Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

इत्युक्तंगिरिजाग्रेहिशिवेनपरमात्मना भस्मरूद्राक्षमाहात्म्यं भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्

So was spoken, at the beginning, to Girija by Shiva, the Supreme Self: the greatness of ash and Rudraksha, which bestows both enjoyment and liberation.

शिवस्यातिप्रियौज्ञेयौ भस्मरुद्राक्षधारिणौ तद्धारणप्रभावद्धि भुक्तिर्मुक्तिर्न संशयः

Know that the wearer of ash and Rudraksha is exceedingly dear to Shiva; by the power of wearing them, enjoyment and liberation are attained without doubt.

भस्मरुद्राक्षधारी यः शिवभक्तस्स उच्यते पञ्चाक्षरजपासक्तः परिपूर्णश्चसन्मुखे

He who wears ash and Rudraksha and is devoted to Shiva, engaged in reciting the five-syllabled mantra, is said to be completely fulfilled and facing the auspicious.

विनाभस्मत्रिपुंड्रेणविनारुद्राक्षमालया पूजितोपिमहादेवोनाभीष्टफलदायकः

Without the three lines of ash and without the Rudraksha garland, even if worshipped, the great god does not grant the desired fruits.

तत्सर्वं च समाख्यातं यत्पृष्टंहिमुनीश्वर भस्मरुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यं सर्वकामसमृद्धिदम्

All that you asked, O lord of sages, has been explained: the greatness of ash and Rudraksha, which brings fulfillment of all desires.

एतद्यःशृणुयान्नित्यंमाहात्म्यपरमंशुभम् रुद्राक्षभस्मनोर्भक्त्यासर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्

Whoever hears daily this supreme and auspicious greatness of Rudraksha and ash, with devotion, attains all desires.

इह सर्वसुखं भुक्त्वा पुत्रपौत्रादिसंयुतः लभेत्परत्र सन्मोक्षं शिवस्यातिप्रियो भवेत्

Here, enjoying all happiness together with sons and grandsons, he attains supreme liberation hereafter and becomes exceedingly dear to Shiva.

विद्येश्वरसंहितेयं कथिता वो मुनीश्वराः सर्वसिद्धिप्रदा नित्यंमुक्तिदा शिवशासनात्

This has been told to you, O best of sages, from the Vidyeshvara Samhita; it always grants all accomplishments and liberation, by Shiva's command.

नमश्शिवाय सोमाय सगणाय ससूनवे प्रधानपुरुषेशाय सर्गस्थित्यंतहेतवे

Salutations to Shiva, to Soma, to him with his attendants and sons, to the lord of Pradhana and Purusha, the cause of creation, preservation, and destruction.

शक्तिरप्रतिमा यस्य ह्यैश्वर्यं चापि सर्वगम् स्वामित्वं च विभुत्वं च स्वभावं संप्रचक्षते

His power is incomparable, and his sovereignty is all-pervading; mastery and greatness are said to be his very nature.

तमजं विश्वकर्माणं शाश्वतं शिवमव्ययम् महादेवं महात्मानं व्रजामि शरणं शिवम्

To him who is unborn, the maker of the universe, eternal, auspicious, imperishable, the great god, the great soul, I take refuge in Shiva.

धर्मक्षेत्रे महातीर्थे गंगाकालिंदिसंगमे प्रयागे नैमिषारण्ये ब्रह्मलोकस्य वर्त्मनि

In the field of righteousness, at the great sacred place where the Ganga and Yamuna meet, at Prayaga, in the Naimisha forest, on the path to Brahma's world—

मुनयश्शंसितात्मानः सत्यव्रतपरायणाः महौजसो महाभागा महासत्रं वितेनिरे

There, sages of restrained minds, devoted to truth and vows, of great energy and fortune, performed a great sacrificial session.

तत्र सत्रं समाकर्ण्य तेषामक्लिष्टकर्मणाम् साक्षात्सत्यवतीसूनोर्वेदव्यासस्य धीमतः

There, having heard of that sacrificial session of those whose actions were pure, the wise disciple of Vedavyasa, son of Satyavati, came directly.

शिष्यो महात्मा मेधावी त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः पञ्चावयवयुक्तस्य वाक्यस्य गुणदोषवित्

That great-souled, intelligent disciple, renowned in the three worlds, was skilled in the merits and faults of speech composed of five parts.

उत्तरोत्तरवक्ता च ब्रुवतो ऽपि बृहस्पतेः मधुरः श्रवणानां च मनोज्ञपदपर्वणाम्

He was a superior speaker, even beyond Brihaspati, sweet to the ears, with delightful and charming words.

कथानां निपुणो वक्ता कालविन्नयवित्कविः आजगाम स तं देशं सूतः पौराणिकोत्तमः

He was a skilled narrator of stories, a poet knowing time and propriety; that Suta, the foremost among Puranic bards, came to that place.

तं दृष्ट्वा सूतमायांतं मुनयो हृष्टमानसाः तस्मै साम च पूजां च यथावत्प्रत्यपादयन्

Seeing him arrive, the sages, their hearts delighted, offered him proper hospitality and worship, as was fitting.

प्रतिगृह्य सतां पूजां मुनिभिः प्रतिपादिताम् उद्दिष्टमानसं भेजे नियुक्तो युक्तमात्मनः

Having received the honor bestowed by the sages, he accepted it with a mind directed as instructed, and with self-control.

ततस्तत्संगमादेव मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् सोत्कंठमभवच्चितं श्रोतुं पौराणिकीं कथाम्

Then, from that gathering of the sages of purified minds, arose a longing in their hearts to hear the ancient tales.

अतीवाभिमुखं कृत्वा वचनं चेदमब्रुवन्

Turning their attention fully, they spoke these words.

रोमहर्षण सर्वज्ञ भवान्नो भाग्यगौरवात् संप्राप्तोद्य महाभाग शैवराज महामते

O Romaharṣaṇa, all-knowing one, by the greatness of our fortune, you have come to us today, O illustrious sage, O wise king among Shaivas.

पुराणविद्यामखिलां व्यासात्प्रत्यक्षमीयिवान् तस्मादाश्चर्यभूतानां कथानां त्वं हि भाजनम्

You have directly received the entire knowledge of the Purāṇas from Vyāsa; therefore, you are indeed the vessel of wondrous stories.

रत्नानामुरुसाराणां रत्नाकर इवार्णवः यच्च भूतं यच्च भव्यं यच्चान्यद्वस्तु वर्तते

Like the ocean, the source of precious gems, you possess all that has been, all that will be, and whatever else exists.

न तवाविदितं किञ्चित्त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते त्वमदृष्टवशादस्मद्दर्शनार्थमिहागतः अकुर्वन्किमपि श्रेयो न वृथा गन्तुमर्हसि

Nothing in the three worlds is unknown to you; you have come here for our sake by unseen destiny. Do not depart without doing some good; you should not go in vain.

तस्माच्छ्राव्यतरं पुण्यं सत्कथाज्ञानसंहितम् वेदांतसारसर्वस्वं पुराणं श्रावयाशु नः

Therefore, let us hear the most auspicious Purāṇa, rich in knowledge of noble stories, the essence and entirety of the Vedānta—recount it swiftly to us.

एवमभ्यर्थितस्सूतो मुनिभिर्वेदवादिभिः श्लक्ष्णां च न्यायसंयुक्तां प्रत्युवाच शुभां गिरम्

Thus entreated by the sages, versed in the Vedas, the Sūta replied with gentle, well-reasoned, and auspicious words.

पूजितो ऽनुगृहीतश्च भवद्भिरिति चोदितः कस्मात्सम्यङ्न विब्रूयां पुराणमृषिपूजितम्

Honored and favored by you, how could I not properly narrate the Purāṇa revered by the sages?

अभिवंद्य महादेवं देवीं स्कंदं विनायकम् नंदिनं च तथा व्यासं साक्षात्सत्यवतीसुतम्

After saluting Mahādeva, the Goddess, Skanda, Vināyaka, Nandin, and Vyāsa, the son of Satyavatī, directly,