आनंदनिष्यंदविलोचनाश्रु प्रवाहसंस्पृष्टकपोलदेशः । दधार देवं गिरिशं हृदंबुजे गोक्षीरसुस्निग्धसुचारुगात्रम्
Tears of bliss flowed from his eyes, touching his cheeks; he beheld the Lord of mountains, beautiful and radiant as fresh cow's milk, within the lotus of his heart.
प्रतिबिंबमथो गात्रे रामस्य समदृश्यत । दृष्ट्वैव बिंबितं शंभुं चतुर्बाहुं त्रिलोचनम्
Then, a reflection appeared on Rāma's body; seeing the reflected image of Śaṃbhu, four-armed and three-eyed.
विस्मयं परमं याताः सर्वे मुनिहरीश्वराः । शंभोर्वक्षःस्थितं रामं दृष्ट्वा दीप्ताकृतिं शुभम्
All the sages and monkey-lords were filled with supreme wonder, seeing Rāma, shining and auspicious, abiding in Śaṃbhu's chest.
तूष्णीं बभूवुर्यामार्द्धमथ राममुदैक्षत । स्वप्रश्नमनुसंधाय प्राह सर्वं वदेति च
They remained silent for half a yāma, then gazed at Rāma; recalling their own question, they said, 'Tell us everything.'
शंभुरुवाच- अचले या सदा पूजा चले वापि यथेच्छया । लिंगसंपूजनं मुख्यमलाभे प्रतिमादिषु
Śaṃbhu said: Whether the worship is always fixed or performed as one wishes, the worship of the liṅga is primary; if that is not possible, then in images and the like.
अधिकारविशेषेण तत्रतत्रापि पूजनम् । विगुणं सगुणं वापि सफलं लिंगपूजनम्
According to one's capacity, worship is to be performed in each case; whether with attributes or without, the worship of the liṅga bears fruit.
प्रतिमादिकृतापूजा विगुणा सफला नहि । अचले वा चले वापि पूजा लिंगे प्रशस्यते
Worship performed with images and the like, even if lacking in qualities, does not bear fruit; whether fixed or movable, worship of the liṅga is praised.
चलस्य पूजनं वक्ष्ये स्थापनोद्वासने तथा । ते उभेन विजानाति कश्चिन्मुनिरपि क्वचित्
I will explain the worship of the movable, as well as the installation and removal; sometimes even a sage knows both.
स्थापयंति हृदब्जे वै गोपयंति यजंति च । उद्वासयंति देवेशं शंकरं योगिनः सदा
Yogins always install in the lotus of the heart, conceal, worship, and dismiss the Lord of gods, Śaṃkara.
क्रिया चातीव होतॄणां वह्नौ देवं त्रियंबकम् । पूजकानामशेषाणां शिवलिंगे महेश्वरम्
For the priests, the act is to offer the three-eyed god into the fire; for all worshippers, it is to worship Maheśvara in the liṅga.
लिंगस्य स्थापनं पूजा उद्वासनमथैव च । धारणं शंकरस्यैव लिंगमेव महेश्वरम्
The installation, worship, and removal of the liṅga, and the bearing of Śaṃkara's liṅga itself, is Maheśvara.
सज्जिकं परमोत्कृष्टं स्वर्णं चैव विनिर्मितम् । राजतैर्वा दलैः कार्यं राजतैर्वैणवैस्तु यत्
The best is one properly prepared, or one made of gold; or it may be made with silver leaves, or by those devoted to silver.
लतासूत्रैरथो वापि रचितं दारुणाथवा । वस्त्रेण वाथ रचितं मृदाविरचितं भवेत्
It may be fashioned with creeper threads, or else from wood, or made with cloth, or even shaped from clay.
तत्र संवेष्ट्य वस्त्रेण सुगंधेन समन्विते । धौतवस्त्रयुगे शुद्धे मृद्वासन समन्विते
There, wrapping it with fragrant cloth, with a pair of washed, pure cloths, and with a soft seat of clay.
शीतोष्णरहिते पादचतुष्टयसमन्विते । प्रावृतिच्छेदनोपेते क्रिमिकीटविवर्जिते
Free from cold and heat, furnished with four feet, equipped with coverings for the rainy season, and devoid of insects and worms.
धौतेन मृदुवस्त्रेण सर्वतो वेष्ट्य तं शिवम् । विन्यस्य सज्जिकामध्ये प्रावृत्य च पुनर्विभुम्
Wrap that auspicious object entirely with a washed, soft cloth, place it in the center of the altar, and cover it again, O Lord.
एषा हि सज्जिका राम देवस्याग्रेति कीर्तिता । तस्य च स्थापनं पाठो रहस्ये च महेशितुः
This altar, O Rama, is proclaimed to be before the deity; its installation and recitation are to be performed in secret for the great Lord.
अथवा भित्तिमूले स्याद्देववेद्यामथापि वा । सुरक्षिते तथा देशे रक्षकं च नियोजयेत्
Alternatively, it may be at the base of a wall, or in a place dedicated to the gods, or in a secure location; one should appoint a guardian there.
प्राणादेरविनाभावं कुर्वीत नियमैः सह । एतद्धि राजसं प्रोक्तं स्थापनं परमात्मनः
One should ensure it is inseparable from vital energies, along with observances; this installation of the Supreme Soul is declared to be royal.
सात्विकं स्वसमीपस्थं धारणं तामसं पुनः । धारणं गात्रसंस्पर्शमशेषदेहगोपनम्
The sattvic form is kept nearby; the tamasic form, again, is worn on the body, covering the entire body.
मस्तके धारणं मुख्यं ब्रह्मणा च तथा कृतम् । विन्यस्य मुकुटस्यांते धारणं शुभमुच्यते
The chief placement is on the head, as done by Brahma; placing it at the end of the crown is considered auspicious.
ललाटे धारणं शस्तं यथा लक्ष्म्या धृतं शुभम् । बाणेन च धृतं मूर्ध्नि दक्षिणोरसि वा पुनः
Placement on the forehead is praised, as Lakshmi holds it auspiciously; and as Bāṇa holds it on the head or again on the right chest.
कर्णे च हरकर्णेन मुनिना परमर्षिणा । विनिर्भिद्य तथा गात्रं लोहस्थानं प्रकल्प्य च
On the ear, as worn by Hari's ear, by the sage and supreme seer; piercing the body likewise, and establishing a place of metal.
धारयंति तथा लिंगं राक्षसाः केचिदुत्तमाः । अनिकेतन मर्त्यानामशक्तानां शिरोधृतिः
Thus, some distinguished rākṣasas wear the liṅga; for homeless mortals and the powerless, wearing it on the head.
अधमाधममाख्यातं नीवीबंधादिधारणम् । तेषु तूच्छिष्टसंप्राप्तौ मस्तके धारणं भवेत्
The lowest of the low is said to be wearing it tied at the waist and similar places; for them, upon receiving remnants, it should be worn on the head.
अधमाधमवृत्तीनां सदा वै लिंगधारणम् । पापिनामपि चाश्चर्यं यमलोके न विद्यते
For those of the lowest conduct, always wearing the liṅga; even for sinners, it is remarkable that in Yama's realm it is not found.
श्रीराम उवाच- चित्रगुप्तेन लिखिता ललाटे या लिपिर्दृढा । तया तु लिप्या नियतं नरकं कथमन्यथा
Śrī Rāma said: The script written by Citragupta, firm on the forehead—by that script, how can hell be avoided?
करोति पूजनं शंभोः पापं नाशयते कथम् । शंभुरुवाच- पापं नाशयते कृत्स्नमपि जन्मशतार्जितम्
How does worship of Śambhu destroy sin? Śambhu said: It destroys all sin, even that accumulated over hundreds of births.
भर्त्सनात्सर्वपापानां स्मरणाच्च महेशितुः । भस्मेति पदमाख्यातं तस्य धारणमुत्तमम्
By rebuke of all sins and remembrance of the great Lord, the word 'bhasma' is declared; its wearing is supreme.
यथाविधि ललाटे वै वह्निवीर्यप्रधारणात् । नाशयेल्लिखितां यामीं पटस्थामिव हव्यभुक्
As prescribed, placing it on the forehead with the power of fire, destroys the written Yama-script, as the fire consumes the cloth.