Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

सर्वांगव्याधयः पश्चात्सर्वानंदश्च लीयते अभ्यासात्क्लेशमेतद्वै पश्चादाद्यंतमंगलम्

Afterwards, all bodily ailments and all bliss are dissolved; through practice, this hardship is endured, and later, auspiciousness arises from beginning to end.

मननं कीदृशं ब्रह्मञ्छ्रवणं चापि कीदृशम् कीर्तनं वा कथं तस्य कीर्तयैतद्यथायथम्

What kind of contemplation, O Brahman, and what kind of hearing? How is recitation to be performed? Tell this as it truly is.

पूजाजपेशगुणरूपविलासनाम्नां युक्तिप्रियेण मनसा परिशोधनं यत् तत्संततं मननमीश्वरदृष्टिलभ्यं सर्वेषु साधनवरेष्वपि मुख्यमुख्यम्

Purification by the mind, with fondness for reasoning, of the names describing the qualities, forms, and play of worship, recitation, and so on—this is continuous contemplation, attainable by the vision of the Lord, and among all excellent means, it is the chief.

गीतात्मना श्रुतिपदेन च भाषया वा शंभुप्रतापगुणरूपविलासनाम्नाम् वाचा स्फुटं तु रसवत्स्तवनं यदस्य तत्कीर्तनं भवति सा धनमत्र मध्यम्

By song, by the words of scripture, or by speech, the clear and flavorful praise of the names describing Shambhu’s glory, qualities, forms, and play—this is recitation, and here it is considered the intermediate means.

येनापि केन करणेन च शब्दपुंजं यत्र क्वचिच्छिवपरं श्रवणेंद्रियेण स्त्रीकेलिवद्दृढतरं प्रणिधीयते यत्तद्वै बुधाः श्रवणमत्र जगत्प्रसिद्धम्

By whatever instrument, wherever, the multitude of words concerning Shiva is attentively listened to with the hearing faculty, as firmly as a woman’s playful embrace—this, O wise ones, is hearing, renowned in the world.

सत्संगमेन भवति श्रवणं पुरस्तात्संकीर्तनं पशुपतेरथ तद्दृढं स्यात् सर्वोत्तमं भवति तन्मननं तदंते सर्वं हि संभवति शंकरदृष्टिपाते

Through association with the virtuous, hearing comes first; then recitation of the Lord of creatures, and when it becomes firm, contemplation is supreme. At the end, everything happens by Shankara’s glance.

अस्मिन्साधनमाहत्म्ये पुरा वृत्तं मुनीश्वराः युष्मदर्थं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वमवधानतः

Regarding the greatness of this practice, the sages of old have narrated an event; for your sake, I will tell it—listen with attention.

पुरा मम गुरुर्व्यासः पराशरमुनेः सुतः तपश्चचार संभ्रांतः सरस्वत्यास्तटे शुभे

Long ago, my teacher Vyasa, son of the sage Parashara, performed austerities with agitation on the auspicious bank of the Sarasvati.

गच्छन्यदृछया तत्र विमानेनार्करोचिषा सनत्कुमारो भगवान्ददर्श मम देशिकम्

As he was going there by chance, Sanatkumara, the blessed one, appeared before my teacher in a celestial vehicle shining like the sun.

ध्यानारूढः प्रबुद्धो ऽसौ ददर्श तमजात्मजम् प्रणिपत्याह संभ्रांतः परं कौतूहलं मुनिः

Absorbed in meditation and awakened, he saw the unborn one; bowing down, the sage, greatly curious, spoke.

दत्त्वार्घ्यमस्मै प्रददौ देवयोग्यं च विष्टिरम् प्रसन्नः प्राह तं प्रह्वं प्रभुर्गंभीरया गिरा

Having offered water for washing the hands and feet, he gave a seat fit for a deity; pleased, the lord spoke to him, who was bowed, with a deep voice.

सत्यं वस्तु मुने दध्याः साक्षात्करणगोचरः स शिवोथासहायोत्र तपश्चरसि किं कृते

O sage, meditate upon the true reality, which is accessible to direct realization; here, with Shiva as your companion, for what purpose do you practice austerity?

एवमुक्तः कुमारेण प्रोवाच स्वाशयं मुनिः धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाश्च वेदमार्गे कृतादराः

Thus addressed by Kumara, the sage spoke his intention: Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha, pursued with devotion on the path of the Veda.

बहुधा स्थापिता लोके मया त्वत्कृपया तथा एवं भुतस्य मेप्येवं गुरुभूतस्य सर्वतः

By your grace, I have established many things in the world; yet, though I am thus and have become a guru in every way, it is so.

मुक्तिसाधनकं ज्ञानं नोदेति परमाद्भुतम् तपश्चरामि मुक्त्यर्थं न जाने तत्र कारणम्

The knowledge that leads to liberation does not arise—this is truly astonishing. I perform austerities for the sake of liberation, but I do not know the reason for this.

इत्थं कुमारो भगवान् व्यासेन मुनिनार्थितः समर्थः प्राह विप्रेंद्रा निश्चयं मुक्तिकारणम्

Thus, when the venerable Kumāra was requested by the sage Vyāsa, he, being capable, spoke to the foremost of Brāhmins the certain cause of liberation.

श्रवणं कीर्तनं शंभोर्मननं च महत्तरम् त्रयं साधनमुक्तं च विद्यते वेदसंमतम्

Hearing, praising, and contemplating Śambhu are the three great means, declared as the practice and approved by the Vedas.

पुराहमथ संभ्रांतो ह्यन्यसाधनसंभ्रमः अचले मंदरे शैले तपश्चरणमाचरम्

Formerly, I was confused, agitated by the pursuit of other means; on the immovable Mandara mountain, I undertook the practice of austerity.

शिवाज्ञया ततः प्राप्तो भगवान्नन्दिकेश्वरः स मे दयालुर्भगवान्सर्वसाक्षी गणेश्वरः

Then, by Śiva’s command, the venerable Lord Nandikeśvara appeared—he, the compassionate Lord, the witness of all, the Lord of the Gaṇas.

उवाच मह्यं सस्नेहं मुक्तिसाधनमुत्तमम् श्रवणं कीर्तनं शंभोर्मननं वेदसंमतम्

He spoke to me with affection the supreme means of liberation: hearing, praising, and contemplating Śambhu, as approved by the Vedas.

त्रिकं च साधनं मुक्तौ शिवेन मम भाषितम् श्रवणादिं ब्रह्मन्कुरुष्वेति मुहुर्मुहुः

This threefold means for liberation was spoken to me by Śiva himself: ‘O Brāhman, repeatedly practice hearing and the rest.’

एवमुक्त्वा ततो व्यासं सानुगो विधिनंदनः जगाम स्वविमानेन पदं परमशोभनम्

Having thus spoken, the joyful Lord, accompanied by his followers, departed in his own splendid aerial chariot to the most excellent abode.

एवमुक्तं समासेन पूर्ववृत्तांतमुत्तमम् श्रवणादित्रयं सूत मुक्त्योपायस्त्वयेरितः

Thus, in summary, the excellent former account has been told; O Sūta, the threefold means beginning with hearing has been declared by you as the way to liberation.

श्रवणादित्रिके ऽशक्तः किं कृत्वा मुच्यते जनः अयत्नेनैव मुक्तिः स्यात्कर्मणा केन हेतुना

If one is unable to practice the triad beginning with hearing, by doing what does a person become liberated? By what action, without effort, does liberation arise?

श्रवणादित्रिके ऽशक्तो लिंगं बेरं च शांकरम् संस्थाप्य नित्यमभ्यर्च्य तरेत्संसारसागरम्

If one is unable to practice the triad beginning with hearing, one should establish a liṅga or image of Śaṅkara, worship it daily, and thus cross the ocean of worldly existence.

अपि द्रव्यं वहेदेव यथाबलमवंचयन् अर्पयेल्लिंगबेरार्थमर्चयेदपि संततम्

Even if one can only bring materials according to one’s ability, without deceit, one should offer them for the sake of the liṅga or image and worship continually.

मंडपं गोपुरं तीर्थं मठं क्षेत्रं तथोत्सवम् वस्त्रं गंधं च माल्यं च धूपं दीपं च भक्तितः

With devotion, one should offer a pavilion, gateway, sacred place, monastery, field, festival, cloth, fragrance, garland, incense, and lamp.

विविधान्नं च नैवेद्यमपूपव्यंजनैर्युतम् छत्रं ध्वजं च व्यजनं चामरं चापि सांगकम्

One should also offer various foods as offerings, accompanied by cakes and side dishes, an umbrella, banner, fan, and chowrie with all their accessories.

राजोपचारवत्सर्वं धारयेल्लिंगबेरयोः प्रदक्षिणां नमस्कारं यथाशक्ति जपं तथा

One should provide all royal honors to the liṅga and image, perform circumambulation, salutation, and recitation as able.