Linga Purana

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For the purpose of creation, the fire is established, then withdrawn and placed in the heart; meditating properly on Lord Rudra, the ruler of the worlds.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

आपः पूताः सकृत्प्राश्य तूष्णीं हुत्वा ह्युपाविशन् प्राणायेति ततस्तस्य प्रथमा ह्याहुतिः स्मृता

Having sipped purified water once, they sit in silence after offering, for thus the first oblation is considered to be for the life-breath.

अपानाय द्वितीया च व्यानायेति तथा परा उदानाय चतुर्थी स्यात् समानायेति पञ्चमी

The second is for apāna, the third likewise for vyāna, the fourth is for udāna, and the fifth for samāna.

स्वाहाकारैः पृथग्घुत्वा शेषं भुञ्जीत कामतः अपः पुनः सकृत्प्राश्य आचम्य हृदयं स्पृशेत्

Having offered each with the svāhā formula separately, one may partake of the remainder as desired; again sipping water once, after rinsing the mouth, one should touch the heart.

प्राणानां ग्रन्थिरस्यात्मा रुद्रो ह्यात्मा विशान्तकः रुद्रो वै ह्यात्मनः प्राण एवमाप्याययेत्स्वयम्

The knot of the life-breaths is his very self; Rudra is indeed the self, the dissolver of all; Rudra is truly the life-breath of the self, thus he nourishes himself.

प्राणे निविष्टो वै रुद्रस् तस्मात्प्राणमयः स्वयम् प्राणाय चैव रुद्राय जुहोत्यमृतमुत्तमम्

Rudra is established in the life-breath, therefore he is himself composed of life-breath; to the life-breath and to Rudra, the finest nectar is offered.

शिवाविशेह मामीश स्वाहा ब्रह्मात्मने स्वयम् एवं पञ्चाहुतीश्चैव प्रभुः प्रीणातु शाश्वतः

O Lord, enter me auspiciously—svāhā—to the Self of Brahman; thus, may the eternal Lord be pleased with these five oblations.

पुरुषो ऽसि पुरे शेषे त्वं अङ्गुष्ठप्रमाणतः आश्रितश्चैव चाङ्गुष्ठम् ईशः परमकारणम्

You are the Person who remains within the city, of the measure of a thumb; you are established in the thumb, O Lord, the supreme cause.

सर्वस्य जगतश्चैव प्रभुः प्रीणातु शाश्वतः त्वं देवानामसि ज्येष्ठो रुद्रस्त्वं च पुरो वृषा

May the eternal Lord of all the worlds be pleased; you are the eldest among the gods, Rudra, and the foremost bull.

मृदुस्त्वमन्नमस्मभ्यम् एतदस्तु हुतं तव इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं गुणप्राप्तिविशेषतः

May you be gentle, and may this food be for us; may this offering be yours—thus, everything has been declared, especially regarding the attainment of qualities.

योगाचारः स्वयं तेन ब्रह्मणा कथितः पुरा एवं पाशुपतं ज्ञानं ज्ञातव्यं च प्रयत्नतः

This discipline of yoga was formerly taught by Brahmā himself; thus, the knowledge of Paśupati should be diligently understood.

भस्मस्नायी भवेन् नित्यं भस्मलिप्तः सदा भवेत् यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि श्रावयेद्वा द्विजोत्तमान्

One should always bathe with ashes, always be smeared with ashes; whoever recites, hears, or causes the best of twice-born to hear this—

दैवे कर्मणि पित्र्ये वा स याति परमां गतिम्

—whether in divine or ancestral rites, he attains the highest state.

अत ऊर्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि शौचाचारस्य लक्षणम् यदनुष्ठाय शुद्धात्मा परेत्य गतिमाप्नुयात्

Now I shall declare the characteristics of purity of conduct, by practicing which, a pure-souled person attains the supreme goal after death.

ब्रह्मणा कथितं पूर्वं सर्वभूतहिताय वै संक्षेपात्सर्ववेदार्थं संचयं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्

It was formerly taught by Brahmā for the welfare of all beings—a concise collection of the essence of all the Vedas, for those who speak of Brahman.

उदयार्थं तु शौचानां मुनीनामुत्तमं पदम् यस्तत्राथाप्रमत्तः स्यात् स मुनिर्नावसीदति

For the attainment of purity, it is the highest state for sages; whoever is diligent there does not fall from the state of a sage.

मानावमानौ द्वावेतौ तावेवाहुर् विषामृते अवमानो ऽमृतं तत्र सन्मानो विषमुच्यते

Honor and dishonor—these two are called nectar and poison; dishonor is nectar there, and true honor is called poison.

गुरोरपि हिते युक्तः स तु संवत्सरं वसेत् नियमेष्वप्रमत्तस्तु यमेषु च सदा भवेत्

Engaged in the welfare even of the teacher, he should dwell for a year; always attentive to discipline, he should always be steadfast in self-restraint.

प्राप्यानुज्ञां ततश्चैव ज्ञानयोगमनुत्तमम् अविरोधेन धर्मस्य चरेत पृथिवीमिमाम्

Having obtained permission, he should then practice the supreme yoga of knowledge, and, without violating righteousness, should live upon this earth.

चक्षुःपूतं चरेन्मार्गं वस्त्रपूतं जलं पिबेत् सत्यपूतं वदेद्वाक्यं मनःपूतं समाचरेत्

Let one walk the path with purified sight, drink water filtered with cloth, speak words purified by truth, and act with a mind that is pure.

मत्स्यगृह्यस्य यत्पापं षण्मासाभ्यन्तरे भवेत् एकाहं तत्समं ज्ञेयम् अपूतं यज्जलं भवेत्

The sin incurred by eating fish within six months is equal to that incurred in a single day by drinking unfiltered water.