Linga Purana

गोप्रेक्षकम् अथागम्य दृष्ट्वा मामत्र मानवः न दुर्गतिमवाप्नोति कल्मषैश् च विमुच्यते

Having come to Goprekshaka and seen me here, a human does not meet with misfortune and is freed from sins.

कपिलाह्रदम् इत्येवं तथा वै ब्रह्मणा कृतम् गवां स्तन्यजतोयेन तीर्थं पुण्यतमं महत्

This is also called Kapila Lake, so named by Brahma, a most sacred and great pilgrimage site, made with the milk of cows.

अत्रापि स्वयमेवाहं वृषध्वज इति स्मृतः सान्निध्यं कृतवान् देवि सदाहं दृश्यते त्वया

Here too, I am known as Vrishadhvaja; I have established my presence, O goddess, and I am always seen by you.

भद्रतोयं च पश्येह ब्रह्मणा च कृतं ह्रदम् सर्वैर्देवैरहं देवि अस्मिन्देशे प्रसादितः

See here the auspicious waters and the lake made by Brahma; O goddess, in this land I have been propitiated by all the gods.

गच्छोपशमम् ईशेति उपशान्तः शिवस् तथा अत्राहं ब्रह्मणानीय स्थापितः परमेष्ठिना

Go to the place of peace, O Lord—thus, Shiva, having become tranquil, was established here by Brahma, the supreme creator.

ब्रह्मणा चापि संगृह्य विष्णुना स्थापितः पुनः ब्रह्मणापि ततो विष्णुः प्रोक्तः संविग्नचेतसा

Having been gathered by Brahma, it was again established by Vishnu; then Vishnu, his mind troubled, was addressed by Brahma.

मयानीतमिदं लिङ्गं कस्मात् स्थापितवान् असि तमुवाच पुनर् विष्णुर् ब्रह्माणं कुपिताननम्

Brahma said, 'Why have you installed this linga which I brought?' Vishnu, his face angry, replied to Brahma.

रुद्रे देवे ममात्यन्तं परा भक्तिर्महत्तरा मयैव स्थापितं लिङ्गं तव नाम्ना भविष्यति

My devotion to Rudra among the gods is supreme and exceedingly great; it is I who established the linga, and it will bear your name.

हिरण्यगर्भ इत्येवं ततो ऽत्राहं समास्थितः दृष्ट्वैनमपि देवेशं मम लोकं व्रजेन्नरः

Thus, as Hiraṇyagarbha, I am established here; whoever sees this Lord of gods will attain my world.

ततः पुनरपि ब्रह्मा मम लिङ्गमिदं शुभम् स्थापयामास विधिवद् भक्त्या परमया युतः

Then again, Brahma installed my auspicious linga here, according to the proper rites, endowed with supreme devotion.

स्वर्लीनेश्वर इत्येवम् अत्राहं स्वयमागतः प्राणान् इह नरस्त्यक्त्वा न पुनर्जायते क्वचित्

Thus, as Svarlīneśvara, I myself have come here; a man who abandons his life here is never born again anywhere.

अनन्या सा गतिस्तस्य योगिनां चैव या स्मृता अस्मिन्नपि मया देशे दैत्यो दैवतकण्टकः

That is the unique path for him, and for yogis it is remembered as such; even in this place, I destroyed the demon who was a thorn to the gods.

व्याघ्ररूपं समास्थाय निहतो दर्पितो बली व्याघ्रेश्वर इति ख्यातो नित्यमत्राहमास्थितः

Assuming the form of a tiger, the proud and mighty demon was slain; I am always established here, known as Vyāghreśvara.

न पुनर्दुर्गतिं याति दृष्ट्वैनं व्याघ्रमीश्वरम् उत्पलो विदलश्चैव यौ दैत्यौ ब्रह्मणा पुरा

One who sees this tiger-form Lord does not again fall into misfortune; Utpala and Vidala, those two demons, were formerly slain by Brahma.

स्त्रीवध्यौ दर्पितौ दृष्ट्वा त्वयैव निहतौ रणे सावज्ञं कन्दुकेनात्र तस्येदं देहमास्थितम्

Those two arrogant ones, killers of women, were slain by you in battle; with contempt, by a ball, this body was assumed here.

आदावत्राहमागम्य प्रस्थितो गणपैः सह ज्येष्ठस्थानमिदं तस्माद् एतन्मे पुण्यदर्शनम्

At first, I came here together with the gaṇas and departed; this is the foremost place, therefore it is my sacred vision.

देवैः समन्ताद् एतानि लिङ्गानि स्थापितान्यतः दृष्ट्वापि नियतो मर्त्यो देहभेदे गणो भवेत्

The gods established these lingas all around; even by seeing them, a mortal, steadfast, becomes a gaṇa at the separation from the body.

पित्रा ते शैलराजेन पुरा हिमवता स्वयम् मम प्रियहितं स्थानं ज्ञात्वा लिङ्गं प्रतिष्ठितम्

Formerly, your father, the king of mountains, Himavat himself, knowing my beloved and beneficial place, established the linga.

शैलेश्वरमिति ख्यातं दृश्यतामिह चादरात् दृष्ट्वैतन्मनुजो देवि न दुर्गतिमतो व्रजेत्

It is known as Śaileśvara; let it be seen here with reverence; seeing this, O Devi, a man does not go to misfortune.

नद्येषा वरुणा देवि पुण्या पापप्रमोचनी क्षेत्रमेतद् अलंकृत्य जाह्नव्या सह संगता

This river, O Devi, is Varuṇā, sacred and remover of sin; having adorned this field, she has joined with Jāhnavī.

स्थापितं ब्रह्मणा चापि संगमे लिङ्गमुत्तमम् संगमेश्वरम् इत्येवं ख्यातं जगति दृश्यताम्

The excellent linga was established by Brahma at the confluence; it is known in the world as Saṃgameśvara, let it be seen.

संगमे देवनद्या हि यः स्नात्वा मनुजः शुचिः अर्चयेत् संगमेश्वरं तस्य जन्मभयं कुतः

A pure man who bathes at the confluence of the divine rivers and worships Saṃgameśvara—how can he fear rebirth?

इदं मन्ये महाक्षेत्रं निवासो योगिनां परम् क्षेत्रमध्ये च यत्राहं स्वयं भूत्वाग्रमास्थितः

I consider this a great field, the supreme abode of yogis; and in the midst of the field, I myself have taken the foremost place.

मध्यमेश्वरमित्येवं ख्यातः सर्वसुरासुरैः सिद्धानां स्थानमेतद्धि मदीयव्रतधारिणाम्

This is known as Madhyameśvara by all the gods and demons; it is truly the abode of the perfected ones, and of those who uphold my vows.

योगिनां मोक्षलिप्सूनां ज्ञानयोगरतात्मनाम् दृष्ट्वैनं मध्यमेशानं जन्म प्रति न शोचति

Those yogis who desire liberation, whose minds delight in the yoga of knowledge—upon seeing this Madhyameśāna, do not grieve for birth.

स्थापितं लिङ्गमेतत्तु शुक्रेण भृगुसूनुना नाम्ना शुक्रेश्वरं नाम सर्वसिद्धामरार्चितम्

This liṅga was established by Śukra, the son of Bhṛgu; it is called Śukreśvara by name, and is worshipped by all the perfected beings and immortals.

दृष्ट्वैनं नियतः सद्यो मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः मृतश् च न पुनर्जन्तुः संसारी तु भवेन्नरः

Upon seeing this, one who is disciplined is instantly freed from all sins; and after death, a person does not become bound in saṃsāra again.

पुरा जम्बूकरूपेण असुरो देवकण्टकः ब्रह्मणो हि वरं लब्ध्वा गोमायुर्बन्धशङ्कितः

Long ago, the demon Devakaṇṭaka took the form of a jackal; having obtained a boon from Brahmā, Gomāyu, fearing bondage—

निहतो हिमवत्पुत्रि जम्बूकेशस्ततो ह्यहम् अद्यापि जगति ख्यातं सुरासुरनमस्कृतम्

—was slain by me, the daughter of Himavat, in the form of Jambūkeśa; thus, even today, I am renowned in the world, worshipped by gods and demons.