Linga Purana

य इदं परमाख्यानं पुण्यं वेदैः समन्वितम् पठित्वा शृणुते चैव सर्वदुःखविनाशनम्

Whoever reads or listens to this supreme, sacred narrative, accompanied by the Vedas, will have all suffering destroyed.

धन्यं यशस्यम् आयुष्यम् आरोग्यं पुष्टिवर्धनम् सर्वविघ्नप्रशमनं सर्वव्याधिविनाशनम्

It brings fortune, fame, long life, health, and increases strength; it removes all obstacles and destroys every disease.

अपमृत्युप्रशमनं महाशान्तिकरं शुभम् अरिचक्रप्रशमनं सर्वाधिप्रविनाशनम्

It dispels premature death, brings great peace and auspiciousness, removes the circle of enemies, and destroys all rulers.

ततो दुःस्वप्नशमनं सर्वभूतनिवारणम् विषग्रहक्षयकरं पुत्रपौत्रादिवर्धनम्

It removes evil dreams, wards off all beings, destroys poisons and planets, and increases sons, grandsons, and so forth.

योगसिद्धिप्रदं सम्यक् शिवज्ञानप्रकाशकम् शेषलोकस्य सोपानं वाञ्छितार्थैकसाधनम्

It grants perfect yogic powers, reveals the knowledge of Shiva, is the stairway to the highest world, and the sole means to attain desired goals.

विष्णुमायानिरसनं देवतापरमार्थदम् वाञ्छासिद्धिप्रदं चैव ऋद्धिप्रज्ञादिसाधनम्

It dispels the illusion of Vishnu, grants the ultimate truth of the deities, bestows fulfillment of desires, and is the means for prosperity, wisdom, and other attainments.

इदं तु शरभाकारं परं रूपं पिनाकिनः प्रकाशितव्यं भक्तेषु चिरेषूद्यमितेषु च

This supreme form of the wielder of the Pinaka, in the shape of Sharabha, should be revealed to devotees who are steadfast and diligent.

तैरेव पठितव्यं च श्रोतव्यं च शिवात्मभिः शिवोत्सवेषु सर्वेषु चतुर्दश्यष्टमीषु च

It should be recited and heard by those whose essence is Shiva, during all festivals of Shiva, and on the fourteenth and eighth days.

पठेत्प्रतिष्ठाकालेषु शिवसन्निधिकारणम् चोरव्याघ्राहिसिंहान्तकृतो राजभयेषु च

One should recite it at the time of consecration, for the purpose of Shiva's presence, and also in times of fear from thieves, tigers, serpents, lions, and kings.

अत्रान्योत्पातभूकम्पदवाग्निपांसुवृष्टिषु उल्कापाते महावाते विना वृष्ट्यातिवृष्टिषु

Here, in other calamities—earthquakes, forest fires, showers of sand, meteor falls, great winds, droughts, and excessive rains—

अतस्तत्र पठेद्विद्वाञ् छिवभक्तो दृढव्रतः यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि स्तवं सर्वमनुत्तमम्

Therefore, in those situations, a learned devotee of Shiva, firm in vow, who recites or listens to this supreme hymn in its entirety—

स रुद्रत्वं समासाद्य रुद्रस्यानुचरो भवेत्

He attains the state of Rudra and becomes an attendant of Rudra.

जलन्धरं जटामौलिः पुरा जम्भारिविक्रमम् कथं जघान भगवान् भगनेत्रहरो हरः

How did the matted-haired Lord, destroyer of Bhaga's eye, once slay Jalandhara, who was mighty like Jambha?

वक्तुमर्हसि चास्माकं रोमहर्षण सुव्रत जलन्धर इति ख्यातो जलमण्डलसंभवः

You ought to tell us, O Romaharshana, steadfast in vows, about Jalandhara, famed as born from the circle of water.

आसीदन्तकसंकाशस् तपसा लब्धविक्रमः तेन देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सयक्षोरगराक्षसाः

He was like Death in appearance, having gained strength through austerity; by him, the gods, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Nagas, and Rakshasas—

निर्जिताः समरे सर्वे ब्रह्मा च भगवानजः जित्वैव देवसंघातं ब्रह्माणं वै जलन्धरः

All were defeated in battle, including Brahma, the unborn Lord. Having conquered the host of gods, Jalandhara subdued Brahma.

जगाम देवदेवेशं विष्णुं विश्वहरं गुरुम् तयोः समभवद्युद्धं दिवारात्रम् अविश्रमम्

He went to Vishnu, Lord of gods, destroyer of the universe, and teacher; between them a battle arose, unceasing day and night.

जलन्धरेशयोस्तेन निर्जितो मधुसूदनः जलन्धरो ऽपि तं जित्वा देवदेवं जनार्दनम्

In that battle between Jalandhara and the lord, Madhusudana was defeated; Jalandhara, having conquered him, also overcame Janardana, the god of gods.

प्रोवाचेदं दितेः पुत्रान् न्यायधीर्जेतुमीश्वरम् सर्वे जिता मया युद्धे शङ्करो ह्यजितो रणे

He spoke thus to the sons of Diti, wise in justice, to conquer the Lord: 'All have been defeated by me in battle; Shankara alone is unconquered in war.'

तं जित्वा सर्वमीशानं गणपैर् नन्दिना क्षणात् अहमेव भवत्वं च ब्रह्मत्वं वैष्णवं तथा

Having conquered all, including Ishana, with his attendants and Nandi in an instant, I alone shall become you, Brahma, and Vishnu as well.

वासवत्वं च युष्माकं दास्ये दानवपुङ्गवाः जलन्धरवचः श्रुत्वा सर्वे ते दानवाधमाः

And I shall grant you the status of Indra, O foremost among Danavas. Hearing Jalandhara's words, all those lowly Danavas—

जगर्जुरुच्चैः पापिष्ठा मृत्युदर्शनतत्पराः दैत्यैरेतैस्तथान्यैश् च रथनागतुरङ्गमैः

Roared loudly, wicked and intent on facing death; with those Daityas and others, with chariots, elephants, and horses—

संनद्धैः सह संनह्य शर्वं प्रति ययौ बली भवो ऽपि दृष्ट्वा दैत्येन्द्रं मेरुकूटमिव स्थितम्

Fully armed, together they prepared for battle and advanced against Sharva. Bhava, seeing the king of Daityas standing like the peak of Meru—

अवध्यत्वम् अपि श्रुत्वा तथान्यैर् भगनेत्रहा ब्रह्मणो वचनं रक्षन् रक्षको जगतां प्रभुः

Hearing even of his invulnerability, and likewise that he had destroyed Bhaga's and Netra's eyes, the Lord, protector of the worlds, upheld Brahma's command.

सांबः सनन्दी सगणः प्रोवाच प्रहसन्निव किं कृत्यमसुरेशान युद्धेनानेन सांप्रतम्

Samba, together with Sanandi and his attendants, spoke, almost laughing: 'What is the use, Lord of Asuras, of this battle now?'

मद्बाणैर्भिन्नसर्वाङ्गो मर्तुमभ्युद्यते मुदा जलन्धरो ऽपि तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा श्रोत्रविदारणम्

Jalandhara, his entire body pierced by my arrows and ready to die with joy, heard those words, which were like a tearing of the ears.

सुरेश्वरमुवाचेदं सुरेतरबलेश्वरः वाक्येनालं महाबाहो देवदेव वृषध्वज

The Lord of the non-gods' army then addressed the Lord of the gods: 'Enough of words, mighty-armed one, O God of gods, bearer of the bull-banner!'

चन्द्रांशुसन्निभैः शस्त्रैर् हर योद्धुमिहागतः निशम्यास्य वचः शूली पादाङ्गुष्ठेन लीलया महांभसि चकाराशु रथाङ्गं रौद्रमायुधम्

Having come here to fight, O Hara, with weapons shining like moonbeams, upon hearing his words, the wielder of the trident, with a mere touch of his big toe, playfully fashioned a terrible discus weapon in the great ocean.

कृत्वार्णवांभसि सितं भगवान् रथाङ्गं स्मृत्वा जगत्त्रयमनेन हताः सुराश् च दक्षान्धकान्तकपुरत्रययज्ञहर्ता लोकत्रयान्तककरः प्रहसंतदाह

Having made the white discus in the ocean, the Blessed Lord, recalling how with this he had destroyed the three worlds, the gods, Daksha, Andhaka, the triple city, and the sacrificial rites, and who is the ender of the three worlds, laughed and spoke.