Linga Purana

आराध्य जगतामीशं केशवं क्लेशनाशनम् दक्षिणाङ्गभवं शंभोर् महादेवस्य धीमतः

By worshipping Keśava, the lord of the worlds, destroyer of afflictions, who arose from the right side of Mahādeva, the wise one—

जप नित्यं महाप्राज्ञ सर्वपापविनाशनम् इष्टदं परमं शुद्धं पवित्रममलं परम्

Recite always, O highly wise one, the mantra that destroys all sins, grants desires, is supremely pure, holy, spotless, and supreme.

ब्रूहि मन्त्रमिमं दिव्यं प्रणवेन समन्वितम् नमो ऽस्तु वासुदेवाय इत्येवं नियतेन्द्रियः

Speak this divine mantra, joined with the praṇava: 'Let there be homage to Vāsudeva!'—thus, with controlled senses.

ध्यायन्सनातनं विष्णुं जपहोमपरायणः इत्युक्तः प्रणिपत्यैनं विश्वामित्रं महायशाः

Meditating on the eternal Viṣṇu, devoted to recitation and sacrifice, thus addressed, the illustrious one bowed to Viśvāmitra.

प्राङ्मुखो नियतो भूत्वा जजाप प्रीतमानसः शाकमूलफलाहारः संवत्सरमतन्द्रितः

Facing east, disciplined, with a joyful mind, subsisting on roots, fruits, and vegetables, he recited without fatigue for a year.

जजाप मन्त्रमनिशम् अजस्रं स पुनः पुनः वेताला राक्षसा घोराः सिंहाद्याश् च महामृगाः

He recited the mantra day and night, ceaselessly, again and again; terrifying spirits, demons, and great beasts like lions approached.

तमभ्ययुर्महात्मानं बुद्धिमोहाय भीषणाः जपन् स वासुदेवेति न किंचित् प्रत्यपद्यत

Those dreadful beings came to that great soul to bewilder his mind; but as he recited 'Vāsudeva,' he did not waver at all.

सुनीतिर् अस्य या माता तस्या रूपेण संवृता पिशाचि समनुप्राप्ता रुरोद भृशदुःखिता

His mother Sunīti, taking her form, appeared as a piśāci and, overwhelmed with grief, began to weep.

मम त्वमेकः पुत्रो ऽसि किमर्थं क्लिश्यते भवान् मामनाथामपहाय तप आस्थितवानसि

You are my only son—why do you suffer so? Abandoning your helpless mother, why have you taken up austerity?

एवमादीनि वाक्यानि भाषमाणां महातपाः अनिरीक्ष्यैव हृष्टात्मा हरेर्नाम जजाप सः

Though she spoke such words, the great ascetic, without even looking at her, joyfully continued to recite the name of Hari.

ततः प्रशेमुः सर्वत्र विघ्नरूपाणि तत्र वै ततो गरुडमारुह्य कालमेघसमद्युतिः

Then all obstacles in that place ceased everywhere; after that, Viṣṇu, radiant as a dark cloud, arrived riding Garuḍa.

सर्वदेवैः परिवृतः स्तूयमानो महर्षिभिः आययौ भगवान्विष्णुः ध्रुवान्तिकम् अरातिहा

Surrounded by all the gods and praised by great sages, the blessed Viṣṇu, destroyer of foes, came near Dhruva.

समागतं विलोक्याथ को ऽसावित्येव चिन्तयन् पिबन्निव हृषीकेशं नयनाभ्यां जगत्पतिम्

Seeing him approach, he wondered, 'Who is this?' and, as if drinking in with his eyes, gazed at Hṛṣīkeśa, the Lord of the world.

जपन् स वासुदेवेति ध्रुवस्तस्थौ महाद्युतिः शङ्खप्रान्तेन गोविन्दः पस्पर्शास्यं हि तस्य वै

Dhruva, resplendent, stood reciting 'Vāsudeva'; Govinda touched his face with the edge of his conch.

ततः स परमं ज्ञानम् अवाप्य पुरुषोत्तमम् तुष्टाव प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा सर्वलोकेश्वरं हरिम्

Then, having attained supreme knowledge and the highest Person, he praised Hari, Lord of all worlds, with joined palms.

प्रसीद देवदेवेश शङ्खचक्रगदाधर लोकात्मन् वेदगुह्यात्मन् त्वां प्रपन्नो ऽस्मि केशव

Be gracious, Lord of gods, bearer of conch, discus, and mace, soul of the world, knower of the Vedas' secrets—I take refuge in you, Keśava.

न विदुस्त्वां महात्मानं सनकाद्या महर्षयः तत्कथं त्वामहं विद्यां नमस्ते भुवनेश्वर

Even the great sages like Sanaka do not know you, O great soul; how then can I know you? Salutations to you, Lord of the world.

तमाह प्रहसन्विष्णुर् एहि वत्स ध्रुवो भवान् स्थानं ध्रुवं समासाद्य ज्योतिषाम् अग्रभुग् भव

Viṣṇu, smiling, said to him: 'Come, child Dhruva. Having attained the fixed place, become the foremost among the stars.'

मात्रा त्वं सहितस्तत्र ज्योतिषां स्थानमाप्नुहि मत्स्थानमेतत्परमं ध्रुवं नित्यं सुशोभनम्

There, together with your mother, attain the place of the stars—this supreme, eternal, and beautiful abode of mine.

तपसाराध्य देवेशं पुरा लब्धं हि शङ्करात् वासुदेवेति यो नित्यं प्रणवेन समन्वितम्

Long ago, by austerity, worshipping the Lord of gods, this was obtained from Śaṅkara: whoever always recites 'Vāsudeva' with the praṇava—

नमस्कारसमायुक्तं भगवच्छब्दसंयुतम् जपेदेवं हि यो विद्वान् ध्रुवं स्थानं प्रपद्यते

—with reverence, joined with the word 'Bhagavat,' and with salutation—such a wise one attains the fixed place of Dhruva.

ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश् च परमर्षयः मात्रा सह ध्रुवं सर्वे तस्मिन् स्थाने न्यवेशयन्

Then all the gods, along with the Gandharvas, Siddhas, and supreme sages, together with their mothers, firmly established themselves in that place.

विष्णोराज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य ज्योतिषां स्थानमाप्तवान् एवं ध्रुवो महातेजा द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया

Having received Vishnu's command, the radiant Dhruva attained the position among the luminaries through the twelve-syllable mantra.

अवाप महतीं सिद्धिम् एतत्ते कथितं मया

He achieved great perfection; this has been told to you by me.

तस्माद्यो वासुदेवाय प्रणामं कुरुते नरः स याति ध्रुवसालोक्यं ध्रुवत्वं तस्य तत्तथा

Therefore, whoever bows to Vāsudeva attains the realm of Dhruva; his steadfastness becomes like that of Dhruva.

देवानां दानवानां च गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् उत्पत्तिं ब्रूहि सूताद्य यथाक्रममनुत्तमम्

O Sūta, tell now, in proper order, the excellent origin of the gods, the demons, the Gandharvas, serpents, and Rākṣasas.

संकल्पाद्दर्शनात्स्पर्शात् पूर्वेषां सृष्टिरुच्यते दक्षात्प्राचेतसादूर्ध्वं सृष्टिर्मैथुनसंभवा

It is said that the earlier creation arose from intention, vision, and touch; after Dakṣa, the son of Pracetas, creation proceeded through sexual union.

यदा तु सृजतस्तस्य देवर्षिगणपन्नगान् न वृद्धिमगमल्लोकस् तदा मैथुनयोगतः

When he was creating gods, sages, and serpents, the worlds did not flourish; then, through the union of sex, growth occurred.

दक्षः पुत्रसहस्राणि पञ्च सूत्यामजीजनत् तांस्तु दृष्ट्वा महाभागान् सिसृक्षुर्विविधाः प्रजाः

Dakṣa, by birth, produced five thousand sons; seeing them, desiring to create various beings, he was greatly fortunate.