Linga Purana

अनिरुध्य विचेष्टेद्यः सो ऽप्येवं हि सुखी भवेत् क्वचिद्भूमिं परित्यज्य ह्य् आकाशे क्रीडते श्रिया

He who acts without restraint also becomes happy in this way; sometimes leaving the earth, he plays in the sky with splendor.

उद्गिरेच्च क्वचिद्वेदान् सूक्ष्मानर्थान् समासतः क्वचिच्छ्रुते तदर्थेन श्लोकबन्धं करोति सः

Sometimes he utters the Vedas, their subtle meanings in summary; sometimes, with that meaning, he composes verses.

क्वचिद्दण्डकबन्धं तु कुर्याद्बन्धं सहस्रशः मृगपक्षिसमूहस्य रुतज्ञानं च विन्दति

Sometimes he composes prose passages, thousands of compositions; he also attains knowledge of the cries of groups of animals and birds.

ब्रह्माद्यं स्थावरान्तं च हस्तामलकवद्भवेत् बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन विज्ञानानि सहस्रशः

From Brahma down to immobile beings, all become clear to him as an amalaki fruit in the hand; what need is there to say more, when there are thousands of such knowledges?

उत्पद्यन्ते मुनिश्रेष्ठा मुनेस्तस्य महात्मनः अभ्यासेनैव विज्ञानं विशुद्धं च स्थिरं भवेत्

O best of sages, in that great sage, pure and steady knowledge arises by practice alone.

तेजोरूपाणि सर्वाणि सर्वं पश्यति योगवित् देवबिम्बान्यनेकानि विमानानि सहस्रशः

The knower of yoga sees all forms of light, all things, countless divine images and thousands of celestial vehicles.

पश्यति ब्रह्मविष्ण्विन्द्रयमाग्निवरुणादिकान् ग्रहनक्षत्रताराश् च भुवनानि सहस्रशः

He sees Brahma, Vishnu, Indra, Yama, Agni, Varuna, and others, as well as planets, stars, and thousands of worlds.

पातालतलसंस्थाश् च समाधिस्थः स पश्यति आत्मविद्याप्रदीपेन स्वस्थेनाचलनेन तु

Established in meditation, he sees those dwelling in the lower regions; by the lamp of self-knowledge and unwavering steadiness, he perceives them.

प्रसादामृतपूर्णेन सत्त्वपात्रस्थितेन तु तमो निहत्य पुरुषः पश्यति ह्यात्मनीश्वरम्

With the vessel of being filled with the nectar of grace, having destroyed darkness, the person sees the Lord within the self.

तस्य प्रसादाद्धर्मश् च ऐश्वर्यं ज्ञानमेव च वैराग्यमपवर्गश् च नात्र कार्या विचारणा

By his grace, virtue, sovereignty, knowledge, detachment, and liberation arise; there is no need for further inquiry here.

न शक्यो विस्तरो वक्तुं वर्षाणामयुतैरपि योगे पाशुपते निष्ठा स्थातव्यं च मुनीश्वराः

Even in tens of thousands of years, the full extent cannot be described; O best of sages, one must remain steadfast in the Pāśupata yoga.

सतां जितात्मनां साक्षाद् द्विजातीनां द्विजोत्तमाः धर्मज्ञानां च साधूनाम् आचार्याणां शिवात्मनाम्

O best of twice-born, among the virtuous, self-controlled, learned in dharma, the good, the teachers, and those whose nature is Shiva—

दयावतां द्विजश्रेष्ठास् तथा चैव तपस्विनाम् संन्यासिनां विरक्तानां ज्ञानिनां वशगात्मनाम्

O best of twice-born, among the compassionate, the ascetics, the renunciants, the dispassionate, the wise, and those who have mastered themselves—

दानिनां चैव दान्तानां त्रयाणां सत्यवादिनाम् अलुब्धानां सयोगानां श्रुतिस्मृतिविदां द्विजाः

O twice-born, among those who are generous, self-controlled, truthful, free from greed, united with yoga, and learned in the Vedas and the sacred traditions—

श्रौतस्मार्ताविरुद्धानां प्रसीदति महेश्वरः सदिति ब्रह्मणः शब्दस् तदन्ते ये लभन्त्युत

Maheshvara is pleased with those whose actions are not opposed to the Vedic and traditional codes; thus, the word of Brahma is established, and at the end, those attain it.

सायुज्यं ब्रह्मणो याति तेन सन्तः प्रचक्षते दशात्मके ये विषये साधने चाष्टलक्षणे

One attains union with Brahma; therefore, the virtuous declare that those who possess the tenfold qualities and the eightfold means in their pursuits—

न क्रुध्यन्ति न हृष्यन्ति जितात्मानस्तु ते स्मृताः सामान्येषु च द्रव्येषु तथा वैशेषिकेषु च

They neither become angry nor delighted; those who have mastered themselves are remembered thus, both regarding common and special possessions.

ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशो यस्माद् युक्तास्तस्माद्द्विजातयः वर्णाश्रमेषु युक्तस्य स्वर्गादिसुखकारिणः

Because Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas are united, therefore they are called twice-born; for one established in the duties of caste and stage of life, they are the bringers of happiness such as heaven.

श्रौतस्मार्तस्य धर्मस्य ज्ञानाद्धर्मज्ञ उच्यते विद्यायाः साधनात्साधुब्रह्मचारी गुरोर्हितः

One who knows dharma through knowledge of Vedic and traditional law is called a knower of dharma; through attainment of learning, the virtuous student is devoted to the teacher.

क्रियाणां साधनाच्चैव गृहस्थः साधुरुच्यते साधनात्तपसो ऽरण्ये साधुर्वैखानसः स्मृतः

Through accomplishment of duties, the householder is called virtuous; through accomplishment of austerity in the forest, the hermit is remembered as virtuous.

यतमानो यतिः साधुः स्मृतो योगस्य साधनात् एवमाश्रमधर्माणां साधनात्साधवः स्मृताः

The ascetic striving for restraint is remembered as virtuous through accomplishment in yoga; thus, through accomplishment in the duties of the stages of life, the virtuous are remembered.

गृहस्थो ब्रह्मचारी च वानप्रस्थो यतिस् तथा धर्माधर्माविह प्रोक्तौ शब्दावेतौ क्रियात्मकौ

The householder, the student, the forest-dweller, and the ascetic—thus, both dharma and adharma are spoken of here; these two terms are based in action.

कुशलाकुशलं कर्म धर्माधर्माविति स्मृतौ धारणार्थे महान् ह्य् एष धर्मशब्दः प्रकीर्तितः

Skillful and unskillful action are remembered as dharma and adharma; for the purpose of sustaining, the great word 'dharma' is proclaimed.

अधारणे महत्त्वे च अधर्म इति चोच्यते अत्रेष्टप्रापको धर्म आचार्यैरुपदिश्यते

When there is lack of sustaining and greatness, it is called adharma; here, dharma is taught by teachers as the means to attain what is desired.

अधर्मश्चानिष्टफलो ह्य् आचार्यैरुपदिश्यते वृद्धाश्चालोलुपाश्चैव आत्मवन्तो ह्यदाम्भिकाः

Adharma, which yields undesirable results, is also taught by teachers; the elders are neither greedy nor fickle, possessing self-control and free from deceit.

सम्यग्विनीता ऋजवस् तानाचार्यान् प्रचक्षते स्वयमाचरते यस्माद् आचारे स्थापयत्यपि

Those teachers are called upright, well-disciplined, and honest; because they themselves practice, they establish others in conduct.

आचिनोति च शास्त्रार्थान् आचार्यस्तेन चोच्यते विज्ञेयं श्रवणाच्छ्रौतं स्मरणात्स्मार्तमुच्यते

And because he gathers the meanings of the scriptures, he is called a teacher; it should be known that what is heard is called 'śrauta', and what is remembered is called 'smārta'.

इज्या वेदात्मकं श्रौतं स्मार्तं वर्णाश्रमात्मकम् दृष्ट्वानुरूपमर्थं यः पृष्टो नैवापि गूहति

Sacrifice based on the Vedas is called śrauta; smārta is based on caste and stage of life; one who, seeing the appropriate meaning, when asked, does not conceal it—

यथादृष्टप्रवादस्तु सत्यं लैङ्गे ऽत्र पठ्यते ब्रह्मचर्यं तथा मौनं निराहारत्वमेव च

As is spoken according to what is seen, so truth is recited here in the Lingam; likewise, celibacy, silence, and fasting.