Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

तस्याध्ययनमात्रेण पुराणस्य द्विजोत्तमाः सर्वोत्तमस्य शैवस्य ते यास्यंति सुसद्गतिम्

O best of twice-born, by merely studying this most excellent Śaiva Purāṇa, one attains the highest and most auspicious state.

तावद्विजृंभते पापं ब्रह्महत्यापुरस्सरम् यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

Sin, led by the killing of a Brāhmaṇa, will flourish as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas!

तावत्कलिमहोत्पाताः संचरिष्यंति निर्भयाः यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

Great calamities of the Kali age will roam about fearlessly as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas!

तावत्सर्वाणि शास्त्राणि विवदंति परस्परम् यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

All the scriptures will dispute with each other as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas!

तावत्स्वरूपं दुर्बोधं शिवस्य महतामपि यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नो देष्यति जगत्यहो

Even the great will find Śiva's true nature difficult to comprehend as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas!

तावद्यमभटाः क्रूराः संचरिष्यंति निर्भयाः यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

Cruel messengers of Yama will roam about fearlessly as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas!

तावत्सर्वपुराणानि प्रगर्जंति महीतले यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

All the other Purāṇas will thunder forth on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas!

तावत्सर्वाणि तीर्थानि विवदंति महीतले यावछिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

All the sacred places will dispute among themselves on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed in the world—alas!

तावत्सर्वाणि मंत्राणि विवदंति महीतले यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

All the mantras will dispute among themselves on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed on earth.

तावत्सर्वाणि क्षेत्राणि विवदंति महीतले यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

All the holy fields will dispute among themselves on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed on earth.

तावत्सर्वाणि पीठानि विवदंति महीतले यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

All the sacred seats will dispute among themselves on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed on earth.

तावत्सर्वाणि दानानि विवदंति महीतले यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

All the acts of charity will dispute among themselves on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed on earth.

तावत्सर्वे च ते देवा विवदंति महीतले यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

All the gods themselves will dispute among themselves on earth as long as the Śiva Purāṇa is not proclaimed on earth.

तावत्सर्वे च सिद्धान्ता विवदंति महीतले यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

All doctrines continue to dispute upon the earth until the Shiva Purana is proclaimed here.

अस्य शैवपुराणस्य कीर्तनश्रवणाद्द्विजाः फलं वक्तुं न शक्नोमि कार्त्स्न्येन मुनिसत्तमाः

O twice-born, I am unable to fully describe the fruit gained from reciting and hearing this Shiva Purana, O best of sages.

तथापि तस्य माहात्म्यं वक्ष्ये किंचित्तु वोनघाः चित्तमाधाय शृणुत व्यासेनोक्तं पुरा मम

Nevertheless, I will declare a little of its greatness; fix your minds and listen to what Vyasa once spoke to me.

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि श्लोकं श्लोकार्धमेव च यः पठेद्भक्तिसंयुक्तस्स पापान्मुच्यते क्षणात्

Whoever recites this Shiva Purana, even a verse or half a verse, with devotion, is freed from sins in an instant.

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि यः प्रत्यहमतंद्रितः यथाशक्ति पठेद्भक्त्या स जीवन्मुक्त उच्यते

Whoever, without negligence, recites this Shiva Purana daily with devotion, to the best of their ability, is called liberated while living.

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि यो भक्त्यार्चयते सदा दिने दिने ऽश्वमेधस्य फलं प्राप्नोत्यसंशयम्

Whoever always worships this Shiva Purana with devotion, day by day, surely attains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.

एतच्छिवपुराणं यस्साधारणपदेच्छया अन्यतः शृणुयात्सो ऽपि मत्तो मुच्येत पातकात्

Even one who listens to this Shiva Purana from another, in an ordinary place, is freed from sin by me.

एतच्छिवपुराणं यो नमस्कुर्याददूरतः सर्वदेवार्चनफलं स प्राप्नोति न संशयः

Whoever bows to this Shiva Purana from afar attains the fruit of worshipping all the gods, without doubt.

एतच्छिवपुराणं वै लिखित्वा पुस्तकं स्वयम् यो दद्याच्छिवभक्तेभ्यस्तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु

Hear the merit gained by one who himself writes out this Shiva Purana as a book and gives it to devotees of Shiva.

अधीतेषु च शास्त्रेषु वेदेषु व्याकृतेषु च यत्फलं दुर्लभं लोके तत्फलं तस्य संभवेत्

The rare fruit in this world obtained from studying scriptures and the Vedas, and from their exposition, is attained by him.

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि चतुर्दश्यामुपोषितः शिवभक्तसभायां यो व्याकरोति स उत्तमः

He who, having fasted on the fourteenth day, explains this Shiva Purana in an assembly of Shiva devotees is the highest.

प्रत्यक्षरं तु गायत्रीपुरश्चर्याफलं लभेत् इह भुक्त्वाखिलान्कामानंते निर्वाणतां व्रजेत्

For each syllable, one attains the fruit of the Gayatri purashcharana; enjoying all desires here, one ultimately attains liberation.

उपोषितश्चतुर्दश्यां रात्रौ जागरणान्वितः यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि तस्य पुण्यं वदाम्यहम्

I declare the merit of one who, having fasted on the fourteenth day and kept vigil at night, recites or hears this Purana.

कुरुक्षेत्रादिनिखिलपुण्यतीर्थेष्वनेकशः आत्मतुल्यधनं सूर्यग्रहणे सर्वतोमुखे

In all the holy places like Kurukshetra, and at the time of a solar eclipse, giving wealth equal to oneself in all directions—

विप्रेभ्यो व्यासमुख्येभ्यो दत्त्वायत्फलमश्नुते तत्फलं संभवेत्तस्य सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः

By giving it to Brahmins, especially to Vyasa and others, one enjoys that fruit; that fruit surely accrues to him, truly, without doubt.

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि गायते योप्यहर्निशम् आज्ञां तस्य प्रतीक्षेरन्दवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः

Whoever sings this Shiva Purana day and night, the gods led by Indra await his command.