Linga Purana

एकत्रिंशत्तमः कल्पः पीतवासा इति स्मृतः ब्रह्मा यत्र महाभागः पीतवासा बभूव ह

The thirty-first kalpa is known as Pītavāsā, in which the illustrious Brahma became Pītavāsā.

ध्यायतः पुत्रकामस्य ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः प्रादुर्भूतो महातेजाः कुमारः पीतवस्त्रधृक्

As Brahma, the supreme lord, was meditating with the desire for a son, a radiant youth appeared, wearing yellow garments.

पीतगन्धानुलिप्ताङ्गः पीतमाल्यांबरो युवा हेमयज्ञोपवीतश् च पीतोष्णीषो महाभुजः

His body was anointed with yellow fragrance, adorned with yellow garlands and clothes, youthful, with a golden sacred thread, a yellow turban, and mighty arms.

तं दृष्ट्वा ध्यानसंयुक्तो ब्रह्मा लोकमहेश्वरम् मनसा लोकधातारं प्रपेदे शरणं विभुम्

Seeing him, Brahma, absorbed in meditation, approached in his mind that Lord of the worlds, the creator, seeking refuge in the mighty one.

ततो ध्यानगतस्तत्र ब्रह्मा माहेश्वरीं वराम् गां विश्वरूपां ददृशे महेश्वरमुखाच्च्युताम्

Then, as Brahma was absorbed in meditation, he saw the excellent Māheśvarī, the universal form of the earth, emerging from the face of the Great Lord.

चतुष्पदां चतुर्वक्त्रां चतुर्हस्तां चतुःस्तनीम् चतुर्नेत्रां चतुःशृङ्गीं चतुर्दंष्ट्रां चतुर्मुखीम्

She had four feet, four faces, four arms, four breasts, four eyes, four horns, four fangs, and four mouths.

द्वात्रिंशद्गुणसंयुक्ताम् ईश्वरीं सर्वतोमुखीम् स तां दृष्ट्वा महातेजा महादेवीं महेश्वरीम्

Endowed with thirty-two qualities, the sovereign goddess, facing in all directions—seeing her, the radiant Great Goddess, the consort of the Great Lord—

पुनराह महादेवः सर्वदेवनमस्कृतः मतिः स्मृतिर्बुद्धिरिति गायमानः पुनः पुनः

Again, the Great God, worshipped by all the gods, repeatedly sang: 'Intellect, memory, wisdom.'

एह्येहीति महादेवि सातिष्ठत्प्राञ्जलिर्विभुम् विश्वमावृत्य योगेन जगत्सर्वं वशीकुरु

'Come, come, O Great Goddess!'—so saying, with joined palms, he stood before the Lord, and, encompassing the universe through yoga, he brought all the worlds under control.

अथ तामाह देवेशो रुद्राणी त्वं भविष्यसि ब्राह्मणानां हितार्थाय परमार्था भविष्यसि

Then the Lord of gods said to her: 'You shall become Rudrāṇī, for the welfare of the brahmins, you shall be the supreme purpose.'

तथैनां पुत्रकामस्य ध्यायतः परमेष्ठिनः प्रददौ देवदेवेशः चतुष्पादां जगद्गुरुः

Thus, to Brahma, who was meditating with the desire for a son, the Lord of gods, the teacher of the world, gave her, four-footed.

ततस्तां ध्यानयोगेन विदित्वा परमेश्वरीम् ब्रह्मा लोकगुरोः सो ऽथ प्रतिपेदे महेश्वरीम्

Then, knowing her through the yoga of meditation as the supreme goddess, Brahma, the teacher of the world, accepted the Great Goddess.

गायत्रीं तु ततो रौद्रीं ध्यात्वा ब्रह्मानुयन्त्रितः इत्येतां वैदिकीं विद्यां रौद्रीं गायत्रीमीरिताम्

Then, compelled by Brahma, he meditated on the Raudrī Gāyatrī; thus, this Vedic knowledge called the Raudrī Gāyatrī was revealed.

जपित्वा तु महादेवीं ब्रह्मा लोकनमस्कृताम् प्रपन्नस्तु महादेवं ध्यानयुक्तेन चेतसा

Having recited prayers to the great goddess, who is revered by the worlds, and having taken refuge in the Great God with a mind absorbed in meditation—

ततस्तस्य महादेवो दिव्ययोगं बहुश्रुतम् ऐश्वर्यं ज्ञानसंपत्तिं वैराग्यं च ददौ प्रभुः

Then, the Great God granted him divine yoga, vast knowledge, lordly power, attainment of wisdom, and detachment.

ततो ऽस्य पार्श्वतो दिव्याः प्रादुर्भूताः कुमारकाः पीतमाल्यांबरधराः पीतस्रगनुलेपनाः

After that, from his side, divine boys appeared, adorned with yellow garlands and garments, and anointed with yellow unguents.

पीताभोष्णीषशिरसः पीतास्याः पीतमूर्धजाः ततो वर्षसहस्रान्त उषित्वा विमलौजसः

With yellow turbans on their heads, yellow faces, and yellow hair, they, possessing pure brilliance, dwelt there for a thousand years.

योगात्मानस्तपोह्लादाः ब्राह्मणानां हितैषिणः धर्मयोगबलोपेता मुनीनां दीर्घसत्त्रिणाम्

Endowed with yoga, delighting in austerity, wishing for the welfare of the Brahmins, and possessed of the strength of dharma and yoga, they were sages performing long sacrificial rites.

उपदिश्य महायोगं प्रविष्टास्ते महेश्वरम् एवमेतेन विधिना ये प्रपन्ना महेश्वरम्

After instructing in the great yoga, they entered into the Great Lord; in this very manner, those who take refuge in the Great Lord—

अन्ये ऽपि नियतात्मानो ध्यानयुक्ता जितेन्द्रियाः ते सर्वे पापमुत्सृज्य विमला ब्रह्मवर्चसः

Others too, with controlled minds, absorbed in meditation, and having mastered their senses, all of them, abandoning sin, become pure and radiant with the brilliance of Brahman.

प्रविशन्ति महादेवं रुद्रं ते त्वपुनर्भवाः

They enter the Great God, Rudra, and do not return to rebirth.

ततस्तस्मिन्गते कल्पे पीतवर्णे स्वयंभुवः पुनरन्यः प्रवृत्तस्तु कल्पो नाम्नासितस्तु सः

Then, when that kalpa had passed, in the golden age, the self-born one again began another kalpa, called the Asita.

एकार्णवे तदा वृत्ते दिव्ये वर्षसहस्रके स्रष्टुकामः प्रजा ब्रह्मा चिन्तयामास दुःखितः

When a thousand divine years had passed in that single ocean, Brahma, desiring to create beings, pondered in distress.

तस्य चिन्तयमानस्य पुत्रकामस्य वै प्रभोः कृष्णः समभवद्वर्णो ध्यायतः परमेष्ठिनः

As he, the lord, was thinking, longing for sons, the color of the supreme creator, as he meditated, became black.

अथापश्यन्महातेजाः प्रादुर्भूतं कुमारकम् कृष्णवर्णं महावीर्यं दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा

Then, the one of great splendor saw a boy appear, black in color, of great might, shining with his own radiance.

कृष्णांबरधरोष्णीषं कृष्णयज्ञोपवीतिनम् कृष्णेन मौलिना युक्तं कृष्णस्रगनुलेपनम्

Clad in black garments and turban, wearing a black sacred thread, adorned with a black topknot, garland, and unguents—

स तं दृष्ट्वा महात्मानम् अघोरं घोरविक्रमम् ववन्दे देवदेवेशम् अद्भुतं कृष्णपिङ्गलम्

Seeing that great-souled one, terrible yet not terrifying, the lord of gods, wondrous and black-tawny, he bowed down.

प्राणायामपरः श्रीमान् हृदि कृत्वा महेश्वरम् मनसा ध्यानुयुक्तेन प्रपन्नस्तु तमीश्वरम्

Absorbed in breath-control, glorious, having placed the Great Lord in his heart, and with a mind engaged in meditation, he took refuge in that Lord.

अघोरं तु ततो ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मरूपं व्यचिन्तयत् तथा वै ध्यायमानस्य ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः

Then Brahma conceived of Aghora as having the form of Brahma; thus, as the supreme creator was meditating—