Linga Purana

ब्राह्मणान् भोजयेत्तत्र पञ्चाशद्विधिपूर्वकम् अक्षमालोपवीतं च कुण्डलं च कमण्डलुम्

There, one should feed fifty Brāhmaṇas according to rule, giving them a rosary, sacred thread, earrings, and water pot.

आसनं च तथा दण्डम् उष्णीषं वस्त्रमेव च दत्त्वा तेषां मुनीन्द्राणां देवदेवाय शंभवे

Also giving them a seat, staff, turban, and cloth, to those great sages, for the sake of Śaṃbhu, the god of gods.

महाचरुं निवेद्यैवं कृष्णं गोमिथुनं तथा अन्ते च देवदेवाय दापयेच्चूर्णमण्डलम्

Thus, offering the great oblation and a black pair of cows, at the end, one should present the powdered maṇḍala to the god of gods.

यागोपयोगद्रव्याणि शिवाय विनिवेदयेत् ओङ्काराद्यं जपेद्धीमान् प्रतिवर्णम् अनुक्रमात्

One should offer the materials used in sacrifice to Shiva, and the wise should recite Om and other sacred syllables, proceeding sequentially for each letter.

एवमालिख्य यो भक्त्या सर्वमण्डलमुत्तमम् यत्फलं लभते मर्त्यस् तद्वदामि समासतः

Thus, whoever draws the entire supreme mandala with devotion attains the fruit that I now briefly declare.

साङ्गान् वेदान् यथान्यायम् अधीत्य विधिपूर्वकम् इष्ट्वा यज्ञैर्यथान्यायं ज्योतिष्टोमादिभिः क्रमात्

Having properly studied the Vedas with their limbs according to prescribed rules, and having performed sacrifices such as Jyotishtoma in order, as appropriate,

ततो विश्वजिदन्तैश् च पुत्रानुत्पाद्य तादृशान् वानप्रस्थाश्रमं गत्वा सदारः साग्निरेव च

Then, after producing sons through rites like Vishvajit, entering the forest-dweller stage with wife and sacred fire,

चान्द्रायणादिकाः सर्वाः कृत्वा न्यस्य क्रिया द्विजाः ब्रह्मविद्यामधीत्यैव ज्ञानमासाद्य यत्नतः

Having performed all rites such as Chandrayana, and having relinquished actions, O twice-born, one should diligently study Brahmavidya and attain knowledge.

ज्ञानेन ज्ञेयम् आलोक्य योगी यत्काममाप्नुयात् तत्फलं लभते सर्वं वर्णमण्डलदर्शनात्

Having perceived the knowable through knowledge, the yogi attains whatever he desires; all those fruits are gained by seeing the mandala of syllables.

येन केनापि वा मर्त्यः प्रलिप्यायतनाग्रतः उत्तरे दक्षिणे वापि पृष्ठतो वा द्विजोत्तमाः

By anyone, O best of twice-born, after smearing in front of the shrine, whether to the north, south, or behind,

चतुष्कोणं तु वा चूर्णैर् अलंकृत्य समन्ततः पुष्पाक्षतादिभिः पूज्य सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

If one decorates a quadrangular area with powders all around, and worships with flowers, rice, and other offerings, one is freed from all sins.

यस्तु गर्भगृहं भक्त्या सकृदालिप्य सर्वतः चन्दनाद्यैः सकर्पूरैर् गन्धद्रव्यैः समन्ततः

Whoever, with devotion, smears the sanctum once on all sides with sandalwood and camphor and fragrant substances,

विकीर्य गन्धकुसुमैर् धूपैर्धूप्य चतुर्विधैः प्रार्थयेद्देवमीशानं शिवलोकं स गच्छति

Scattering fragrant flowers and offering four kinds of incense, and praying to the Lord Ishana, he attains the world of Shiva.

तत्र भुक्त्वा महाभोगान् कल्पकोटिशतं नरः स्वदेहगन्धकुसुमैः पूरयञ्छिवमन्दिरम्

There, enjoying great pleasures for hundreds of millions of aeons, a man fills Shiva's temple with his own body’s fragrance and flowers.

क्रमाद्गान्धर्वमासाद्य गन्धर्वैश् च सुपूजितः क्रमादागत्य लोके ऽस्मिन् राजा भवति वीर्यवान्

Then, attaining the Gandharva realm and being worshipped by Gandharvas, he comes to this world in turn and becomes a mighty king.

आदिदेवो महादेवः प्रलयस्थितिकारकः सर्गश् च भुवनाधीशः शर्वव्यापी सदाशिवः शिवब्रह्मामृतं ग्राह्यं मोक्षसाधनम् उत्तमम्

The primordial god, Mahadeva, is the cause of dissolution and maintenance, and creation; he is the lord of worlds, all-pervading Sharva, eternal Sadashiva. The nectar of Shiva-Brahman is to be accepted as the supreme means to liberation.

व्यक्ताव्यक्तं सदा नित्यम् अचिन्त्यम् अर्चयेत् प्रभुम्

One should always worship the Lord, manifest and unmanifest, eternal and inconceivable.

वस्त्रपूतेन तोयेन कार्यं चैवोपलेपनम् शिवक्षेत्रे मुनिश्रेष्ठा नान्यथा सिद्धिरिष्यते

Smearing should be done with water purified by cloth, O best of sages, in the field of Shiva; otherwise, success is not desired.

आपः पूता भवन्त्येता वस्त्रपूताः समुद्धृताः अफेना मुनिशार्दूला नादेयाश् च विशेषतः

These waters become pure when filtered through cloth and collected; O tiger among sages, frothy water should especially not be given.

तस्माद्वै सर्वकार्याणि दैविकानि द्विजोत्तमाः अद्भिः कार्याणि पूताभिः सर्वकार्यप्रसिद्धये

Therefore, O best of twice-born, all divine actions should be performed with purified water for the accomplishment of all rites.

जन्तुभिर् मिश्रिता ह्यापः सूक्ष्माभिस्तान्निहत्य तु यत्पापं सकलं चाद्भिर् अपूताभिश्चिरं लभेत्

Waters mixed with subtle creatures should be purified by destroying them; otherwise, all sin is obtained from impure water for a long time.

संमार्जने तथा नॄणां मार्जने च विशेषतः अग्नौ कण्डनके चैव पेषणे तोयसंग्रहे

In sweeping, and especially in cleaning people, in fire, in pounding, and in collecting water—

हिंसा सदा गृहस्थानां तस्माद्धिंसां विवर्जयेत् अहिंसेयं परो धर्मः सर्वेषां प्राणिनां द्विजाः

There is always harm for householders; therefore, one should avoid causing harm. Non-harming is the highest duty for all living beings, O twice-born.

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन वस्त्रपूतं समाचरेत् तद्दानमभयं पुण्यं सर्वदानोत्तमोत्तमम्

Therefore, with every effort, one should use water purified with cloth. The gift of such water is the highest and most excellent of all gifts, granting fearlessness and merit.

तस्मात्तु परिहर्तव्या हिंसा सर्वत्र सर्वदा मनसा कर्मणा वाचा सर्वदाहिंसकं नरम्

Therefore, harm must always be avoided everywhere—by thought, by deed, and by speech. A person should always be non-harming.

रक्षन्ति जन्तवः सर्वे हिंसकं बाधयन्ति च त्रैलोक्यमखिलं दत्त्वा यत्फलं वेदपारगे

All creatures protect the non-harming person and trouble the one who harms. The fruit gained by one who gives to a knower of the Veda is received throughout the three worlds.

तत्फलं कोटिगुणितं लभते ऽहिंसको नरः मनसा कर्मणा वाचा सर्वभूतहिते रताः

The non-harming person attains that fruit multiplied a crore-fold, being devoted to the welfare of all beings by thought, deed, and speech.

दयादर्शितपन्थानो रुद्रलोकं व्रजन्ति च स्वामिवत्परिरक्षन्ति बहूनि विविधानि च

Those who show the path of compassion reach the world of Rudra, and, like a master, they protect many and various beings.

ये पुत्रपौत्रवत्स्नेहाद् रुद्रलोकं व्रजन्ति ते तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन वस्त्रपूतेन वारिणा

Those who, out of affection for sons and grandsons, reach the world of Rudra—therefore, with every effort, water purified with cloth should be used.