Linga Purana

बलविकरिणीं देवीं बलप्रमथिनीं तथा सर्वभूतस्य दमनीं ससृजे च मनोन्मनीम्

He created the goddess Balavikariṇī, also Balapramathinī, the subduer of all beings, and Manonmanī.

तथान्या बहवः सृष्टास् तया नार्यः सहस्रशः रुद्रैश्चैव महादेवस् ताभिस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः

Likewise, many other women were created by her, thousands in number; and with Rudras, the great god became Lord of the three worlds with them.

सर्वात्मनश् च तस्याग्रे ह्य् अतिष्ठत्परमेश्वरः मृतस्य तस्य देवस्य ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः

The Supreme Lord stood before her, who is the soul of all; of that god, of Brahmā, the supreme lord, who had died.

घृणी ददौ पुनः प्राणान् ब्रह्मपुत्रो महेश्वरः ब्रह्मणः प्रददौ प्राणान् आत्मस्थांस्तु तदा प्रभुः

The compassionate Lord Maheśvara, son of Brahmā, again restored the life-breaths to Brahmā, granting him those vital airs which were within himself.

प्रहृष्टो ऽभूत्ततो रुद्रः किंचित्प्रत्यागतासवम् अभ्यभाषत देवेशो ब्रह्माणं परमं वचः

Then Rudra became joyful, having somewhat regained his vigor, and the Lord of the gods addressed Brahmā with these supreme words.

मा भैर्देव महाभाग विरिञ्च जगतां गुरो मयेह स्थापिताः प्राणास् तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ वै प्रभो

"Do not fear, O highly fortunate one, O Virin̄ca, teacher of the worlds. I have established your life-breaths here; therefore, rise up, O Lord."

श्रुत्वा वचस्ततस्तस्य स्वप्नभूतं मनोगतम् पितामहः प्रसन्नात्मा नेत्रैः फुल्लाम्बुजप्रभैः

Hearing those words, Pitāmaha, his mind as if awakened from a dream, became serene in spirit, his eyes shining like blooming lotuses.

ततः प्रत्यागतप्राणः समुदैक्षन् महेश्वरम् स उद्वीक्ष्य चिरं कालं स्निग्धगंभीरया गिरा

Then, with his life restored, he gazed upon Maheśvara, and after looking at him for a long time, he spoke with a gentle and deep voice.

उवाच भगवान् ब्रह्मा समुत्थाय कृताञ्जलिः भो भो वद महाभाग आनन्दयसि मे मनः

The venerable Brahmā, rising and joining his palms in reverence, said: "O illustrious one, speak, O highly fortunate Lord, for you fill my mind with joy."

को भवान् अष्टमूर्तिर् वै स्थित एकादशात्मकः तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा व्याजहार महेश्वरः

"Who are you, possessing eight forms, yet established as elevenfold?" Hearing these words, Maheśvara replied:

स्पृशन्कराभ्यां ब्रह्माणं सुखाभ्यां स सुरारिहा मां विद्धि परमात्मानम् एनां मायामजामिति

Touching Brahmā with his auspicious hands, the destroyer of the gods' enemies said: "Know me as the Supreme Self, and this as my unborn Māyā."

एते वै संस्थिता रुद्रास् त्वां रक्षितुमिहागताः ततः प्रणम्य तं ब्रह्मा देवदेवमुवाच ह

"These Rudras are established here, having come to protect you." Then Brahmā, bowing to the Lord of gods, spoke.

कृताञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा हर्षगद्गदया गिरा भगवन्देवदेवेश दुःखैराकुलितो ह्यहम्

With palms joined and voice choked with joy, he said: "O Lord, O God of gods, I am afflicted by sorrows."

संसारान्मोक्तुमीशान मामिहार्हसि शङ्कर ततः प्रहस्य भगवान् पितामहमुमापतिः

"O Lord Śaṅkara, you should deliver me from this cycle of existence." Then the blessed Lord, Umā's consort, smiled at Pitāmaha.

तदा रुद्रैर्जगन्नाथस् तया चान्तर्दधे विभुः तस्माच्छिलाद लोकेषु दुर्लभो वै त्वयोनिजः

Then the Lord of the universe vanished along with the Rudras and her. Therefore, O Śilāda, in the worlds, one not born from a womb is indeed rare.

मृत्युहीनः पुमान्विद्धि समृत्युः पद्मजो ऽपि सः किंतु देवेश्वरो रुद्रः प्रसीदति यदीश्वरः

Know that a man without death is rare; even the lotus-born (Brahmā) is subject to death. But if the Lord Rudra, God of gods, is pleased, then it is possible.

न दुर्लभो मृत्युहीनस् तव पुत्रो ह्ययोनिजः मया च विष्णुना चैव ब्रह्मणा च महात्मना

"Your son, not born from a womb and free from death, is not unattainable—by me, by Viṣṇu, and by the great-souled Brahmā."

अयोनिजं मृत्युहीनम् असमर्थं निवेदितुम् एवं व्याहृत्य विप्रेन्द्रम् अनुगृह्य च तं घृणी

"It is not possible to describe one who is unborn and deathless." Thus speaking, the compassionate one blessed the best of Brāhmaṇas.

देवैर्वृतो ययौ देवः सितेनेभेन वै प्रभुः

Surrounded by the gods, the Lord departed, riding on a white bull.

गते पुण्ये च वरदे सहस्राक्षे शिलाशनः आराधयन्महादेवं तपसातोषयद्भवम्

When the thousand-eyed Indra and the granter of boons had departed, Śilāda worshipped the great god Bhava, seeking to please him through austerity.

अथ तस्यैवमनिशं तत्परस्य द्विजस्य तु दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु गतं क्षणमिवाद्भुतम्

Then, for that devoted Brāhmaṇa, intent on the highest, a divine thousand years passed as if in a single wondrous moment.

वल्मीकेनावृताङ्गश् च लक्ष्यः कीटगणैर्मुनिः वज्रसूचीमुखैश्चान्यै रक्तकीटैश् च सर्वतः

The sage's body was covered by an anthill, swarmed all over by hosts of insects, and by other red insects with sharp, needle-like mouths.

निर्मांसरुधिरत्वग् वै निर्लेपः कुड्यवत् स्थितः अस्थिशेषो ऽभवत्पश्चात् तममन्यत शङ्करः

Devoid of flesh, blood, and skin, untouched like a wall, only bones remained; thus did Śaṅkara regard him.

यदा स्पृष्टो मुनिस्तेन करेण च स्मरारिणा तदैव मुनिशार्दूलश् चोत्ससर्ज क्लमं द्विजः

When the sage was touched by the hand of the enemy of Kāma, at that very moment, O best of sages, the twice-born released his fatigue.

तपतस्तस्य तपसा प्रभुस्तुष्टाथ शङ्करः तुष्टस्तवेत्यथोवाच सगणश्चोमया सह

Pleased by his austerity, the glorious Śaṅkara, accompanied by his attendants and me, spoke, 'I am satisfied with your penance.'

तपसानेन किं कार्यं भवतस्ते महामते ददामि पुत्रं सर्वज्ञं सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगम्

O great-minded one, what is the purpose of this austerity for you? I shall grant you a son who is all-knowing and accomplished in the meaning of all the scriptures.

ततः प्रणम्य देवेशं स्तुत्वोवाच शिलाशनः हर्षगद्गदया वाचा सोमं सोमविभूषणम्

Then, bowing to the Lord of the gods and offering praise, Śilāda spoke with a voice choked with joy to Soma, the one adorned with the moon.

भगवन्देवदेवेश त्रिपुरार्दन शङ्कर अयोनिजं मृत्युहीनं पुत्रमिच्छामि सत्तम

O Lord, God of gods, destroyer of Tripura, Śaṅkara, I desire an unborn, deathless son, O most excellent one.

पूर्वमाराधितः प्राह तपसा परमेश्वरः शिलादं ब्रह्मणा रुद्रः प्रीत्या परमया पुनः

Formerly, the supreme Lord, Rudra, pleased by the austerity, spoke to Śilāda through Brahmā with great affection.