यत्रपार्थिवमाहेशलिंगस्यमहिमाधुना सर्वोत्कृष्टश्चकथितोव्यासतोब्रूहितंपुनः
Now, tell again the supreme greatness of the earthly liṅga of Mahesha, which was previously described by Vyasa.
शृणुध्वमृषयः सर्वे सद्भक्त्या हरतो खिलाः शिवपार्थिवलिंगस्यमहिमाप्रोच्यतेमया
O sages, listen all with true devotion as I now relate the greatness of the earthly liṅga of Shiva.
उक्तेष्वेतेषु लिंगेषु पार्थिवं लिंगमुत्तमम् तस्यपूजनतोविप्राबहवः सिद्धिमागताः
Among all these liṅgas, the earthly liṅga is the highest; by worshipping it, many brahmins have attained perfection.
हरिर्ब्रह्मा च ऋषयः सप्रजापतयस्तथा संपूज्य पार्थिवंलिंगंप्रापुःसर्वेप्सितंद्विजाः
Hari, Brahma, the sages, and the Prajapatis, having worshipped the earthly liṅga, all attained their desired goals, O twice-born.
देवासुरमनुष्याश्चगंधर्वोरगराक्षसाः अन्येपिबहवस्तंसंपूज्यसिद्धिंगताःपरम्
Gods, asuras, humans, gandharvas, serpents, and rākṣasas, and many others, having worshipped that, attained the highest perfection.
कृतेरत्नमयंलिंगंत्रेतायांहेमसंभवम् द्वापरेपारदंश्रेष्ठंपार्थिवंतुकलौयुगे
In the Kṛta age, the liṅga was made of gems; in the Tretā, it was of gold; in the Dvāpara, the best was of mercury; but in the Kali age, it is earthly.
अष्टमूर्तिषुसर्वासुमूर्तिर्वैपार्थिवीवराः अनन्यपूजिताविप्रास्तपस्तस्मान्महत्फलम्
Among all the eight forms, the earthly form is supreme; O brahmins, worshipped with undivided devotion, it yields great fruit through austerity.
यथासर्वेषुदेवेषुज्येष्ठःश्रेष्ठोमहेश्वरः एवंसर्वेषु लिंगेषुपार्थिवंश्रेष्टमुच्यते
Just as among all the gods, Maheshvara is the eldest and greatest, so among all liṅgas, the earthly one is said to be the best.
यथानदीषुसर्वासुज्येष्ठाश्रेष्ठासुरापगा तथासर्वेषुलिंगेषुपार्थिवंश्रेष्ठमुच्यते
Just as among all rivers, the Ganges is considered the greatest and most excellent, so among all liṅgas, the earthly (pārthiva) liṅga is said to be supreme.
यथासर्वेषुमंत्रेषुप्रणवो हि महान्स्मृतः तथेदंपार्थिवंश्रेष्ठमाराध्यंपूज्यमेवहि
Just as among all mantras, praṇava (Om) is remembered as the greatest, so this earthly liṅga is indeed the highest, most worthy of worship and veneration.
यथासर्वेषुवर्णेषुब्राह्मणःश्रेष्ठ उच्यते तथासर्वेषुलिंगेषुपार्थिवं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते
Just as among all castes, the brāhmaṇa is regarded as the best, so among all liṅgas, the earthly one is said to be supreme.
यथापुरीषुसर्वासुकाशीश्रेष्ठतमास्मृता तथासर्वेषुलिंगेषुपार्थिवंश्रेष्ठमुच्यते
Just as among all cities, Kāśī is remembered as the most excellent, so among all liṅgas, the earthly one is said to be supreme.
यथाव्रतेषुसर्वेषुशिवरात्रिव्रतंपरम् तथासर्वेषुलिंगेषुपार्थिवंश्रेष्थमुच्यते
Just as among all vows, the Śivarātri vow is considered the highest, so among all liṅgas, the earthly one is said to be supreme.
यथादेवीषुसर्वासुशैवीशक्तिः परास्मृता तथा सर्वेषु लिंगेषु पार्थिवं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते
Just as among all goddesses, the Śaiva power (Śakti) is remembered as the highest, so among all liṅgas, the earthly one is said to be supreme.
प्रकृत्यपार्थिवंलिंगंयोन्यदेवंप्रपूजयेत् वृथा भवति सा पूजा स्नानदानादिकंवृथा
If, by nature, one worships a liṅga that is not earthly, that worship becomes fruitless, as do bathing, giving, and other such acts.
पार्थिवाराधनंपुण्यंधन्यमायुर्विवर्धनम् तुष्टिदंपुष्टिदंश्रीदंकार्यंसाधकसत्तमैः
The worship of the earthly liṅga brings merit, prosperity, and increases lifespan; it grants satisfaction, nourishment, and wealth, and should be performed by the best of practitioners.
यथालब्धोपचारैश्चभक्त्या श्रद्धासमन्वितः पूजयेत्पार्थिवं लिंगं सर्वकामार्थसिद्धिदम्
With whatever offerings are available, and endowed with devotion and faith, one should worship the earthly liṅga, which grants the fulfillment of all desires and aims.
यःकृत्वापार्थिवंलिंगेपूजयेच्छुभवेदिकम् इहैवधनवाञ्छ्रीमानंतेरुद्रोभिजायते
Whoever, having made an earthly liṅga, worships it on an auspicious altar, becomes wealthy and prosperous here itself, and is born as a Rudra.
त्रिसंध्यंयोर्चयंल्लिंगंकृत्वाबिल्वेनपार्थिवम् दशैकादशकंयावत्तस्यपुण्यफलंशृणु
One who worships the liṅga made of earth with bilva leaves at the three junctions of the day—listen to the merit gained by doing this ten or eleven times.
अनेनैव स्वदेहेन रुद्रलोकेमहीयते पापहं सर्वमर्त्यानां दर्शनात्स्पर्शनादपि
By this very body, one attains greatness in the world of Rudra; it destroys all the sins of mortals, even by seeing or touching it.
जीवन्मुक्तः सवैज्ञानीशिव एव न संशयः तस्यदर्शनमात्रेणभुक्तिर्मुक्तिश्च जायते
He is liberated while living, and is truly wise and Śiva himself—there is no doubt; by merely seeing him, both enjoyment and liberation arise.
शिवं यः पूजयेन्नित्यं कृत्वालिंगं तु पार्थिवम् यावज्जीवनपर्यंतं स याति शिवमन्दिरम्
Whoever worships Śiva daily, having made an earthly liṅga, until the end of his life, goes to the abode of Śiva.
मृडेनाप्रमितान्वर्षाञ्छिवलोकेहि तिष्ठति सकामः पुनरागत्य राजेन्द्रोभारतेभवेत्
With clay, he dwells for countless years in the world of Śiva, enjoying his desires, and returning again, he becomes a king in Bhārata.
निष्कामः पूजयेन्नित्यं पार्थिवंलिंगमुत्तमम् शिवलोके सदा तिष्ठेत्ततः सायुज्यमाप्नुयात्
If one worships the supreme earthly liṅga daily, without desire, he always dwells in the world of Śiva and then attains union with him.
पार्थिवं शिवलिंगं च विप्रो यदि न पूजयेत् सयातिनरकंघोरंशूलप्रोतं सुदारुणम्
If a brāhmaṇa does not worship the earthly Śiva liṅga, he goes to a terrible hell, pierced by spears, exceedingly dreadful.
यथाकथंचिद्विधिनारम्यं लिंगं प्रकारयेत् पञ्चसूत्रविधानां च पार्थिवेन विचारयेत्
In whatever way, according to the rules, one should fashion a beautiful liṅga, and with the five procedures, consider it with earth.
अखण्डंतद्धिकर्तव्यंनविखण्डंप्रकारयेत् द्विखण्डंतुप्रकुर्वाणोनैवपूजाफलंलभेत्
That which is whole should be made and not divided; one should display it undivided. But if one makes it in two parts, he will not obtain the fruit of worship.
रत्नजं हेमजं लिंगं पारदं स्फाटिकं तथा पार्थिवं पुष्परागोत्थमखंडं तु प्रकारयेत्
A liṅga made of gems, gold, mercury, crystal, or earth, or arising from flowers and gems, should be fashioned whole.
अखंडं तु चरं लिंगंद्विखंडमचरं स्मृतम् खंडाखंडविचारोयं सचराचरयोः स्मृतः
The moving liṅga is considered whole; the unmoving is regarded as two-parted. This inquiry into whole and divided is remembered regarding both moving and unmoving.
वेदिकातुमहाविद्यालिंगंदेवो महेश्वरः अतो हि स्थावरेलिंगे स्मृताश्रेष्ठादिखंडिता
The great god Maheśvara is the liṅga of the altar and supreme knowledge. Therefore, among unmoving liṅgas, the divided ones are considered the best.