Linga Purana

काञ्चनं दिवि तत्रासीद् अन्तरिक्षे च राजतम् आयसं चाभवद् भूमौ पुरं तेषां महात्मनाम्

One city of gold was in the sky, one of silver in the mid-air, and one of iron was on earth for those great souls.

एकैकं योजनशतं विस्तारायामतः समम् काञ्चनं तारकाक्षस्य कमलाक्षस्य राजतम्

Each city was a hundred yojanas in width and length; the golden city belonged to Tārakākṣa, the silver to Kamalākṣa.

विद्युन्मालेश्चायसं वै त्रिविधं दुर्गमुत्तमम् मयश् च बलवांस्तत्र दैत्यदानवपूजितः

The iron city belonged to Vidyunmālī; thus, the threefold, supreme fortresses were made. There, Maya, powerful and honored by Daityas and Dānavas, resided.

हैरण्ये राजते चैव कृष्णायसमये तथा आलयं चात्मनः कृत्वा तत्रास्ते बलवांस्तदा

In the golden, silver, and black iron cities, Maya built his own abode and dwelled there, mighty as he was.

एवं बभूवुर्दैत्यानाम् अतिदुर्गाणि सुव्रताः पुराणि त्रीणि विप्रेन्द्रास् त्रैलोक्यमिव चापरम्

Thus, the three ancient, supremely fortified cities of the Daityas came into being, O best of Brahmins, like another triple world.

पुरत्रये तदा जाते सर्वे दैत्या जगत्त्रये पुरत्रयं प्रविश्यैव बभूवुस्ते बलाधिकाः

When the three cities were thus created, all the Daityas entered them and became exceedingly powerful in the three worlds.

कल्पद्रुमसमाकीर्णं गजवाजिसमाकुलम् नानाप्रसादसंकीर्णं मणिजालैः समावृतम्

Filled with wish-fulfilling trees, crowded with elephants and horses, adorned with various splendid mansions, and covered with networks of jewels,

सूर्यमण्डलसंकाशैर् विमानैर्विश्वतोमुखैः पद्मरागमयैः शुभ्रैः शोभितं चन्द्रसंनिभैः

Adorned with celestial palaces, radiant like the solar orb, facing all directions, fashioned from pure ruby and shining with the luster of the moon.

प्रासादैर्गोपुरैर्दिव्यैः कैलासशिखरोपमैः शोभितं त्रिपुरं तेषां पृथक्पृथगनुत्तमैः

Graced with divine mansions and lofty gateways, resembling the peaks of Mount Kailāsa, Tripura was splendid with each of these supreme structures, distinct and magnificent.

दिव्यस्त्रीभिः सुसम्पूर्णं गन्धर्वैः सिद्धचारणैः रुद्रालयैः प्रतिगृहं साग्निहोत्रैर् द्विजोत्तमाः

Filled with celestial women, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and Cāraṇas, and in every house, the foremost twice-born performed sacred fires in shrines of Rudra.

वापीकूपतडागैश् च दीर्घिकाभिस्तु सर्वतः मत्तमातङ्गयूथैश् च तुरङ्गैश् च सुशोभनैः

Surrounded on all sides by wells, ponds, reservoirs, and long pools, as well as herds of intoxicated elephants and splendid horses.

रथैश् च विविधाकारैर् विचित्रैर्विश्वतोमुखैः सभाप्रपादिभिश् चैव क्रीडास्थानैः पृथक् पृथक्

With chariots of various forms, wondrous and facing all directions, and with assembly halls, gateways, and separate places for sport.

वेदाध्ययनशालाभिर् विविधाभिः समन्ततः अधृष्यं मनसाप्यन्यैर् मयस्यैव च मायया

Encircled everywhere by diverse schools for Vedic study, unassailable even in thought by others, through the power of Maya alone of Maya.

पतिव्रताभिः सर्वत्र सेवितं मुनिपुङ्गवाः कृत्वापि सुमहत् पापम् अपापैः शङ्करार्चनात्

Everywhere attended by devoted wives, O best of sages; even after committing great sin, they became sinless through the worship of Śaṅkara.

दैत्येश्वरैर्महाभागैः सदारैः ससुतैर्द्विजाः श्रौतस्मार्तार्थधर्मज्ञैस् तद्धर्मनिरतैः सदा

By the great and fortunate lords of the Daityas, with their wives and sons, always engaged in the duties of the Vedas and Smṛtis, steadfast in those dharmas.

महादेवेतरं त्यक्त्वा देवं तस्यार्चने स्थितैः व्यूढोरस्कैर् वृषस्कन्धैः सर्वायुधधरैः सदा

Having abandoned all gods except the Great God, they stood in his worship—broad-chested, bull-shouldered, always bearing every weapon.

सर्वदा क्षुधितैश्चैव दावाग्निसदृशेक्षणैः प्रशान्तैः कुपितैश्चैव कुब्जैर् वामनकैस् तथा

Always with the hungry, with eyes like blazing fire, calm or enraged, and also with the hunchbacked and the dwarfish.

नीलोत्पलदलप्रख्यैर् नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजैः नीलाद्रिमेरुसंकाशैर् नीरदोपमनिःस्वनैः मयेन रक्षितैः सर्वैः शिक्षितैर्युद्धलालसैः

With hair dark as blue lotus petals, curled and deep blue, resembling the blue mountain and Meru, with voices like thunderclouds, all guarded by Maya’s warriors, trained and eager for battle.

अथ समररतैः सदा समन्ताच् छिवपदपूजनया सुलब्धवीर्यैः रविमरुदमरेन्द्रसंनिकाशैः सुरमथनैः सुदृढैः सुसेवितं तत्

Then, always surrounded by those devoted to battle, whose strength was easily gained by worship of Śiva’s feet, resembling the sun, wind, and Indra, firm and heroic, that city was well protected.

सेन्द्रा देवा द्विजश्रेष्ठा द्रुमा दावाग्निना यथा पुरत्रयाग्निना दग्धा ह्य् अभवन् दैत्यवैभवात्

But then, O best of twice-born, the gods with Indra, and the trees, were burned up by the fire of Tripura, just as by a forest fire, perishing through the might of the Daityas.

अथैवं ते तदा दग्धा देवा देवेश्वरं हरिम् अभिवन्द्य तदा प्राहुस् तमप्रतिमवर्चसम्

Then, when they were thus destroyed, the gods approached Hari, Lord of the gods, and praised him, for his splendor was without equal.

सो ऽपि नारायणः श्रीमान् चिन्तयामास चेतसा किं कार्यं देवकार्येषु भगवानिति स प्रभुः

That glorious Nārāyaṇa then pondered in his mind, 'What should be done for the sake of the gods?'—so thought the Lord.

तदा सस्मार वै यज्ञं यज्ञमूर्तिर्जनार्दनः यज्वा यज्ञभुगीशानो यज्वनां फलदः प्रभुः

Then Janārdana, the embodiment of sacrifice, remembered the sacrifice; the Lord, enjoyer of sacrifice, giver of fruits to sacrificers, and master of all sacrifices.

ततो यज्ञः स्मृतस्तेन देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये देवं ते पुरुषं चैव प्रणेमुस्तुष्टुवुस्तदा

Then, remembering the sacrifice for the accomplishment of the gods’ purpose, they bowed and praised that divine Person.

भगवानपि तं दृष्ट्वा यज्ञं प्राह सनातनम् सनातनस्तदा सेन्द्रान् देवान् आलोक्य चाच्युतः

And the Blessed Lord, seeing that eternal sacrifice, spoke; then the eternal Acyuta, beholding the gods with Indra, addressed them.

अनेनोपसदा देवा यजध्वं परमेश्वरम् पुरत्रयविनाशाय जगत्त्रयविभूतये

With this approach, O gods, worship the Supreme Lord, for the destruction of the three cities and the manifestation of power over the three worlds.

अथ तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा देवदेवस्य धीमतः सिंहनादं महत्कृत्वा यज्ञेशं तुष्टुवुः सुराः

Then, having heard the words of the wise Lord of gods, the gods let out a great roar and praised the Lord of sacrifice.

ततः संचिन्त्य भगवान् स्वयमेव जनार्दनः पुनः प्राह स सर्वांस्तांस् त्रिदशांस्त्रिदशेश्वरः

Thereafter, the blessed Janardana, having reflected, again addressed all those gods, he who is the Lord of the immortals.

हत्वा दग्ध्वा च भूतानि भुक्त्वा चान्यायतो ऽपि वा यजेद्यदि महादेवम् अपापो नात्र संशयः

Even if one kills, burns, or consumes beings unjustly, if he worships Mahadeva, he becomes free from sin—of this there is no doubt.