Linga Purana

जगाम भगवान् ब्रह्मा तथान्ये च सुरोत्तमाः अथोत्थाय महादेवः शारभं रूपमास्थितः

The blessed Brahmā went away, as did the other foremost gods; then Mahādeva arose, assuming the form of Śarabha.

ययौ प्रान्ते नृसिंहस्य गर्वितस्य मृगाशिनः अपहृत्य तदा प्राणान् शरभः सुरपूजितः

He went to the edge where the proud, beast-devouring Narasiṃha was; then Śarabha, honored by the gods, took his life.

सिंहात्ततो नरो भूत्वा जगाम च यथाक्रमम् एवं स्तुतस्तदा देवैर् जगाम स यथाक्रमम्

Then, becoming a man from a lion, he departed in due order; thus praised by the gods at that time, he went on in due order.

यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि संस्तवं शार्वमुत्तमम् रुद्रलोकमनुप्राप्य रुद्रेण सह मोदते

Whoever recites or hears this excellent hymn to Śarva, having attained the world of Rudra, rejoices there together with Rudra.

कथं देवो महादेवो विश्वसंहारकारकः शरभाख्यं महाघोरं विकृतं रूपमास्थितः

How did the god, the great lord, the cause of the destruction of the universe, assume the terrifying and deformed form called Śarabha?

किं किं धैर्यं कृतं तेन ब्रूहि सर्वम् अशेषतः एवमभ्यर्थितो देवैर् मतिं चक्रे कृपालयः

What courage did he display in that? Tell me everything in full. Thus requested by the gods, the compassionate one resolved in his mind.

यत्तेजस्तु नृसिंहाख्यं संहर्तुं परमेश्वरः तदर्थं स्मृतवान् रुद्रो वीरभद्रं महाबलम्

To destroy that energy known as Narasiṃha, the supreme lord Rudra remembered Vīrabhadra, of great might, for that purpose.

आत्मनो भैरवं रूपं महाप्रलयकारकम् आजगाम पुरा सद्यो गणानामग्रतो हसन्

He himself, taking on the Bhairava form, the cause of the great dissolution, once came forth at once, laughing, before the hosts.

साट्टहासैर् गणवरैर् उत्पतद्भिर् इतस्ततः नृसिंहरूपैरत्युग्रैः कोटिभिः परिवारितः

With the chief gaṇas, roaring with loud laughter, leaping here and there, surrounded by countless extremely fierce forms of Narasiṃha.

तावद्भिर् अभितो वीरैर् नृत्यद्भिश् च मुदान्वितैः क्रीडद्भिश् च महाधीरैर् ब्रह्माद्यैः कन्दुकैरिव

Surrounded on all sides by such heroic ones, dancing with joy, playing, and by the greatly steadfast ones like Brahmā and others, as if with balls.

अदृष्टपूर्वैरन्यैश् च वेष्टितो वीरवन्दितः कल्पान्तज्वलनज्वालो विलसल्लोचनत्रयः

Encircled by others never seen before, honored by heroes, his three eyes shining like the fire at the end of an age.

आत्तशस्त्रो जटाजूटे ज्वलद्बालेन्दुमण्डितः बालेन्दुद्वितयाकारतीक्ष्णदंष्ट्राङ्कुरद्वयः

Armed, with matted locks adorned with the blazing crescent moon, his two sharp fangs resembling the twin forms of the crescent moon.

आखण्डलधनुःखण्डसंनिभभ्रूलतायुतः महाप्रचण्डहुङ्कारबधिरीकृतदिङ्मुखः

With eyebrows like the fragments of Indra's bow, he deafened the quarters with his mighty, fierce roar.

नीलमेघाञ्जनाकारभीषणश्मश्रुरद्भुतः वादखण्डम् अखण्डाभ्यां भ्रामयंस्त्रिशिखं मुहुः

Terrifying, with a beard like a dark raincloud or collyrium, wondrous, he repeatedly whirled his trident with both unbroken hands.

वीरभद्रो ऽपि भगवान् वीरशक्तिविजृम्भितः स्वयं विज्ञापयामास किमत्र स्मृतिकारणम्

Vīrabhadra too, the blessed one, manifesting heroic power, himself asked, 'What is the reason for this remembrance?'

आज्ञापय जगत्स्वामिन् प्रसादः क्रियतां मयि अकाले भयमुत्पन्नं देवानामपि भैरव

'Command, O Lord of the world, let your favor be shown to me. Even the gods are struck with fear at this untimely terror, O Bhairava.'

ज्वलितः स नृसिंहाग्निः शमयैनं दुरासदम् सान्त्वयन् बोधयादौ तं तेन किं नोपशाम्यति

That Narasiṃha-fire blazes forth; pacify him, who is hard to approach. Appease and instruct him at first—why does he not become calm?

ततो मत्परमं भावं भैरवं संप्रदर्शय सूक्ष्मं सूक्ष्मेण संहृत्य स्थूलं स्थूलेन तेजसा

Then, reveal my supreme state, the subtle Bhairava, by withdrawing the gross with the gross radiance and the subtle with the subtle.

वक्त्रमानय कृत्तिं च वीरभद्र ममाज्ञया इत्यादिष्टो गणाध्यक्षः प्रशान्तवपुरास्थितः

Bring the face and the skin, O Virabhadra, by my command; thus instructed, the chief of the hosts stood with a tranquil form.

जगाम रंहसा तत्र यत्रास्ते नरकेसरी ततस्तं बोधयामास वीरभद्रो हरो हरिम्

He swiftly went there, where the lion among men resides; then Virabhadra awakened Hari, Hara awakened Hari.

उवाच वाक्यमीशानः पिता पुत्रमिवौरसम् जगत्सुखाय भगवन्न् अवतीर्णो ऽसि माधव

Īśāna spoke these words, as a father to his own son: For the happiness of the world, O blessed one, you have descended, O Mādhava.

स्थित्यर्थेन च युक्तो ऽसि परेण परमेष्ठिना जन्तुचक्रं भगवता रक्षितं मत्स्यरूपिणा

You are engaged in sustaining, by the Supreme Lord; the circle of beings has been protected by the Blessed One in the form of a fish.

पुच्छेनैव समाबध्य भ्रमन्नेकार्णवे पुरा बिभर्षि कूर्मरूपेण वाराहेणोद्धृता मही

Binding with the tail, you once moved in the single ocean; you bore the earth as a tortoise, and lifted it as a boar.

अनेन हरिरूपेण हिरण्यकशिपुर्हतः वामनेन बलिर्बद्धस् त्वया विक्रमता पुनः

With this form of Hari, Hiraṇyakaśipu was slain; with the dwarf, Bali was bound by your stride again.

त्वम् एव सर्वभूतानां प्रभावः प्रभुर् अव्ययः यदा यदा हि लोकस्य दुःखं किंचित् प्रजायते

You alone are the power and the imperishable lord of all beings; whenever any suffering arises in the world,

तदा तदावतीर्णस्त्वं करिष्यसि निरामयम् नाधिकस्त्वत्समो ऽप्यस्ति हरे शिवपरायण

Then, at those times, you descend and make it free from affliction; none is greater or equal to you, O Hari, devoted to Śiva.

त्वया धर्माश् च वेदाश् च शुभे मार्गे प्रतिष्ठिताः यदर्थम् अवतारो ऽयं निहतः सो ऽपि केशव

By you, dharma and the Vedas are established on the auspicious path; for this purpose is your descent, and that one was slain, O Keśava.

अत्यन्तघोरं भगवन् नरसिंह वपुस्तव उपसंहर विश्वात्मंस् त्वमेव मम संनिधौ

Your form as Narasiṃha is exceedingly fierce, O Lord; withdraw it, for you are the soul of the universe, and remain with me.

इत्युक्तो वीरभद्रेण नृसिंहः शान्तया गिरा ततो ऽधिकं महाघोरं कोपं प्रज्वालयद्धरिः

Thus addressed by Virabhadra, Narasiṃha, with gentle words, Hari ignited an even greater, terrible wrath.