Linga Purana

एवं कृत्वा रथं दिव्यं कार्मुकं च शरं तथा सारथिं जगतां चैव ब्रह्माणं प्रभुमीश्वरम्

Thus having made the divine chariot, the bow, the arrow, the charioteer, and also the lord Brahmā, master of the worlds,

आरुरोह रथं दिव्यं रणमण्डनधृग् भवः सर्वदेवगणैर्युक्तं कम्पयन्निव रोदसी

Bhava ascended the divine chariot, adorned for battle, yoked with all the hosts of gods, as if shaking heaven and earth.

ऋषिभिः स्तूयमानश् च वन्द्यमानश् च बन्दिभिः उपनृत्तश्चाप्सरसां गणैर्नृत्यविशारदैः

Praised by sages, honored by bards, and attended by troupes of Apsarases skilled in dance,

सुशोभमानो वरदः सम्प्रेक्ष्यैव च सारथिम् तस्मिन्नारोहति रथं कल्पितं लोकसंभृतम्

The bestower of boons, shining splendidly, looked upon the charioteer as he mounted the chariot, which was prepared and filled with beings of the worlds.

शिरोभिः पतिता भूमीं तुरगा वेदसंभवाः अथाधस्ताद्रथस्यास्य भगवान् धरणीधरः

The horses, born of the Vedas, fell to the ground on their heads; then beneath his chariot, the blessed Lord, the supporter of the earth,

वृषेन्द्ररूपी चोत्थाप्य स्थापयामास वै क्षणम् क्षणान्तरे वृषेन्द्रो ऽपि जानुभ्यामगमद्धराम्

Assuming the form of the bull-king, he raised and set them upright for a moment; but in the next instant, the bull-king again fell to the ground on his knees.

अभीषुहस्तो भगवान् उद्यम्य च हयान् विभुः स्थापयामास देवस्य वचनाद्वै रथं शुभम्

The blessed Lord, holding the arrow in his hand, raised the horses and, by the word of the god, set the auspicious chariot in place.

ततो ऽश्वांश्चोदयामास मनोमारुतरंहसः पुराण्युद्दिश्य खस्थानि दानवानां तरस्विनाम्

Then he urged the horses, swift as the mind and wind, toward the ancient, sky-dwelling, mighty Dānavas.

अथाह भगवान् रुद्रो देवानालोक्य शङ्करः पशूनामाधिपत्यं मे दत्तं हन्मि ततो ऽसुरान्

Then the blessed Rudra, seeing the gods, said: 'The lordship over creatures has been given to me; therefore I will slay the Asuras.'

पृथक्पशुत्वं देवानां तथान्येषां सुरोत्तमाः कल्पयित्वैव वध्यास्ते नान्यथा नैव सत्तमाः

Having established the separate status of the gods and others as creatures, O best of gods, they are to be slain—there is no other way, indeed, O excellent ones.

इति श्रुत्वा वचः सर्वं देवदेवस्य धीमतः विषादमगमन् सर्वे पशुत्वं प्रति शङ्किताः

Hearing all these words of the wise Lord of gods, they all became despondent, fearing the condition of being creatures.

तेषां भावं ततो ज्ञात्वा देवस्तानिदमब्रवीत् मा वो ऽस्तु पशुभावे ऽस्मिन् भयं विबुधसत्तमाः

Then, knowing their state of mind, the god spoke to them: 'Let there be no fear for you, O best of wise gods, in this condition of being creatures.'

श्रूयतां पशुभावस्य विमोक्षः क्रियतां च सः यो वै पाशुपतं दिव्यं चरिष्यति स मोक्ष्यति

'Hear now the release from the state of being a creature, and let it be done: whoever shall practice the divine Pāśupata vow, he shall be freed.'

पशुत्वादिति सत्यं च प्रतिज्ञातं समाहिताः ये चाप्यन्ये चरिष्यन्ति व्रतं पाशुपतं मम

'This state of being a creature is indeed true and has been declared; and whoever else shall practice my Pāśupata vow,'

मोक्ष्यन्ति ते न संदेहः पशुत्वात् सुरसत्तमाः नैष्ठिकं द्वादशाब्दं वा तदर्धं वर्षकत्रयम्

'They shall be freed from the state of being a creature, without doubt, O best of gods, whether for twelve years, half that, or three years in full observance.'

शुश्रूषां कारयेद्यस्तु स पशुत्वाद्विमुच्यते तस्मात्परमिदं दिव्यं चरिष्यथ सुरोत्तमाः

'Whoever causes service to be rendered shall be released from the state of being a creature; therefore, O best of gods, you should practice this supreme and divine vow.'

तथेति चाब्रुवन्देवाः शिवे लोकनमस्कृते तस्माद्वै पशवः सर्वे देवासुरनराः प्रभोः

The gods replied, 'So be it,' to Śiva, revered by the worlds; therefore, all gods, Asuras, and men are creatures of the Lord.

रुद्रः पशुपतिश्चैव पशुपाशविमोचकः यः पशुस्तत्पशुत्वं च व्रतेनानेन संत्यजेत्

Rudra, the Lord of creatures, is the liberator from the bonds of creatures; whoever is a creature may renounce that creaturehood by means of this vow.

तत्कृत्वा न च पापीयान् इति शास्त्रस्य निश्चयः ततो विनायकः साक्षाद् बालो ऽबालपराक्रमः

Having performed that, one is not more sinful—this is the settled conclusion of scripture; then Vinayaka himself, a child with extraordinary prowess,

अपूजितस्तदा देवैः प्राह देवान्निवारयन् मामपूज्य जगत्यस्मिन् भक्ष्यभोज्यादिभिः शुभैः

When not worshipped by the gods at that time, he spoke, restraining the gods: 'Without worshipping me in this world with pure offerings of food and drink,'

कः पुमान्सिद्धिमाप्नोति देवो वा दानवो ऽपि वा ततस्तस्मिन् क्षणादेव देवकार्ये सुरेश्वराः

Who among men, gods, or even demons attains success? Therefore, at that very moment, the lords of the gods, for the divine task,

विघ्नं करिष्ये देवेश कथं कर्तुं समुद्यताः ततः सेन्द्राः सुराः सर्वे भीताः सम्पूज्य तं प्रभुम्

I will create obstacles, O Lord of gods, for those who attempt to act; then all the gods with Indra, fearful, worshipped that master.

भक्ष्यभोज्यादिभिश्चैव उण्डरैश्चैव मोदकैः अब्रुवंस्ते गणेशानं निर्विघ्नं चास्तु नः सदा

With offerings of food, drink, and also cakes and sweet balls, they addressed Ganesha: 'May we always be free from obstacles.'

आलिङ्ग्य चाघ्राय सुतं तदानीमपूजयत्सर्वसुरेन्द्रमुख्यः

Embracing and smelling his son, at that moment, the chief among all the gods worshipped him.

सम्पूज्य पूज्यं सह देवसंघैर् विनायकं नायकमीश्वराणाम् गणेश्वरैरेव नगेन्द्रधन्वा पुरत्रयं दग्धुमसौ जगाम

Having worshipped the worthy one, Vinayaka, the leader of the gods, together with the host of deities, the lords of the Ganas, and the bow of the mountain king, he went to burn the three cities.

तं देवदेवं सुरसिद्धसंघा महेश्वरं भूतगणाश् च सर्वे गणेश्वरा नन्दिमुखास्तदानीं स्ववाहनैरन्वयुरीशमीशाः

That Lord of gods, surrounded by hosts of divine and perfected beings, Maheshvara, and all the hosts of spirits, the lords of the Ganas led by Nandi, then followed the Lord with their own vehicles.

अग्रे सुराणां च गणेश्वराणां तदाथ नन्दी गिरिराजकल्पम् विमानमारुह्य पुरं प्रहर्तुं जगाम मृत्युं भगवानिवेशः

At the forefront of the gods and the lords of the Ganas, then Nandi, like the king of mountains, ascended the celestial chariot and went to attack the city, the abode of Death, O Blessed One.

यान्तं तदानीं तु शिलादपुत्रम् आरुह्य नागेन्द्रवृषाश्ववर्यान् देवास्तदानीं गणपाश् च सर्वे गणा ययुः स्वायुधचिह्नहस्ताः

At that time, ascending the best elephant, bull, and horse, the gods, the Gana leaders, and all the Ganas went, bearing their own weapons and insignia.

जगाम जगतां हिताय पुरत्रयं दग्धुमलुप्तशक्तिः

He went, with his power undiminished, for the welfare of the worlds, to burn the three cities.