obtained the thunderbolt for a purpose, being commanded by the wielder of the thunderbolt, the lord.

स्वेच्छयैव नरो भूत्वा नरपालो बभूव सः तस्माद्राजा स विप्रेन्द्रम् अजयद्वै महाबलः

By his own will, he became a man and took up the role of a ruler; therefore, that mighty king conquered the foremost of brahmins.