Linga Purana

सहस्रसूर्यप्रतिमं महान्तं सहस्रशः सर्वगुणैश् च भिन्नम् जगाम कैलासगिरिं महात्मा मेरुप्रभागे पुरमादिदेवः

Resembling a thousand suns, vast and adorned with countless virtues, the great-souled Lord of Kailāsa, the first god, entered the city at the slope of Meru.

ततो ऽथ नारिगजवाजिसंकुलं रथैर् अनेकैर् अमरारिसूदनः गणैर्गणेशैश् च गिरीन्द्रसंनिभं महापुरद्वारमजो हरिश् च

Then, filled with women, elephants, horses, and many chariots, the slayer of the enemies of the gods, with hosts and leaders of hosts, approached the great city gate, resembling a mountain lord, together with Aja and Hari.

अथ जांबूनदमयैर् भवनैर्मणिभूषितैः विमानैर्विविधाकारैः प्राकारैश् च समावृतम्

Then, with mansions made of gold and adorned with jewels, with aerial palaces of various forms, and surrounded by ramparts, the city was beheld.

दृष्ट्वा शंभोः पुरं बाह्यं देवैः सब्रह्मकैर्हरिः प्रहृष्टवदनो भूत्वा प्रविवेश ततः पुरम्

Seeing the outer city of Śambhu, Hari, together with the gods, Brahmā, and the others, became joyful in countenance and then entered that city.

हर्म्यप्रासादसम्बाधं महाट्टालसमन्वितम् द्वितीयं देवदेवस्य चतुर्द्वारं सुशोभनम्

The second city of the God of gods was crowded with mansions and palaces, adorned with lofty towers, and had four splendid gates.

वज्रवैडूर्यमाणिक्यमणिजालैः समावृतम् दोलाविक्षेपसंयुक्तं घण्टाचामरभूषितम्

It was covered with networks of diamonds, beryl, rubies, and other jewels, equipped with swinging seats, and adorned with bells and yak-tail fans.

मृदङ्गमुरजैर्जुष्टं वीणावेणुनिनादितम् नृत्यद्भिर् अप्सरःसंघैर् भूतसंघैश् च संवृतम् देवेन्द्रभवनाकारैर् भवनैर् दृष्टिमोहनैः

It was filled with the sounds of mṛdaṅgas and murajas, resounding with vīṇās and flutes, surrounded by groups of dancing apsarases and hosts of spirits, and with mansions resembling the palaces of Indra, enchanting to the eye.

प्रासादशृङ्गेष्वथ पौरनार्यः सहस्रशः पुष्पफलाक्षताद्यैः स्थिताः करैस्तस्य हरेः समन्तात् प्रचिक्षिपुर्मूर्ध्नि यथा भवस्य

Then, on the pinnacles of the palaces, thousands of city women stood with hands full of flowers, fruits, and rice, and showered them upon Hari's head, just as they do for Bhava.

दृष्ट्वा नार्यस्तदा विष्णुं मदाघूर्णितलोचनाः

At that time, the women, seeing Viṣṇu, had eyes rolling from intoxication.

विशालजघनाः सद्यो ननृतुर्मुमुदुर्जगुः काश्चिद्दृष्ट्वा हरिं नार्यः किंचित् प्रहसिताननाः

Some women, with broad hips, immediately danced, moved joyfully, and sang; seeing Hari, some women smiled slightly.

किंचिद् विस्रस्तवस्त्राश् च स्रस्तकाञ्चीगुणा जगुः चतुर्थं पञ्चमं चैव षष्ठं च सप्तमं तथा

Some, with garments a little loosened and girdles slipping down, sang in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and also the seventh modes.

अष्टमं नवमं चैव दशमं च पुरोत्तमम् अतीत्यासाद्य देवस्य पुरं शंभोः सुशोभनम्

Passing beyond the eighth, ninth, and the foremost tenth gate, they approached the splendid city of the god Śambhu.

सुवृत्तं सुतरां शुभ्रं कैलासशिखरे शुभे सूर्यमण्डलसंकाशैर् विमानैश् च विभूषितम्

It was perfectly round, exceedingly bright, situated on the auspicious peak of Kailāsa, and adorned with palaces shining like the orb of the sun.

स्फाटिकैर् मण्डपैः शुभ्रैर् जांबूनदमयैस् तथा नानारत्नमयैश्चैव दिग्विदिक्षु विभूषितम्

It was decorated in all directions with clear crystal pavilions, golden ones, and also with various kinds of jeweled structures.

गोपुरैर्गोपतेः शंभोर् नानाभूषणभूषितैः अनेकैः सर्वतोभद्रैः सर्वरत्नमयैस् तथा

With gateways of Śambhu, Lord of the guardians, adorned with various ornaments, many auspicious entrances on all sides, and all made of precious gems.

प्राकारैर्विविधाकारैर् अष्टाविंशतिभिर् वृतम् उपद्वारैर्महाद्वारैर् विदिक्षु विविधैर्दृढैः

It was surrounded by twenty-eight kinds of ramparts of various forms, with subsidiary and main gates, strong and diverse in all directions.

गुह्यालयैर्गुह्यगृहैर् गुहस्य भवनैः शुभैः ग्राम्यैर् अन्यैर् महाभागा मौक्तिकैर् दृष्टिमोहनैः

With secret chambers, hidden houses, the splendid dwellings of Guha, and other excellent, pearl-studded, enchanting abodes.

गणेशायतनैर् दिव्यैः पद्मरागमयैस् तथा चन्दनैर्विविधाकारैः पुष्पोद्यानैश् च शोभनैः

With divine shrines of Gaṇeśa made of red gems, sandalwood structures of various forms, and beautiful flower gardens.

तडागैर् दिर्घिकाभिश् च हेमसोपानपङ्क्तिभिः स्त्रीणां गतिजितैर् हंसैः सेविताभिः समन्ततः

With ponds and lakes lined with golden steps, frequented everywhere by swans surpassing women in grace.

मयूरैश्चैव कारण्डैः कोकिलैश्चक्रवाककैः शोभिताभिश् च वापीभिर् दिव्यामृतजलैस् तथा

With peacocks, waterfowl, cuckoos, and chakravāka birds, and with reservoirs shining with divine nectar-like waters.

संलापालापकुशलैः सर्वाभरणभूषितैः स्तनभारावनम्रैश् च मदाघूर्णितलोचनैः

With women skilled in conversation and speech, adorned with all ornaments, with slightly bent forms from the weight of their breasts, and eyes rolling from intoxication.

गेयनादरतैर्दिव्यै रुद्रकन्यासहस्रकैः नृत्यद्भिर् अप्सरःसंघैर् अमरैरपि दुर्लभैः

With thousands of divine maidens of Rudra, devoted to singing, and groups of Apsarases dancing—such company is difficult even for the gods to obtain.

प्रफुल्लांबुजवृन्दाद्यैस् तथा द्विजवरैरपि रुद्रस्त्रीगणसंकीर्णैर् जलक्रीडारतैस् तथा

There were also best of Brahmins, surrounded by blooming lotuses, and groups of Rudra’s women, delighting in water games.

रतोत्सवरतैश्चैव ललितैश् च पदे पदे ग्रामरागानुरक्तैश् च पद्मरागसमप्रभैः

There were those absorbed in festivals and celebrations, and others graceful at every step, attached to the pleasures of village life, shining like the ruby gem.

स्त्रीसंघैर् देवदेवस्य भवस्य परमात्मनः दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमापन्नास् तस्थुर्देवाः समन्ततः

Seeing the assemblies of women belonging to the Lord of gods, Bhava, the supreme soul, the gods stood all around, struck with wonder.

तत्रैव ददृशुर्देवा वृन्दं रुद्रगणस्य च गणेश्वराणां वीराणाम् अपि वृन्दं सहस्रशः

There, the gods beheld the multitude of Rudra’s hosts, and thousands of heroic leaders of the hosts.

सुवर्णकृतसोपानान् वज्रवैडूर्यभूषितान् स्फाटिकान् देवदेवस्य ददृशुस्ते विमानकान्

They saw the celestial palaces of the Lord of gods, with golden stairways adorned with diamonds, beryl, and crystal.

तेषां शृङ्गेषु हृष्टाश् च नार्यः कमललोचनाः विशालजघना यक्षा गन्धर्वाप्सरसस् तथा

On their pinnacles were joyous women with lotus-like eyes and broad hips—Yakshas, Gandharvas, and Apsarases as well.

किन्नर्यः किंनराश्चैव भुजङ्गाः सिद्धकन्यकाः नानावेषधराश्चान्या नानाभूषणभूषिताः

There were Kinnaris and Kinnaras, serpent-beings, and Siddha maidens, others wearing various garments and adorned with diverse ornaments.