Linga Purana

वायुः संभवते खात्तु वाताद्भवति वै जलम् जलात् सम्भवति प्राणः प्राणाच्छुक्रं विवर्धते

Wind arises from space, water is produced from wind, life arises from water, and from life, semen increases.

रक्तभागास् त्रयस्त्रिंशद् रेतोभागाश् चतुर्दश भागतो ऽर्धफलं कृत्वा ततो गर्भो निषिच्यते

There are thirty-three parts of blood and fourteen parts of semen; taking half of these together, the embryo is then formed.

ततस्तु गर्भसंयुक्तः पञ्चभिर् वायुभिर् वृतः पितुः शरीरात्प्रत्यङ्गं रूपमस्योपजायते

Then, united with the embryo and enveloped by the five winds, each limb of the body develops from the father's body.

ततो ऽस्य मातुराहारात् पीतलीढप्रवेशनात् नाभिदेशेन वै प्राणास् ते ह्य् आधारा हि देहिनाम्

Then, from the mother's food, through the intake of digested nourishment, the vital airs enter by way of the navel, for they are the supports of embodied beings.

नवमासात् परिक्लिष्टः संवेष्टितशिरोधरः वेष्टितः सर्वगात्रैश् च अपर्याप्तप्रवेशनः

After nine months, afflicted and with head and neck bent, with all limbs compressed, the being is unable to move freely.

नवमासोषितश्चापि योनिच्छिद्रादवाङ्मुखः ततः स्वकर्मभिः पापैर् निरयं सम्प्रपद्यते

Having dwelt for nine months, facing downward at the opening of the womb, by his own evil deeds he then attains hell.

असिपत्रवनं चैव शाल्मलिच्छेदनं तथा ताडनं भक्षणं चैव पूयशोणितभक्षणम्

He experiences the forest of sword-leaves, the cutting of the Śālmalī tree, beatings, and the eating of pus and blood.

यथा ह्यापस्तु संछिन्नाः संश्लेष्मम् उपयान्ति वै तथा छिन्नाश् च भिन्नाश्च यातनास्थानम् आगताः

Just as waters, when separated, again come together, so too those who are cut and broken reach the place of torment.

एवं जीवास्तु तैः पापैस् तप्यमानाः स्वयंकृतैः प्राप्नुयुः कर्मभिः शेषैर् दुःखं वा यदि वेतरत्

Thus, souls tormented by those self-made sins, by their remaining deeds, experience suffering or, if otherwise, something different.

एकेनैव तु गन्तव्यं सर्वमुत्सृज्य वै जनम् एकेनैव तु भोक्तव्यं तस्मात्सुकृतमाचरेत्

One must go alone, leaving behind all people; one must enjoy alone, therefore one should perform good deeds.

न ह्येनं प्रस्थितं कश्चिद् गच्छन्तम् अनुगच्छति यदनेन कृतं कर्म तदेनमनुगच्छति

For no one accompanies him who departs on his journey; only the karma he has performed follows him.

ते नित्यं यमविषयेषु सम्प्रवृत्ताः क्रोशन्तः सततमनिष्टसंप्रयोगैः शुष्यन्ते परिगतवेदनाः शरीरा बह्वीभिः सुभृशमनन्तयातनाभिः

They, constantly engaged in the realms of Yama, cry out incessantly, always afflicted by unwelcome associations; their bodies, surrounded by pain, wither under many severe and endless torments.

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा यदभीक्ष्णं निषेवते तदभ्यासो हरत्येनं तस्मात्कल्याणमाचरेत्

Whatever a person repeatedly practices through action, thought, or speech, that habit carries them away; therefore, one should perform what is virtuous.

अनादिमान्प्रबन्धः स्यात् पूर्वकर्मणि देहिनः संसारं तामसं घोरं षड्विधं प्रतिपद्यते

The chain of existence for the embodied being is without beginning, arising from previous actions; it enters the dreadful, dark cycle of transmigration in six forms.

मानुष्यात्पशुभावश् च पशुभावान् मृगो भवेत् मृगत्वात्पक्षिभावश् च तस्माच्चैव सरीसृपः

From human birth one attains the state of an animal; from being an animal, one becomes a beast; from being a beast, one becomes a bird, and from there, a reptile.

सरीसृपत्वाद्गच्छेद्वै स्थावरत्वं न संशयः स्थावरत्वे पुनः प्राप्ते यावद् उन्मिलते जनः

From being a reptile, one certainly attains the state of a plant—there is no doubt; upon reaching the plant state, one remains until a new birth arises.

कुलालचक्रवद्भ्रान्तस् तत्रैव परिवर्तते इत्येवं हि मनुष्यादिः संसारः स्थावरान्तिकः

Like a potter’s wheel, revolving endlessly, so too does the cycle of existence—from human to plant—turn again and again.

विज्ञेयस्तामसो नाम तत्रैव परिवर्तते सात्त्विकश्चापि संसारो ब्रह्मादिः परिकीर्तितः

This cycle, called tamasic, is to be understood as revolving in that way; the sattvic cycle, beginning with Brahma, is also described.

पिशाचान्तः स विज्ञेयः स्वर्गस्थानेषु देहिनाम् ब्राह्मे तु केवलं सत्त्वं स्थावरे केवलं तमः

The cycle ending with spirits is to be known as such among embodied beings in heavenly realms; in the Brahmic state, there is only sattva, and in the plant state, only tamas.

चतुर्दशानां स्थानानां मध्ये विष्टम्भकं रजः मर्मसु छिद्यमानेषु वेदनार्तस्य देहिनः

Among the fourteen states, rajas acts as the support; when the vital points are struck, the embodied being, afflicted by pain, suffers.

ततस्तत्परमं ब्रह्म कथं विप्रः स्मरिष्यति संसारः पूर्वधर्मस्य भावनाभिः प्रणोदितः

Then, O sage, how will one remember the supreme Brahman? The cycle of existence is propelled by the impressions of previous actions.

मानुषं भजते नित्यं तस्माद्ध्यानं समाचरेत् चतुर्दशविधं ह्येतद् बुद्ध्वा संसारमण्डलम्

One always attains human birth; therefore, one should practice meditation, having understood this fourteenfold circle of transmigration.

नित्यं समारभेद्धर्मं संसारभयपीडितः ततस्तरति संसारं क्रमेण परिवर्तितः

Afflicted by the fear of transmigration, one should always undertake righteousness; then, gradually transformed, one crosses over the cycle of existence.

तस्माच्च सततं युक्तो ध्यानतत्परयुञ्जकः तथा समारभेद्योगं यथात्मानं स पश्यति

Therefore, one should always be devoted, intent on meditation, and practice yoga in such a way that one perceives the self.

एष आपः परं ज्योतिर् एष सेतुरनुत्तमः विवृत्या ह्येष संभेदाद् भूतानां चैव शाश्वतः

This is the supreme water, the highest light, the unsurpassed bridge; by its unfolding and union, it is the eternal essence of all beings.

तदेनं सेतुमात्मानम् अग्निं वै विश्वतोमुखम् हृदिस्थं सर्वभूतानाम् उपासीत महेश्वरम्

One should worship as the bridge, the self, the fire with faces in all directions, Maheshvara who dwells in the heart of all beings.

तथान्तः संस्थितं देवं स्वशक्त्या परिमण्डितम् अष्टधा चाष्टधा चैव तथा चाष्टविधेन च

Thus, one should contemplate the god who abides within, adorned with his own power, in eightfold and again in eightfold forms, and likewise in eight ways.

सृष्ट्यर्थं संस्थितं वह्निं संक्षिप्य च हृदि स्थितम् ध्यात्वा यथावद्देवेशं रुद्रं भुवननायकम्

For the purpose of creation, the fire is established, then withdrawn and placed in the heart; meditating properly on Lord Rudra, the ruler of the worlds.

हुत्वा पञ्चाहुतीः सम्यक् तच्चिन्तागतमानसः वैश्वानरं हृदिस्थं तु यथावदनुपूर्वशः

Having offered the five oblations properly, with the mind absorbed in that contemplation, one should meditate in order, as prescribed, on the Vaiśvānara fire established in the heart.