Linga Purana

गौतमी कौशिकी चार्या चण्डी कात्यायनी सती कुमारी यादवी देवी वरदा कृष्णपिङ्गला

Gautamī, Kauśikī, Āryā, Caṇḍī, Kātyāyanī, Satī, Kumārī, Yādavī, Devī, Varadā, Kṛṣṇapiṅgalā.

बर्हिध्वजा शूलधरा परमा ब्रह्मचारिणी महेन्द्रोपेन्द्रभगिनी दृषद्वत्य् एकशूलधृक्

She who is adorned with sacrificial grass, bearer of the trident, supremely devoted to celibacy, sister of Mahendra and Upendra, and on the Dṛṣadvatī river, she holds a single trident.

अपराजिता बहुभुजा प्रगल्भा सिंहवाहिनी शुम्भादिदैत्यहन्त्री च महामहिषमर्दिनी

Unconquered, possessing many arms, bold, riding a lion, slayer of Śumbha and other demons, and the great subduer of the buffalo demon.

अमोघा विन्ध्यनिलया विक्रान्ता गणनायिका देव्या नामविकाराणि इत्येतानि यथाक्रमम्

Infallible, dwelling on the Vindhya, mighty, leader of the hosts—these are the various names of the goddess, each in due order.

भद्रकाल्या मयोक्तानि सम्यक्फलप्रदानि च ये पठन्ति नरास्तेषां विद्यते न च पातकम्

These names of Bhadrakālī, as I have spoken, bestow complete fruit; for those men who recite them, there is no sin.

अरण्ये पर्वते वापि पुरे वाप्यथवा गृहे रक्षामेतां प्रयुञ्जीत जले वाथ स्थले ऽपि वा

Whether in the forest, on a mountain, in a city, or at home, one should employ this protection—whether in water or on land.

व्याघ्रकुम्भीनचोरेभ्यो भयस्थाने विशेषतः आपत्स्वपि च सर्वासु देव्या नामानि कीर्तयेत्

Especially in places of fear from tigers, crocodiles, or thieves, and in all kinds of danger, one should recite the goddess’s names.

आर्यकग्रहभूतैश् च पूतनामातृभिस् तथा अभ्यर्दितानां बालानां रक्षामेतां प्रयोजयेत्

When children are afflicted by noble spirits, planets, ghosts, or mothers of disease, this protection should be applied for them.

महादेवीकले द्वे तु प्रज्ञा श्रीश् च प्रकीर्तिते आभ्यां देवीसहस्राणि यैर्व्याप्तमखिलं जगत्

Of the great goddess, two portions are proclaimed: wisdom and prosperity; by these, thousands of goddesses pervade the entire world.

अनया देवदेवो ऽसौ सत्या रुद्रो महेश्वरः आतिष्ठत्सर्वलोकानां हिताय परमेश्वरः

By her, the god of gods, the true Rudra, the great lord, established himself for the welfare of all worlds.

रुद्रः पशुपतिश्चासीत् पुरा दग्धं पुरत्रयम् देवाश् च पशवः सर्वे बभूवुस्तस्य तेजसा

Rudra, who is also Paśupati, once burned the triple city; by his energy, all the gods and living beings became as his cattle.

यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि आदिसर्गक्रमं शुभम् स याति ब्रह्मणो लोकं श्रावयेद्वा द्विजोत्तमान्

Whoever recites or hears this auspicious account of the original creation, or causes it to be heard by the best of twice-born, attains the world of Brahmā.

समासाद् विस्तराच्चैव सर्गः प्रोक्तस्त्वया शुभः कथं पशुपतिश्चासीत् पुरं दग्धुं महेश्वरः

In summary and in detail, you have described the auspicious creation; but how did Paśupati, the great lord, burn the city?

कथं च पशवश्चासन् देवाः सब्रह्मकाः प्रभोः मयस्य तपसा पूर्वं सुदुर्गं निर्मितं पुरम्

And how did the gods, along with Brahmā, become cattle? By Maya’s austerity, a most difficult city was built before.

हैमं च राजतं दिव्यम् अयस्मयम् अनुत्तमम् सुदुर्गं देवदेवेन दग्धमित्येव नः श्रुतम्

A golden, a silver, and a divine iron city, unsurpassed and most difficult—by the god of gods, it was burned, so we have heard.

कथं ददाह भगवान् भगनेत्रनिपातनः एकेनेषुनिपातेन दिव्येनापि तदा कथम्

How did the blessed one, destroyer of Bhaga’s eye, burn it all at once with a single divine arrow?

विष्णुनोत्पादितैर्भूतैर् न दग्धं तत्पुरत्रयम् पुरस्य संभवः सर्वो वरलाभः पुरा श्रुतः

That triple city was not burned by beings produced by Viṣṇu; the entire origin of the city and the granting of boons have been heard before.

इदानीं दहनं सर्वं वक्तुमर्हसि सुव्रत तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सूतः पौराणिकोत्तमः

Now you should tell, O virtuous one, the entire burning of those cities. Hearing their words, Sūta, the foremost of bards,

यथा श्रुतं तथा प्राह व्यासाद् विश्वार्थसूचकात् त्रैलोक्यस्यास्य शापाद्धि मनोवाक्कायसंभवात्

Spoke as he had heard from Vyāsa, the revealer of the meaning of the universe, for, due to the curse upon this threefold world, it arose from mind, speech, and body.

निहते तारके दैत्ये तारपुत्रे सबान्धवे स्कन्देन वा प्रयत्नेन तस्य पुत्रा महाबलाः

When Tāraka, the demon and son of Tāra, along with his kin, was slain by Skanda with great effort, his sons, mighty in strength,

विद्युन्माली तारकाक्षः कमलाक्षश् च वीर्यवान् तपस्तेपुर्महात्मानो महाबलपराक्रमाः

Vidyunmālī, Tārakākṣa, and the valiant Kamalākṣa—these great souls, powerful and heroic, undertook severe austerities.

तप उग्रं समास्थाय नियमे परमे स्थिताः तपसा कर्शयामासुर् देहान् स्वान्दानवोत्तमाः

Engaging in intense penance and observing strict discipline, those foremost among Dānavas tormented their own bodies through their austerities.

तेषां पितामहः प्रीतो वरदः प्रददौ वरम् अवध्यत्वं च सर्वेषां सर्वभूतेषु सर्वदा

Pleased with them, the Grandsire, bestower of boons, granted them a boon: that none among all beings could ever slay them.

सहिता वरयामासुः सर्वलोकपितामहम् तान् अब्रवीत् तदा देवो लोकानां प्रभुर् अव्ययः

Together they sought a boon from the Grandsire of all worlds; then the imperishable Lord of beings spoke to them.

नास्ति सर्वामरत्वं वै निवर्तध्वम् अतो ऽसुराः अन्यं वरं वृणीध्वं वै यादृशं सम्प्ररोचते

"Immortality for all is not possible—turn back from this, O Asuras. Choose another boon, whatever you desire."

ततस्ते सहिता दैत्याः सम्प्रधार्य परस्परम् ब्रह्माणमब्रुवन्दैत्याः प्रणिपत्य जगद्गुरुम्

Then those Daityas, united, deliberated among themselves and, bowing to Brahmā, the preceptor of the universe, addressed him.

वयं पुराणि त्रीण्येव समास्थाय महीमिमाम् विचरिष्याम लोकेश त्वत्प्रसादाज्जगद्गुरो

"O Lord of the worlds, by your grace, we shall dwell upon this earth, each in one of three cities of old."

तथा वर्षसहस्रेषु समेष्यामः परस्परम् एकीभावं गमिष्यन्ति पुराण्येतानि चानघ

"Thus, after a thousand years, we shall come together, and those ancient cities, O sinless one, will unite as one."

समागतानि चैतानि यो हन्याद्भगवंस्तदा एकेनैवेषुणा देवः स नो मृत्युर्भविष्यति

"O Lord, whoever destroys these united cities with a single arrow—let that alone be our death."